Sheepscot chorus to perform in Boothbay Harbor

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Sheepscot Valley Chorus celebrates its 39th season with a “Christmas Pops!” concert on Sunday, December 8, at 3 p.m., at the Boothbay Harbor Congregational Church. Led by artistic director Linda Blanchard and accompanist Sean Fleming, the concert will feature Felix Mendelssohn’s brilliant Magnificat setting, the Magnificat in D. The concert will also include several jazzy arrangements of hit tunes such as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and more! The vocal talents of soprano Mary Sullivan, alto Jazmin DeRice, tenors Jesse Wakeman and David Myers, Jr., and bass John David Adams will be featured in solos, duets, and trios, and a jazz combo will accompany the chorus on several numbers.

In the spirit of Christmas giving, Sheepscot Chorus asks concert attendees to bring a canned or boxed food item and/or a monetary donation for the Boothbay Region Food Pantry.

Bird count seeks feeder watchers and field observers

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The Sebasticook Regional Land Trust (SRLT) invites all interested birdwatchers to participate in the Unity Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on Saturday December 14.

If you like to feed the birds and will be around to watch your bird feeder on the day of the count, they would love to have you help!

This event contributes to the North American database for the National Audubon Society’s CBC which is now in its 120th year. Birders of all skill levels are welcome at any level of participation.

A CBC is a tally of individuals of all bird species found during one 24-hour period from midnight to midnight within a 7.5 mile radius. The Unity CBC circle is centered at the intersection of Quaker Hill Road and Route 202/9, in Unity, and is divided into sectors, each of which is assigned to a team of observers.

You may either watch birds at your home feeders (if you live within the circle) or go out in the field for any part of the day.

SRLT will provide volunteers with instructions, bird lists, data sheets and the results of the tally.

They will also sponsor another CBC in Hartland on December 21. This count is centered just south of St. Albans and extends from the south side of Great Moose Lake to the west side of Sebasticook Lake. The count will be run similarly to the Unity count, as explained above. If you have computer access and would like more information on the CBC, see this link: http://www.audubon.org/content/history-christmas-bird-count.

For more information or to sign up for either count, please email Tom Aversa at tom.aversa@gmail.com.

Palermo Community Center in search of seed money to upgrade community garden

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The Palermo Community Garden is going for a SeedMoney FlashFund Challenge Grant. They are looking to revamp and raise some of the cedar log garden beds to provide comfortable seating for seniors and the disabled, so they can enjoy the organic veggie beds, the friendly hummingbirds, and getting their hands in the soil. They also want to purchase roll-around garden seats with toll racks, to save wear and tear on knees.

The Palermo Community Garden provides over 450 pounds a season of extremely fresh salad greens, vegetables, herbs and fruit to the Palermo Food Pantry. Any volunteers can pick whatever their family needs from the garden from asparagus to zinnias.

The goal is to raise $600 before December 15. You can help. Just go to https://donate.seedmoney.org/3621/palermo-community-garden, and push the orange DONATE button. There is already over $200 in the kitty, so any amount of your generosity will be hugely appreciated.

For more information, contact Connie Bellet at 993-2294 or pwwhitehawk@fairpoint.net.

Fresh baked turkey pies coming this Saturday in Winslow

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Pie sale will help defray cost of new disabled access ramp

This Saturday, December 7, from noon to 2 p.m., Winslow Congregational Church (12 Lithgow Street) will be offering 320 incredibly yummy, fresh-from-the-oven turkey pies for take-out sale. Cost is just $10 per pie. Holiday pasta packages, starting at $6.50, will also be available for sale.

Freshly-baked and featuring a delectable blend of turkey, peas, celery, carrots, onions, broth, and a pinch of sage, each turkey pie will be perfect for supper or for freezing for later winter comfort-food enjoyment.

Any turkey pies not sold on Saturday will be available for sale at Boucher’s Meat Market, 715 Benton Avenue, in Winslow (near Big G’s Deli), beginning Monday, December 9.

All proceeds from the Turkey Pie Sale will go toward defraying the cost of replacing/upgrading the disabled-access ramp at the front of Winslow Congregational Church.

For more information, please call Winslow Congregational Church at 872-2544.

Kringleville: A magical Christmas tradition

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Laila Libby, 4, of Waterville, speaks with Santa at the Waterville Parade of Lights on November 29. (photo by Mark Huard, owner Central Maine Photography)

Christmas season is underway in central Maine

by Mark Huard

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive in downtown Waterville. (ohoto by Mark Huard, owner Central Maine Photography)

A message from Santa and Mrs. Claus to the spirited people of Kringleville, Maine USA! Thank you for welcoming us once again to the booming City of Waterville. We noticed that this year’s parade of lights was bigger and brighter than ever. We were so pleased to see so many floats and friends. We also noticed growth and development down your Main Street…Congratulations!

We are so thankful to S & S Carriage Rides for having Belle and Captain bring Santa Claus to town in style with Cathy, Elizabeth and Caitlyn. What would Kringleville and the City of Waterville do without the volunteerism of Scott McAdoo?

Scott makes a point to greet Santa and Mrs. Claus every season and extend his helping hand however needed by Kringleville. What a delight to see the Big E, Eric Lunt volunteering at the parade.

