BIDDEFORD

Auxiliary pays off pledge

Additional Images

Winners of the 2014 “Patriot’s Pen” essay contest include, from left, Wells Junior High School students Hailey Tostenson, Daisy Aromando and Delaney O’Brien. Wells High freshman Estelle Reardon, right, placed second in the “Voice of Democracy” contest.

Pearl Harbor survivor Robert Coles of Machias, center, recently visited Wells Junior High School students to talk about his experiences serving in the Navy and his memories of the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, when he was 17 and a witness to Japan’s sneak attack on the U.S. Navy base in Hawaii. Accompanying Coles was fellow veteran and friend Dennis Boyd of Cutler, far right.

Volunteers prepare for University of Southern Maine and Husson University nursing and physical therapy students’ trip to the Dominican Republic. Contributed photo

Southern Maine Health Care Auxiliary President Jennifer Paige and the auxiliary board of directors recently presented Edward McGeachey, SMHC president and CEO, a check for $45,000 to pay off the auxiliary’s $90,000 pledge in support of the hospital’s transition to private rooms.

Last year, SMHC began renovating most of its inpatient rooms to private rooms in an effort to help lower the risks of infection, as well as protect patient privacy during personal discussions between physicians, nurses, patients and patients’ families. Private rooms also allow for more relaxed healing without the noise and disturbances that sometimes come with a roommate and guests.

Each room is equipped with a comfortable visiting area and a day bed so loved ones can stay overnight. There will be no additional charge for a private room, and they will be provided as available. In addition, a mounted lift is being placed in each room to assist caregivers in the movement of patients and thereby prevent staff injuries.

SANFORD

SIS Bank supports shelter

SIS Bank has donated $1,000 to the York County Shelter Programs as part of its efforts to help people in need during the holiday season.

Based in Alfred, the program operates 23 houses for homeless individuals and families throughout southern Maine. The homes provide shelter, personal growth opportunities and connections with community resources, with a goal of ending homelessness.

The bank’s holiday donation will go directly to the food pantry.

PORTLAND

Students prepare for trip

University of Southern Maine and Husson University nursing and physical therapy students, along with their faculty, recently helped sort and pack medical supplies for their upcoming two-week international service learning trip to the Dominican Republic.

For over 20 years, Partners for Rural Health in the Dominican Republic, a Portland-based organization, has been working with Maine educational institutions to educate health profession students about rural health care in developing countries.

The group relies on donations for supplies and volunteer medical professionals, as well as interpreters, to educate students and provide basic health services to clients in the Dominican Republic. The group has worked with more than 20,000 people on their biannual trips since 1994.

This year, a grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation was used to buy the medical supplies. Students also participated in several fundraising events to help meet the costs of delivering basic health care services to rural Dominicans who would otherwise have little or no resources to meet their needs.

WELLS

Students honored for essays

The Wells-Ogunquit Community School District recently honored four students for their winning placement in the Veterans of Foreign Wars “Patriot’s Pen” youth essay contest, sponsored by VFW Post 6545 of Kennebunk.

Wells Junior High School students Daisy Aromando, Delaney O’Brien and Hailey Tostenson placed first through third, respectively, while Wells High School freshman Estelle Reardon placed second for an essay she submitted to the “Voice of Democracy” contest, the VFW’s high school version of the competition.

The girls were recognized during a schoolwide assembly that also honored military veterans.

Each year, this national creative writing contest provides students a central theme to ponder and write about. This year’s theme was “Why I Appreciate America’s Veterans.”

Essays are judged on how well students understand, develop and present the theme.

Wells High athlete honored

Wells High School senior Megan McDonald recently was named Athlete of the Month for October in recognition of her academics, sportsmanship and participation on the field hockey team as center midfielder.

Another factor in McDonald’s selection for the award was her nomination as one of three finalists for Western Maine Conference Field Hockey Player of the Year.

