BUXTON
Robotics team shows spirit
Additional Photos
The Bonny Eagle Robotics Team has won the FIRST Team Spirit Award during the recently held Granite State District Robotics Competition in Nashua, N.H.
The award, sponsored by Chrysler, celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork furthering the objectives of FIRST.
BERT secured the first win of the 2014 competition for their robot “Pneuman,” placing fifth of 39 teams going into the quarter-finals.
The team was picked for the fourth-place alliance and won their first two quarter-final matches, putting them into the semi-finals.
Their alliance got knocked out after two semi-final matches, but a pit safety award and the spirit trophy were excellent consolation prizes.
Bonny Eagle’s robotics program, established in 1996, is affiliated with the National Organization, FIRST, which is an acronym of “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.” The goal of FIRST is to help high school students to become more involved with STEM – science, technology, engineering, and math.
This goal is achieved by creating a game each year in which teams of students, parents, engineers and mentors have six weeks to design and build a competition robot.
YORK COUNTY
Young Good Citizens chosen
Austin Weigle of Kennebunk High School, Janelle Boisvert of Massabesic High School, Misa Mai of Sanford High School and Devin McGrath-Conwell of Thornton Academy were named winners of the Rebecca Emery Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s 2014 DAR Good Citizen Contest.
The students were honored during a tea at Atria Kennebunk Senior Living Facility recently. The event was attended by family, friends and school faculty members.
The students were first elected as the Good Citizens of their schools for displaying qualities of dependability, leadership, patriotism, community service and consideration of others.
Each student also entered the scholarship portion of the contest, writing an essay for consideration as a chapter winner at the local level.
McGrath-Conwell was the winner of that award. His written work has advanced to the state level of the competition.
PORTLAND
Bank bestows three grants
The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded grants to three Maine organizations to help support community services they offer.
The Island Institute of Rockland received $5,000 to support the Island Scholars Network, that provides island students and their parents with support, guidance and advice through college graduation regarding post-secondary educational options, the college transition, internships and careers on the island.
York County Community Action Corporation of Sanford was awarded $2,500 to support its York County CA$H – Creating Assets Savings & Hope – program, that helps individuals and families create the assets they need to be financially secure.
And Learning Works was awarded $3,500 to help fund the Youth Building Alternatives program, a nationally accredited alternative school for high school dropouts.
Got a safe-driving message?
The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is pleased to announce the start of its 10th annual Arrive Alive Creative Contest.
The contest is open to graduating high school seniors who wish to send a message to their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving and the dangers of distracted driving.
First-place winners will receive a new laptop computer and all entrants will receive a prize from the law firm.
Past winners have submitted essays, poems, paintings, videos, original songs, public service announcements, T-shirt designs, drawings and more.
A complete set of rules and all past winning entries can be viewed online at: www.arrivealivecreativecontest.com.
The deadline for submissions is May 23.
For more details, call Nancy Levinsky at 772-4624.
Retired teacher recognized for journal duty
Retired teacher Dorothy O’Donnell recently was recognized for her efforts on behalf of the nonprofit Ruth’s Reusable Resources (Ruth’s 3R’s).
A volunteer since 2003, O’Donnell has hand-assembled more than 115,000 journals in a 16-page format benefiting Maine students.
From her home in Sebago, O’Donnell methodically folds legal-size paper into 7×9-inch journals, binding each with two staples.
Ruth’s previously rewarded her with an electric stapler, which has since increased her production.
O’Donnell began assembling the journals in December 2003 at 3R’s first home, the Bessey School in Scarborough.
For 20 years Ruth’s Reusable Resources has transferred furniture, paper, books, office/school supplies, computers, and much more to schools and nonprofit agencies.
KENNEBUNK
Math meet winners named
Regional School Union 21 announced the winners of a recent district math meet for fourth- and fifth-graders.
One hundred students from the Sea Road School in Kennebunk, Mildred L. Day School in Arundel and Kennebunkport Consolidated School participated in the event, held at Sea Road School.
Students worked on individual tests consisting of 30 questions in 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute team round.
Teams were made up of mixed groups from the three representative schools.
