PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDA JEPSON The Anderson-Thibodeaus of Stockholm enjoy a sleigh ride at Chad Putnam’s Farm in Mapleton last year. The scene is featured in the DVD “Christmas Greetings from Aroostook,” which was created by Madawaska Lake filmmaker Brenda Jepson. The riders are (from left) Joey Thibodeau, Anna, Elsa and Irene Anderson-Thibodeau, and Chad Putnam.

MADAWASKA LAKE, Maine — Not everyone can get home for Christmas, especially if they are trying to get all the way to Aroostook County.

But now, viewers of the Maine Public Broadcasting Net-work will get a second chance to reminisce about Christmas in The County when MPBN re-plays “Christmas Greetings from Aroostook” on Christmas Eve.

Last year, Madawaska Lake resident Brenda Jepson, who owns Crown of Maine Produc-tions, created a Christmas DVD that shone the spotlight on Aroostook.

The 26-minute DVD, “Christmas Greetings from Aroostook,” offers a glimpse of the sights and sounds of Aroos-took County at Christmas. The disc features several montage sequences, including the Presque Isle Light Parade and Christmas light displays at homes from Houlton to Fort Kent.

The narrator, Layne Longfel-low, a descendant of Maine poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, recites his relative's poem

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

Church bells and music from groups such as the Heavenly Harpers of Houlton and the Caribou Choral Society also are part of the mix. Jepson and her husband, Alan, spent more than a year working on the project, traveling throughout The County to shoot footage for the DVD.

MPBN will transmit the film once again this year, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24.

Jepson said Monday she was happy the DVD would be shown again.

“I was thrilled to hear that MPBN has decided to air ‘Christmas Greetings From Aroostook’ again this year,” she said. “This part of Maine isn't featured too often on statewide television, yet our old-fashioned Christmas traditions and many ethnic customs make fascinating viewing for folks statewide.

“I hope this show becomes an annual classic on MPBN,” she continued. “I have been a vol-unteer filmmaker for the station for 25 years now, and I would be happy to share the show with them as long as they want to transmit it.”

jlbdn@ainop.com

532-9257