Members of the public speaking class of Calais High School, through English teacher Lynda Duplissea, have written “An Open Letter to the Veterans of the Greater Calais area” inviting them to attend a Veterans Day assembly at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the school.

Veterans are invited to be guests of honor at the event, which the students hope will “help develop an understanding of this important holiday, and to foster an appreciation for the sacrifices our country’s military personnel and their families make in the name of freedom.”

Courtney Beaton, Tyler Eagan, Kaitlyn Flood, Dominique Scarlett, Jeannine Stover, Courtney Ayers and Matthew Driscoll have been planning and preparing for the assembly with Elise Ludington, Martha Ludington, Jaclyn Magoon, Steven Martorano, Heather Stevens and Airelle Thomas.

In addition to their speeches of tribute, the students will present a candle-lighting ceremony in memory of those who died while serving their country, and a multimedia tribute featuring photographs of area veterans.

The CHS band, under the direction of Alison Brennan, will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” and other patriotic songs, and Kaitlyn Hinton will sing “America the Beautiful.”

All veterans are most welcome and encouraged to attend this sixth annual special assembly in their honor.

Representatives of The Jeff Cole Foundation will be selling raffle tickets for $25 each during the remaining two University of Maine football games, today and Saturday, Nov. 18, in Orono.

Both games begin at noon.

Foundation treasurer Beth Kotredes reports proceeds from the raffle will benefit a scholarship in the name of the former UMaine assistant football coach who was just 30 when he died of cancer in October 2004.

Tickets can be purchased “at the tent with the arrows on it,” in Tailgate Lot A at the games, Kotredes said.

The first prize is 25 percent of the amount collected, the second prize is 15 percent, and the third prize is 10 percent of the amount collected.

Anyone can participate in the raffle, for which just 500 tickets will be sold.

Checks can be mailed to The Jeff Cole Foundation, P.O. Box 2571, Bangor 04402-2571.

If you enter by mail, you must do so no later than Monday, Nov. 13, since the drawing will he held at the conclusion of the halftime show during the final home game on Nov. 18. You need not be present to win.

One of the pluses, and there are many, of attending the Church of Universal Fellowship Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in the vestry of the church on Main Street in Orono is the opportunity to meet its new pastor, the Rev. Lorna Stuart.

The popular, longtime fair features its cookie walk, collectibles, recycled jewelry, baked goods, candy, gifts, crafts, and a coffee and luncheon.

Entering on Juniper Street, those who need it will find an elevator available in the new section of the church.

Dr. Dave Klocko will present a free 45-minute preview prior to a chamber music concert featuring pianists Jonathan Biss and Benjamin Hockman that begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono.

Klocko will present the preview at 2 p.m. in the MCA’s Bodwell Lounge.

The concert features compositions by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann and Debussy, and Bartok.

The second exhibit in the 2006-07 Eastern Maine Community College Gallery Series, “Painting Maine,” features Mary Louise Town Jaqua of Winslow.

The artist’s oil and pastel exhibit opens Monday, Nov. 6, and continues through Friday, Dec. 29, in the EMCC Library Gallery in the Campus Center on Hogan Road at the Bangor college.

A reception and presentation by the artist is 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the campus center.

For information about Library Gallery hours, call 974-4640.

CancerCare of Maine and the Oncology Support Foundation of Orono invites you to attend a lecture and video presentation by David Hyde, founder of Two Roads Maine, at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in Mason Auditorium at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Hyde founded Two Roads Maine seven years ago after a cancer diagnosis and coincidental job elimination, explained Mart Lapin of OSF.

Two Roads Maine enables individuals to spend time in the natural environment from Maine to Georgia while discussing life changes and sharing their stories with others.

For more information about this event, or OSF, call Lapin at 866-0200.

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