Maine Audubon awards
law firm, educator

FALMOUTH — The Maine Audubon awarded a Portland-based law firm and a Cumberland resident at its 2009 annual awards ceremony in recognition of outstanding contributions to environmental education and wildlife conservation.

Richardson, Whitman, Large & Badger, a law firm based in Portland, was given the Maine Audubon Distinguished Contribution Award.

The law firm was instrumental in helping Maine Audubon make major improvements to the Plum Creek plan for the Moosehead Lake region, and also served as a longtime wildlife protection advocate.

Anita Bernhardt of Cumberland, a science and technology specialist for the Maine Department of Education, was named the Maine Audubon Educator of the Year.

She was recognized for her contributions to raising public awareness of the importance of providing Maine students with science and technology education to better prepare them for college and career opportunities. Bernhardt has collaborated with numerous educators, school administrators, research organizations and businesses within the Maine science and technology community to further Maine Audubon’s environmental education goals.

Scarborough nonprofit
performs energy upgrades

SCARBOROUGH —The Southern Maine Agency on Aging recently completed several energy-saving improvements and accessibility projects at their U.S. Route 1 office building in Scarborough.

An energy audit performed by Efficiency Maine guided the renovation project, which was made possible by a commitment from USDA Rural Development for a $350,000, 40-year mortgage.

Energy-saving projects included converting the heating system from oil to natural gas, improving ventilation and air conditioning controls, installing energy efficient lighting and replacing most of the exterior windows.

The senior agency also built a new wheelchair ramp for the main entrance with automatic door openers for improved accessibility.

People of Color Fund
awards inaugural grants

PORTLAND — The Maine Community Foundation’s People of Color Fund committee recently awarded 12 grants totalling nearly $64,000 for leadership training and organizational development supporting people of color in Maine.

This is the inaugural grant-making cycle for the People of Color Fund, which was established at Maine Community Foundation in 2007 through a gift from the River Rock Foundation.

Local grant recipients included three Portland-based organizations. The Somali Culture and Development Association of Maine received funding to develop a strategic plan and to help respond quickly to the needs of the Somali community.

Tengo Voz, a women’s collective, received a grant for restructuring the organization.

The Azande Organization, which supports southern Sudanese refugees in Maine, was given a grant to lay the groundwork for developing a family wellness program.

New Ventures

Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery recently opened a joint store at 398 U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough.

Scarborough-based Black Point Inn has opened for the season with special offerings including Wine Tasting Wednesdays, which are free and open to the public, as well as Sailing Specials and complimentary Sunday cocktail parties for Inn guests.

Cape Elizabeth-based Apple Tree Hill Farm was renamed Old Ocean House Farm by owner Rodney Voisine and is now being managed by Austin and Mary Ellen Chadd of Portland. The farm will will continue to sell its heirloom or “lost” vegetables and flowers at Portland Farmers’ Markets.

Edgecomb Potters has opened a new art gallery at 8 School St. in Freeport called The Art Loft Gallery. The second floor gallery will solely feature Maine art and fine crafts, including glass sculptures and stemware by Ben Coombs of Portland, wood engraved prints by Tony Kulik of Belfast, and more.

Kevin Morris Photographer has opened a daylight photo studio at Fort Andross in Brunswick, providing photography services for personal or business events, and fine art documentary. KMP has also launched a new website at kevinmorrisweddings.com.

Brand designer Thomas Hillman of South Portland has recently launched his own original t-shirt line called Peace, Love and Tees.

Father-son duo, Zachary M. Longley and Zachary F. Longley of Northeast Planning Associates, Inc., have expanded their financial planning practice by opening an office in Yarmouth. The firm offers individual and business clients independent financial planning advice on a wide variety of products and services.

Appointments

The Maine Green Independent Party has elected new three new members to its steering committee: David Frans of Brunswick, Jon Olsen of Jefferson and Erin Cianchette of Cumberland.

Governor John E. Baldacci nominated three local residents to the Board of Education: James W. Carignan of Harpswell, Lynda A. Doyle of Durham, Andrea Levinsky of Portland.

At the Norway Savings Bank annual corporators meeting, local residents named corporators include Andrew Charles, owner of Haven’s Candies in Westbrook, Portland and Scarborough; Jill McGowan, owner of Jill McGowan Designs in Portland; Patricia Weigel of Falmouth, executive vice president, commercial and retail banking at Norway Savings Bank; and Holly Young, executive vice president and chief information officer at Norway Savings Bank.

Jeffrey A. Thaler of Portland, a partner with law firm Bernstein Shur, was elected to serve a three-year term as an administrator of Williams College’s scholarship fund.

Cancer Community Center of South Portland has elected new board officers; Jean Wilson of Falmouth, president; Joel Harris of Cumberland, vice president; Shelly Bartlett of Yarmouth, treasurer; Nicole Avery of South Portland, secretary. New board members are Barry Godowsky of Yarmouth, Nickolas D. Ireland of Gray, Maureen McIntyre of Portland, John Ratoff of Kennebunk, Leslie B. Roberts of Kennebunk and Roberta Tielinen of New Gloucester.

 

 

Scarborough children, pictured from left, Lauren Topchik, Amy Topchik, Emily Patashnik and Eliza MacLeod, proudly display their poster advertising their “Dance for Cancer” benefit performance.  Eliza, age 6, and Emily, age 7, organized a backyard talent show with ten other neighborhood children and raised $236 for The Maine Children’s Cancer Program.