Loring graduates URI with honors

Billy Loring graduated from the University of Rhode Island on May 21 with summa cum laude honors in two majors, accounting and finance.

Loring is the son of Bill and Donna Loring of Hardy Road.

He plans a fifth year at the university to pursue a master’s degree in accounting and will follow with certification as a certified public accountant. Loring is finishing an internship with Textron of Providence, R.I., this summer.

In addition to his parents, all of his sisters attended the graduation exercises. They are Karen of Albuquerque, N.M.; Kim with her son, Malik, of Charlotte, N.C.; and Deanna of Gray.

His parents gave a graduation party at a Cranston, R.I., restaurant following graduation. Those who attended the celebration included Loring’s girlfriend, Danielle Mansolillo, along with her parents, Cindy and Danny, and siblings, Matt and Audrey; Cindy’s parents and grandmother; and Danny’s parents.

Bergeron cum laude grad

Lauren Bergeron has graduated cum laude from St. Anselm’s College in Manchester, N.H.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

LaChance university honor grad

Nicholas LaChance graduated cum laude on May 20 from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I.

LaChance is the son of Darrell and Judy LaChance.

He received a bachelor of science degree in business management. LaChance is working for Fidelity Investments but will begin his new job at the end of the month with Cintas Uniform Company in Rhode Island in a two-year management-training program.

Wedding bells to ring

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Libby of Westbrook are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Carrier Jennifer Libby, to Stephen J. Sawyer of Washington.

Sawyer is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Sawyer of Warren,

A graduate of Westbrook High School, Carrie Libby graduated with honors from Simmons College. She is employed by Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta as an intensive care unit nurse.

Stephen Sawyer graduated from Medomak Valley High School and the University of Maine at Farmington. He is part owner and employed by Quality Daycare in Warren.

The wedding is planned for the spring of 2007.

Memorial Post 197 installs officers

Westbrook Memorial Post 197 installed its newly elected officers on May 21 in a ceremony at the post home.

Herman Wright III, national executive committeeman alternate, presided over the installation of post and squadron officers and his wife, Valerie, installed the auxiliary officers.

Those installed for the post were David F. Martin, commander; Nancy M. Dacar, adjutant; and Dennis Axelson, finance officer. Installed for the Sons of The American Legion was Harold Lane, commander; and for the auxiliary, Beverly Preston, president; Dayle Pennell, secretary; Lois Doughty and Myra Crimmin, executive board members.

The installation of officers was combined with the post’s annual awards presentations and Past Commanders/Presidents dinner. Those receiving awards were Dayle Pennell, accepting the Commanders Appreciation Award for her late husband, Paul; and Beverly Preston receiving the Commander Exemplary Service Award.

At a previous ceremony, Paul Bilodeau was named “Legionnaire of The Year” and Greg MacDowell was named “Honorary Member” of the Sons of The American Legion Squadron 197. “Legionnaire of The Year” is the highest award a Post can present one of its members and “Honorary Member” is an equivalent award.

Bilodeau was honored for working countless hours over a three-year period at St. Hyacinths Cemetery repairing, restoring and cleaning grave markers.

MacDowell was recognized for his dedication and commitment to keeping the SAL active in its programs.

Martin said past commanders and presidents attending the ceremony this year included William Fossett, the most senior being the second commander of Post 197 serving in the years 1953-54; others were Fred Porell, Carroll “Red” Crimmin, Rodney Anderson, Dennis Axelson, Donald Staples, Nancy Dacar and Martin.

For past presidents, the most senior was Janet Cargill, the third Unit President serving in the years 1955-56; others were Gertrude Chayer, Emma Grant, Carolyn Bourgeois, Linda Anderson, Virginia Jordan, Donna Greenlaw, Beverly Preston and Joan Munroe.

Eagles auxiliary annual meeting

The F.O.E. Eagles Auxiliary 2977 will be holding their first annual meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13.

Judy Bennett said there would be an election for all vacancies including three trustee seats, outside guard and past madam president. All members are urged to attend.

For more information, call Bennett at 712-7491.

