Briefs

AUGUSTA
Chamber of Commerce awarded funds to support tourism
Kennebec Valley Tourism Council (KVTC) has awarded sponsorship support funds in the amount of $1,662.50 to Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce for the Taste of Waterville to assist in the growth of tourism in Maine’s Kennebec Valley and produce a positive economic impact on the region.
Mid-Maine Chamber was one of 12 sponsorship recipients awarded as part of the 2021 KVTC marketing partnership program. In total, the 2021 KVTC sponsorship support application requests reached nearly $29,100. The organization was unable to fully fund all regional sponsorship requests to its members this year. However, with the help of Brookfield Renewable U.S., KVTC was able to fund $19,351.50. KVTC is excited to award sponsorships to local organizations who are helping KVTC promote the Kennebec Valley region as a destination place with their own marketing initiatives.
Mid-Maine Chamber President & CEO Kimberly Lindlof said she appreciates the support of the KVTC, adding, “This grant will assist in allowing us to continue the long tradition of the Taste of Waterville event and to further growth of tourism in the central Maine region. The Taste draws large numbers of residents and visitors, showcasing the rich diversity of the area through a variety of food, demonstrations, and entertainment. This year’s event will take place at Head of Falls and will focus on ethnic culture and cuisine in an adult-focused format.”

Maine DOE honors CTE Students of the Year
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) and the Maine Administrators of Career and Technical Education (MACTE) announced its 2020/2021 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Students of the Year.
Maine’s CTE sites and centers recognize an outstanding graduating senior annually. Students who are recognized participate in one of a multitude of CTE programs in regions across Maine including electrical, culinary arts, multimedia, heavy equipment operations, advanced communications, certified nursing programs, early childhood education, law enforcement, building trades, agriculture, and plumbing and heating, to name a few. Many of these students are graduating high school with college credits and/or certifications that will allow them to begin working immediately, while others have obtained advanced training and experience that will enable them to make informed choices about their future career path and education journey.
The 2021 CTE Students of the Year include: Nathan Crossley, Electricity program, Bath Regional Career and Technical Center; Matthew Laflamme, Business Leadership program, Biddeford Regional Center of Technology; Everett Blair, Law Enforcement program, Capital Area Technical Center, Augusta; Brendan Blackstone Agriculture & Welding programs, Caribou Regional Technology Center; Dymond Dake, Welding program, Coastal Washington County Institute of Technology, Machias; Elaine Perkins, Early Childhood Education, Croix Regional Technical Center, Calais;
Haley Walsh, CNA & Biotechnology Foster Technology Center, Farmington; Bryce Carter, Biomedical Science program, Hancock County Technical Center, Ellsworth; Omar Elalam, Advanced Computer Technologies II program, Lake Region Vocational Center, Naples; Colin Merritt, plumbing & heating, Lewiston Regional Technical Center; Wyatt Shepard, Building Trades program, Maine Region Ten Technical High School, Brunswick; Emily Miller, Design/Technology program, Mid-Coast School of Technology, Rockland; Paige Dudley, Outdoor Leadership program, Mid-Maine Technical Center, Waterville; Alexis Violette, Machine Tool and Business programs, M.S.A.D. 24, Van Buren; Katahdin Javner, Construction Technology, Information Technology, and Automotive Technology, Northern Penobscot Tech, Lincoln; Culiandra Nero, Graphic Design Oxford Hills Technical School, Norway; Christiana Rae Gannon (Anna), Carpentry program, Portland Arts and Technology High School; Brandon Dubie, Agriscience program, Presque Isle Regional Technology Center; Mary T Lombardi, Engineering & Architectural Design, Sanford Regional Technical Center; Jasmine Dixon, Building Construction, School of Applied Technology, Mexico; Emma Huntley, Early Childhood Education program, Somerset Career and Technical Center, Skowhegan; Alyssa Drake, Nursing program, Southern Aroostook County, Houlton; Anthony Pelletier, Allied Health Pathway, St. John Valley Technology Center, Frenchville; Ann Gerardi, Criminal Justice program, Tri-County Technical Center, Dexter; Mackenzie Stepp, Medical Assisting program, United Technologies Center, Bangor; and Daisy Bradney, Culinary Arts program, Waldo County Technical Center.

