Holidays in Maine Dec. 19, 2014

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Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 19, 20142 holiday

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'Christmas at Swan Hall' features 18-plus decorated trees

By Dan MaroisFeature Writer

While Jonathan Carr might be well known for his theatrical flair, it was only in recent years that his passion for Christmas tree decorating began to grow.

At Lewiston-Auburn’s Community Little Theater, he has acted in productions of "The Full Monty" and "The Lottery." He’s even taken on director duties with productions of "Children of Eden" and "Nunsense."

Living in Portland, he has associations with the community theater troupes The Portland Players and Portland Lyric Stage.

“When I bought my current home, it needed a lot of sprucing up,” said Carr, who is owner/publisher of "The Smart Shopper," a southern Maine buyer’s guide. “It is an 1886 14-room Victorian house that appears fairly plain from the outside, but which has quite a few nice original features, including 10-foot ceilings, four fireplaces, butler’s pantries and natural stained varnished woodwork throughout.”

It was living in this house that turned Carr’s interest to holiday decorating.

“The first year in the house, I set up my one seven-foot artificial tree in one half of the double living room. I've always joked that owning this house is like having a mistress that says, ‘Buy me things. I want this! I want that.’"

Carr explained that chandeliers were added, cherry and marble f loors installed, ceiling medallions and decorative frescoes put up.

“The fancier the house got, the more it seemed to want. The seven foot tree was replaced by a nine-foot tree in each of the living room bay windows and the seven-foot tree was moved to another room,” said Carr, noting that his partner at the time, Paul, had some impressive decorating ideas such as sprays of pearlescent beads and ribbon garland.

“We added one tree in each downstairs room, and then a year later decided to have a tree in each bedroom. Trips to local craft stores gave inspiration for different themes, so we had to find new places to put trees,” said Carr.

In the ensuing years, trees were added to two office rooms, an upstairs hall, the kitchen and even the hot tub area in the basement, which sported a four-foot tree with clear plastic soap bubble ornaments and over 100 rubber duckies.

As of last year, Carr’s house had 18 full-sized Christmas trees and three “mini” Christmas trees. Themes and ideas continue to grow.

Swans, cherubs and angels adorn a mantel at Swan Hall.

Submitted photosThe Victorian house is a sight to behold during the holidays.

Fully decorated Christmas tree

Treespage 8 ‰

Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Friday, December 19, 2014 holiday 3

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Rockin' 'round the Christmas tree with holiday musicBy T. S. ChamberlandFeature Writer/Photographer

The pumpkins, ghosts, ghouls, and candy long since cleared away; there are just a handful of weeks until the smell of pine and peppermint fill the air. Before the Santa figurines, winter wall hangings, Christmas table runners, Hanukkah Menorahs, Dreidels, and Seven Candles of Kwanzaa are unpacked, holiday music leads us into the ever-festive season. Prepare yourself -- the radio airwaves and retail store sound systems will be playing countless holiday songs, loved and loathed alike.

The recognizable verses and melodies have long been a staple in creating holiday memories. Many traditions like cooking favorite dishes, decorating, and gathering together include listening to the sounds of the season. The holidays just wouldn’t be the holidays without those iconic songs surrounding us, setting the festive mood.

MemoriesNearly any memory plucked from yesteryear can be tied to a particular seasonal ditty, as will moments actively being created that are worthy of reminiscing . If you grew up in a religious household, there is a good chance hymnals are part of your Christmas repertoire. Though, regardless of your upbringing, unless you grew up completely removed from civilization, you are well-versed in holiday music.

John Kenealy of Turner, remembers hearing many traditional hymns as a child. His favorite then was Silent Night.

“Today, I still like the old favorites, but I also like Manheim Steamroller,” Kenealy said. “I also like Santa Baby."

Eric Samson of Auburn, who went to Catholic school as a child, recalls that even though there was a certain amount of fun involved at the holidays, there was also a “degree of religion and meaning of Christmas” that seemed to underline the activities. Samson said he has equally specific memories of the holidays with family -- Christmas music at his mother’s was notably different from that at his father’s.

Samson’s holiday memories include a repertoire of popular tunes like Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, O Holy Night, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and even Alice’s Restaurant (played on local radio every Thanksgiving).

“My dad was a fan of Elvis, and I remember Sinatra as well. The volume would go up a little for those,” Samson added.

