‘Wreaths Across America’ coming to Westbrook

Next week, a group of dedicated volunteers who have been laying Christmas wreaths on veterans’ graves for the past two decades at Arlington National Cemetery will be passing through Westbrook.

On Monday, Dec. 10, the group, known as “Wreaths Across America” will be at Westbrook Middle School from 6-9 a.m. as part of their “Veterans’ Parade” from Maine to Washington, D.C., and then on to Arlington, Va.

Wreaths Across America is a volunteer group that, for the past 20 years, has been traveling to Arlington National Cemetery. Every year, the group stops at local schools, monuments and other places in the community to help honor the veterans both living and deceased. The group from Maine is scheduled to arrive in Arlington on Dec. 15 to lay their wreaths on veterans’ graves.

The public is invited to join the students of both Westbrook Middle School and Westbrook High School in welcoming Wreaths Across America to Westbrook.

Bank collecting toy donations

All branches of the Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution are collecting donations for Toys to Tots through Friday, Dec. 7. Drop off new, unwrapped toys at the branch closest to you.

In addition, the bank has made a donation of $1,000 to Toys for Tots to assist the program in providing enough gifts for needy kids this holiday season.

Parents wishing to sign their child up for Toy for Tots should go online to www.sacome.toysfortots.org.

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner George Gervais, left, was at the Westbrook City Council meeting on Monday to present Westbrook Mayor Colleen Hilton with a reflective sign recognizing Westbrook as one of Maine’s “business friendly” communities. The city, which earned the distinction earlier this year, will install the signs at the city’s borders.