Portland nonprofits
aid food pantries

PORTLAND — The United Way of Greater Portland and Preble Street have launched two initiatives to help fill Maine’s food pantries.

Through the “Food for ME” initiative, the two nonprofits raised more than a $250,000, with grants from the King Foundation, Fisher Foundation, L.L. Bean Inc., the Elmina B.
Sewall Foundation, TD Bank Charitable Foundation, and United Way of
Greater Portland.

“100% of the funds will be redistributed by United Way chapters to local food pantries in every county of Maine to be used specifically for the purchase of food to restock food pantries and meet the growing demand,” said Meg Baxter, president of United Way of Greater Portland, in an issued press release.

United Way of Greater Portland and Preble Street have also launched The Pantry Project, a food collection drive held at area businesses, from now until June.

Designated shelving units for food donations have been delivered to companies around greater Portland, including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cumberland County Civic Center / Portland Pirates, MaineHealth, Wright Express, Maine Bank & Trust, Bernstein Shur, Gorham Savings Bank, Woodard & Curran, TD Banknorth, Unum and InterMed. After the units have been filled, they will be shipped to Preble Street for distribution.

For more information on the Pantry Project or to get involved, call Jane Camp at United Way of Greater Portland at 874-1000.

Research institute
launches LobsterBiz

PORTLAND — The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is launching LobsterBiz, a free business planning workshop for lobstermen and their families to help support successful independent fishing businesses.

Presenters will include local commercial lenders, business counselors from Small Business Development Centers and SCORE, and Certified Public Accountants familiar with the lobstering business. Topics will range from basic accounting and finance to planning for business growth and retirement.

The first workshop will be held in Portland from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 18. Space is limited to 20-25 participants. Preregister with Meredith Mendelson at GMRI, 228-1645 or mmendelson@gmri.org.

ecomaine presents
eco-Excellence Awards

PORTLAND — At its annual recognition luncheon, ecomaine recently presented winners from each municipality with eco-Excellence Awards.

Sarah Cushman of Portland was presented the eco-Excellence Award for her volunteer work with the Portland Green Streets Program.

An Honorable Mention Award for Portland was presented to USM associate professor Dr. Sandy Wachholz for teaching courses on crimes against the environment.

Angela Griffiths and Elizabeth Seidel of South Portland earned the eco-Excellence Awards for their dedication to the Green South Portland Program.

Lauren Hadiaris of Cape Elizabeth was presented the award for her environmental research project on carbon dioxide.

New staff at Falmouth
Country Club

FALMOUTH —The Falmouth Country Club has hired four staff members to form a new clubhouse team.

The new staff includes Brenda Wills, general manager, formerly of Arrowhead Country Club; Jim Fairbanks, PGA golf professional, formerly of Nonesuch Golf Club; Alex Tumidajski, head chef, formerly of Inn by the Sea; and Jared Laflin, food and beverage manager, formerly of The Regency.

Awards

John Fitzsimmons of Falmouth, president of the Maine Community College System, was named 2009 Nonprofit Business Leader of the Year by Mainebiz for leading the exceptional growth of Maine’s community colleges.

Tim Boothby of Portland, Home Health Float Visiting Nurse, was selected as VNA’s Home Care Hero for the month of February.

Kristine Schuman of Topsham, manager of the BRAC Transition Center, was recently honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration with a Special Recognition Award for her service to Maine’s Veterans and Families.

Real estate broker Bridget King of South Portland was recognized for outstanding sales for 2008 by The Maine Real Estate Network.

Jenni Hebert of Portland was presented with the Emerging Classified Staff Award for her work in research compliance at USM’s annual classified staff breakfast celebration.

Diane Moyer, associate broker with RE/MAX Riverside in Topsham, received the RE/MAX Riverside Eagle Award in recognition of outstanding achievement and sales performance for 2008.

Early education teachers of Ledgemere Country Day School in Cape Elizabeth, Diane Nicholson, Verna Gordon, Peggy Hunter, Jenny Allen, Mary Goodine and Kathy Pappas, were named to The Maine Registry by Maine Roads To Quality: Child Care and Early Education Career Development Center at the Muskie School.

Kathy Duca, sales manager of the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Cape Elizabeth, earned the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage President’s Council award in honor of her leadership and management skills.

Professor Barry Rodrigue of Bath, Director of French North American Studies at USM, was recently inducted into the Franco-American Hall of Fame.

 

+++MAKE MUG – RIGHT+++ Rodrigue
Schuman
Boothby

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