ShineOnCass Blue Christmas invites community to remembrance ceremony on Winter Solstice

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by Monica Charette

The ShineOnCass Foundation will host its 5th Annual Blue Christmas Ceremony for grieving families and friends and those who support them on Sunday, December 21, at sunset, starting at 4 p.m., on the Winter Solstice – the longest and darkest night of the year. Blue Christmas at the Oakland Gazebo will feature music, speakers, and a reading of submitted names of loved ones who have died and the lighting of memorial blue candles.

Blue Christmas ceremonies are held around the world in acknowledgement that the holiday season can be especially challenging for many who are grieving.

“While the world celebrates, many are simply just trying to find their way through December while grieving the loss of someone they love – a sharp contrast to the joy of the holidays.” said Monica Charette, founder and executive director of the ShineOnCass Foundation. “Our hope is to bring together bereaved individuals and those who support them to offer a compassionate space where people can hear their loved one’s name, be supported, and feel less alone during the holiday season.”

In addition to the blue light ceremony, the evening will also feature music by local musician Will McPherson and the return of award-winning country recording artist Joan Kennedy, and her daughter Grace, who will perform Candle in the Window and other selections. The event is free of charge and open to everyone.

Charette said the idea to host a community Blue Christmas Ceremony came from a gathering organized by her friends after the passing of her 17-year-old daughter Cassidy Charette 11 years ago. Cass, for whom the ShineOnCass Foundation was created to honor, was a Messalonskee High School student and longtime community volunteer, who died in a tragic hayride accident on October 11, 2014.

Anyone can participate in the Blue Christmas Ceremony by sharing their loved ones’ names being remembered and receive a blue candle to light at the ceremony. To complete the online form, visit Blue Christmas at shineoncass.org. Deadline to submit names is Saturday, December 20. People are also welcome to attend in silent remembrance and offer support to others. To participate virtually via livestream, follow the ShineOnCass Facebook page.

EVENTS: Sanitary District meeting rescheduled

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Vassalboro Town OfficeThe Vassalboro Sanitary District board of trustees meeting that had been scheduled for Dec. 15 is rescheduled for 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, in the town office meeting room.

EVENTS: Mid-Maine Chamber promotes Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 29

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Join Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and area businesses for Shop Small Saturday Mid-Maine – and shop ‘til you drop!

What better way to enjoy a Saturday, get some holiday shopping done, and know that you are helping your friends, neighbors, and business owners at the same time. So, grab your friends and family members – and head to the great outdoors for some much-needed activity.

Shopping locally keeps your money in the area and supports the businesses that serve and support you. Take some time this season to check out special offers, new merchandise, or a business you have not visited in the past. They will make it worth your while!

Participating businesses will include great discount offers in a special Shop Small – Save BIG coupon book and will have shopping bags for your convenience, and entry forms for a chance to win a $100 Chamber gift certificate to be used at over 180 local businesses. A list of participating businesses, as well as extra coupons, will also be available on www.midmainechamber.com.

Mix 107.9 will be making the rounds in the area with sponsored live remotes, highlighting additional opportunities to join in the fun, and other sales and promotions being held in our towns.

Mark your calendars to join us on Saturday, November 29, and shop ‘til you drop, with Shop Small Saturday Mid-Maine! Your small purchase will make a BIG difference to our local businesses!

Sponsors for this event include: SBS Carbon Copy and Allen Insurance & Financial, Major Co-Sponsors; Central Maine Motors Auto Group; Kennebec Savings Bank; Damon’s Beverage; Oliver & Friends Bookshop, Huhtamaki; Skowhegan Savings Bank; Best Western Hotel and Front & Main/Lockwood Hotel.

EVENTS: KPAC concert December 6, 2025

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The Kennebec Performing Arts Company (KPAC) will “Celebrate the Season” at its annual holiday concerts on Friday, December 5, 7 p.m., at Winthrop High School and Saturday, December 6, 5 p.m., at Cony High School in Augusta.

