ELLSWORTH & PORTLAND

Fund awards over $79,000 to programs for youths

The Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund of the Maine Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $79,000 to nonprofit programs in Greater Portland that support children ages birth to 8 and youth leadership for students through high school.

Grants of up to $10,000 were awarded to 16 organizations, including: $10,000 to YMCA of Southern Maine to support early learning readiness for underserved families; $8,000 to the Multilingual and Multicultural Center of Portland Public Schools for the Make It Happen program to help multicultural students build strong academic profiles through extended learning; and $3,500 to Maine Boys to Men to support Boot Camp for New Dads and Fatherhood and True Strength workshops.

The next proposal deadline is Oct 15. The application, guidelines and a list of 2016 grants can be found at www.mainecf.org. For more information about the fund, contact Stephanie Eglinton, MaineCF senior program officer, at 761-2440 or seglinton@mainecf.org.

LEWISTON/AUBURN

Good Food Council welcomes 6 new members this month

The Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn announced six new members this month bringing its 2017 ranks to 21.

The incoming members represent a wide range of community food system stakeholders including both new and longstanding retail and wholesale local farm businesses, the state’s largest emergency food provider, a cooperative business development organization, and a Healthy Maine Partnership organization, in addition to numerous personal and professional networks.

New members are: Maggie Maiorana, 4 Season Farm Market; Kim Finnerty, Whiting Farm; Jonah Fertig, Cooperative Development Institute and Celebration Tree Farm & Yoga; Betsy Bullard, Brigeen Farms Inc.; Chris Manson, Good Shepherd Food Bank; and Missy North-Drain, Healthy Androscoggin.

RAYMOND

Independent Living Council honors retired HUD manager

The Maine Statewide Independent Living Council recently honored Maureen Brown for her service to the Maine SILC and to Maine.

Brown retired from her role as HUD Programs manager at Maine State Housing Authority in January.

She was instrumental in supporting independent living choices for Maine people with disabilities and she focused on housing options as a SILC member.

Brown recently worked with other council members to draft the current three-year Maine State Plan for Independent Living. To view the 2017-19 plan, go to: http://bit.ly/2kFon7Q.

The Maine SILC seeks to ensure that citizens with disabilities have control over their lives and environments with equal access to options, opportunities and choices as do all citizens. To learn more about Maine SILC, go to: www.mainesilc.org.

BIDDEFORD

High school inducts 8 into Hall of Honor for 2016

Biddeford High School inducted eight alumni into the class of 2016 at its fourth annual Hall of Honor ceremony held recently.

Those chosen this year are: Nicole Binnette (Passeggio) ’98, Jennifer Dutremble ’06, Guy Garon ’59, Lloyd LaFountain ’49, Aimee Mortensen (Price) ’09, Robert Parisien ’99, Kay Saucier (Peace) ’60, and Alfred Waterhouse.

Family and friends attended a reception before the induction ceremony which was later emceed by WCSH Channel 6 news anchor Katie Bavoso. Parisien addressed the crowd on behalf of the class.

Nominations for the class of 2017 are being accepted until Oct. 31. Applications are available on the Biddeford School Department website: biddefordschooldepartment.org or by calling the superintendent’s office at 282-8280.