The oldies are still top picksThe classics seem to hold a favored place with most people; despite the age of the recordings, it seems they are timeless in the hearts of those who embrace the holiday season.

Luke Michaud of Lewiston, said that old favorites made a lasting impression on him.

Music for the holidays

holiday musicpage 9 ‰


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Volunteering during the holiday seasonBy Deborah CarrollFeature Writer

Advocates for ChildrenFrom 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, Advocates for Children will host their “2014 Holiday Festival for Children,” at Saint Dominic Academy in Auburn. Entertainers at this event will include shows by popular singer-songwriter Rick Charette, juggler Will Silvers, Spark’s Ark, Pel let ier’s Karate, and others. Additional activities include a bounce house, take-home crafts, a cake walk, Santa Claus and more. Volunteers are needed to manage the bounce house and craft table, serve popcorn, cotton candy and other food, park cars, set up/clean up, and other activities. If you would like to help with this event by volunteering your time or donating items, call Dori or Donna at 207-783-3990. Either will be happy to help you schedule a time to volunteer and/or provide you with a “wish list” of items that will help to make this holiday celebration brighter for many children.

Also, are you a quilter or a knitter? Do you love to crochet? Advocates for Children is always happy to accept donations from loca l qui lt ing and knitting clubs of handmade quilts and blankets for distribution to children and families in need. Call or send an email to [email protected] for more information.

New BeginningsAccording to Director Rachel Spencer-Reed, “Each year New Beginnings distributes holiday gifts to the youth in our emergency shelter, outreach, and transitional living programs.” New Beginnings is asking for help with their efforts to give 80 local youths a holiday gift bag containing the following items: a $5 gift certificate to Dunkin’ Donuts or Subway, a f leece throw or blanket, a new towel and washcloth set, a 4-pack of toilet paper, deodorant, razor and shaving cream, a package of adult-size underwear, and holiday candy or granola bars.

New Beginnings is also looking for new,

unwrapped gifts for teens such as art supplies, f leece jackets, slippers, twin-size sheet sets, alarm clocks and movie passes, as well as gloves, backpacks and other items from their wish list. Drop off dates are Dec. 15 and 16, in Lewiston.

For more i n for mat ion rega rd i ng volu nteer ing you r t ime, donat ing items or otherwise sponsoring this “holiday drive for youth,” contact New Beginnings at 207-795-4077 or [email protected].

Androscoggin Land TrustT he A nd roscog g i n L a nd Tr ust is dedicated to the management of local trails and the conservation of land and open spaces. ALT is looking for help this holiday season, and throughout the year, with their volunteer stewardship program.

To learn more about the volunteer

Submitted photoLocal Scouts Cole and Dalton, members of Auburn Troop 111, decorate the Tree of Honor last year with the names of local military men and women who have previously or are presently serving our country.

Volunteeringpage 12 ‰


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Cooking with kids at the DeWitts’ homeBy Deborah CarrollFeature Writer / Photographer

At t he DeWitt household in Lewiston, cooking is an enjoyable and educational family activity during the holidays, and year round.

Va n e s s a D eW i t t b e g a n cook ing w it h 12-year-old Damon and 8-year-old Jade when t hey were about 7 and 3 years old. The DeWitt kitchen frequently bubbles with the tastes and smells of what Damon calls “a load of goodness.”

“I want them to know where t hei r food comes f rom,” said Vanessa. The family f requents loca l ma rkets, butcher shops and farmers markets. They also have a sma l l garden where t hey grow their own tomatoes and herbs. “If you cook with really good ingredients, you can’t go wrong.”

Cooking as a family, said Damon, “helps us to interact more, and have more family time.”

“He loves the noisy kitchen power tools,” said Vanessa, w h i l e t h e a r t i s t i c a nd theatrical Jade said that she particularly enjoys “whisking and seeing the colors mixing around in the bowls.”

Jade’s favorite things to cook include lasagna, pesto pasta, calzones, egg sandwiches and BLT – bacon, linguini and fresh tomato.

“I love bacon,” said Damon; the BLT pasta dish is one of his favorites as well.

