Middle school students in faith formation classes at Holy Spirit Parish (St. Martha Church in Kennebunk and St. Mary Church in Wells) will collect and provide necessary items for a group in need.

The Holy Spirit Parish Middle School Outreach Project is underway, with the students collecting items (through March 6) to assemble care kits for the homeless in their communities.

“Care kits are gallon-sized to-go bags filled with basic necessities that can be distributed to people who need them on the street, at homeless shelters, and at soup kitchens,” said Carolyn Houston, director of faith formation at the parish, in a Feb. 15 news release.

Community members and parishioners are being asked to bring new and unopened items to St. Martha or St. Mary and place them in the large collection baskets located in the narthex (lobby area) of both churches.

“My hope for these fantastic students is that their experience plants within them a deep desire to always be involved in service,” said Houston. “Projects like these teach them how to be the body of Christ and how to see Christ in others and allow them to mature spiritually and grow closer to Jesus.”

The items in most need are:

Men’s and women’s regular socks
Men’s and women’s deodorant
Soap (individually packaged)
Toothbrushes (individually packaged)
Toothpaste
Travel-size Band-Aids, wipes, hand sanitizer, lotion, and tissues
Lip balm
Granola bars and fruit snacks (individually packaged)
Feminine hygiene products (individually wrapped)

$5 gift cards to Dunkin,’ McDonald’s or Wendy’s (gift cards should be placed in an envelope labeled “Faith Formation” and dropped in the collection basket or dropped off at the parish or faith formation offices; envelopes can be slid under the office doors if the office isn’t open).

For more information about the project or ways in which to assist, call the parish at 207-646-5605 or 207-985-6252.

Journalism scholarships available for Maine students

Maine students interested in careers in journalism are invited to apply for post-secondary scholarships from the Guy P. Gannett Journalism Scholarship Fund at the Maine Community Foundation.

The scholarship honors businessman and entrepreneur Guy P. Gannett, who launched his newspaper career in 1921 with the purchase of two newspapers he merged into the Portland Press Herald. By 1998 when the family sold Guy Gannett Communications, its media reach spanned several states with three daily newspapers in Maine and seven television stations.

Gannett’s granddaughter Maddy Corson and her uncle John Gannett established the Guy P. Gannett Scholarship Fund in 2000 to pay tuition and expenses for Maine students who dream of careers in journalism. Since then, the initial $3 million scholarship fund – Maine Community Foundation’s largest – has helped educate nearly 150 students with more than $3.8 million in support. In 2021, 16 students were awarded $332,000 in scholarship support.

The Gannett Scholarship provides renewable support for students majoring in journalism or a field reasonably related, including print, broadcast or electronic media. The fund helps pay the cost of attendance to attend an undergraduate, graduate, trade or technical school.

Applicants must be graduates of Maine high schools or have been home-schooled in Maine during their last year of secondary education. Students are chosen based on demonstrated interest in journalism through their choice of coursework and extracurricular activities, as well as financial need and academic achievement. The application deadline is April 1, 2022. Apply online at www.mainecf.org. For more information about the Gannett Scholarship, visit https://www.mainecf.org/find-a-scholarship/available-scholarships/guy-p-gannett-scholarship-fund, and hear from past Gannett scholars at https://www.mainecf.org/2020/11/maines-eyes-on-the-world/.

Maine Community Foundation is headquartered in Ellsworth, with additional personnel in Portland, Dover-Foxcroft, Rockport and Mars Hill. For more information about the foundation, visit www.mainecf.org.

Library announces featured artist

Kennebunk Free Library announced its next Speers Gallery exhibit, Watercolors, by Bob Lown, opening March 5. The exhibit features watercolor paintings of local architecture, beaches, parks and scenery of the greater Kennebunk area.

The public is invited to attend an artist reception on Saturday, March 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Speers Gallery.

Lown has been painting since 1960. In his younger years, when his time was filled with job and family, his painting had to be tucked in between other priorities. Upon retirement in 1995, he was able to paint more regularly.

Though mostly self-taught, Bob has been able to take courses from various artists while on vacation and in retirement. Some memorable teachers were George Shedd, Carlton Plummer, Phoebe Flory, Russell Whitten, Carl Schmaltz and Dewitt Hardy.

Lown is an active member of Art Guild of The Kennebunks and has exhibited several times before at Kennebunk Free Library.

The public is invited to view the exhibit in the library’s Speers Gallery from March 5-31. The library is located at 112 Main St., Kennebunk. The exhibit will be available for viewing during regular library hours when the gallery is not in use for library programs. For library hours and gallery access, visit www.kennebunklibrary.org.

Resident named to Norwich dean’s list

Tobias Mouser Macedo, of Kennebunk, was recognized on the dean’s list at Norwich University for the fall 2021 semester.

Kennebunk Land Trust announces new executive director

The board of directors of Kennebunk Land Trust announced in a Feb. 28 news release that Sandy Gilbreath has been appointed executive director.

“We are beyond thrilled to have Sandy joining our organization,” said Lori Beath, board chair for land trust, in an email. “She brings with her immense knowledge of conservation, passion for protecting vulnerable spaces, and we look forward to partnering with her as Kennebunk Land Trust celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.”

Prior to joining Kennebunk Land Trust, Gilbreath worked with the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission where she led projects related to climate action, environmental sustainability, and long-range planning and goal setting to benefit local communities. According to the news release, “Sandy also brings with her a strong environmental conservation ethic, a passion to create engagement opportunities for those in the community, and skills to bring people together around commonly held values to ensure all voices are heard.”

“I am honored to have been selected to lead the Kennebunk Land Trust and look forward to working with the board of directors, staff, and volunteers to support our mission of protecting significant natural spaces in the Kennebunk area,” wrote Gilbreath in an email. “As a member of this community, I know first-hand the impact protected and accessible land can have, and I am eager to build upon the success Kennebunk Land Trust has had so that we can continue to be a community leader in the protection of important land and wildlife habitats in the area.”

Gilbreath is a dual alumna of the University of Southern Maine, having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy and a master’s degree in policy, planning, and management with a focus on food systems planning from the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service.

She has spent considerable time as an environmental educator – working on Maine farms, tide pools, and marshes, during winter in the Rocky Mountains, and in rivers in the Appalachian Mountains. Gilbreath was also an adjunct professor in the food studies program at the University of Southern Maine.

“We received numerous applications for this position,” said Beth Sandmire, former board chair and interim executive director. “Sandy stood out amongst all of our applicants, and we are excited about what the land trust can accomplish with her at the helm, especially as we look ahead at our next 50 years.”

Having recently moved to the area, Gilbreath lives in Arundel with her partner and will join the land trust beginning March 21.

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