BRIDGTON

Firefighters help to battle cancer

The 10th annual Mary’s Firemen for a Cure, held March 2 at Shawnee Peak, raised more than $15,000 in the fight against breast cancer.

Harrison Fire Department took top honors in the competition, as the fastest team to run the ski course and by raising more than $1,400 in pledges.

All proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Maine affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The event has raised more than $100,000 in the last 10 years.

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PORTLAND

Expeditionary Learning honor

Casco Bay High School teacher Susan McCray is the first recipient of the Expeditionary Learning (EL ) Klingenstein Teacher Award.

The award acknowledges McCray’s exemplary teaching style in conveying to her students the essence of the EL school culture’s valuing and modeling a child’s character while also instilling an ethic of “citizen scholarship” in the classroom.

Founded in the early 1990s, Expeditionary Learning is a leader in project-based teaching that challenges students to think critically about their educational experience and citizenship.

McCray was selected by her peers from a network of 4,000 teachers and based on rigorous criteria, including her ability to inspire students to take responsibility for their own education and participate in good citizenship initiatives in and outside of the classroom.

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EL partners with school districts and charter boards to open new schools and transform existing ones for pre-K through grade 12 students. The EL network includes more than 160 schools, 4,000 teachers and 45,000 students.

Cheverus contests help teen shelter

Cheverus High School celebrated its annual Spirit Week with fundraising activities on campus, including a ping-pong tournament, Just Dance 4 Wii competition, a pie eating contest, ugly sweater and ugly tie days, tricycle relay races and a Minute to Win It and tug of war competitions.

Students’ efforts raised $623 to benefit Preble Street’s Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter.

The shelter provides a safe place for homeless and street-involved youths, ages 12 through 20, assisting them in making plans to get off the street.

Presidential Scholar at Cheverus

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Cheverus High School senior Ian Lawson of Gorham was selected for recognition by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

The program is by invitation only, with about 3,000 graduating high school seniors invited nationwide. Lawson is one of 47 Maine students who received an invitation.

Established in 1964, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes up to 121 students each year who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts.

Lawson, the son of Polly and George Lawson of Gorham, has received a number of other awards and commendations during his four years at Cheverus, including as a 2013 National Merit Scholar Finalist. He is a National Honor Society member and a high honors student.

Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June and the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House. The scholars have access to national and international figures, educators, authors and scientists.

Scout wins Heroism Award

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Cheverus High School sophomore Parker Montano has received a rarely bestowed Boy Scouts of America Heroism Award after he rescued two children from drowning in July 2012.

The award was given to just 155 of the organization’s approximately 2.7 million members in 2012.

A member of Troop 1 in Portland, Montano is pursuing Eagle Scout status. He is the son of Karen and Peter Montano of South Portland.

Gelato benefits Shalom House

The Gelato Fiasco has donated more than $200 to Shalom House Inc., a Portland-based organization that helps provide affordable housing to hundreds of people with serious mental illness each year.

The money was raised during the recent Gelato Fiasco Scooping for Community program.

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SOUTH PORTLAND

High school musicians win honors

South Portland High School jazz musicians recently won top awards for their participation at the annual Jazz Festival hosted by Berklee College in Boston.

Big bands, combos and vocal jazz ensembles competed and performed on March 2.

Under the direction of Craig Skeffington, South Portland’s Jazz Ensemble placed first for the Class L4 Large Ensemble Division. Senior trombonist Chuck Key received the Judge’s Choice Award for the South Portland Jazz Combo I and sophomore Alex Quinn received one of the Outstanding Musicianship Awards for the Class L4 Large Ensemble Division.

The group next travels to Houlton for the Maine High School Jazz Festival.

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WELLS

Maine Principals’ Award winner

Wells High School senior Madeline Andrews has been selected to receive the Maine Principals’ Award for 2013.

Sponsored by the Maine Principals Association, the award recognizes high academic achievement and good citizenship demonstrated by high school seniors.

