GORHAM

Talented high school athlete to attend national 4-H event

Charlene Landry, a Gorham High School senior, has been selected as one of four delegates to represent Maine at the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Ga., this November.

National 4-H Congress is the flagship event of the 4-H program.

Landry is captain of her high school varsity volleyball team and a member of the varsity swim team.

She has been an active 4-H member for 10 years, belonging to several 4-H clubs to show her horse and working steer at local fairs and The Big E.

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Landry also was selected as a Maine delegate last year, attending the National 4-H Conference, where she gave a presentation at the Pentagon.

National 4-H Congress is designed to address the needs and issues of young people while helping to develop capable, competent and caring citizens.

National 4-H Congress focuses on issues and trends in agriculture, cultural diversity, group dynamics and community service.

The program is designed to help young people develop the knowledge base and leadership skills to effect change in the world.

SANFORD

Service groups team up for Key Club food program

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The Sanford High School Key Club, Sanford Kiwanis Club, and several other service groups teamed up to package macaroni and cheese dinner packets for the Kids Care Food Program.

Bringing positive attitudes, and with the cooperation of a coordinated assembly line, enough boxes were packaged to allow the Sanford High School Key Club to distribute 360 meals through the district Backpack Program.

Those meals will go to area families that are less fortunate.

Key Club is a branch organization of Kiwanis International.

PORTLAND

Preble Street sets goals for marking the holidays

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Preble Street, a community outreach center, is seeking donations and volunteers to realize a number of initiatives benefiting families in need this holiday season.

Preble has set a goal to distribute 225 Harvest Food boxes, warm clothing and toiletries to the 600 adults and 100 teenagers who frequent the shelter.

The Thanksgiving wish list of donations includes: turkeys, stuffing mix, rice, pasta, gravy, canned fruits and vegetables, soup and beans, tuna, coffee and cooking oils.

Those food items should be dropped off by the Wednesday deadline.

Holiday wish list items include: large winter gloves, unisex hats, athletic socks, hooded sweatshirts, underwear for men and women, backpacks, deodorant, shaving goods, toothbrushes and travel-size soap, toothpaste, shampoo and lotion. Other items needed include school and art supplies, book lights, chapstick, flashlights, AA batteries and winter boots. Items should be delivered by the Dec. 6 deadline.

The center also is seeking donations of decorations and baked goods or snacks for holiday parties it plans to offer.

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Donations of homemade cookies or cake, cheese and crackers, chips and dip, shrimp cocktail, etc., also would be appreciated.

Lights and garlands also will be accepted for decorating.

For more details or to sign up, call Ray Hepler at 775-0026, Ext. 1115.

SACO

Museum seeks volunteers for Festival of the Trees

The Saco Museum is seeking volunteers to help with its ninth annual Festival of the Trees event.

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There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available during the festival, including leading school tours in the morning for local schoolchildren to staffing the front desk and greeting visitors.

The museum will host a volunteer meeting for all returning and first-time volunteers at 10 a.m. Thursday, featuring coffee and breakfast refreshments at the museum

The meeting will discuss the various options and have shifts throughout the festival available for sign-up.

A Gala Preview kickoff party for the tree festival will be held on Saturday.

A raffle of designer trees and wreaths will be held on Dec 18 and accompanying events will include a Gingerbread Village display, drawing contest for area school children at the Dyer Library, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a Children’s Crafts Day.

The Festival of Trees is free and open to the public, beginning at 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 29 during regular hours.

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The Dyer Library/Saco Museum is located at 371 Main St.

For more details, call 283-3861.

YORK

Chamber names ‘Pink Pals’ as its Citizens of the Year

Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of its 2013 Citizens of the Year awards, that were bestowed at the 2013 Annual Member & Awards dinner recently.

The 2013 Citizens of the Year Award went to “Pink Pals” Leslie Ware, Barbara Conda, Ellen Baldwin and Cathy Barnhorst, local residents and business owners who volunteered their time to raise funds benefiting community programs such as those offered at the Breast Cancer Living Well Fund at York Hospital.

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Barbara Parton and Rosie Lent received 2013 Chamber of Commerce Volunteers of the Year Awards.

Parton,owner of Advocate Consulting,volunteered several hours per week to instruct Grades 6-12 students how to create a business plan, seek investors and start a business through the chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

Lent has volunteered for the chamber each summer by manning the York Beach information kiosk.

The 2013 Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award was given to The Weekly Sentinel.

And, the 2013 First Annual Chamber of Commerce Great Achievements Award was given to Astronaut Christopher J. Cassidy for inspiring others through his distinctive service and example of character and leadership.

KENNEBUNKPORT

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‘Go Red for Women’ event benefits Heart Association

The Ninth Annual “Go Red For Women” event, held recently at the Colony Hotel, has raised nearly $30,000 to support the American Heart Association’s efforts to increase awareness, research and community programs to combat cardiovascular diseases among women.

BRUNSWICK

High school outing clubs get Teens to Trails grants

Teens To Trails (T3) has announced its 2013 Outing Club grant recipients, representing students from high schools and clubs from across Maine.

Grant awards were made to: Bangor High School, Baxter Academy of Science and Technology, Deering High School, Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, Portland High School, Sacopee Valley High School and South Portland High School.

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The T3 has now supported 50 different schools with 77 grants totaling almost $37,000 thanks to the support of Maine businesses, foundations and personal donations.

This year’s recipients were awarded funds totaling nearly $4,000 to help more teens get active outside.

The grants were made possible by ongoing support from L.L.Bean.

This year, assistance with transportation costs will help to eliminate a big hurdle schools face in getting their students outdoors.

