ANDOVER — The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Andover, together with Bernie & Phyl's Furniture, is collecting toys for The Home for Little Wanderers.
People may drop off unwrapped toys at Coldwell Banker, 305 N. Main St., and at any Bernie & Phyl's (the closest being Nashua, N.H. and Saugus) now until Dec. 14. The Home needs toys for infants to 18 years.
As a bonus, both businesses are providing up to $5,000 in matching funds for all gift cards that are donated during the gift drive.
People interested in choosing a gift from a child's personal wish list can visit www.giftdrive-thehome.org. Those who don't have time to deliver a gift, can shop from a general list on www.bigwishesforlittlewanderers.com and have the gift delivered directly to The Home's Toy Room free of charge.
"Every year that we participate, our neighbors go above and beyond to help us bring happiness to the children at the Home," said Cathy McCarthy, sales manager at Coldwell Banker in Andover. "We do hope they will join us again this year to ensure that every child will receive a gift."
Santa makes visit to school fair
METHUEN — Anybody who donates a new, unwrapped toy can have their picture taken with Santa for free at the holiday fair and pancake breakfast at Comprehensive Grammar School on Saturday.
The breakfast is from 9 a.m. to noon, and the fair runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be crafts and vendors.
The school is at 100 Howe St.
Children raise voices for food pantry
METHUEN — Andover school children, professional singers and two organists will perform a concert Sunday to put food on the holiday tables of people in the Merrimack Valley.
The concert will be performed at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall, 192 Broadway (Route 28) at 3 p.m.
Some 40 students from South School will sing.
Admission is $10. Proceeds will go to Neighbors in Need, a food pantry in Methuen and Lawrence.
To reserve tickets, call the agency at 978-685-8321, daily between 8 a.m. and noon, or e-mail NeighborsInNeed@verizon.net.
Methuen introduces newest Artist of Month
METHUEN — Mayor William Manzi has named Carolyn McDougall December's Artist of the Month.
Until Hurricane Katrina hit, McDougall lived in Gulfport, Miss., for 40 years with her family and taught art for 30 years. She now resides in Methuen.
The 1962 graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston taught art in Gulfport and was selected Teacher of the Year and Most Popular Teacher of the Gulf Coast.
She also had two yearbooks dedicated to her, according to a press release from the mayor's office.
McDougall focuses on watercolor painting and photography.
She enjoys painting places she has traveled to, the press release said.
