Habitat York County salutes Hancock Lumber

Habitat for Humanity of York County announced April 7 that the Miles Freeman Business Award for Service has been presented to Hancock Lumber. The award, named for Habitat for Humanity York County’s founder, Miles Freeman, honors a business that embodies Freeman’s passion and commitment to serving York County families through safe and affordable housing.

Courtesy photo

Hancock Lumber is donating all the building materials for the Saco home. Each Habitat for Humanity project is truly a community undertaking, and is a culmination of support from individual donors, volunteers, foundations, local businesses and more.

“We are grateful to Hancock Lumber for being our partner in our Saco build,” said Habitat for Humanity York County Executive Director Amy Nucci in an email, “This gift is even more significant in the current pandemic environment where the cost of building materials has soared, and the availability is unpredictable. Thanks to Hancock Lumber’s support, this project is progressing quickly, and we hope to have the homeowner in come early summer.”

Community sponsorships will provide the financial support for this project’s remaining expenses, which include permits, land development, and licensed tradespersons such as electricians, plumbers, excavators, etc.

York County Audubon presents ‘Decades of Change in Maine’s Birds’

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Bird populations in Maine have changed and continue to do so. Just a few decades ago, birds such as the Northern cardinal, the Tufted titmouse, the Red-Bellied woodpecker and the Carolina wren were uncommon sightings here, if seen at all. Birds such as the Eastern bluebird were much fewer in number. In 1949, Robert Palmer’s then definitive Maine Birds described the “Eastern” cardinal as “a very rare visitant,” with most sightings being “escaped captives.” As for the Tufted titmouse, he noted there was one specimen in the University of Maine collection from 1890, but no records since.

A Northern parula building a nest. Courtesy photo

Bird atlases are an essential tool for cataloging birds, and have been created for every U.S. state. From 1978-1983, birders created Maine’s first Breeding Bird Atlas, but it is now significantly out of date. Intensive work to create an updated second one is underway and 2021 marks the fourth year (of five) for this second Maine Bird Atlas. The project by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife documents the breeding and winter ranges of Maine’s birds.

On Tuesday, April 20 at 7 p.m., York County Audubon will present a Zoom program titled Decades of Change in Maine’s Birds. Presenter Doug Hitchcox is the outreach coordinator for the Maine Bird Atlas and staff naturalist for Maine Audubon.

Hitchcox will share an update on the project, focusing on what the goals are for the last two years and especially how residents can help. According to a York County Audubon email, “Data collected as part of this project will be invaluable in guiding future species status assessments, priority species’ needs, and identifying and conserving high value wildlife habitats. In order for it to be successful, we need the help of community scientists, like yourselves, to help fill in the gaps before this survey is over.”

York County Audubon will present the program online. It’s available free of charge, but advance registration is required. To register, visit yorkcountyaudubon.org, and click on the link. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the program.

First Parish spring auction is back

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After a year-long COVID-19 hiatus, the spring auction of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Kennebunk is resuming as an online auction. A collection of items and services has been assembled and will be available online.

There is real life kick-off and coffee 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 17 on the church lawn in Kennebunk, next to Kennebunk Free Library. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. The auction will take place online from April 17 through May 6, with pick- ups on May 7-8, just in time for Mother’s Day on May 9.

For the auction link, visit www.charityactions/uu-kennebunk-auctionstoday.com/auctions/uu-

Kennebunk High School students earn accolades

The 2021 Maine Region Scholastic Art Awards ceremony was held virtually in March. Winners in the honorable mention category are Riley Coron (photography), Ian Jacobs (digital art), Danny Mereness (comic art), Caroline Van Hemel (photography), Lily Hansen (mixed media), Abby Lemieux (digital art), Hannah Slone (fashion) and Mae Richardson (ceramics & glass x 2).

Winners in the Silver Key category are Phebe Grant (photography), Elaina Hammond (photography x 2), Hope Hoffman (digital art, painting x 2), Abigail Larrabee (digital art), Elaina Rioux (drawing & illustration) and Hannah Slone (fashion & photography).

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The Gold Key award winner is Brianna (Nines) Flanders in digital art.

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Pictured are members in the Kennebunk High School Tri-M Musical Honor Society. To be chosen for the organization, each student must display the important traits of character, service, leadership and academic scholarship.

After the recent induction ceremony, members include Virginia Crimp, Amelia Duca, Olivia Durham, Sophia Esch, Finley Fairfield, Mary Hauser, Sophia Hines, Ethan Kahn, Aiden MacLeod, Owen Marquez, Sam Marquis, Lily McGovern, Alex Miale, Curtin Morgan, Ainsley Morrison, Elizabeth Morrison, Birdie Nelson, Maggie Nelson, Adora Olise and Kylie Parsons.

BlixxHorses plans birthday celebration

BlixxHorses of West Kennebunk will host a 21st birthday party for one of its horses, Lexxie, on Friday, April 23. The party will feature six outdoor seating areas arranged in six-person pods. Reservations should be made in advance. The event is scheduled for 2 to 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.blixxhorses.org.

Guests should expect a party atmosphere (for horses) and those 12 and under are encouraged to dress up or dress down. In light of the pandemic, guests should bring treats for their own pod or try BlixxHorses’s traditional carrot and side cake.

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The event will follow CDC guidelines, including masks in the barn, distancing and sanitizing prior to touching horses.

A happy-birthday path walk and visit with the horses Lexxie and Fritz is planned. Donations will be accepted. For more information, visit www.blixxhorses.org.

KENNEBUNK, Maine – April 6, 2021 –

 

The Community Veterinary Clinic at the Animal Welfare Society will host is a free rabies vaccine clinic 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24 at its facility on Holland Road in Kennebunk.

Rabies vaccinations will be available to dogs 12 weeks or older and will be administered by veterinarians from the AWS Clinic. The clinic is a full-service veterinary clinic offering office visits, surgeries, diagnostics and more. The clinic serves both the resident pet population at AWS and the general public, seeing more than 8,000 animals a year.

For most services, the clinic offers a tiered pricing system, with reduced costs available to pet owners who are income qualified. There are no income qualifications for this vaccination clinic and vaccines are provided free of charge. Donations are encouraged.

“We are pleased to be a resource for our community,” said Jessica Talbot, clinic manager, in a news release. “This clinic is open to all dog owners in our area to receive a one- or three-year rabies vaccination for their canine companions. We remind pet owners to be sure their dog has a collar and is leashed when arriving at AWS on the day of the clinic.”

An RSVP is not required, but encouraged. To register, visit https://animalwelfaresociety.org/event/rabies-clinic/.

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