STATEWIDE

Sophomore’s novel on loss earns national accolade

Liam Swift of Casco Bay High School is a recipient of an Alliance for Young Artists & Writers award for his novel "The Sky At 5 A.M." His entry was among 330,000 works of art or writing submitted this year at the regional level. Photo courtesy of Sheila McKinley

Casco Bay High School sophomore Liam Swift is a recipient of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Award for novel writing.

Swift, of Portland, wrote his novel, “The Sky At 5 A.M,” during his year enrolled in The Telling Room’s Young Emerging Author’s program. The story is a realistic fiction novel that explores loss, relationships, family and finding oneself.

The nonprofit Alliance is the nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative teens in grades 7 through 12, who compete for the awards in 29 categories, including poetry, photography, sculpture, humor, editorial cartoons and video game design. A record-breaking 330,000 works of art and writing were submitted for adjudication at the regional level this year, with less than 1 percent of those submissions receiving a medal.

Other Maine student award recipients and their winning categories include: Taylor Worthington, Grade 12, Brunswick High School, painting; Grace Roberts, Cape Elizabeth High School, Grade 11, personal essay/memoir; Bennet Hight, Grade 12, Freeport High School, art portfolio; Corey Boynton, Grade 12, Gardiner Area High School, film and animation; Lizzy Lemieux, Grade 12, Gorham High School, short story, poetry, and writing portfolio; Lizzie Dunn, Grade 10, Houlton High School, drawing and illustration; Elana Fortin, Grade 12, Wells High School, photography; Ben Knight, Grade 12, York High School, photography; and, from Hebron Academy, Eli Clein, Grade 12, photography; Haohan Tang, Grade 12, architecture and industrial design; and Alaina Boris, Grade 8, painting.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH

Library will forgive some patrons’ outstanding fines

Libby Memorial Library will offer a fine-forgiveness period through April 18 for individuals who bring in their late materials, along with a donation of new pet supplies to benefit the Old Orchard Beach Community Animal Watch.

The library is at 27 Staples St.

For more details, call 934-4351.

AUGUSTA

Grant will help Monhegan museum preserve archives

The Monhegan Museum of Art and History will receive a $1,000 Historical Records Collections Grant to help preserve and provide better access to its historical collections.

The program is administered by the Maine Historical Records Advisory Board, with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The grant program is coordinated in Maine by the State Archives.

A recent report to the Maine Legislature indicates that many of Maine’s historical collections such as photographs, paintings, natural history collections, and letters are in danger of being lost to fire, theft, mold, or misuse.

According to Maine State Archivist David Cheever, Maine has an estimated 200 million such records, many in facilities with little or no security, fire protection, or environmental controls.

“Grants such as this support community efforts to protect the stories of our birth, property rights, government, and how we lived our lives,” Cheever said. “People need to document their birth or naturalization to obtain a passport or to get medical care; others research their property boundaries; some seek long-lost relatives or to understand the history of the old mill down the road. Without these precious records, most questions like this would remain unanswered.”

The $1,000 grant is matched through funding both from the Monhegan Plantation and Monhegan Museum of Art and History.

For more details, call the Maine State Archives at 287-5790.

ROCKLAND

Silent auction to help fund police officer’s bicycle trip

A Funds for the Fallen benefit will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Trackside Station, 4 Union St. The event aims to raise funds for Rockland Police Officer John Bagley, who will represent his community and the state during the Police Unity Tour on May 9 through 12.

The fundraiser will feature a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and music by DJ Wallace. Trackside Station will donate $1 from every draft beer sold during the event in a “Hops for Cops” beer special.

Bagley and five other officers from Maine will trek on bicycle from southern New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, while also raising funds for a National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial and Museum.

Bagley must raise a minimum of $1,850 to participate in the tour. The money raised goes to the National Law enforcement Officer’s Memorial, and a small portion goes to the operating costs of the tour itself.

For dinner reservations, call Trackside at 594-7500.

LEWISTON

Bank puts $10,000 toward youth financial education

Northeast Bank has donated $10,000 to support Junior Achievement of Maine. This donation will help support two major fundraising initiatives: the Titan Challenge and Maine Business Hall of Fame Gala – as well as JA programming throughout the state.

In addition, Northeast Bank will increase volunteerism with the organization, including participation in financial literacy events at local schools.

Junior Achievement of Maine partners with local schools and businesses to provide financial education for all students, from elementary to high school. Through a wide array of programs, including JA in a Day, and the Titan Challenge, communities can better prepare youths for a financially stable future.

