The Animal Welfare Society recently accepted a gift from Blaze Brewing Company of Biddeford. Meet York County, a local social media promoter, and Blaze collaborated on a limited release beer – Bark Cream Ale – to support AWS.

“Mike Nicholas from Meet York County approached us last year and asked us to collaborate on a beer to benefit AWS, and we were thrilled to be a part of it,” said Chris Paradis, Blaze sales director in an Aug. 23 press release. “This is our second summer releasing Bark for Woofstock at AWS, and we were blown away by the reception in the community. People were thrilled to have a light cream ale that helps all their favorite furry friends. We are looking forward to releasing it more regularly and to continue our support of AWS beyond the summer!”

According to Blaze, “(Bark) will be available for a very limited time and is a straight cream ale that is crisp, refreshing, and perfect for your weekend. It is for sale at area retailers and on tap at the brewery in Biddeford. The whimsical can features playful dogs at the beach, an homage to AWS’ work supporting pets and pet families here in southern Maine. In an average year, AWS cares for more than 10,000 pets and the people who love them.”

“We are thankful to the amazing entrepreneurs, right here in our community, who give to AWS,” said Abigail Smith, AWS executive director. “Meet York County did an excellent job getting this collaboration off the ground, and we are so grateful to Blaze Brewing for their generosity and obvious love for animals. And thank you to our community of beer lovers for purchasing Bark and supporting AWS.”

For more information, visit www.meetyorkcounty.com.

Planeteers schedule clothing drive

The Planeteers of Southern Maine, in collaboration with Helpsy, will host a clothing drive on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Used clothing, footwear, accessories, and other household textiles will be collected during this event held at the Kennebunk Transfer Station (Next to Treasure Chest) located at 36 Sea Road in Kennebunk. Collected clothing will be reused or recycled, keeping it out of the waste stream.

As a grassroots effort, the Planeteers of Southern Maine is a group of individuals dedicated to helping create a sustainable future for the planet by encouraging action on climate change, clean oceans, and other environmental issues at the local level.

“The Planeteers hope many will come through on Saturday, Sept. 17 to show their support for this initiative,” said Andrea Roth Kimmich, founding member of the Planeteers, in an email. “We are hoping to collect 15,000 pounds of clothing during this upcoming drive, surpassing the 7,000 pounds collected last September and 11,000 pounds collected in April. We are so grateful for the ongoing support received from the town and community. With ever increasing tons of textile goods being produced, we need more than ever to find ways to recycle them.”

“Helpsy’s mission is to keep clothes out of the trash,” said Dan Green, co-founder and CEO of Helpsy. “We are dedicated to changing the way people think about, dispose of, and buy second hand clothing in a world where more than 85 percent of clothes end up in the trash.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, textile waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the United States, occupying nearly 5 percent of all landfill space, which is why Helpsy is committed to working with organizations such as The Planeteers in order to give clothing the longest life possible.

Organizers request no late or early bird drop-offs. Planeteers will be on hand to direct traffic to parking and for drop-off. For more information, contact Andrea Roth Kimmich at someplaneteers@yahoo.com. For more information about the Planeteers visit https://someplaneteers.wixsite.com/someplaneteers. For more information about Helpsy, visit www.helpsy.co.

Baker Newman Noyes promotes Kennedy

Baker Newman Noyes announced seven senior-level promotions in its Portland office. The promotions highlight managers and senior managers in the firm’s tax, assurance and operations departments.

“Each of the individuals promoted this year have excelled in their roles as they support Baker Newman Noyes, their peers, our communities, and our valued clients,” said Managing Principal Dayton Benway in an Aug. 22 news release. “In continually changing circumstances across the accounting industry, these professionals have demonstrated continued excellence for our clients, our firm, and our community business partners. We congratulate them on this well-deserved achievement and look forward to great things from each of them in the years ahead.”

Among the promotions is Zoe Kennedy of Kennebunk.

Kennedy, CPA, was promoted to senior manager in the assurance practice. Since joining the firm in 2014, Kennedy has worked as an audit manager specializing in healthcare and nonprofit organizations. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance with a certificate in accounting from the University of Southern Maine, graduating magna cum laude.

The promotions were announced among 19 senior-level promotions across the firm’s Manchester, New Hampshire, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Woburn, Massachusetts, Boston and Portland offices.

