Last year, the Houlton Rotary radio and TV auction raised close to $40,000, chairman Darrell Malone told me.

As the Rotary celebrates its 50th anniversary auction, Malone knows it would be wonderful to raise $50,000 in honor of the auction’s founder, former president Floyd Haskell, who was 91 when he died last September.

“We’re using the ’50s as a theme,” Malone said of the event, which honors longtime Rotarians who’ve been associated with this popular fundraiser.

The auction is 6:30 to 10:30 tonight, and the same times Tuesday and Wednesday on WHOU-FM 100.1 and Polaris Cable TV Channel 10.

To participate, call the auction desk at 521-0314 or toll-free at (800) 734-0130.

More than 1,000 items range from a John Deere mower to a wide-screen television, an entertainment center and a log cabin package.

Calls will also be taken to “Buy-A-Paver” for the Gateway Crossing Bridge.

For a $1,000 pledge to Houlton Regional Health Services Foundation, you receive a numbered, miniature-pewter statue of the Boy & the Boot; and fuel oil raffle tickets, $1 each or six for $5, are available from any Rotarian.

Among the organizations benefiting from this event are the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Salute to the Troops Fireworks, 200 Trees for 200 Years and many school and community programs and projects.

For information, visit www.houltonrotary.org.

Turkeys and nonperishable food items to be distributed by the Brewer Christian Food Cupboard will be collected from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today outside the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brewer.

If you cannot donate at this time, call the food cupboard, 989-3591, to make other arrangements.

Clear Channel WVOM-FM103.9 and WABI-AM 910 are donating two hours of air time for an expanded “Senior Talk” with host Carol Higgins of Eastern Agency on Aging, focusing on the Medicare prescription drug program.

The show airs from 7 to 9 tonight on both stations.

The public can call in with questions and comments at (800) 966-1039, or e-mail maineinthemorning@clearchannel.com.

Higgins reports two Medicare experts will join her for this special broadcast.

Richard Young, coordinator of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, reports collection sites in Bangor are at Airport Mall, UPS Store, Kmart, KB Toys, Pella Windows & Doors, Marine Corps Recruiting, Maine Discovery Museum, Air National Guard base, Swett’s Tire & Auto, Best Buy, Linnehan’s Auto, and Tires, Batteries & Auto.

Ellsworth locations are UPS Store, Colortyme, Renys and Linnehan’s Auto.

Orono sites are Dollar Tree and American Legion Post No. 84.

Other collection sites are Down East Toyota and Dollar Tree store in Brewer, and Dysart’s Truck Stop in Hermon.

Jill McGowan, who designs women’s clothing, will host a benefit clothing sale from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at First Congregational Church, 20 Park St. in Pittsfield.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the restoration and expansion project of McGowan’s hometown library, the Pittsfield Public Library.

The clothing will be discounted 40 percent to 70 percent.

During this benefit, the library trustees will be conducting a quality book sale.

Anita Robertson reports there is no admission charge to attend Christmas at the Boathouse on the Waterfront, the 10th annual sale of fine arts and crafts hosted by the Passy River Artisans from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Belfast Boathouse on Front Street along the Belfast waterfront.

Light lunches will be available from Brookside Cottage Catering.

My condolences to Audrey Geagan, sons Todd and Sean, their families and friends, on the death of one of Bangor’s hometown heroes, former high school and college star athlete, teacher and coach Ron Geagan. He died of cancer Nov. 11.

The Averill-White family had a collectively long association with Ron, who was a classmate of my husband, Ralph “Whizzer” White, from kindergarten through ninth grade. Their paths crossed again at Husson College.

My children were in school with Ron’s sons, and my son played basketball for him at Bangor High School.

Those who share the sorrow of Ron’s passing also share the gratitude that he is now free from pain.

I am on vacation this week, as my husband and I enjoy the holiday with family.

My column returns to this section Nov. 29.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

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