Brewer Hometown Band director Janice Cox announced that the band will present its Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at the Brewer Auditorium.

“Our theme, this year, is The Polar Express,” Cox wrote of the program that will include “the delightful new melodies from the movie, and lots of favorite carols we all know and love.”

A raffle, and “colorful and tasty goodies to sample” will be available during intermission along with hot chocolate, “which just happens to be one of the song titles on the program,” she added.

“If we’re all very good, Santa may do a lively step or two while passing out some holiday treats.”

To make this holiday show truly memorable and meaningful, Cox wrote that “the band is asking the public to bring nonperishable items, or money, to help the Brewer Community Council fill Christmas baskets for the less fortunate among us.”

Last year, Cox reported, “we were able to donate many items” to this project, and the band members “hope to repeat, or better, our efforts this year.”

Hammond Street Senior Center’s second annual It’s a Basket Case Silent Auction takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Dec. 10-13, and from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at the center, 2 Hammond St., Bangor.

Melanie Haleluk is the event coordinator. She reports everyone “is invited to stop by… to browse and bid on the varied and fabulous baskets.”

The winning bidders can pay for their baskets at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at the center.

Bidders fill out a form and can call 262-5532 throughout the week to increase their bid.

More than 100 baskets have been donated by local businesses, friends and senior center members, with proceeds helping support classes, programs and activities at the center.

For information, call 262-5532.

Unfortunately one of the things we have to recognize about holiday time is the increase in the number of accidents with the resulting need for an increased blood supply for emergency facilities in our area.

To help with that eventuality, Hermon Fire Department member Steve Pellegrino reports that department will be conducting a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Fire Department.

In a voice mail, Pellegrino said he is working very hard to make this event a success which, of course, means he needs you to give the gift of life during this holiday season.

I received a lovely letter from Terry Foster of Bucksport, who has been a member of the steel drum band Steel Appeal for more than three years.

Foster wrote the band is hosting a Christmas & Caribbean musical steel drum concert from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, in the gymnasium of Miles Lane School in Bucksport.

And while admission is free for this event, band members are requesting that you bring nonperishable food items for the Bucksport Community Concerns Food Pantry.

Foster wrote that the popularity of steel drum, or pan, music has been increasing “throughout the country, and we are doing our small part to promote the tropical rhythms that only steel-drumming can produce.”

The band rehearses weekly and performs several concerts throughout the year, he said, adding that “anyone can learn to play the steel drums.”

“We have a beginners group,” and another “for the more advanced players.”

New classes and rehearsals begin Tuesday, Jan. 29, and there is a fee to cover the cost of the drum rental, music and instruction.

For information about this group, call Foster at 469-6497.

Susan Dunham Shane of the Eddington Historical Society has a holiday gift idea for you: the 2008 calendar of historic Eddington.

Calendars are $10, including tax, and are available at Eddington town hall, 906 Main Road, and The Eddington Store, 549 Main Road.

You can also obtain a copy for yourself or someone else by mail for $12, by calling Bud and Kay Mitchell at 843-5542.

Shane wrote “it was difficult to pick just 12 images to share, but we hope all will enjoy seeing them as much as we enjoyed assembling them.

“Of special note are the months that feature well-known structures as they were in the past and are today.”

The hope is the calendar will provide a way “to raise awareness of old Eddington” while raising funds to help the society create an endowment fund to acquire its own facility.

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