Welcoming the holiday season Santa and Mrs. Claus make an appearance in the annual Christmas Parade of Lights in Berlin in a past year. (FILE PHOTO) Parade, Santa and sales kick off festive season BY BARBARA TETREAULT “Join us for a fun Thanksgiving weekend in down- lished eight years ago by American Express to THE BERLIN SUN town Berlin for the 27th annual Parade of Lights. encourage shoppers to shop at their small, indepen- ANDROSCOGGIN VALLEY — After the turkey With the wonderful snow we have received, it will dently owned retailers or dine at an independently had been eaten and time spent with family and defi nitely feel like Christmas,” said Poulin. owned restaurant. Studies have shown that 67 cents friends this Thanksgiving, enjoy a long weekend of The theme for this year’s parade is “Magically of every dollar spent at a small business remains in shopping right at home. Disney Christmas,” and by last week, over 30 fl oats, the local community. Get amazing deals and know that dollars spent walking groups and emergency vehicles had signed Shoppers are encouraged to not only visit their locally support businesses that in turn fuel the area up to participate, and late entries were welcome. favorite local business but to explore businesses economy. We all benefi t when businesses thrive. Floats are required to have lights, creating a dra- they may not have visited before. Local merchants And partake of the festivities kicking off the holi- matic show in the evening dark. provide customer service that is not available online day season. The parade gets underway at 7 p.m., starting on or at big box retailers. For decades, the annual Christmas Parade of Glen Avenue and moving up Main Street. Cash As part of its “Be Local, Buy Local” campaign, Lights has kicked off the holiday season the Friday prizes are awarded to the top three fl oats in both the Berlin Main Street Program reminds shoppers after Thanksgiving and this year is no exception. the large and small fl oat categories. Making their that supporting local small businesses strengthens The Berlin Main Street Program and Sylvia Poulin annual appearance will be Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. have once again put together an amazing parade. The next day is Small Business Saturday, estab- see CELEBRATIONS page 2 Page 2 — THE BERLIN SUN, Wednesday, November 21, 2018 Gorham to hold Turkey Trot run on Thanksgiving GORHAM — On Thanksgiving, Nov. the race route (Church, Promenade, 22, the 5K Turkey Trot will be held in Bangor and Main streets), porch Gorham. Registration cheerleaders are appre- takes place at 169 Main ciated. Instead of a fee, St., from 8:30-9 a.m., fol- non-perishables are lowed by the Kid’s Dash being collected. at 9:15 a.m. and the Trot Canned fruit/veg- at 9:30 a.m. etables, snack items The Trot serves many for lunch boxes, pasta, purposes, but most tomato sauce, peanut importantly it is an butter, pancake mix, opportunity for people to cereal, instant oatmeal be active, share commu- and tuna fi sh are most nity connectedness and needed. gather food for those in Facebook page Run- need. ForYou or email runfo- All abilities are wel- [email protected] with All entrants in Berlin’s Parade of Lights on Friday night are encouraged to decorate their fl oats and come. The course is stroller and pet questions. Whether you waddle, walk, cars (or carriages) with lights. (FILE PHOTO) friendly. or trot all are welcome to participate CELEBRATIONS from page one At Badger Realty, Santa and Mrs. For those that happen to live along on Thanksgiving morning. Claus will be greeting visitors with the local economy because small busi- gifts for children and refreshments for nesses employ local people and pay all. Badger and Northway Bank will property taxes. The businesses are be hosting the Grinch at the event, and also supporters of various commu- Service Credit Union will join the group nity activities and host events such as to entertain and treat Santa’s guests. Drive in the ’50s, Jericho Downtown The Main Street Program is offer- Block Party and Parade of Lights. ing free horse wagon rides in the To entice shoppers to downtown downtown. Berlin, some special events are “Please experience shopping locally planned for Saturday, Nov. 24, from in downtown Berlin during this holi- noon to 3 p.m. day season,” said Poulin. SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN BERLIN on Saturday, November 24th. “Come visit Santa and Mrs. Claus” at Badger Realty in downtown Berlin as they celebrate their third annual CHRISTMAS SPECTCULAR EVENT between noon and 3 pm on Saturday, September 24th. Santa and Mrs. Claus will have gifts for all children as well