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Friday, December 26, 2025 Volume 21 • Issue No. 52
Caring Unlimited Celebrates 25th Annual Atlantic Plunge KENNEBUNK On New Year’s Day 2026, Caring Unlimited is celebrating its 25th annual Atlantic Plunge to benefit survivors of domestic violence. The plunge will be held Thursday, Jan. 1, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Gooch’s Beach in Kennebunk, with check-in beginning at 9:15 a.m. The backup emergency storm date is Saturday, Jan. 3, at 1 p.m. Caring Unlimited is York County’s only domestic violence resource center, offering direct
services, housing, and safety planning to those impacted by abuse. The organization also provides free prevention education, training, and professional
consultation. The plunge is one of its major annual fundraisers, with all money raised through registration, pledges, and donations supporting its programs.
CFW Offers Holiday Week Hours CAPE NEDDICK The Center for Wildlife (CFW) is extending its Nature Center hours for holiday visitors. The Nature Center will be open Monday, Dec. 29, through Sunday, Jan. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The additional hours offer winter break activities for families, friends, and community members. Admission includes access to the Nature Center, Ambassador Village, outdoor trails, children’s natural play areas, and CFW programs at no extra cost. “‘Tis the season to get connected with nature,” said SaigeLyn Gidzinski, education and outreach lead at CFW. “This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get outside together, meet our animal ambassadors up-close, engage in meaningful experiences, and learn about the important work we do.”
While visiting the campus, visitors can explore owl diets by dissecting pellets, observe local turtles during feeding time, get up close with birds of prey, and learn what it takes to be an animal keeper. The program schedule is listed on the events calendar on the CFW website. CFW’s non-releasable ambassadors include native hawks, owls, falcons, turtles, Virginia opossums and a North American porcupine, as well as other permanently injured animals. The animals live in sanctuary enclosures designed to replicate their natural habitat, and visitors can view these often secretive creatures up close.
Following the additional holiday hours, The Nature Center and campus grounds will resume their regular schedule of operations, open Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Center for Wildlife is both a wildlife medical clinic and a nature-based education center, treating more than 2,500 injured and orphaned wild animals each year. The center also offers hundreds of educational programs to the community. CFW is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 that receives no state or federal funding. For more information, visit www.thecenterforwildlife.org or call 207-361-1400.
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SARTEWIDE For many, the holiday season provides a unique opportunity to pause from daily responsibilities and focus on the people who matter most. While gift-giving and festivities are often the center of celebrations, the true value of the season lies in nurturing meaningful connections with friends, family,
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Home & Business
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Library News
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Obituaries
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Health & Fitness
11th Annual Wild Blueberry Drop KENNEBUNK The blueberr y is back! The 11th annual Wild Blueberry Drop will once again be held live in two stages, with the “Early Bird” drop at 9 p.m. and the “Main Drop” at midnight, both taking place on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Both drops will occur from the bell tower of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 114 Main St., Kennebunk. The best viewing is from the church lawn or across the street in front of the Brick Store Museum, 117 Main St. The Waterhouse Center, 55 Main St., will be open for skating until late. Bring your skates and come on down! In addition, the Brick Store Museum will be open to the public free of charge from 5 to 9 p.m. Founded in 2015 by volu nteers f rom t he tow n of Kennebunk, the Brick Store Museum, and the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church,
New Year’s Eve Kennebunk is celebrating its 11th year of creating a family-friendly event that brings the community together to ring in the New Year. The event is hosted by the First Parish Church, the town of Kennebunk, and the Brick Store Museum. For more information, visit New Year’s Eve Kennebunk at www.facebook.com/ NYEKBK, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church at www. uukennebunk.org, or the Brick Store Museum at www.brickstoremuseum.org.
Strengthening Social Bonds During The Holidays
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Participants may register as individuals or as part of a team and create a personalized fundraising page. Registrants are eligible to win prizes, with ad-
ditional raffle entries awarded based on the amount raised. Inperson registration will also be available the day of the event. The first 50 participants to register will receive a free T-shirt commemorating the event. Additional T-shirts and towels will be available for advance purchase online or in limited quantities at the event. For more information and to register, visit www.caring-unlimited.org, call 207-490-3227, or find them on Facebook.
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a nd com mu n it y. Resea rch shows that strong social ties are associated with improved mental and physical health, making connection a powerful and lasting gift. The following are a few ways to help foster connection during the holidays: Engage in Intentional Conversations
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H i g h - q u a l i t y c o nve rs a t io n s, a c t ive l i s t e n i n g , asking open-ended questions, and validating feelings may reduce stress and build resilience among family members. Strong communication can support emotional well-being and strengthen relationship quality. Among young adults, those who talk more frequently with their
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parents about concerns and life experiences may feel more supported, understood, and connected than those who do not. Taking time to ask thoughtful questions and truly listen may make a lasting difference this season. Revisit or Create Traditions See BONDS on page 3 . . .
Check out the page on
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