SOUTH BERWICK

Berwick Academy math students take top honors

Additional Images

Members of Berwick Academy’s eighth-grade mathletes team show their awards at the Southern Maine Math League’s first meet of the academic year. From left are Bryce Morales, Nikhil Agarwal, Mahesh Agarwal, Jed Breen, Eljah D’Ara, and Chris Eno. Courtesy Tracey Boucher

Corinne Latti (a dream recipient candidate for the Dream Factory of Maine) and her brother Mike Latti make candy canes during a fundraiser event hosted by Haven's Candies of Westbrook. The event raised more than $15,785 to sponsor three Maine chronically ill Maine children and fulfill their dream wish in 2015. Photo courtesy Jennifer McBrierty.

Wells Elementary School students deliver Christmas presents in Portland recently as part of their annual giving campaign to benefit Toys for Tots. The project was administered by U.S. Marine Corps members, who received the donations and spoke to the children about how the program works. The students, their teachers and a few parents traveled to Portland on the Amtrak Downeaster, a journey the school has made annually since 2010. Photo by Reg Bennett.

Waynflete High School music students, from left, Scott Ralston, Sarah Heath, Elise LeBihan and Helen Gray-Bauer were selected to perform in the All-Eastern Honors Chorus and Orchestra during the Eastern Division Conference of The National Association for Music Education April 11-12 in Providence, R.I. Photo courtesy Kathy Dion

Berwick Academy seventh-grade and eighth-grade math students recently took top honors in the Southern Maine Math League’s first meet of the academic year.

The eighth-grade team placed first out of 25 teams, while seventh-graders placed third out of 24 teams.

Individual winners included eighth-graders Bryce Morales, who tied with a student from the Middle School of the Kennebunks for first place, and Elijah D’Aran and seventh-grader Ryan Trotzky, who each placed fourth overall.

SCARBOROUGH/ SOUTH PORTLAND

Kade Wolverton wins democracy essay contest

Scarborough High School student Kade Wolverton is the first-place winner of the “Voice of Democracy” essay contest sponsored by Post No. 832 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Wolverton won a $300 cash prize for his essay. He has advanced to the District 10 level competition that includes participation of 11 posts. The winner of that contest will advance to the state-level competition and a chance to win an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for $30,000.

Molly LePlante placed second and won $200 and Mason Roach third, winning $100.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Gena Canning gets Girl Scouts Women of Distinction award

Gena Canning, a managing partner at Pine State Trading Co., has been awarded the 2015 Women of Distinction Award by the Girl Scouts of Maine during the 18th Annual Women of Distinction Gala held Dec. 4 at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks.

The annual event is the largest fundraiser for Girl Scouts of Maine. It celebrates women whose individual excellence and high levels of achievement distinguish them as outstanding members of their communities and exemplary role models for girls.

This year’s event raised over $125,000 for Girl Scouting in Maine.

Fire Department’s boot drive raises $4,430 for MDA

Members of the South Portland Fire Department, Local No. 1476, raised $4,430 during their annual “Fill the Boot” drive to benefit children and adults affected by muscle disease.

Funds raised will help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association programs of worldwide research, specialized health care services and day-to-day support.

WISCASSET

‘Keep a Family Rolling’ nominations being accepted

Atlantic Motorcar Service is accepting nominations for its annual “Keep a Family Rolling” project to provide one individual or a family in need with a refurbished automobile. The Volvo station wagon – a former customer service loaner car – includes new tires and brakes.

The selection will be made from a pool of nominations. Atlantic Motorcar also will service that vehicle for free for one year.

Nominations must include the nominating person’s name, address and telephone number, a brief narrative of why the person or family is being nominated, and contact information.

Nominations must be received by the Dec. 22 deadline.

Nominations can be mailed to: Atlantic Motorcar Service, attn: “Keep a Family Rolling,” 10 Ox Horn Road, Wiscasset, Maine 04578 or email nominations to Car@AtlanticMotorcar.com.

For more details, call Atlantic Motorcar at 882-9969.

SOUTH PARIS

UMaine Extension taking master gardener applications

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is accepting applications for its master gardener volunteer training project to be offered this winter and spring at the Oxford County UMaine Extension office at 9 Olson Road.

The first session begins Jan. 29. It includes 14 workshops, each held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays through May 15. Topics will include botany, composting, extending the season and how to best grow apples and berries. After completing training, participants are required to perform 40 hours of volunteer work in Oxford County community garden projects.

Class size is limited to 30. Cost is $220 and limited scholarships are available.

For more information or to request an application or disability accommodation, call 743-6329, or at umaine.edu/oxford/programs/master-gardeners.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Master gardener project to focus on fruits, vegetables

University of Maine Cooperative Extension at Cumberland County is accepting applications for its master gardener volunteer training project, set to begin Jan. 30 in Falmouth.

