AUGUSTA

Cancer action group urges Lobby Day attendance

Winners of the recent local level of the National Geographic Society’s 28th National Geography Bee at Wells Junior High School are, second row from left: Natalie Hanagan, Tyler Evans, Ethan Beals, Sam Norbert and Kate Pinette. First row, from left: Annabelle Breton, Katie Plourde, Griffin Allaire, Jaidyn Patel and Auggie Ciorra. Teacher and moderator Bonnie Dill is in back. Courtesy Renee Savage

Maine residents and their families who are living with a cancer diagnosis are encouraged to attend the 2016 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Annual State Lobby Day to be held at 8:30 a.m. March 2 at the State House Hall of Flags in Augusta.

ACS CAN volunteers will meet with elected officials to urge them to support important legislative priorities aimed at reducing the burden of cancer in Maine. First-time advocates are welcome, and training will be provided.

Register online at acscan.org/melobbyday, or call Matt Caston at 373-3711 or email matt.caston@cancer.org.

MIDCOAST

Chamber lists winners of Year in Review awards

The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its Year in Review awards that were presented recently at the Samoset Resort.

Award winners are:

• Small Business of the Year Award: FIORE Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars

• New Building Award: First Congregational Church of Camden & Coastal Opportunities

• Beacon Award: Center for Furniture Craftsmanship

• Public Improvement Award: Sussman House

• Economic Enhancement Award: CruiseMaine, USA

• Community Volunteer of the Year Award: John Anders, New England Mountain Bike Association

• Special Recognition Award: Johann Strasberg, Grasshopper Shop of Rockland

• Community Person of the Year Award: Richard “Sandy” Cox.

SANFORD

‘Kids Can Grow’ gardening program taking applications

Applications are now available for University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s 2016 “Kids Can Grow” youth gardening program set to begin this spring.

The program is open to York County children ages 7 to 12. They will be instructed how to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs and build and maintain their own raised bed garden at home. The sessions will be held one Saturday per month, from April 9 to Sept. 17 at Crossroads Methodist Church, at 16 Grammar Road.

Registration fee is $25 per child. The application deadline is March 14. Spaces are limited.

For more information contact UMaine Extension in York County, 324-2814, (800) 287-1535 in Maine or email susan.tkacik@maine.edu.

Rotary donates $4,000 to new learning center

The Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club has donated $4,000 for a learning center in the new Autism Therapy Wing to be built at Waban’s Fraser-Ford Child Development Center.

The new $1.5 million addition will have four classrooms and a large multipurpose room. Each classroom will accommodate eight children and will contain a specialized learning center designed to meet the children’s individualized needs.

The existing center is currently operating at full capacity.

PORTLAND

Pine Tree Legal given two-year grant to aid homeless

Pine Tree Legal Assistance has been awarded a $20,000, two-year grant from United Way of York County to support homelessness prevention and economic security for families living in York County.

Although individuals involved in the criminal justice system are, in most cases, entitled to court-appointed counsel if they cannot afford an attorney, no such right exists for families with low incomes who are coping with serious civil legal needs.

Last year it worked with 822 families in York County on a variety of civil legal issues such as unsafe housing, evictions and foreclosures, financial exploitation and consumer protection.

To learn more, visit www.buildcommunity.org or call 985-3359.

Sea Dogs accepting nominations for award

The Portland Sea Dogs are accepting nominations for the second annual William Troubh Community Service Award, recognizing a local citizen who is making a positive impact in the city of Portland.

Application forms are available online at www.seadogs.com. Submission deadline is by March 18.

The winner will be announced and honored in a pre-game ceremony on May 1 at Hadlock Field.

ROCKLAND

Pie parade tour members donate to Interfaith Outreach

Area innkeepers, restaurants and business members who participated in the 12th Annual Pies on Parade Pie Tour have donated $25,000 in proceeds raised during that event to the Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry and Fuel Assistance Program.

To date, the annual benefit has raised more than $134,000 for area families in need.

WELLS

Griffin Allaire, Katie Plourde Geography Bee leaders

Wells Junior High School sixth grader Griffin Allaire has won first place at the school level of the National Geographic Society’s 28th National Geography Bee.

Eighth grade student Katie Plourde was runner-up and is Allaire’s backup should he not be able to attend the state level bee set for April 1.

Winners at the state level will be invited to travel to Washington D.C., to compete in the final phase of the competition beginning May 22.

The winner at this final level will receive a $50,000 college scholarship.

Basketball team donates $2,350 to Outreach Program

The Wells High School Warriors boys basketball varsity team recently presented a check for $2,350 to the Outreach Program for Wells and Ogunquit.

The donation marks the fourth year the team has raised funds for this local charity by selling calendars and holding bake and food sales at Wells Recreation basketball games held in the Wells Elementary School gymnasium.

SACO

Good Shepherd youth collect for ‘Souper’ Bowl

Good Shepherd Parish youth and young adults with soup pots in hand recently stood at the entrances of several area churches to collect money for the “Souper Bowl of Caring,” a nationwide initiative on Super Bowl weekend to fight hunger and poverty in their community.

In all, parishioners donated over $2,847.

All of the money will be distributed between Preble Street Teen Center in Portland and Catholic Charities Maine’s Child and Adult Food Care Program.

YORK

Rotary awards continuing education scholarships

The York Rotary Club recently awarded eight continuing education scholarships to nontraditional students, including for a nurse, a journalist and a mechanical drafter.

The club handed out two $500 awards and six $300 awards, providing enough support for students to take a course at York County Community College, buy textbooks or pay for incidentals.

For more information about the club, go to www.yorkmerotary.org.

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