SEBAGO

Crafters needed for sale

North Sebago United Methodist Church is seeking crafters who wish to participate in its annual Christmas Craft and Bake Sale set for Nov. 12 at the church, 820 Sebago Road.

For more details, call Mabel Olden at 787-2530.

ACTON

Apply for fair pageant

Applications are being accepted for those wishing to participate in the Miss Acton Fair Pageant, set for 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Acton Fair Grounds.

Girls ages 9 to 17 are eligible to participate, with contestants being broken into categories of ages 9 to 12 and 13 to 17. Those entrants must present a talent for the competition, as well as model an evening gown. Private interviews will be held with judges of the pageant at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the fairgrounds.

The deadline to enter is by Aug. 17. For information, contact June Burke at 457-1185 or 432-1570. Applications are available at www.actonfair.net.

BIDDEFORD

Staffer named to fellowship

Biddeford Middle School’s instructional coach Mary Bellavance was named one of nine Distinguished Fellows in New England by Jobs for the Future’s Students at the Center initiative. The inaugural cohort of students is a diverse group of leaders in policy, practice and research from around New England, each selected for their vision, contributions, and impact in the student-centered learning movement in the region. They were selected from a highly competitive field of close to 40 applicants from across New England.

Along with four research teams to be announced this fall and a group of prominent national advisers, the fellows comprise core members of the newly formed Student-Centered Learning Research Collaborative.

Bellavance has proven expertise in achieving positive and equitable academic outcomes using student-centered learning approaches in multiple settings. Her career as an educator includes 11 years as a classroom teacher and 15 years in roles such as literacy specialist, literacy coach and instructional coach. She is the president of the Maine Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and strives to promote the organization’s mission to provide leadership in designing, innovating, and customizing learning for Maine educators. Bellavance has published articles about personalized learning and works with educators in Biddeford and surrounding school districts to help grow and sustain a student-centered, proficiency-based teaching and learning system.

Bellavance has been a Reading First instructor and Literacy Leaders’ Network facilitator for the state Department of Education. She has taught reading courses at the University of New England, is a professional writer and a presenter at many local and national conferences on topics such as educating in a digital landscape, habits of mind and creating a personalized learning climate for each child.

YORK

Teen named an All-American

Emma Ford, daughter of Mark and Kate Ford, was named a 2016 Brine National All-American and was selected to represent York at the Brine National Lacrosse Classic, held in Richmond, Va., recently.

Ford plays for the York Wildcats girls’ lacrosse team and the Maineiax club lacrosse program.

Ford led the team in assists and was one of the top scorers for the Wildcats her junior year. She has played for the Maineiax team since ninth grade. This is her first year playing for the Brine national team.

WATERBORO

Calling artisans for craft fair

The Waterborough Historical Society is accepting reservations for artisans and crafters who wish to have their products represented at the ninth annual craft fair, set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 13-14 at the Taylor/Frey/Leavitt House Museum, 6 Old Alfred Road, Route 5 at Waterboro Center.

Craft space (12 feet by 12 feet) is available at $35 for the weekend or $25 for one day. Crafters should provide their own tables and tents.

For more details, call Jim Carll at 247-5878 or email carllj@sacoriver.net.

SANFORD

Nonprofit awarded $10,000

York County Community Action Corporation has been awarded a $10,000 grant by State Farm to support the agency’s Economic Opportunity program, with the funds designated to help provide financial capability services to households throughout York County. These services include comprehensive credit rebuilding counseling; informational sessions in public libraries, businesses, adult education sites and other venues, to explain credit scores and the fundamentals of credit rebuilding; and financial coaching to 50 York County households.

The funding will allow for expansion of the YCCAC Foreclosure Prevention program, which since the beginning of the recession has focused almost exclusively on default and foreclosure services and counseling, to include ongoing financial capability support.

SIS Bank helps Lab Rescue

SIS Bank recently donated $450 to New England Lab Rescue as a result of its “Home Runs for Good” campaign. Through the promotion, SIS gives $50 to a local nonprofit organization for every home run hit by a Red Sox player at Fenway Park throughout the regular season. Each month, a different area charity is aided. Based in Limerick, New England Lab Rescue is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that is dedicated to saving the lives of Labrador retrievers who would otherwise be euthanized in Southern shelters for lack of space. The canines are put into safe foster homes by New England Lab Rescue, which then has them vetted, treated and neutered or spayed.

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