Free GED testing in South Portland

A “Free GED Saturday” program will be held on Saturday, Jan. 19, at South Portland Adult Education at the SPHS library from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Please do not arrive later than 10:30 a.m. and plan to stay for about two hours).

The program will offer free math, reading and writing GED pre-tests, score the tests on the spot and then make recommendations for next steps. If scores predict success on the GED, organizers will schedule students to start taking the test within one week. If scores suggest students need some instruction, organizers will enroll them in one of the free GED courses.

The national GED test is changing to a more challenging online version in 2014, so officials are encouraging adults to get their GED this year. For more information, email [email protected] or call 756-2169.

Learn about new tech charter school

Baxter Academy for Technology and Science will be holding a parent information session on Wednesday, Dec. 26, from noon-2 p.m. at the Glickman Library on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus. School representatives will be on hand to answer both student and parent questions.

Baxter Academy for Technology and Science is a public charter high school scheduled to open in Portland on Sept. 3. Transportation to Baxter Academy will be provided from Topsham, Brunswick, Freeport, Windham, Gorham, Westbrook, Kennebunk, Saco, Scarborough and South Portland.

Enrollment at Baxter Academy will begin Jan. 1. More information can be found at www.baxteracademy.org.

Mass available at home

Maine Catholics who are unable to get to church during this holy time of Advent and Christmas, or year-round, can still participate in the joy and comfort found in a larger community of faith at Sunday Mass by watching on television or online, or by listening on the radio.

The “My Sunday Mass” program is offered on Maine television and online. It seeks to renew and support the faith of Catholics that can’t make it to Mass because they are homebound, hospitalized, imprisoned or inclement weather prevents them from traveling. The program specifically features prayer intentions from viewers and homilies offering words of comfort and spirituality for the homebound.

To view in the Portland area (Sundays, 9:30 a.m.): Time Warner ch. 14, DirecTV ch. 305, Dish Network ch. 216.

You can watch Sunday Mass online at www.MySundayMass.org. Archived Masses are also available at the site.

The Presence Radio Network, based in Portland, also provides a Mass simulcast each Sunday at 8 a.m. on 106.7 FM (Greater Portland).

Local cops graduate ?from academy

Maine’s 60 newest police officers have graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro.

The officers from the state, county and municipal ranks graduated last week after 18 weeks of study and training.

The new officers include: Benjamin Landry, Cody Lounder and Michael Thurlow, Scarborough Police Department; and Jared Nabel, South Portland Police Department.

Morrison Center gets iPads

The Robbie Foundation, which raises funds for children and youth with developmental disabilities in Maine, is providing cutting-edge technology to help local students. Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation, the Robbie Foundation purchased 24 Apple iPads, pre-loaded with instructional and communication software for Morrison Center in Scarborough. This is the first of many pilot programs in the state of Maine provided and orchestrated by Robbie Foundation.

Morrison Center is a private, not-for-profit agency and a member of the Greater Portland United Way. The center specializes in the support and development of children (preschool and K-12) and adults with and without disabilities. It also offers a broad range of day programs and services that support individuals and their families and encourage maximum growth and independence.

With the addition of these iPads Morrison center is now the “state of the art” educational center in the region, said Mark Ryder, the center’s executive director.

The Robbie Foundation raises money for therapy treatments, equipment and services not covered by insurance. In the past two years, RF has donated $37,000 dollars for children with developmental disabilities.

Gas main work begins in Cape

Unitil began work replacing a gas main on a section of Wood Road last week, according to Cape Elizabeth town officials.

The work should take a couple of weeks, depending on the amount of ledge encountered.

“Residents of the area should be patient as there may be temporary traffic delays as the work is under way,” said Public Works Director Robert Malley.

Bon-Ton coming to Maine Mall

The Maine Mall announced last week that Bon-Ton’s department store will open its first Maine location in the former Filene’s space. Remodeling of the site is expected to begin in early 2013 with a fall opening.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of Bon-Ton at The Maine Mall,” said Craig Gorris, general manager of The Maine Mall, in a press release. “They have fantastic brands our shoppers want and the opening certainly will bring a new energy to the property and new jobs to South Portland.”

Bon-Ton is a regional department store chain owned by The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. It offers a broad assortment of brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics. This new retailer will be the fourth department store at The Maine Mall.

Brendan Hoffman, president and chief executive officer, stated, “We are pleased to announce this transaction with GGP which affords us entry into a new market and a new state. We believe our new Bon-Ton store will enhance the total shopping experience for consumers in the Portland market.”

Christmas Eve services in South Portland

First United Methodist Church, 179 Ridgeland Ave., South Portland, will hold Christmas Eve Services

Monday, Dec. 24, at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome.

The crew at Cape Chiropractic and Acupuncture, from left, Dr. Zev Myerowitz, licensed acupuncturist Amber Smalley and office manager Catie Fairbanks-Cliffe, are pictured in their 2 Davis Point Lane office with the 300 homemade s’mores and 40 plants they hand-delivered last week to teachers, community service groups, town hall staff, fire fighters, police officers, bus drivers and librarians as a thank-you for the community support shown since the opening of their business in May.    
Scarborough Middle School students raised more than $10,000 for Frannie Peabody Center at their 26th annual Ed Wimert Memorial Bike/Walk-A-Thon for AIDS. The students were given certificates of recognition and awards on Dec. 13. The $10,000 total represents the most money raised by the event in the past five years, and is almost double the amount from last year. More than 100 students participated in this year’s bike-a-thon, which began in 1986, and has now topped the $200,000 mark in total money raised for Frannie Peabody Center over the years. Frannie Peabody Center is Maine’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization, with offices in York and Cumberland counties.