A joyful sound

You know Christmas is near when holiday carols are on every commercial, radio station and retail sound system. As festive as the tunes are, nothing beats hearing them performed by a live ensemble.

The Promise Singers are back with their annual Christmas Concert, filled with favorite holiday standards and contemporary Christmas music along with winter selections. The singers have been performing together for more than 20 years, and always invite the audience to join in on traditional carols.

This year’s Bridgton performance will be a fitting end to the Festival of Lights weekend in town. The concert is being held Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. at the First Congregational Church on South High Street. It is open to all and admission is free, but donations will be accepted and distributed to area charities.

In case you miss the first performance, or just cannot get enough “Deck The Halls”, a second concert will be held in Denmark Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. This show will be held at the Denmark Congregational Church on Route 117. Refreshments will be served after each concert.

Hit The slopes

The power skiers among us have been anticipating this day since last April, but for those of you less obsessed, it is time to dig your gear out of the closet and wax the skis.

Shawnee Peak’s opening day is planned for Saturday, Dec. 13. That is weather-permitting, of course, but if it gets cold enough for snowmaking, or even better, some of the real stuff, slopes will be open. There are still some great season pass deals, and a full schedule of special events is posted at www.shawneepeak.com. You can call 647-8444 for more information.

Loaves and fishes

Bridgton has several wonderful outreach programs that provide food and services to our neighbors who might need some extra help. I have recently mentioned the outstanding efforts of Project Warm and the local food pantries. Another great program is the Community Kettle at the Community Center Thursday nights through the winter. The Kettle provides two important services: it offers hot, healthy meals while fostering social interaction in a safe, warm environment.

The weekly dinners begin Thursday, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. and are free to anyone who wants to join in. If you want to help serve or prepare food, or make a cash donation to help out, please call Lorraine Goldrup at 647-3116.

Trump this

My family passed many a winter’s day playing cards when I was young. Before I abandoned them for the high-tech world of Atari and Game Boy, we actually hung out and spent quality time together. My mother trained me so well at the intricacies of bridge that I was often the “fourth” when someone from her club could not make it to the table. It was there that I was initiated into the secret world of suburban women and their catty gossip, and probably heard some juicy tidbits better left to older ears.

If you want to enjoy the camaraderie of cards, why not join the Tuesday Bridge Group at the Community Center? They are a friendly group of men and women who always welcome new players of all abilities. And besides, everyone knows this is how the town of “Bridgton” got its name (not really, I’m just seeing if you are paying attention!). The group meets every Tuesday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Center’s event room, and refreshments are served. Please call Lorraine Goldrup at 647-3116 for more information.

Deck The halls

Locals and tourists alike commented on how beautiful the snowflake lights and wreaths looked lining Main Street last winter. Although to us it is just our quaint downtown roadway, it is also along the major route from Portland to New Hampshire. Thousands of wayfarers pass through, and the extra effort sets Bridgton apart from other towns along the way.

This year many Bridgton service organizations and businesses have banded together to create the Holiday Wreath Project to decorate Main Street. There are over a dozen groups participating groups so far, all of whom are pledging time and money to make sure the street looks more festive than ever. If you or your business would like to get involved, call Mike McClellan at the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce at 647-3472.