STANDISH

THE PRESUMPSCOT Regional Land Trust, with the help of the Maine Farmland Trust, has submitted a Land for Maine’s Future grant to protect 500 acres in Standish. The property includes Randall Orchards.

Additional Photos

Standish firefighters Will Flanders, left, and Adam Royer show kindergarten student Darren Haskell how to call 911 during a recent fire safety event at Edna Libby Elementary School in Standish. Courtesy of Kari Poirier

If the conservation project receives the grant, it will be the first awarded to the Buxton, Gorham and Standish area. The property represents one of the last commercial agricultural properties in Standish, and protecting it will help ensure the continuation of Maine’s rural character, public access and benefits to the current and future generations.

PORTLAND

NEW ENGLAND Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland recently celebrated National Rehabilitation Awareness Week by honoring the achievements of five patients who have overcome barriers and exceeded expectations.

Among the honorees are Tyra Tarbox of Cumberland and Suzanne McDougall of Westbrook, who were victims of stroke, and Rodney Wallace of Westbrook, who suffered debilities resulting from diabetes and coronary artery disease.

EMMA SHAPIRO of North Waterboro and Gabe Terracciano of Portland, both Cheverus High School seniors, have been selected for membership in the 2010 All New England Band Festival, to be held at Plymouth State University on Nov. 22.

Shapiro was selected as a bassoonist, and Terracciano was selected as a string bass player. The festival will feature 175 high school musicians, culminating in a performance at the Silver Center for the Arts on the university’s campus.

LOU JACOBS, a chiropractor, has made the finals of the American Mustache Institute’s Mustached American of the Year competition. The contest is based on mustached Americans who are leaders in their communities and use the mustache as a tool for good. Recently, Jacobs launched “Mystache Fights Cancer,” a fundraising event to fight cancer and benefiting the Cancer Community Center of South Portland.

The winner of the award will be announced Dec. 4. Some of his competitors include TV and radio personality Pat O’Brien, Kevin Johnson, formerly of the NBA, and movie director Morgan Spurlock. To vote for Jacobs, visit www.americanmustacheinstitute.org.

FALMOUTH

THE GREATER New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is planning its 22nd annual awareness and fundraising walks in Maine. There will be 10 walks throughout the state in April.

Volunteers are being sought for the planning committee to help coordinate all aspects of the events. Walks are scheduled to take place in Androscoggin County, Augusta, Brewer-Bangor, Brunswick, Caribou, Camden, Ellsworth, Greater Portland, York County and Waterville. Walks are also being planned for September 2011 in Farmington and Belfast. For information or to volunteer, contact Bethany Porter at bethany.porter@nmss.org or call 781-7960.

GORHAM

TIFFANIE DELANO, 22, recently started dancing at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City after being accepted to the three-month intensive dance training program.

Delano got her start at age 14 when she took her first dance class and has since traveled with the Dance Studio’s Competition Hip Hop team to compete in New York City. Delano is dancing in 12 classes a week and hopes to work dancing in New York after the program is completed.

DAMARISCOTTA

THE LIBRARY JOURNAL has named Skidompha Public Library a Star Library recognizing its community service endeavors. This is Skidompha’s second such national recognition in two years. Nationwide, just 258 of 7,400 libraries were honored with the designation, which is based on per capita data measuring a library’s book circulation, patron visits, program attendance and public Internet computer use.

The library has 10 staffers and many volunteers, who donate 10,000 hours a year to facilitate its programs. For more details, call 563-5513 or go to www.skidompha.org.

THE BIDDEFORD-SACO Rotary Club recently gave 700 Grade 3 students personal dictionaries to enhance their education at home. The Dictionary Project benefited students of Biddeford Primary School, C.K. Burns School in Saco, Dayton Consolidated School, Jameson Elementary School in Old Orchard Beach, Mildred L. Day Memorial School in Arundel, Notre Dame de Lourdes School in Saco and St. James School in Biddeford.

