Many Thanks

As grateful as I am for all of my wonderful friends and neighbors in Bridgton, I always love going back to my hometown for the holidays. Hopefully as you read this I’ve made it safely to Nashville and am celebrating a Tennessee Thanksgiving with my family. Southern cooking has hit the mainstream so even Yankees now enjoy some of the classic country foods I grew up with, including Turducken with giblet gravy, oyster casserole, cheese grits and sweet potato casserole with both candied pecans and a whole bag of marshmallows. That’s what we call “down-home” cookin’. Happy Thanksgiving y’all, and remember: Everything tastes better with Velveeta!

Single-Sort Soiree

Most trips to the Transfer Station aren’t as exciting as the one this coming Saturday, unless you count the time I won the bid on a fabulous mid-century bureau at the Dump Store. That’s because this week marks the fourth anniversary of Bridgton’s joining the single-sort recycling movement in Maine, and they’re throwing a party!

Not only does recycling make sense from an environmental standpoint, but it also saves us money. For every ton of garbage we keep out of the waste stream, the town saves $158. Recycling is easy, but unfortunately Bridgton is still coming up short. Last year residents here only recycled 21 percent, compared to 41 percent in Falmouth and 38 percent in Gorham and Portland. To encourage more mindful behavior, the recycling committee is having a prize lottery on Saturday, the 17th.

Just stop by the station on Sandy Creek and enter the raffle between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and you can win dinner for two at Campfire Grill, a Thanksgiving basket from Food City, an Adirondack chair from True Value, an oil change from MacDonald Motors and lots of gift certificates from other local businesses. Recycling is easy, and you might even leave with something sweet.

Diabetes Seminar

Bridgton Hospital continues their tradition of wellness events with the A1C Champions Program for diabetes patients, with special guest speaker, Ruth Charne.

The CDC estimates that more than 20 million Americans (7 percent of the population) have diabetes, including more than six million who don’t know it. Ms. Charne will speak first-hand about the challenges of diabetes control and offer help with self-management and positive lifestyle strategies. Join her and other diabetes patients on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 2 to 3 p.m., and again from 6 to 7 p.m. in the conference room at Bridgton Hospital. Light refreshments will be served, and reservations are recommended. Call Elaine Drew at 647-6064 to reserve your spot.

Festival of Lights

It is quite a sight to see an illuminated procession of merrymakers parading through the streets of downtown Bridgton, as they kick off the holiday season. Now in its 10th year, the Bridgton Festival of Lights will be on Saturday, Dec. 1, and the committee is seeking submissions for this year’s parade floats as well as the Holiday Craft Fair to be held at the Town Hall. FMI contact Tom Tash at 647-8786 or visit www.bridgtonmaine.org/festivaloflights.

Tree of Love

If you are looking for a way to honor loved ones this season, while helping a great cause, join the Bridgton Hospital Guild on Monday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m. as they light their “Tree of Love.”

A yearly tradition, the lighting of the tree is followed by complimentary hot chocolate and homemade goodies served at the Bridgton Hospital Guild’s Twitchell Cafe?, located on the hospital campus. Gathering around the 30-foot tall spruce, Choirmaster Carolyn Stanhope will lead the attendees in festive songs for the holiday. If you can’t make the lighting itself, you can always stop by and purchase a light on the tree in memory or in honor of loved ones for a gift of just $5, which will light a Christmas bulb for the holiday season. Honorees or their families are notified by mail by the Tree of Love project directors, Susan Strong and Fern Twitchell. FMI, go to www.bridgtonhospital.org or call 647-6055.

Bras Across Bridgton

In my last column I mentioned the efforts of the Radiology Department at Bridgton Hospital to mark National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by collecting 300 bras for needy women. Well, organizer Alissa Noble says that they surpassed their goal and got 345 bras donated by women honoring loved ones who have struggled with cancer, and they will be distributing them to women across the country.

“We collected 345 bras with the help of Bridgton Hospital and the Bridgton Hospital Physician Group offices,” says Noble. “We also received community help from numerous people including the Magic Lantern, Jessica DeLeon, York Hospital, Deborah Ripley, Beth’s Cafe?, and Crystal Lake Spa. It was great to see the community involvement this year and one of the best parts has been reading the ‘tags’ that donors filled out when dropping off the bras – very touching words honoring people with cancer.” Great work, ladies.

Slightly Outside Bridgton

Yes, my column is called “Inside Bridgton,” but this awesome event merits a mention here. Local Renaissance Man Lee Margolin is celebrating the debut of his first batch of beer from his new brewing company, and you are invited to raise a toast with him.

Join Margolin and his brew crew at Tucker’s Pub on Main Street in Norway at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, as he unveils his crisp, hoppy Pennesseewassee Pale Ale. There will be live music and revelry, and it should be a fun night to get out of the house after your Thanksgiving food and football marathon. Congratulations Lee, and Cheers!