This week’s spitting snow reminds us it is time to begin thinking, seriously, about the holidays.

Debora Farnham and members of the Bangor Rotary hope area businesses, schools, nonprofit groups and organizations are thinking that way. They will enter floats and bands in the Rotary’s annual Festival of Lights Parade, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, on the corner of Buck and Main streets and proceeds through downtown Bangor.

This year’s theme is “Open Your Hearts.”

Farnham said the theme “is in keeping with Rotary’s theme of community service,” and floats and other entries should “convey the possibilities of the season; of giving to those who are less fortunate; of the warmth of community spirit during the season.”

“A lot of people do open their hearts to other families and to those in need, especially during the holidays, and that’s what we’re thinking about this year,” she added.

Trophies will be awarded to the best overall entry, as well as the best nonprofit, commercial, performing, youth group, adult group, band and theme entries.

You can receive a registration application or obtain more information by calling Farnham at 848-0829, e-mailing afarnha198 @earthlink.net or writing Bangor Rotary Festival of Lights Parade, c/o D. Farnham, 517 Westwood Drive, Hermon 04401.

Farnham reminds you that entries are limited, and encourages you to enter soon.

Carol Lackedy of Hermon invites you to play Bingo to Benefit Children’s Miracle Network of Eastern Maine Healthcare.

Doors for the event open at noon and games begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Brewer Eagles Club.

Gift certificates and prizes will be awarded game winners, a 50-50 and other raffles will be conducted, and lunch will be available.

The theme of this month’s Women of the World Luncheon is an American Thanksgiving.

Women of all nationalities are invited to attend the luncheon at noon Monday, Nov. 10, at the Church of Universal Fellowship on Main Street in Orono.

International women are invited to participate in preparing traditional Thanksgiving food by arriving early.

The cost is $4 per adult, but there is no charge for small children.

Additional volunteers are needed to assist with this event.

More information about the luncheon, or the organization, can be obtained by calling Phyllis Borns at 866-4193.

WOW offers fellowship and support for women of foreign countries residing in our area.

Nancy Hathaway, who has her master’s degree in education and is a counselor with a private practice in Bangor and Blue Hill, will conduct free workshops in four communities that should be of great interest to parents.

Hathaway describes her presentation, “What We Really Want for the Holidays,” as “a talk with demonstrations, exercises and skillful practices for parents who want to cultivate more presence with children during the holidays.”

The first workshop is 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the Ellsworth Public Library.

The second workshop is 7-9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at the Blue Hill Public Library.

The third is 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Orono Public Library.

Her final presentation is 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Bangor Public Library.

A parent educator, registered counselor and senior drama teacher, Hathaway is the founder of Being Present with Our Children: Parenting Mindfully in Cambridge, Mass.

Considering the stresses of the holiday season, these workshops could prove to be of great value to those who attend.

For more information, call Hathaway at 664-6181.

The word is out.

The items owned by an “internationally known children’s book author-illustrator” and donated to the Blue Hill Society Aid to Children Consignment Sale are from the estate of the late Robert McCloskey.

You may have read here previously that BHSAC was given furniture, household items and two autographed books from an unnamed estate.

At the time, the donation was anonymous, Candy Eaton of BHSAC told me.

“But it’s hard to keep a secret in Maine,” Eaton remarked – especially one as good as this.

The fund-raiser for BHSAC summer camps was originally a consignment sale of sports, athletic and outdoor gear, but it has become much more.

The sale is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov.8, at the Legion Hall on Main Street in Blue Hill. It now includes not only items from the McCloskey estate but another unusual donation.

Someone remodeling a kitchen “has donated a complete set of 10-year-old Kitchen-Aid appliances,” Eaton said.

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