Holiday Parade

We have a busy week coming up in Bridgton, as fall fades into the holidayseason. How can Thanksgiving be just a few weeks away when it seems like it was summer only yesterday?

The Night of Lights Holiday Parade, which marks the traditional start of the season in Bridgton, will be held Friday evening, Nov. 23. This is a great community event, with local businesses and non-profits promenading through town on their floats and flatbeds. When the procession ends at the Community Center the staff and Bridgton Recreation crew put on a family-oriented celebration, to which I heard Santa himself has been invited.

While we await his RSVP, if you or your company wants to participate in the parade, contact the Greater Bridgton Lake Region Chamber of Commerce to reserve your place in the festivities. Not only is it a great opportunity to spotlight your business, but it’s also a nice way to celebrate both Bridgton and the holidays. To sign up call the chamber: 647-3472

Give a Hand to Man’s Best Friends

If you’ve ever adopted a rescued dog or cat, you know the unconditional love of a pet whose life you’ve saved. Joan McBurnie and the dedicated staff at Harvest Hills have placed hundreds of abandoned and stray animals into happy homes over the years, and they count on the help of local volunteers to keep things running smoothly. On Sunday, Nov. 4, the Shelter and the adjoining Nine Lives Thrift Shop will hold an open house from 1 – 3 p.m. for anyone who wants to help this great group of people and pets.

Harvest Hills always needs volunteers for everything from walking the dogs and petting the cats to gardening, raking and mowing the grounds. If you have the time to give, your efforts will not only help these loving animals but you’ll feel great for having done it. The

shelter is located on Route 302 just over the Fryeburg line, and the staff hopes to see you there on Sunday.

2007 Fur Ball

What a great name for a party! Speaking of our furry friends, this elegant night of fundraising will benefit both Harvest Hills and the Conway Humane Society. This inaugural event is being held at the Red Jacket Resort in North Conway and features a “Yappy Hour,” four-course dinner and dessert, Ballroom dancing to the Berlin Jazz Ensemble, an Art Auction and…someone’s going to win a diamond!

For those of you with more money than time, this is the perfect way to make a huge difference for these two great shelters without having to get your hands dirty. Tickets are $100 per person, $175 per couple or $600 for a table of eight. To reserve tickets for what is sure to be a memorable night, call (603) 447-5955.

LEA at BA

The Lakes Environmental Association and Loon Echo Land Trust are holding a public workshop on Monday, Nov. 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Marcella-Sands Lecture Hall at Bridgton Academy. The hired consultants for the Pondicherry Park project will be presenting the site and trail plans and hope to get input from Bridgton residents about the project. Refreshments will be served, and since this park is for you and your descendants to enjoy forever, why not have a say in it? For more information about the workshop, call 647-8580.

House of Cards

The Bridgton Community Center has an ongoing calendar full of diverse events for all ages and interests. This week the center is hosting Cribbage at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5 and Bridge at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6. I had never heard of Cribbage until I moved to Maine (along with Whoopie Pies, Red Dogs and “Allen’s Coffee Brandy”) but I’ve played many a game of Bridge and it’s a fun way to challenge your mind and make new friends. My mother played in a Ladies Bridge Club in Nashville when I was a girl and whenever they needed a “fourth” at the table she’d volunteer me. Things would get pretty heated; both the game itself and the inevitable gossip, and I certainly some things you wouldn’t expect to hear from the mouth of a “lady!” For more information, call Lorraine Goldrup at 647-3116 or e-mail her at armory@megalink.net.

Drive through flu clinic

Save yourself the agony of aches and pains this winter by getting your flu shot out of the way. Could it be any easier than this? Just drive up to the front entrance of Bridgton Hospital this Saturday morning, Nov. 2 from 8 until noon for their Drive-Thru Flu Clinic. $15 is a small price to pay for staying healthy this winter.

My fellow columnists…

Now that we’re a few months into the revamped Lakes Region Weekly, I’d like to say hi to and congratulate the other writers contributing to this newspaper. As a reader first, I think it’s a good idea to have local writers compiling the news of each town; not only does it have a more personal touch but it keeps the community involved when they know the columnist and feel comfortable approaching her with news or comments.

It gives the paper a truly local feel having writers whose faces you recognize. Second, the writing is strong. I love how each contributor has his or her own voice and interests, and paints their individual picture of the town they live in. Even though we don’t know necessarily know one another we all work with the same deadline and through our writing encourage each other to do our best work. I look forward to seeing the paper each Friday and reading the columns. Maybe we could all meet somewhere in the middle of the Lakes Region (Raymond, Carol?) and have a Holiday Cocktail Party. I’m in!