PORTLAND

U.S. Cellular puts $5,000 toward youth programs

U.S. Cellular has donated $5,000 to the Cumberland County 4-H Club of Portland to provide K-12 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational opportunities.

U.S. Cellular is funding 4-H Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the company’s markets to deliver STEM, academic and after-school enrichment programs as part of a $1.3 million donation to clubs across the country and a $46,500 donation in Maine.

Heating assistance program receives $5,000 boost

The People’s United Community Foundation of People’s United Bank has awarded $5,000 to The Opportunity Alliance’s Keep ME Warm Fund, an emergency heating assistance program.

Since federal guidelines have changed, many Keep ME Warm Fund applicants have exhausted their assistance from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Opportunity Alliance bridges the gap for about 4,000 households annually through the emergency heating assistance program, which operates in partnership with the United Way and 2-1-1 Maine.

Six priests join Portland diocese, and one retires

Bishop Robert P. Deeley has announced six priest assignments and a retirement for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland effective July 1.

The Rev. Edward R. Clifford has been appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish (to include St. Joseph Church of Bridgton and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church of Fryeburg) and St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish (that includes St. Catherine of Sienna Church of Norway, Our Lady of Ransom Church of Mechanic Falls and St. Mary Church of Oxford).

The Rev. Jean-Paul Labrie has been appointed pastor of St. John Vianney Parish (that includes St. Louis Church of Fort Kent, St. Mary Church of Eagle Lake, St. Charles Borromeo Church of St. Francis and St. Joseph Church at Wallagrass).

The Rev. James L. Nadeau has been appointed pastor of Christ the King Parish (that includes Notre Dame de Lourdes Church of Skowhegan, St. Peter Church of Bingham and St. Sebastian Church of Madison).

The Rev. Kent R. Ouellette has been appointed pastor of St. Agnes Parish (that includes St. Agnes Church of Island Falls and St. Paul Church of Patten) and St. Mary of the Visitation Parish at Houlton.

The Rev. David R. Raymond has been appointed pastor of the Parish of the Precious Blood (that includes Holy Rosary Church of Caribou, Sacred Heart Church of Caribou, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church at Presque Isle, Our Lady of the Lake Church of Portage, St. Catherine Church of Washburn, St. Denis Church of Fort Fairfield, St. Joseph Church of Mars Hill, St. Louis Church of Limestone, St. Mark Church of Ashland and St. Theresa Church of Stockholm).

Monsignor Paul F. Stefanko has been appointed pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish at Scarborough, St. Bartholomew Parish at Cape Elizabeth and St. John and Holy Cross Parish at South Portland.

Monsignor Michael J. Henchal will retire from active ministry. He serves as pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Scarborough, St. Bartholomew Parish in Cape Elizabeth, and St. John and Holy Cross Parish in South Portland. Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Henchal grew up in Natick, Massachusetts, and in the Portland area. He attended Cheverus High School. He completed his clerical studies at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut, St. Paul Seminary in Ottawa, Ontario, and the North American College in Rome, Italy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Ottawa, an S.T.B. degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and a master’s degree in liturgical studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate in 1972 at the North American College and served as a deacon at Sts. Peter & Paul Parish in Liverpool, England. Monsignor Henchal was ordained to the priesthood in 1973 in Lewiston.

WELLS

Rodeo caps off students’ study of westward expansion

The Wells Elementary School gymnasium recently was transformed into a scene from the Old West, as students, staff and parents celebrated the school’s Arts Integrated Project Rodeo.

Participants dressed up as pioneers, cowboys, cowgirls or Native Americans to sing and square dance. There was fiddle, piano and banjo-playing to accompany the singing, square dancing, and sing-along with parents over a make-believe campfire.

The annual rodeo, now a nearly 30-year-old celebration, is the culmination of a 12-week multidisciplinary course of study for students on the westward expansion of America. Over the course of several weeks, youths discovered what life was like for pioneers traversing the few routes west.

School district celebrates the best in creative writing

The Wells-Ogunquit Community School District recently held its 31st Annual Literary Achievement Awards Celebration to honor student contributors to creative writing.

The 14 first-place winners and 66 students overall who submitted works for the competition were honored at the new Wells High School Performing Arts Center.

Top writers, ranging from kindergarteners to those in the Adult Community Education program, read excerpts of works that included short stories and poems. Prizes were awarded, including $500 to WHS senior Madison Morin for her poem, “Reflecting Hope.”

First-place winners include Robert Roche, kindergarten; Carolyn Nichols, Grade 1; Francesca MacEwen, Grade 2; Aiden Lear, Grade 3; Angelina Demarco, Grade 4; Zachary Smith, Grade 5; Alivia Boucher, Grade 6; Kara Borkowski, Grade 7; Kathryn Cafaro, Grade 8; Felicia DesJardins, Grade 9; Katherine Reidy, Grade 10; Estelle Reardon, Grade 11; Madison Morin, Grade 12; and Tam Tran, Adult Community Education program.

AUGUSTA

Gorham resident honored for her volunteer work

Catholic Charities volunteer Julie Abbott was named Volunteer of the Year at the Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism at a recent celebation at the State House.

A resident of Gorham, Abbott has volunteered in Catholic Charities Maine’s Parish Social Ministry program for five years, operating the emergency assistance hotline, Relief and Hope.

In 2016 alone, Abbott helped more than 550 callers and logged more than 380 hours with Catholic Charities. In addition to answering calls, she created and maintains a database of resources in the community to ensure that she has the most up-to-date information to meet callers’ needs.