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

Wilton, Tuesday, Jan. 29: Preschool story time, 10:30 a.m., Free Public Library. FMI: Sandra, 645-4831.

Farmington, Wednesday, Jan. 30: Fish chowder lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Trinity Methodist Church, Route 2.

Rangeley, Thursday, Jan. 31: A crusader knight searches for meaning, 1956, 7 p.m. Lakeside Theater. Donations benefit Episcopal Diocese of Maine’s Haiti mission. Sponsored by Church of the Good Shepherd. FMI: Joan, 864-9949.

Wilton, Friday, Feb. 1: Infant/toddler story time, 10:30 a.m., Wilton Free Library. FMI: Sandra, 645-4831.

New Sharon, Saturday, Feb. 2: Bean take out, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., New Sharon Congregational United Church of Christ, Cape Cod Hill Road. Family meal, $14. To reserve: Mary, 778-2366.

Wilton, Tuesday, Feb. 5: Preschool story time, 10:30 a.m., Wilton Free Library. FMI: Sandra, 645-4831.

Farmington, Wednesday, Feb. 6: Fish chowder, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Trinity Methodist Church, Route 2.

New Sharon, Thursday, Feb. 7: Story hour, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Jim Ditzler Memorial Library.

Rangeley, Thursday, Feb. 7: Movie, 7 p.m., Lakeside Theater. Fundraiser for Episcopal Diocese of Maine Haiti Mission. Sponsored by Church of the Good Shepherd. FMI: Joan, 864-9949.

Farmington, Saturday, Feb. 9: Valentine’s dinner and dance, dinner at 6, dancing 7 to 11 p.m., Elks Lodge. $25/couple. Tickets, FMI: Shannon, 778-4726.

Farmington, Wednesday, Feb. 13: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 5 p.m., UMF, 246 Main St.

Oxford Hills area

Fryeburg, Monday, Jan. 28: American Red Cross blood drive, 1 to 7 p.m., St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main St.

Paris, Monday, Jan. 28: Blood drive, 1 to 5:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, Church Street. Walk-ins welcome. Bring photo ID. FMI: Marilyn, 743-5723.

Mechanic Falls, Tuesday, Jan. 29: American Red Cross blood drive, 1 to 7 p.m., Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 90 Lewiston St.

Norway, Wednesday, Jan. 30: Story time for ages 2 to 5. 10:30 a.m., Norway Memorial Library. FMI: 743-5308.

Paris, Thursday, Jan. 31: Story time for preschoolers, 10 a.m., Paris Public Library. FMI: 743-6994.

Norway, Friday, Feb. 1: Baby Boosters rhymes, finger plays, stories, other activities, 10:30 a.m., Norway Memorial Library. FMI: 743-5308.

Buckfield, Saturday, Feb. 2: Spaghetti feed ride-in, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Buckfield High School Cafeteria, Morril Street. $6, children, $3. Hosted by Streaked Mountaineers Snowmobile Club. Proceeds benefit Pine Tree Camp.

Naples, Saturday, Feb. 2: Scrapbooking Day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lake Region High School, 1877 Roosevelt Trail. $30 includes lunch. Fundraiser for Class of ’09. FMI: [email protected] or 693-6221.

Paris, Saturday, Feb. 2: Patricia Probert Gott, author, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Paris Public Library, 37 Market Square. FMI: 743-6994.

Paris, Saturday, Feb. 2: Supper, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Legion Hall, Church Street. $7, under 12, $3. Hosted by Paris Veterans Monument Committee. Music.

Bethel, Wednesday, Feb. 6: “Labrador Canoe Crossing: Ice, Rock and Tides,” by David Brown and Ann Ingerson, 7 p.m., Trustees Auditorium, McLaughlin Science Center, Gould Academy, Church Street. Free. Hosted by Mahoosuc Land Trust. FMI: 824-3806.

Norway, Wednesday, Feb. 6: Story time for ages 2 to 5, 10:30 a.m., Norway Memorial Library. FMI: 743-5308

Bethel, Thursday, Feb. 7: Chris Sweet, Maine Public Broadcasting Network producer, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Gehring House, 77 Broad St. Free. Hosted by Western Mountains Senior College. FMI: P. Gartner, 665-2181.

Paris, Thursday, Feb. 7: Story time for preschoolers, 10 a.m., Paris Public Library. FMI: 743-6994.

Norway, Friday, Feb. 8: Baby Boosters rhymes, finger plays, songs, stories, more, 10:30 a.m., Norway Memorial Library. FMI: 743-5308.

Norway, Saturday, Feb. 9: Film “Arranged,” 7 p.m., Norway Public Library. Free. FMI: 743-5309.

