Friends of Acadia has its annual benefit auction scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday. If you can't make it to the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island, consider bidding on-line for great items such as a natural seaglass necklace or a 7-night stay in Southwest Harbor at the Harbor Ridge Resort.

Friends of Acadia, which does great work in Acadia National Park, relies on charitable donations to do things such as working to maintain the 45 miles of carriage roads in the park and underwriting a propane-powered shuttle system for visitors to Acadia.

By participating in the Benefit Auction—by bidding on live or silent auction items at the event, bidding online at charitybuzz.com, or sending in an absentee bid; or by simply attending the event or making a donation in support of it—you will be part of Acadia’s conservation legacy, providing direct and vital support to the park through Friends of Acadia’s programs, conservation grants, and advocacy efforts. The unrestricted funds raised at the Benefit provide critical support to manage key new and ongoing programs, including:

•Volunteer-driven maintenance on Acadia’s historic carriage roads and trails

•Programs to engage young people in the park, like the Acadia Youth Technology Team

•Partnerships like the Island Explorer, which help protect the Acadia experience.

What can you get from the on-line auction, which runs through August 22? Take a look:

* Your very own custom Able Somes Sound 26-foot boat.

* 7-Night stay at the luxurious Strawberry Hill Hotel, Spa & Gardens in Jamaica.

* A Lisa Hall Natural Seaglass Necklace set in Sterling Silver.

* Snowy Thicket Wood Block Print by Robert Clark.

Some of the on-line auction items will be closed at noon EST on Friday, so they can go into the live auction Saturday night in Bar Harbor, so be sure to read the fine print on any of the on-line items.

After Saturday, check back on-line to see what's available. And remember, your purchases just might be tax deductible.