SOUTH BERWICK

Holiday festivities on tap

Additional Photos

Dogsledder Polly Mahoney gets mushy with a couple of her sled dogs, above, and goes out on a run with her team of huskies, below. Mahoney, of Mahoosuc Guide Service in Newry, will share slides of her dogsledding experiences in a 7 p.m. talk Thursday at the Camden Public Library. She will bring a few of her dogs, too. For more details, call Ken Gross at 236-3440. Photos courtesy Ken Gross

The downtown will host Home for the Holidays this weekend, a two-day celebration that will include visits with Santa, concerts, cookie-making, caroling, arts shows and sales, letter writing to Santa, Hannukah fun, treats and beverages.

Festivities will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

On Saturday, craft fairs will be held at the First Parish Federated Church, the First Baptist Church and Marshwood High School.

The Jewett House also will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

For a complete list of activities, go to www.southberwickmaine.org or www.sobocentral.org.

PORTLAND

Host homes for teens sought

New Beginnings Inc. will sponsor an informative meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday for adults or families interested in helping teenagers by becoming a host home.

The meeting will be held at 550 Forest Ave., Suite 101.

Light snacks will be offered.

For more details, call Family Services Coordinator Jada Caron at 212-2534, email jada@newbeginmaine.org or go to www.newbeginmaine.org.

BRUNSWICK

Learn about vets’ benefits

A discussion on benefits for veterans will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at People Plus, 35 Union St.

Scott Larczewski, director of the Togas Veterans Center, will speak.

For more information, call 729-0757.

Scholarship in peace study

Applications are being accepted through Dec. 14 for students who wish to be considered for a $500 PeaceWorks Peace Studies scholarship toward a three-credit-hour University of Maine Peace Studies course in spring 2013.

The UM Certificate in Peace and Reconciliation Studies is an 18-credit interdisciplinary curriculum with two required courses, PAX 201 Introduction to Peace Studies, and PAX 410 Theories in Peace Studies, plus four other PAX courses.

For a complete list of the online classes and their start dates, go to learn.maine.edu/bath/peace-studies-scholarship, call Dennis Unger at 442-7736 or email unger@maine.edu.

Silent auction at library

The Brunswick Downtown Association will host its Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the Curtis Memorial Library’s 1904 Building Reading Room.

The event is open to the general public and features a variety of gift items and certificates. Local musicians Tamora Goltz and David Stimson will provide seasonal and traditional Irish music. Refreshments will be served by local restaurants and BDA board members.

Proceeds will directly benefit BDA projects.

For more details, go to www.brunswickdowntown.org.

KENNEBUNK

Fair at Sea Road School

Sea Road School will host its 31st Annual Holiday Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at 71 Sea Road.

The event will include 30 craft tables, a white elephant table, used book sale, silent auction, theme basket raffles and baked goods.

A chowder luncheon also will be offered, beginning at 11 a.m.

SCARBOROUGH

Become a balance coach

Sign-ups are being accepted for those who wish to serve as volunteer coaches for the Matter of Balance program that teaches tips on helping seniors remain active while alleviating their fear of falling.

Southern Maine Agency on Aging will offer the free training from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 at its offices at 136 Route 1.

Those who are strong communicators, dependable and enjoy working with older adults are welcome to attend.

Coaches receive training, materials and ongoing support.

Pre-registration is required by calling Liz Weaver at 396-6578 or lweaver@smaaa.org.

STANDISH

Artist Homer topic of lecture

Portland Museum of Art Director Mark Bessire will be the next guest speaker for Saint Joseph’s College SPArC — Speakers, Performers, Artists and Culture — lecture series, at 6 p.m Thursday in Harold Alfond Hall, Room 224 at 278 Whites Bridge Road.

Bessire will discuss artist Winslow Homer and the impact Maine had on his paintings.

Bessire also will detail PMA’s recently completed project of renovating Homer’s National Historic Landmark studio on Prouts Neck in Scarborough.

The talk is free and open to the public.

For details, call Chris Sullivan at csullivan@sjcme.edu.

CUMBERLAND

Historic letters spotlighted

Dr. John Woolverton will give a presentation at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Prince Memorial Library, 266 Main St., detailing an exchange of letters from Moscow to Maine during the Russian Revolution.

All ages are welcome.

Refreshments will be served.

For more details, call 829-2215.

CASCO

Health event set for Dec. 3

The Cumberland County Public Health Council, in collaboration with Crosswalk Community Outreach and Healthy Lakes, Healthy Maine Partnership will host “Health on the Move” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m Dec. 3 at the Crooked River Adult and Community Education Center, 1437 Poland Spring Road.

The free event will feature health screenings, health care information, preventive care and wellness resources, along with a healthy lunch served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., all free of charge.

Offerings include flu shots, blood pressure screenings, diabetes assessments, depression screenings and cancer screening programs, resources on getting active, managing stress, treating addictions, proper nutrition, keeping a healthy home and parenting tips.

For more details, call Zoe Miller at 553-5939.

CAMDEN

Local author to discuss work

Camden author Tom Dowd will talk about his two new books, “The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World” and “From Fear to Success,” at 7 p.m. at the Camden Public Library at 55 Main St.

For more details, call Ken Gross at 236-3440.

SANFORD

Toys for Tots drive Saturday

A Toys for Tots toy drive is planned for 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Amvets Hall, Post No. 3. on School Street.

The event will include a Karaoke Christmas Show.

Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate for children who might otherwise go without this Christmas.

This event is open to all Amvets members and their guests.

EAST ORLAND

Christmas tree harvest, sale

Great Pond Mountain Wildlands will offer an old-fashioned Christmas tree harvest and sale from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday and again Dec. 9.

Community members are invited to come cut down their Christmas tree the old-fashioned way. The cost is $25 for wild, open-grown balsam firs and $10 each for additional trees

Cutting help and handsaws will be available; no chainsaws please.

There also will be hayrides, a bonfire, hot cocoa and refreshments.

All proceeds benefit Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust.

The Wildlands property is located at routes 1 and 176.

Snow conditions on the roads may impact location and gate opening.

Those planning to attend should check for cancellations or updates at www.greatpondtrust.org.

For more details, call 469-2008 or email info@greatpondtrust.org.

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