The KPAC Wind Ensemble, directed by John Neal, will present festive favorites such as Celtic Carol by Robert W. Smith and A Christmas Celebration. A special highlight will be Log Cabin Blues, featuring xylophone soloist Sophie Komiega. Assistant Director Dan Gilbert will take the podium to conduct The Eighth Candle by Steve Reisteter, a symphonic treatment of traditional Hanukkah themes. Holding with tradition, the group will close this portion of the program with Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride.

The concert will continue with the KPAC Jazz Band, led by new director Russell Caverly, featuring the premier performance of a specially commissioned work by Terry White, a noted Maine music educator, composer, and bandleader.

The evening will conclude with the KPAC Choir, directed by John Neal, performing a beautiful selection of seasonal works, including Candlelight Carol by John Rutter, Ose Shalom (The One Who Makes Peace) by John Leavitt, the traditional Hispanic carol A La Nanita Nana, Glory, Glory, Glory to the Newborn King by Moses Hogan, Festival Gloria by Craig Courtney, and He Watching Over Israel by Mendelssohn.

Admission is free and open to the public, thanks to KPAC’s generous sponsors and a grant from the Onion Foundation.

EVENTS: Parade of Lights November 29: A message from Santa

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I’m delighted to share that I’ll be arriving in Kringleville, Maine, on the evening of Saturday, November 29, 2025!

This year, my reindeer and I will make our grand landing in Waterville, where we’ll shine up the sleigh and join the sparkling Parade of Lights on our way to Kringleville. What a festive way to begin the season!

The elves have been hard at work getting my cozy cabin ready just for you. They’ve promised there will be steaming cups of cocoa to keep you warm, cheerful holiday activities to brighten your day, and a beautiful book for every child who visits.

They’ve also teamed up with the friendly folks at the Waterville Post Office to make sure your letters reach me quickly. You can drop them off at the Post Office or in the Kringleville mailbox, and I’ll do my very best to send a reply before the season’s over.

I can hardly wait to see your smiling faces and rosy cheeks as we celebrate the magic of Christmas together.

Remember, Christmas miracles are all around us – just keep the holiday spirit in your heart.

With love and joy,
Santa

2025 Parade of Lights

The 2025 Parade of Lights will be held on Saturday, November 29, at 6 p.m. It will start on College Ave., and travel down Waterville Main Street.

The Children’s Discovery Museum is excited to be collaborating with the city of Waterville to host this wonderful event.

While we have loved partnering with Winslow each year for the parade, due to ongoing bridge construction, we believe it is safer to keep the parade on one side of the river. We look forward to bringing the parade back across the bridge in the future!

The 2025 Parade of Lights will be held on Saturday, November 29, at 6 p.m. Floats will assemble along College Ave, travel down to Main Street, stopping at Castonguay Square for the lighting of the giant spruce and Santa’s arrival at Kringleville. A map will be provided closer to the event. We would like to invite all area schools, businesses, churches, organizations and municipalities to participate in the parade by entering a float, marching band, or other appropriate entry.

The Parade of Lights and Kringleville is generously made possible with the support of the City of Waterville, Central Maine Motors Auto Group, KSW Federal Credit Union, Selah Tea Cafe, Chase Toys, Kennebec Behavioral Health, Skowhegan Savings Bank, Day’s Jewelers and United Ag & Turf.

EVENTS: Family Festival of Trees coming soon; Santa will be in the house

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Alfond Youth & Community Center and Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, through the Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative are bringing Festival of Trees this holiday season, continuing a proud tradition.

Participation in this year’s event continues a fabulous holiday tradition. At the same time, money raised supports families in the community experiencing food insecurity through the services of Alfond Youth & Community Center and funds workforce development services and assistance through the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, meeting a need existing throughout our region.

