BIDDEFORD/PORTLAND

Girl Scouts provide boxes of gifts for young patients

Forty pediatric patients at Southern Maine Health Care and Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital each will receive a Jared Box compliments of Girl Scout Troop No. 1999 of Hollis.

The Jared Box Project was founded in 2001 by the parents of a young cancer patient who noticed that not all children had toys to play with during their hospital stays. Each plastic box is filled with gender and age appropriate gifts, toys and games.

Troop 1999 chose the project as part of its service to earn a Bronze Award, the highest community service award a junior level Girl Scout can earn.

Troop leader Michelle Prejean noted, “The four girls … planned distribution, budget per box, comparison shopped online for the shoe boxes and quality of toys to fit the budget, formed a production line and delivered them.”

The Scouts also provided toiletries for children and parents who had to be at the hospital for unplanned long stays. The boxes were made possible thanks to additional donations by Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution and the Biddeford Saco Rotary Club.

HALLOWELL

Singing for those at end of life is conference focus

Oct. 12 is the deadline to register for the conference Singing for Those at the End of Life to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 24 at Maple Hill Farm Conference Center.

Harbour Singers is sponsoring the conference that will offer an in-depth look at ways to establish or nurture a bedside singing group to comfort and support the ill and dying through song.

Cost of the workshop is $30. This price includes a light morning snack, light lunch, music and conference literature.

Attendees should make checks payable to UUCSB and mail them to 60 School St., Saco 04072, attn: Harbour Singers. For more information, call 286-7678 or email harboursingers@maine.rr.com.

BIDDEFORD

Navy senior chief retires after distinguished service

Navy Senior Chief Gregory J. Semo is retiring after 24 years of military service.

A Biddeford native and a 1989 graduate of Biddeford High School, Semo enlisted in the Navy in 1991 and re-enlisted five times, serving on board the USS Acadia, where he was deployed to the western Pacific and Persian Gulf; the USS Theodore Roosevelt, deployed to the Persian Gulf for operations in Iraq and Bosnia; the USS Kitty Hawk, deployed to the northern Sea of Japan; and the USS Nimitz and USS John C. Stennis.

Semo graduated from Aviation Mechanic Structures “A” School in Millington, Tenn., in 1993.

Semo also served with the Navy’s Blue Angels. In 1999, he played a crucial role in establishing the Navy’s first F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Squadron.

In 2005, Semo was named squadron Sailor of the Year and Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Fleet Sea Sailor of the Year.

Semo has been awarded many medals and ribbons over his military career.

He is married to Jeannie Semo, his wife of 17 years, and has two daughters, Taylor and Kiley.

SOUTH BERWICK

School’s new solar power to produce clean energy

Berwick Academy has installed a 144-panel photovoltaic array solar energy system on the roof of the Athletic Center through local renewable energy professionals ReVision Energy.

Installation funds were donated by local company Black Dog Car Wash.

The solar power system will produce an estimated 43,920 kwh of clean energy annually and offset an estimated 66,767 pounds of carbon pollution each year. The system is being financed through a power purchase agreement, in which ReVision Energy owns the solar energy system and then sells the energy it produces to Berwick Academy at a reduced rate.

After six years, Berwick Academy has the option of purchasing the system at the fair market value and then would receive all the energy the system produces for free. For more details, call Tracey Boucher at 384-6308 or email tracey.boucher@berwickacademy.org.

BRIDGTON

Golf tournament raises $35,000 for hospital project

A 25th anniversary Bridgton Hospital Golf Tournament, held Sept. 2, raised nearly $35,000 to benefit the hospital’s Emergency Department Renovation Project.

This major project will provide increased capacity in the waiting room and enhanced aesthetics for patients and their families. To view a slideshow of photos from the event, or to learn more, go to bridgtonhospital.org or call 647-6055.

LISBON

Contest seeks ideas for Moxie fest theme

The Moxie Festival Committee is soliciting entries for next year’s theme. This year’s theme was “Celebrate Moxie the Maine Way.”

All themes must contain the word “Moxie.”

Entries will be judged by the degree to which the judges believe the entry will inspire creative parade floats, T-shirts and other gear, as well as the spirit of Moxie soft drink.

There is a limit of one entry per person. Submissions should be mailed to Lisbon Town Office, attn: Moxie Festival Theme Contest, 300 Lisbon St., Lisbon 04250, or emailed to coordinator@moxiefestival.com with “Moxie Theme Contest” in the subject line. The deadline is Oct. 14.

The winner will be announced on Oct. 31 and will receive a prize basket of Moxie goodies and gear.

Contest rules can be found at moxifestival.com.

POLAND

Androscoggin Pomona installs new officers

The Androscoggin Pomona Grange No. 1 has installed the following new officers to serve during 2015-16: Steven Haycock, president; Sharon Castonguay, vice president; Kathy Lorrain, lecturer; Norma Meserve, steward; Maynard Chapman and Gladys Chapman, assistant stewards; Betty Young, chaplain; Shirley Hatch, treasurer; Sue Verrill, secretary; Kim Verrill, gatekeeper; Linda Sherman, Ceres; Cynthia Maxwell, Pomona; Glenys Ryder, Flora; Millie Parsons and Wayne Sherman, executive committee; and Louise Roberts, pianist.

BELFAST

Cornerspring teacher gains Montessori certification

Cornerspring Montessori School recognized teacher Amanda Fogg, who recently completed her Montessori training through Northeast Montessori Institute.

Fogg received an associate early childhood certification from the American Montessori Society. She also holds an associate of science degree in early childhood education from Beal College.

Fogg has worked for Cornerspring Montessori School since 2013 as an assistant teacher in preschool classrooms. This year she is assisting in both the preschool and kindergarten classrooms.

For more details, go to cornerspringmontessori.com.