Great things are happening in Naples. The Lady Lakers won the Western Maine Class B Title and gave Presque Isle a run for their money in a very exciting championship game. All of Naples is so proud of the determination and sportsmanship the team exhibited this season. Great job girls!

Songo Lock’s Fifth Grader Andrew Gianatassio scored among the top 100 in the written portion of the state Geo Bee Competition, allowing him to advance to the state final to be held in Farmington on March 30. Way to go, Andrew!

Tony’s Foodland is stepping up their look in anticipation of the completed downtown project. What a great time to live here. I have never been more proud of our town, and I have a feeling the best is yet to come.

Join Team ?Anne-Marie

Naples residents Alex and Liz Fay started Team Anne-Marie last year to help raise funds and awareness for the problem of prematurity. Their daughter Anne-Marie was born 10 weeks premature. She spent 8.5 weeks in the hospital before they were able to bring her home. Before Anne-Marie was born, the Fays had no idea how big of a problem prematurity was and how it stays with families for years. They had excellent prenatal care and did everything they were supposed to do. Still, something went horribly wrong. Why Anne-Marie was born premature is still unknown and may always remain a mystery. Most babies who this happens to don’t even make it to being born, let alone surviving all the issues that can go along with being born so early. That is why the family has dedicated themselves to the mission of the March of Dimes, “working together for stronger, healthier babies.”

Last year, Anne-Marie was the ambassador baby for the state of Maine. Alex and Liz travelled throughout the state telling their story and raising awareness. This year, March of Babies will be held in several sites throughout Maine in the month of May. Team Anne-Marie will be at the Portland walk in Payson Park on May 6.

Team Anne-Marie was in the top 10% last year for fundraisers and this year, and they want to keep going. On March 24, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., they are partnering with The Galley to have a Team Anne-Marie night. Liz is seeking donations from local businesses for door prizes and help in spreading the word. The Galley is the perfect place to hold this event. They have great food and a great space.

The Fays want to encourage as many people to come out for dinner that night. Details are still being worked out as to menu and drink specials. At the event, there will be all kinds of information available on prematurity. Donations can be made that night, and there will be information on how you can sign up to participate in the March of Dimes fundraising walk. You can walk with Team Anne-Marie, or walk individually. For more information on the walk, go to the Maine Chapter’s website, www.marchofdimes.com/maine; their Facebook page www.facebook.com/MarchofDimesME; or their Twitter @marchofdimesME. The link for Team Anne-Marie is www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1508452.

Community meal

Christ Chapel again invites you to break bread with them on March 31 from 4:30-6 p.m. The yummy-sounding menu includes meatloaf, mashed potatoes, lobster corn casserole, salad and desserts. The meal is free to all residents of the Lakes Region.

Library news

The Naples Public Library will offer one-to-one computer instruction on Thursdays in March. These classes are intended for those who have no computer experience or very little computer experience. Space is limited so please call the library to sign up.

The classes will be held as follows: March 8 from 5-6 p.m.; March 15 from 4-5 p.m.; March 22 from 5-6 p.m.; March 29 from 6-7 p.m. Also at the library, a new program, Family Art Night, will have its first session on Thursday; March 22 from 6-7 p.m.

The Library’s schedule is jam packed, but some of the other upcoming highlights are a discussion on financing your child’s college education on Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m.; the showing of the movie “Hugo” for kids on Wednesday, March 7, at 4 p.m.; and, of course, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 31, from 10 a.m. to noon.

For the complete schedule, call 693-6841 or visit the library’s website at naples.lib.me.us.

Auditions for LRCT

Auditions for the show “Oliver” will be held Friday, March 16, 6-9 p.m, and Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Stevens Brook Elementary School, 14 Francis Bell Dr., Bridgton. ?Major role auditions, such as Fagin, Oliver, Artful Dodger, Nancy, Bill Sykes, Bet, Mr. Bumble, Widow Corney, Noah Claypole, Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry and Mrs. Bedwin, will occur at particular times. Please call ahead to schedule a time slot at 671-3051. If you plan to audition for a major role, be prepared to read from the script, sing and dance. Prepare 16 bars (measures) of a song from musical theater. No pop tunes. You must bring sheet music for the pianist. If auditioning for a role that is animated, e.g. The Artful Dodger, it’s best to perform an animated song. You don’t have to be a great singer, but you do need to have lots of personality. A brief dance combination will be taught at the auditions. If auditioning for a minor role, e.g. Charlotte, Charles Bates, the pickpockets and townspeople, you should be dressed in comfortable clothing to dance. Ages 8-14 are encouraged to audition for parts as pickpockets. College students may submit a video audition. Please call Mary at 603-986-2221 for more information. Don’t forget to call 671-3051 to schedule your audition appointment.

Fit Club: crunch time

There is a secret society in Naples. A group of like-minded ladies have been getting together to get fit and fabulous! Have no fear, there is another session on the way. We all know that spring is just around the corner. Now is crunch time! Those precious weeks before the weather gets warmer, forcing us to shed our layers. Fit Club is a great way to get motivated to shed that winter weight, all while having a blast doing it. With Fit Club you get three fitness classes a week including Zumba, Boot Camp and Kickboxing. Weekly private weigh-ins and nutrition advice and guidance are all part of the plan to help you achieve your goals. At only $72 for eight weeks ($3 per class) this is a real steal.

To recap, you get fitness classes, support from friends and instructors and the endorphins you get from exercising are absolutely free. The Crunch Time session begins March 26. Classes are held in Naples and Bridgton on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. For more information, contact instructors Vicki Toole at lrcjv@fairpoint.net or Denise St. John at dstjohnpt@gmail.com. If you can’t commit to the program, you can always drop into the classes, the more the merrier.

To help raise funds and awareness for the problem of prematurity, the Fay family in Naples, whose daughter Anne-Marie Fay, above, was born premature, is taking part in a March of Babies walk at Payson Park in Portland in May. (Courtesy photo)