(To list an event in this calendar, please e-mail info to jbalentine@keepmecurrent.com)

Nov. 23, 24: Christmas in the Village is finally here! Gather in the center of Casco Village (940-941 Meadow Road, Route 121) Friday with tree lighting, caroling and holiday performance by Mayberry Hill preschoolers in Casco Day Park, and cookies, crafts and Santa after at the Community Center. The fun continues Saturday with wreaths, food, vendors, shopping and raffles at the Casco Village Church, vendors at the Community Center, and home-made crafts at Country Village Assisted Living. Why not take a quaint and historic horse-drawn carriage tour of the village; have your picture taken – a memento reminiscent of Christmases long, long ago! And whatever you do, don’t miss the famous lobster and corn chowder luncheon in the Great Hall of the church from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 25: The Annual New Gloucester Tree Lighting will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the New Gloucester Town Hall, Route 231. Master of Ceremonies Kevin Fowler will introduce the Gray-New Gloucester Chorus, the holiday sing-along and the lucky child who lights “Tiny Timber,” the holiday tree. The New Gloucester Public Library will sponsor an open house with refreshments. The New Gloucester Historical Society will hold an open house at the History Barn. The event is free and open to the public.

Monday, Nov. 26: The Windham Historical Society is hosting a public viewing at its headquarters at 234 Windham Center Road of “In the Blood,” a silent movie depicting the life, skills and character of Turn-of-the-Century Maine lumbermen and river drivers. Donations accepted. Refreshments served.

Wednesday, Nov. 28: “Pipe Dreams,” a film about tar sands and its effect on the environment, will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Casco Community Center. The possibility of sending tar sands oil through the Portland to Montreal pipeline has raised concerns among Maine citizens. While crude oil has flowed through this pipeline without incident since the 1950s, reversing the flow of oil so that it travels from Montreal to Portland carries many risks, opponents say. The pipeline lies within 1,000 feet of Sebago Lake and crosses the Crooked River six times. A pipeline rupture in this area could destroy Sebago’s drinking water for Portland and its ecological, recreational and economic values to the whole region. All are encouraged to view the film and participate in the discussion afterward.

Nov. 28: Dr. Mark Wasowski, from North Windham Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, will be a guest speaker at the Lakes Region Senior Center at 11:45 a.m. Please come with all of your questions for this informative talk on what services are available to the senior population. This is the second in a health series at the center. Bring a bag lunch and dessert. Beverages will be provided. This event is open to the public, please feel free to bring a guest. FYI, call Blanche at 892-5604.

Thursday, Nov. 29: Girl Scouts of Maine will be hosting a parent information and registration meetings at 6:30 p.m. at Bonny Eagle Middle School, Buxton. Girls and adults are invited to attend the meeting to find out about the many different and fun ways today’s girls are participating in Girl Scouting and how the programs and activities inspire them to reach their personal best. Participants will also learn about the flexible options and benefits of becoming a Girl Scout volunteer. Girl Scouts of Maine serves more than 12,000 girls statewide in grades K-12. For information or to volunteer, call 1-888-922-4763 or www.girlscoutsofmaine.org.

Nov. 29: Maine author Monica Wood will discuss her latest book, “When We Were the Kennedys,” at the North Gorham Public Library at 7 p.m. Set in Mexico, Maine, Wood’s memoir chronicles upheavals in the town and in her family in 1963. For more information about this free program, call 892-2575.

Nov. 30-Dec. 16: Schoolhouse Arts Center will present Miracle on 34th Street on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 2, 9, and 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Schoolhouse Arts Center is located at 16 Richville Road (Route 114) in Standish, just north of the intersection of Route 114 and Route 35. Call 642-3743 for reservations or buy tickets online at www.schoolhousearts.org.

Saturday, Dec. 1: Sebago Lake Congregational Church’s Christmas Fair runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 410 Northeast Road, Standish (Route 35). Coffee and a hot lunch along with silent auction, baked treats, crafts, white elephant table, and Christmas tree ornaments will be available.

Sunday, Dec. 2: Singer-songwriter Rick Charette, of Windham, returns to Saint Joseph’s College for the 22nd Annual Holiday Benefit Concert at 2 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy the evening of music in Saint Joseph’s dining hall at the Standish campus. Admission to the benefit concert is a new, unwrapped toy or gift card. In addition, donations are welcomed. All toys will go to the benefit of children in the Raymond, Standish and Windham areas. For more information, contact Kathryn Cody at 893-7794 or kcody@sjcme.edu.

Tuesday, Dec. 4: Windham’s monthly grief support meeting, hosted by VNA Home Health & Hospice, will be showing the video, “Coping with Holiday Grief,” from 6–7:30 p.m. at the North Windham Union Church, 723 Roosevelt Trail, Route 302, in Windham. This is an open group for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. FMI, call Linda Hopkins, Bereavement Support Coordinator for VNA Home Health & Hospice, at 400-8714 or hopkinsl@vnahomehealth.org.

Saturday, Dec. 8: The Lake Region High School Community Service Academy invites you to a Senior Citizen Ball from 5-7 p.m. at Lakes Region High School’s cafeteria. Come socialize and dance to your favorite tunes. Desserts, coffee, and tea provided.

ONGOING EVENTS

• Al-anon meets every Thursday 6:30-7:45 p.m. at the Naples Methodist Church, on the Village Green. Newcomers welcome. FMI, call 693-4535.

• The hours for the drop-in Lakes Region Senior Center, at the Little Falls School, 40 Acorn Street, Gorham, are as follows: Monday-Thursday from 9 to 3 p.m. FMI, email lakesregion50@gmail.com or contact Glenn Lynds at 893-9088 or drop by and check them out.

• “The Writers”: gather on the third Monday of each month at the Raymond Public Safety Building on Route 302, from 6-8 p.m. Authors of all types are invited to support one another, to listen and render opinions when asked, with respect and courtesy. If you are interested in joining, stop by or call Betty Libby at 655-9214.

• A free car seat check sponsored by Safe Kids Maine takes place the third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Windham Fire-Rescue, 718 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302), North Windham. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available to provide free assistance with car seat installations and recall checks. FMI, 899-9461 or www.maineseatcheck.org.

• Until Nov. 19, American Legion bingo takes place every Monday night at the Windham Veterans Center behind Big Lots on Route 302, Windham. Doors open at 4 p.m. Bingo at 6:30 p.m. Hot food, cold drinks, other goodies. Sponsored by Standish Memorial Post 128. FMI, call 642-5583 or visit www.post128.org.

• Through October, food distribution at the food pantry at the Casco Village Church’s food pantry will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month.

• The Wings ‘N Things Clothes Closet of the Casco Village Church United Church of Christ (941 Meadow Road, Casco Village) invites you to come shopping. You won’t believe your eyes when you see all the beautiful new and gently used clothing, mostly name-brands, most $1 or less. Open Saturdays from noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. The closet will open every Thursday morning from 9 a.m. until noon in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market on the Village Green in Casco. FMI, 627-4282.

• The Poland Springs Woodcarvers meet the first Friday and third Saturday of the month from 1-4 p.m. at the Ricker Memorial Library, 1211 Main St., Poland. If you are a woodcarver or just interested in woodcarving, please attend. All levels of carvers invited. Bring something for Show & Tell. FMI, contact Chuck Friis at 576-3811.