One week from today, the books will be cooked and ready for eating, no pun intended.

It’s the fourth annual Books2Eat edible book celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, at Rangeley Hall at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor.

Professional chefs, culinary arts students and everyday cooks – male and female, young and old – are invited to celebrate books and compete for the People’s Choice Award in those categories.

This year’s event also features a special award: The Edible Stephen King, which is a representation of, or from, one of the master horror writer’s books.

That certainly leaves a lot to the imagination!

For anyone entering an edible book in the contest, there is no admission to attend.

Otherwise, admission is $10 per person, unless a student accompanies you, and then admission is $5 each.

For information about the event, or to enter an edible book, call 974-4640.

The Shirley Community Church ninth annual Maple Syrup Brunch is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, April 17, at the Shirley Town Hall.

The public is cordially invited to “make a day of it by attending church” at 9 a.m., “just up the street” from the town hall, wrote Everett Parker.

After the service, you will enjoy “a delightful pancake brunch,” followed by a visit to “Baker’s Sugar Shack to see maple syrup being made,” he wrote.

The brunch also includes beans, breakfast casserole, hash browns, muffins, biscuits, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

“Shirley has some of the finest cooks in the Moosehead region,” Parker reminds you, “and all of the food is home-cooked and served piping hot.

“And, perhaps, the best part of all is the maple syrup prepared for the event by Charlie Baker.

“Many people know the real secret to this once-a-year-event is to pour the delicious, just-made syrup over the pancakes, casserole and hash browns for a special treat.”

Admission is by donation.

In recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month, faculty and students of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and its Conley Speech, Language and Hearing Center at the University of Maine in Orono are hosting two events.

The purpose of the events is to provide free educational services for members of the public and to highlight the services of the Conley Center in Dunn Hall.

Here is information about the first event.

Maine coast author and speech-language pathologist, Davene Fahy, will read from her children’s book, “Charlie Who Couldn’t Say His Name,” at 1 p.m. Monday, April 18, at the University of Maine Bookstore.

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders staff pathologist, Lorriann Orr, believes this program should interest parents, teachers, children, physicians and speech-language pathologists.

At this event, a table will be available with information about how to prevent speech-language disorders.

Later, I’ll tell you about a Hearing Expo on April 28 at the Conley Center.

The Hospice Foundation of America’s 12th annual National Bereavement Teleconference, “Living with Grief: Ethical Dilemmas at the End of Life,” will be broadcast 1:30-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, in the Brandow Conference Room of Eastern Maine Medical Center on State Street in Bangor.

Hosted by ABC News political commentator and NPR senior news analyst, Cokie Roberts, an expert panel will examine issues regarding the social perspectives of medical ethics and how various health care settings may influence ethical decisions in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices.

To learn more about this program, visit www.hospicefoundation.org.

At the conclusion of the national teleconference, a local panel will discuss the issue further.

Panelists include registered nurse Pat Eye, co-director of New Hope Hospice; the Rev. Patricia Moore, hospice spiritual adviser for Home Health & the Hospice of St. Joseph, and the Rev. Rex Garrett Jr., director of chaplaincy services at EMMC.

Continuing education credits are available.

For more local information, call Alicia Ward, Hospice of Eastern Maine, 973-8269.

The Sisters of Delta Zeta at the University of Maine in Orono will conduct their fourth annual Turtle Tug to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation on Maine Day, Wednesday, April 27, at the university.

It is costly to host this fund-raiser, reports member Emily Albee, so the chapter is asking for donations from the community.

Albee reports monetary contributions or raffle items “would be greatly appreciated.”

If you can help, send a donation or write Albee, 402 Kennebec Hall, Orono 04469, or call 581-6538 or 215-9699.

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