Andrews is a National Honor Society member and has worked on the school newspaper. She has won the school district’s Literary Achievement Awards, was named Student of the Trimester and is a recipient of the Breakfast of Champions Award.

Andrews is a member of the school’s marching and concert bands; is captain of its varsity girls lacrosse and varsity girls soccer teams; tutors students in French in the FLAGS program; does community volunteering; and is a Sunday school teacher and liturgist at her church.

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A luncheon honoring Andrews and other recipients of the Maine Principals’ Award will be held April 6 in Bangor.

Students, staff named champions

Wells High School recently honored 19 students and five staff members for their contributions to the learning and social environment at the school during a Breakfast of Champions event.

The honorees were nominated for recognition by a coach, teacher or staff member.

Recognized were Talia Auen, Nicole Box, Jason Chase, Reid Chase, Lauren Clark, Anthony Crawford, Julianne Fitzpatrick, Matt Gibson, Rachel Graceffa, Jake Hamburger, Marcus Harding, Chloe Kellum, Coach Sara Littlefield, Heidi Knight, Lil Lagasse, Chandler MacNeill, Christian Martin, Matt McAllister, Alex McCormack-Kuhman, Morgan Miller, David Osterday, Brittany Stutes, Nickolai Tomaszewski and Jake Wilson.

BRIDGTON

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Grant to aid historic preservation

Maine State Archivist David Cheever announced that Bridgton Historical Society will receive $530 to preserve and provide better access to its archives as part of the Historical Records Collections Grant Program.

The program is administered by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and is coordinated by the State Archives.

A recent report to the Maine Legislature indicates that many of Maine’s historical collections, including photographs, paintings, documents of all kinds and natural history specimens are in danger of being lost to mold, misuse, fire or theft.

The grant money will be used to create finding aids for two collections, the Murch family papers and the Fessenden papers, and to improve their storage conditions. Those papers provide important documentation of the social and religious history of South Bridgton in the 19th century and include business and personal papers from the Murch family.

For more details, call the historical society at 647-3699 or go to www.bridgtonhistory.org.

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KENNEBUNK

Library seeks trustee applicants

Kennebunk Free Library officials are seeking applicants to join its board of trustees.
Interested individuals should have a desire to preserve and advance the interests of the library by effectively governing its operations and promoting its development.

Board members prepare for and attend regular board meetings, assist in annual fundraising events, participate in the development and approval of library policies and act as advocates for the library through contacts with civic groups and public officials.

Residents and town employees of Kennebunk are encouraged to apply.

For more details, go to www.kennebunklibrary.org/kennebunk/trustees.asp or stop by the library’s circulation desk for printed information.

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SACO

Group takes scholarship applications

The Women’s Educational and Industrial Union of Saco is accepting applications for two $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to graduating seniors from Thornton Academy or Old Orchard Beach High School this spring.

Students who plan to further their education at a two-year or four-year college may apply. Applications are available in the guidance departments of each school. 

The deadline for applying is March 21. For more details, call Barbara Prentiss at 282-0310.

LEWISTON

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Animal shelter to use grant for van

The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society has received $63,700 in grant funding from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Petco Foundation and the Laura J. Niles Foundation.

The proceeds will be used to purchase and outfit a Sprinter van to transport animals in the shelter’s care. It provides a safe haven for some 5,500 sick, homeless and abused animals in the greater Androscoggin area each year.

For more details, call 783-2311 or go to www.SavingPetsInMaine.org.

UNITY

Raising chickens to fight hunger

Unity College will begin an initiative to raise free range chickens as part of an ongoing hunger relief effort. Clients of the Volunteer Regional Food Pantry in Unity and the Belfast Soup Kitchen will be recipients of the chicken meat.

The endeavor is made possible by a grant from the Food for All program of the Future Farmers of America. High school FFA students from Waldo County Technical Center  will also be involved and receive funds from the collaborative grant.

In recent years Unity College has expanded its agricultural, animal care and animal husbandry offerings on campus. These include the addition of an animal care laboratory, new greenhouse, barn renovation, root cellar and partnership with Veggies for All, which donates student-grown produce to area food pantries.


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