Nutcracker

The 2008 Children’s Nutcracker Theater wants to celebrate the holidays with a performance of the ballet, The Maine Nutcracker on Dec. 19-20 at Bonny Eagle High School.

A twist on the ballet classic will feature live Taiko drumming, original sets and costumes, and of course sugar plum fairies.

The theater group was put together by Ricardo Family Karate in Limerick and features children from all around the Bonny Eagle and Massabesic school districts.

“We had open auditions,” said Heather Ricardo, owner of Ricardo Family Karate. “It is all kids from our local communities.”

The family oriented Maine Nutcracker is produced and directed by Frank Ricardo and has been choreographed by Leilani Ricardo of The Maine Thunder Spirits and the Great Northern Ballet Company.

Times for the Nutcracker have yet to be announced. Tickets to the show are $12.50, and may be purchased at area stores including Plummer’s Supermarket in Buxton, and Lakeside Market in Waterboro. Tickets may also be purchased by contacting Ricardo Family Karate at 793-8925 or info@ckidsclub.com.

Light it up

The town of Standish cordially invites all of its residents to attend the annual Tree Lighting Celebration at Standish Town Hall Sunday, Dec. 7. There will be live music, refreshments, caroling and the possible appearance by a special Christmas “guest.” The event begins at 6 p.m.

Openings

Standish Recreation is seeking volunteers for three vacant spots on the Recreation Committee. The Recreation committee advises the Recreation Director in the number, type and scope of recreational and community activities offered to residents. They also engage in fundraising activities on behalf of the community to provide funding for these recreational opportunities. The committee meets on the first Thursday of every month and all Standish residents are welcome to attend these meetings. If you are interested please contact Brett Levin at fishteach@roadrunner.com.

Friday

The Schoolhouse Performing Arts Center presents The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. For ticket prices and reservations please contact the Center at 642-3743.

Memory Lane Music Hall welcomes Another World.

Saturday

Christmas Craft Fair at Steep Falls Elementary School on Boundary Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Farmer’s Market in the Steep Falls Library on Route 113 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Flowers, veggies, baked goods crafts and more.

The Schoolhouse Performing Arts Center presents two showings of The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever. The shows begin at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For ticket prices and reservations please contact the Center at 642-3743.

Knucklehead performs at Memory Lane Music Hall.

Sunday

The Schoolhouse Performing Arts Center presents The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever. The matinee performance begins at 2 p.m.

Heidi’s take

Black Friday

Until this year, I have never had the “joy” of shopping on Black Friday. When my nieces and nephew were little my sister would spend hours on Thanksgiving going through the flyers and planning her shopping mission. She would then awake at 3 a.m. and be in line at whatever store was first on her hit list at 4 a.m. She would be done shopping by 10 a.m. and would stop by my work to show me her deals. Even though she probably saved $500 and spent half of what she would have had she gone another day, I thought she was crazy. After my experience last Friday, I know she was.

Now, I usually am very against this day since I hate crowds and become easily angered when shoved with a shopping cart, but I went with my best friend (let’s call her Erin), since she has a little one and wanted to get some deals. First on our agenda, Target. We arrived before the sun came up as they were just opening the doors, I kept saying, “Holy cow, I can’t believe all the people,” my friend just smiled. “It’ll be fine,” was her mantra of the day.

Forty minutes later I had lost Erin, and thought I may never make it out of there alive. We had been to the toy department and were now somewhere in the movie/book aisle when people started closing in on me. I was getting pushed, spinned, bumped, and for what? A $5 movie? Yikes. Praise the Lord we didn’t need anything in electronics. Just as the darkness was closing in, an arm reached in to grab me. It was Erin. “Let’s go,” she said.

As we made our way to the line, where we stood for an hour-yes an hour-a petite woman dragging a 26-inch flat screen TV mowed into the back of Erin and then looked at us in disgust as if we were in her way. Once we were settled into line by a barking security guard, an ill advised employee tried to change the direction of the line thereby allowing shoppers to cut in. You can imagine how that went. Not pretty. After a good reaming said employee decided to leave it alone.

After Target we hit Toys R’ Us. We waited an hour and 15 minutes there, but I must say the people in line had much more patience then those at the bull’s eye store. I suspect that’s because they are parents of small children, or maybe because at 7 a.m. after shopping for hours you’re just too tired to fight.

Our last stop was Kohl’s. Great deals, small line. Perfect! After my morning, I’ll take 30 minutes in line.

If you’re interested in what I got, don’t be. I got up at 4 a.m., spent 3-4 hours in line, was verbally and physically assaulted, and purchased socks, one roll of Hannah Montana wrapping paper, and a magazine. Very exciting. Erin, however, is completely done Christmas shopping and saved a ton of cash. Maybe it is worth it after all. Ha-ha, no, no it’s not.