as hot chocolate and cookies for everyone. Badger Realty, Northway Bank and Demers Property Management will also have the GRINCH while hosting this event and Service Credit Union will be joining our group to entertain and treat Santa’s guests! To enjoy your day, everyone is invited by the Berlin Main Street Program to embark on a FREE horse wagon ride in downtown Berlin between noon and 3 pm. This Nov 24, we want to share Small Business Saturday® with you! It’s a holiday shopping tradition, backed by American Express, that celebrates small businesses downtown. And it wouldn’t be a celebration without customers like you joining us. So mark your calendar for Nov 24th — the Saturday after Thanksgiving — and get ready to Shop Small® in downtown Berlin. Grab a friend or family member and come by BERLIN MAIN STREET between 10am and 4 pm on the big day. Thank you for all your support, and we’ll see you Saturday, Nov 24th! A child at the annual Christmas Parade of Lights meets a parading Christmas moose. (FILE PHOTO) THE BERLIN SUN, Wednesday, November 21, 2018— Page 3 Bright outlook for Black Friday in N.H. BY BART BACHMAN accolades have helped drive tourism, THE CONWAY DAILY SUN and, just as a rising tide fl oats all CONWAY — Optimism is running boats, the more visitors to the valley, high — both locally and statewide — the more each tourism sector, includ- heading into Black Friday weekend. ing retail, benefi ts.” In fact, said Marti Mayne, pub- Early-season snows should also licist for the Mount Washington help. Valley Chamber of Commerce, “If the weather is decent, we will “Retailers nationwide are predicting have a good Black Friday because an increase in holiday shopping this the ski areas will be open” said Dot year. Seybold, general manager of Set- “Every one of the retailers in tlers Green, the largest outlet com- Mount Washington Valley faces plex in North Conway. “Double draw competition from online shopping,” for families.” Mayne said. “Yet, with everything Said Nancy Kyle, president of N.H. else that drives people to Mount Retail Association: “I think Black Washington Valley during holiday Friday will be very good. People will periods, retailers in the valley have be rested, and the cold weather and the advantage of being in a vacation snow will put everyone in the holi- destination: a No. 1 ski town; a top day spirit.” 10 small town for adventure; and a top-rated foliage town, too. All those see SHOPPING page 10 Shoppers at Settlers Green in North Conway. (JAMIE GEMMITI PHOTO) LABONVILLE, INC 504 Main Street, Gorham, NH 03581 www.labonville.com 1-800-764-9969 • 752-4030 • Open: Mon-Fri. 8-5 • Sat. 8-4 • Sunday 10-4 Black Friday, Nov. 23rd – Sunday, Nov. 25th 20% OFF Storewide* Clip This Coupon For An Extra 10% OFF Good For Black Friday Only. In Store Only. One Per Household Please. Open Black Friday until 7PM *Excluding power equipment and accessories Maine Outlets New Hampshire Outlets Farmington, ME • 207-778-2526 Hookset, NH • 603-270-2130 Closed Mexico, ME • 207-364-7079 North Conway, NH • 603-356-5393 Thanksgiving Madison, ME • 207-474-8815 Open: Mon-Sat 7-5:00, Sun 10-5:00 Hours: M-F 8-5, Sat. 8-4, Sun. 10-4 Day Page 4 — THE BERLIN SUN, Wednesday, November 21, 2018 Ornament celebrates Guardian Angel Parish BERLIN — The Berlin Main Street lish a parish on the east side and con- Program’s 2018 Christmas ornament struction began on the church, school celebrates the 100th anniversary of and rectory on Sullivan Street. The Guardian Angel Parish. church was dedicated in June 1918. Each year, the program selects a Guardian Angel was the only Catho- historic building or structure to high- lic Church to ever operate on the east light. Past ornament subjects have side. It continued to operate until ranged from the Nansen Ski Jump 2000 when all the Catholic parishes in and the log drives to the Berlin Public Berlin were absorbed in Good Shep- Library and city hall. herd Parish. At its peak, the parish Guardian Angel Parish was founded served 850 families. The building is in 1917, when the increasing number now Community Bible Church. of French-speaking Roman Catholic The school opened its doors in immigrants in the city overcrowded December 1918 with 230 students St. Anne Church, then the only French and run by eight sisters of the speaking church in Berlin. The church assigned Rev. Joseph Leclerc to estab- see ORNAMENT page 5 Moffett House Museum currator Jackie Nadeau with the new Main Street Program Christmas orna- ment, which can be purchased at the Moffet House. (RITA DUBE PHOTO) FULL LIQUOR LICENSE Come Celebrate Gift Certificates make a great Thanksgiving with us gift! Join Us Black Friday and Thursday, Nov.