Pequawket Clean-Up

On Saturday, May 10, join your fellow Standish residents for an annual community event that simply brings people together for a few hours for the greater good of our Standish community.

Each year a group of Standish volunteers, old and young and from all three villages gather on Route 113 (Pequawket Trail) to do post-winter trash clean-up from the intersection of Route 25 to the Baldwin line in order to keep our Maine Scenic Byway beautiful. It’s a great way to do your part for the community while getting fresh air and enjoying the beauty that helped us earn the title of Maine Scenic Byway.

All who are interested should meet at 7 a.m. at the former Inlet restaurant (where there is now a sign out front that “Something’s Cookin”!). Safety vests and trash bags will be supplied. For more information, please contact Lou Stack at 892-4282.

Blue Star Salute Day

Saturday, May 17, has been proclaimed by the town of Standish as Blue Star Salute Day. The American Legion Post 128 has been hosting this annual event at the Kiwanis facility on Route 25 to honor the men and women of our town who have proudly worn the uniforms of the United States Armed Forces, and who have sacrificed for us in order to maintain our liberty and freedom. It is a chance for us to come together to celebrate the dedication of these brave men and women, some of whom are currently serving in the War on Terror whether through active duty or in the National Guard or Reserves.

The town of Standish hopes you will be able to join in the day’s festivities, which include food and live entertainment to honor those who have served and who are still serving today. For more information, please contact Post 128 Commander Hal Ware at [email protected].

Sebago-Otter 5K

The Sebago-Otter 5K Trail Race, organized by the Bonny Eagle Cross Country and Track Booster Club will take place on Saturday, May 17, at 9 a.m. at the Sebago Lake Land Reserve, near Johnson Field off Chadbourne Road (Route 35) in Standish. Race day registration will be held from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Funds raised from the race will be used toward the purchase of new uniforms for the Bonny Eagle track team and to help fund needed track and field equipment, specifically high jump and pole vault equipment.

Pre-Registration is $20, race-day registration will be $25. Register online at www.sebagotrail5K.weebly.com. T-shirts will be available to the first 100 entrants. For more information, contact [email protected].

Annual Plant Sale

On Saturday, May 17, the Wildridge Garden Club is holding its annual Plant Sale at the George E. Jack school, located on Route 35 near the intersection of Route 25. The sale starts at 8 a.m. and runs through noon. In the past, they have sold out, so the early birds will find the best selection of perennials and a few other items dug from members’ own gardens. Advice is free and the plants are priced reasonably.

The Wildridge Garden Club is a nonprofit organization with the objective of promoting gardening. They hold monthly meetings with various speakers scheduled throughout the year.

They are also working with the Standish Recreation Department on a trip to the Maine Botanical Garden on June 14. This will also be open to the public, more information will be coming on this event. For more information contact Sandy Truslow at [email protected].

Grand Marshal Announcement

Tune into Saco River Community TV, Channel 5 on Tuesday night, May 13, at 7 p.m. for the announcement of this year’s Standish Summer Spectacular (SSS) parade Grand Marshal. The person chosen to lead the SSS this year will be someone who has displayed outstanding pride in, service to, and commitment to our community through volunteerism or community service work and whose contributions to Standish support this year’s theme of “Celebrating Freedom.”

The Standish Summer Spectacular Committee began choosing a grand marshal for their parade in 2011 and for the first time the event had a theme, which was “Paying it Forward.” The first-ever Grand Marshal selected was Elizabeth “Betty” Edwards, who led the parade and who has since been riding in the convertible behind the Grand Marshal since she is now 99 years old and holds the Boston Post Cane as the oldest citizen in Standish. In 2012 the theme was “Building Community” and Joline Webber was chosen to lead the parade for her longstanding commitment and service to our town, including being the organizer of the first ever Memorial Day observance at the Standish Municipal Center. The theme of the 2013 Standish Summer Spectacular event was “History in the Making” and Elmer Alley, former town clerk, was chosen for his longtime role in recording the town’s history among many other contributions to our town, just like his two predecessors.

This year’s event takes place June 26-28 in all three villages that make up Standish: Sebago Lake Station, Standish Corner and Steep Falls. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.standishsummerspectacular.com, www.facebook.com/standishsummerspectacular or call Standish Recreation at 642-2875.

Project Grad Needs Volunteers

The Bonny Eagle High School’s 2014 Project Graduation Committee is asking for volunteers for Project Graduation, being held at the Riverton Community Center on June 6 from about 9 p.m.-5 the next morning.

In addition to working that night, the Project Graduation Committee also needs volunteer parents to help decorate and set up to get things ready for the evening. This typically just takes two hours of your time prior to graduation. Organizers ask that this be parents of children in the junior class.

Whether you can assist for just a portion of the evening or all, your help will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Laura Vickery at [email protected] or [email protected] as soon as possible with what hours you are willing to be there.

Public Forum

This coming Thursday, May 15, please join the Steep Falls Master Design Committee at 7 p.m. for a public forum at the Steep Falls Village Park’s gazebo, located on the corner of routes 11 and 113. They will be providing information and time to discuss the sidewalks issue, which we will be voting for on June 10, along with other future design concerns such as lighting, trees and streetscapes.

The rain date for the Steep Falls Master Design public forum is Saturday, May 17. Any questions can be directed to Bud Benson at [email protected] or 642-4536.

Bridge Closing

As a reminder, the Steep Falls bridge spanning the Saco River on Route 11 will be closing May 12. Signs notifying traffic have been put into place at each end of Route 11.

Godspell Final Performances

Sunday, May 11, at 5 p.m. is your final chance to see Schoolhouse Arts Center’s production of “Godspell.” Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for students and seniors and $14 for children under 12. Schoolhouse is located at 16 Richville Road (Route 114) in Standish, just north of the intersection of Route 114 and Route 35. For reservations, call 642-3743 or buy tickets online at www.schoolhousearts.org.

The grand opening of the Steep Falls Farmers Market is Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Steep Falls Village Park located at the intersection of routes 113 and 11 in Steep Falls. The market will run every Saturday through October. Just some of the vendors you will see at this weekly farmers market is Sweet Relief Farm, Blue Ribbon Fiber Arts, Towanda’s Kitchen, Feather and Scale Farm and Mediocre Deli, which will be serving up their fresh whoopie pies in all sizes! For more information or to find out how to get involved, visit www.steepfallsfarmersmarket.com or contact Julee Applegarth at [email protected].