Baby, it’s cold inside!

Every fall my husband and I have a challenge to see how long we can wait before turning on the heat in our house. Well, with the nighttime temperatures falling into the 20s, we finally had to give in to Mother Nature and crank up the thermostat. Does that make the oil company the winner of our contest?

Well, with fall undeniably here, I hope you have been treasuring your last days of boating, gardening, golf or whatever outdoor activities you enjoy. As we settle in for the coming winter, there is still plenty to do.

Hoops are happening

It is time to sign up for Naples Recreation Basketball. This wonderful program is for first- through sixth-grade boys and girls who live in Naples. The leagues are separated by age groups and are based on instruction, with fundamentals, teamwork and good sportsmanship being stressed at all levels.

Registration will be held at the Naples Town Office on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. A mandatory Draft Practice will be held at Songo Locks School on the following dates:

Girls: Nov. 14 at 6 p.m., third- and fourth-grades and 7:15 p.m. for fifth- and sixth-grades.

Boys: Nov. 15 at 6 p.m., third- and fourth-grades and 7:15 for fifth- and sixth-grades.

The success of this program requires a lot of parental involvement. It is a wonderful way to work and play with your child and watch them develop some very important skills. There is a need for coaches, officials, scorekeepers and timers. Please join Harvey Price at the Draft Practice and find out how you can help, or you can reach him at Naples Recreation at 693-6364.

Aftercare no afterthought

The Naples Aftercare Program has been very busy. In October, Barbara McDonough from the Naples Town Office taught the group the art of soap making. Although a little messy, a great time was had by staff and kids alike. On Thursdays, approximately 10 kids take walking field trips to the Naples Library where they get to participate in an activity. Most recently, they learned how to play chess. On Nov. 7, they will be making placemats for the next Grange meeting which is scheduled for Nov. 15.

According to Kim Whalen, the program director, this program was started about 11 years ago and is open to children who attend Songo Lock and Crooked River Schools (kindergarten through sixth-grade), which includes Naples and Casco residents. The normal operating hours are 6-8:30 a.m., with afternoon hours 3:30-6 p.m. The school bus picks the kids up directly in front of the gym and drops them off at the same place after school. If you need a safe, affordable and creative place for your child to be while you are working, there are still four spots available.

Whalen is currently looking for people who may have a special hobby or craft they would like to share with the children. Do we have any knitters, woodworkers, painters or scrapbookers out there who would like to teach their skill to some enthusiastic learners? If you would like more information on the program or would like to volunteer your skills, please contact Whalen at 310-8125, or stop and the Town Gym during operating hours.

Open house at the Inn

The award winning Victorian Inn at Long Lake will be hosting its 17th Holiday Open House and Craft Show Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Start your holiday shopping with quality Maine-made handcrafts and enjoy the atmosphere of this luxurious local landmark. The inn’s current owner, Buddy Marcum, is opening the inn to the public and will feature a local artisan in each room. The fourth floor library will feature a marvelous miniature Christmas Village, courtesy of Linda Brown. There will be chair massage available with Caitlin Leahy for those who may already need to de-stress. Artists include Rusty Tipton Designs, Bolster’s Mills Stationary, Sunflower Hill and Soothing Comforts soaps and personal care items.

There will also be dolls by Sandy Luneau, tatting by Elaine O’Donal, Morgan Sewell’s hand-knit designs, wool and fiber art by Lisa Pyburn, felt cutwork by Francine Edwards, tapestry bags from Susan Watson and “Magical” gifts from Holly Ihloff and Pat Blake. Furniture and woodwork by Sunrise Woods will fill the porch. Common Folk Farm, Shady Lady Lamps, Saco River Pottery and Gail Leahy’s Handcrafts will fill the Great Room, where cookies and mulled cider will be served before the fireplace.

Angels in the Kitchen will provide gourmet foods with proceeds of all sales benefiting the Naples Community Food Pantry or Harvest Hills Animal Shelter.

Please join us for this wonderful prelude to the Holiday Season.

Giant yard sale

Finally, the Lakes Region Habitat Committee is having a giant yard sale at the old Reinhart Farm Stand on Route 302 in Naples, across the street from Moose Landing Marina Saturday, Nov. 3 and Sunday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This will be our last fundraiser for the year, so come and see what wonderful treasures await you and support a wonderful cause at the same time!

Garden club visit

Finally, the Songo Garden Club is set to visit Olivia’s Garden at Pineland Center on Thursday, Nov. 8. Car pooling will begin from the American Legion Hall at 9:30 a.m. Our lunch meeting will be held after visiting the gardens. For more information, call Pat at

627-4545.

As this week draws to a close, I hope you all had a safe and Happy Halloween. Don’t forget to set back your clocks this Saturday, it is that time again. Also, even though this is an off-year election, there are still items on the ballot that impact “Our Town,” so make sure you get out and vote.

Naples resident Nancy Hanson, middle, is the lucky winner of a new generator, which was raffled last week at Norway Savings Bank as a fundraiser for Lake Region High School Project Graduation 2008. Shown with Hanson are Ray Stanford and Connie Eldridge, chairs of the Project Graduation Committee.Barbara McDonough shares her soap making skills with some of the Naples Aftercare program particpants.