To m a k e t h e D eW i t t ’s BLT pasta, sauté 2 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes and a few cloves of fresh garlic, salt and pepper in a litt le olive oi l. Add 1 pound of cooked linguini and sauté for a minute longer, then mix in

1 pound of cooked, crumbled bacon and serve with a bit of shaved parmesan cheese on top.

“We l ike to ma ke t hings tast y,” said Vanessa, and “adventurous,” added Jade.

“We eat very seasonal, and [when t he weat her turns cooler] we ma ke seafood chowder with bacon, shrimp, corn and sweet red peppers.”

Not one for doing the same thing all the time, Vanessa doesn’t a lways st ick w ith recipes. “I like to change it up,” she said.

Va n e s s a’s g r a nd m ot h e r passed away in June, and Va n e s s a i n h e r i t e d h e r popover tray. More recently, the family visited Mt. Desert Island, where they tasted t he Jordan Pond House’s signature popovers.

“I think my mom’s popovers are better,” said Damon.

“You can make them savory or you can make them sweet, but you can’t open the oven w h i le t he y ’re c ook i ng ,” instructed Vanessa.

Obviously with Halloween on her mind, Jade said of the savory popovers, “Vampires would hate this, [but] I would have them for dessert.”

“They love, love, love them,” said Vanessa, who shared her recipe with us.

Jade’s culinary inspirations often come from books that she reads. For example, said Vanessa, “She read a book at school about a Spanish woman who made tortil la Espanola and Jade asked to make it at home.”

To make tortilla Espanola, begin by coating the bottom of a heavy cast iron skillet with olive oil. Then, place one layer of sliced potatoes on the bottom of the pan and

cook for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Add layers of vegetables and herbs.

“Tomatoes, spi nach a nd herbs from my garden like cilantro and basil,” said Jade,

adding, “It’s a creative food!”

Whisk 8 eggs and add them to the skillet. Cook for 25 to 30

Damon and Jade show off the popovers they made.

deWitts’page 10 ‰


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Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,

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With a voice as big as the the sea,

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"Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,

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He will bring us goodness and light,

He will bring us goodness and light."


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Shop locally this holiday seasonBy MetroCreative

Shopping is a big part of the holiday season, when families and f r iend s gat her to

reconnect a nd excha nge gifts. While the popularity of shopping online has grown, such practices are not always eco-friendly or timely, as gifts bought online must be packaged and shipped, wasting valuable resources and time that last-minute shoppers may not have.

The benefits of shopping locally go beyond convenience and the chance to reduce your carbon footprint. The following are a few ways that shopping locally this holiday season can directly benefit your community and the people who call it home.

Local economyWhen men and women shop loca l ly, they are putt ing money back into their local communities. Local small businesses may be owned by your neighbors, and it can be comforting to know that your holiday shopping dollars are going to support a neighbor instead of a large corporation. Local businesses also employ your neighbors, so shopping local can strengthen the local economy by creating jobs that may not exist if you and members of your community fail to support local small businesses.

Community identityLocal small businesses go a long way toward creating a

neighborhood identity, and that identity can create a stronger sense of community among you and your neighbors. I n a dd it ion , a u n iq ue community identity can make your town more attractive to outsiders, and that appeal can improve the value of local real estate while also attracting more people to local businesses in your neighborhood.

Uniqueness of giftsThe gif ts you buy when shopping locally also can benefit your community. Gifts purchased from small local businesses tend to be more unique than items bought

from national chains, as smaller retailers tend to sell more homemade items than their national competitors. Recipients of such items may find such gifts more thoughtful than mass produced items b o u g h t f r o m n a t i o n a l chains, and the uniqueness of homemade g i f ts may encourage the gifts' recipients to visit your community and do some shopping, further benefitting your local economy.

Customer serviceThe accessibility of customer ser v ic e i s a not her of t-overlooked benefit of shopping locally. When buying from

national chains, especially during the holiday season when such businesses may be overwhelmed with orders,

Shop localpage 11 ‰


“Rustic ornaments were popular one year, so we added a servant’s tree in the rear hall, with the names of actual house servants taken from the census records in the 19th century,” said Carr.

Carr’s favorite of all is the peacock tree decorated in vibrant teal and electric blue colors with an elaborate tree topper made out of feathers and gold glitter ornaments.

“We also choose a theme for the front hall, that changes every two years,” added Carr. “One year was crushed satin and dried f lowers, another was f locked evergreen fronds, silver and white, and the last two years has been red satin and glitter gold accents.”