There were so many volunteers; firefighters, police officers, friends of Kringleville and so many more of you who contributed. Last season was full of Christmas magic in the Claus Cabin, at Castonguay Square, and this season has started out with lots of special visits and smiling faces. There have already been visitors to see Santa from Hawaii, China, Korea, Virginia, Arkansas, Connecticut and all over Maine and New England. Don’t miss your chance to see Santa this season!

Year after year, Kringleville has more and more visitors line up to visit with Jolly Old Santa. Last season, visitor after visitor commented to Santa and Mrs. Claus that though the wait can be long, once you’re inside the cabin you truly feel the magic of Christmas making it well worth the wait. Hearing it is “WORTH THE WAIT” again and again makes Santa and Mrs. Claus feel like visitor’s time in the cabin is special for each individual.

Mrs. C wants to remind all visitors of all ages, please dress appropriately for the weather. While waiting in line, you should have warm footwear, a warm hat, mittens and, of course, a warm jacket. Always prepare for the unexpected and bring an umbrella, too.

Kringleville continues with the support of The Children’s Discovery Museum led by Executive Director Amarinda Keys. Amarinda is a real go-getter and right on task whenever Santa and Mrs. Claus need something.

Thank you to the generous 2019 Kringelville sponsors; The Children’s Discovery Museum, Central Maine Chevy, Selah Tea Café, Day’s Jewelers and Bangor Savings Bank. Additional supporters are GHM Insurance, Marden’s, the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, Central Maine Photography and others who share in the Christmas spirit with Christmas caroling, hot chocolate and more.

Kringleville is a proud supporter of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Again this season, proceeds from Santa and Mrs. C’s hand painted annual Kringleville collectable ornaments will help children in need.

All of us at the Kringleville appreciate the generosity of Central Maine Motors Auto Group being Kringleville’s major sponsor again this season! If you or your business would like to contribute to the success of this timeless Waterville tradition, please contact Amarinda Keys at The Children’s Discovery Museum at (207) 622-2209 or email amarinda@childrensdiscoverymuseum.org to ask how you too can be a part of the magic of Christmas at Kringleville.

Keegan Miranda, 8, of Augusta, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Kringleville in downtown Waterville following the Parade of Lights, on November 29. (photo by Mark Huard, owner Central Maine Photography)

China Food Pantry thanks community

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A photo of the food boxes being prepared for needy families in China.

WOW!! Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community, the China Community Food Pantry has been able to serve 53 families this year AND, in addition, you have given us a healthy head start on being able to offer our families a turkey at Christmas time as well. Thank you all so very, very much. The outpouring of support from this community was both humbling and staggering. We are so very, very grateful to each and every one of you.

Proclamation for David Herard Day in China

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David Herard’s service jacket. (photo by Ron Maxwell)

The Nov. 25 China selectmen’s meeting opened with a proclamation by Town Manager Dennis Heath marking the day as “David Addis Herard Day” in honor of the late head of China Rescue. The manager summarized Herard’s many services to his town and his country and presented a certificate to his daughter, Kate Herard, who wiped away tears as she and others agreed her father would have enlivened the serious moment with a witty remark.

See Ron Maxwell’s tribute to David Herard here.

 

 

 

 

 

Kennebec Historical Society hosts tea on December 8

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The Kennebec Historical Society will host a Victorian Tea Party at its headquarters, 107 Winthrop Street in Augusta. Please come and join us as we celebrate the holiday season on Sunday, December 8, from 2 to 4 p.m., and if the weather does not cooperate, we’ll host the tea party the following Sunday, December 15, at the same time. The Victorian Tea is a return to the “olden days” as many know we held this event for a number of years in the past.

There will be a variety of goodies to sample including cookies, snacks, coffee and of course tea! Enjoy the festive decorations and holiday musical selections played on the piano. Anyone interested in decorating, serving or who would like to bring in some tasty treats are asked to contact Anne Cough, either by email at acough60@aol.com or by phone at 582-2823. Hope to see you there!

The Kennebec Historical Society Victorian Tea Party will take place on Sunday, December 8, 2019, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Henry Weld Fuller, Jr. House, located at 107 Winthrop Street, in Augusta.

Roxanne Malley inducted as Lion

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Roxanne Malley, right, has been inducted in to the Whitefield Lions Club after serving three years as the adviser to the Erskine Academy/Whitefield Leos. Pictured with her is sponsor and older brother, Barry Tibbetts. (Contributed photo)

Induction ceremony held for Erskine Leos

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The Whitefield Lions club held an induction ceremony for 10 incoming Leos. The Erskine Academy Leos are an affiliate service group of the Whitefield Lions. Pictured, from left to right: Barry Tibbetts, Sarah Robinson, Cadence Rau, Autumn Boody, Emily York, Nabila Miety, Lily Matthews, Reiana Gonzales, Nicole Demerchant, Calvin Prescott, Hannah Strout, Kirsten Cote, Jack Allen, Andrew Robinson, Roxanne Malley and Faith Bonnell. Contributed photo

12/2/2019: Updated caption to include Andrew Robinson and Faith Bonnell.