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.

River Valley AreallBethel, Aug. 16-19: “Inaugural Maine Mountain Corvette Festival.” FMI: Chamber of Commerce, 824-2282.

Dixfield, Sunday, Aug. 19: Main Street Outdoor Market, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

Rumford, Saturday, Aug. 25: Voices of the Valley vocal competition, 6 p.m., Mountain Valley High School. Auditions, 9 a.m. Barbecue, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Benefits Tammy MacDonald medical expenses.

Lewiston area

Auburn, Thursday, Aug. 16: Half Moon Jug Band, noon, Festival Plaza. FMI: L/A Arts, 782-7228.

Auburn, Thursday, Aug. 16: Author P.D. LaFleur discusses mystery, suspense novels, 6:30 p.m., Auburn Public Library, 49 Spring St. FMI: 333-6640.

Lewiston, Thursday, Aug. 16: Rhythm Inlet, drumming workshop, 10:30 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For ages 4-8. Free, space is limited. Tickets required. FMI: 784-0135 ext. 4, www.lplonline.org/child.

Lewiston, Friday, Aug. 17: Babytime, 10 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For parents, infants and children as old as 2. Free. FMI: 784-0135, ext. 4 or www.lplonline.org/child.

Lewiston, Friday, Aug. 17: Preschool Storytime, 10 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For parents and children ages 2 to 5. Free. FMI: 784-0135, ext. 4 or www.lplonline.org/child.

Lewiston, Friday, Aug. 17: Dirty McCurdy, 8 p.m., Lewiston Lodge of Elks, 1675 Lisbon St. Open to public; doors open at 7 p.m. $12. Benefits Elks programs. FMI: 784-4801.

Auburn, Saturday, Aug. 18: Great Falls Balloon Festival 15th anniversary parade, 11 a.m., Auburn to Lewiston. Participants needed. Parade application and FMI: www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org; Tracey, 333-6601 ext. 1212.

Auburn, Saturday, Aug. 18: Nicholas De Sibio performs “Pieces of Change,” 7:30 p.m., First Universalist Church of Auburn, 169 Pleasant St. Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Adults, $18; seniors and students, $15; $3 discount before Aug. 13. Tickets: LA Arts, 782-7228. FMI: 783-0461.

Gray, Saturday, Aug. 18: Hunting dogs, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Maine Wildlife Park, Route 26. Trainers will offer exhibits, demonstrations. FMI: 657-4977; www.mainewildlifepark.com.

New Gloucester, Saturday, Aug. 18: Chair caning workshop, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26. $35; materials included; preregistration required. FMI: 926-4597; www.shaker.lib.me.us.

New Gloucester, Saturday, Aug. 18: Nature walks, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26. Adults, $5; children, $2; under 6, free. FMI: 926-4597; www.shaker.lib.me.us.

New Gloucester, Saturday, Aug. 18: Smorgasbord supper, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sabbathday Lake Grange, Sabbathday Road, off Route 26. Bottle drive during supper benefits junior and youth members to Grange Leadership for a week.

New Gloucester, Saturday, Aug. 18: Bean supper, 5 to 6 p.m., Amvets Post 6. Adults, $6; under 12, $2; under 6, free.

Pownal, Saturday, Aug. 18: Bean supper, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., First Parish Church, Pownal Center. Adults, $7; children under 12, $3.50. Tickets at the door or by reservation, 688-4433.

Sabattus, Saturday, Aug. 18: On-Going Garage Sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dominican Sisters, 61 Lisbon Road. To benefit Loaves and Fishes program.

Winthrop, Saturday, Aug. 18: Baked food sale, 10 a.m., Winthrop Congregational Church UCC. All proceeds will benefit the church. FMI: Marie, 377-2718.

Lewiston, Sunday, Aug. 19: Children’s Chair-ity Auction, 2 to 4 p.m., Great Falls Balloon Festival food tent. Hand-painted children’s furniture and other items. Benefits Androscoggin Children’s Advocacy Center. Sponsored by Schooner Retirement Community. FMI: 784-0436.

Poland, Sunday, Aug. 19: Compassionate Friends summer picnic, 11 a.m., Range Pond. FMI: Kathy Peters, 388-3368.

Auburn, Monday, Aug. 20: Teen Risk Game Tournament, 1 to 4 p.m., Auburn Public Library. FMI: Sally, 333-6640 ext. 4; [email protected]; www.auburnpubliclibrary.org.

Poland, Monday, Aug. 20: Denny and Ann Breau, and Frank Coffin, instrumental and vocal country, 7 p.m., Poland Spring Preservation Society Summer Concert Series. FMI: Jason or Linda, 998-4142.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Aug. 21: Preschool Storytime, 10 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For parents and children ages 2 to 5. Free. FMI: 784-0135, ext. 4 or www.lplonline.org/child.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Aug. 21: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Auburn, Wednesday, Aug. 22: Auburn Community Band, “Greatest Hits,” 7 to 8:15 p.m., Festival Plaza, Main St., weather permitting. Free. FMI: 784-0191; www.auburncommunityband.org.

Lewiston, Wednesday, Aug. 22: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

New Gloucester, Wednesday, Aug. 22: American Red Cross blood drive, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pineland Farms, 59 Pineland Dr.

