Admission is free, and the public is invited to hear lifelong Hancock Point summer resident Robert Waldner of Massachusetts discuss “Railroad Trains: Past and Present” during a Hancock Historical Society multimedia presentation at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Hancock Point Chapel.

The society’s president Sandy Phippen reports that Waldner has spent summers on Hancock Point since 1950.

“Once, as a young passenger on the legendary Bar Harbor Express, which he boarded in New York City,” Phippen wrote, Walden “had an engine permit which allowed him, at 5 a.m., to ride in the engine car with the crew from Portland to Bangor.”

When Walden is in Maine, “he takes passengers on his two track cars on the old Maine Central Railroad tracks from Ellsworth Falls to Phillips Lake,” Phippen wrote.

Phippen added that Walden “wants to help bring train service back to eastern Maine,” and is concerned about “other groups that want to tear up the old track” for hiking and all-terrain vehicle usage.

Director Sandi Macomber of Living Innovations invites you to an open house at its newest office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, Suite 103, 444 Stillwater Ave., Bangor.

She suggests you drop by anytime between those hours and talk with the staff, enjoy some refreshments and see the new space.

Living Innovations provides support for individuals with developmental disabilities, in their homes and their communities.

If you have questions about the event, or Living Innovations, call 992-2700.

The Bear Paw Quilters’ first meeting of the 2005-2006 season is 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at the Hannaford central office, 208 Maine Ave., Bangor.

The club meets every second and fourth Friday, through June 9, at the same time and location.

Cathy Goslin of Bear Paw Quilters wrote that there are a few seats remaining for a bus trip to “A Quilters Gathering,” Saturday, Nov. 5, in Nashua, N.H.

Registration is $45 and can be made by calling Ginny Waldo, 884-8455; writing her at 84 Sometime Moose Lane, Levant 04456; or e-mailing ginjer@

midmaine.com.

If you want more information about this organization, call Mary Anne Eason, 941-9727, or e-mail ma@eason.org.

The turnout was terrific for the most recent Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department public supper, which brought in more than $2,700.

Cynthia Carter hopes a similar amount will be made at the fire department’s all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the fire station on Ayes Junction Road.

The meal, $7 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under, includes spaghetti, meatballs, tossed salad, rolls, garlic bread, pie and cake.

Proceeds benefit the fire department and its lifesaving work in the community.

Bangor Museum and Center for History’s annual historic house dinner and tour begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, with dinner served at 6:45 p.m., at the home of Jerry and Faye Robinson, 75 West Broadway in Bangor.

Admission is by reservation only.

Tickets are $75 per person, and are available by calling 942-1900 or visiting the museum at 6 State St. in Bangor.

“I am very excited about an upcoming event” hosted by the Brewer Garden & Bird Club, wrote Carol Smith of the organization’s first meeting of the year.

Co-presidents Linda Weinmann and Marion Bailey invite the public to join them for the club’s business meeting at 1:30 p.m., or the program, at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Brewer Auditorium.

The featured guest speaker, Paul Tukey, will discuss his favorite gardens in Maine.

Smith wrote that club members are honored to host Tukey, who is “a Maine native with roots [no pun intended] in Brewer.”

Tukey is the founding editor and publisher of People, Places & Plants gardening magazine, and co-host, with Roger Swain, of the HGTV series of the same name.

“Due to limited seating for this special program, Smith explained, “we are asking for a $2 preregistration fee.”

Refreshments will be served, “and I’m sure Paul will take time to answer questions,” Smith wrote.

Checks payable to the club can be sent to Carol Smith, 27 Woodridge Road, Brewer 04412.

For more information about the program, or the club, call 989-1083.

On behalf of the Orono-Old Town Kiwanis Club, Lori Smart extends thanks to the hundreds of businesses and individuals that made the organization’s record-setting 2005 auction such a success.

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