The 2015 training program will focus on fruits and vegetables and will take place on 16 consecutive Friday afternoons.

Attendees will receive approximately 50 hours of practical training in basic horticulture by UMaine Extension staffers. Upon successful completion of classes, each attendee will be required to serve a minimum of 40 hours of approved volunteer work on various community-based projects around the county.

Application packets are available by calling the Cumberland County Extension office at 781-6099 or (800) 287-1471.

The application packet is also available online at: umaine.edu/cumberland/programs/mg_app_cumb.

The deadline for submitting applications is Dec. 26.

SACO

Cohen Foundation gives grant to visiting nurses agency

HomeHealth Visiting Nurses has received a $23,400 grant from the Sam L. Cohen Foundation to support the development of a home-based palliative care program for medically fragile children.

The agency aims to improve a child’s quality and enjoyment of life while helping families adapt and function during illness or bereavement.

Program components include developing a base of trained volunteers, securing spiritual and bereavement services and coordinating with medical experts and other health-care providers.

The Sam L. Cohen Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations that promote culture and the arts, achieve civic improvement, increase access to health care or preserve Jewish traditions.

For more details, call (800) 660-4867 or go to homehealth.org.

BIDDEFORD

Savings bank donates $932.70 to breast cancer center

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution recently donated $932.70 to support breast cancer survivors at Southern Maine Health Care’s Center for Breast Care.

The donation came from various fundraisers that the bank held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and matching funds from SBSI initiatives, including employee jeans days and selling pink ribbons to customers.

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution will also be donating funds raised at the Cumberland County branches to Maine Medical Center’s breast cancer survivor programs.

KENNEBUNKPORT

Library seeks donations for holiday mitten tree

The open donation period for the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library’s holiday mitten tree will end Friday.

The public is invited to bring new purchased or handmade mittens, gloves, scarves and hats to the library to decorate the tree.

All sizes (children’s through adult) will be accepted. Items will then be donated to the York County Family Shelter, which serves all of York County.

The library is located at 18 Maine St. For details, call 967-2778.

PORTLAND

College Club awards scholarships to girls

The College Club of Portland has awarded scholarships to promising high school senior girls who plan to attend college after graduating this spring.

Students recognized were Dorothy Ann Janick of Cape Elizabeth High School, Ava Koenigsberg of Casco Bay High School, Julia Lynne Spugnardi of Falmouth High School, Jillian Elizabeth Booth of Greely High School, Katie Hull of Portland High School, Abigail George of Scarborough High School, Kimberly Dodd of South Portland High School, Molly Douglass of Westbrook High School and Katherine Reynolds of Deering High School.

The recipients will be recognized at a special tea from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 30 at St. Mary’s Church in Falmouth.

Waynflete music students to perform at conference

Four Waynflete School music students have been selected to perform in the All-Eastern Honors Chorus and Orchestra during the Eastern Division Conference of The National Association for Music Education this spring in Providence, R.I.

Seniors Scott Ralston, Elise LeBihan and Helen Gray-Bauer and junior Sarah Heat are among more than 800 students selected from the eastern region to perform at the event set for April 11 and 12.

While at the conference, the students will spend three days rehearsing with one of five prominent conductors.

WESTBROOK

Candy making event raises $15,785 for Dream Factory

Haven’s Candies hosted more than 700 children and adults for a “Make Your Own Homemade Candy” event to raise funds and awareness for The Dream Factory of Maine.

More than $15,785 was raised for the Dream Factory of Maine, an all-volunteer organization that grants dreams to chronically and critically ill Maine youth.

Several local companies sponsored the event, including Haven’s Candies, Tyler Technologies, Maine Marathon, IMCG, Idexx, Peterson Family Charitable Fund, Oxford Casino, Saco & Biddeford Savings, PowerPay, Volk Packaging Corporation, Delorme Publishing Company, Le Club Calumet, Maine Diner, Hutchins Trucking Company and Bangor Savings Bank.

For details, go to dreamfactoryofmaine.org.

WELLS

Students make train trip to deliver Toys for Tots

Nearly 100 first-grade and second-grade students from Wells Elementary School recently made their annual journey by rail from Wells to Portland to deliver toys to the Toys for Tots Foundation, a mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.

Each child brought along an unwrapped toy that was given to Marines at the Amtrak station in the Portland Transportation Center. The trip was made possible courtesy of Amtrak and the Downeaster.

Holiday songs were sung and a child’s book about trains was read aloud to students during the journey.

Wells Reserve workshop focuses on ‘blue carbon’

A group of New England scientists met recently at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve for a workshop focused on “blue carbon” science and policy.

The event marks the first time that scientists from throughout the region have gathered to share research results, identify gaps in knowledge and plan future collaborations involving carbon in coastal habitats.

The term “blue carbon” refers to the ability of salt marshes, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests to take up and store carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Coastal wetlands capture carbon and store it at rates even greater than rainforests.

