CAMDEN — Autumn and Halloween themes hide and seek their way through an October itinerary at Camden Public Library filled with lectures, book sales, concerts, and exhibits.

Tuesday, October 1, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. New Ventures Maine: My Money Works Series. A class to help you gain the skills and confidence to stretch your money, pay your bills, reduce your debt, find money for savings, plan for retirement, and set personal financial goals. Begins September 24 with weekly classes on Tuesdays through October 15. Classes are free but require advanced registration. Contact Melinda at melinda.wildes@maine.edu or 593-7942.

Tuesday, October 1, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Medicare 101 with Allen Insurance and Financial. Have questions answered and find assistance navigating the world of Medicare in these free informational sessions.

Tuesday, October 1, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Colonial Medicine. Explore the history of medicine from Stone Age skull surgery through the 18th century with nurse practitioner and historical reenactor Jackie Fournier.

Thursday, October 3, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Giant Fall Book Sale Under the Tents. Thousands of books, CDs, and DVDs divided into over 25 categories will be on sale. Proceeds from sales benefit the Camden Public Library.

Thursday, October 3, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Cold Chocolate Coffeehouse Performance. Cold Chocolate is a genre-bending Americana band that fuses folk, funk, and bluegrass to create a unique sound all their own. Punctuated by tight harmonies and skillful musicianship, and with a focus on songwriting, Cold Chocolate has quickly gained recognition for their original music and high-energy shows.

Friday, October 4, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Giant Fall Book Sale Under the Tents. Thousands of books, CDs, and DVDs divided into over 25 categories will be on sale. Proceeds from sales benefit the Camden Public Library.

Friday, October 4, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Chess Club. Learn new strategies and test them out. For players of all ages and skill levels. New players welcome.

Saturday, October 5, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Fall Harbor Arts and Books Festival. Juried exhibition featuring over 50 artists and artisans in tents along Atlantic Avenue and throughout Harbor Park. Plus, thousands of books, CDs, and DVDs divided into over 25 categories will be on sale.

Sunday, October 6, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Fall Harbor Arts and Books Festival. Juried exhibition featuring over 50 artists and artisans in tents along Atlantic Avenue and throughout Harbor Park. Plus, thousands of books, CDs, and DVDs divided into over 25 categories will be on sale, and 

Monday, October 7, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Puzzle Club. Puzzle-lovers of all ages are welcome to join this brand new club to gather, socialize, and work on puzzle projects together. Meets every Monday.

Tuesday, October 8, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Tuesday Book Club. This month the group will be discussing The Color of Lightning by Paulette Jiles. Meets second Tuesdays monthly. New members welcome.

Tuesday, October 8, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Leer y Charlar. Spanish language reading and conversation group. Meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays monthly. New members welcome.

Tuesday, October 8, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Knitting Group. Bring your own knitting project, or try out something new! Miss Loraine leads the knitting circle every second Tuesday through June. Supplies provided.

Tuesday, October 8, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Food Routes: Growing Bananas in Iceland and Other Tales from the Logistics of Eating. Writer and food historian Robyn Metcalfe explores an often-overlooked aspect of the global food system: how food moves from producer to consumer. She finds that the food supply chain is adapting to our increasingly complex demands for both personalization and convenience.

Wednesday, October 9, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Creative Art & Journaling. Join Miss Amy for different projects every second Wednesday of the month through June. Bring your own journal. Art supplies provided.

Thursday, October 10, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Empty Place at the Table Display. A powerful installation, coordinated by New Hope for Women, that brings to light the severity of domestic violence in Maine and the Midcoast region. The display consists of the victims' place settings and personal tokens that represent and honor who they were as people.

Thursday, October 10, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Madockawando to Knox: Early Power-Players of Midcoast Maine. Author and historian Michael Dekker will discuss the controversial interests of the British Crown, wealthy merchants, colonial governors, native sachems, and revolutionary war heroes in the development of the region.

Friday, October 11, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Chess Club. Learn new strategies and test them out. For players of all ages and skill levels. New players welcome.