Paris, Saturday, Feb. 9: Swinging Bears Square Dance Club sweetheart dance, 7 to 10 p.m., Oxford Hills Middle School, Pine Street. $10 couple, $5 single. Non-dancers, no charge. FMI: Sue, 743-7176 or Eleanor, 782-4050.

Paris, Saturday, Feb. 9: Jones dance band, 7 to 10 p.m., Legion Hall, Church Street, $5.

Paris, Saturday, Feb. 9: Inside yard sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., American Legion Hall. Lunch. FMI: Marilyn, 743-5723.

Bethel, Sunday, Feb. 10: Susan Poulin, writer and performer, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., West Parish Congregational Church, Church Street. Free. Hosted by Western Mountains Senior College. FMI: R. Tiff, 824-2053.

River Valley area

Rumford, Friday, Feb. 1: Dance, 6 to 8 p.m., Armory, Lincoln Avenue. $1. Hosted by Hope Association.

Rumford, Wednesday, Feb. 6: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 6 p.m., American Legion Hall, 184 Congress St.

Rumford, Friday, Feb. 8: Dance, 7 to 11 p.m., Snowshoe Club, Waldo Street. Tickets at the club. Members and guests welcome.

Rumford, Saturday, Feb. 9: Valentine Dance, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., Eagles Hall. $5, benefits Rumford Community Home, Alzheimer’s Unit.

Lewiston area

Auburn, Tuesday, Jan. 29: Basics of estate planning, 3 to 5 p.m., Androscoggin Community Room, Public Library, 49 Spring St. Free. FMI: 333-6640 ext. 2024 to register.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Jan. 29: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Mechanic Falls, Tuesday, Jan. 29: American Red Cross blood drive, 1 to 7 p.m., Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 90 Lewiston St.

Lewiston, Thursday, Jan. 30: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Friday, Jan. 31: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Auburn, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1 and 2: “Vagina Monologues,” 7 p.m., First Universalist Church, 169 Pleasant St. $10 or $15 for two. FMI: 783-0461.

Auburn, Saturday, Feb. 2: Abused Women’s Advocacy Project 15th annual Winter Walk Against Violence, 8 to 10 a.m., inside the Auburn Mall, Center Street. FMI: Kelly Glidden, 795-6744.

Gray, Saturday, Feb. 2: Supper, 5 to 6 p.m., American Legion 15, Lewiston Road. $6, under 12, $2.50, under 5 free. FMI: 657-4884.

Lewiston, Saturday, Feb. 2: American Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lewiston-Auburn Harley-Davidson, 839 Main St.

Lewiston, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 2 and 3: Snow Fest 2008, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., No Name Pond. Free.

Lewiston, Saturday, Feb. 2: Scholastic book fair, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Vineyard Christian School Cafe. FMI: www.vineyardschool.net.

New Gloucester, Saturday, Feb. 2: Jim Gallant, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church Village Coffeehouse. $10, $5 seniors and children. FMI: 926-3161 or 926-3260.

Sabattus, Saturday, Feb. 2: Bean and casserole supper, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Our Lady of the Rosary Parish. $6, under 12, $3. Hosted by Knights of Columbus to benefit parish programs. FMI: Robert, 375-4057.

Auburn, Sunday, Feb. 3: “Until the Violence Stops” documentary, 1 p.m., First Universalist Church, 169 Pleasant St. $2. Anti-hate panel discussion to follow. FMI: 783-0461.

Sabattus, Sunday, Feb. 3: Breakfast, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Sabattus American Legion Post 135. $6; 10 and under $3.

Lewiston, Friday, Feb. 8: “Food for Thought,” 12 p.m., L-A Senior College, USM Auburn-Lewiston campus. Speaker: Andrew Harris, executive director of L/A Arts. $6.50 advance, $8 at door. Reservations, FMI: 753-6510 or usm.maine.edu/lac/seniorcollege.

Auburn, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9 and 10: A Memory, A Rant, and a Prayer, 7 p.m., First Universalist Church, 169 Pleasant St. $10. FMI: 783-0461.

Auburn, Sunday, Feb. 10: Breakfast, 8 to 10 a.m., VFW Post 1603, 588 Minot Ave. Children, $3.50; adults, $4.50. Benefits Operation Uplink for U.S. Troops. FMI: 784-6883.

Auburn, Sunday, Feb.10: Sweethearts’ sing-along with Phil House, 2 p.m., First Universalist Church, 169 Pleasant St. $5, $3 seniors. FMI: 783-0461.

Lisbon, Sunday, Feb. 10: Wine tasting, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Graziano’s Casa Mia Restaurant. $15. Fundraiser for Maine Music Society. FMI, tickets: 782-1403.