Bangor

Al Brady Gang story, tour

The story of the Al Brady Gang in Bangor will be told at 4 and 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, in the Media Room of the Hammond Street Senior Center, 2 Hammond St.

Film footage of the shootout with Public Enemy No. 1 on Central Street in downtown Bangor will be shown. Rare Brady criminal artifacts will be on display and discussion of the event will take place.

The presentation, free and open to the public, commemorates the 71st anniversary of the day the Brady Gang came to Bangor.

DVDs of the 70th anniversary re-enactment will be available for sale. The next day, take the Ride with the Brady Gang Tour at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct 4, leaving from the Hammond Street Senior Center.

Tour the landmarks of the Brady Gang’s last days in Bangor – Dakin’s Sporting Goods, the Astoria Lunch and the big shootout locations on Central Street.

Visit the site of the criminals’ last breakfast at Skoufi’s Diner on Main Street.

Tour Mount Hope Cemetery and see Brady’s final resting place.

Presenters of both events are Richard R. Shaw and Gerry Palmer.

Tour tickets are $10. For reservations, call 944-8000.

All proceeds benefit the Hammond Street Senior Center.

Bangor Book Festival

The second annual Bangor Book Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4.

The festival brings together Maine authors with appreciative readers of all ages. This year’s theme, “Voices at the Threshold,” focuses on a world poised for change. Participating authors deal with people facing periods of change and challenge – sometimes personal, sometimes political, but always interesting.

Writers taking part in the Festival are: Ellen Booraem, Kate Braestrup, Lyn Mikel Brown, W. Hodding Carter, Kathleen Ellis, Leonore Hildebrandt, Annaliese Jakimides, Carrie Jones, Robert Klose, Lynn Plourde, Patricia Ranzoni, Catherine Schmitt, Jan Schrock, Monica Wood.

Kate Braestrup, author of the widely acclaimed memoir, “Here If You Need Me,” will be Friday evening’s keynote speaker at Wellman Commons, on the grounds of the former Bangor Theological Seminary, 300 Union St.

All other Bangor Book Festival readings, panel discussions and author presentations take place at Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St.

The events are free, and the public is invited.

Books by festival authors will be available for purchase and autographing at each session and at Bagel Central during festival hours on Saturday.

For the full schedule and information about the authors, visit www.bangorbookfest.org.

Meet the authors at a reception for friends and festival donors 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at the Isaac Farrar Mansion, Union and Second streets.

At 7:30 p.m., the keynote address by Kate Braestrup will be held at Wellman Commons.

Tickets for the reception are $35 and may be purchased by credit card by calling the Briar Patch bookshop at 941-0255, sending a check payable to the Bangor Book Festival, c/o Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor 04401.

Autumn Shindig

Eastern Maine Community College will hold its annual scholarship fundraiser and auction 5:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Spectacular Event Center, 395 Griffin Road.

A “denim preferred, flannel optional” kind of event, the fun-filled evening features live music from the Doughty Hill Band, a sumptuous fall feast, and a select number of auction items. Tickets are $45 a person or $315 for a table of eight.

Call Terri Adam at 974-4691 for information or for tickets.