GORHAM
Parish fundraiser’s proceeds go to pregnant women
St. Anne Parish at Gorham is holding a fundraising bottle drive – of sorts – to benefit the Mother Seton House of Fryeburg.
Now through June, the parish is inviting community members to fill empty baby bottles with money, in the form of bills or change. All proceeds will be donated to Mother Seton House, a nonprofit home for pregnant women facing difficult circumstances. The organization offers education, counseling, and support to all women in need, regardless of race or religion.
“The most important thing we provide is a loving home, a safe haven for women as they prepare to give birth and nurture their newborns, a place of comfort and learning,” said Cyndi Broyer, director of Mother Seton House. “This safe, secure environment provides women with a chance to build confidence and acquire the skills needed to break the cycle of poverty.”
Each woman at the house is given a mentor to help her set goals and work toward achieving them.
“We help moms learn about cooking, nutrition, baby care, child development, budgeting, and housekeeping,” said Broyer. “Anything moms tells us they want to learn. It’s an honor and pleasure to walk them and watch them grow and succeed.”
Those who are able to participate in the baby bottle drive can pick one up before, during, or after Masses at St. Anne or by calling the parish office at 839-4857.

LISBON
High school senior wins Principal’s Award
Lisbon High School senior Emily Chapman has been selected to receive the 2021 Principal’s Award, sponsored by the Maine Principals’ Association and given in recognition of her academic excellence, outstanding school citizenship, and leadership.
“Throughout her years at Lisbon High School, Emily has exhibited the qualities we strive for all our students to display on a daily basis. She is a role model and leader within our school,” said Principal Susan Magee.
Chapman has been a part of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Key Club, Art Club, French Club, National Honor Society (NHS) and serves as class president.
“Emily is very deserving of this recognition and we congratulate her on a successful four years at our high school,” said Magee. “She will do great things in life.”

Waynflete students place first and second at 2021 Science Olympiad

PORTLAND
Waynflete places first, second at 2021 Science Olympiad
Waynflete Upper School teams took both first and second place at this year’s Maine State Science Olympiad tournament, held virtually in April.
Although the school normally places among the top three schools in Maine, this is the first time that Waynflete teams have earned the top two spots. Upper School students won a total of 10 first-place medals at the event.
The events included tests of content knowledge, the scientific process, and engineering. Winning students and competition themes included: Wright Stuff (airplane) – Maren Cooper ’23 and Reed Robinson ’23; Chemistry Lab – Selina He ’21 and Maren Cooper; Disease Detectives – Julia Werner ’22 and Blythe Thompson ’22; Forensics – Anna and Sam Yankee ’21; Gravity Vehicle – Henry Wagg ’22 and Henry Moore ’22; Sounds of Music – Aidan Kieffer ’21 and Joey Ansel-Mullen ’21; Detector Building – Jacob Curtis ’22 and Orion Keierleber ’23; Dynamic Planet – Cece Marshall ’22 and Vera Shattuck ’22; Ornithology – Oscar Herrera ’22 and Liam Slocomb ’22; and Water Quality – Levi Lilienthal ’21 and Charlie Horner ’23.
The teams were coached by science teachers Wendy Curtis and Carol Titterton.

