Many people find they are likely to exercise less during the long, cold winter in Midcoast Maine.

This week many members of the Central Lincoln County YMCA in Damariscotta are doing a double take as they see a familiar face from the community at the front desk.

The Community Housing Improvement Project connects people in the local community who cannot afford a delivery of firewood with a robust group of local volunteers who cut, split, and deliver dry wood. CHIP volunteers have already delivered wood to 11 different households this season.

The Lincoln County News office will be closed Monday, Jan. 2 in observance of New Year’s Day. The deadline for letters to the editor and press releases – normally 5 p.m. Monday – is 5 p.m. Friday for the Jan. 5 edition. The deadline for advertisements is noon on Friday.

The next meeting of the Garden Club of Wiscasset is on Thursday, Jan. 5 in Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational Church, 28 High St., in Wiscasset. There will be a short business meeting at 12:30 p.m. followed by a monthly program at 1 p.m.

The Lincoln County News office will be closed Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2 in observance of Christmas and New Year’s Day, respectively. The deadline for letters to the editor and press releases – normally 5 p.m. Monday – is 5 p.m. Friday for the Dec. 29 and Jan. 5 editions. The deadline for advertisements is noon on Friday.

The Bristol Masonic Lodge No. 74 and the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation recently presented a $3,000 donation to the Bristol-area nonprofit Caring for Kids.

Santa Claus arrived at the Bremen town office by fire truck on Sunday, Dec. 11, to the delight of children from Bremen and surrounding communities. It was the first time in three years that Santa was able to make it out in public in Bremen.

Newcastle’s Taniscot Engine Company is working with the Community Housing Improvement Program to deliver firewood to households in the town of Newcastle. Firewood recipients are part of CHIP’s annual Home Heating Assistance Program, which provides one cord of firewood, up to 100 gallons of fuel, or assistance paying electric heating bills to people in Central and Eastern Lincoln County.

It’s the perfect time to prepare for next summer by implementing a Japanese Knotweed control that actually works: cutting the dead, woody canes now.