Sabattus, Wednesday, Aug. 22: American Red Cross blood drive, 2 to 7 p.m., Our Lady of the Rosary, 131 High St.

Greene, Thursday and Friday, Aug. 23, 24: LaClaires bluegrass and gospel music, Araxine Wilkins Sawyer Memorial, 371 Sawyer Road. Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 2 and 7 p.m.. Free. FMI: 946-5311; http://ourworld.cs.com/sawyerfoundation.

Lewiston, Thursday, Aug. 23: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Friday, Aug. 24: Babytime, 10 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For parents, infants and children as old as 2. Free. FMI: 784-0135, ext. 4 or www.lplonline.org/child.

Lewiston, Friday, Aug. 24: Preschool Storytime, 10 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For parents and children ages 2 to 5. Free. FMI: 784-0135, ext. 4 or www.lplonline.org/child.

Lisbon, Friday, Aug 24: Barbecue chicken supper, VFW Post 9459, Route 196. Adults $6; children under 10, $3. Sponsored by Ladies Auxiliary. FMI: 353-2152.

Auburn, Saturday, Aug. 25: Holistic Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., UU Vestry Hall, 159 Pleasant St. Sponsored by Northeast Professional Psychics Mediums and Healers Guild. FMI: Eddita Felt, 353-8648; www.NEGuild.

Auburn, Saturday, Aug. 25: Dave Rowe Trio in concert, 7:30 p.m., First Universalist Church, 169 Pleasant St. Benefits volunteer trip to New Orleans called “Bayou by UUs” to assist in post-Hurricane recovery efforts. Adults, $13; seniors and children under 13, $11. FMI: toll-free (866) 655-7171.

Gray, Saturday, Aug. 25: Chicken barbecue, 5 and 5:45 p.m., Gray Congregational Church Parish House, Brown Street. Adults, $8.50; children 12 and under, $4. Take-out available. FMI: 657-4338.

Gray, Saturday, Aug. 25: Indoor yard sale, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., American Legion, 15 Lewiston Road. Tables $15. FMI: Karen Russell, 657-3500; Nancy True, 657-2661; Legion, 657-4884.

New Gloucester, Saturday, Aug. 25: R&R Spinners demonstration, 10 a.m., Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26. FMI: 926-4597; www.shaker.lib.me.us.

Sabattus, Saturday, Aug. 25: On-Going Garage Sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dominican Sisters, 61 Lisbon Road. To benefit Loaves and Fishes program.

Turner, Saturday, Aug. 25: North Turner Presbyterian Church yard sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Goodwin Well and Water, Route 4. Refreshments; bake sale. Benefits North Turner Presbyterian Church.

Auburn, Sunday, Aug. 26: LA 5K Bridge Run, Rollerdrome, Riverside Drive. Registration: 7 a.m (entry fee, $15); Kids Fun Run, 8 a.m. (entry fee, $5); 5K, 8:30 a.m. FMI: Mike Lecompte, 777-3724.

Poland, Monday, Aug. 27: Phil House and Kathy Haley, piano and vocal, 7 p.m., Poland Spring Preservation Society Summer Concert Series. FMI: Jason or Linda, 998-4142.

Auburn, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 28, 29: Open auditions, 6 to 8 p.m., First Universalist Church of Auburn, 169 Pleasant St.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Aug. 28: Preschool Storytime, 10 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For parents and children ages 2 to 5. Free. FMI: 784-0135, ext. 4 or www.lplonline.org/child.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Aug. 28: American Red Cross blood drive, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Mary’s Hospital LePage Center, Campus Avenue.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Aug. 28: American Red Cross blood drive, 12 to 7 p.m., CMMC, 300 Main St.

Lewiston, Tuesday, Aug. 28: American Red Cross blood drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., White Rock Distilleries, 21 Saratoga.

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

New Gloucester, Wednesday, Aug. 29: Apple workshop, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26. Adults, $30; adult with child, $40. Pre-registration required. FMI: 926-4597; www.shaker.lib.me.us.

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

Winthrop, Thursday, Aug. 30: American Red Cross blood drive, 1 to 6 p.m., St. Francis Church, Lake Street.

Lewiston, Friday, Aug. 31: Babytime, 10 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For parents, infants and children as old as 2. Free. FMI: 784-0135, ext. 4 or www.lplonline.org/child.

Lewiston, Friday, Aug. 31: Preschool storytime, 10 a.m., Public Library, Children’s Room, 200 Lisbon St. For parents and children ages 2 to 5. Free. FMI: 784-0135, ext. 4 or www.lplonline.org/child.

Winthrop, Aug. 31 to Sept. 3: Maine Living Arts Festival, Camp Mechuwana. Adults, $150; children, $110. Includes lodging and seven meals. FMI: Mike Lecompte, 777-3724; [email protected].

Lisbon, Saturday, Sept. 8: Chapel Chix and Chap performance, 7 to 8:30 p.m., St. Matthews Church Coffee House. Free. Refreshments. Offerings accepted. Benefits Lisbon Area Christian Outreach food pantry and clothing bank. FMI: Debbie, 353-6925.