Thunder Bowl

Did you hear (and see) that? Super Bowl eve was more like the Fourth of July around here. The lightning and thunder show was intense, with even some reports of power outages in Naples. The accompanying rain did a number on the snow-covered roads. Travel the next morning was a bit treacherous, especially down Lake House Road. Luckily it was sunny and a bit warm the next day, so things didn’t freeze up too badly. What a wintah!

Construction update

The construction crew at Naples Causeway is busy with the following tasks this week: The placement of the internal concrete whaler on the seawall, the installation of sheet piles on the seawall, backfilling the seawall, and excavating for the new abutment inside the cofferdam. Traffic delays should be minor, similar to what we have been experiencing recently. There may be occasional one-way traffic up towards the Town Office during the installation of the new catch basins and some very minor delays when moving materials and for snow removal.

Naples Winter Carnival

Naples Winter Carnival is THE event of the winter right here in town, promising two full days of winter fun. It happens this weekend, Feb. 11-13. Don’t miss it! There are many activities to watch or participate in, with loads of fun for the whole family. Be sure to visit the Naples Lions or Fire Department food booths to get some hot food and support these worthy organizations. For more information, visit www.muddyriversnoseekers.org or call Dan Allen at 318-6965.

Family fun

After the kickoff Torchlight parade on Friday, Feb. 11, grab your skates and head on over to the Naples Community Ice Arena on Route 11 by the American Legion for the third annual Family Fun Skate Night from 6:30-9 p.m. There will be a live DJ, hot chocolate and a bonfire to warm you up in between skating, all compliments of the Naples Rec Department. For more information, call Rec Director Harvey Price Jr. at 595-0602.

Appreciation Day

Community Appreciation Day at Aubuchon Hardware in Naples takes place on Saturday, Feb. 12. Stop by for a 5 percent discount off your purchase. The store will also donate 5 percent of the purchase price to a charity. If you go to www.hardwarestore.com to shop, Aubuchon will double the offer both in the discount and the donation.

Community breakfast

Naples Main Street will present a Pancake Breakfast at the Naples Singer Community Center (Naples Village Green) on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Bring your family and begin your day at the Naples Winter Carnival. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for children. Proceeds from this event support the Naples Causeway Bridge Restoration Project and other Naples Main Street programs.

Naples Public? Library happenings

Naples Public Library Youth Librarian Syntha Green will lead a workshop on making cake pops from the book “Cake Pops” by Bakerella at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15. Sign-up is required for this free workshop. You may visit the library in advance to see examples of the tasty treats you will learn to make.

Naples Public Library Book Group will discuss the novel “Little Bee” by Chris Cleave at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 16. The Book Group welcomes new members.

February activities in the Youth Department include celebrating Valentine’s Day at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15; making a fleece scarf at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 (sign-up is required for this free program); and Play With Your Food at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. These programs are in addition to the regular weekly programs: Storytime at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Storytime with music at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays, Pajama Storytime at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, and the Craft Corner activities every Saturday morning.

For more information, visit www.naples.lib.me.us or call 693-6841.

Efficiency Maine visits school

Representatives of Efficiency Maine, a program developed in 2002 to raise energy conservation efforts, brought its Energy Education Program to upper grade students at Songo Locks School last week. Students spent most of the day participating in hands-on experiments involving energy and creative ways to create it and conserve it. Students also discussed alternative modes of transportation and outdoor air quality. The day was innovative, educational and fun. A great big thank you to Missy Arbour and Mrs. Overcash for helping to bring this program to the students. My daughter, who participated in the program, came home excited to tell me about her day. This type of hands-on, outside-the-box learning is what will challenge and excite our students to dig deeper and learn more.

Congratulations!

The Muddy River Sno Seekers honored longtime member Bob Calileo with a Lifetime Achievement Award for going above and beyond the call of duty. Over the years, Calileo has assisted in many tasks to help the club reach its goal of providing safe, well-groomed trails for the many residents and visitors who enjoy snowmobiling thoughout the long winter.

Fourth-grader Ryan Beckerman holds a mini wind turbine during a recent class at Songo Locks School during which a representative from Efficiency Maine talked about energy use. (Courtesy photo by Missy Arbour)