A new arrival
Lilly Nicole Fish was born on Sept. 5 to Rhiannon and Dana Fish of Portland.
Karen Spiller of Westbrook is Lilly’s proud grandmother.
Roberts top charity waiter
John Roberts of Disability RMS was the top tip receiver at the charity luncheon during the recent Festival of Trees celebration at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church.
Roberts took in more than $300 in tips.
Pack 84 cares
Westbrook Cub Scout Pack 84 of Westbrook has had a busy holiday schedule.
On Nov. 26, they donated to the Westbrook Food Pantry. Then nine cubbies visited News Center 13 on Dec. 5 in Portland to help kickoff the TV station’s Joy of Sharing campaign. While there, the scouts toured the station.
Annual party at Walker
The weather cooperated and the annual open house at Walker Memorial Library on Thursday was well attended.
“We were lucky it was a good day,” said Children’s Librarian Pat Larrabee.
The Westbrook High School Bell Ringers, directed by Walter Hayes, entertained the guests, as did members of the Chopin Club. The open house featured its usual table of goodies and punch. A blaze in the fireplace added to the spirit of the holiday season with comfort and cheer.
Christmas Eve at St. Hyacinth’s
Rev. Reggie Brissette, pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish, said a “real” Christmas pageant with two live sheep will be at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, at St. Hyacinth’s Church on Brown Street.
Brissette said the pageant, ” a family celebration,” would include angels and shepherds. Little bells to ring will be given to all the children attending the pageant. Brissette said the sheep were raised in Westbrook.
He said people from each of the three former parishes in Westbrook decorated St. Hyacinth’s on Sunday. Brissette said production of the pageant marks a “coming together” of the three parishes. “There’s a peace that is settling in,” Brissette said about the process of forming one parish.
Christmas at Trinity
A cast of more than 50 presented the annual Christmas pageant on Sunday for 145 guests at Trinity Lutheran Church.
The pageant was narrated by Roger Knight and Karla Mitchell. The audience joined the cast in singing four traditional hymns during the pageant and Doug Moreshead sang a solo in the beginning. Following the production, Abbi Shirk presented a bouquet of flowers to Elsie Reese who directed the pageant and designed the costumes.
A buffet sandwich supper was served to everyone in the fellowship hall after the pageant. Refreshments included a birthday cake for Jesus and Knight led the gathering in a singing of “Happy Birthday.”
Have a safe holiday season
The state fire marshal is urging Mainers to use caution with live Christmas trees inside homes.
Fire Marshal John C. Dean said Christmas trees should be fresh and placed in a sturdy tree stand after, at least, an inch has been cut from the tree trunk. The tree should be given plenty of water and located in an area not blocking exits.
Dean said trees should be kept away from all sources of heat, such as wood stoves, fireplaces, heating ducts and heat registers. “A dry Christmas tree is the most flammable item found inside a home this time of year and once ignited will literally explode and be consumed by fire within seconds,” Dean said.
He also urged caution with holiday candles, citing candles as the cause of about 6 percent of all Maine house fires. Dean said candles should never be left unattended, should be kept away from Christmas trees, decorations and wrapping paper and should be out of reach of children and pets.
Christmas is the ideal time to replace batteries in all smoke detectors in a house. For more information on Christmas tree safety in public locations and other fire safety tips, visit the state fire marshal’s web site www.maine.gov/dps/fmo.
(ann and Claudette) 
(Walker staff) 
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