Members of St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary encourage you to join them for a day trip Saturday, Oct. 27, to Boston for the North Shore Music Theatre production of “Les Miserables.”

Under the direction of Nancy Ziegenbein, you will travel on a luxury coach and enjoy a lunch with a French theme at the Wenham Tea House. You’ll have the pleasure of enjoying this eight-time Tony Award-winning production based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the pursuit of escaped convict Jean Valjean in revolutionary France.

The cost is $149 per person. The bus leaves at 7 a.m. from Bangor and returns around 11 p.m.

Reservations must be made with Ziegenbein by Monday, Sept. 24, and can be done by calling her at 947-7965.

Proceeds benefit the Auxiliary’s support of St. Joseph Hospital.

Peggy Manzer of Stillwater Federated Church invites you to Stillwater Fest beginning at 10 a.m. today at the church on Bennoch Road in Stillwater.

Manzer wrote that the free event features “games for young and old with lots of prizes, clowns and face painting.”

Entertainment includes Fishers of Men at 10:30 a.m.; pianist Anna Wareing and a singalong at 11:30 a.m.; and karaoke with Theresa Laliberte at 1 p.m.

Lunch will be served at noon, and Manzer reiterates, “All this is free!”

Hear the history of the Maine trotting horse from 1819 to 1890 with Clark Thompson at noon Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Page Farm and Home Museum, University of Maine in Orono, as he discusses “Maine Trotting Horse History and its UMaine Connections.”

The first in a series of free brown bag sessions, the discussion will cover breeders, tracks and the university’s part in the industry.

For information, call 581-4100.

The first of the 2007-2008 Eastern Maine Community College Gallery Series features the oil, acrylic and mixed media work of Renate Caraballo with “Landscapes: Inner and Outer,” in which, according to Elizabeth Clayton of EMCC, the artist “explores natural forms rooted in Maine landscape counterpointed by her inner conceptual explorations.”

The exhibit runs through Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the EMCC Gallery.

The public is invited to an artist’s reception and presentation 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, in the gallery on the EMCC campus in Bangor.

Barbara Conners reports the final Sunday program for the Old Town Museum 2007 season is Follies IV at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at the museum on Main Street.

The program features the Old Town Museum Chorus performing Music of World War II. There is no admission, but donations are appreciated.

Call 827-7256 for information.

Linda Gralenski, secretary of Down East Hospice, wrote about “an exciting” benefit for DEH.

“Audrey Patterson of Blueberry Point Chefs is sponsoring a wonderful Luncheon on the Bay” from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, “at her place in Perry, overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay,” Gralenski wrote.

The buffet luncheon, featuring “salmon, chicken, side dishes, blueberry desserts and wine from the Ice House Wine and Cheese Shop,” is $30, and reservations must be made by Wednesday, Sept. 12.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the DEH office at 454-7521, ext. 126.

“The relaxed atmosphere, delicious food and wonderful views will make this a truly memorable event,” Gralenski wrote.

Proceeds benefit “the work of the DEH volunteers who care for patients suffering from terminal illnesses” in Washington County.

Elinor Goldberg of Maine Children’s Alliance reminds readers that nominations for the 2007 Giraffe Awards, “recognizing those who stick out their necks for kids” in our communities, are being accepted through Friday, Sept. 14.

To request a nomination form, write to MCA, 303 State St., Augusta 04330, or call 623-1868, ext. 202. You also may e-mail mainekids@mekids.org or visit www.mekids.org.

Awards will be presented at the MCA’s annual meeting Oct. 17 in Hallowell.

Colleen Ross requests that you “save the date” for the Benefit Ball for Spruce Run Agency of Bangor, the domestic abuse agency serving Penobscot County.

A 1920s gala celebration (costumes optional) is 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

The gala features 1920s-style entertainment with sound musician Dana Wilson, pianist Clayton Smith, vocalists Laura Lindenfeldt and Darlene Mogul; a “kisses booth” hosted by Bangor city council chairman Richard Green and local public figures; a Charleston contest, cash bar, door-prize drawings and costume prizes.

Tickets are $50 each.

For information, write Spruce Run, P.O. Box 653, Bangor 04401, or call 945-5102.

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