PICA Auction offers holiday gifts that give twice

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Event coordinator Kirsten Reberg-Horton and all those planning the 18th annual PICA Auction hope you will find many holiday gifts at this silent and live auction.

The Peace through Interamerican Community Action fund-raiser is 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at the University College of Bangor College Center, 120 Texas Ave.

Information and photographs of some of the donated items are available by visiting http://www.pica.ws/auction04.htm.

The annual fund-raiser benefits Bangor’s sister city, Carasque, El Salvador, and other aspects of PICA’s work for social and economic justice.

This special fund-raiser features fairly traded, sweatshop-free donations from local businesses, and a Holiday Marketplace featuring items from Carasque.

Reberg-Horton also wants you to know that children’s items are available, and that you will be able to bid on vacations, dinners out, and services such as a half-hour Swedish massage from licensed massage therapist Donna Kraft-Smith.

The winning bidder on a winter jacket from Justice Clothing Co. in Bangor will have the opportunity to visit the shop and choose any jacket in stock.

Gordon Bok has donated three CDs, and Charles Grosjean, a potter and longtime PICA Auction supporter, has donated a stoneware bowl.

This year’s theme is “Show your love with a gift that gives back,” and you can do that easily, enjoyably and without cost, since this event is free and open to the public.

Brenda Hall of Mount Desert Island Hospital reminds readers that “it’s time, once again, for the annual Mount Desert Island Hospital Auxiliary Christmas Fair, Luncheon and Boutique.”

That fund-raiser begins with The Boutique, a three-day event, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, and Friday, Nov. 19; and from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Acadia Country Store on Main Street in Bar Harbor.

Eva Davis reports donations for the Christmas Fair and The Boutique can be dropped off during business hours at The Boutique.

The Christmas Fair and Luncheon is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at the Masonic Hall on High Street in Bar Harbor.

The fund-raiser offers one $50 door prize along with raffle items, handicrafts, white elephants, baked goods, a fudge table and homemade pies and sandwiches.

Your contributions and purchases all will help support the work of the MDI Auxiliary.

Bill Rae of Manna Ministries is busy gathering turkeys, or $10 donations to purchase a turkey, for the needy among us on Thanksgiving Day, which is Thursday, Nov. 25.

The goal is to obtain 4,200 turkeys.

The turkeys go to food pantries in our area for distributions to the working poor, the elderly and people living on fixed incomes, and to soup kitchens where people can get a nutritious hot meal.

Manna now is located at 629 Main St. in Bangor in the former Beal College facility.

Donations of turkeys, a $10 gift card from Hannaford or Shaw’s Supermarket, or a $10 check, made out to Manna Ministries, will help feed the less fortunate this holiday.

Manna is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For more information, call Manna at 990-2870.

Folks can “swing and sway” with great music and great teachers by attending a Swing Dance beginning with lessons at 7 p.m. and the dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at John Bapst Memorial High School auditorium, 100 Broadway in Bangor.

Presented by musicians of the John Bapst Jazz Band, the dance features lessons, at no additional charge, by Back Door Dance Studio.

Tickets are $15 for couples, $10 for adults and $5 for students, and are available from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily at the John Bapst Fine Arts Office or at the door the night of the dance.

Special guests include the Hampden Academy Jazz Band and “Woody” Woodman and his band.

Andrea Ostrofsky of the John Bapst Fine Arts Boosters reports that “this dance is always great fun, and draws a wide range of participants.”

“It’s fun to see the high schoolers learn from watching the senior citizens dance,” she wrote, adding that the John Bapst Jazz Band “will return the favor [the HA Jazz Band appearance] by playing at Hampden in the spring.”

Proceeds from the Swing Dance will help support instrument purchases for John Bapst musicians.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.