YORK COUNTY

Relay for Life speaker dies of colon cancer at age 56

Patricia Ellis of Saco, who was to be the keynote speaker for the American Cancer Society’s luminaria ceremony for the York County Relay for Life, has died.

Ellis, 56, died Wednesday at Gosnell Memorial Hospice in Scarborough. The registered nurse was diagnosed two years ago with stage IV colon cancer.

She took part in clinical trials in Boston and was named keynote speaker as a survivor and a health care provider, said Karen Pierce-Stewart, executive director of Cancer Care Center of York County.

“She was an advocate and extremely proud of her fight and what Relay and American Cancer Society does,” Pierce-Stewart said.

In an interview with Pierce-Stewart this month, Ellis said, “If there is any way I could share how important it is for everyone to gather that strength and support, I will.”

After addressing the participants of Relay for Life, Ellis planned to walk for at least an hour during the luminaria, when the track is lit only by candles in memorial lanterns.

The York County Relay for Life will be held June 11 and 12 at Wells High School.

PORTLAND

Children’s Museum to host lemonade contest today

Kids will mix up their best batches of lemonade today in a recipe contest at the Children’s Museum in Portland. The recipes will be judged on taste, healthiness and presentation.

The Hannaford Lemonade Recipe Contest, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will prepare the young entrepreneurs for upcoming Lemonade Day Maine ą and could give them a leg up on their competition.

On June 5, participants in Lemonade Day Maine can get a crash course in running a business by learning about marketing, budgeting and seeking investors for their lemonade stands.

The winner of the recipe contest will get a prime spot in the Old Port for his or her lemonade stand on Lemonade Day, as well as four tickets to a Sea Dogs game and a $25 gift certificate to Hannaford.

For more information, call Kate Krukowski Gooding at 460-8884, email her at lemonadedaymaine@gmail.com or visit maine.lemonadeday.org.

BANGOR

Credit unions pick finalists for youth spokesperson job

Maine’s credit unions have announced the finalists in their search for a “Young & Free Maine Spokesperson.”

Becca Hodgdon, 21, Monique Pelletier, 23, and Seth Poplaski, 24, all of Bangor, were selected from a pool of 26 applicants for the one-year position, which would require them to promote Maine’s credit unions through social media and videos, attend promotional events and be accessible to Maine’s youth.

They now have three weeks to campaign and solicit votes online at www.youngfreemaine.com.

The candidate with the most votes will be named “Young & Free Maine Spokesperson” on June 17.

The full-time job starts July 1 and pays $25,000.

BIDDEFORD

Local artists asked to make garbage can lids appealing

Local artists are being asked to submit concepts for “Let’s Talk Trash.”

The downtown revitalization organization Heart of Biddeford is seeking ideas for the project, which is asking artists to design trash can lids for 11 receptacles along Main Street.

The nonprofit group will select 11 artists to help bring art to otherwise mundane elements and promote the use of city trash cans.

“Adding color to downtown helps promote the ongoing efforts of engendering cultural tourism and downtown redevelopment,” said Laura Dunn, project coordinator and local artist.

Artists are being asked to consider the “EnviroGreen” theme in their design proposal.
The final 11 projects will be eligible for a $100 prize.

Submissions are due Monday. For more information, visit www.heartofbiddeford.org or email director@heartofbiddeford.org.

AUGUSTA

State finance agency offers assistance to Maine grocers

The Finance Authority of Maine’s board has approved a loan insurance program to help more than 200 independent Maine grocers who were surprised by the recent closure of their vendor, Associated Grocers of Maine.

Many small grocers are attempting to find new food distributors after the sudden closure of the Gardiner-based cooperative. The finance authority’s new program is designed to provide those grocers with access to financing they may need to make the transition to new suppliers.

The quasi-independent agency’s board approved the program Thursday.

It will provide up to 50 percent insurance on loans made by financial institutions to local grocery stores with an outstanding account due to Associated Grocers.

WATERVILLE

Police investigate death 
of baby at homeless shelter

Police say a 12-week-old infant has died at a shelter in Waterville.

The cause of the baby’s death Wednesday at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter was unknown. State and Waterville police are investigating.

Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey told the Morning Sentinel that police were called to the shelter for an infant not breathing.

Shelter Executive Director Betty Palmer said efforts were taken to revive the infant.

She said she could not discuss whether the baby has a family living at the shelter, but she did say the shelter does not take children or infants without an accompanying adult.

BELFAST

Father, children among six charged in trafficking case

A father and his three adult children are among six people arrested following a six-month investigation into the trafficking of prescription drugs.

Authorities say the drugs sold in Waldo County were OxyContin, morphine and Adderall. They say the drugs were either prescribed to the sellers or came from elsewhere.

The Bangor Daily News said David Pattershall, 64, of Stockton Springs was arrested Wednesday. He was charged with two counts of drug trafficking, punishable by up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $20,000.

Three of his children were arrested in April on trafficking charges: Mark Pattershall, 30, and Joanie Pattershall, 32, of Stockton Springs, and Kelly Pattershall, 26, of Belfast.

Also arrested were Christopher Riley, 31, of Searsport and Nenna Jackson-Lamarche, 30, of Belfast.

Some Baxter campgrounds, roads to open for season

At least 60 percent of Baxter State Park’s trails and roads are opening for the season, as park workers fix road washouts and await the drying-out of other areas after heavy snow and rain.

Park Director Jensen Bissell said the park is opening today. It’s usually open by May 15, but cold, wet weather hasn’t melted the snow.

The Bangor Daily News reported that among the features park visitors can expect to be open are the Trout Brook Farm campground and portions of the 45-mile-long Park Tote Road; the Russell Pond campground; and Abol, Katahdin Stream, Daicey Pond, Kidney Pond, Russell Pond and South Branch Pond campgrounds.