The Thornton Academy boys’ hockey team won the state championship on March 8. Contributed / Thornton Academy

Thornton hockey team
wins championship

The Thornton boys hockey team won its fourth Class A state championship, beating Kents Hill in the championship game 3-2 on March 8 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

Goalie Drew Johnson, with 27 saves, led the third-seeded Trojans, with goals by seniors Cam Cyr and Brady Pecora, and junior Trent Lesieur. Johnson, a senior, was named a finalist for the Travis Roy Award, presented to the best boys high school hockey player in the state.

Biddeford to mark
Vietnam War Veterans Day

The city of Biddeford will mark the Vietnam War Veterans Day with a commemorative ceremony and flag raising at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29. The event, organized by Mayor Marty Grohman and the Veterans Committee, will be held at Memorial Park, located on the corner of Alfred Street and Pool Street. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Biddeford City Hall Council Chambers, located at 205 Main St.

The ceremony will feature a tribute to Vietnam veterans by Joseph Armstrong, past president of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Post 1044, and a tribute to veterans killed in action by Raoul Goulet, American Legion Post 26. Conrad Letellier, 1st vice president of VVA Post 1044 and service officer for the Disabled American Veterans, will read of list of servicemen from Maine still missing in action (MIA).

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 designated March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Mayor Grohman will read a proclamation at the March 18 City Council meeting to officially recognize National Vietnam War Veterans Day in Biddeford.

“Today and always, I urge the people of Biddeford to pause and pay tribute to those who served with courage, those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who were wounded, and those who carry the lasting effects of their service,” said Mayor Grohman. “To those who witnessed the cost of war and those still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, you will never be forgotten.”

More than 48,000 Mainers served in the Vietnam War, and an additional 16,000 Maine residents were serving worldwide during the Vietnam War era. The names of the 343 Maine residents who laid down their lives are etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. and 11 Maine servicemen remain missing in action.

Saco Middle School eighth-graders Renee Reiche and MacKenzie Elkin work together on a Maine Learning Technology Initiative project. Contributed / Saco Middle School

SMS students engage
in digital learning

Saco Middle Schoo students participated in the second annual Maine Winter Classic, a Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) of the Maine Department of Education. During the week of March 3-7, students engaged in innovative, technology-driven learning experiences that help prepare them for the future.

The MLTI program, now in its 23rd year, provides Maine’s K-12 public schools with professional development and 21st-century learning tools to support student success. Through MLTI, students gain access to cutting-edge technology, including devices, software, internet connectivity, and specialized training designed to enhance learning outcomes.

“Our students are embracing technology in ways that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and real-world application,” said Saco Middle School Principal Marie Soucy. “Programs like MLTI provide them with the tools and confidence they need to succeed in an ever-changing digital landscape.”

This year, SMS students participated in various interactive game-based learning experiences as they “traveled” around Maine on a virtual game board, completing a variety of tasks, earning tokens, and learning about topics like computer science, digital citizenship, digital design, and gamification. Some of the options included identifying artificial intelligence, creating designs on Canva, learning a language on Duolingo, learning binary code, Google Earth tours, making 3-D print files, and so much more.

“Learning with technology is so much easier than just trying to learn on paper,” said Ella Lamoreau, an SMS student. “I loved the AI-generated photos and that I got to try out new languages on Duolingo today during the MLTI Winter Classic. I’m learning German right now.”

The Maine Learning Technology Initiative continues to transform learning across the state, making Maine a leader in technology-driven education. Through initiatives like MLTI, students at Saco Middle School are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in a digital world.

Participate in
Maine Shop Hop

Independent quilt shop operators around the state are celebrating the 25th year of their annual Shop Hop. The event runs through April and invites shoppers to go from one quilt shop to another with a “passport,” gathering stamps at each store to potentially win a drawing at the end of the month. Store operators are also offering in-store demos, goodie bags and other inducements to celebrate the anniversary. For more information, go to maineshophop.com.

TA athletes earn
all-academic honors

Forty-three students from Thornton Academy were named to the Southern Maine Athletic Association (SMAA) All-Academic Team for the Winter 2024- 2025 season. To qualify, a student must be a senior with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. The Saco high school students are: Boys Basketball — Ryan Camire and Zachary Nelson; Girls Basketball — Ane Solberg; Unified Basketball — Charlie Allen, Dyllan Breault. Zach Delano. MacKenna Durkee, Riko Fukuyama, Mathieu Guillerault, Brooke Helgesen, Evan Hill, Porscha Papachronopoulos, Josh Ross, and Kiley Willett; Competition Cheer — Mackenzie Ames, Amiya Harper and Madison Yeaton; Boys Ice Hockey — Cam Cyr, Riho Kim, Nate Gagnon and Reichen Crossetti; Girls Ice Hockey — Julia Fournier and Bella Robinson; Girls Swimming — Maya Dukhey, Kymber Goulet, Casey Moore and Polina Rempel; Boys Indoor Track — Tyler Brown, Henry Kenniston, Alex Parker, Branden Prak, Bryce Ray, Dominic Serrano and Ayden Tran; Girls Indoor Track — Emma Barnes, Sophia Bell-Pfiffer, Grace Lambert, Anna Scully and Olivia Smart; Wrestling — Matthew Dormanen, Luke Duquette, Joseph Lathwood and Jinwoo Song.

Work of 5 furniture makers
and woodworkers presented

Art of Biddeford presents the works of five local Biddeford-based furniture makers and woodworkers from April 7 to May 2 at The Foundry. Caitriona Fiero, Sten Havumaki, Derek Preble, Stefan Rurak and Gabe Sutton will be sharing their professional and artistic crafts with us. While working as furniture makers and woodworkers, it is clear that their work surpasses the basic needs we require of furniture. Coffee tables, love seats, and benches are art in and of themselves.

WOOD / METAL / FABRIC: Biddeford Furniture Makers and Woodworkers will be exhibited at The Foundry at 30 Upper Falls Road, Biddeford, between April 7-May 2, by appointment and weekly announced hours. The Artist Reception will be held April 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. This is a free event and open to the public.