Zonta Club of Bangor, which raises funds to support local scholarships and charities, is continuing to make improvements in one of its most popular fundraisers.

This year, wrote event co-chair Alex Turallo of Hampden, “Zonta’s fashion event has grown to be Lifestyle & Fashion Expo 2006.

“The event we have planned will be outstanding,” she continued, adding that “we hope that we will have an equally outstanding turnout.”

Lifestyle & Fashion Expo 2006 is 10 am.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Spectacular Event Center, 395 Griffin Road in Bangor.

Tickets are $10 and are available at Garden Cafe, 175 Exchange St., Bangor; Penobscot Valley Country Club, Orono; Curves in Brewer, Hampden and Bucksport; and at the door.

The multifaceted fair should appeal to women of all ages who will be enjoying complimentary hot and cold hors d’oeuvres during the two runway fashion shows, the first at 11 a.m. and the second at 1:30 p.m.

The expo will feature 45 vendor booths, displaying the newest and freshest products and offering guests the opportunity to speak with professionals offering a variety of services.

Booths featuring jewelry cleaning, facials, massages, nail treatment, paraffin waxes and hairstyles will be available along with information about exercise, nutrition, financial security, home fashions and much more.

The expo will also include vendors who have not previously been in the Bangor area, Turallo reported.

Zonta International, founded in 1919 in Buffalo, N.Y., is a service organization of executives in business and the professions working to advance the status of women.

Today, the organization has nearly 33,000 members in more than 1,200 clubs worldwide.

For more information about the expo, or Zonta, call 942-4611.

Sidesplitting laughter should be echoing throughout the halls when Hampden Academy Key Club presents the Maine Hysterical Society at 7 p.m. Friday, March 24, in the academy gymnasium. General admission is $10, and $8 for students.

Attendees will enjoy the Down East comedy, song parodies, juggling and audience participation directed by the popular Maine comedy trio of Steve Underwood, Randy Judkins and Barney Martin.

Key Club adviser Joe Dowling reports the event will benefit Camp Sunshine.

The Sebago Lake facility offers respite care, counseling, recreation and medical support for families with a loved one facing a life-threatening illness.

For more information about this fundraiser, call Hampden Academy at 862-3791 or visit www.mainehysterical.com.

Sarah Eremita and the sisters of Chi Omega at the University of Maine in Orono invite you to Bowl-for-Wishes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Old Town Bowling Center, 185 Center St.

You can register a four-person team for $25 by calling her at 866-4215 or e-mailing Sarah.Eremita@umit.maine.edu.

Proceeds benefit Chi O’s national philanthropy, Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The average wish costs $5,000.

Eremita is proud to report that the sorority reached that goal last year.

This year’s fundraiser will also feature raffle tickets for door prizes, prizes for the top bowlers and top teams, and the sisters selling bake sale items.

Private contributions to this fundraiser are also welcome, and can be made by contacting Eremita.

Ann Carter of Charlotte e-mailed that anyone willing to help the National Weather Service by observing and reporting weather situations in their area is invited to take a SKYWARN Spotter Training session conducted by representatives of the NWS Caribou station.

SKYWARN Spotter Training will be offered at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25, in the Methodist Homes Recreation Room, 10 Sunrise Circle in Calais.

The session is sponsored by the St. Croix Valley Amateur Radio Club.

Janet Henry of the Maine Philanthropy Center reports MPC is hosting a Philanthropy Partners Conference, “Let’s Talk: Conversations Among Maine Grantmakers and Nonprofits,” 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, at the Samoset Resort in Rockport.

Registration is $125 for MPC members and $175 for nonmembers to attend this largest gathering of grant-makers who fund in Maine.

For more information, visit www.mainephilanthropy.org or call USM Conference Services, 780-5951.

A $500 deposit is required before Friday, March 31, to reserve your space to take the Bangor Symphony Orchestra 3rd Annual China Tour with BSO Maestro Xiao-Lu Li, planned for June 12-27.

Part of the proceeds will benefit BSO.

A complete itinerary, the cost and more details can be obtained by visiting bangorsymphony.com or by calling the BSO at (800) 639-3221 or 942-5555.

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