Coming together for the holidays

THOMASTON — The schedule of Christmas services at the Episcopal Church of St. John in Thomaston are as follows:

Christmas Eve — Wednesday, Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. Festival of Lessons and Carols; and 11 p.m. Midnight Service.

Christmas Day — Thursday, Dec. 25: 11 a.m. Holy Eucharist.

ROCKPORT — Rockport Village will be lively Saturday, Dec. 13, with music, good cheer and fireworks as the town celebrates its fourth annual Holiday on the Harbor. Lobster boats will glimmer, decked out with lights; more than 1,000 luminaries will line the streets; and, there will be caroling around the tree at Marine Park.Come dusk, a grand fireworks show will explode over the harbor.

“This brings the Rockport community together with Christmas in a way it has never been done before,”…

THOMASTON — The Friends of the Thomaston Public Library's Hallway Bookshop features a selection of fine fiction and nonfiction on sale this month.

Sale books are in mint condition and suitable for gift-wrapping and setting beneath the tree, according to a news release.

The Hallway Bookshop is located in the Thomaston Academy building at 60 Main Street. Items will be available for purchase during all open library hours.

Following on the heels of Thanksgiving and the Rockland Festival of Lights, Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville and the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce are making final preparations for the annual Christmas by the Sea weekend.

The big kick-off of the three-day event is a holiday parade through downtown Camden to deliver Santa Claus to Harbor Park, where he presides over the lighting of the town's Christmas tree overlooking the harbor.

On the eve of Christmas by the Sea,…

APPLETON — Appleton's Girl Scout Troop 2002, consisting of girls ages 5-8, has made a commitment to serve the community during the upcoming holiday season. The girls have chosen to undertake three endeavors.

The first effort they have named "Promise Pies." The Troop has partnered with the Appleton Grange and will make 25 pies to deliver to Appleton residents who will receive Christmas baskets from the Grange. The Troop will be making the pies Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Appleton Village…

ROCKLAND — Toys for Tots has ways for the community to get involved and help local kids this December.

Bring the joy of the holidays to local children by dropping off a new unwrapped toy to one of the fun events listed below.

The Landings — 1 Commercial St, Rockland
Join Toys for Tots for its second annual shindig Thursday, Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., at The Landings Restaurant. There will be a gift basket raffle, an auction, and live music. Admission is $10 and a new…

OWLS HEAD — Owls Head Transportation Museum opens it doors to the community Sunday, Dec. 7 for their annual Holiday celebration, Holidays at the Museum. The fun-filled celebration is an all-day affair, and admission to the Museum is free to all.

“In 2013 more than 500 visitors attended this very special holiday event,” said OHTM Public Relations Director Jenna Lookner.

The Museum opens at 10 a.m., and children are invited to bring their letters to Santa or write a letter at the…

With the Thanksgiving meal behind us, it’s time to look toward the holidays of Christmas and New Years. From visits by Santa Claus to the towns and harbors of the Midcoast to parades and tree lightings and opportunities to shop for special holiday gifts, this time of year can be a frazzle.

To help you keep organized, we have devised a way to ensure that everything holiday-related to do, see and taste is posted in one place: …

CAMDEN — With the holiday season steadily approaching, the Watershed School's Liberian Education Fund chapter has begun taking orders for their annual wreath sale.

Collecting balsam fir tips themselves, the students of the Watershed LEF group have a hand in the wreath-making process from start to finish.

Spearheaded by Louisa and Isabel Crane of Camden, the annual wreath sales mark the beginning of a new year and new opportunities for students in Liberia.

Since the majority…

THOMASTON — The Friends of the Thomaston Public Library presents ‘Friday Night Movie Series’ at 6:30 p.m. each Friday.

December 5: White Christmas

1954 NR 120 minutes

White Christmas is a treasury of early Berlin classics. Two talented song and dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up to be one of the hottest acts in show business. They join forces with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to perform in Vermont at an Inn run by their old army…

ROCKLAND — Celebrate the holiday season at the Rockland Public Library. This December brings many special seasonal events for people of all ages. As always, library events are free and open to the public. The Rockland Public Library is located at 80 Union St. For more information about these programs and events, call 594-0310.

Consider bringing in non-perishable foods for the AIO Food Pantry for the Library's food/toiletry drive and helping out neighbors in need.

For non-…

BELFAST — Come kick off the holidays in downtown Belfast with festive cultural and retail enticements the weekend of December 5 and 6.

With two evenings of art openings and street performances as part of Belfast Art's special holiday art walk offerings, the monthly First Friday Contra Dance, and Our Town Belfast's annual Early Bird Sale and Tree Lighting events on Saturday, the whole family can have fun ringing in this joyful season.

Friday, Dec. 5, Betts Gallery at the Belfast…

MIDCOAST MAINE — Planet Toys has launched a new program to share the wonder of Christmas with kids in the community who really need some holiday cheer.

It’s called ‘The Planet Toys 2014 Holiday Stocking Run.’

Planet Toys’ goal is to fill 200-300 Christmas stockings with gifts for children in Knox, Waldo and Lincoln County. These kids will be chosen by local children’s service and other nonprofit organizations.

Here’s how the program works:

Beginning with Black Friday…

CAMDEN — This coming Saturday, Nov. 29, 8:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., the Camden Lions will be putting up Christmas trees and lights on the Village Green in Camden.

Five Town Football middle school and CHRHS football players, coaches, and parents will be helping with the project.

The Lions Club tradition of putting Christmas trees on the Village Green has been going on for many years.

High School participants will receive three hours of Community Service credit from the Lions Club…

ROCKLAND — Catahoula Rescue of New England will be gift wrapping for donations from Friday, Nov. 28 through Wednesday, Dec. 24 at the Pet Quarters location in Rockland.

 Wrapping can be done while the attendees wait, or items can be dropped off and picked up later.

Catahoula Rescue is a 501(c)3 approved all-volunteer rescue group whose mission is to advocate for homeless Catahoula Leopard dogs and Australian Cattle Dogs, these animals are placed in permanent, loving homes, and…

ROCKLAND — Help bring the joy of the holidays to local children by dropping off a new unwrapped toy to one of the fun events listed below.

Location: Flag Ship Cinema in Thomaston, Friday, Nov. 28 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bring a new unwrapped toy to the movies and receive a free popcorn. 

Location: The corner of Park and Lisle Streets in Rockland, Friday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet, Julia, an area youth who has created a service project helping Toys for Tots. This…