AUGUSTA

Lawmakers will honor Maine’s scouts, volunteers

The Maine State Legislature will host a Scout Recognition Day on Tuesday to honor youths and volunteers involved in Maine’s scouting programs as well as to offer a variety of scouting activities throughout the day.

Scouts and their families are invited to set up display items in the Hall of Flags, meet with local legislators, serve as pages in the House and Senate, lead the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the national anthem, lead the opening prayer, tour the Maine State Museum and the State House, and have the opportunity to earn a Citizenship and Nation Badge.

The Hall of Flags will feature presentations by and for Eagle Scout projects and Gold Award recipients, as well as information about scout camps and other programs.

For more details, email Pine Tree & Katahdin Council of Boy Scouts-Chuck: cmahaleris@gmail.com or call 400-9850.

For the Girl Scouts of Maine, email Patti at pmontana@gsmaine.org or call 989-7474.

Education group recognizes Atwood principal’s efforts

The Maine Principals’ Association has named Atwood Primary School Principal Jennifer McGee as Maine’s NAESP National Distinguished Principal for 2017. She will be honored by the MPA at its annual awards banquet during the MPA Spring Conference on April 27.

McGee received the award based on her accomplishments as a strong educational leader; her ability to balance leadership and management duties, and involvement of parents and community members to best support student achievement; as well as her ability to cultivate, monitor, and advance a positive climate in her building.

McGee has served as principal of Atwood Primary School since 2009. Prior to this she was the principal of Belgrade Central School and Lawrence Junior/Senior High School, where she also served as an assistant principal. McGee is a member of the MPA and National Association for Elementary School Principals.

SANFORD

York County cancer center gets $500 gift from bank

SIS Bank has donated $500 to the Cancer Care Center of York County as part of the bank’s employee donation program.

Through the program, SIS President and CEO Mark T. Mickeriz selects an employee at random, who is then given the honor of picking a local nonprofit to receive the $500 gift. The initiative’s one-year anniversary is in April, but the staff member receiving the opportunity for March was Julie Lovely-Towle, a customer service representative at the SIS main office in Sanford.

Lovely-Towle chose the Cancer Care Center of York County because she wanted to aid an organization that assists cancer patients.

BRUNSWICK

Graduation ceremony held for new Maine firefighters

Twenty-six Maine firefighters have completed rigorous training and graduated from the Maine Fire Service Institute’s Officer Academy to prepare them for leadership roles at fire departments across the state.

A graduation ceremony was held March 18 at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast.

The Maine Fire Service Institute provides training and education services to Maine’s firefighters.

The weeklong academy focused on legal issues, budgeting, media relations, conflict resolution and other topics that are part of the job for chiefs and other fire officials.

Those who complete the academy meet the training requirements for national fire officer certification through the Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System, also known as Pro Board.

Graduates from this year’s Officer Training Academy came from fire departments in Bar Harbor, Biddeford, Caribou, Durham, Gardiner, Presque Isle, Rockland, Saco, Sanford, Waterville and Winslow.

Participants in this year’s Maine State Fire Institute Officer Academy include: Jon Zumwalt and John Sanders of Bar Harbor Fire Rescue; Jason Crocker, David Dutremble, Matthew Leach and Timothy Sevigny, all of Biddeford Fire Rescue; Lon Cyr, Scott Dow and Scott Jackson, all of Caribou Fire Ambulance; Adam Salve of Durham Fire Rescue; Joshua Johnson and Joshua Webb of Gardiner Fire Rescue; Zachary Apgar, Corey Pelletier and Donald Pelletier, all of Old Orchard Fire Rescue; Kyle Bartley of Presque Isle Fire Rescue; Carl Anderson, Ruston Barnard, Jr., and Patrick Lowe, all of Rockland Fire Rescue; Frank Lee and Marc Martin of Saco Fire Rescue; Joseph Stefano of Sanford Fire Rescue; Braxton Campbell and Michael Cole of Waterville Fire Rescue; and Adam Burgess and Waylon Capp of Winslow Fire Rescue.

GRAY

Donation will go toward science, math education

The Norway Savings Bank’s “Pocket Change for Patriots” program has presented a check for $500 to engage students in science, technology, engineering and math programs.

MSAD 15 teachers and staff plan to use the funds to purchase kits providing students with a hands-on approach to learning.

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