Community Calendar

The Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maine shines a light on funeral alternatives at its annual meeting and hosts other special events open to the public.

Why is death and dying still considered a taboo topic? How can funeral costs become more affordable? What are the more environmentally friendly options for body disposition? These are some of the questions on the minds of the Funeral Consumers Alliance board members as they gather in Bangor, ME, for their annual meeting.

And you’re invited to join us!

In addition to the meeting, the FCA Maine board invites the public to two special events: a Death Café and a Guided Tour of Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Death Café: On Friday, Nov. 7, the FCA Maine will kick off the weekend with a Death Café at Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

FCA Maine Annual Meeting: On Saturday, Nov. 8, the FCA Maine Annual Meeting will take place at the Bangor Public Library in the Minsky Lecture Hall from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. In-person and Zoom options.

Guided Tour at Mt. Hope Cemetery: After the annual meeting, the FCA Maine will gather at Mt. Hope Cemetery for a guided tour from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.

FMI: https://www.facebook.com/events/843213321404722

Join us at Libby Library in OOB on Saturday, November 8 at 10:45am for STEAM Saturday! The theme for November is Magnets, so come ready to learn and ready to play!

STEAM Saturday is a monthly program held on the second Saturday from September to May. Each month will have a different theme that we’ll explore through books, crafts, science experiments, & more! Attend one or attend them all, and earn a raffle ticket each time to win a great science prize at the end of our 2025-26 STEAM Saturday sessions. Kids of all ages are welcome to attend, but the program is geared towards Pre-K through 3rd graders. We will have older & younger aimed material available if needed, so don’t worry!

This program is free, open to the public, and no registration is required.

The University of Maine Office of International Programs and International Student Association will host its annual celebration of cultures from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, in the New Balance Student Recreation Center.

The 38th Culturefest will feature international foods, cultural exhibits, children’s activities, and a style show. The family-friendly event, which is free and open to the public, is an opportunity for the university’s international community to showcase their talents and traditions.

Expect the unexpected when you join MMS for the 8th annual Maine Music Society Online Auction! This year’s lot once again features a completely marvelous assortment of items, many of which are one-of-a-kind, that will be available for bidding beginning at noon on November 1, 2025 on the Maine Music Society’s online auction site. You’ll find a little something for everyone with items including homemade food & drink packages (including the popular home ‘wine cellar’ starters), clothing & knitted items, original artwork, local experience packages, items crafted by local artisans, and gift certificates from a variety of local businesses ranging from hardware to personal care to dining to sports events. You’ll be able to preview everything on Friday, October 31, so that you’re ready to start bidding when the site goes live at noon on Saturday, November 1. The Auction will close 10 days later at 10 pm on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Winners will be notified and given the location to pick up items.
Details on bidding procedures and a link to the auction website are available on the MMS website www.mainemusicsociety.org.
MMS is also excited to announce that rehearsals are under way for its 2025-26 season: Of Stars, Earth & Sea!
It begins with the ever-popular a cappella experience Battle of the Blends on Saturday, November 1 at 7:00 pm, when the Online Auction will also kick off. The next 3 concerts embody the season’s theme, beginning in December with Beneath the Winter Stars, followed in March by Echoes of the Earth, a Maine premier, and in May the season closer, Reflections on Water. All concerts are at the Franco Center, 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston. Visit www.mainemusicsociety.org for details and tickets or contact our business office at (207) 333-3386 or info@mainemusicsociety.org.
Please support the MMS Chorale and Chamber Singers by participating in this shopping experience just in time for the holidays.
Thank you to our Auction Sponsors: DeBlois Electric Inc., Champoux Insurance, Lisa Laliberte State Farm Insurance, Maine Family Federal Credit Union, Moody’s Collision, Roopers, and The Vault.

An invitation to rest, move, and remember what your body already knows. Step into 92-degree saltwater and experience two complementary practices designed for restoration and exploration.

