During these difficult economic times it is more important than ever for nonprofit organizations to be successful with each of their fundraising efforts, which is just one of many reasons Marie Stewart of the Bangor Y urges you to attend the 10th annual KeyBank Bangor Y Benefit Auction.

That fundraiser is 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Spectacular Event Center in Bangor.

Admission, including dinner, is $35, and tickets are available at the Bangor Y locations at 127 Hammond St. or 17 Second St.

Dick Cattle will be host and auctioneer for this evening, which Stewart describes as “one of the largest fundraising events of the year for the Bangor Y.”

Proceeds from this auction will help “the Bangor Y develop programs that benefit Bangor area families and provide program subsidies” to make them more affordable for everyone.

Auction items range from personalized books by Bangor author Stephen King to an eight-hour sail on Penobscot Bay and a lobster feed by Rob Frank, sports memorabilia, sports and theater ticket packages, gift certificates for local restaurants, fuel oil, car services and original artwork.

Lucille Cardin and members of Veazie Congregational Church invite you to their Christmas Bazaar.

The handicapped-accessible sale is 8 a.m.-2 p.m. today at the church, 1404 State St.

Helen McDonald and members of Golden Harvest Grange invite you to their Craft Fair 9 a.m.-2 p.m. today at the Grange, 928 Main Road, Route 2, Carmel.

You can start by enjoying hot doughnuts and then browse through tables that will feature baked goods, crafts, knit and miscellaneous items.

Pastor Lois Field and members of Christian Community Church invite you to their annual Christmas Craft Fair 9 a.m.-2 p.m. today at the American Legion Hall on Grove Street in Dexter.

Crafts, cooked foods, books, movies “and nearly new items” will be offered along with children’s crafts.

Morning brunch will be available, and a fish or corn chowder lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. Fair proceeds benefit church ministries.

For information, call 924-7309.

Here’s a reminder from Rhonda Young that the Bangor Elks Lodge will hold a Craft Fair-Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, rain or shine, at 108 Odlin Road.

All money raised stays in Maine, Young said of the event that benefits the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

Heidi Powell reports the Peninsula Community Orchestra and the Peninsula Junior Orchestra will appear in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Bay School’s Emlen Hall in Blue Hill.

The event is free and open to the public, “and families are welcome to attend,” Powell wrote.

The orchestras are composed of 40 local string players, age 4 through adult, residing in the peninsula communities of Deer Isle, Stonington, Brooksville, Sedgwick, Blue Hill, Ellsworth and Mount Desert Island, Powell said.

Richard Hsu and Powell direct the orchestras, which will perform back-to-back concerts in a program that ranges from the classics to ragtime and traditional fiddle and features Grace Bell, a senior cellist from George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill.

For information, call Powell at 479-2845 or e-mail fiddleheadheidi@hotmail.com.

Karen Hartnagle of Community Health and Counseling Services, along with the Maine Discovery Museum, invites you to participate in the first session of Family Art Nights, a free program for families with children ages 8 through 11, taught by Arrah Vanier, chair of the Hermon High School art department.

Family Art Nights are planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 12, and continuing on Nov. 19 and Dec. 3, at MDM in Bangor.

Families may register by calling MDM at 262-7200.

Representatives of Penobscot Valley Senior College invite all senior citizens to attend two free two-hour sessions, “Income Taxes for Seniors,” running from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 14, and Friday, Nov. 21, at the Campus Center at University College of Bangor.

Although the program is free through the sponsorship of the senior college, AARP, Eastern Area Agency on Aging and RSVP, you are asked to register by calling 262-7927 and leaving your name and phone number on the senior college’s message phone.

The presenters who will offer you information about the basics of income tax preparation are Richard Jung, district coordinator for the AARP Tax-Aide program for Penobscot, Hancock, Washington and Piscataquis counties, and volunteer tax counselor Stan Marshall.

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