Each year, in the fall, the thoughtful members of Arbutus Grange No. 450 of Surry conduct a County-Western Benefit Show for someone they know who needs their support.

That show will be held 6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Arbutus Grange Hall, Route 172 in Surry.

This year’s benefit, wrote Grange member June Ellingwood of Frankfort, is for “68-year-old Larry Sinclair of North Sullivan” who, with his wife, Dawn, owns Discount Larry’s Shop in East Sullivan.

That shop is now closed, however, because the Sinclairs are in Illinois where Larry is being cared for at the Cancer Treatment Center of America, Ellingwood explained.

“Larry is an all-around, real, nice fellow, and a friend to many people,” she added.

The father of eight, grandfather and great-grandfather will be undergoing “very expensive” surgery, Ellingwood wrote, and the couple has “no insurance coverage at all.”

Grange members and friends “would like to help them as much as possible,” she continued.

The Country-Western Benefit Show features Yodeling Wade Dow & the Low Key Band and “our own ‘Miss Dolly Parton,'” whom Ellingwood describes as “really something to see,” as well as other guest performers.

You also will have the opportunity to win a door prize, enter raffles, a 50-50 drawing and enjoy refreshments.

If you are unable to attend but want to help the Sinclairs, you can send contributions to Larry’s Cancer Fund c/o John Ellingwood, Treasurer, 103 Loggin Road, Frankfort 04438.

The public is invited to celebrate Kwanzaa beginning at 10 a.m. today at Hudson Museum in the Maine Center for the Arts on the Orono campus of the University of Maine.

Kwanzaa is the Swahili term for “first fruits of the harvest.”

The ceremony, slightly more than one hour in length, will feature light refreshments and a sampling of African cuisine, courtesy of the UMaine African Student Association.

Ruth Leubecker reminds you that the Down East Community Hospital Auxiliary’s annual Christmas Fair is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Washington Academy gymnasium in East Machias.

The event is the major fund-raiser for the auxiliary, and features more than 60 exhibitors, who are all Maine crafters.

Coffee and doughnuts will be offered in the morning; sandwiches and soups for lunch.

Santa Claus will be on hand to listen to the Christmas wishes of little ones and pose for pictures with them.

At the fair you will find mostly individual crafters but, Leubecker wrote, you also can make purchases from “well-established businesses such as Raye’s Mustard or Weownit Cranberries.”

The public is invited to attend the Pine Tree Hospice Remembrance Service at 1 p.m. Saturday Dec. 4, at Grace Bible Church in Sangerville.

The hospice, of Dover-Foxcroft and Greenville, provides volunteer services for area residents during the process of dying and bereavement.

The board of trustees of Simpson Memorial Library invites you to attend its annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, on the library lawn in Carmel.

Trustee Sue Kircheis writes that carol singing will be followed by refreshments served by members of the Carmel Congregational Church in the church basement.

Later, Simpson librarian Tracey Hotham will read Christmas stories to the children.

“The tree-lighting ceremony will occur snow or shine,” Kircheis wrote. “Everyone is welcome to join us at this event.”

Scott Varner of the Eastern Maine Community College Culinary arts department invites you to help bring joy to a child with a life-threatening illness by participating in the EMCC Annual Holiday Gingerbread House Competition.

That event is 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, in Rangeley Hall, 354 Hogan Road, on the EMCC Bangor campus.

A panel of judges will choose the best entries.

The winner will receive a prize, and the gingerbread houses will be raffled to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine.

The average cost of each wish is $5,000 and, this year, Make-A-Wish expects to grant more than 75 wishes to seriously ill Maine children.

For information, call Varner at 745-6289.

You are invited to join in “Celebrating the Gifts of Our Community” at 10 a.m. Sunday services of Forest Avenue Congregational Church in Bangor.

Soloist Joan Kroehler is featured Sunday, Dec. 5; violinist Ellie Shufro, Sunday, Dec. 12; and an area choral group Sunday, Dec. 19.

Guest minister the Rev. Ann Purdy will conduct the Family Christmas Eve Service at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24, at the church.

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