Recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month takes many forms.

Karan Wotton e-mailed to invite community members in the Houlton area to participate in “Flowers on the River,” a candlelight vigil and walk to mourn the victims, celebrate the survivors, and affirm a nonviolent future for everyone.

“Flowers on the River” begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at Houlton Rec and ends at the Walking Bridge in downtown Houlton.

After the rain or shine event, a reception will be held in the picnic area by the bridge.

“Domestic violence is a very emotional and devastating cancer that lives in homes throughout our community,” Wotton wrote, “and bringing awareness to our community will, hopefully, give victims the strength and information to seek out services they need to find safety.”

People are requested to wear and display purple ribbons “during this month,” she wrote, to “show support, as a community,”‘ in taking “a stand against domestic violence.”

For more information call the Battered Women’s Project at 800-439-2323 or 532-4004.

Simpson Memorial Library secretary Sue Kircheis reports that beginning this month, its Story Hour has been changed from Tuesdays to Saturdays and will be designed for preschool through kindergarten children.

The first Story Hour of the new schedule is 10-11 a.m. today at the library in Carmel.

The remaining Story Hours are the same times Saturday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Library.

Kircheis added a special Halloween Story Hour for preschoolers through grade one at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the library.

Trustees “encourage all area young children to come and enjoy a spooky tale.”

Janelle Wuoristo of Maine Kids-Kin, a program of Families and Children Together, reports the program is offering a Free Legal Education Round Table from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at FACT, 304 Hancock St., Bangor.

During this presentation, lawyer Kerry Jordan will discuss “wills and how to plan ahead for your family,” Wuoristo wrote.

“If you are raising a relative’s child, please join us for this informative event.”

Free child care will be available. To register, receive more information, or reserve child care, call Wuoristo by Friday, Oct. 19, at 866-298-0896 or 941-2347.

Wuoristo reminds readers more than 11,000 Maine children live with relatives, and Maine Kids-Kin is available to assist those “who are stepping in to care for relatives’ children.”

Gail Rowe reports a newly formed group, The Morgan Hill 35+ Singles, meets the first and third Monday of the month. Its next meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, at Morgan Hill Event Center on Route 2 in Hermon.

Admission is $5, and a cash bar is available.

Pianist Jerry Hughes will be playing until the formal meeting at 6:30 p.m. when you will be entertained by local comedian Chris Quimby.

Rowe wrote that donations will be accepted to cover costs associated with this presentation.

Rowe explained that people join the organization “for diverse reasons” ranging from “beginning a new phase” in their lives to seeking new friends, and that anyone 35 and over and single is welcome.

“Our mission is to provide a safe, welcoming environment in which singles can meet to get to know one another over time,” she wrote.

“It is an opportunity to form a singles community where individuals can enjoy activities together.”

For more information about the group, future meetings and other activities, call 947-7869.

As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, St. Joseph Healthcare has announced that a time capsule, to be unearthed on its 75th anniversary in 2022, will be buried on the grounds of the Bangor hospital.

Beginning this week, community members are invited to include an anniversary message or a special story about how SJH has affected their lives during the last six decades.

Message forms are available in the hospital lobby on Broadway in Bangor, and a sampling of the responses will be included in the capsule.

Additionally, the public is invited to offer suggestions for what items should be included in the capsule.

Suggestion forms are available at the same location, and the message and-or suggestion deadline is Friday, Nov. 2.

The time capsule will be buried at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, outside the Ambulatory Surgery entrance of the hospital and, reports Bethany McKnight, that event “will mark the conclusion of St. Joseph Healthcare’s 60th Anniversary celebrations.”

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