I'm trying for a mostly handmade holiday season, as everyone probably knows already from reading my Going Green column in this week's Phoenix. Those who are less craftily inclined might be looking for something handmade -- by somebody else. For that, try MECA's Holiday Sale, taking place today, tomorrow, and Sunday at the East End Community School.

Here's some fun trivia with which you can impress your friends while you're all gathered 'round the tube watching Heroes:

Recent episodes, purportedly taking place in Maine, have actually been filmed in Malibu, California.

To make the set more authentically "Maine-like," a Heroes producer recently called local businesswoman Beth Shissler, co-owner and operator of Sea Bags, to ask for a Sea Bags tote bag to use in the scenes.

Money for low-income housing nationwide is at stake in Washington right now, as Congress debates a bill that provides funding for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). President Bush has threatened to veto a bill that even in its current incarnation provides less money than what's needed.

Forty-four families in Maine stand to lose their Section 8 vouchers, according to a study released by the Washington, DC-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (and Maine, sadly, is better off than most states -- in fact, only Delaware, New Hampshire, and Utah have smaller numbers of affected families; more than 4,000 vouchers in California are at risk).

Once again, the Christian Civic League of Maine unwittingly publicizes something it wants to demonize. This time around, it's the South Portland First Congregational Church's scheduled screening of For the Bible Tells Me So, a documentary that "brilliantly reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scripture." The UCC church will show the film on Friday at 7 p.

Better public transportation means fewer cars on the roads, and that means less gas guzzling. So for an earnest greenie like me, this morning's regional bus transit summit, held at Portland's Ocean Terminal and attended by more than a few local and state public officials and transportation heads, was an encouraging step for Greater Portland's environmental future.

Welcome back, everyone.

In a few minutes, the state's Labor Committee will commence a public hearing on a bill that would increase Maine's mimimum wage from $7.00 to $8.40 over the next two years. State senator and congressional candidate Ethan Strimling is sponsoring the bill, and it's a move that is sure to shore up his traditional Dem base.

We are NOT LYING when we tell you that Sea Bags has come out with a regiftable, reuseable wine bag, just in time for the holidays.

The Portland-based company (full disclosure: we sell their wares on our auction site) hopes the accessory will "give fellow partygoers a hint about how to be more eco-aware." Plus, the To/From label in the back is a fun way to see where the bag has been, kind of like this site, which allows you to see where your dollar bills have traveled.

In October, Chris Gray told us that local group Fire on Fire had signed a record deal with Young God Records.

Last week, buzz about the band's 5-song EP -- available at the Young Gods website and at live shows -- started spreading through Internet-land.

On Friday, Fire on Fire was a Stereogum Band to Watch.

Hooray for the locals!

Unfortunately, it's bitterly cold and raining, so it's a pretty crappy day for an outdoor demo.

Project Vote Smart is a Montana-based organization that aggregates poltiical information on its web site in order to educate voters. Right now, two guys are driving around the country in a big bus, trying to get the word out.

A few notes from last night's candidate forum at the University of New England, at which the six Democratic hopefuls running to fill Tom Allen's seat answered questions from UNE's students of social work:

-- If we ever start a 1st Congressional District race drinking game, you'll definitely have to take a sip every time newcomer Stephen Meister says: "I'm not a politician, I'm a pediatrician."