St. Lucia Day

HALLOWELL – St. Lucia Day will be celebrated by the Independent Order of Scandinavians on Sunday, Dec. 11, at the residence of Alice Crowley. The celebration and meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Lucia Day is celebrated by Swedes and Swedish Americans and their family and friends annually on Dec. 13. Lucia is dressed in a long white dress with a red sash, and she wears a crown of candles.

Coffee, punch and Lucia buns will be served. Interested members of the community are welcome. For more information about the event or about the Scandinavian-American organization, contact Lee at 873-3065.

Funds for hunger

WESTBROOK – At a ceremony held on Dec. 1, Maine’s credit unions announced that the fourth annual Maine Credit Unions’ Ending Hunger Walking Tour raised a record-setting amount of $13,000 to support ending hunger in Maine, surpassing last years total by $1,000.

In addition, credit unions donated $100 to a food pantry in each of the 46 communities the tour visited. In total, $4,600 was donated directly to 46 food pantries across Maine, including four in Androscoggin and Oxford counties.

Brenda Davis, executive director of Cross Roads Ministries, was presented a donation of $725 from the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, as well as a plaque of appreciation recognizing her efforts as organizer of the walk. The $725 donation signifies the 725 miles that Davis covered.

Holiday posada

ROCKLAND – Spanish exchange teacher Jaqueline Cazares and friends of Penobscot School will host Mexican Posada Navidea – a Christmas posada celebration and benefit event planned for 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at 28 Gay St.

The suggested contribution is $25 a family and $20 an individual. It is a special fund-raising event in support of Penobscot School, a nonprofit center for language learning and international cultural exchange. RSVP to 207-594-1084.

Volunteers are requested to help make piatas and food items prior to the event. Potluck supper donations are welcome. For details, contact Jaqueline at 594-7688 or [email protected].

The school will also host a special French holiday celebration – Souper Nol – on Friday, Dec. 16. For more information, contact Nomie Marciano at 594-7688 or [email protected]. http://www.languagelearning.org/conversationgroups.html.

The school’s winter semester weekly classes will begin Jan. 23, and an International Fair Language Fair will be held Saturday, Jan. 14. For details, call 594-1084 or visit www.languagelearning.org.