With the approach of Veterans Day, those who served our country are invited to attend a reception in their honor featuring two very special guests.

Mike Hutchins reports that Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Michael Michaud will take part in the Brewer High School student council and Key Club third annual Veterans’ Remembrance Assembly.

Hutchins, who advises both the BHS student council and the Key Club, e-mailed that the recognition event begins with continental refreshments from 7 to 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Student Services office next to the gymnasium in Brewer High School.

The assembly is planned for 8 to 9 a.m. in the gymnasium, during which Collins and Michaud will address the veterans.

The 195th Army Band, under the direction of Brady Harris, will perform, and members of the Hermon High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Honor Guard will present the colors.

Hutchins wrote that the host organizations “invite all area veterans to attend and be recognized by the students and staff of Brewer High School.”

Maureen Rawding wrote that the Flag of Honor Program for the town of Blue Hill “will be launched around noon” Wednesday, Nov. 1, on Main Street in Blue Hill.

She explained that brackets for American flags will be attached to 50 telephone poles “leading to and from Blue Hill Village.”

“This will be the first group of approximately 120 flags to be purchased by the public to honor” family members and-or friends, she continued.

The cost of each flag is $48, and they can be purchased by sending a check to A 4th to Remember, P.O. Box 250, Blue Hill 04614.

Include your name and the name of the person you are honoring so the information can be placed in a commemorative case which will be located at Duffy-Wescott American Legion Post 85 in Blue Hill.

Rawding explained that this program is in conjunction with the “A 4th to Remember” celebration planned for July Fourth in the Blue Hill area.

The first group of flags “will be taken down shortly after Veterans Day, this year, “but will be returned to the poles to fly from Memorial Day to Veterans Day” next year.

For more information about this program, or purchasing one of the flags, call 374-5653.

Now through Friday, Dec. 8, Northern Forest Canoe Trail is conducting its second annual Online Auction in an attempt to raise $15,000 to assist the NFCT with its programs of waterway stewardship, community economic development and community arts, heritage and culture.

Executive director Kate Williams e-mailed that you can preview NFCT Auction 2006 at www.TheCanoeTrailAssociation.cmarket.com.

The 740-mile NFCT links the watersheds of northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Quebec.

To learn more about the Trail, visit www.northernforestcanoetrail.org or write P.O Box 565, Waitsfield, Vt. 05673.

The Woodlawn Museum annual Fall Clean Up Day begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, at the museum, Route 172 in Ellsworth. The public is encouraged to help clean up the 180-acre public park, which is Ellsworth’s largest.

Executive director Joshua Campbell Torrance suggests you bring a rake and gloves, and refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 667-8671.

Gweneth Smith-Emery wrote that High Street Congregational Church will hold its Christmas Bazaar 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the church, 24 High St. in Newport.

Gift baskets, centerpieces, Santas, snowmen and more “will be featured,” she wrote, adding that “there will also be a White Elephant table and a food table.”

Raffle items include a handcrafted quilt, and you can purchase coffee, muffins and lunches throughout the day.

Sisters Anne Freeman of Hermon and Sherrill Libby of Levant presented the trustees of Ecotat Gardens in Hermon with a king-size quilt to raffle to benefit the organization.

You can see the quilt at Camden National Bank in Hermon.

Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5, and are available at the bank and the Hermon Municipal Building, or by calling Wendy Hurlburt, 848-5753, or Gaynor Reynolds, 848-5946.

The winning ticket will be drawn Thursday, Nov. 9.

Veazie Congregational Church hosts its Buttons and Bows Christmas Fair 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the church, 1404 State St.

Lunch will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and you will find everything from crafts to Christmas wreaths.

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