Amesbury Town Notebook
The last downtown Invitation Shopping Night is coming up Friday, from 4 to 8 p.m., so if you've been procrastinating about getting downtown to enjoy some holiday spirit and catch up on your last-minute holiday shopping, you've got one last chance to see the town at its holiday best. Downtown merchants will be offering refreshments, snacks and special prices on some of their merchandise.
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The Holy Family Parish is gearing up for its annual Christmas Eve Children's Christmas Pageant, and it will be holding practices on Saturday at 10 a.m. for children hoping to participate. Additional practices will be held Monday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. and Wednesday, December 23, at 5 p.m. Children can sign up by e-mailing the Religious Education Office at religioused@hfamesbury.com. Be sure to include the child's name, grade in school and phone number. The living nativity show will take place on Thursday, Dec. 24.
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For as many residents who approach the coming holiday with joy, there are those who have a hard time facing the holiday because they have lost a loved one, fallen on hard financial times or are going through the painful breakup of an important relationship. For those people, Holy Family Parish is organizing a Blue Christmas Prayer Service on Sunday, Dec. 27, at 4 p.m. in the Upper Church. Anyone having trouble getting into the celebration of the season is welcome to attend and bring family and friends along as well. Light refreshments will be served.
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The Amesbury Adventist School is gearing up for its annual school Christmas concert and pageant and invites families and community members to join them for the show on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. The pageant will take place at the school, at 251 Main St., South Hampton, and guests are invited — not obligated — to bring a plate of snacks, if they wish.
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The Friends Of Amesbury's Landry Stadium are looking for old photograph's of Landry Stadium for use in a historical calendar it plans to publish for 2011. Any old photos of the stadium, stands and sports activities held there would be appreciated, and all will be returned. For more information call Larry Hussey at 978-388-0647.
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The Amesbury Carriage Museum will be hosting a Community Ice Rink fundraiser tomorrow from 5 p.m. to closing time, at Flatbread Pizza in Market Square. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to help fund the ice rink at Town Park.
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Santa will be paying a visit to the good folks of Amesbury Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank on Main Street. Refreshments will be served, and families are invited to bring their children in to deliver their letters to Mr. Claus.
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Local storyteller and musician Peter Sheridan will entertain families Saturday at 3 p.m. with his own retelling of the popular Dr. Seuss tale of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." Guests are invited to attend the program free at the Cultural Center on High Street. For more information, contact Clare Dombrowski at 978-388-8148, ext. 4.
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Want to make your home more welcoming for the holidays? The Amesbury Public Library is hosting a Make Your Own Holiday Centerpiece program Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., and all you have to bring to create a dazzling display is your own stem cutters. Space is limited, and registration is required. For more information, contact sseamans@mvlc.org.
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Meetings this week:
Today — Conservation Committee, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall
Tomorrow — Municipal Council Ordinance Committee, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall
Wednesday — Lakes and Waterways Committee, 6:30 p.m., Amesbury Health Center
Thursday — Board of Health, 7 p.m., Amesbury Health Center
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Lynne Hendricks covers Amesbury for The Daily News and can be reached by calling 978-462-6666, ext 3254, or at lhendricks@newburyportnews.com.
