People who will attend the Brewer Hometown Band holiday concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, are asked to bring nonperishable items for the Brewer Community Service Council.

Janice Cox says the program at Brewer Auditorium will “include some new and some favorite seasonal selections,” and that Russ Van Arsdale will narrate “a favorite Christmas poem.”

And while Santa Claus “is very busy at this time,” Cox wrote, the band members have “invited Mrs. Claus to spend some time with us. Everyone will enjoy her jolly banter.”

Refreshments will be available, and your kind donations will help your neighbors who “are struggling at this time,” Cox wrote.

“They were very grateful for our efforts, last year, and we would like to help again, this year.”

Ella Waitt invites the public to attend a meeting of the Bangor Nature Club at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at First Congregational Church, 35 Church St., Brewer.

Guest speaker Judy Markowsky will discuss and show slides of her tour of Australia, which, for those who plan to see the movie of the same name, or have seen it already, should be a treat.

Sue Lapham reminds you to reserve your tickets for the Waldo County YMCA board of directors annual holiday reception to benefit that organization, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at the historic Joseph Williamson House, 44 High St., Belfast.

The suggested donation is $50 per person or $100 for couples.

Tickets are available at the YMCA, 157 Lincolnville Ave. in Belfast.

Here’s a reminder from Woodlawn Museum Executive Director Joshua Torrance that Christopher Keefe, Charles Alexander and Jennifer Torrance will read Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Woodlawn Museum, Route 172, in Ellsworth.

Admission is $10 for members, $12 for nonmembers, and refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 667-8671 or visit www.woodlawnmuseum.org.

Center Theatre for the Performing Arts Executive Director Patrick Myers reports the Slightly Off-Center players will present “A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley.”

The shows begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12; 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 14; and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, and Friday, Dec. 19, at Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft.

Advance tickets are $10, or $12 at the door, $5 for children 12 and under, and are available at the theater or by calling 564-8943.

Members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sangerville and Dover-Foxcroft invite you to their sixth annual Procrastinator’s Holiday Fair & Bake Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday Dec. 13, at the church on the corner of Route 23 and Church Street in Sangerville.

The sale offers last-minute shoppers affordable, locally crafted and prepared holiday items ranging from soaps to sweaters.

Organizers report that a holiday quilt raffle, breakfast and a hot lunch will also be available, as well as the opportunity to “shop locally for that special someone.”

Speaking of procrastinator shopping, Elizabeth Dulin reports the Health Services Foundation’s annual diamond raffle, to benefit that Houlton organization, is in full swing and that you, or someone you love, has the opportunity to win a 1.02-carat diamond in a 14-karat yellow-gold setting valued at $6,700.

The raffle drawing is not until Valentine’s Day but one ticket, or more, would make a great holiday gift or stocking stuffer.

Tickets are $25 and may be bought at Goodrich Jewelry on North Road in Houlton or through www.healthservicesfoundation.org.

The second prize is a 14-karat gold garnet pendant, and the third prize is a sterling silver Celtic knot bracelet.

The prizes are also on display at Goodrich Jewelry. Call 521-2503 for more information about this fundraiser.

Ann-Marie Murray, president of C.A. Dean Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home Auxiliary in Greenville, e-mailed to get the word out that the organization’s annual holiday inn walk is canceled this year.

It was originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13.

“We will be holding it, again, next year, the second weekend in December,” Murray wrote of the event that “has been a terrific fundraiser for us and is very well attended.”

Murray explained that organizers are “making some changes and are very excited about some new and fresh ideas to update this annual kickoff to the holidays.”

For information, call Murray at 695-3760.

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