Spaghetti supper and gift-wrapping fundraiser

The Lake Region High School class of 2019 is off to a strong start in their fundraising for their Senior Year Activity Account. Why cook during this busy time of year, when you can take the family to an affordable catered Spaghetti Supper (Lake Region Caterers, Inc. is donating their services) at Lake Region High School on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Did we mention you can bring your holiday gifts and have them wrapped for a small donation, while you enjoy dinner? What could be better? The cost for dinner is just $8 for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under. Stay for the boys varsity basketball home opener following the meal.

Library update

Santa Claus and his helper will be visiting the Naples Public Library on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 10:30 a.m. Santa’s visit will be followed at 11:30 with the library’s annual Bring-a-Dish Christmas Potluck Lunch.

A sea-glass earring workshop is planned for Thursday, December 10, from 6-8 p.m. There will be a $20 material cost fee.

The library is also hosting a Holiday Centerpiece Workshop. This workshop’s fee is $15 for materials and is happening on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m.

The Annual Holiday Fair is on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Areas will be set up with the annual cookie walk, holiday baked goodies, mini-art, make-a-craft and handmade gifts. Live holiday music will be provided by longtime library volunteer Bea Asken and her daughter, Andrea, who will be playing the viola and recorder. Donations of cookies, baked goods and handmade gift items are welcome and appreciated. Stop by the library with your donation.

Holiday is in the air

Although there are still warm days lingering, with the early darkness creeping in daily, and the morning frost, there is no denying it’s almost December and all that goes with that!

This time of year it is a great idea to try to support our businesses in Naples. If you want to buy a gift certificate for someone, why not approach one of the restaurants or stores? One business that has been around since I came to Naples 20 years ago is the Country Sleigh. It quietly exists right on Route 302 and has some really great merchandise. The problem is that I just never remember to go in there! You run to Windham or Bridgton to do some grocery shopping, and then you think of all the other errands you need to do, like find that perfect gift. This weekend, start with Naples!

The library has changed the weekend of their Mini Art Sale and Cookie Walk to Dec. 12, but it is still a great place to find a gift downstairs in their Book Sale Department.

From there, you can walk on over to Country Sleigh for their Annual Thanksgiving Weekend Open House. They are having a great sale Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can visit their website to get an idea of what they carry at countrysleigh.com. Their open house will be on my list for sure, and I will bring my out-of-state relatives to come soak in the local color!

Christmas bake sale

Let someone else do the holiday baking and support a great cause. George Vooris is holding a sale to raise money for the Patrick Dempsey Center for Hope and Healing on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Naples Grange, located in the Village Green. Santa will also make an appearance here from noon to 2 p.m.

Naples Main Street wreath fundraiser

Part of Naples Main Street’s mission is to bring the community together. On Dec. 12, they will do just that by hosting the Naples Annual Tree Lighting Celebration. The fun begins at 4:30 p.m. with music, a bonfire, complimentary refreshments, crafts and storytelling inside. Oh, and did we mention Santa will be there?

Naples Main Street offers these events free to the public, but of course, they are not free to put on. The funding comes from their various fundraisers, and the one that will help pay for this is their Holiday Wreath Auction. The group asked local businesses to decorate wreaths with some goodies for the event, which is to be held at the Black Bear Cafe? on Route 302 Naples on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 6-8 p.m. Come check out the wreaths, have a bite to eat, and bid on the holiday wreaths. For more information, call Tracy Andrews at 693-9340 or email at mainelytracy@gmail.com.

Holiday concerts

Love holiday music? Come out and hear some very fine instrumental and choral performances at our local high and middle schools. The kids work hard practicing and it shows. You don’t have to have a kid or grandkid in the schools, just come out to watch the shows, support our community youth and have a great time. I would bring a seat cushion as sometimes you sit in the bleachers and they can be tough on your bum! The Lake Region High School Concert is Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., the Middle School Concert is Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.

Trip of a lifetime

Have you ever given the advice to our young ones: “Travel now, while you’re young, while you can!” Now you can help make the dream of travel to exotic destinations a reality for some eager Lake Region High School Students. The students have the chance to travel to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador this April. As you would imagine, this trip is expensive, so the students and organizers are working diligently to offset the cost. On Dec. 7, the group will hold the Twelve Days of Christmas Raffle.

Students and local businesses are donating raffle items like lift tickets to Shawnee Peak, local fitness classes at Fountain Of You Fitness in Naples, Red Claws tickets, a gift certificate to Panera Bread and more. You can stop at the school to purchase your chances, but students of the trip will be around town selling chances. Stay tuned for more information on where to purchase raffle chances to help make this trip a reality!

Naples residents Cheryl Cronin, left, and Marissa Barker try out some new classes at Fountain of You Fitness’s Open House Weekend.