Bangor

Debate on racino

Journalism and public relations students at the New England School of Communications will sponsor a debate on Question 1 pertaining to the establishment of a racetrack casino in Washington County 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Webber Center.

Both sides of the question will be allotted 10 minutes to present their views. Each side also will have five minutes for rebuttal. A question and answer session will follow.

Representing CasinosNO!, the organization opposed to the establishment of gambling casinos in Maine, will be its executive director, Dennis Bailey. Speaking in favor of the proposal will be leaders from the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe who are seeking to create a harness racing facility and casino on tribal land.

The Husson College radio station WHSN will broadcast the debate live and make it available on the Internet. Video production students using the NESCom Productions mobile unit will broadcast live to the college’s cable channel 5.

The referendum balloting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 6.

New food pantry

The Beacon of Hope Church of God officially opened the Seeds of Hope Food Pantry to the general public on Oct. 25.

On receiving a $2,000 donation from Bangor Federal Credit Union earlier this year, Isaac Mann, director of Seeds of Hope, applied for membership in the Good Shepherd Food Bank. By working with the food bank, Seeds of Hope was able to multiply the value of its food dollars 10 to 15 times, making its food “cupboard” a full-blown pantry.

“With the donation from Bangor Federal Credit Union and our new relationship with GSFB we finally have the resources to reach out to the community. We’re excited to not only better serve our parishioners in need, but our neighbors as well. We simply want to get the word out that we are here to help,” Mann said.

Seeds of Hope Food Pantry is located at the Beacon of Hope Church of God, 1612 Ohio St., and is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays. To obtain information, or to make a contribution to the Seeds of Hope, call Mann at 945-0224.

Talk by noted photographer

The Eastern Maine Camera Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Bangor Parks and Recreation Building, 647 Main St.

The guest speaker will be George DeWolfe, a photographer since 1964. He studied with Ansel Adams and Minor White in the 1970s and holds an master’s degree in photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

DeWolfe has published widely, most notably, “At Home In The Wild,” and “George DeWolfe’s Digital Photography Fine Print Workshop.” He has had numerous one-man and group exhibitions, has work included in several permanent collections and is senior editor for Camera Arts.

He teaches digital fine print workshops, black and white master print and contemplative photography throughout the United States.

The public is invited. For information, call 827-6772 or visit www.easternmainecameraclub.org.

Talk on the Revolution

Dr. Liam Riordan, author of “Many Identities, One Nation: The Revolution and its Legacy in the Mid-Atlantic,” will speak at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Bangor Public Library’s Lecture Hall.

A University of Maine history professor, Riordan suggests that the history of the American Revolution has been so focused on New England that the considerable impact that war had on the country’s Mid-Atlantic region and its diverse population has been neglected.

Join Riordan in his exploration of the Delaware Valley and its ethnic groups in the late 1700s and early 1800s, and discover, as he has, how America’s “multicultural society has very deep roots.”

Riordan’s book will be available for purchase and signing.

Rally-O demonstration

The Penobscot Valley Kennel Club will conduct a Rally-O demonstration 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Pet Quarters. The American Kennel Association event is one that most dog owners can easily participate in by following a course indicated by signs. The event, organizers say, is made to be fun.

Benefit dinner

A spaghetti dinner to benefit Shelly Bailey and her family, Tim, Drew and Ally, will be held 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Bangor Christian School cafeteria, 1476 Broadway. The cost is $6, $3 children, $20 family of five or more.

Shelly Bailey was diagnosed with a serious heart problem this summer. She underwent surgery to implant a defibrillator to protect her from fatal arrhythmia. She and her husband have traveled twice to Boston to meet with a team to begin the work-up for a potential heart transplant.

Proceeds from the dinner will go to defray medical and travel expenses.

Hosting Up with People

When Up With People brings its show to Bangor Dec. 3-10, host families will be needed to provide a place to sleep, transportation to and from local events, most meals and an environment where customs and culture may be shared.

Participants in the Up With People program are age 18 to 29 and they all speak English.

Those interested in serving as host families may call the advance team at 941-2808, ext. 335, or e-mail cholmes@upwithpeople.org.

Senior employment

National Able Network will hold a senior employment session 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Able office, Bangor Parks and Recreation Building, 647 Main St. Find out about work programs available to older Americans. For information, call 800-655-6073.

Brewer

‘Dancing Like the Stars’

What do the “Rumba,” “Samba,” “Paso Doble” and “Jive” have in common? No, they’re not new hip-hop bands. They’re dance steps you’ll see from competitors made up of teachers, students and community members at a local rendition of the popular “Dancing with the Stars” TV show to raise money for Brewer High School’s 2008 Project Graduation.

“Dancing Like the Stars,” is the brainchild of Anne Knowles, a member of the parent group working on raising the funds needed to put on an alcohol- and drug-free graduation party for their children.

“We were trying to come up with something new and exciting when we thought of the TV show,” she said. “Our dancers won’t be as polished as the stars on TV, but it sure will be fun.”

The “Dancing Like the Stars” competition will take place at 7 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 10 and 17, in an elimination format at the Wilson Street Ballroom, 611 Wilson St.

Chuck McKay of Back Door Dance Studio will provide free dance instruction to the participants, as well as act as the emcee and DJ for the event.

Admission at the door is $5, $3 students. The public is invited to attend and vote for their favorite “stars.”

