How nice it was to hear the familiar voice of retired broadcast executive George Gonyar of Orono, relaying information about one of this area’s best auctions.

George called to report that the 59th annual Orono-Old Town Kiwanis Charity Auction opens with its yard sale at 5 p.m., and the auction under the tent at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 20, Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22, “at its usual, convenient location, the Barn on Forest Avenue in Orono.”

He reports that you will find “genuine bargains in the book, toy and treasure barns,” and find “new and used items including furniture, bikes, cars and more” at this major fund-raiser, which last year netted more than $50,000.

Proceeds from the event “went to the needs in our two communities, supporting youth activities, scholarships, needy seniors” and other worthy causes.

Club president Calista Hannegan and auction chairman Randy Adkins are hoping for your continued support and remind you to stop by the food sale from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 22, at the Church of Universal Fellowship on Main Street in Orono.

George wants you to know the Kiwanians “have more stuff this year than ever before,” thanks to the “generosity of local business organizations.”

The KEEPERS of the Brooksville Baptist Church invite you to a yard sale beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 15, at the Club House, located in Brooksvillle Corner, where Routes 175 and 176 meet.

Audrey Peasley reports the sale will feature crafts, materials and household items, a bake sale and steamed hot dogs for lunch.

For more information about the event, or the work of the KEEPERS, call Peasley at 326-8864 or Bob Herrick at 326-4945.

The Clifton Historical Society is hosting a Christmas in July Bazaar and Food Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Comins Hall in Eddington.

Kathleen Whitten reports 10 crafters from several eastern Maine communities will be selling their work, and hot dogs will be on sale for lunch.

Proceeds will benefit the society’s restoration work on its museum in the old Town Hall, built in 1892, and the one-room schoolhouse, built in 1863.

A featured addition to the museum is a rope bed with canopy, and “the schoolhouse has some of its original items on display,” Whitten wrote.

Open house dates for the museum and schoolhouse are 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, and the same time Saturday, Sept. 16, in Clifton.

Donald Krause, president of Levant Heritage Library, invites the public to join in the celebration of the first anniversary of the library with a cookout from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at the library in the former Levant Post Office in Levant Village.

Donations will be appreciated for the cookout featuring hot dogs, beans, chips, beverages and, inside the library, a birthday cake.

During the cookout, members of the Levant Historical Society will present a major donation to the library “to facilitate the continuing work of the society to display their historical documents in the library,” Krause explained.

Krause also extends thanks to everyone who participated in the recent quilt raffle to benefit the library, which netted about $2,000.

The First Congregational Church of Lincoln is in the midst of its 175th anniversary celebration.

On behalf of its members, anniversary committee member Jackie Thurlow invites you to participate in three events associated with that milestone.

The first is a celebratory worship service at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, July 16, at the church, on School Street, followed by a historical walking tour of the church at 10:45 a.m. and a buffet luncheon at noon.

And, she reminds readers, you can also take the historical walking tour of the church from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, July 21, during Lincoln’s homecoming week celebration.

“Many of the furnishings of the church were either donated or made by past parishioners,” Thurlow added.

Writing Your Life: A Free Course on How to Write a Memoir, meets 9:30-11 a.m. on six Wednesdays beginning July 19 and running through Aug. 23 at Birch Street School in Orono.

Award-winning author Sandra Hutchinson will teach group lessons and offer one-on-one assistance to help you complete the first chapter of your memoir.

A service of the Orono Public Library funded by Maine Reads, registration information can be obtained by calling the library at 866-5060.

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