The workshop was co-hosted by the Wells Reserve and Bates College and supported by a $15,000 grant from the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative.

The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is a 2,250-acre research site with a goal to protect and restore coastal ecosystems around the Gulf of Maine. For more details, go to wellsreserve.org.

STATEWIDE

Red Cross seeks nominations for its Real Heroes Award

The American Red Cross is seeking nominees for its Real Heroes Award.

The award recognizes Mainers who have demonstrated acts of heroism, provided outstanding community service and shown courage, kindness and unselfish character in service to others.

Past awards have been presented to military personnel, law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders, medical providers, teachers and students.

The nomination deadline is by Jan. 9 (Dec. 31, 2014, for nominations in the Greater Bangor area). Awards will be presented at events in Bangor, Caribou, Lewiston and Portland beginning in March.

For a nomination form, visit MaineRedCross.org.

Entries sought for writing contest for high school kids

Maine high school juniors are invited to submit entries of an original poem, short story or essay of up to 1,500 words for the Maine Community College System’s statewide writing contest, “A Journey Into Writing.”

Up to three winners may be selected by the contest judges and honored with the designation of 2015 Governor’s Young Writer of the Year, an award that includes a $2,500 cash prize.

Contest judges are Maine authors Susan Kenney, Lewis Robinson and Bill Roorbach.

The contest was created in 2004 as a way to encourage creativity and inspire young writers to develop their craft. The contest is sponsored by the MCCS with financial support from U.S. Cellular.

The contest rules and entry form are available online at mccs.me.edu/writing.

LEBANON

‘Toys for Lebanon Kids’ applications being accepted

The Lebanon Fire Department and the Lebanon Rescue Department are accepting applications for its 2014 “Toys for Lebanon Kids” campaign to benefit families in Lebanon, as well as donations of new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages.

Applications, which are due back by Thursday, are available at the Lebanon Town Hall or the fire department. Toys for the program may be dropped off at the following locations: Trains Quick Stop, A.C. Provo’s, Kenney Auto, Welch’s Hardware, Lebanon House of Pizza, Dee’s Diner, Hometown Mobil, Batchelder Sales, Salmon Falls Café, Lebanon Town Hall, Lees Floral Garden and both the fire and rescue stations.

Toys will be distributed from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the fire station at 3 Upper Cross Road.

For more details, go to lebanonmefire.org or call 457-3922.

KENNEBUNK

Library children’s programs to resume after holiday

Kennebunk Free Library has announced a break in some of its children’s literacy programs during the holiday season.

Peek-a-Book Babies, Family Storytime and Time for 2’s & 3’s, which usually meets Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, will resume regular sessions Jan. 5.

For more details, call 985-2173, ext. 5, or go to KennebunkLibrary.org.

United Way wraps up annual campaign with awards

United Way of York County wrapped up its annual fundraising campaign recently with a celebration honoring the contributions of volunteers and donors.

This year’s campaign awards recognize the following companies for making ‘Great Things Happen When…”:

• “Small Business Leaders Get Involved,” presented to C.D. Armstrong of Deering Lumber.

• “Employees are Engaged Year Round,” presented to Hannaford Supermarkets.

• “Organization and Enthusiasm Come Together,” presented to Missy Nadeau, Kim LaChance and the team at Southern Maine Health Care.

• “Organization and Enthusiasm Come Together,” presented to Sheryl Rothstein and the team at Hussey Seating Company.

• “Support and Energy Grows,” presented to Fiber Materials.

• “Our Community Partners Together,” presented to Steve Connolly and the team at Maine School Administrative District 60.

Biddeford Savings, Kennebunk Savings, Saco & Biddeford Savings and Sanford Institution for Savings were presented an award for their creativity to increase employee participation in their workplace campaign.

The campaign award presentation wrapped up with the recognition of Michele Carll, campaign coordinator at Pratt & Whitney, and Terri Jalbert, campaign coordinator at Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution (SBSI), for their work with the campaign. Both long-serving coordinators will be retiring next summer.

The third annual York County Spirit of Service award was presented to Amy Roy for her commitment and dedication to hungry residents of York County. Through Amy’s partnerships with the community and area schools, she has collected thousands of pounds of food through food drives. With this award, Roy received $500 from the Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation to contribute to the nonprofit or charitable organization of her choice.

To learn more about United Way of York County, go to buildcommunity.org or call 985-3359.

WATERBORO

Historical Society selling Town House ornaments

The Waterborough Historical Society is now selling its newest in a line of holiday keepsake ornaments, a 2014 pewter likeness of the 1834 Waterboro Town House.

This is the eighth in a series of Christmas ornaments portraying historic Waterboro buildings.

The decorations are available for $10 each and are available at the Town Hall at 24 Townhouse Road.

For more information, call Jim Carll at 247-5878.

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