Sunday, October 13, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Coastal Maine in Words and Art. Learn about the conception and creation of a beautiful new book that celebrates The Solon Center for Research and Publishing's first writing/art project. The challenge for writers was to choose a fine art photograph of Maine's coast and write a story based on the image. Writers will be reading their stories aloud and signing copies of the books for sale.

Tuesday, October 15, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. United Healthcare Community Medicare Meetings. Have questions answered and find assistance navigating the world of Medicare in these free, informational sessions.

Tuesday, October 15, 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Camden Philosophical Society. This lively group discusses a wide range of topics. Meets third Tuesdays monthly.

Tuesday, October 15, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Camden Conference Talk with Robin Lloyd —Covering the Casualties of War: Witnessing the Seeds of Revolt. The talk will focus on what it was like to cover social upheaval and civil wars in the 80s and 90s in some of the most unsettled and dangerous areas of the world.

Thursday, October 17, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Oaxaca, Mexico: Endemic Birds and Ancient Cultures. Naturalist Doug Hitchcox will present on a March 2019 birding trip to Mexico. Sponsored by Mid-Coast Audubon.

Friday, October 18, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Chess Club. Learn new strategies and test them out. For players of all ages and skill levels. New players welcome.

Monday, October 21, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Puzzle Club. Puzzle-lovers of all ages are welcome to join this brand new club to gather, socialize, and work on puzzle projects together. Meets every Monday.

Tuesday, October 22, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. My Next Career Move Series. Learn how your current skills connect to future careers. Identify high-growth job fields. Explore education and training options. Strengthen your resume for a targeted job search. Weekly classes on Tuesdays through November 19. Classes are free but require advanced registration. Contact Melinda at melinda.wildes@maine.edu or 593-7942.

Tuesday, October 22, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Leer y Charlar. Spanish language reading and conversation group. Meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays monthly. New members welcome.

Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Living in 1628: Colonial House Reality Series on PBS. Cast member, Julia Friese Pierce, discusses the Emmy-nominated series in which everyday individuals and families were placed in an experimental historical setting in order to film the challenges that modern people would face while attempting to (literally) walk in the shoes of their forefathers.

Monday, October 21, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. United Healthcare Community Medicare Meetings. Have questions answered and find assistance navigating the world of Medicare in these free, informational sessions.

Thursday, October 24, 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Spooktacular! This family event will be filled with spooky stories, games, and crafts. Don’t forget to come in full costume!

Friday, October 25, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Chess Club. Learn new strategies and test them out. For players of all ages and skill levels. New players welcome.

Friday, October 25, 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Pumpkinpalooza. Share your creative carving genius, and bring your pumpkin to show off. The goal is to have a record-breaking number of pumpkins illuminated in the Amphitheatre! All are welcome to participate, and you can bring your pumpkin home afterward. Check website for related activities.

Saturday, October 26, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Simply Books! Book Club. Fun and informal. Bring whatever book you are currently reading, and share it with the group. Meets fourth Saturdays through May. New members welcome.

Monday, October 28, at 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. United Healthcare Community Medicare Meetings. Have questions answered and find assistance navigating the world of Medicare in these free, informational sessions.

Monday, October 7, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Puzzle Club. Puzzle-lovers of all ages are welcome to join this brand new club to gather, socialize, and work on puzzle projects together. Meets every Monday.

Tuesday, October 29, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM. Brainstorming the State Bicentennial: Past and Present Perspectives on Maine at 200. University of Maine Professor of History Liam Riordan will give an illustrated presentation and discussion exploring the long statehood process in Maine that culminated in 1820 with separation from Massachusetts.

Thursday, October 31, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Songwriter Sessions. Come find a supportive group for your songwriting. All levels of songwriting are welcome. Meets monthly on the last Thursday.

Thursday, October 31, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Halloween Horror - What Really Scares You? Author P.G. Smith will offer a lighthearted, interactive discussion of why horror literature thrills, provokes, and entertains us. Using short readings from the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and his own work, Smith will explore the dynamics of mood, suspense, and mystery.