Bangor

PICA benefit auction

The 20th annual PICA benefit auction will be held 2:30-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the University College of Bangor’s College Center, 210 Texas Ave.

Local artisans, businesses and donors offer items including sweatshop-free clothing, original artwork, holiday wreaths, pottery, books, yoga and dance lessons, Reiki treatment, gift certificates at local restaurants and stores, seacoast weekends, a sailboat ride, cross-country skiing, plants, flowers, food and more. No shopping experience offers so much variety in one place, with lots of fun, free food, and great music by Brian Dyer-Stewart.

Items up for bid include:

. A painting by Michael Lewis, local and widely respected artist from the University of Maine. His work has been collected and exhibited throughout and beyond the United States.

. A handcrafted blue glass bowl with a stained-glass lid, created and designed by Lisa Raven.

. Original made-in-Maine jewelry and pottery.

. Penobscot Theatre tickets.

Two new features are a juice bar offering Salvadoran smoothies made from fruits of Central America and Supper for Sale, food-to-go so no cooking is necessary for the rest of the weekend. More information about PICA is available at www.pica.ws.

Holiday Art Auction

The Bangor Art Society is holding its fourth annual Holiday Art Auction 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Union Street Brick Church on the corner of Union and Main streets in Bangor. Proceeds from the auction go to the many programs the Bangor Art Society offers.

The cost of admission is $7 for an evening of live music, refreshments and a chance to win an original painting. Tickets may be purchased from society members, at Penobscot Paints, Penobscot Plaza, 31 Washington St., or at the door.

Drop-in discussion for young people

Project Atrium Inc. and Shaw House announced recently the introduction of Drug Talk, a drop-in discussion group for 18- to 24-year-olds who are living on the streets. The collaborative project aims to provide homeless young adults with a forum where they may explore a life without drug and alcohol use. The group’s semi-structured, open discussion format will enable young people to talk about substance abuse issues, and will give them an opportunity to get off the street and get a meal.

“These young adults who are living on the street have few places to turn to for the help they need in addressing their substance dependency,” said John Jaksa, executive-clinical director at Project Atrium Inc. “Our goal is to help them realize that they can change their lives and gain control over their future.”

Drug Talk will meet weekly at 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Shaw House, 136 Union St.

Drug Talk is the culmination of discussions between Project Atrium and Shaw House. The two organizations met to contemplate how these longstanding Bangor organizations could work together to meet their mutual goals.

“Homelessness is a pervasive issue that affects all of us and it will take all our efforts to make an impact,” said John Costello, executive director of Shaw House. Shaw House, a “safe haven” for homeless and runaway youth, has focused on providing services that are not normally available to young people who live on the streets.

Project Atrium has dealt with teens with substance abuse and mental health difficulties in a group home setting for more than 30 years. Project Atrium is expanding its services to be more community-based. Together, these organizations came up with a plan to expand the existing Teen Recovery Group to a chapter for young adults at Shaw House.

Those interested in receiving more information about the Drug Talk group should call Chris Betts, Streetlight Outreach Program manager, at 941-2874, or Leslie Poake at 941-2825.

Baking up a storm

Talented pie bakers are invited to bake up a storm before Thanksgiving to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Northeastern Maine and bring their creations to center court in the Airport Mall in Bangor before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, for the 10 a.m. bake sale.

Volunteer organizer Deb Perro has played a part in this event for years and is delighted to make it happen again this year. About those loyal customers who purchase the pies, she said, “People love supporting UCP while getting a freshly baked pie for Thanksgiving.”

For information about donating or purchasing a pie, call Perro at 974-4601 during the day or 947-5165 evenings.

Appreciating troop greeters

Gov. John E. Baldacci proclaimed Nov. 1, 2006, as Bangor Troop Greeters Appreciation Day throughout the state of Maine and urged all citizens to recognize “these generous and giving individuals for the care shown to our nation’s heroes.”

On Nov. 1, the Bangor Troop Greeters welcomed their 2,000th plane since May 2003.

Junior League donation

The Junior League of Bangor presented a check for $1,000 to the organizers of Summer in the City: The Campaign for Dakin Pool at its meeting Nov. 7.

In October, Junior League members held a yard sale and raised $686, then supplemented the yard sale proceeds with a check for $314 to total $1,000.

The Junior League of Bangor has a history of supporting projects that benefit the women and children of the community, said Dawn England, Junior League of Bangor president.

“As we approach our 75th anniversary, our focus is now on the growing epidemic of childhood obesity,” England said. “The revitalization of the Dakin Pool is necessary to continue to provide our children and families with a safe and healthy activity during the summer months.”

Campaign organizers are grateful for the donation, said Mike Robinson, president of Friends of Dakin Pool. “The support of the Junior League of Bangor is outstanding and demonstrates their commitment to the children in our community,” he said as he accepted the gift.