Funds will also be used to ensure that all students are able to participate in the clubs activities regardless of their financial situation and allow Outing Clubs to purchase needed outdoor gear and clothing, obtain safety training for leaders and cover recreational fees.

Teens To Trails is a nonprofit organization that works to engage Maine teens by promoting outdoor adventures, healthy lifestyles and environmental stewardship.

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For more information, go to www.TeensToTrails.org.

WELLS

Students and staff cited at ‘Breakfast of Champions’

Wells High School recently hosted a “Breakfast of Champions” event, honoring five students and 10 staff members for their contributions to the learning and social environments at the high school.

Principal Jim Daly and activities director Jack Molloy presented each with a certificate and lettered T-shirt.

Those recognized included: Sherri Anderson-Wormwood, Sierra Daney, Emilie Dow, Coach Kevin Fox, Coach Jennifer Lewia, Coach Mark Lewia, Charles Mahar, Tari Matthews, Jay Moore, John Murray, Chad Newcomb, Jeré Pierce, Karen Quint, Coach Tim Roche and Ryan Shackford.

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Honorees were nominated by a coach, teacher or staff member.

KENNEBUNK

Physical education teacher gets grant for 5210 program

Kennebunk Elementary physical education teacher Diane Dyer was recently awarded a grant for the school’s “Let’s Go 5210” healthy choices campaign.

Since 2008, the school has been a 5210 school that pledges to promote five or more fruits and vegetables, less than two hours of recreational screen time, at least one hour of physical fitness, and zero sugary drinks per day.

This school, which encourages students to bring healthy snacks and lunches to school, developed a 12-station circuit for students with a stationary bike for the teachers, and a 5210 Wellness Day in March that invites 32 members of the school and community to offer workshops for students.

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Through the support of Kennebunk Elementary Parent Teacher Association and Garden Committee, a student maintained vegetable garden is harvested each fall.

A fruit bowl in the office is sponsored by the PTA, ensuring that healthy snacks are available every day to students.

KES has received several grants from 5210 but this is the first time KES has won this particular Redy Award, which is given to community members or organizations that demonstrate outstanding commitment, leadership, and innovation supporting the “Let’s Go” initiative.

Dyer’s award was based in part on the creation of a game – “Money for My Plate” – which is used to implement the nutritional guidelines in Dyer’s curriculum.

Mainely Murders Bookstore collecting pet food again

Mainely Murders Bookstore is going to the dogs (and cats) this month as staffers welcome patrons to drop off donations of pet food to benefit the Animal Welfare Society.

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It’s the second consecutive year that the three-year-old bookstore has come to the aid of animals. At month’s end, owners Ann Whetstone and Paula Keeney will match all donations.

Donations can be dropped off at the bookstore at 1 Bourne St. (behind Xtra Mart) during regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Applications being accepted for Master Gardener course

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension in Cumberland County is accepting applications through Dec. 27 for a Master Gardener Training Course it will offer beginning Jan. 31 in Falmouth.

The training program will focus on fruits and vegetables and take place on 16 consecutive Friday afternoons.

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A Master Gardener is a trained volunteer of UMaine Extension.

Master Gardeners receive approximately 50 hours of practical training in basic horticulture and complete a minimum of 40 hours-approved volunteer work on various community-based projects around the county.

Participants must be residents of Cumberland County and are selected through an application process.

Application packets are available by calling the Cumberland County Extension office at 781-6099 or (800) 287-1471 or online at: umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/mg_app_cumb/.

BIDDEFORD

Free Clinic gets grant to support pharmacy

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The Biddeford Free Clinic has received a $10,000 grant from the Bank of America’s Doree Taylor Charitable Foundation in support of its pharmacy.

This grant will provide free non-narcotic prescription medications to those in need, particularly patients living with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and pulmonary disease.

The clinic exists to provide health care for uninsured and low-income community members.

The facility sees more than 550 patients and prescribes more than 4,000 prescriptions each year.

SOUTH BERWICK

Library fund hits $900,000 with Village Motors gift

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A $1,000 donation from John Hayes and Phil Lane of Village Motors has put the Friends of South Berwick Library’s building fund over the $900,000 mark.

The dealership is among two dozen local businesses and foundations that have contributed to the Friends’ $1.1 million fundraising effort.

The recent donation was the third for the dealership.

For more details on the Capital Campaign, go to www.FriendsofSouthBerwickLibrary.org or call 384-2195.

OTISFIELD

Women’s social group changes meeting place

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A women’s group that has been meeting on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Otisfield Community Hall on Route 121 to sew, knit and paint, will now meet at the East Otisfield Free Baptist Church on Rayville Road.

Members will continue to meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon through Dec. 10 to work on projects, with extended hours offered until 2 p.m. so that attendees can share lunch.

For more details, call the Otisfield Social Outreach Committee’s Elaine Doble-Verrill at 539-4846 or email dobleverrill@gmail.com.

BRIDGTON

Schools and libraries urged to seek Land Trust grants

Schools and libraries in the towns of Bridgton, Casco, Denmark, Harrison, Naples, Sebago and Raymond are urged to apply for small grants from Loon Echo Land Trust for environmental education programs.

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Applications, which must be returned by Jan. 15, can be downloaded from Loon Echo’s website at www.LELT.org, under the programs tab.

Loon Echo Land Trust protects land in the northern Sebago Lake region to conserve its natural resources and character for future generations.

Currently over 5,000 acres of land are protected and six land preserves are available for public use.

Loon Echo relies on the support and generosity of public and private contributions. For more details, call 647-4352 or email info@lelt.org.

CORRECTION: This story was updated at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 to correct the spelling of Ray Hepler of Preble Street.


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