In an effort to prevent cavities from too much Halloween candy, Hermitage dentist Dr. Dale Spadafora has been paying $1 a pound for the sweet stuff, which in turn will be sent to local soldiers serving overseas.

Spadafora will continue his Stash for Cash program through Veterans Day. Candy can be taken to his office on Brookshire Drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Friday, Monday and Tuesday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Spadafora will donate all the candy he buys to the Stocking for Soldiers program at Whispering Oaks in Hermitage.

Residents of the retirement community are collecting nonperishable items to be sent for the holidays to local service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

They also are raising money through a silent auction that ends Saturday. The funds will pay for additional items for the “stockings” and for postage to ship the boxes overseas.

The community is invited to early bidding on the more than 45 auction items during a complimentary RSVP-only buffet dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today at the apartment building at 260 S. Buhl Farm Drive.

From 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, the building will be alive with music as the auction nears its end.

The Penn Ohio singers will entertain from 2:15 to 2:45 and Picks and Hammers from 3 to 4 p.m.

Silent auction bidding will end at 3:30 p.m., with the winners announced at 4.

Those attending will be asked for a $5 donation or a nonperishable item to be packed in one of the holiday boxes.