Carr said that the trees remain in their respective places from year to year, although recently the tree toppers have been changed to less conventional things such as top hats,

bird cages, owls, elves holding the star and bundles of golden Calla Lilies. Recent additions to the decor have included 25 harlequins and dozens of Santas.

As friends began to experience Carr’s elaborate decorations, they encouraged him to hold tours for the public and to charge admission for the experience.

“Last year, the house was open for three weekends of tours,” said Carr, adding that all proceeds went to benefit local community theaters. “Volunteers served as guides with many dressed in period costumes.

“The tours are called Christmas at Swan Hall,” said Carr, who came up with the name for his house based on a large reproduction chandelier in gold and alabaster that he placed in the front foyer. “The original was commissioned by Napoleon for the Empress Josephine, and swans were her favorite.”

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Jonathan Carr opens his house for "Christmas at Swan Hall" tours each year.

The 18 decorated trees at Swan Hall offer many decorating ideas for your own tree.

Last year, Carr's house had 18 full-sized Christmas trees and three "mini" trees decorated.

Submitted photosSome rooms have multiple trees.

Treesfrom page 2

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“Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Brenda Lee, and Burl Ives, just to name a few, set a standard t hat holds f irm today,” Michaud said. “I have to say that I still prefer the oldies to the newer songs that come out every year. I believe that most people, even my kids, concur with the special nature of holiday music from that era.”

“My favorite, for years now, is The Little Drummer Boy by Bing Crosby and David Bowie,” said Kenealy.

“My f avor ite C h r i st ma s song is O Holy Night,” said Sa mson. “It is t i meless, regardless of who is singing it, and it has meaningful content.”

A l l favor ites aside, what is considered icon ic, or indicative of a particular h o l i d a y a p p e a r s t o b e relatively agreed upon.

“I t h i n k O Hol y Ni g ht represents the original idea of the holiday season,” Michaud explained. “The songs we hear the most on the airwaves however, are the ones that touch everyone.”

No, not that song again!Not a l l of t he sea sona l of ferings are adored and treasured, however. There are a few selections that, despite heav y airplay, are not appreciated by most. They are the kind of songs that cause instant sour looks, and get stuck in our heads the entire day, increasing the level of loathing. What seems to be one of the most arguably detested Christmas songs?

Ha nds-dow n for Kenea ly and Samson, it appears their least favorite, and thought of as most overplayed holiday number is Gra ndma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy Shropshire. Kenealy said he "hates" the novelty tune.

“The most loathed song is easy: Gra ndma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, as it is absolutely r idiculous,” Samson explained. “I don't believe I enjoyed it as a child, and I don't think my children find it amusing either.”

Even with the number of people who despise the song, it is still in heav y rotation during the holiday season, and is celebrating 30 years of airplay this year.

It’s not even Thanksgiving yetLove ‘em or hate ‘em, it seems that holiday music is ushering in the season earlier every year. In stores, before Halloween arrives, decorations in red, green, si lver, and blue catch our attention, and whether we mean to or not, we inevitably f ind ourselves hum m ing a l o n g w i t h t h e w o r d s drifting down from the store speakers. But just how early is too early for holiday music?

“If Christmas music begins too early, you end up tired of it by the time Christmas comes a rou nd,” Sa mson explained. "I'd rather end the season with wanting more, than having been saturated by it. October is definitely too early. Mid-November might even be pushing it.”

Despite this music being associated with warm and mea n i ng f u l moments, it appears to have a specific time period in which those effects are felt by most. Too soon, people sha ke t heir heads, voicing concerns that the year has already flown by,

but just when is it considered appropriate to let the festive melodies work their holiday magic?

“ A n y t i m e b e f o r e T ha n k sg iv i ng,” Michaud said. “I feel that stores playing Christmas music is only to dupe customers into buying. I know stores need profits, but I feel it’s just plain wrong. For me, it’s the only thing I dislike about the holidays.”

For Kenealy, even November is too soon. “Anytime before December 1st is too early for me. I would prefer not to have it start until mid-December.”

Rockin’ around the Christmas treeSomewhere bet ween t he hol iday music lover who wou ld g lad ly play t hei r collection in July, and the ones who would rather wait until the season is truly upon us to dust off their collection, there is agreement on one activity that holiday music absolutely must be a part of: holiday decorating.

