BIDDEFORD

Flight program sends 21 youths soaring

Additional Photos

Bonny Eagle High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps student members David Emerson, left, and Kiel Carson preside over a wreath ceremony held during the school's annual Veterans Day Celebration. Members of the school's N.J.R.O.T.C. performed a flag-folding ceremony and laid the wreath at the Vietnam Memorial in front of the school. The Bonny Eagle High School band, jazz band and chorus also performed. Photo courtesy Kathy Campbell

Near-perfect flying conditions gave 21 area youths a chance to experience aviation first-hand recently at the Biddeford Municipal Airport.

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1210, housed at their member-built hangar at the Biddeford Airport, hosted the event in conjunction with EAA Chapter 225 from Rochester, N.H.

Nine girls and 12 boys, ranging from age 8 to 16, participated in the event, receiving free airplane rides from six volunteer EAA pilots over the Biddeford-Saco countryside.

Upon landing, each new “Young Eagle” was awarded a certificate.

The mission of the EAA Young Eagles Program is to provide a meaningful flight experience — free of charge — in a general aviation aircraft for young people. For more information on the program, call (877) 806-8902 or locally Steve Welch, EAA Chapter 1210 president, at 967-4018.

KENNEBUNK

Tours raise $21,000 for anti-hunger program

Tours of the Wedding Cake House this fall generated $21,000 to benefit a Feed the Hungry program spearheaded by the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Kennebunk.

More than 60 volunteers from the Kennebunk area conducted tours of the famed house during the monthlong fundraiser. This is only the third time in the home’s history that it has been open to the public for tours.

Owners James Hunt Barker and Kenneth Douglas previously offered tours in 2005, benefiting victims of Hurricane Katrina, and 2010, benefiting area food pantries.

SACO

Grants fund needlework show at museum

The Dyer Library/Saco Museum has received an $18,000 grant from the Coby Foundation in New York and a $1,000 grant from the Maine Arts Commission to support an exhibition of Maine schoolgirl needlework from the Federal Era.

The “I My Needle Ply with Skill” Exhibit, running from Jan. 12 through March 2, 2013, will focus on the complex and artistic needlework created in Maine by schoolgirls of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

More than 100 samplers and other embroideries will be represented along with related items.

For more details, call 283-3861, extension 114, or visit www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.

PORTLAND

A new look for website helping military

Pine Tree Legal Assistance has redesigned its national website, www.statesidelegal.org, with veterans, military service members and their families in mind.

The site, Stateside Legal, is reportedly visited by more than 1,000 people each day, from the United States and more than 130 other countries.

Upgrades include a new “featured content” section on the home page directing users to a step-by-step guide for filing a VA claim for disability compensation, as well as tax credits and public benefits.

The new site also includes landing pages specific to the legal needs of returning service members, female veterans and service members, and veterans’ advocates and an updated “Find Local Help” section.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance served as the lead agency for the project.

For more details, call Helen Meyer at 774-4753, extension 1212.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Libby Library supporters elect officers

The following individuals have been elected as officers to the Friends of Libby Library for 2012-13: chairperson Cris Johnson; treasurer Cathy Larkin; and secretary Linda Toomey. Additional committee chairs include Denise Blanchard, food pantry; Martha Conlan, book distribution; Sandy Riley, social functions; Doris Harris, book shed; and Stan Quinlan, publicity.

For more details, call Quinlan at 937-2626.

WELLS

School panel rewards a sundae kind of love

The Wells-Ogunquit Community School District School Committee recently presented “Sundaes at the Beach” ice cream shop co-owner Bob Heleniak with a certificate of appreciation for his contributions benefiting Project Graduation.

Bob and Natalie Heleniak raised $1,100 for Project Graduation from ice cream and other food sales on Oct. 28, officially their last day of business for the 2012 season.

The Heleniaks also recently opened their doors on Nov. 11 for a one-day benefit, selling ice cream to raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

The couple previously has donated funds to the Athletic Boosters at Wells High School and The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center.

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