Who doesn’t love a beautiful holiday tree? Imagine over 50 trees, each uniquely decked out in holiday cheer. This wonderful family event will be held at Waterville Elks Banquet & Conference Center, 76 Industrial Rd., Waterville, on Fridays through Sundays, November 21-23, and November 28-30. Hours on both Fridays and Saturdays are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sunday, November 23, hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on the final day, November 30, hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Festival of Trees will provide a magical experience the whole family can enjoy. Admission for ages 12 and over is just $2 per person; children 12 and under are admitted for free. Children are also given a free book upon arrival. New this year, Santa will be there from noon – 3:30 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 22 and 1 – 4 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 23.

Purchase and drop your individual tree tickets (just 50-cents each) into the bucket of your favorite tree, and you could go home with a beautifully decorated tree complete with all trimmings, gift cards, and merchandise displayed. Tree winners will be drawn after 5 p.m., Sunday, November 30, and notified that evening. Trees will be available for pickup on the following Monday and Tuesday.

This year’s 50/50 experience has also been enhanced by increased prize amounts, with a maximum payout of $10,000 daily. Winners will be drawn each day, and you do not need to be present to win. A note: in each of the cases of winning a tree or a 50/50 amount, winners are responsible for any tax implications, and a 1099 Form will be furnished for values exceeding $600.

Please join them for this wonderful holiday experience. Whether you visit to view the trees on display or are willing to volunteer some time to help staff the event, it will be time well spent – and you will be helping support your community through your participation. It takes a substantial number of volunteers for an event of this magnitude. Some volunteer slots are open. For more information about volunteering for a shift or shifts, please visit www.festivaloftreesmaine.net.

EVENTS: Free SeaStrings Concert: An afternoon of enchanting string music celebrating community and volunteerism

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An afternoon of live music with the SeaStrings, a local group of friends and neighbors from mid-coast Maine, will be performed on Sunday, December 14, at 2 p.m., at the St. Bridget Center in Vassalboro.

The concert is free. For those who haven’t heard them play, the SeaStrings are an ensemble that gathers weekly to share their love of music. Their repertoire is a mix of traditional Celtic, Québecois, Swedish, Irish, and Scottish tunes, with a special focus on lively fiddle music. With their passion for music and their commitment to creating connections, the group has become a staple of the local music scene, bringing joy and inspiration to all who listen.

The SeaStrings’ members are volunteers who play for the sheer joy of making music together. Open to anyone with an interest in making music, the group embodies the power of collaboration, friendship, and community building. Their concerts are a wonderful example of how music can bring people together and support charitable causes.

This concert is being held as a heartfelt gesture of appreciation for the dedicated volunteers of Sew for a Cause, a community-driven group that operates out of the St. Bridget Center. These volunteers generously give their time and talent to create handmade items for those in need, supporting local organizations and spreading comfort throughout the region. The SeaStrings and St. Bridget Center are proud to honor their hard work and celebrate the positive impact they make in our community.

The concert is free, though donations will be gratefully accepted at the door.

Local youth groups participate in Veterans Day parade (2025)

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All the local youth groups that participated in the Veterans Day Parade, in Waterville. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography)

“It is so important for the community to honor, pay respect, and show gratitude to all veterans but especially for those in our community and in some cases our own family who have shown the courage to serve our country with the ultimate belief that service above all else is what they are committed to,” said Christopher Santiago, Kennebec Valley District Commissioner of Pine Tree Council, Scouting America. “Scouting has had a long relationship with the military and veterans. Our Scout Oath reads directly to do our Duty to God and Duty to Our Country. With that being said, honoring our country and those who protect it is a very real opportunity to teach young people about citizenship and the responsibility we have to our country and community. Not everyone will serve in the military, but individuals serve as police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, and so many other professions for the purpose of serving others. Participating in the Veterans Day Parade allows us the opportunity to make these lessons real and encourage our youth to think about the positive impact they can have in the lives of others.”