“I h a v e a l w a y s p l a y e d traditional Christmas music while trimming the tree,” said Kenealy.

“K ick ing of f t he hol iday season with Christmas music is only phase one,” Michaud explained. “Phase t wo is devoting an entire weekend to decorating the tree.”

Kenealy and Michaud, like so many others, said they look for ward to tree trimming every year. While Samson doesn’t recall having any specif ic music tradit ions around decorating the tree,

he remembers having the best of both worlds between his parents’ homes.

“We would assemble the tree; I think my brother would do the lights,” Samson said of holidays at his mother’s. “He and I would take turns putting on the balls with my mother’s guidance. At my dad’s it was a little less structured, a team effort with the three of us. Often times he would do it on his own, he would say it was for the kids, but I think the holidays

-- Christmas -- brings out the kid in everyone.”

For t he p a s t 2 5 y e a r s , Michaud said that the holiday tradition has played out in his house. He insists on a real tree, because of the smell and the excitement of picking exactly the right one. After a day, he said, the tree has settled, and is ready for its holiday adornments.

“It is really at this juncture t h a t t h e s e a s o n t r u l y begins for me,” Michaud shared. “Electronic devices a re shut of f, d r i n k s a re made, and the Christmas playlist is loaded, starting w it h Bi l lboard’s Greatest Christmas Hits 1935-1954. I am in anticipation. I take my first sip, and press play: Bing Crosby’s W hite Christmas begins to play.”

Through the years, many classics have been recorded and re-recorded by a variety of a r t i s t s . Ta ke W i nter Wonderland for instance. It’s been recorded by 200 d i f f e r e n t a r t i s t s ! T h e C h r i st ma s Song , w idely k n o w n a s C h e s t n u t s Roasting on an Open Fire, was originally recorded by The Nat King Cole Trio in 1946. Since that time, artists like Mel Torme, Christina Aguilera, The Carpenters, Sammy Davis Jr., and James Taylor have recreated this ode to Christmas sentiment.

Whatever songs you enjoy, it’s likely you have a version you are more fond of than others. The joy, thoughtful lyrics, and uplifting beats really do announce the arrival of the season of thanks and giving.

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Music for the holidays

holiday musicfrom page 3


minutes at 350 degrees “until the middle isn’t wiggly,” said Vanessa.

Invert the pan and slice it upside down into pie sections. “It’s wonderful for breakfast or brunch and, served warm or cool, it’s a great crowd pleaser to bring to parties.

“My parents live in Greene, and we [recently] had a pie day,” said Vanessa. “My dad wanted to show them that apples don’t have to be perfect to taste good, and we made three pies from the apples we picked.” Damon did all the peeling, and Jade and Vanessa’s mom made the crusts.

When asked what their favorite holiday food is, Jade said enthusiastically: “I like pumpkin pie.”

Damon agreed: “That’s what I was gonna say!”

When it comes to decorating things like holiday cookies, “My favorite thing,” said Vanessa, “is to set everything out and let them decorate,” and their annual cookie decorating party is a holiday favorite.

“For my class we made pigeon cookies,” said Jade who had read a book about pigeons, t u r n i ng t he pigeons i nto t u rkeys for Thanksgiving.

“She’s the best at making meat balls,” said

Vanessa, “and she doesn’t give up or stop until they’re all made and they’re all the same size."

Damon, also a sticker for consistency, “is great at making salmon pie,” a local favorite.

“I like meat pie a lot,” he said. “We’ve never made it but one of [Vanessa’s] aunts makes it every year at Christmas time.”

In the DeWitt kitchen they like to play a game called “What’s in the soup?’"

“Damon,” who someday wants to be an engineer and build airplanes, “is really good at guessing the ingredients,” said Vanessa.

“We love food,” sha red Va nessa, a nd preparing food as a family is a great way to share love while teaching children skills that they will use and enjoy for a lifetime.

Popovers• 1.5 TBSP butter, melted • 3 eggs• 1.5 c. milk • ¾ tsp. salt• 1.5 c. flour

Wisk together the wet ingredients and salt.

If you prefer savory popovers, the DeWitts recommend using half wheat and half white f lours, adding a couple cloves of chopped garlic and freshly snipped rosemary to the wet ingredients.

