Newport group to host tree lighting celebration

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A delightful evening is in store for residents of the Newport area who attend the Newport Cultural Center’s Tree Lighting Celebration at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the Main Street building site of that proposed facility.

In cooperation with the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce, downtown Newport retailers Towne & Country Gift Shoppe, Jan’s Flowers & Gifts and TJ’s Jewelry, Phil and Barbara Brown, co-chairs of the Newport Cultural Center’s community campaign committee, have planned a full schedule of events that is sure to please everyone who attends.

John and Polly Michaud of Newport donated the 17-foot balsam fir that was strung with colored lights in the hope it eventually will be covered with all white lights as people donate $5 to replace each colored light with a white one to remember a loved one or honor someone.

Proceeds benefit the NCC campaign, which is now more than $760,000 on the way to its $1.4 million campaign goal.

Once the facility is built, it will house a new public library and historical society museum.

Friday’s activities include holiday music; an appearance by Santa Claus, who will have a gift and candy cane for every child; and lighting of six trees decorated by pupils at Newport Elementary School to honor SAD 48 music teacher Jack Clifford, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.

NCC capital campaign honorary chair Goody Gilman will officially light the tree; SAD 48 music director Bruce Brown will play “Silent Night” on the trumpet; and the Light-a-Light list of memorial and tribute names will be read.

Donations are being accepted for hot chocolate and cookies to be offered by SVCC, and participating Newport retailers will extend their hours and offer special promotions and giveaways during the evening.

To help make sure the tree is completely white for its lighting, you can purchase your lights at the three Newport businesses listed above as well as Riverside Katchall, Pray’s Service & Motel, Foxy Hair Design, East Newport Grocery, Bear’s One Stop, the Newport town office, or the Newport Public Library, or from members of the community campaign committee.

For information about this project and event, call Phil Brown at 368-4402.

For information about how you can contribute to the Newport Cultural Center capital campaign, contact the Newport town office or the Newport Public Library.

The annual University of Maine Art Department Faculty Exhibition, which is free and open to the public, ends Friday, Dec. 2.

If you want to see works of department chair James Linehan and faculty members Ed Nadeau, Wayne Hall, MaJo Keleshian, Dennis Harrington, Constant Albertson, John Eden and Gay Kempton, plan to visit the exhibit between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. now through Friday at Carnegie Hall galleries on the UMaine campus in Orono.

The works include photography, painting, ceramics, mixed media, fabric, drawing, wood sculpture and new media.

This is a busy weekend at Woodlawn Museum/The Black House, reports executive director Joshua Campbell Torrance.

First, it’s the Woodlawn Museum Christmas Preview Party 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at the museum in Ellsworth.

However, space is limited, and reservations are required for this event that includes holiday food, drink and music.

Admission is $30 per person or $50 per couple.

For tickets, call 667-8671.

The museum will reopen for special Holiday Tours from noon to 3 p.m. starting Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, and the same time the weekends of Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18.

Tours are offered hourly, and admission is $12 for adults, $6 for members, and $5 for children 5-16 to view the festive decorations and enjoy the holiday refreshments.

Tickets can be purchased in advance, and Torrance strongly recommends you make reservations for this event as well.

The museum store is also open noon-4 p.m. now through Friday, Dec. 23, for your holiday shopping.

For more information about these holiday activities, and more, call the number above.

The big-band Skyliners annual dance is 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Brewer Auditorium.

Tickets are $5 each and are available at the Brewer parks and recreation department office in the auditorium. Table reservations can be made when you purchase your tickets.

Light refreshments will be served at this alcohol-free event.

The Skyliners play music of the Glenn Miler, Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands as well as other music of that era.

For more information, call Brewer parks and recreation at 989-5199.

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