Residents and visitors in the Bucksport area have a terrific musical holiday opportunity thanks to the sponsorship of the Bucksport Area Cultural Arts Society.

Corresponding secretary Cindy Lozier wrote the society is hosting a holiday concert featuring the University of Maine’s Athena Consort and The Black Bear Men’s Chorus at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Bucksport Performing Arts Center on the Bucksport Middle School campus on Miles Lane.

The suggested donation of $5 will help defray the expenses for the men’s chorus when it travels to our nation’s capital in the spring, as well as help support the arts society’s grand piano capital campaign.

Heidi Corliss is director of The Athena Consort, which features women, and Dan Williams directs the men’s chorus.

Lozier believes local attendees will particularly enjoy hearing fellow residents James Brawn Jr., Bob Cottrell, Ken Lozier and Cameron St. Peter, who sing with the Black Bear Men’s Chorus.

The choruses, and the society cordially invite you to enjoy this very special holiday event.

Corky Pinette of Patten wants readers to know that Sacred Choral Music for Advent will be performed by The Chamber Choir of St. John’s Parish, directed by Kevin Birch, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 207 York St., Bangor.

Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

The choir will also perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at Saints Peter & Paul Basilica, 27 Bartlett St., Lewiston.

Chorale director Al McIntyre and concert band director Julienne Ewing invite you to the John Bapst Memorial High School annual holiday concert with two performances at 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, in the school auditorium, 100 Broadway, Bangor.

Reserved seating tickets are on sale from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on school days in the school’s fine arts office.

Tickets are $3.

Word has been received that Emerson and Associates CPAs of Madison is organizing a community food drive to help needy families living in Madison, Anson, North Anson and North New Portland.

Nonperishable food items can be dropped off between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. both Monday, Dec. 10, and Tuesday, Dec. 11, at Emerson and Associates, 57 Main St., Madison.

Anyone donating four or more items is eligible to win one of several gift certificates donated by local businesses.

For information, call Rhonda Emerson at 696-4808.

The drawing for the queen-size State Flowers Quilt raffle to benefit the Orono Public Library Foundation campaign for a new library is Monday, Dec. 11, reports library director Kathy Marks Molloy.

Tickets are $5 each, or five for $20, for the quilt made by Louise Snow featuring flowers of all 50 U.S. states.

The quilt is on display at Merrill Merchants Bank, 69 Main St. in Orono, and tickets can be purchased either there or at the library.

Here is a topic of which we all need to become more aware.

Ella Waitt of the Bangor Nature Club invites the public to attend the next meeting of the club and receive information about “Climate Change and What We Can Do About It.”

The meeting is 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at First Congregational Church of Brewer, 35 Church St.

Refreshments will be served.

Kevin and Laurie Stevenson of Bangor thank everyone who helped make the benefit dinner and silent auction for their family “such a huge success.”

Laurie Stevenson, a young mother of four, is being treated for breast cancer.

The Stevensons thank Pam Tweedie for organizing the event, Joanna Thayer for planning the silent auction, the Sub Deb Club for decorating and serving, the people who donated or purchased items for the silent auction, Jeff’s Catering for hosting the event, the musicians who entertained, and “hundreds of friends and family members” who attended.

“We love you all and appreciate your generous support,” they wrote.

My condolences are extended to the family of the late Hugh Hamlin of Caribou and Sarasota, Fla., who died last month.

Hugh was a delightful guy, one who greeted you warmly whether he met you in the halls of Caribou High School or on the streets of his “Snowbird” park in Sarasota.

Hugh will be missed by all who knew and loved him, most especially his wife, Althea, his family and close friends.

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