Many area business owners, organizations, institutions and individuals are doing all they can to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and you can be part of that effort as well.

For example, Jane Arey, owner of Spectacular Event Center in Bangor, has been joined by the American Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter, H.C. Lending Inc. and Warranty Title Co. in hosting a Mardi Gras of Maine Benefit Supper for hurricane victims 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Spectacular Event Center, 395 Griffin Road in Bangor.

Arey said the spaghetti supper’s theme is “Helping to Rebuild the Souls of New Orleans.”

Admission is a $10 donation, and tickets will be available at the door, can be pre-ordered by calling 941-8700, or pre-purchased at Spectacular Event Center.

“We are also doing 50-50 raffles,” Arey said, and Ric Tyler will wield the gavel for an auction of items that include everything from a book autographed by horror author and Bangor resident Stephen King to NASCAR memorabilia, gym memberships, car cleanings, overnight lodgings and a circular saw.

“Many businesses have contributed items for the auction,” Arey said, and all proceeds benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Oriental Jade restaurant co-owner Lillian Lo called the other day to report that her business is working to partner with other area businesses in hosting dinner buffets to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.

Following the same guidelines for its very successful, nonprofit fundraiser program in which groups such as schools and sports teams sell and serve dinner buffets at the restaurant on Bangor Mall Boulevard, the Los are inviting business owners to help raise money for the relief effort.

Business owners are asked to form teams to serve customers at the special price of $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12, including soft drinks.

After subtracting the 7 percent Maine meal tax, 50 percent of the buffet sales and all tips from the servers will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in honor of the participating business.

Lo expects one evening’s event could result in a contribution of up to $2,500 for the Red Cross.

If you would like to participate in this program, call Lo at 947-6969.

As part of the national “Legs for Life” program, Vascular Care of Maine is offering free screenings for peripheral vascular disease.

The most common symptom of PVD is painful cramping in the legs or hips while walking. Other symptoms include numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs, according to a press release from Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Screenings for PVD are by appointment only, and will be conducted at VCM on the second floor of the EMMC Outpatient Surgery building.

To schedule an appointment, call 973-8193.

For more information about the screening and PVD, visit www.emmc.org.

Retirees Dwight and Meredith Whalen of Bangor are members of the Telephone Pioneers of Ellsworth.

They spend their “leisure time,” Meredith Whalen told me, making teddy bears for Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department.

To date, they have made more than 2,000 teddy bears to bring comfort to children in crisis, and that number includes more than 1,000 bears they have made since July 1, 2004.

The couple enjoys their work, but would appreciate any donations of fabric for this project.

If you have fabric to donate, or want more information about their needs, call them at 945-5174.

If you are interested in learning how to braid rugs, you might want to attend a Brown Bag Rug-Braiding Workshop at noon Thursday, Sept. 22, at Page Farm and Home Museum near the Maine Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono.

Directing the workshop will be Dot Demyan, owner of My Cat’s Choice, a bed and breakfast for cats in Eddington.

Demyan also owns Braids & Whiskas, a small business that produces braided wool rugs to comfort human feet, and Kat Knapp Rugs, to comfort feline friends.

For more information about the museum and its programs, call 581-4100.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s 15th Maine Chapter Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s disease is Saturday, Oct. 1, in 15 Maine communities.

Nearly 1,200 people are expected to help raise funds to support individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s.

To register for or make a donation to the Memory Walk, call (800) 660-2871 or visit www.mainealz.org.

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