Float (12-12:45pm) invites you into supported stillness—held by warm water, infused with Reiki. A non-verbal sanctuary for deep rest and presence. Optional meditation prompts. A space to simply be.

Flow (12:45-1:30pm) opens into gentle, intuitive movement. Listen to your body's wisdom, explore the water, discover what wants to emerge. Slowness and stillness welcome. Personal discovery with collective care. Nose plugs available.

Maine resident, Andy Austin was a court room artist for ABC TV Chicago for 43 years. She covered such trial as The Chicago 7, John Wayne Gacy's murder trial, trials of famous Mob Leaders and Gangsters as well as corrupt government officials such as Governor Blegojevich. These were turbulent times in Chicago and her sketches capture the tension, and the drama and in some cases the sadness. They are riveting and the stories behind them are fascinating.

Award-winning writer Annaliese Jakimides will teach a flash fiction workshop, using art currently on display at the museum as inspiration. “Likely, you'll surprise yourself with what bubbles up,” says Jakimides.

“Flash fiction is known by many names, including sudden fiction, short-short stories, and microfiction. Although people often think it's a ‘new’ form of writing, it's been around for as long as we've been writing stories.”

Jakimides has placed in the World's Best Short-Short Story Contest multiple times.

Winner of the Acadia Prize in Poetry, Annaliese Jakimides has more than five hundred publications in magazines, journals, anthologies, and newspapers, and broadcast online and on radio. She has multiple Pushcart Prize nominations and has been a finalist for the Maine Literary Awards in both Poetry and Nonfiction—multiple times for each one—as well as for the Stephen Dunn Poetry Prize. Her work has also been included in art venues such as ArtWord at the Portland Museum of Art. Her essay for NPR’s vaunted This I Believe program was included in the show’s anthology and CD, curated by Liane Hansen. Jakimides’ most recent publication is the essay “I Tell Henry the Plate Is Red,” in the anthology Breaking Bread (Beacon Press, 2022).

A native of inner-city Boston, she moved to northern Maine and raised a family, growing almost all of their food and pumping water by hand. She currently lives in an apartment overlooking the copper dome of the Bangor Public Library. She is also a noted teacher of writing. In addition to working with urban environmental justice organizations and international arts groups, she has developed humanities programs for schools and discussed life through the lens of children’s literature in a variety of settings, including prisons, community centers, and libraries.

Explore the dynamic world of martinis in this hands-on mixology class where you'll craft both savory and sweet variations. Start with a bold twist on a classic—like a Dirty Martini or Hot & Dirty—then satisfy your sweet side with an indulgent Espresso or Dessert Martini. Whether you're a seasoned sipper or a curious beginner, this class will shake up your cocktail skills in style.

Tickets include:

Two(2) cocktails
Light bites & snacks
Take home recipe card

Part of The Burleigh's Hotel Week Programming.

Ready to crack some eggs and level up your Japanese cooking game? Join us for a deliciously fun class all about tamago — the sweet-savory rolled omelette that's a staple in Japanese kitchens.

We’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of making rosella-style tamago — from whisking and seasoning to that satisfying fold-and-roll action. You’ll learn the secrets to nailing the texture, flavor, and iconic layered look.

After the demo, we’ll serve up a few tamago-inspired dishes so you can taste just how versatile this omelette can be.

Calling musicians of all levels! Please come and join us on the second Saturday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm for a community - based open mic session. All levels and musical genres are welcome as are individuals, duos, groups, whatever. This will be an all - acoustic session but there will be a small Fishman amplifier and microphone available on an as needed basis.

Our open mic group shall endeavor to provide a fun and judgement free opportunity to share our musical offerings with others. Original compositions as well as covers are welcomed. Please pass the word to friends and let's create a community where we can gather to play, sing, laugh, learn and get to know our neighbors. The event shall be by donation ($2 suggested) with all proceeds going to The Gatherings.

Thanks and we hope to see you at our first open mic on Saturday, January 14 at 1:00 pm. Should you have any questions or need for additional information please feel free to email Joe Bruno at jbruno56@gmail.com.