— Kahlil Gibran It happens every year about now. It’s mid-November and December is on our doorstep. The season arrives wrapped in good intentions. Holidays emerge covered in a warm blanket and cherished traditions. Christmas and Thanksgiving draw us together in love, celebration and joy connecting us to the past and future.

These are months when communities plan pageants, concerts and seasonal events that carefully accumulate treasured memories. We begin all our events and projects as novices, preparing the way with a mixture of uncertainty, tenderness and learning. We anticipate anxiously as we try to find the right mix to make events successful. Ties of the heart and spirit knit us all together.

Value cannot be placed on the wonderful hard workers who make an essential contribution to making our communities so great. With genuine humble mindedness and sincere deep appreciation, we thank everyone. We acknowledge and thank you for the impact of your work. Yes, our successful community is the product of the talent, energy, time, help, support, services, skills of many and much more.

The truly deep plans give birth to memory making traditions. Children fix their eyes to these months. To little children, life is a treasury of discovery and excitement, a present about to be opened. (Especially Christmas.) Funny how little incidents from childhood seem to linger in the memory from year to year.

Hold the wonders of the approaching months. Each one has its magic that can lift us up to give our spirit wings. We need it. I never expected the great difficulties and the new challenges this year has brought. There has been much sorrow and many concerns about our world. The horrific attacks in France could also be a threat to our country. We have had many rumbling awakenings that change how we view the world. We search for trust. Our lives have been darkened by the culture of fear. Behind the struggles, conflicts, sufferings and noise of the day, we long for a solid sense of joy and peace. Our message is one of hope and freedom.

There is one event that is certain to get everyone thinking deeper. It will soon be election time again. We have to elect leaders who want peace and to keep America safe. Please get out and take a stand for the good of our nation. Use your voice where it really counts. So many people have died for the right to vote. We cry out for fulfillment during a national crisis and hope for national prosperity.

Once again the Dyer Library and the Saco Museum will celebrate the 11th Festival of Trees. Today the Christmas tree is the center of our activities. This year’s festival, “Home for the Holidays,” opens on Friday, Nov. 27, with a tree lighting and ribbon cutting. Christmas at the museum is made unforgettable by dozens of trees created and decorated with imagination and talent.

If you would like to participate in the planning process for the festival, sponsor a tree or wreath, or help with the decorating, e-mail cror@sacomuseum.org.

— Zaffie Hadiaris of Saco is the host of “Zaffie,” a weekly television talk show on Channel 3 Biddeford public access. It can also be seen at biddefordmaine.org. Contact Hadiaris at zhadiaris@hotmail.com.