Creative Portland awarded 2020 NEA Grant
Creative Portland (CP), the official arts agency for the City of Portland, in partnership with Greater Portland METRO and the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), was awarded a $25,000 matching grant by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as part of the national “Our Town” grant program focusing on creative placemaking. This is the second award from the NEA to CP in the past three years, to expand upon the Creative Bus Shelter Initiative, which hires local artists to create public art on bus shelters, to spotlight public transit, and to evoke a sense of community joy.
METRO’s involvement in the Creative Bus Shelter Initiative began in March 2017 when Greg Jordan, METRO’s executive director was approached by Creative Portland and GPCOG with a proposal to use bus stops as the canvas for public art. “The creative bus shelters installed along our bus routes last year have become a great source of pride for METRO and the City of Portland,” said Jordan. “We’re looking forward to working with Creative Portland and other local partners to install several more shelters that showcase Maine artists.”
METRO played a key role in the implementation of the first round of shelters, which feature artwork by Portlanders Ebenezer Akakpo, a Ghana native and MECA alum; Justin Levesque, a USM art alum; Pigeon, aka Orson Horchler, an immigrant from France; and Maine artist David Wilson, an immigrant from Scotland. All four shelters celebrate and address the diversity of the Portland landscape: economically, socially, or environmentally.
“The fact that my work is now part of the public transit system, feels like a major achievement to my practice,” said Pigeon. “As a street artist, I care deeply about shared spaces, accessibility, and dismantling the traditional venues for art presentation. So it feels very empowering to have my work now enmeshed in Portland’s public life.”
The second creative placemaking phase will include an expansion of the project, with additional artistic designs in multi-media proposals by local artists, selected by a curatorial committee representing Creative Portland, GP METRO, GPCOG, Portland Museum of Art, Indigo Arts Alliance, and an independent public art consultant. Partners involved in phase one of the initiative included Designtex, American Steel & Aluminum, and Portland Industrial Coatings, who contributed in-kind services, materials, and fabrication processes.
This is one of 63 grants nationwide that the NEA has approved in this category to support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes; ultimately laying the groundwork for sustainable systems change.
An open call will be released in July 2021 for new add-on shelter designs that encourage discourse on cross-cultural acceptance and our changing environments due to migration, climate change, and social movement. Selected artists will be notified in January 2022, with the new shelters installed by June 2023. Locations will be selected by CP’s project management team, and new sponsors will be solicited for each public art installation.
For more details, go to arts.gov/news.

Two parishes receive Matthew 25 awards, grants
Two Maine parishes are recipients of Matthew 25 Awards, which include grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. The awards, presented by Catholic Charities Maine’s Parish Social Ministry program, are given to parishes to assist in expanding their capacity to serve more people or to develop a new social ministry. The ministries receiving the awards must be directly serving vulnerable people in need, regardless of faith affiliation, and adhering to the principles of the Bible verse Matthew 25:35.
Good Shepherd Parish (Most Holy Trinity Church, Saco; St. Joseph Church, Biddeford; St. Margaret Church, Old Orchard Beach; St. Philip Church, Lyman; and St. Brendan Chapel, Biddeford Pool) has been awarded a grant of $5,000 for Esther Residence, a home in Saco for women who are leaving incarceration or a treatment program due to substance abuse. The residence is operated by the Good Shepherd Sisters (Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) in Biddeford and provides a safe, nurturing community. Women at the residence are homeless, often having been separated from their children. The residents are supported in working toward staying sober, finding full-time employment, attending counseling, and receiving adult education to enable them to transition to independence living so that they can reunite with their children.
The grant will allow for an increase in resident support and education related to parenting and family stressors, which include experiencing profound trauma like separation from children and recovery from substance abuse. Additional outside professional consultation on individual resident cases will be offered.
St. Joseph Parish in Farmington and St. Rose of Lima Parish in Jay have been awarded a $3,000 grant to support the parishes’ meal initiatives that serve thousands of local people in need each month. The St. Joseph Nutrition Center in Farmington feeds the hungry of Franklin County by preparing and serving takeout meals each week for those in need, providing a 24/7 “Blessing Box” outside of the building for people to come and take groceries, hosting educational events regarding proper nutrition and cooking techniques, and maintaining a walk-in food pantry inside the building.

