Under the guidance of its president, Mary Clift, members of St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary have come up with a unique way of raising funds by hosting not one but two special events in a single day at the same site.

First up is the SJHA 31st annual Fall Festival of Fashions & Luncheon, which begins at noon Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Bangor Civic Center.

Local television personalities, including Donna Gormley, Steve McKay, Catherine Pegram, Jon Small, community leaders and hospital employees are among the models who will be wearing fashions provided by Talbot’s, TerraCotta, The Grasshopper Shop, Epic Sports, The Pretty Woman and Henry’s Bridal Boutique.

All of which you will enjoy as you dine on a delicious lunch.

Advance tickets for this event are $25 or $30 on the day of the show.

Tickets can be purchased at Patrick’s Hallmark in the Broadway shopping Center, or by calling Marie Demaso at 945-5700.

But if you’re too busy to attend a daytime event, plan to attend the SJHA Elegant Evening Event beginning at 6 p.m. the same day at the Bangor Civic Center.

This special fundraiser begins with a social hour followed by dinner and a brief vintage fashion showcase with clothing by Vintage Finery Costumes and Bridal, and concludes with an auction under the gavel and watchful eye of the Rev. Bob Carlson.

Tickets for the evening event are $30 and can only be purchased in advance at Patrick’s or by calling Demaso at the number above.

Hosting two fundraisers in one day is a most ambitious undertaking, deserving of your support to help SJHA in its efforts to benefit the work of St. Joseph Healthcare.

Rich Kimball advises you to arrive early for the choicest seats to view a Halloween special at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, presented by Brewer Youth Theatre at Brewer Middle School, located at 5 Somerset St.

The radio production includes “a couple of scary shows,” Kimball said.

The first, which he authored, is titled “The Haunted Balcony” and stars 18 middle school students.

The second presentation features high school students and teachers performing their own radio version of “Dracula.”

Admission is just $3 for adults and $2 for students.

“We’ve had great crowds for our previous radio shows,” Kimball said, “so folks will want to get here early and get a good seat.”

The Marine Environmental Research Institute is hosting a reception and art opening featuring underwater photographer Susan Leonard, sculptor Maureen Mainen and painter Paula Dougherty from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at MERI on Main Street in Blue Hill.

Following the opening at 7 p.m., the public is invited to hear a lecture by coral reef scientist Joan Koven, titled “Coral or Algal Reefs: What is the Tropical Future?”

The lecture is part of MERI’s monthly Ocean Environment Lecture Series.

For more information about MERI’s art or lecture series, call 374-2135 or e-mail info@meriresearch.org. For more information about MERI, visit www.meriresearch.org.

Members of the Limestone Rotary Club are hosting their 56th annual auction & dinner beginning with dinner at 5 p.m. and the auction at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at Limestone Community School.

Tickets are just $8 each, and more information can be obtained by calling Cliff Rhome, 325-4019; Pete Huntress, 325-4948; or Phil Adams, 325-4136.

My eyes must have skipped over one line of the recent e-mail from Ro LeGasse of Caring Connections regarding the wine tasting benefit, which is 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, at Bucksport Golf Club on Route 46.

Proceeds from your $25 admission not only benefit Caring Connections, a cooperative program of the Bangor Y and Eastern Maine Medical Center, but will also benefit the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition’s support services fund, LeGasse reminded me.

“MBCC provides financial resources to about 150 Maine residents each year to assist with their unmet breast health and breast-cancer related needs,” she wrote.

To obtain tickets for this benefit, call hostess Barbara Vittum, 469-7844, or LeGasse at Caring Connections, 941-2808, ext. 337.

Crafters interested in displaying their wares at the Shirley Community Church second annual Christmas crafts fair & luncheon from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Shirley Town Hall, should call Janet Parker at 695-3163.

Parker reports “a limited number of tables will be available, and those who participated last year will be given the first opportunity to reserve tables.”

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