Among fourth-graders, first-place honors went to Ella Boxall with Owen Marquez, Joe Kiezulas, Lucas Nadeau and Sofie Dumas tying for second place and Bryce Lanigan taking third-place honors. Runners-up included Garrett Dickinson, Elsa Engessar, Trevor Fecko, Elizabeth Dakers, Jacob Shaw, Caroline Van Hemel and Curtis Morgan.
Top three fourth-grade team winners, respectively, included the Superhuman Squares, Number Loving Nonagons and the Terrific Trapezoids.
In fifth grade, Liam Prichard and Braeden Stephenson tied for first place, Quinn Battagliese placed second and Nicholas Albaum and Lance Dinino tied for third. Runners-up included Dominic DeFeo, Jackson Pow, Cooper Durcan and Marcel Dubois.
Top three fifth-grade team winners, respectively, included the Omniscient Octahedrons, the Impressive Icosahedrons and the Hip Hexagonal Prisms.
Three scholarships available
The York County Retired Educators Association is offering three scholarships, in the amount of $1,500 each, to high school students graduating in York County in 2014.
Students need to be seeking a career in education.
Information and application materials have been made available to all York County high school guidance departments.
Application deadline is April 21.
SOUTH PORTLAND
SMCC’s New Century Scholar
A Southern Maine Community College student is one of 51 community college students from the U.S., Canada and American Samoa to be named 2014 New Century Scholars.
Jason Glynn of Buxton will receive a $2,000 scholarship and be recognized at the annual Phi Theta Kappa President’s Breakfast at the American Association of Community Colleges Convention in Washington, D.C., in April.
The scholarship program honors the academic achievements and leadership accomplishments of outstanding community college students.
The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and the American Association of Community Colleges.
More than 1,700 students were nominated from more than 900 community colleges.
TOPSHAM
Highlands folks raise funds for Alzheimer’s group
Residents of The Highlands and Highland Green recently raised $1,275 to the Maine Alzheimer’s Association from proceeds at its 15th annual Stars of Hope program.
BRUNSWICK
Nominations for preservation awards sought
Nominations for the Brunswick Downtown Association’s 2014 Downtown Preservation Awards are due by Friday.
The awards recognize people and organizations that have created tangible value in the heart of the community through renovation or restoration of existing buildings or through new construction that restores and enhances the traditional streetscape.
Retail, residential and institutional buildings are eligible for consideration, as are infrastructure improvements.
Projects completed in the prior 10 years may be nominated.
The nomination form is available on the BDA web site at: http://brunswickdowntown.org/about-the-bda/ or at the BDA office at 85 Maine St. or the Visitor Center on Station Avenue.
The award will be presented May 1.
For more details, call 207-729-4439 or go to www.brunswickdowntown.org.
BIDDEFORD
Heating-aid fund boosted
Southern Maine Health Care recently donated a check in the amount of $1,000 to benefit the United Way of York County for the Keep ME Warm fund, mhcHealth on Twitter.
Keep ME Warm provides emergency heating assistance through a statewide partnership of Maine’s United Ways and Community Action Agencies.
Donations are distributed through a formula based on federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program percentages and population, and are used to assist individuals directly, or designated to local organizations that provide emergency fuel assistance, including faith-based programs and nonprofit agencies.
Keep ME Warm is the only statewide fuel assistance fundraising effort in the state of Maine.
Visit https://epledge.unitedwaygp.org/Common/UserRegistration.jsp to make a donation.
ARUNDEL
Club backs Special Olympics
Dunegrass Golf Club recently presented Special Olympics Maine with a check for $3,000 from a recent fundraiser.
Those proceeds will benefit the more than 3,800 athletes who participate annually in the statewide Special Olympics program.
SACO
Scholarship deadline nears
Friday is the deadline to submit applications for two $1,000 scholarships being made available by the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union of Saco.
Graduating seniors from Thornton Academy or Old Orchard Beach High School who plan to further their education at a two-or four-year college are eligible to apply.
Applications and additional information are available in the guidance departments of each school.
For more details, call Barbara Prentiss at 282-0310.
BRIDGTON
Land trust awards grants
Loon Echo Land Trust announced the recipients of its 2014 Environmental Educational Grant Program.