Foundation distributes $1 million in grants
The John T. Gorman Foundation has awarded 71 grants, totaling $1 million, to provide food, shelter, and other essential services to Mainers in need through its 2021 Direct Services Grant Program. The Foundation increased funding to the annual program this year to reflect the incredible level of need throughout Maine during the pandemic.
The Foundation’s annual Direct Services Grant Program supports organizations that are addressing the basic needs of vulnerable Mainers. The largest numbers of grants this year went to organizations offering food assistance, addressing homelessness, and providing other supports to low-income families and individuals, such as clothing, household items, and heating and electrical assistance. Other areas of giving included support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, community transportation, immigrant services, and health care access.
A list of grantees include:
Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Brunswick received $24,600; Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project of Portland, Milestone Recovery of Portland, Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine of Portland, Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine at Brunswick, and Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, Bangor, received $25,000 each; Amistad of Portland, Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, Knox County Homeless Coalition of Rockland, Healthy Community Coalition of Farmington, Midcoast Community Alliance of Bath, Shaw House of Bangor, New Beginnings of Lewiston, Tedford Housing of Brunswick, and Twin Villages Foodbank Farm of Damariscotta, received $20,000 each; Area Interfaith Outreach of Rockland, Aroostook County Action Program of Presque Isle, Augusta Food Bank, Belfast Public Health Nursing Association of Rockland, Belfast Soup Kitchen, Boothbay Region Community Resource Council, Caring Unlimited of Sanford, Christine B. Foundation of Bangor, Community Compass of Ellsworth, Easterseals Maine of South Portland, Ellsworth Free Medical Clinic, Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church of Augusta, Healthy Acadia of Ellsworth, HOME of Orland, Homeless Services of Aroostook at Presque Isle, Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center of Bangor, Maine Inside Out of Portland, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program of Brunswick, OHI of Bangor, River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition of Rumford, Rockland District Nursing Association, Rural Community Action Ministry of Leeds, Safe Voices of Auburn, Somali Bantu Community Lewiston of Maine, Somerset Career & Technical Center of Skowhegan, The Progress Center of Oxford, The Root Cellar of Lewiston, Through These Doors of Portland, Trinity Jubilee Center of Lewiston, Waldo County Bounty of Unity, Western Maine Transportation Services of Auburn, York County Community Action Corp of Sanford, and York County Shelter Programs of Alfred received $15,000 each; Volunteers of America Northern New England, Brunswick received $14,500; Castine Community Partners of Castine, Community Food Matters of Norway, In Her Presence of Westbrook, Lake Region Senior Service of Bridgton, Lubec Community Outreach Center of Lubec, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition of Portland, Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter of Waterville, Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center of Biddeford, Shalom House of Portland, and Table of Plenty of Berwick received $10,000 each; Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine of Bangor received $9,000; Piscataquis Regional Food Center of Dover-Foxcroft received $7,000; Center for a Green Future (aka) Growing to Give of Brunswick, Friendship House of South Portland, Neighbors Driving Neighbors of Mt. Vernon, One Less Worry of Rockland, Union Street Brick Church of Bangor, Unitarian Universalist Association of Sanford, Veggies to Table of Newcastle and Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Charitable Trust of Windham received $5,000 each; Skidompha Library of Damariscotta received $2,500; and Regional School Unit 56 of Dixfield received $2,400.

SCARBOROUGH
High school senior wins Google scholarship competition
Scarborough High School senior Kelly Dodge is the Maine winner in the Doodle for Google Scholarship competition for her doodle, titled “Perseverance of Passions.”
Contestants in the nationwide competition were asked to create artwork depicting the theme “inner strength.” In her description, Dodge wrote: “During the pandemic, finding time and energy to do the things I love has been very challenging. This doodle represents me still having the strength to do what I’m passionate about in these tough times.”
Dodge now moves on the the national level of the contest, where she will compete against 53 other state/territory winners in the United States for a chance to win a $30,000 college scholarship, as well as a $50,000 worth of technology equipment benefitting the Scarborough school system.

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