Tree-A-Thon

Sweetie’s Ice Cream Shop in Steep Falls will be hosting their first annual Tree-A-Thon, with a portion of every fresh cut tree and beautiful handmade custom wreath sold going to benefit local pantries. Starting on Friday, Nov. 28, Sweetie’s will be donating $1 for every tree and wreath sold, and $2 for every $25 gift certificate purchased. Sweetie’s is located at the corner of routes 113 and 11.

BERT 133 Coupons

BERT 133 (Bonny Eagle Robotics Team) is selling coupon books with more than 40 pages of deals including restaurants, buy-one-get-one-free coupons, movies and shopping. It’s a win-win. You save and BERT fund-raises! Coupons good until Dec. 31, 2015, which makes these a perfect gift Christmas gift at $20 each. To get in touch with someone about purchasing a coupon book, please email bertrobotics@gmail.com or call Bonny Eagle High School at 929-3840.

Charette in Concert

Children’s singer-songwriter Rick Charette and his Bubble Gum Band return to Saint Joseph’s Standish campus on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2:30 p.m. for the 24th Annual Holiday Benefit Concert. The public is invited to join the college community for this family-friendly afternoon of music taking place in Pearson’s Cafe? dining hall.

As in past years, concert-goers are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift card as price of admission. Additionally, donations are welcomed and encouraged. All items and money raised will go to benefit children of Raymond, Standish and Windham in need of some holiday cheer.

“It’s magical how well it works each year,” says Charette, who started the concert back in 1990 as a way to help struggling families during the Christmas season. “Every aspect of the concert is about giving. The band and I donate our concert to the effort; Blue Jay Light & Sound donates the sound system and their production services; Saint Joseph’s College provides the setting for the concert; and lots of students join in helping out.”

The volunteer student organizers Charette mentions are a key component to the event’s continued success. Rose LeBlanc and Mary Rose Becker, of the class of 2015, are each serving their third year as co-leaders in the planning process, jobs that entail organizing local publicity and readying the campus for the concert.

“The joy on the kids’ faces during the concert and the joy in the kids’ hearts opening up the toys that were donated is what makes me come back and plan this fantastic event each year,” says LeBlanc, who finds reward in the hard work.

For more information about the concert or the Mercy Center at Saint Joseph’s College, contact Kathryn Cody at 893-7794 or kcody@sjcme.edu.

The new Steep Falls bridge as seen on its opening day, Friday, Nov. 14. The old steel truss bridge spanning the Saco River on Route 11 was built in 1937 and was taken out of service in May in order to be torn down and rebuilt due to safety issues. 

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