SACO

KIMBERLEY MEIKL won second place in the Summer Sisters category of the Fresh Air Fund’s 2010 photo contest for her photograph of Alex, a 12-year-old Fresh Air visitor, with host sister Sarah.

The image was selected from the hundreds of photographs submitted by volunteer host families from 13 Northeastern states and Canada. To view all the winners, go to www.freshair.org/PhotoContest2010.

SOUTH BERWICK

A $20,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation is bringing the Friends of the South Berwick Library closer to its goal of building a new $2.2 million library. Those funds will be secured once the Friends group secures $500,000 of its pledged $1 million for the project. To date, the library has raised $100,000.

On Tuesday, residents will vote on whether to approve a $1.5 million bond referendum to supply the remaining funds needed to complete the new library, located on Young Street. The property was purchased in 2008. Previous grants and bonds for the project have paid for the removal of asbestos, the installation of new roofing and siding and the creation of a perimeter drain on the property.

WATERVILLE

WATERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY has received a $400,000 matching challenge grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation to complete its renovation and expansion project. The foundation will donate $2 for every $1 the library raises (or up to $300,000 total) by Jan. 15.

It also has pledged an additional $100,000 to help fund library programs and services that enhance cultural, educational and economic opportunities for library patrons.

BETHEL 

THE BETHEL Historical Society has launched its 2010 Annual Fund Campaign to support its mission of preserving, developing and adding to its historic properties and artifacts, while making them available to the public for viewing.

In 2009, donors contributed $48,000 to support the society’s efforts. This year’s goal is $53,000.

Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 12, Bethel 04217. For more details, call (800) 824-2910 or e-mail info@bethelhistorical.org.

SANFORD

JOAN LIBBY, School Administrative District 6 special services secretary, has been named Southern Maine Parent Awareness’ Special Services Secretary of the Year. The honor recognizes Libby for her tireless efforts on behalf of special needs children, their educators and families in the SAD 6 school system.

YORK COUNTY

CARING UNLIMITED has been awarded a two-year, $176,552 federal grant to provide legal assistance and court advocacy services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in York County. The money was provided by the Legal Assistance for Victims Program of the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women.

Last year, the program helped more than 800 survivors with protection-from-abuse orders and other legal matters in an effort to keep them safe from an abusive partner.

For more details, call Emily Flowers at 490-3227, ext. 107, or e-mail eflowers@caringunlimited.org.

KENNEBUNK

THE KENNEBUNK, Kennebunkport and Wells Water District recently received two prestigious awards at the 2010 New England Water Works Association Annual Conference. A 2010 Exemplary Source Water Protection Award recognizes the district’s efforts with numerous stakeholders to preserve and protect the land and water resources of the Branch Brook aquifer.

The American Water Works Association’s New England Region Annual Safety Award recognizes the district’s safety record and its recent Safety and Health Award for Public Employers Award from the Maine Department of Labor.

WATERVILLE

THE MAINE Children’s Home for Little Wanderers, a statewide, nonprofit adoption agency, raised $2,403 during its annual Lobster Roll fundraiser. Those funds will directly benefit the agency’s upcoming Christmas Program to distribute gifts and clothing to nearly 1,600 financially disadvantaged Maine children.

Cozy Harbor Seafood Co. donated 100 pounds of lobster meat for the fundraiser.

UNION

UNION HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S annual meeting will begin with a potluck supper at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 in the Old Town House, on Town House Road.

A business meeting, election of officers, a vote on proposed bylaw changes and a talk by Islesboro food writer Sandy Oliver will follow the supper.

All meetings are free and open to the public. For more details, call 785-4531.

BIDDEFORD

BIDDEFORD 50+ CLUB will offer a shopping outing to the Wrentham Village Mall Outlets of Massachusetts from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 13. A bus will depart from the Biddeford Park and Ride at 6:45 a.m and will stop at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant on the return trip.

Cost is $39 per person. Dinner cost not included.

Seating is limited, and the outing is open to ages 21 and older. For more details, call 282-5005.

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