The school activities director Jack Molloy and Principal Jim Daly selected McDonald.

STATEWIDE

Bank supports nonprofits

The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded funds to several Maine nonprofits to help fund community outreach programs.

The Good Shepherd Food Bank, of Auburn, received $10,000 to support its Food Mobile Hunger Relief program, which holds nine food distribution events, to deliver about 60,000 pounds of nutritious food directly to needy families in the Auburn-Lewiston and Bangor areas.

Habitat for Humanity York County, an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, received $7,500 to continue funding home-building projects for low-income families in need of affordable housing.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine received $5,000 to support its Junior Staff Program, which provides approximately 60 teen and preteen members with job skills and work experience to prepare them for careers. Tri-County Literacy – a partnership merging Literacy Volunteers of Greater Bath and Lincoln County, Casco Bay Literacy chapter and Read With Me programs – received $3,000 to continue with its initiatives to serve the needs of adults and families.

LEBANON

Tree removal fundraiser

The Lebanon Fire Department is holding its Christmas tree removal program from Dec. 28 through Jan. 3 as a fundraiser for the department.

Participants may call Dan Meehan at 603-591-5877 and leave a name, address and phone number, and a volunteer will call back to make arrangements to remove the tree from the curbside of the home or business.

A donation of $5 per tree is suggested.

Firefighters will take the used trees to a safe location and burn them in a controlled environment as a training exercise on the use of forestry equipment.

Foundation honors student

Devon Bray, a 2013 graduate of Yarmouth High School and a sophomore at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was honored during a Kurt Giessler Foundation for Youth Achievement fundraiser, where he received an Ambition Grant to support his work for a PiPlanter plant growth automation system.

The foundation was established to support young people who have achieved or aspire to achieve excellence in science, art and the humanities.

The mission statement is to challenge children, to fund their projects and to reward them for success.

More information about Bray’s project can be found on his website, www.esologic.com.

The Kurt Giessler Foundation invites new candidates, ages 12 to 22, with self-directed educational projects that benefit the community and themselves to apply.

Applications are due Jan. 31.

For more details or an application go to www.kurtgiessler.com.

HIRAM

Library closing for holidays

Soldiers Memorial Library at 85 Main St. will close for the holidays Wednesday and Thursday and again Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Regular hours will resume Jan. 3.

Also, the Knotty Knitters book discussion and knitting club will display their handmade items in the library during regular hours through Tuesday for those looking for a last-minute gift.

Library hours are 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

For more details, call 625-4650.

WATERVILLE

Offices closing for holidays

The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and Central Maine Growth Council, both at 50 Elm St., will be closed Thursday and Friday.

Both will resume regular office hours at 9 a.m. Monday.

The offices also will close at 2 p.m. Dec. 31 and resume regular office hours at 9 a.m. Jan. 2.

DAMARISCOTTA

New skating rink liner set up

Recently, 25 volunteers were on hand to unroll and set up the new ice rink liner at the Damariscotta River Association’s Community Skating Rink at Round Top Farm.

Unwrapping the liner proved to be a daunting task and all available hands were needed to help align, smooth and secure the rink lining, with many fifth- and sixth-graders from the Great Salt Bay School pitching in.

Volunteer teams are being sought to help clear the ice when snow falls.

All that is needed for the rink to open is some extended below-freezing weather.

Once the rink is open, skating is free from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Rules posted at the rink must be observed.

The warming hut will be open on weekends.

For more details, call 563-1393, email dra@damariscottariver.org or go to www.damariscotta river.org.

SCARBOROUGH

Library closing for holidays

The Scarborough Public Library at 48 Gorham Road will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.

The library also will be closed Dec. 30 and 31 to complete annual inventory, and Jan. 1.

Weekly storytimes will resume Jan. 5.

Cardholders can access the library’s online catalog, download e-books and manage their accounts at www.scarborough library.org.

For more details, call 396-6279.

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