York Town News
Special events abound around town
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK VILLAGE - Whether you're in the mood to immerse yourself in a great story or you're just counting down the days to the annual Festival of Lights here in town, this Friday, Nov. 3, is the magic day.The Sixth Annual Family Literacy Fair will be held at the York Public Library on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event is offered in conjunction with the York Schools.
The theme this year is "This Land is Your Land: American Life and Culture" and the fair will feature refreshments, story-telling, activities and even a visit by the Nubble Lighthouse Keepers Square Dance Club. Activities include creating your own family flag, making a hand-stamped quilt square to become part of the York Family Quilt that will be displayed at the library and elementary schools, and even making your own butter.
Old York Historical Society will take part in the event as well, teaching about the way children and families lived in the past, and rumor has it the acclaimed "Ox Cart Man" may be paying a visit.
This year's guests include storyteller Jody Fein and local author/illustrators Jeannie Brett and Laura Rankin.
This Friday is also the deadline for those who wish to be included in the printed flyer program for this year's Festival of Lights. The Old York Historical Society and York Parks and Recreation Department are urging residents, organizations, businesses and groups to take part in this annual community event, set for Dec. 2 in York Village.
The reason behind the annual event, explained Cheryl Farley of the Festival of Lights Committee, is to "give thanks to the community for making York a delightful place to live and work, and to celebrate the warmth and tradition of the holiday season."
The Festival of Lights Committee suggests taking part in a variety of ways, such as joining in the Festival of Lights Parade, offering a fundraiser such as a raffle, sing-along or public supper for a non-profit group, holding open houses at local businesses, joining in the York Public Library's Festival of Gingerbread Houses, decorating a tree for the Moquin Family Festival of Trees, or helping adorn York Village in the while lights that Mike Lee and a crew of volunteers put up in the week after Thanksgiving.
For more on the gingerbread contest, call Julie Steedman at 363-5349 or Sue Little at 363-7527. For more on the Festival of Trees, contact Janalee Moquin at 361-2116.
The deadline to be included in the printed Festival of Lights program is this Friday, Nov. 3, so contact Cheryl Farley at Old York at 363-4974 to share your ideas and sign up.
