Even though the original deadline for donations was Dec. 1, wrote Rhonda French, chairwoman of the 24th Let’s All Have A Merrier Christmas drive for needy children in Washington County, the group just received an additional list requesting gifts for 52 more children.
“This group of names came from Washington County school guidance counselors, an elementary school principal, and two daycare centers,” French wrote, “so we know the need is definitely there.”
She explained that this program has “never had to turn anyone away, but this many names at such a short notice seems impossible at this point.”
However, the task loomed nearly as large last year, she added, and “we were able to pull off what seemed the impossible.”
The program “is designed to provide each child with a new, warm outfit and a new toy,” she wrote.
Anyone or any group who is willing to assist with this essential holiday task can do so in one of two ways, French said.
You can shop “for the children on this list, this week,” and get the items “to us by Friday, Dec. 19,” or make a donation so someone else can do the shopping for these children.
The shopping list includes the children’s ages, clothing size and a “wish” item.
Call French today at 446-0723, or e-mail rhfrench@yahoo.com and she will provide you with the list.
If you want to make a donation for someone else to do the shopping, send your donation to Rhonda French, Chairperson, Let’s All Have A Merrier Christmas, P.O. Box 35, Jonesport 04649.
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Here’s a great opportunity for parents and their children to all celebrate New Year’s Eve in special ways.
Jennifer Therrien of Challenger Learning Center announces its Kids’ Overnight-New Year’s Eve, a vacation camp, will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at CLC, 30 Venture Way in Bangor.
“And then the party starts!” she said.
The Star Party Overnight for children in grades three through eight is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, to 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at CLC.
The registration fee is $85. Pre-registration is required. A 20 percent sibling discount is available.
You can register your child or children by calling 990-2900, ext. 3.
Star Party Overnight, Therrien said, “includes dinner, star-gazing, a movie on our projection screen, and a nighttime snack.”
On New Year’s Day, the young attendees will enjoy breakfast and then a morning Orbit the Moon minimission.
Therrien also wants readers to know that CLC December camp sessions are being offered for children in kindergarten through grade eight, Monday through Wednesday; that prices for this program vary from $16 to $48; and that gift certificates are available.
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Awhile back, Marge Longwood e-mailed me with information about the Blue Hill Historical Society “being approved as an alternative repository for the records of the Town of Blue Hill.”
Longwood wants individuals “wishing to donate documents for storage in the vault, or wanting to examine records” to know this option is available to them by contacting the historical society president John Roberts at johnmroberts@verizon.net.
In an October release, the historical society said it had recently “received word from Nina Osier, director of the Division of Records Management of the Maine State Archives, approving the Historical Society’s new vault in the Holt Carriage House as an ‘alternative repository for local government records’ and complimenting the Society on the quality of its application for such.”
The release added that Osier made the point that “local government records are public records and must be made available to anyone who wishes to see them.”
Also, for anyone with connections to Long Island, the historical society wants you to know “the author of a recent Master’s Thesis on the history of human settlement, land use and vegetation patterns on Long Island, has donated a bound copy of the study” to the historical society.
“Kristen Hoffman completed the study, last year, as a graduate student at the University of Maine in Orono,” the release said of the work “based on historical records and on-site research on the Island.”
That study is also available by contacting Roberts.
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In November, Harry Hafford, chairman of the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery Corp., wrote to say that organization was raffling a Honda scooter to raise money to build a footbridge at the Caribou cemetery.
The drawing was Dec. 13, and Alice Hammond of Harrington was the lucky winner, Hafford reports.