The 16th Annual “Warming Up for Christmas” Benefit Guitar Concert will be held Saturday, December 2, beginning at 5 p.m., at Williamson Auditorium, Lawrence High School, in Fairfield. The concert, presented by Benton musician Steve Fotter, has raised over $100,000 for local charities. This year’s concert will again benefit the ShineOnCass Foundation, in honor and memory of Cassidy Charette, of Oakland, who died October 11, 2014, in a hayride accident. Last year’s concert raised over $12,000 for ShineOnCass community programs.

The three-hour concert will include a variety of Christmas music, including rock, blues, jazz and folk, and features performances by Fotter’s 85 guitar students and musical friends. Concert tickets are $20, and can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com (search Steve Fotter). Tickets are also sold at Down Home Music Shop, in Fairfield, and Animal Hospital of Waterville. Limited concert tickets will be available at the door for $25.

In Cassidy’s honor, the Foundation is helping fill Christmas boxes of clothing and gifts for more than 1,700 financially disadvantaged children in Maine through the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderer’s Christmas Program. Attendees are asked to please bring new, unwrapped items to the concert or drop off gifts at Animal Hospital of Waterville located at 20 Washington St. in Waterville.

There will also be a raffle for an electric guitar, donated by Down Home Music Shop, and a handcrafted blue afghan “Cassidy” blanket. Raffle tickets are 3 for $5 or 7 for $10 and can be purchased at Down Home Music, at the concert, or by calling 207-314-6996. Winners do not need to be present to win.

The ShineOnCass Foundation was created by the Charette family to educate, inspire and empower youth to con­­­­t­inue Cassidy’s passion for caring for others through volunteer charitable activities. Some of the programs created in Cassidy’s honor and supported by the Foundation include: “Cassidy’s Kitchen,” an outdoor kitchen built at Hart to Hart Farm & Education Center, in Albion; a student-led service program called “Cassidy’s Kids” at Mount Merici Academy, in Waterville; ShineOnCass mentoring programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine; girls youth soccer mentoring programs and annual $3,000 ShineOnCass Scholarships and Service Awards at Messalonskee High School.

For more information about the ShineOnCassidy Foundation, email shineoncass@gmail.com.

Senior night took place on October 17 for the Lawrence High School, of Fairfield, soccer team. Members of the team make their way onto the field for their last game of the season.

Photo by Mark Huard, owner Central Maine Photography

On April 6, Senator Scott Cyrway (R-Kennebec) welcomed Kiara Carr, of Fairfield, and her family to the State House. During her visit, Kiara was presented with a Legislative Sentiment recognizing her achievement of scoring 1,433 points as a member of Temple Academy’s girls basketball team.

“During her junior year, Kiara joined an elite group of Maine student-athletes who have reached 1,000 cumulative points in their high school career,” said Sen. Cyrway. “Kiara was not done there. By the end of this past season, Kiara had reached 1,433 points! This is incredible.

“There is no doubt that Kiara is an extremely talented athlete. The amount of time and dedication that it would take one to reach such an accomplishment must be very great. And Kiara was able to reach this achievement, all while balancing the demands of her school work and other extra-curricular activities.

“I’m so proud to have such a talented student-athlete in my district. Congratulations to Kiara and best wishes as she makes her future plans!”