Author to host presentation on Scottish prisoners in Colonial Maine

On Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m., Dr. Carol Gardner will deliver a talk at Kennebunk Free Library titled “Involuntary Americans: Scottish Prisoners in Early Colonial Maine,” discussing the more than 400 prisoners of war who were brought to Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts against their wills in 1650-1651.

Gardner is the author of a narrative history, “The Involuntary American: A Scottish Prisoner’s Journey to the New World.”

Gardner has more than 30 years of experience as a writer, journalist and communicator. She earned a Ph.D. in English from Johns Hopkins University, taught at Johns Hopkins, Wake Forest, and Florida State universities, and has published both fiction and nonfiction pieces in a variety of books and periodicals, including the World of Baseball, BluePlanet Quarterly, Northwest Review, Baltimore Review, Potomac Review, The Women’s Review of Books, Portland Press Herald, and The Washington Post. She is a past winner of a Maryland Individual Artists Award. She lives in Alna, Maine.

The program is free and wheelchair accessible. For more information, call 207-985-2173 or email kfl@kennebunklibrary.org.

Saint Michael’s field hockey introduces newcomers

Saint Michael’s College field hockey head coach Carla Hesler introduced the program’s six newcomers on Aug. 2. “We are very excited about this class of exceptional student-athletes joining the program,” said Hesler in the news release. “A mix of experience and youth representing all positions will offer a wide range of talent, maturity, intelligence and work ethic. … The coaching staff is extremely excited to welcome this group of young women who will no doubt blend with the present team and share in the core values and playing principles to achieve greatness this fall.”

Among the newcomers is Samantha McGrath of Kennebunk. McGrath is a Kennebunk High School graduate and plays midfielder/back. She played for the Coastal Field Hockey club team.

 

Newcomers and Neighbors meet on Sept. 8

The Newcomers and Neighbors Club of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel invites residents to meet new friends, enjoy, and learn from a presentation by featured guest Betsy Ross, certified and experienced sommelier, and owner of Wine House on Maine in Kennebunk.

Ross will share her expertise and knowledge of the connection between wine and where and how it is made on Thursday, Sept. 8. The meeting, held at the Community House in Kennebunkport, begins with social time at 6:30 p.m. The presentation starts at 7 p.m. The Community House, 8 Temple St.

SMHC announces annual golf tourney

Southern Maine Health Care announced plans to host its 28th annual golf tournament, taking place on Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Dunegrass Golf Club, and Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Cape Arundel Golf Club.

Golfers can register in teams of up to four, and are eligible to win prizes including pro shop gift cards and white lab coats for the top team. There are also contests including the hole-in-one, closest to the pin, longest drive, and a 50/50 raffle.

According to an Aug. 17 news release, “businesses are invited to join title sponsor, Atlantic Holdings, LLC, in support of the event. The past few years have been difficult as the world has coped with COVID-19 challenges, but SMHC is so grateful for the support our community has provided. As we move past the worst of the pandemic, there are many new programs and initiatives we would like to focus on at SMHC. This year’s golf tournament will help fund many of those priorities as well as provide critical flexibility as we respond to the ever-evolving, and sometimes rapidly changing, needs of our patients and families.”

“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of high-quality, close-to-home health care in our community,” said Nate Howell, president of Southern Maine Health Care. “As we move past the worst of the pandemic, there are many new priorities we would like to focus on in the care we provide to our communities, and this tournament will help fund them. Plus it’s a fun day out on the course in great company.”

To register, visit smhc.org/golf. For questions about sponsorship, contact Suzanne Gagnon, coordinator of community relations, at 207-283-7234 or Suzanne.Gagnon@mainehealth.org.

Astronomical society to host Starfest

Starfest is a weekend event sponsored by the Astronomical Society of Northern New England. It will be held at the Talmage Observatory at Starfield, the organization’s observatory located on Alewive Road (Route 35), in West Kennebunk. It will be held from Friday, Sept. 23 through Sunday, Sept. 25.

The event will feature both day (solar) observing and night observing. Society members and the public are invited to attend. Members and the general public are welcome to camp out – tenting, or in vehicles — throughout the event, at Starfield.

The itinerary:

Friday, Sept. 23

Noon: members arrive, and start setting up telescopes.

Noon through dusk: solar observing.

Dusk: night observing begins.

Saturday, Sept. 24

Dawn to dusk: solar observing.

2:30 p.m.: cookout; participants invited to bring items, but not required. Donations to the club to offset food costs will be accepted.

6 p.m.: Bern Valliere, a society director, will give a presentation on how distances to stars and distant galaxies are determined.