Toys for Tots event

A Toys for Tots event will be held 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Shed Happens, 505 Wilson St.

Bring a gift for a child and help fill up the spas.

Shed Happens also will donate 5 percent of spa sales that day to Toys for Tots.

Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated.

Auditions for comedy

Ten Bucks Theatre Co. will hold auditions for its forthcoming play “Fawlty Towers Meets Monty Python, Part Duh (Now It’s Personal).” The schedule is:

. 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9.

. Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10.

. Callbacks as necessary, noon-2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 callbacks.

Auditions will be held at Between Friends Gift Shop and Art Center, 39 Center St., Brewer.

Prepare a comic monologue and-or do a cold reading from the script. English accents are necessary.

“Fawlty Towers Meets Monty Python, Part Duh (This Time It’s Personal)” opens Thursday, Jan. 24, and runs Jan. 25-27 and 31, Feb. 1-3 and 7-10. Thursday through Friday shows are at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

Youth athletics fundraiser

The Brewer Firefighters Union Local 2162 is conducting a fundraiser to support youth athletics and for medical equipment for children with disabilities. Area businesses are being contacted in an effort to raise enthusiasm and support for the cause. Those who contribute will receive an official receipt and tickets to A Night of Laughs and Comedy Show, taking place at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at the Brewer High School gymnasium.

Bucksport

Award-winning film

The Alamo Theatre has been chosen to show only one of three 35 mm prints of the award-winning film, “Buddha’s Lost Children,” Friday through Sunday, Nov. 2-4.

In order for the film to be nominated for an Academy Award it has to be officially released. In reality, most people won’t go to see a foreign film until it is nominated or wins and Oscar. For that reason, the film studio finds the most obscure and out of the way theaters and shows it just enough to fulfill the release requirement. Then, when it gets nominated, the film is re-released.

Mainers can be some of the first to see “Buddha’s Lost Children.” It has won awards at the AFI and Jackson Hole Film Festivals. It won Best Documentary at The Newport Beach Film Festival.

Show times are 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, and Saturday, Nov. 3; and 2 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. Admission is $6.50, $5 seniors and students, $4 members of Northeast Historic Film. For information, visit www.oldfilm.org or call 469-0924.

Eddington

Writing workshop

Join Cheryl Daigle of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust and Holly Twining, Maine Audubon naturalist, in a writing workshop and discussion to explore the theme of ecological restoration and what it means to be part of the Penobscot River landscape.

Participants will spend time along the riverbank just below the Veazie Dam and reflect on personal connections to the landscape while working through writing exercises.

A short recommended reading list will be provided before the workshop, but attendees may bring excerpts of favorite writing by others.

“Restoring a Landscape, Restoring Community: Writing Workshop and Discussion” will be held noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Eddington Salmon Club. A fee of $5 members, $6 non-members, will benefit Fields Pond Audubon Center. Preregister for the class at 989-2591 or e-mail htwining@maineaudubon.org.

Holden

River restoration talk

Fields Pond Audubon Center will sponsor a free program on the Penobscot River Restoration Project at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at the center. Cheryl Daigle will be the presenter.

Upgrading hydropower on the Penobscot River means the reopening of 1,000 miles of fish habitat, new opportunities for tourism and development, improved water quality and sustainable power generation for years to come. The Penobscot drains one-third of the state and is the second largest watershed in New England.

Much has happened since the project launched in 2004, much of it behind the scenes. Daigle’s talk will include information about plans to remove dams and upgrading other hydropower generation facilities.

For information, call Holly Twining at 989-2591 or e-mail htwining@maineaudubon.org.

Old Town

Walking to end hunger

Brenda Davis, executive director of Crossroads Ministries and Food Pantry, has begun the sixth annual Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour.

Davis will walk throughout the state, approximately 25 miles per day, visiting a record-setting 31 communities to raise awareness of hunger. Credit unions in towns and cities will present her with checks to help feed the hungry.

Orono

Lake association meeting

The Greater Pushaw Lake Association will hold its annual meeting with its board of directors, officers and friends of Pushaw and Little Pushaw lakes 6:15-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Orono Senior Center, Birch Street.

The meeting will focus on the challenges facing the association and its mission to continue implementing projects that assist the lakes.

A pizza supper will be served. RSVP to kerrysack@gmail.com, or call 827-2696 to ensure that enough pizza and desserts will be available for those attending.

Tribute to a poet, magazine

A Celebration of Writers and Community: A Tribute to Poet Philip Booth and Echoes Magazine was held Oct. 24 at Fogler Library, University of Maine.

Paying tribute to Philip Booth of Castine, who died in July, were poet and professor Kathleen Ellis; Pat Fowler, former librarian at Witherle Library; poet and professor Burt Hatlen; Margery Irvine, UM English instructor; Carl Little, poet; classical languages and literature professor Tina Passman; Marion Stocking, founding editor of Beloit Poetry Journal; and Candice Stover, poet and English instructor, College of the Atlantic. They each selected several of Booth’s poems to read at the event.

In addition, the 25th anniversary of Echoes magazine was observed. Magazine owner Kathryn Olmstead, poet Anneliese Jakimedes and newspaper columnist Ardeana Hamlin read articles reflecting aspects of community in keeping with the theme of the Booth tribute that was published in Echoes.

Gretchen Gfeller and Kathleen Ellis organized the event.