Mix in flour(s) to make a batter.

Preheat over to 425 degrees and warm up the empty popover tray (or muffin tin) for about 2 minutes. Coat 6-8 cups and fill each about 2/3 full with batter.

Bake at 425 for 30 minutes, without opening the oven door.

And finally, according to Damon “prepare for the deliciousness!” The most difficult part of this recipe is, clearly, the 30-minute wait.

deWitts’from page 5

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Damon DeWitt, 12, cuts an herb from the garden. The DeWitts have a small garden where they grow their own tomatoes and herbs. Jade DeWitt, 8 years old.

Deborah Carroll PhotosVanessa DeWitt began cooking with 12-year-old Damon and 8-year-old Jade when they were about 7 and 3 years old.

Vanessa DeWitt's grandmother passed away in June, and now Damon and Jade make popovers in their inherited popover tray.

Damon and Jade snack on the popovers they made.


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How to give holiday gift cardsBy MetroCreative

Nearly every man or woman has hit that all too familiar wall when holiday shopping for friends and family. While many people might be a cinch to shop for, there a lways seems to be one stickler on holiday shopping lists, and finding the right gift for that person can be an exercise in patience and perseverance.

But even the most patient shopper has his or her limits, a nd m a n y p e op l e f i nd themselves giving gift cards to those friends or family members who seeming ly have ever y t hing a lready. Such cards make great gifts, but only when gift givers employ a few tricks of the gift card trade.

Buy directly from the retailer.It's easy to be duped by a counterfeit gift card, which can be embarrassing for both the gift giver and its eventual recipient. Counterfeit gift cards are big business for

criminals who prey on gift givers during the holiday season.

Only buy gift cards directly from the retailer, as cards sold by other sources, such as an online auction site, may be stolen or counterfeit. You don't want to be the person who gave a stolen or counterfeit card, and your friend or family member does not want to be subjected to an inquiry as to why he or she is attempting to use a stolen or counterfeit card.

Examine the card before leaving the store.Once a cashier or customer service employee hands you a gift card, examine it for tampering before leav ing the store. Some criminals gain access to gif t cards, even those that appear to be behind lock and key, to learn the PIN number associated with the card.

Once t hey have t he PIN,

recipients can then recreate their own card, using the stolen PIN to activate and ma ke purchases on their counterfeit cards long before the real card is sold to you. If you detect any damage, ask for a new card before leaving the store.

Include a gift receipt with the card.When giving a gift card, don't forget to include the gif t receipt. The gift receipt not only verifies the value of the gift card, but also includes t he d at e t he c a r d w a s purchased. That's important i n f o r m a t i o n , a s m a n y companies begin to charge fees, some of which may be exorbitant, on unused cards after a predetermined period of time.

Recipients who have the gift receipt won't have to haggle with retailers about the value of the card should that ever be in dispute, and the receipt also can serve as a reminder that the recipient needs to use

the card before a given date to avoid fees.

Consider a general purpose gift card.If that stickler on your holiday shopping list is especially diff icult to shop for, then you might want to consider a ge ne r a l pu r p o s e g i f t card issued by a company such as American Express, MasterCard or Visa.

These cards generally allow recipients to use their gift w h e r e v e r t h e y c h o o s e , whether it's to put gas in their tank or buy groceries. That versatility is valuable if you truly have no idea what your f r iend or family member needs or where he or she likes to shop.

One notable disadvantage to gener a l pu r pose g i f t cards is that they tend to come with more fees than more traditional gift cards pu rchased d i rect ly f rom specific retailers. Investigate these fees and find a card that charges no fees or only

MS photoWhen giving a gift card, don't forget to include the gift receipt.

making contact with customer service departments can be a trying exercise in patience.

Long wait times on the phone or online can make the process of contacting customer service extremely frustrating. But

such frustration is rare when buying from local businesses, as consumers can simply ta ke t heir products into the store, where employees can immediately address their concerns. In addition, buying locally makes it more convenient for friends and family members who also live in your community to return their gifts.

Shop localfrom page 7

minimal fees.

Gift cards make great gifts and can bail out frustrated holiday shoppers who simply can't find that perfect gift for a friend or family member.

But when shopping for gift cards, be sure to exercise caution before buying a card so your loved one is not put in an embarrassing or costly situation.


