Fall Cleanup
ALTON — The Town of Alton will hold its annual Fall Cleanup on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Have items by the curbside by 7 a.m. Do not include electronics items.
Electronic items may be brought to the Town Office 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, and Thursday, Oct 9, or 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 11.
For information, call the Town Office at 394-2601 or Neil at Maine Waste, 659-2381.
‘Spirit Weekend’ concert
BANGOR — A “Spirit Weekend” concert featuring Roosevelt Andre Credit will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at First United Methodist Church, 703 Essex St. Admission is free, but donations will be taken at the end of the concert.
A public “healthy heart” bean supper will be held 5-6 p.m. before the concert. The cost is $7, $3 children, $20 families.
Bangor Baby, Family Expo
BANGOR — The Bangor Baby and Family Expo will take place 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Spectacular Event Center, Griffin Road. Admission is free. For information, call 989-5631 or email kathy.hardy@townsquaremedia.com.
Confucius Classroom Day
BANGOR — The Confucius Classroom and Bangor Chinese School will host Confucius Classroom Day 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, on the Bangor waterfront. The event will offer food preparation and tasting, including dumplings; Chinese folk arts, music, dance, singing, lion and dragon dance; calligraphy, tai chi and gongfu demonstrations and practices; free Chinese lessons for all levels; contests and prizes; and a mini-Chinese store for shopping.
The event is sponsored by Headquarters of Confucius Institute and Hanban. For information, call 990-0710, email jingzhang@bangorchinese.com or visit bangorchinese.com.
Tutor training
BANGOR — Literacy Volunteers of Bangor announced that its semi-annual Tutor Training certification course will begin with an information session on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at United Technologies Center in Bangor. Four additional sessions and a follow-up is also scheduled.
Patience, empathy, flexibility and a passion to make a difference are the requirements needed from volunteers, along with a few hours each week, organizers said.
Literacy Volunteers’ uses a one-on-one model of tutor support for adults who are learning to read and-or speak English.
Two separate certification tracks are offered — adult basic literacy or English language learner, both offered Tuesday evenings. To see a complete schedule and details, go to lvbangor.org/volunteer and click on Tutor Training Schedule.
A suggested contribution of $35 will help defray the costs of the book and materials. Scholarships are available upon request. For information or to register for the tutor training, call Literacy Volunteers at 947-8451 or email mereditheaton@lvbangor.org.
Federal grant
BANGOR — The Bangor fire Department will receive a $498,532 grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s SAFER Awards. The funds will be used to fill four firefighter positions previously lost through attrition; according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud’s office.
Book signing
BANGOR — A book release reception will be held for Gloria Hutchinson, author of “Damage Done: Suicide of An Only Son” at noon Sunday, Sept. 28, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 540 Essex St. Her book tells the story of her musician son David Hutchinson’s self-inflicted death on Nov. 6, 2012, and its impact. Hutchinson also is author of “Six Ways to Pray from Six Great Saints” and “Be Comforted.” Copies of her book will be available.
Bluegrass jam sessions
BREWER — The all-volunteer, nonprofit Bluegrass Music Association of Maine will present Bluegrass 2014-2015 Eastern Jam noon-5 p.m. first Sundays of each month, Oct. 5-April 5, at Old Town Riverside Grange, 1266 North Main St.
Admission is $3 members, $5 others. The session is open to those of all levels of musical ability. Unplugged, stringed instruments only are used. Listeners are invited to attend.
A stair chairlift gives access to the second floor. Food concessions will be provided by the Grange. Alcohol is prohibited. Smoking is permitted outdoors. For information, call Joan Richert at 989-5848.
Fundraiser
BREWER — Families United of Washington County, a small, nonprofit organization headquartered in Machias with offices in Ellsworth, Bangor and Caribou, will hold a raffle to raise funds for the organization, which works with children and families in these regions to assist in the resolution of problems and conflicts, to enhance well- being and to strengthen the family unit.
Raffle prizes will include a signed novel by Stephen King, Fresh off the Boat Lobstah for four (eight lobsters), gym memberships, hair salon gift certificates, Penobscot High Stakes Bingo and much more. Tickets are $10 each, with 31 separate chances to win.
Raffle tickets will be sold Friday, Sept. 26, at Marden’s, Wilson Street, in Brewer.
For information, call Carol Curry at 989-5701.
Rod and Gun Club auction
BUCKSPORT — The Bucks Mills Rod and Gun Club 10th annual auction will be held at noon Saturday, Oct. 11, at the club, 359 Bucks Mills Road. Doors open at 11 a.m. Tools, hunting equipment, Adirondack chairs, gift certificates to local restaurants, campgrounds, a nature cruise and more will be up for bid.
Proceeds from the event will be used for scholarships for high school seniors.
For information or to donate items, call 469-7446.
Homecoming parade
ORONO — The second annual Orono Commons Homecoming parade will march at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, starting from 117 Bennoch Road.
The parade will feature the Homecoming king, queen and grand marshal, Old Town Marching Band, Old Town Junior ROTC, Orono Police, Animal Cracker characters, clowns, floats and classic cars.
Writing Circle
ORONO — The Orono Public Library will offer the Writing Circle with Barbara Wicks for returning and new participants at 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays for seven weeks at the library, 30 Pine St.
The circle is an informal writing workshop where participants share drafts of their works in progress, conversations about development, revision and editing, and celebrations of effective word choices, polished phrases and unique perspectives. Space is limited. To register, contact the library at 866-5060 or laurie@orono.org.
The Gifts of Music
ORRINGTON — The Gifts of Music, a nonprofit organization based in Orrington, which helps provide musical instruments to students who cannot afford one, invites school band directors to visit thegiftsofmusic.org where an instrument request form is available. Band directors should fill out the form and send it to The Gifts of Music for consideration.
Susan Patten, founder of The Gifts of Music, said the organization can assist band directors throughout Maine, upon request, by “gifting” used instruments that have been refurbished professionally and cleaned.
For information, to donate an instrument or to make a monetary donation, contact Patten at 356-8015 or email susan@thegiftsofmusic.org.
Dog show
STILLWATER — The Animal Orphanage Fun Dog Show will take place 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept 28, rain or shine at the Herbert Sargent Community Center, Bennoch Road. Registration will begin at noon. The show will offer 15 events at a cost of $1 for each event entered. Events will include musical chairs, shortest tail, best trick, best costume, longest tail, cutest puppy 6 months old or younger, biggest dog, smallest dog and cutest purebred.
Refreshments will be available for purchase, including hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, drinks and snacks. A 50/50 raffle also will be conducted.
For information, call 827-8777 or 299-7324.
Blessing of the Animals
STILLWATER — Blessing of the Animals will be held at noon Sunday, Sept 28, rain or shine at Herbert Sargent Community Center, Bennoch Road. The event is open to all animals. The event is free. For information, call 827-8777 or 299-7324.
Candidates videos
AREA — Last spring, Maine Municipal Association invited the three leading candidates for Maine governor to meet with its 12-member executive committee during the summer to discuss municipal issues.
Two candidates accepted the invitations. Independent Eliot Cutler met with the
committee at the association’s conference center in Augusta on Aug. 1. U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud met with the committee on Aug. 28. Both candidates are featured in hour-long videos
broken into 20-minute segments. The videos are available for viewing by MMA members and
the public at memun.org. Topics addressed in the videos during the meetings include general
assistance and immigration, municipal revenue sharing, K-12 public education, the conditions of roads and bridges in Maine, and much more.
For information, go to memun.org.