Did you know that November is Model Railroad Month?

If not, you might like to join model train enthusiast Bill Soule of Orono, also known as “The Train Doctor,” at the 28th annual Model Train Show, Sale and Silent Auction from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer.

Admission is $3 per person, and free for children under age 12, to attend this event sponsored by Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club.

You will see model trains as well as the club’s large-scale modular layout, which will be in operation, demonstrating the latest digital technologies.

You can bring trains to sell at the silent auction, and “The Train Doctor” will be available for free diagnosis and minor repairs.

Soule reports that for a couple of years the model train industry has been conducting a year-round promotion titled “The World’s Greatest Hobby,” for which he is one of more than 1,000 volunteer “ambassadors.”

As a program ambassador, Soule has given talks on the hobby to several church, social and civic groups in the area, and is available to schedule other “show-and-tell” programs for interested groups or organizations.

EMMRC meets Monday at its clubhouse in East Orland, where members work on and operate their permanent layout.

Persons 18 and older are welcome to apply for membership, and young people can accompany regular members to club meetings.

For further information about Saturday’s event, the club, inviting Soule to be a guest speaker, becoming an EMMRC member or carpooling to meetings from the Bangor-Orono-Old Town area, call Soule at 866-4060 or e-mail soule@Maine.edu.

Unless you’ve heard to the contrary, there should still be time today to participate in the fourth annual “Free the Z” Turkey Drive which began at 6 a.m. Tuesday in the Hannaford parking lot in Brewer.

Z-107.3 program director Dan Cashman reports “John and Cori in the Morning” are broadcasting live from the parking lot until 2,004 turkeys have been collected for Manna Ministries.

You can drop off a turkey, donate $15 per turkey at that site, or call the Z-107.3 hot line, 991-9600, and have the “Thompson Printing Turkey Taxi” pick up your donation.

From Thursday, Nov. 18, through Saturday, Nov. 20, Maine McDonald’s Restaurants are celebrating World Children’s Day by raising funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities and other children’s charities worldwide.

Maine McDonald’s owner-operators will donate 15 cents from the purchase of all Happy Meals, Mighty Kids Meals and Extra Value Meals to Ronald McDonald House Charities’ Maine Chapter.

Additionally, the restaurants are selling paper cutouts in the shape of a hand through Saturday, Nov. 20, from which 75 percent of the proceeds will benefit RMHC Maine Chapter.

Last year, $17,000 was raised in this manner.

Participating owner-operators in our readership area are Daryl and Heidi Abbotoni, Caribou and Presque Isle; Ed and Dawn Degenhardt and Heidi Abbotoni, Calais, Houlton, Lincoln and Millinocket; Gary and Beth Eckmann, Bangor, Brewer and Dover-Foxcroft; Bob and Laraine Ortins, Augusta, Waterville, Winslow, Jay, Farmington, Newport and Skowhegan; Sheila Peabody, Gardiner and Rockland; and Doug and Linda Quagliaroli, Belfast, Bucksport, Ellsworth, Machias and Old Town.

Tim Pugliese, producer of The Robinson Ballet, invites young guests to attend “A Nutcracker Tea Party” at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at Maine Discovery Museum on Main Street in Bangor.

Reservations are required for this event, hosted by Friends of the Robinson Ballet and the museum. Young ladies and gentlemen are encouraged to dress their best.

Admission for MDM members is $10.50.

For nonmembers, admission is $12 plus a $6 per person museum entry fee.

Guests will share tea and snacks, create crafts and participate in dance demonstrations with Robinson Ballet members as well as have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with their favorite Nutcracker character.

Robinson Ballet recently launched a three-year campaign to upgrade its sets and costumes, and raise community awareness of the company.

United Way of Aroostook, assisted by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, WAGM-TV, civic organizations and individual donors, is collecting toys and gifts for needy children in its service area.

Claudia Stevens reports that last year the UWA Santa’s Sleigh project distributed gifts to nearly 900 children in 22 Aroostook County communities.

Any individual or organization able to provide new toys, games or gifts for these youngsters is asked to call UWA at 764-5197.

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