Some singles in the Bangor area in the 50-60 age range are putting their heads together to come up with a professional, upscale opportunity to meet others.

Leslie Thistle, owner of Cafe Nouveau at 84 Hammond St. in downtown Bangor, wrote me about the group “that is trying to establish an upscale venue” for people in that age category who are divorced, widowed, single and alone on a weekend.

If you are a 50-60ish single, and would like to mix and mingle with others, you are cordially invited to the group’s first Singles Mixer from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at Cafe Nouveau.

Your $20 admission includes a glass of wine, light hors d’oeuvres, the opportunity to meet other singles from the Bangor area and, perhaps, be part of getting the new group going. A cash bar will be offered.

Thistle and fellow singles will be at the door to greet you when you arrive, and they’re hoping many of you will choose to join them in this new social venture.

You are invited to a talk and book signing with Robert Klose, author of “Small Worlds: Adopted Sons, Pet Piranhas, and other Mortal Concerns,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Orono Public Library.

The University College of Bangor associate professor of biological sciences also wrote “Adopting Alyosha: A Single Man Finds a Son in Russia,” and has been a columnist for the Christian Science Monitor for 20 years.

His latest book contains the best of his columns from more than 250 written for the Monitor.

The public is welcome, and more information is available by calling the library at 866-5060.

Seeds of Peace retiring director and vice president Tim Wilson will address Empowering Leaders of the Next Generation during the Leadership Exploration Breakfast Series from 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Mariner’s Church Banquet Center on Fore Street in Portland.

Admission is $17, and reservations can be made by calling 773-3254, ext. 100.

The series is sponsored by the Institute for Civic Leadership, together with The Board Network.

Wilson will share insights on what constitutes leadership in today’s world and how young people can gain critical skills to sow the seeds of peace in the future.

On behalf of Calais Free Library, Ann Carter wrote “to thank all who contributed money” to ship books “from the Friends’ Secondhand Bookstore’s large collection of Readers’ Digest Condensed Books to the troops in Iraq.”

The idea for the book project came from Friends member Debbie Hanson, whose husband is serving in Iraq. Carter reports that nearly 400 books have been sent “to provide relaxing enjoyment and distraction for those who are serving in such stressful circumstances.”

She also reminds teachers in the area that with September being back-to-school month, the Friends’ Bookstore “has a special, half-price rate for all children’s books” purchased by area teachers. She hopes you will “come see what’s available.”

The store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, and is located next to Unobskey School on Main Street in Calais.

Tickets are now available online for the first annual Fusion Awards Dinner, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at Morgan Hill Event Center in Hermon.

Tickets for the dinner are $35 each or $250 for a table of eight.

Maine’s U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe will be the keynote speaker for the evening, which also features presentation of the Fusion Leadership and Vision Awards.

Nominations for the FLAVA awards are now being accepted and are also available online.

To order dinner tickets or make a FLAVA nomination, visit www.fusionbangor.com.

Robert and Mary’s Place, based in Ellsworth with an additional facility in Machias, is an adult day program for older people with memory loss or confusion.

Robert and Mary’s Place director Ida Page reports that the Martin Foundation of Pennsylvania recently awarded a $4,000 grant “to replace the carpeting at the Machias facility,” which is located in donated space in the undercroft of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Mission on Dublin Street.

This is the second year Robert and Mary’s Place has received a grant from the Martin Foundation, which was founded by Alfred and Mary Martin of Blue Hill.

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