Items submitted to Check it Out must be events that benefit nonprofit organizations and be open to the public. Submissions should be received at least seven days in advance of the event.

Farmington area

New Sharon, Saturday, Jan. 6: Baked bean takeout, 10 a.m. to noon, Congregational United Church of Christ, Cape Cod Hill Road. Quart beans, pint coleslaw, yeast rolls or brown bread, large pie, $14. FMI and to reserve: Mary, 778-2366.

Farmington, Tuesday, Jan. 9: Franklin County Children’s Task Force annual meeting, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Farmington, Thursday to Saturday, Jan. 11 to 13: “Fiddler on the Roof,” 7:30 p.m., University of Maine at Farmington, by Sandy River Players. Tickets at Howard’s Rexall, Main Street. FMI: sandyriverplayers@hotmail.com.

Carrabassett Valley, Friday, Jan. 12: American Red Cross blood drive, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sugarloaf USA.

Turner, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13: “Oliver!” by Leavitt Area High School Thespians; Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; LAHS Auditorium. Adults, $8; students and seniors $5. Tickets at the door. FMI or to reserve seats, Penny Appleby, 225-4371.

Farmington, Saturday, Feb. 17: Children’s festival, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., UMF. Admission is free.

Farmington, Thursday to Sunday, Jan. 18 to 21: “Fiddler on the Roof,” University of Maine at Farmington, by Sandy River Players. Thursday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Tickets, Howard’s Rexall, Main Street. FMI: sandyriverplayers@hotmail.com.

Farmington, Saturday, Jan. 20: Workshop for parade-style masks, head pieces, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. Adults and students grade 5 and up. $15/person; discounts for families, early registration. Sponsored by Foothills Arts Center. FMI or to sign up: 778-0448; info@foothillsarts.org; www.foothillsarts.org.

Farmington, Saturday, Jan. 27: Theater for Peace, “Crazy for Oil,” discussion follows, 7:30 p.m., Old South Congregational Church, Main Street, sponsored by Foothills Arts Center. FMI: 778-0448; info@foothillsarts.org.

Oxford Hills area

Bethel, Saturday, Jan. 6: Supper, 5:30 p.m., Bethel United Methodist Church. Adults, $6; under 12, $3.

Paris, Sunday, Jan. 7: Benefit dance, noon to 5 p.m., Legion Hall, Church Street. Doors open at 11 a.m. Raffles, 50/50, food bar and door prizes. Admission $5. Proceeds for the Wings & Prayers gospel group.

Paris, Saturday, Jan. 6: Pork roast supper, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Deering Memorial Methodist Church, 39 Main St. Adults, $7; children under 12, $3.

Bethel, Friday, Jan. 12: American Red Cross blood drive, 1 to 6 p.m., Sunday River Southridge.

Paris, Saturday, Jan. 13: Square and round dancing, 7 to 10 p.m., Oxford Hills Middle School, Pine Street, hosted by Swingin’ Bears Square Dance Club. FMI: Sue Corning, 743-7176; Eleanor Herrick, 782-4050.

Casco, Monday, Jan. 15: American Red Cross blood drive, 2 to 7 p.m., Casco Alliance Church, 450 Roosevelt Trail Route.

Bethel, Tuesday, Jan. 16: Gould Academy’s Performing Arts Series presents Ragamala, Music and Dance Theater of Southern India, 7 p.m., Bingham Hall, Gould Academy, Church Street. Tickets at door, $6 adults, $4 students. FMI: 207 824-3575

Mechanic Falls, Tuesday, Jan. 30: American Red Cross blood drive, 2 to 7 p.m., Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 90 Lewiston St.

River Valley area

Bethel, Saturday, Jan. 6: Supper, 5:30 p.m., Bethel United Methodist Church. Adults, $6; under 12, $3.

Bethel, Friday, Jan. 12: American Red Cross blood drive, 1 to 6 p.m., Sunday River Southridge.

Bethel, Tuesday, Jan. 16: Gould Academy’s Performing Arts Series presents Ragamala, Music and Dance Theater of Southern India, 7 p.m., Bingham Hall, Gould Academy, Church Street. Tickets at door, $6 adults, $4 students. FMI: 207 824-3575

Lewiston area

Lewiston, Tuesday, Jan. 2: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Wednesday, Jan. 3: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Auburn, Wednesdays, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., preschool story programs at the library.

Auburn, Thursday, Jan. 4: Baby’s Night Out, 6 to 6:20 p.m., Auburn Public Library. Babies from birth through 24-months and caregiver gather for nursery rhymes, finger plays, songs.

Auburn, Thursday, Jan. 4: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 6 p.m., Clover Health Care, 444 Minot Ave.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 4: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 4: Line and partner dancing with Countryside Dancers, 7 p.m., Central Hall, 191 Lisbon St. Enter, 4th level of Centreville Garage.

