Art exhibit, sale

The Mary Brooking Studio, 863 Main St. (rear entrance), Westbrook, is holding an art exhibit and sale, “The Sky is not Blue,” 4-6 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Wine and hors d’ouevres will be served; music will be provided by Bess Berg on the piano; and Andy Curran will judge participating entries. “Most student work will be available for sale, as will my own,” Mary Brooking said.

“This event will take place in the late afternoon, as you’re winding down your busy shopping day, and before your evening’s holiday festivities begin.”

Brooking said she’s proud of her painting students. “Come and find out why,” Brooking said.

Senior gift-wrapping party

Be a Santa to a Senior holiday gift-wrapping party will be held from 4 -7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, at Presumpscot Place, 22 Foster St., Westbrook.

Home Instead Senior Care, Brownies, and community volunteers will wrap hundreds of holiday gifts collected for area seniors in need. The gifts were collected through Home Instead Senior Care’s Be a Santa to a Senior program, which is supported locally by more than 20 nonprofit organizations who serve seniors in Cumberland County.

Partners include housing authorities, Triad groups, fire departments and facilities. Home Instead Senior Care will deliver the gifts to area seniors who otherwise might be overlooked this holiday season.

The snow date for this event is Monday, Dec.15, at the same place and time.

Seniors to dine, hear Mailhot

Westbrook Senior Citizens will be served a meal at noon on Monday, Dec. 15, in Westbrook Community Center, 426 Bridge St.

The menu includes roast pork with gravy, mashed potatoes, mixed peas and carrots, apple sauce, and brownies with whipped topping.

Musician and singer Marc Mailhot will entertain.

The seniors will see the Irish Cabaret at Venus de Milo in Massachusetts on Wednesday, March 11. Traveling abroad in the spring, the seniors will visit Ireland May 2 through May 9.

For more information, call 854-2705 or 883-5046.

School concert

The Westbrook High School band and chorus will perform at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, in the Westbrook Performing Arts Center at the middle school, 471 Stroudwater St.

Dream Factory raises $15,785

For the sixth consecutive year, the Dream Factory of Maine and Haven’s Candies in Westbrook recently played host to some 700 children and adults, who came to make candy canes and to raise money and awareness for the organization.

More than $15,785 was raised for the Dream Factory of Maine, an all-volunteer organization that grants dreams to chronically and critically ill children in Maine.

Several local companies sponsored the event including Haven’s Candies, Tyler Technologies, Maine Marathon, IMCG, Idexx, Peterson Family Charitable Fund, Oxford Casino, Saco & Biddeford Savings, PowerPay, Volk Packaging Corp., Delorme Publishing Co., Le Club Calumet, Maine Diner, Hutchens Trucking Company and Bangor Savings Bank. The Dream Factory also raffled off several items donated by local merchants during the event.

Several special guests were in attendance this year, including Elaine “Corinne” Latti and her family of Brunswick. Corinne, according to a statement, suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. The Dream Factory is working on making Latti’s dream come true – to meet the “Grey’s Anatomy” cast. The money raised will be enough to fund three dreams for Maine children in the upcoming year.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office arranged for McGruff the Crime Dog to greet the attendees and Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance, as well.

Erin Collins, who bought Haven’s Candies in the fall of 2014, said it was “a real pleasure for Haven’s to continue our support of the Dream Factory for the sixth year in a row.”

Pre-holiday smartphone workshop

U.S. Cellular, 11 Main St., in Westbrook, is offering a free device workshop on Friday, Dec.19, at 2- 3 p.m.

Smartphones have become a must-have device for many people, but not everyone is aware of everything they are capable of doing. U.S. Cellular wants to show residents the tips and tricks of using these devices to the fullest.

The workshop is open to everyone, including those who are not U.S. Cellular customer.

In addition, many people will be getting ready for the rush of holiday season. U.S. Cellular associates are available to assist people who want to evaluate options, help with questions, gift giving, or related apps.

Call 854-3144 to RSVP for this device workshop.

Hundreds of students and veterans brave the cold to cheer as the annual Wreaths Across America convoy leaves Westbrook Middle School on Monday. Escorted by state and local police along with a veterans’ motorcycle group, the trailer-trucks loaded with Maine wreaths are bound for Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia where the wreaths will decorate graves of veterans on Dec. 13.  On hand for Westbrook’s annual tree-lighting ceremony last weekend at Riverbank Park are, from left, Santa (Steve Barry), Elf (Deb Shangraw) and Helper (Sue Joyce).