The $100,000 capital campaign for Bangor’s first public swimming pool was launched on the opening day of summer by the Friends of the Dakin Pool. To date, $91,262 in gifts and pledges have been received. Funds raised will be used to enhance and improve the area around the pool located on Bangor’s East Side – at the end of Pine Street just past Stillwater Avenue, across from Broadway Park.

For more information, call 947-4051, or visit www.dakinpool.com. Tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to: Friends of Dakin Pool, P.O. Box 2657, Bangor 04402-2657.

Bradley

The Gift of Giving

Troop 191 of Bradley is working on a service project, The Gift of Giving, this holiday season. The troop is collecting Christmas items for families in need in the Bradley, Milford and Old Town area.

The Girl Scouts will set up collection boxes Nov. 22 to Dec. 15 at Viola Rand School, Lewis Libby School, Leonard Middle School, the Bradley town office, the Milford town office and at the Bangor Festival of Lights parade.

Those who wish to donate gift items should place them unwrapped in the boxes.

Bucksport

‘Carols in the Round’

The Mount View Chamber Singers will perform “Carols in the Round” at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Franklin Street United Methodist Church.

The a cappella singers, high school youth from Mount View High School in Thorndike under the direction of David Stevenson, have traveled nationally and internationally sharing French melodies, English carols, music from past centuries and familiar hymns of the holiday season.

The public is invited to attend. An offering will be taken to help the group with expenses, and CDs of their music will be available for purchase. A reception with refreshments will be held after the performance. For information, call 469-3622.

Orono

Wreath-making workshops

The University of Maine Page Farm and Home Museum will hold its annual holiday wreath-making workshops 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 28, 29 and 30, on the Orono campus.

Deborah Smith of Smith Farm Greenhouses will lead the workshops. A $15 charge covers materials, including a base ring, wire, pine cones, berries, ribbon, boughs and instruction.

Museum Director Patty Henner said participants are encouraged to use organic decorations. Participants are welcome to bring those, along with any other decorations they would like to add to their wreaths, to the workshops.

Henner recommends early registration by calling 581-4100 because of the popularity of the workshops, which are a great source of creative fun for the whole family, she said.

Old-fashioned holiday party

The Page Farm and Home Museum at the University of Maine invites members of the university and surrounding communities to its annual old-fashioned holiday party at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. It will be a time to experience the spirit of trimming the tree, making ornaments, decorating gingerbread cookies and caroling.

Refreshments will be served and children are welcome, said museum director Patty Henner. The event is free.

This is the time of year when the museum’s Maine-made crafts and gift shop becomes a “holiday shoppe,” with discounts on traditional toys and games, clothes, books, artwork and pottery. The holiday shoppe will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 28 through Dec. 2.

Pottery includes 17th to 19th century reproduction pottery by Ken Henderson of Henderson Redware in Frankfort and a wide selection of table pottery in natural colors by former Orono potter Sandy Houtman. Houtman’s pottery is being discounted 25 percent to 50 percent off regular prices.

For details and further information, contact the farm and home museum at 581-4100. Visit www.umaine.edu/pagefarm for information about exhibits, events and hours.

Book drive for youth

The University of Maine College of Education and Human Development is again joining the Old Town-Orono Kiwanis Club in an effort to collect books for youngsters in need. It’s the 29th drive, which is held each year at this time. Members of the public are invited to join in the tradition by donating new books suitable for toddlers to teens.

College Dean Robert Cobb established the collection effort. Since its early days, the community book drive has made thousands of books available to deserving area children. The college takes the lead in collecting the books, and Kiwanis Club members distribute them at the organization’s annual holiday party for area children.

The UMaine Bookstore in Memorial Union is again joining the college to boost the number of books collected and children served.

The bookstore began collecting books for the drive on Nov. 13. During Children’s Book Week, Nov. 13-19, children’s books will be 25 percent off at the bookstore, and the bookstore will contribute a book of equal value for each book purchased there for the children’s book drive.

Books, gift-wrapped if possible and marked for a particular age level, may be brought to Cobb’s office, 151 Shibles Hall at UM, through noon Friday, Dec. 1.

Areawide

Christmas Is For Kids

Clear Channel radio station Kiss 94.5, celebrating its 25th year broadcasting in eastern Maine, is launching its annual Christmas Is For Kids drive on Monday, Nov. 27.

For the past 25 years, WKSQ 94.5 has devoted donated time to broadcast profiles of underprivileged children from eastern, central and Down East Maine and matches them with individuals who fulfill their Christmas wishes.

Many civic organizations have raised money and shopped for gifts for children in the Christmas Is For Kids program.

Kiss 94.5 partners with The Salvation Army, Penquis Head Start, Community Health and Counseling, and 19 other smaller agencies which pinpoint and screen families that may need help in delivering a happy holiday for young ones.

Christmas Is For Kids has grown each year. In 2005, the Christmas Is For Kids program raised $26,832 and helped more than 1,200 children. Over the past 25 years, Kiss 94.5’s community program has raised more than $220,000 and helped more than 23,000 children.

This year’s Kiss 94.5 Christmas Is For Kids drive runs through Friday, Dec. 15.