This year, Loon Echo will fund six programs with the Casco, Naples and Raymond public libraries, as well as the Lake Region Middle School and Sebago and Harrison elementary schools.
These awards will be used to educate Lakes Region children about the environment and the importance of protecting our region’s natural resources and land.
The schools and libraries are using their grants for programs including astronomy, ecology and entomology.
The trust protects land in the northern Sebago Lake region of Maine to conserve the region’s natural resources and character for current and future generations.
Currently, Loon Echo Land Trust protects over 5,900 acres of land, owns six preserves and maintains 25 miles of multi-use trail for public enjoyment.
WESTBROOK
Fund a Kid support noted
My Place Teen Center recognized a number of businesses and organizations throughout the Greater Portland area that have, together, donated over $30,000 to the MPTC Fund a Kid Campaign.
Those funds will provide one year of programs and services to 32 teens.
MPTC served over 500 teens in 2013, a number that has increased steadily since its doors first opened in 1998.
The cost to provide just one teen with hot, nutritious meals, a safe, warm, caring space and a variety of enrichment programs – up to 1,300 hours and 260 meals per teen annually – is $960.
The most recent Fund a Kid supporters included: Harcros Chemicals, Inc., $10,000; SAPPI, $7,500; Disability RMS, $5,000; Emerald Management, $3,240; Trinity Lutheran Church, $1,200; Acadia Insurance, $1,175; Saccarappa Lodge 86, $1,000; Maine Marathon, $1,000; Pride’s Corner Congregational Church, $500; and Clark Insurance, $250.
SANFORD
Donation warms Waban
Kennebunk Savings Bank has donated $25,000 to Waban’s TREE Center, which offers opportunities in teambuilding, leadership, recreation and environmental education.
The funds will be used to install a geothermal heating system for the center’s 3,600-square-foot commons building that is in the process of being renovated into an energy-efficient, four-season space to house an environmental education lab and equipment rentals for snowshoe, skating and boating.
The heating system will transfer heat from two 500-foot deep wells into a radiant heating system, featuring more than 3,000 feet of tubing to be embedded in the concrete floor.
Expected to be completed this summer, the center will feature a lodge-like atmosphere with meeting and exhibit space and the Commons Café, offering food and drinks for visitors.
For more details, call Ann Rossignol at 324-7955, ext. 644, email TREE@waban.org or go to www.facebook.com/treectr.
Telethon raises $80,112
The 43rd Annual Waban Telethon, held March 15, has raised $80,112 from the generous donations of community members, businesses and organizations.
Several special ceremonies also were held to recognize supporters of Waban programming.
“Waban Making a Difference” Awards were presented to Waban staff members Marie Kingsbury and Sandra Flynn as well as to Mark and Matt Rouillard from Central Furniture, longtime supporters of the telethon.
Funds raised will benefit developmental therapy, specialized equipment, therapeutic recreation, and other educational and habilitation-based services for children who attend the Fraser-Ford Waban Child Development Center or who receive services from the Case Management Program.
LEWISTON
Waterville teen distinguished
Cassidy Dangler, a Waterville High School senior, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Maine during a statewide scholarship program for high school girls held recently at the South Lewiston Baptist Church.
Dangler was one of four high school seniors from Maine who participated in the contest. Sholie Hanscom of Norway, Mackenzie Smyth of Kennebunk, and Brooke Steele of Jay also participated.
Participants were evaluated and placed in the contest based on a points system that scored them in categories including scholastics, self-expression, fitness, talent and an interview process.
Throughout the next year, Dangler will represent the state at various public events and serve as a role model to young people by spreading the program’s national outreach message of “Be Your Best Self.” The outreach program is designed to encourage self-esteem and excellence in all young people through its five principles: be healthy, be involved, be studious, be ambitious, and be responsible.
Dangler will travel to Mobile, Ala., June 26 to 28, along with 49 other state representatives, to participate in the 57th Annual National Finals.
There, they will attend personal development activities and community service projects before competing for the opportunity to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2014 for additional cash scholarships. Dangler, the daughter of Vernon and Melissa Dangler of Waterville, also won a $1,000 scholarship as part of the award.
For more details, go to www.DistinguishedYW.org.
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