Vassalboro Troop #410, march down Main St., in Waterville. Other groups participating included Vassalboro Cub Scout Pack #410, Winslow Cub Scout Pack #445, Winslow Troop #433, Oakland Cub Scout Pack #454, Augusta Troop #603, and Girl Scouts Arnold Trail Service Unit Troop #1521. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography)

EVENTS: Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra concert is November 23

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Daniel Keller, who is co-conductor of the Mid-Maine Youth Orchestra and on staff at the Southern Maine String Camp conducts the orchestra rehearsal. (photo courtesy of Stephanie Taylor)

The Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras (KVYSO) Fall 2025 concert will take place at the South Parish Congregational Church, 9 Church St., in Augusta on Sunday, November 23, at 4 p.m. Admission by good-will donation at the door.

If you have not yet experienced the hidden gem that is this group of young musicians, you will be amazed at their sound and tremendous talent!

Based in the Augusta area, the group consists of two ensembles, the Kennebec Valley Youth Orchestra for intermediate students, and the Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony for advanced students. Established in 2018 as a nonprofit 501c3, KVYSO brings together middle- and high-school string, wind, brass, and percussion players for a full orchestral experience based in classical repertoire.

The preparatory ensemble, Kennebec Valley Youth Orchestra, which is conducted by Dan Keller, will open the concert with several pieces, including a favorite, Trepak from Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker. Keller is a nationally award-winning music educator who has worked with the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra and Portland and is currently co-conductor of the Mid Maine Youth Orchestra.

String, wind, and percussion players in the full orchestra, Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony, hone their sound and perfect their technique through weekly multi-hour rehearsals. Led by Maestro Michael Lund Ziegler, these teen musicians will bring youthful excitement and lively spirit to their performance of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony and Sibelius’s Karelia Overture and Suite. Lund Ziegler is currently Executive Director of the Portland Conservatory of Music as well as an active conductor and classical saxophonist.

Come and be inspired by the enchanting music and the incredible talent of Central Maine’s young musicians! Admission to this special event is by free-will donation of any size, with all proceeds used to defray concert expenses and support the Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras. Want to donate in advance of the concert? Please visit www.kvyso.org/home/support-kvyso.

Do you know a young musician who would like to get involved? Auditions will soon be open for the Spring 2026 concert, and rolling auditions are available throughout the year. To learn more, please visit www.kvyso.org/ or contact Lori Scheck, Orchestra Manager, at info@kvyso.org.

EVENTS: Making music during the month of December

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by Mary Matteson

Do you like to sing? Especially the memorable and special songs of the holidays? South China Community Church invites you to join them during the month of December! They’re providing several opportunities for singing and enjoying carols and music selections of the upcoming holiday season. You don’t have to be a church member or attendee – we just want to share the special music of Christmas with the community.

The first Sunday in Advent is November 30. We have an Advent Choir this year and would love to add your voice to our chorus if you enjoy singing carols. Rehearsals will be held on Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the church sanctuary, on December 4, 11 and 18. The Advent Choir will sing during 10 a.m. Sunday Services on December 7, 14 and 21, as well as at the Christmas Eve Service (see below). Copies of all music will be provided for you, along with recordings of the selections they’ll will be singing. Please call Mary Matteson at (207) 215-6931 for further information.

On Tuesday, December 9, we will host our annual Sing-a-Long at 1:30 p.m., in Memorial Hall. This fun activity is a chance to gather informally and sing all types of holiday music together. They will provide music song sheets and “bell necklaces” to add to the merry making. All ages are welcome; light refreshments will be available. In case of snow, they will gather on Wednesday, December 10 (please call Debbie Stowe at (207) 462-2175 or Mary Matteson at (207) 215-6931 in case of weather concerns on Tuesday, December 9.)

On Saturday, December 13, please join them for their monthly Blessed Breakfast from 8 to 10:00 a.m. Breakfast includes eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, biscuits with sausage gravy, pastries, fruit and a variety of beverages. In addition, Santa Claus will be in attendance and holiday music will be provided.

The Christmas Eve Service will take place at 6 p.m., on Wednesday, December 24. This special service is a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus with family and friends as they worship and sing together.

Music during the month of December is a joyous time at the South China Community Church. Please come join them!