Pease earns Spiller scholarship

The University of Maine Foundation has announced that Tyler J. Pease is the recipient of the Mayor Philip D. Spiller Memorial Scholarship at Westbrook High School for the class of 2006.

The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a student with a strong aptitude in math and science, who also excels in other high school academic and leadership activities. Recipients must be Westbrook High School seniors planning to attend the University of Maine at Orono with an expressed major in some field of math or engineering.

The scholarship, founded in perpetuity with the foundation, was established in 2005. It’s a gift for Westbrook High School students from the family and friends of Col. Philip D. Spiller, class of 1940, and former mayor of Westbrook.

Lt. Comdr. Philip D. Spiller Jr., class of 1991 and son of Mayor Spiller, will present this year’s scholarship at the annual Westbrook High School awards night.

Grandson graduates; joins Jesuit outreach

Abraham T. Grindle of Bucksport graduated on May 20 with a 3.99 average in aero-engineering at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.

But, Grindle is giving up a fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to tutor and mentor students at an American Indian school in Montana.

He is the son of Terry and Cynthia (Grant) Grindle, who is formerly of Westbrook. Grindle is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Grant of Westbrook and Jean Grindle of Bucksport.

Grindle dreamed of working for NASA but in August he begins a year at St. Labre’s Indian School in Ashland, Mont. The school. Founded in 1884, educates children from the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian tribes. The school is located near the Little Bighorn battlefield.

Lavigne visiting family

Former Westbrook resident Paul Lavigne, now of Largo, Fla., is visiting family members in Maine after seeing a daughter graduate nursing school in Kansas.

Lavigne, who left Florida on April 23, stopped in Fort Scott, Kan., to visit his daughter, Theresa (Lavigne) Lesher, and her husband, Scott, and four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He attended Theresa’s graduation and pinning ceremonies from nursing school. He said his daughter and her family plan to move back to Maine in the near future.

While in Fort Scott, Paul Lavigne also visited the historic Fort Scott Civil War fort. He toured Fort Scott on a trolley and took a trip to Kansas City.

He headed to Maine on May 21 from Kansas City. While in Maine, he is visiting with his three other children and their families. They are Susan Sawyer, Paul Lavigne II and Debbie Osgood.

He visited the gravesite of his wife, Joan, who passed away in January 2005.

Girls on the run

Canal School piloted an after-school program this spring called “Girls on the Run” (GOTR). “It was a huge success,” said teacher Laurel Siulinski.

She said the primary goal of the program was to promote positive social, emotional, mental and physical development while encouraging a lifetime of healthy living. The curriculum included such topics as “Getting to Know You,” “What is Change?”, “Being Emotional is Healthy” and “Gossip Hurts Everyone.”

Siulinski said 15 fourth and fifth grade young ladies participated in the 10-week program, which met twice weekly after school in the Canal gym. As the weather got warmer, they met outside on the high school track.

The girls working together with the staff members incorporated the weekly topics with physical activities such as walking, jogging, relay races inside and out and timed laps.

“We concluded the program on May 1 with a grand finale fun run/walk around Baxter Boulevard in Portland,” Siulinski said. ” We donned our sneakers, snacks, sunglasses and off we went. Everyone crossed the finish line in an impressive time, including a couple of parents and siblings.”

Siulinski thanked those who contributed to the success of the program. They included Cynthia Mason, K-2 physical education teacher; Rebecca Wertheimer, social work intern in the Westbrook School Department; Katie Hasson, Canal third grade teacher; Karen Gersen, social worker; Sandy Hale, Westbrook health coordinator; Jeremy Ray, Canal principal; and Siulinski.

Sensational science show at Warren Memorial Library

The USM Chemistry Club presents a slime-filled event featuring super-absorbing and fantastic color-changing chemistry demonstrations at Warren Memorial Library on Friday, June 16.

The tasty grand finale: “I scream, you scream, we all scream for liquid nitrogen-made ice cream.”

The program is aimed at ages eight years old and up. To pre-register or for more information, call 854-5891. Warren Memorial Library is located at 479 Main St. in Westbrook.