Shaw House, located at 136 Union St. in Bangor, offers emergency shelter, transitional housing, a drop-in day program and street outreach and case management support services for young people ages 10 to 18, as well as outreach services for young adults up to age 24.

Last year, Shaw House served more than 320 children in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington and Aroostook counties.

To help ensure the holidays will be happier and more enjoyable for young people who, for a variety of reasons, are not at home this year, Shaw House interim executive director Kerry Sack hopes readers will make contributions to help fill its holiday wish list.

Among the items on the Shaw House wish list are personal care and hygiene items, gift certificates for clothing and recreational activities, art supplies and phone cards.

You also can contribute nonperishable food items or grocery store gift cards to help fill the Shaw House food cupboard.

If you can help, you can leave your donations at Shaw House any time, day or night, seven days a week, since I was told Shaw House is a 24-7 operation and someone is always there to assist you.

For information about holiday donations or the work of Shaw House, call 941-2874, or e-mail shawhouse@prexar.com.

To celebrate its first anniversary, the public is invited to an Open House and Community Reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, at Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Lincoln Lakes Region Dialysis Center on Enfield Road in Lincoln.

Gifts will be given the first 100 guests. You will have the opportunity to meet the center’s new staff members and enjoy music and refreshments.

A brief program will feature center director Nadine Tasker and Ron Victory, CEO of Penobscot Valley Hospital.

Members of the Penobscot Historical Society invite you to attend its Christmas Party at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the Connor Farm in Penobscot.

“The old organ will come to life with Gene Grindle at the keyboard,” wrote Audrey Peasley, and everyone will sing “old Christmas songs” and “have refreshments by the fireplaces.”

Peasley describes the event as “a great time for all to enjoy,” and asks that you please “come join us.”

The Junior League of Bangor is hosting a brand-new fundraiser, one they hope is fun for all ages.

The Junior League’s Holiday Family FunFest is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, in the Society Hall Ballroom, 193 Exchange St. in Bangor.

Admission is $5 for children 2 and older but free for parents.

For the children, reports fundraising committee chairwoman Chantele McDermott, there will be opportunities to make small holiday crafts and gifts, color a picture to be entered into a coloring contest, play fun games and win prizes, sing holiday songs or listen to holiday stories.

Refreshments, many of them homemade, will be available for purchase.

With support of donations from local business owners and individuals, attendees can participate in a Silent Auction and Raffle.

Raffle tickets are just $1 and can be purchased the day of the event or obtained at participating downtown businesses.

The featured item in the Silent Auction is a signed copy of Stephen King’s pop-up edition of “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon,” a book I am sure many readers will enjoy.

Other auction items include camping equipment, furniture, car care offers and family entertainment packages.

For information about this fundraiser, which will help the Junior League of Bangor continue its many contributions to the community, call 947-2093.

Today is the 64th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, described by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt as “a day that will live in infamy.”

Sy Canton of The Association of Sons and Daughters of WWII Veterans reports that group will lead a tour to England and France in April 2006 to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of other historic WWII events such as the D-Day landings, the Battle for Normandy and the drive through France to the Rhine.

The itinerary includes visits to such notable WWII locations as London, Portsmouth, Cherbourg, Omaha and Utah beaches, Caen, St. Mere Eglise, Caretan, Argentan, Falaise and Paris.

A memorial service will be held at the American Military Cemetery at Colleville Sur Mer in France.

For information about taking this tour, call Canton at (561) 865-8495, or write him at 5121 B Nesting Way, Delray Beach, FL 33484.

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