I love February. It’s a short month, the sun is getting stronger, and there’s usually chocolate and flowers involved. I harbor no illusions that this brutal winter is anywhere near over, but time marches on and spring is approaching. Somewhere under the frozen ground the chipmunks are getting restless and the crocus feel the pull of the longer day. They’ll both be emerging soon, along with lilacs, sundresses and flip-flops (and black flies). Until then let’s enjoy all that February has to offer…it’s a busy month in Bridgton!

Winter Carnival

One of the highlights of the snowy season in Bridgton is Winter Carnival, when horse-drawn sleighs carry revelers through town, kids compete in ice-fishing, and animal lovers “swim” in Highland Lake. Carnival buttons are only $5 and can be purchased around town; the button not only gets you discounts at many business around town but it also enters you in a weekly drawing for great prizes.

This year’s Carnival coincides with Valentine’s Day, BA Parent’s Weekend and Winter Break, so it should be the best yet. Between Friday night’s Valentine’s Dance at the Town Hall and Saturday’s Pancake Breakfast, SnowMan Competition, Snowmobile Rides and Ping-Pong Tourney, the schedule is stuffed with fun.

Along with all of these events there is also a LEA-sponsored Winter Walk through Pondicherry Park at 10 a.m., where snowshoers meet at the Dunning Bridge (right behind the Magic Lantern) for a naturalist-guided hike through our stunning in-town preserve. Call Mary Jewett at 647-8580 for more information.

Freezin’ For a Reason has been Harvest Hills Animal Shelter’s biggest fundraiser for years, and it brings a huge crowd to the shores of Highland Lake every year. Just watching all of the awesome supporters jump in the lake is painful enough; I can’t imagine how they do it year after year. It’s all to support the amazing shelter, which houses and adopts hundreds of dogs and cats each year and never puts any of them to sleep. They need all the help they can get, and this event is huge. Join the fun at noon at the Shorey Park beach, and it’s never too late to donate.

Birdsong at Morning

It might be a few months before the songbirds fly home, but until then you can hear beautiful music at the Noble House Inn’s Saturday Sounds Above the Lake. Host Cyndy Bell brings acoustic greats from across the country to town, and the concert on Saturday, Feb 15th is very special.

Featuring Alan Williams of Birdsong At Morning, listeners will be regaled with songs from a master. Williams holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from Brown University, is a founding member of Maine’s acclaimed Knots and Crosses, and has opened for Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams and the Kingston Trio. The show runs from 6:30 to 8:30, and is donation only. Please RSVP to [email protected], and thanks for supporting live music in Bridgton!

Depot Design

The downtown Bridgton revitalization efforts have seen several big projects in the past few years, improving and beautifying the shopping district. Now the long-awaited Depot Streetscape Design project is under way, and the public is encouraged to attend the planning meeting.

Now that the funding has been secured and the architects have been chosen (out of a large field of applicants) the fun starts. The project includes a new stormwater system, resurfacing of the street, and the things that matter aesthetically: Sidewalks, signage, benches, lighting and landscaping. Join the project at the first public planning meeting at the BCC on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m., and have a say in the future of Bridgton.

Hiawatha in Hiram

Before Stephen King put Bridgton and the surrounding towns on the worldwide literary map, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow did the same for Hiram. As a writer who spent many years there in my little cottage on Bull Ring Road, I have a soft spot in my heart for the town and its history.

Longfellow famously spent his summers there with his grandfather, Brig. Gen. Peleg Wadsworth, a founder of the town. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Hiram’s incorporation, Historian Charles Kaufmann will present a lecture with music on Saturday, Feb 15, at 7 p.m. at the Hiram Community Church. Hiram is just a short, scenic drive down Route 117 from Bridgton; simply follow the road through Denmark, turn left at “the Monument” and you’ll see the little church 6 miles down on the left, on Hancock Avenue. This will be a fascinating event celebrating one of America’s most beloved epic poets and the town that inspired him.

Easy Riders

Maine has thousands of miles of groomed trails, and Bridgton has some of the most scenic. Join the Bridgton Easy Riders Snowmobile Club for their annual Poker Rally, which takes players across our many lakes and ponds and up and over hills and dales.

This year’s Rally and Silent Auction is on Saturday, Feb. 22, and kicks off with registration at the Bridgton Community Center from 9 a.m. to noon, and is $6 per person. The route will run approximately 25 to 30 miles with four checkpoints along the way. There will be cash prizes for the top three card holders with a huge Chinese auction at 2 p.m., and tables filled with homemade food: Burgers, dogs, chili, chop suey, corn chowder and lots of sweets. Even if you don’t ride the rally, stop by for the auction and buy a poker hand there. You don’t have to be present to win. Trailers can be unloaded at the old Stevens Brook School, and riders can get to the Community Center from the trail that is directly behind the Chamber of Commerce building. For more information, call 647-5255 or check out the website at www.bridgtoneasyriders.com.

Compassion and Mercy

The Bridgton Alliance Church has provided funds to CAMA Africa to repair the community well in the village of Niena, Mali. CAMA is the Compassion and Mercy Associates, which is the relief arm of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

The Bridgton Alliance Church Saved to Share group is working toward funding another well in Mali that will serve several communities. Donations toward this effort can be sent to the church at 368 Harrison Road, Bridgton, ME 04009, with a memo for the “clean water fund.”

The Church is holding a fundraiser for the cause. The Spaghetti Dinner and Karaoke night will be at the church on Feb. 22. Spaghetti, meatballs, salad, garlic bread, dessert and coffee and tea will be served. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person, with a family maximum of $20. Advance tickets are not necessary, but for planning purposes they ask for a head count. Please call 647-2599 and leave a message with number attending.