With Christmas just 11 days away, Rhonda French of Jonesport wants readers to know your help is essential to ensure that needy children in Washington County have a happy holiday.

While the deadline for submitting names for the 20th annual Let’s All Have A Merrier Christmas Drive has already passed, “We actually had 21 more names come in yesterday,” the project’s chairwoman told me late last week.

“Those requests are coming from pastors and teachers, and you just can’t say, ‘Sorry, you’re past the deadline,'” she said. “So when it comes down to the wire, we still need help.”

An instructor at Washington County Community College in Calais, French said students there conducted a toy auction to raise money for this cause, and donations from readers would be greatly appreciated.

The program supplies a new toy and warm outfit to each of the children on the list.

If you are able to send a financial contribution, that would be appreciated. So, too, would be the contribution of a new toy or article of clothing.

“If someone has a Barbie doll or a truck, we will be sure that it goes to an age-appropriate child,” French said.

The simple truth is, anything you can do to help will make a difference.

Contributions can be left with French during normal business hours at her office in the WCCC main building in Calais.

Contributions can be mailed to Let’s All Have A Merrier Christmas, Attention Rhonda French, P.O. Box 35, Jonesport 04649.

For people in the Jonesport area, French said that items are being stored at the Jonesport United Pentecostal Church and can be left there as well.

For information, call French at 454-1058 or e-mail rfrench@wccc.me.edu.

Although Tyler Wintle lost his battle with a brain tumor last month, friends of the late 10-year-old and his parents, Scott and Sandra Wintle of Dexter, are still actively supporting the couple and their family during this time of great sorrow.

To help the couple through this most difficult holiday season, you are invited to attend The Tyler Wintle Memorial Rock Concert presented by Event Horizon Production and MaineStream Music.

Doors for the concert open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at Dexter Regional High School on Abbott Hill Road.

Tickets at the door are $8 each, and all proceeds benefit the Wintle family.

Jody Cyr and Charles Bither Sr. report the concert will feature the music of Soundbender, Big Top Vertigo, Burning Val Hala, Loki and Ransom.

Food and refreshments will be available, and Cyr and Bither thank representatives of SAD 46 for making this event possible.

Lisa Goggins of Levant reports that Key Club members of Hermon High School, Bangor High School and Brewer High School are collecting blankets for area nursing home residents.

“We need 100 blankets or afghans,” Goggins said. “They can be new or used blankets in good shape.”

Also, contributions are being accepted for 150 stocking stuffers for residents of the Maine Veterans Home in Bangor.

Boxes for blanket donations are available at each high school.

For information about these holiday projects, call Goggins at 884-6066.

Despite all the holiday hustle and bustle, members of Brewer High School Hockey Boosters are hard at work collecting items for their silent auction, which will be conducted before the Brewer-Hampden girls basketball game at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at BHS.

To donate goods or services for the auction, call Pamela Clune at 989-0185 during the day, or 989-9774 at night; Joy Nevers-Royal, 989-8014; or Becky Shultz, 989-1369.

If you have questions or want information about the silent auction, call Clune.

I was very sorry to read last week of the death of Anita Economy, and extend to her family and friends my deepest sympathies.

Anita was one of the most sincere people I’ve known – the epitome of the perfect hostess, and not because of her work, but who she was.

Whenever or wherever she saw you, Anita greeted you earnestly with a grip rather than a handshake, and that grip, you could tell, came directly from her heart – through her eyes, smile, words and hands.

It was a “really good to see you” greeting that produced instant joy at being in her presence.

Anita will be missed, but remembered, oh, so fondly.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.