AUGUSTA

Regional Red Cross board elects three new members

The Wells-Ogunquit Community School District recently recognized teachers and staff who are retiring, including Roberta Jones, left, Ingrid Roach, Jane Garnsey, Carolyn Vail, Gigi Roberts-Maher, Susan Condon and Michele Guerrette.

Representatives from Downeast Energy present a check to Independence Association, a Brunswick nonprofit that serves people with disabilities. Contributed photos

The regional board of the American Red Cross elected a new slate of officers and welcomed three new members at its annual meeting.

Gary Merrill was named chair; Gregory Sanborn was named first vice chair; Laura Rideout was named second vice chair; and Eileen Kalikow was named secretary.

New members to the board are Jill Gravel, Suzanne Jones and Susan Pope.

BRUNSWICK

Downeast Energy raises $10,000 for area nonprofit

Downeast Energy raised $10,000 at its 22nd annual Downeast Energy Golf Classic on June 8 at the Brunswick Country Club.

This year’s benefactor is Independence Association, a Brunswick-based nonprofit that serves individuals with intellectual disabilities. The funds will be used to help insulate its group homes.

Since its inception, the golf classic has raised almost $300,000, with all proceeds benefiting local charities.

CORNISH

Library gets $23,992 grant to improve energy efficiency

The Bonney Memorial Library recently received a $23,992 grant from Grants to Green Maine to provide energy improvements that will help reduce energy costs and improve energy efficiency.

Grants to Green Maine is a partnership between the Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Downtown Center, Efficiency Maine and the Maine Community Foundation.

CAPE ELIZABETH

Garbage to Garden now accepting registrations

Garbage to Garden is now accepting registrations in Cape Elizabeth.

It is the eighth town in southern Maine to be served by Garbage to Garden, which also does curbside pickups in Brunswick, Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Yarmouth, Falmouth and Cumberland.

For $14 a month, it provides households with an easy-to-open bucket for food scraps (including meat, dairy and bones) that is picked up on garbage day each week. A clean bucket and finished compost upon request is left in its place. In Portland, 1 in 6 households participate, as well as over 100 schools, hotels and restaurants. Garbage to Garden diverts up to 50 tons of food from landfills every week.

For more information and to sign up, go to www.garbagetogarden.org.

KENNEBUNKPORT

Habitat for Humanity gets $5,000 for veteran’s house

Habitat for Humanity York County received a $5,000 grant from The Home Depot Foundation to support its Veterans Build program in Kennebunkport.

The funds will help provide materials to build a home for a young veteran and his family. Former President George H.W. Bush was named the honorary chairperson for the Veterans Build.

Many local veterans organizations are assisting with the project.

LEWISTON

Deadline Friday for $25,000 grant for at-risk youths

Androscoggin Bank’s MainStreet Foundation is accepting applications for its $25K for Kids annual grant. The deadline to apply is Friday.

MainStreet Foundation awards this gift to a nonprofit organization that will use the funding to benefit at-risk youths in Maine, with a focus on the essentials of life: food, shelter and security.

The winner will be announced in November.

To apply, go to www.androscogginbank.com/Home/Community/MainStreet-Foundation.

WELLS

School district recognizes retiring staff and teachers

Wells-Ogunquit Community School District recently recognized teachers and staff who are retiring and those who have worked for the district for 20 years.

The retirees include Susan Condon, a teacher in the district for 31 years; Michele Guerrette, a teacher for 33 years; Sally Marchand, a librarian for 22 years; Ingrid Roach, an ed tech and teacher for 24 years; Carolyn Vail, a teacher for 25 years; Maureen DeFelice, a teacher for 14 years; Roberta Jones, a teacher for 30 years; Cheryl Mills, adult community education director for 25 years; Gigi Roberts-Maher, an ed tech for 33 years; and Jane Garnsey, an ed tech for 14 years.

Those recognized for 20 years of service included: James Cumback, a custodian; Christine Durocher, a teacher; Tari Matthews, a secretary; and Adrienne Zwetsloot, a school nurse.

WEST BATH

Students raise over $11,000 to fight hunger and poverty

Students at West Bath School raised more than $11,000 to end global hunger and poverty through its Read to Feed project.

The money raised went to helping families lift themselves out of hunger and poverty by providing training and livestock such as goats, chickens, llamas and heifer cows through Heifer International.

This past spring, the 90-student team read more than 1,200 books in eight weeks and collected $11,200 to support families in need.

WINDHAM

Historical society holds Village Green groundbreaking

The Windham Historical Society held a groundbreaking ceremony June 25 for its expansion called The Village Green, planned to be a living history center.

YORK

Farmers market open Thursdays and Saturdays

The fifth season of the York farmers market is underway.

The farmers market is held on Thursdays throughout July and August; and on Saturdays through Oct. 10. Both markets are held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lot behind the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce, 1 Stonewall Lane in York.

For a list of vendors, go to www.gatewayfarmersmarket.com.

PORTLAND

Cheverus High graduate gets $1,000 from MS group

Drew Harris, a recent graduate of Cheverus High School, received a $1,000 National Multiple Sclerosis Society Scholarship Award.

The scholarship is presented annually to a student pursuing a college or technical school education, and has a parent with MS or who themselves has MS.

Harris, who has a parent with MS, plans to attend the University of Alabama.

In Maine, five MS Scholarships totaling $6,000 were awarded this year.

Group gives $15,000 to Gulf of Maine Research Institute

The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded $15,000 to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland.

The funds will be used to support the GMRI Lab Venture! Program, which has provided an innovative and impactful science learning experience for more than 94,000 fifth- and sixth-graders since its inception.

The foundation also awarded $3,000 to Wayside Food Programs in Portland.

Wayside provides more than 1 million pounds of food each year to over 60 food pantries, soup kitchens and social service agencies throughout Cumberland County. The organization serves prepared meals and collaborates with other hunger agencies to develop efficient networks for the collection and distribution of food.

USM students awarded development scholarships

Daniel Dusabimana and Joseph Mushishi, who work for Spurwink Services in Portland, were awarded Maine Development Foundation’s 2015 Next Step Maine Scholarships.

Dusabimana and Mushishi are direct support professionals who work with special needs adults in the Spurwink Residential Treatment program. They both live in Portland and attend the University of Southern Maine.

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