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Volunteer-turned-intern Taryn O'Connell works with Marcus and Hawa, at Tree Street Youth in Lewiston. Tree Street Youth serves nearly 500 local youth a year, from some of the neediest families. To learn how you can help, through volunteerism or donations, contact Julia Sleeper at Tree Street Youth by calling 207-577-6386 or sending an email to [email protected].

Submitted photosRaequan works with a volunteer from Bates College to brighten things up at Tree Street Youth in Lewiston.

Walmart volunteers put the finishing touches on a bridge on the Barker Mill Trail along the Little Androscoggin River in New Auburn. Local businesses often sponsor work days where employees and resources are donated to the Androscoggin Land Trust for the purpose of trail maintenance.

stewardship program, call ALT at 207-782-2302. Better yet, join ALT for “a winter walk” on Dec. 13, to learn about being a steward, and about t he A nd roscog g i n L a nd Tr u st ’s e f for t s to ma ke t he A nd roscog g i n River Valley accessible to everyone. This easy 1-mile walk on the Barker Mill Trail in New Auburn with its view of the Little Andy and new foot bridges is, according to Michael Auger of ALT, “part of the Androscoggin greenway vision.” This “winter walk” will begin at Rolly’s Diner at 10 a.m.

Tri-County Mental Health Services“We have one volu nteer oppor t u n it y a rou nd t he hol idays,” sa id Ma rcel la B e r n a r d o f Tr i- C o u n t y Mental Health: The “Tree of Honor,” which honors veterans and act ive-dut y ser v ic emen a nd women w ho ser ve ou r cou nt r y. Community members will be invited to tie ribbons and messages of thankfulness and support to trees. A tree will be in place at the Auburn Mall from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, with more details to come regarding a second tree that will be placed in Augusta.

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n regarding how you can be a part of this opportunity, contact Marci Bernard at 207-783-9141 or [email protected].

The Center for Wisdom’s WomenA c c o r d i n g t o K l a r a Tammany, “The Center for Widsom’s Women is a sacred and safe place that supports a nd empower s women.” T he Center ’s volu nteers serve many functions at the Center during the holidays and throughout the year, i nc lud i ng “s t a f f i ng t he front desk, teaching classes (crafts, cooking, etc.), and helping with housekeeping. “The biggest commitment,” ex pla i ned Ta m ma ny, “is the role of companion.” To learn more about volunteer o p p o r t u n i t i e s , c o n t a c t Tammany at 207-513-3922.

There a re ot her ways to s upp or t t he C ent er for W i s d o m’s Wo m e n . F o r exa mple, t he Center has recently become involved w i t h t h e M a g d a l e n e Community of Thistle Farms in Nashville, Tenn. According to a recent press release, “Thistle Farms is a residential p r o g r a m a n d s o c i a l enterprise of women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction.” The women of Thistle Farms

have created ha nd made body products infused with essential oils which are now available for purchase at the Center for Wisdom’s Women. A lso, t hose interested in hosting a party to introduce t h e i r f r i e n d s t o t h e s e products are welcome to call for more information.

For t hos e w ho w i sh to donate items to the Center, said Tammany, “We are in constant need of feminine products and hygiene items

that we give away.” Visit www.wisdomswomen.org for more information.

Good Shepherd Food BankFor those who prefer to make a f i na ncia l donat ion, or who simply like to do their shopping online, the Good Shepherd Food Bank’s virtual food drive is up and running. Visit https://www.gsfb.org/donate/v fd/ to learn how

you ca n help. According to Rebecca Wright, “While our overall goal is to raise additional funds for holiday needs, the visuals [on the website] show how far we can stretch cash gifts due to our purchasing power.”

Tree Street YouthT h i s e d u c a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n l o c a t e d i n L e w i s t o n , c a n u s e volunteers and donations year-round. Their website

lists specif ic volunteering activities such as tutoring, mentor i ng , f u nd ra i si ng , cleaning and maintenance, sharing talents, career path presentations, coordinating games and activ it ies and special events assistance. I n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t donations can be found at treestreetyouth.org/donate/. For m or e i n f or m a t i on , call 207-577-6386 or email [email protected].

Volunteeringfrom page 4

Documents

Holidays in Maine Dec. 19, 2014