Bangor

Live and silent auctions

Peace through Interamerican Community Action has scheduled its annual live and silent auctions for 2:30-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the College Center, 210 Texas Ave., University College. The format includes both a silent and live auction.

For 21 years PICA has conducted an annual auction to raise money for its work and to help support Bangor’s sister city of Carasque, El Salvador.

Local artisans, businesses and generous donors offer items including original artwork, sweatshop-free clothing, holiday wreaths, cut-your-own holiday tree, pottery, books, yoga and dance lessons, Reiki treatment, gift items, handmade crafts, gift certificates for local restaurants and stores, seacoast weekend, sailboat ride, cross-country skiing, plants, flower, food and more.

Tasty treats, including a juice bar offering Salvadoran Smoothies, made from fruits of Central America – back this year by popular demand – will be available.

View the growing list of items that will be up for bid at www.pica.ws.

Candidates nights

In its role as a primary source for community information, Bangor Public Library will hold candidates nights.

Candidates for Bangor City Council will appear at a forum 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29.

Bangor School Committee candidates will be at the library 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in the library’s Lecture Hall.

Light refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library will be served after each forum, with time for candidates to meet those who attend.

Michael Gleason, retired senior master sergeant of the Maine Air National Guard, will serve as moderator.

Each candidate will have three minutes for an introductory statement to include important issues facing the school department or City Council.

Each candidate will be given two minutes to answer the same question. The school committee question is: “What qualities do you think the next superintendent of schools will need?” The City Council question is: “How do you see the city growing in the next six years?”

Thirty minutes will be allowed for audience questions, then the candidates will give closing statements.

NAACP meeting

The Greater Bangor NAACP will meet at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Unitarian Universalist Society, 120 Park St., to discuss upcoming events, including its Dr. Martin Luther King breakfast and its Kwanzaa Celebration. The public is invited to attend. For information, call 947-4625 or 548-2081.

Buy ME at MarketPlace

This holiday season MaineStream Finance, Penquis and Washington Hancock Community Agency are encouraging individuals to “Buy ME” and purchase their holiday gifts from local entrepreneurs. Local consumers can find “Buy ME” products by visiting the MarketPlace 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Bangor Mall. The MarketPlace features Maine-made gifts, specialty foods and services.

“By buying from local entrepreneurs you keep your dollars in the area and you help maintain the character of our community,” said Jen Brooks, community relations manager at Penquis.

The MarketPlace is sponsored by Bank of America and the Bangor Mall. For information, call MaineStream Finance at 800-215-4942, ext. 210.

Frankfort

First responder training

The Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross will offer an Emergency Response Training course Oct. 30-Dec. 1 at the West Frankfort Fire Department. The course will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to act as a first responder in an emergency situation.

“This is a perfect course at a reasonable cost for firefighters, Maine Guides, outdoor trip leaders and anyone who wants to learn more than basic first aid, but doesn’t want to get EMT training,” said Lynn Duswald, Pine Tree director of Health and Safety Programs.

Classes are set for 6-9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Oct. 30; Nov. 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 27 and 29; and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays Nov. 3 and Dec. 1. Those who complete the course receive Red Cross certification in emergency response. To register, call 941-2903 by Friday, Oct. 26, to arrange for credit card payment, or send a check to Pine Tree Chapter, 33 Mildred Ave., Bangor, ME 04401.

Hampden

Sewing guild meeting

The Bangor Area Chapter of the American Sewing Guild will begin its 14th year with a meeting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Hampden Municipal Building, 106 Western Ave.

A business meeting, potluck lunch and classes in pin-weaving and velvet-embossing will highlight the day. A Show and Tell table will display members’ latest creations. A sale of fabric and notions will benefit guild projects. Members, friends and the public are invited. A drawing for door prizes will end the festivities at 3 p.m. For information, call 862-4367 or visit www.bangormeasg.com.

Orono

Spruce Run fundraiser

A 1920s theme celebration to benefit Spruce Run will be held 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Penobscot Valley Country Club.

Dana Wilson will present local celebrities, including Bangor Mayor Richard Greene. Pianist Clayton Smith will accompany vocalists Dr. Laura Lindenfeld and Darlene Mogul. Karen McCall will give a lesson on how to dance the Charleston. Contests in dance and costume will be held. All ticket holders will be eligible for a door prize drawing for a string of pearls.

Tickets are $50 and available by calling Belinda at Spruce Run, 945-5102, during regular business hours.

Halloween party

The Orono Public Library and the Orono Parks and Recreation Department will present the annual Halloween party 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at Asa Adams Elementary School.

Activities include spooky storytelling in a tent, Halloween crafts, bounce house and haunted hay rides. Prizes, candy, hot dogs and popcorn also will be part of the party mix. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Baxter the Maine State Library Cat and Sparky the Fire Dog.

For information, call the library at 866-5060, or the rec department at 866-5065.

Jordan Planetarium

The Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium offers two family star shows in November. “Black Holes” uses the planetarium’s new Omnidome to surround the audience with the panoramic views and action of full-dome video. “Mars Invasion” features the latest discoveries and images from NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers.

Planetarium visitors are immersed in a journey into and through the mystifying phenomena black holes at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The Omnidome system makes the entire dome into an exciting space-time travel adventure, even taking visitors inside the event horizon.

At 2 p.m. Sundays, families will journey to the Red Planet in “Mars Invasion.” Explore our neighboring planet in the full color and 3-D views from the rolling exploration rovers and orbiting probes in this high-tech voyage. Also, discover Mars and the constellations in Maine’s fall night sky.

All showings are about one hour long. Admission is $3 and seating is limited, so reservations are highly recommended. There will be no showings Thanksgiving weekend. For information and reservations, call 581-1341 or visit www.galaxymaine.com.

Lecture on Edith Patch

“Edith Patch, Orono’s Bug Lady,” will be the topic of Orono Historical Society’s fall lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, in the Council Chambers, Main Street. Dr. Mary Bird will describe the world-renowned entomologist’s work and community activities.

Patch was well-known and consulted by local people for her expertise on wildlife, especially on insects. She arrived at the University of Maine in 1903 as a young scientist and shortly thereafter founded the Department of Entomology of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Maine. She was an international authority on aphids. Her major book on the subject still is consulted. She published extensively on her work and traveled throughout Maine advising farmers and foresters on how to cope with insect problems.

Patch was the author of many children’s books and articles on natural history including a series of school textbooks co-authored with other scientific writers. These were used throughout the United States and beyond.

Winterport

Live Nativity

The 40th annual Live Nativity Pageant held annually in Winterport is now in the planning phase. The pageant is held in the evening in December on the grounds of the historic Union Meeting House downtown.

A planning meeting for the pageant will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at St. Gabriel’s Columbian Hall, Main Street. Minor jobs will be assigned to volunteers.

The event is presented by the children of Winterport, six local churches and the Winterport Historical Association. Live animals have starring roles in the pageant.

Central Maine Power Co. shuts down the streetlights and the Winterport Fire Department diverts traffic on Route 1A, giving the event special significance.

To obtain information or to volunteer, e-mail wintgrdns@roadrunner.com, or call Beth Thieme at 223-4088.