Members of the Mount Desert Island Hospital Auxiliary are nearly ready to host their Christmas Fair, Luncheon and Boutique, and they hope you will help them help the hospital and community by taking advantage of their offerings.

This is the auxiliary’s largest fundraiser.

Brenda Hall of MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor wrote me, “The ladies are quite a bunch to work with!

“The MDI hospital organization is truly blessed to have such a dedicated group of volunteers,” and it is her honor to work with them, she added.

The boutique, which features new and nearly new clothing and accessories for men, women and children, is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, and Friday, Nov. 18, and 7 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Acadia Country Store, 128 Main St., Bar Harbor.

The annual Christmas Fair and Luncheon is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the Masonic Hall on High Street.

Raffle items donated by business owners, handcrafted items, baked goods, sweets and white elephant items will be available, and someone will win a $50 door prize.

You can call Eva Davis, 288-5704, if you have some last-minute donations for the Fair and Boutique.

It also should be noted that if you cannot attend but want to make a contribution to this fundraiser, cash donations always are welcome and appreciated and can be sent to Mary Grindle, Treasurer, MDI Hospital Auxiliary, 25 Forest St., Bar Harbor 04609.

Jane Searles reports Women, Work and Community is hosting an Open House to introduce its new Business Resource Center from 4 to 6 p.m. today in Acadia Hall, 216 Texas Ave., University College of Bangor.

State-of-the-art computers, printers, scanners and digital cameras are available, by reservation, to help entrepreneurs create marketing materials, learn financial record-keeping systems and develop business plans.

The public is welcome.

Call 262-7843 if you need directions.

Linda Gralenski will present a slide show of a visit to Spain during the St. Croix International Garden Club meeting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Pembroke Methodist Church.

Refreshments will be served, and more information about the club is available from Joan Edwards at 726-9664.

On behalf of The Healthy Living Project and Waldo Country General Hospital’s Diabetes Education Program, Nicole Heanssler reminds you November is American Diabetes Month and, to assist in raising diabetes awareness, the Diabetes Education Program is offering free diabetes screenings.

The screenings are noon-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Waldo Country General Hospital Education Building, 118 Northport Ave., Belfast.

Walter Boomsma of Valley Grange #144 invites the public and current and former Grangers to an Open House and Homecoming beginning with a Potluck Grange Supper at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at the Grange, located on Guilford Center Road in Guilford.

A Program of Sharing at 7 p.m. features Rolf Staples of Eastern Area Agency on Aging, who will discuss EAA-Z Fix It, a program in which volunteers provide minor home repairs to help senior citizens remain independent.

Recollections of days past, highlights of community programs, benefits of Grange membership, a display of Grange memorabilia and recognition of several member achievements are part of the program.

For more information, call Walter or Janice Boomsma, 876-4131, or Betty VanDyke, 876-3229.

Melissa Huston reports Maine Adoption Placement Service of Bangor will receive a portion of the proceeds from Panda Garden, to help Chinese orphans, during an informational event recognizing National Adoption Awareness Month from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Panda Garden, 123 Franklin St. in Bangor.

Proceeds from the event will help MAPS provide surgery and medical care for Chinese orphans through the Tomorrow Plan, a humanitarian project of the China Center of Adoption Affairs that has a goal of providing corrective surgeries for 30,000 special-needs children for which the expected cost is $72 million.

Since 1977, MAPS has placed more than 4,000 children from the United States, China and other countries with adoptive families throughout Maine and the nation.

Donations are now being accepted from artists who would like to participate in the Bangor Arts Society Art Auction 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the Union Street Brick Church in Bangor.

Admission is $5 for refreshments, entertainment and a chance to win an original oil painting.

For information about contributing to the auction, artists should call Becky Rivers, 338-4463, or JoAnne Houlsen, 659-0063.

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