Houlton Humane Society secretary Holly Henderson e-mailed that the organization is “in the process of a capital campaign to raise money for a new shelter for our animals.”

One campaign fundraiser is an estate auction at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at Northern Music Supply on Calais Road in Houlton.

The auction will take place under a tent, and “we will be serving lemonade and iced tea,” Henderson wrote.

Among the items to be auctioned are jewelry, furniture and “other collectibles of antique nature.”

You will also be able to bid on a Ward Log Home children’s playhouse, which Henderson describes as “a beautiful little cabin with a covered porch, window boxes, freshly stained and painted.”

Henderson explained that HHS is “in bad need of a new shelter. The one we have right now has been repaired, redone, etc., and we have really outgrown (it) in so many ways.”

The auction was made possible through the estate of Evelyn Lawry, who died in March and named the Humane Society as a beneficiary, Henderson wrote. “We will be placing a plaque in her honor in our new building.”

She added, “We have a dedicated animal shelter staff of Barbara Thorne and Courtney Nelson, as well as a small supply of regular volunteers.”

The shelter is located on Callahan Road “just off the Ludlow Road, which is where Wal-Mart is located,” Henderson added.

“We take in just about anything that is a stray, owner-turned-over because of moving away, abandoned, etc. We have found ourselves in the middle of several situations where the animals have not been spayed or neutered, and there is a major population expansion going on, so we are taking care of approximately 50 cats and kittens,” she said.

The shelter also has “a few dogs right now … so we find ourselves needing to move forward as quickly as we can to get a new shelter.”

By attending the HHS Estate Auction and bidding up, you’ll be helping this organization attain that new home.

It’s time again to “Stuff the Bus!”

The event, sponsored by Penquis CAP, Brewer Wal-Mart and Z107.3, accepts donations of school supplies to help families in need in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties, as they prepare to send their youngsters off to school.

Dan Cashman reports that the bus, “generously donated by Cyr Bus Lines,” will be ready for your contributions from 6 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, through 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, at Wal-Mart in Brewer.

Representatives of Penquis CAP, Wal-Mart and Z107.3 will be there 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday, to load the school supplies into the bus, and Z107.3 will broadcast live throughout the event.

A Friday evening barbecue will mark the end of the 2005 “Stuff the Bus” campaign. Supplies will be turned over to Penquis CAP to distribute to students in time for the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year.

If you wish to make donations before Wednesday you may do so during regular business hours at Brewer Wal-Mart or at Z107.3, 49 Acme Road in Brewer.

For more information, call Penquis CAP, 973-3500.

Ann Homola and members of the Church of Universal Fellowship invite you to its annual Blueberry Festival Dessert Cabaret at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the church, 82 Main St. in Orono.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12.

Advance tickets can be obtained by calling the church office, 866-3655.

Proceeds benefit the church’s community outreach program.

Laurel Butler, manager of EPI Sub & Pizza, reports that the business is having a yard sale to benefit the Bangor Humane Society as part of the downtown Bangor celebration, “Dog Day of Summer,” on Saturday, Aug. 20.

“We are looking for donations of items to sell,” Butler wrote. “They can be dropped off at EPI’s or we can arrange for pickup.”

Epi Sub & Pizza is located at 128 Main St. in Bangor. The hosts would appreciate your donations by Friday, Aug. 19.

If you want to drop the items off, donation boxes are in EPI’s front window, or you can call 942-3888 to arrange to have your items picked up.

Dogs accompanying their owners to the sale will enjoy free homemade dog biscuits.

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