Lewiston, Saturday, Jan. 6: Bean supper, 4 to 6:30 p.m., Holy Cross Church Hall, 1080 Lisbon St. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 12652. Adults, $6; 12 and under, $3. Take outs. FMI: Dan Leclair, 240-3537.

Mechanic Falls, Saturday, Jan. 6: Lamplighter smorgasbord, First Congregational Church, 5 to 6 p.m. Adults, $7; children, $3.

Sabattus, Saturday, Jan 6: Baked bean and casserole supper, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Our Lady of the Rosary Parish. Adults, $6; children under 12, $3. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus. FMI: Robert Ayotte, 375-4057.

Lewiston, Monday, Jan. 8: American Red Cross blood drive, 1 to 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 150 East Ave.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Jan. 9: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Auburn, Wednesday, Jan. 10 and 24: Teen Anime Drawing Club, 3 p.m. in young adult area at the library. All teens welcome.

Lewiston, Wednesday, Jan. 10: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 11: Line and partner dancing with Countryside Dancers, 7 p.m., Central Hall, 191 Lisbon St. Enter, 4th level of Centreville Garage.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 11: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Gray, Friday, Jan. 12: Fiddlehead Center for the Arts, 5th birthday celebration and fundraiser, Spring Meadows Golf Club, Route 100. Music, swing dance lesson, 7 to 8 p.m., live swing band 8 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets: $30 in advance by Jan. 5, $35 at the door. Light buffet, cash bar.

Lisbon, Friday, Jan. 12: Lisbon Library children’s Services, “Rock ‘N Roll Over Dead,” mystery dinner for children in grades 5-8, 5 to 7 p.m. Sign up and get tickets in Children’s Room. FMI:call 353-6564.

Turner, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13: “Oliver!” by Leavitt Area High School Thespians; Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.; LAHS Auditorium. Adults, $8; students and seniors $5. Tickets at the door. FMI or to reserve seats, Penny Appleby, 225-4371.

Lewiston, Saturday, Jan. 13: American Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lewiston-Auburn Harley, 839 Main St.

Lisbon Falls, Saturday, Jan. 13: Baked bean and casserole supper, 4:45 to 6 p.m., Holy Trinity Church parish hall, 67 Frost Hill Ave. Adults, $6; children under 12, $4; children under 4, free; family with children under 12, $15. FMI: 353-5636.

Auburn, Sunday, Jan. 14: Breakfast, 8 to 10 a.m., VFW Post 1603, 588 Minot Ave. $3.50/$4.50 includes coffee and juice. Benefits New Auburn Little League Baseball. FMI: 784-6883.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Jan. 16: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Wednesday, Jan. 17: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Auburn, Thursday, Jan. 18: Baby’s Night Out, 6 to 6:20 p.m., Auburn Public Library. Babies from birth through 24-months and caregiver gather for nursery rhymes, finger plays, songs.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 18: Line and partner dancing with Countryside Dancers, 7 p.m., Central Hall, 191 Lisbon St. Enter, 4th level of Centreville Garage.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 18: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Auburn, Saturday, Jan. 20: Saturday stories and crafts with Judy D’Amour at the library, 10 a.m. Children may make snow picture to take home.

Auburn, Saturday, Jan. 20: Cindy’s Worm Farm, 2 p.m. at the library. Cindy Petherbridge’s Worm Farm Indoor Composting Workshop. Best first-graders and older. Register ahead for supplies.

Lewiston, Saturday, Jan. 20: Line and partner dancing with Countryside Dancers, 7:30 p.m., Central Hall, 191 Lisbon St. Enter, 4th level of Centreville Garage.

Auburn, Monday, Jan. 22: Book discussion: “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion, 6:30 p.m. at the library.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Jan. 23: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Auburn, Wednesday, Jan. 24: American Red Cross blood drive, 1 to 6 p.m., East Auburn Baptist Church, 9 Church St.

Lewiston, Wednesday, Jan. 24: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 25: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 25: Line and partner dancing with Countryside Dancers, 7 p.m., Central Hall, 191 Lisbon St. Enter, 4th level of Centreville Garage.

Auburn, Sunday, Jan. 28: Breakfast, 8 to 10 a.m., VFW Post 1603, 588 Minot Ave.; $3.50/$4.50. Benefits New Auburn Little League Baseball. FMI: 784-6883.

Auburn, Monday, Jan. 29: American Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., John Murphy Homes Inc., 800 Center St.

Mechanic Falls, Tuesday, Jan. 30: American Red Cross blood drive, 2 to 7 p.m., Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 90 Lewiston St.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Jan. 30: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Auburn, Wednesday, Jan. 31: American Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bachmann Industries, 416 Lewiston Junction Road.

Lewiston, Wednesday, Jan. 31: American Red Cross blood drive, noon to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.