7 p.m.: night observing.

Sunday, Sept. 25

Dawn through noon: solar observing.

Noon: striking of tents and stowing of telescopes.

Directions to the Talmage Observatory at Starfield: For GPS, use 921 Alewive Road.  The observatory has a long driveway at the edge of a large field. It’s on the northern side and perpendicular to Alewive Road, just east of Days Mill Road. There is an Astronomical Society of Northern New England at the end of the driveway.

For more information, email asnne.astronomy@gmail.com or visit www.ASNNE.org.

Library association schedules annual meeting

Public notice is hereby given to the public pursuant to the Kennebunk Free Library Association by-laws, that the annual meeting of the association will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Board of trustees’ meetings are typically held on the last Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom or in Hank’s Room, with the exception of July and December, and they are open to the public.

For more information or to receive the meeting link, contact Library Director Michelle K. Conners, at 985-2173 or kfl@kennebunklibrary.org.

POW-MIA Memorial dedication slated for Sept. 24

A dedication ceremony of the POW-MIA Memorial will take place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 24 at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery located at 83 Stanley Road in Springvale.

The memorial consists of a black and gray monolith depicting the POW-MIA symbol of comrades-in-arms surrounded by a semi-circle of 13 standing granite pillars with façade visuals of each conflict in American history beginning with the Revolutionary War to Afghanistan. White marble tablets on each pillar provide historical data on the numbers of POW-MIA compiled by the Department of Defense.

The funding for the memorial was provided by public and private donations to Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Association, a nonprofit 501c3 organization staffed totally by volunteers. According to the organization, its “mission is to beautify the cemetery so that this hallowed ground will be a resting place of beauty and tranquility for loved ones to visit.”

The association works with State of Maine Bureau of Veterans Affairs, veteran organizations, city and town officials, local businesses and the general public.

The public is invited to attend and the ceremonies will take place rain or shine.

Summer medical equipment loans available

No Place Like Home is a volunteer organization that provides free loans of medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and transfer chairs, canes, bathroom items, and more. The equipment is available to people who live and work in Arundel, Kennebunk or Kennebunkport; or summer visitors to the area.

Those who would like to know more about how to borrow or donate equipment this summer (wheelchairs are always in demand), visit www.nplhmaine.org or Facebook (NoPlaceLikeHome-Kennebunk) or call 207-558-2270.

Heritage Day looking for participants

The Arundel Historical Society is looking for crafters, people who have a skill to share, local businesses, and people who have historical items or information to share with the public during Arundel Heritage Day.

Heritage Day is a community event that features music, food, historical displays, kids games, Civil War living history encampment and animals. It is a family event with free parking and free admission and will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17.

The historical society also welcomes volunteers. For more information about participation, call Joanne at 985-3087, Donna at 284-6622 or Jake at 283-9699.

Arundel Trail Fest scheduled for Sept. 24

The Arundel Conservation Trust Trail Fest is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24 at Arundel Community Trails. The event features 5K, 10K and half marathon options. A Kids Flow Trail Fun Ride and Race, for ages 5-12, is also planned. Arundel Community Trails is located at 257 Limerick Road.

For more information, visit arundeltrust.org.

River Tree Arts schedules Small Works Fundraiser

River Tree Arts will host its Small Works Fundraiser 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2.

The Small Works Fundraiser is River Tree Arts’ annual fundraising event. Each year our community of artists donates small works, which are then purchased during an evening reception. All proceeds from the event help River Tree continue its nonprofit/community art-based mission.

River Tree Arts is located at 35 Western Ave., Lower Village Kennebunk. For more information about the event, visit rivertreearts.org.

Legion Post 159 plans drive-thru barbecues

American Legion Post 159 announced that it will host a free drive-through barbecue on Friday, Sept. 2. The barbecue will be held at 5 p.m. at Legion Post 159, Route 9, Kennebunkport (across from the police station).

The menu will feature pulled pork, smoked chicken, bratwurst, beans, coleslaw, potato salad, jalapeno corn bread and brownies. Donations are welcome. For more information, call 967-2400.

Chalk the Port returns

The Chalk the Port event returns Sept. 23-24 after a two-year hiatus; local artists participate starting at 8 a.m. on Sept. 24 and finishing up by 5 p.m. that day, creating pieces that celebrate the theme, “Kennebunkport: Past, Present, and Future.”

The free, family-friendly event takes place at the Recreation Complex at 20 Recreation Way, near Consolidated School.

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