Inside Standish

This is the last issue of the Inside Standish column for 2013. These last five months sharing with all of you have flown by in the blink of an eye. It’s been wonderful connecting with more and more members and organizations within our community. My next Inside Standish column will run on Jan. 17. If you would like something printed in that issue, I will need to have it emailed to me no later than Jan. 12. I wish you and your families a very happy, healthy holiday season. ‘See’ you in 2014!

Standish Summer Spectacular

Save the date for the annual three-day celebration of Standish! This year the event will be held Thursday, June 26, through Saturday, June 28, in all three villages that make up the town of Standish. The 2014 theme will be “Celebrating Our Freedom” where we will be honoring all veterans throughout the three-day event, and our highlighted organization this year is the American Legion Post 128.

Inaugural Induction

Jobs for Maine Graduates inducted 49 students into the Bonny Eagle program on Dec. 10. The JMG Program is new to BEHS this year and they are very thankful for the support received from the community.

In 1993, Maine’s Legislature created Jobs for Maine’s Graduates to reconnect seniors to their school and community. Since then, JMG evolved to serve students in grades 6-12 to achieve better grades, experience a connectedness to school, and provide them with an understanding of pathways and opportunities to future success.

State Rep. Michael Shaw, from Standish, wrote a message to the students and acknowledged their great work in social awareness, civic engagement, career exploration, and leadership development. “Many of my colleagues in the legislature have spoken about JMG in their school districts and the amazing work it does in preparing students, and I am thrilled that this is an option for our students at Bonny Eagle as well,” Shaw said.

Ms. D’Ippolito, JMG teacher, is extremely proud of her students, especially their regular visits to the Ronald McDonald House in Portland. The students are launching a JOY project that will allow the students to grant an organization a gift of $1,000, meet with a representative from Universal Technical Institute, and plan a visit to the State House in Augusta to meet with Rep. Shaw.

Discount Ski Tickets

Ski tickets make wonderful stocking stuffers and are now available to purchase at the Town Clerk’s counter in the Standish Municipal Center. Tickets are direct-to-lift and valid at Attitash Mountain Resort and Wildcat Mountain. The window price at the beginning of the season starts lower than the value of the discount ticket, and increases as terrain opens. Full price will definitely be in effect at the ticket window on Dec. 26, which is when the discount tickets become a great value. Savings range from $8-24 each. For more information, visit standishrec.com or email lbrooks@standish.org.

Firefighters use Standish Fire Department’s Tank No. 2 to fill up the public ice skating rink at Johnson Field. Johnson Field is one of two public, lighted ice-skating rinks maintained by the town of Standish and Standish Recreation with lights out at 10 p.m. Just in case you get new ice skates for Christmas, Johnson Field is located at 89 Chadbourne Road (Route 35) while the Mill Street Park ice rink located in Steep Falls is located in the heart of the village near the intersection of Routes 113 and 11 (beside the Steep Falls Market). Residents of the Steep Falls area attended a holiday open house and community forum on Thursday evening, Dec. 12, in the Steep Falls Fire Barn’s community room. They gathered for some delicious holiday treats, historical photos and catching up with neighbors at the first of several community forums hosted by Wright-Pierce designed to help draft the Steep Falls Village Master Plan. During the course of the forum, keypad voting (like the “Ask the Audience” lifeline on Millionaire) was used and within two hours much was learned about the Steep Falls community. Wright-Pierce, the engineering firm, which the town chose, have made it quick and easy to share information for those not able to attend. Please take a few minutes and check out the site they have created for us: www.wright-pierce.com/standish.aspx. The next meeting is on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. All are welcome. If you would like to attend, but don’t have a ride or would like to carpool please contact bbenson@standish.org. Put it in your calendars now (that doesn’t mean you have to go, but it will remind you in case you want to).