Your contributions are always appreciated to help make the annual Down EastCommunity Auxiliary Book Fair a success.

Ruth Leubecker reports that the event will be held 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, in the vestry of Center Street Congregational Church in Machias.

“As usual,” Leubecker explained, “a bake sale will also be part of this event.”

This is why Auxiliary members request your donations of not only books but your delicious baked concoctions as well.

“For those interested in donating their used books,” she wrote, “these may be dropped off on Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Center Street church vestry.”

Baked goods, she added, can “be left, anytime, Thursday afternoon or throughout the day on Friday.”

And, while the book fair and bake sale are taking place, plans are under way for the next fund-raiser.

Anyone who would like to exhibit in the Auxiliary’s annual Holiday Fair, which is planned for Saturday, Dec. 6, is asked to call Carole Anne Sprague for details and to reserve a space.

You can reach Sprague at 255-3660.

Golden Harvest Grange No. 33 will hold its annual craft fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Grange Hall on Route 2 in Carmel Village.

Arlene Newey reports tables are available for rent at $10 each, and proceeds from those rentals will benefit the work of the Grange.

To rent a table, call Newey at 848-3052.

The Penobscot Valley Ski Club’s Ski and Snowboard Equipment Sale takes place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Bangor Armory on Main Street.

Admission is free, and not only can you buy used equipment at low prices, you also can purchase new equipment and perhaps win a door prize.

Pat Cammack reminds you that you can register to sell your used ski equipment from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at the Armory.

The registration fee is $1 per item. For more information, call 848-5945.

Joyce Schoppe of Ellsworth hopes you will attend the Maine Coast Memorial Hospital Second Craft Fair and Silent Auction from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at MCMH, 50 Union St. in Ellsworth.

Schoppe said local crafters will exhibit their work, and donations from local merchants and friends of the hospital will be available for your bidding in the silent auction.

Les Myers of Maine AIRS reminds readers that the Vision Awareness White Cane Walk in our area begins with registration at 10 a.m. and the walk at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Bangor City Hall on Harlow Street.

The purpose of the walk is to raise public awareness of Maine’s White Cane traffic law, and to raise funds to support services for people in Maine who are blind or visually impaired.

Walkers with a minimum of $25 in pledges will receive a Vision Awareness White Cane Walk T-shirt.

For more information, call Myers at 989-0058, or Terri Tomchak at the Iris Network, 774-6273.

“Autumn Leaves” is the theme of this year’s Guilford United Methodist Women annual Church Fair, which is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Guilford United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on School Street, “across from the town office and fire station,” reports Sharon O’Connell.

A soup and sandwich lunch is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and, “on the specialty tables, you’ll find food and candy, crafts and a men’s table” she added, along with a “table of miscellaneous items.” She also urges you to be sure and “check out the Cookie Walk.”

Funds raised help the women’s organization support several different church projects.

Rob Gaiser invites you to “come have a haunting good time” at the Smuggler’s Dead 2003 Haunted Hay Ride that features a special “before-dark ride” for infants and toddlers at 4:30 p.m. The ride begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Smuggler’s Den Camp Ground in Southwest Harbor.

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

The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 19, at the same site.

The event also features live music and a remote broadcast with a celebrity DJ.

For more information, call Gaiser at 244-7388.

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