The Chocolate Church Arts Center turns the holiday spotlight on family entertainment with a theater production of A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol. The cast of adults and children from Bath, Brunswick, and beyond will perform the show on December 12 to 14 at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, December 15 at 2 p.m.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol takes on a new twist in this charming production, as the classic tale is told by beloved fairy tale characters – the big bad wolf takes on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, King Midas adopts Jacob Marley, and the show features appearances from the three little pigs, Mother Goose, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and more.

A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol will be directed by Michael Millett of Topsham, who recently appeared as the endearing King Pellinore in the Chocolate Church Arts Center’s fall production of Camelot. Billy Rankis of Brunswick takes on the simultaneous role of the big bad wolf and Ebenezer Scrooge, and Mother Goose will be played by Bath’s Deborah Patterson. Other cast members include Keith Libby, Carolyn Frederick, Charles McDonald, Jodi Rodriguez, and Shirley Bernier. 

A holiday theater production has become a tradition at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, and A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol is ideal for family members of all ages to soak in the festive spirit. Tickets for the show at the Chocolate Church Arts Center, located at 804 Washington Street, are available at www.chocolatechurcharts.org or by calling the box office at (207) 442-8455.

On December 14 and 15 at 3p.m., the MMS Chorale will present its annual Heritage Holidaysconcert featuringthe exquisite Christmas cantata Hodieby Ralph Vaughan Williams at Gendron Franco Center, 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston.   Come immerse yourself in this moving musical rendition of the familiar Christmas story composed by one of the most beloved British composers.  Our featured soloists for Hodie will send shivers down your spine and the chorale will have you wanting to shout Allelulia.  Sopranos Becky Goodenough, Laura Grams and Torey Gimpel, Tenor Brian Pfohl, and Baritone Carl Steidel are superb in their storytelling roles. 

In addition, the Chorale will perform seasonal Chanukah songs and Christmas carols selected to put you in the true holiday spirit.  Keeping with tradition, the concert will end with everyone joining in to sing a round of beloved Christmas carols.  

Celebratingthe holiday seasonwith the Maine Music Society Chorale has become a beloved tradition in the L/A area, and you won’t want to miss this highlight of the concert season. There’ll be music for everyone. Come usher in your holiday joy with this extraordinary seasonal event! 

For a preview of what’s in store, listen in to John Corrie and Susan Trask on Maine’s Big Z 105.5’s Breakfast Club on Tuesday, December 3, at 8:00 a.m.

For more information visit our website at www.mainemusicsociety.org or like us on Face book!  You can also call our business office, SmART Management, at 207-333-3386.  

Sponsors are Gleason Media, Maple Way Dental Care, Platz Associates, Paris Farmers Union and Liberty Mutual.

Ticket Information: Reserved Seating: Adult: $22; Senior: $20; Student: $10; under 12: Free*. *When accompanied by an adult. Plus a $2 handling fee per ticket. Group discount: 20% off price before handling fee for 10 or more tickets to the same performance.

Dirigo Federal Credit Union partnered with the Maine Credit Union League’s Campaign for Ending Hunger and donated $24,272 for the 2019 Campaign.  All money raised from the was distributed to hunger organizations and food pantries located in Androscoggin & Oxford Counties on November 18, 2019 when leaders from the local organizations were invited to the Credit Union to receive donations.  Checks were given to twenty local agencies including Rural Community Action Ministry, Trinity Jubilee Center, St. Martin de Porres, St. Mary’s Food Pantry, Poland Community Church Food Bank, Oxford Helping Hands Food Pantry, Hope Haven, New Beginnings, The Root Cellar, Mannafed, Seniors Plus, Kaydenz Kitchen Food Pantry, The Store Next Door, Harrison Food Bank, and The Good Shepard Food Bank.

While my home remains in Farmington, Maine, as Governor it is my honor and privilege to reside at the Blaine House–as governors before me have done since 1919.

The Blaine House is a living tribute to our state. It is owned by the people of Maine and it is faithfully maintained and has been modernized by stewards for generations.

For more than 100 years the Blaine House has welcomed world leaders in search of guidance, including President John F. Kennedy, Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, William Tecumseh Sherman, Margaret Chase Smith, Andrew Wyeth, Amelia Earhart, and even heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.

Well this week we honored that legacy and took another step towards leadership by unveiling 61 new solar panels on the Blaine House garage and the grounds- leading the way towards a clean energy future for Maine.

The solar panels, installed by Maine company Revision Energy, will supply 26,000 kilowatt hours per year of clean, renewable electricity–enough to cover at least 25 percent of the Blaine House’s electrical needs. These panels are expected to eliminate large amounts of carbon pollution each year, about the equivalent of not burning 43 barrels of oil. 43 barrels of oil is a lot. When I talk about Maine people sending $5 billion out-of-state every year to pay for fossil fuel, that is exactly what I am talking about.

Whether it is heating the Blaine House or heating your house, filling up a state-owned car or your car, the big, out-of-state fossil fuel companies have too tight a grip on Maine people. They’re always forcing us to dig deeper, to buy oil or gas that harms our pocketbooks, our health, our air and our environment. Enough is enough.

So, while these panels will have a substantial impact on the efficiency of the Blaine House, we view them as only a start for state government. Maine is ready to lead. That’s why I also signed an Executive Order this week directing Maine State Government to lead by example in pursuing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability.

It only makes sense that, as one of the largest consumers in Maine, our state government should be a role model in reducing energy use, embracing sources of renewables, curbing carbon pollution and recycling and reducing solid waste – all of which will lower operating costs at the same time.

This Executive Order directs state agencies to meet or exceed the state’s renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets. The goals for our state as a whole should also be goals for state government, and we will do our part to meet them.

First and foremost, we will prioritize energy efficiency whenever we upgrade state buildings.

We will pursue renewable energy generation and energy storage on state property whenever possible, and if not possible, we will purchase our energy from low-carbon sources.

We will add more electric vehicles when replacing old vehicles in the state fleet and we’ll install more electric vehicle charging stations at public facilities so that employees can charge their cars while they work. We will conserve energy and water and minimize waste and packaging. We will lead by example on the path to a cleaner, greener future and create green-collar jobs at the same time.

Now, not every person in Maine needs to install 61 solar panels to make a difference. I ask you to think about small, affordable changes you can make – from changing lightbulbs, tightening up doors and windows, insulating your basement or attic – keeping more money in your pocket and protecting our environment at the same time.

As this residence greeted leaders of the past, now the Blaine House greets a new generation of leaders in a manner that strengthens our economy, and protects the irreplaceable and beautiful state and natural resources which we share and care for.