Standish VIPs Meet

The new Volunteers in Police Service Program in Standish had its first meeting Tuesday, Jan. 15 at the Steep Falls fire barn.

In attendance, to train and speak to the volunteers, were Cumberland County Chief Dep. Kevin Joyce, Community Policing Officer and program leader Paul Pettengill, and Program Coordinator Janet Biczak. Guest speakers included Standish Town Manager Gordon Billington, and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Capts. David Williams and Kevin Davis.

The Volunteers in Police Service program uses community volunteers to assist the Sheriff’s department in their policing duties. Volunteers can serve three different branches; Patrol, Community service and events, and Administrative.

Although the program is new to Standish, it was originally started by the by the government just after Sept. 11, as a way to involve people in their communities.

“We had a similar program in California,” said Williams who recently moved to Maine. “It became a tremendous resource to our police department and entire community.”

Patrol volunteers will be surveying and directing traffic during accidents, checking on the many seasonal properties in the Standish area, assisting the sheriff’s office with general duties and according to Joyce being the “eyes and ears of the community.”

The volunteers will be driving 1999 Kia which has been painted and detailed so it will be easily recognizable to the public.

“It’s important that the public know you are here as volunteers to help make the community safer,” said Joyce to the new recruits. “We as a department would not be as successful without the members of the community working with us.”

Town Manager Gordon Billington agreed.

“I want to commend you all for participating in this program,” said Billington. “I think this program will be a great asset to our community.”

For more information or to join the program contact Janet Biczak at biczak@cumberlandcounty.org, or Dep. Paul Pettengill at pettengill@cumberlandcounty.org.

Knowing Their Places

Twelve students at George E. Jack Elementary School recently squared off in the school competition that is part of the 2008 National Geographic Bee.

Fifth-graders Jeremy Warren, Brian Sawyer, Christine Eliot, Riley Libby,Kelsey Price, and Rachel Ratte; and fourth-graders Breanna Bullerwell, Dylan Fowler, Mikael Irish, Allison Morin, Jack Newberry, and Dalton Sanborn were the classroom winners who competed in the school bee using material prepared by the National Geographic Society.

The school was one of thousands in the United States participating in the National Geographic Bee, designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms and increase student interest.

Warren was the bee winner, with Sawyer finishing second. Third place went to Newberry. Warren then took a written test to qualify for the state-level competition in April. The state winner advances to the National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C. in May.

Story Time

The Steep Falls Library story hour meets every Wednesday during the school year at 10 a.m. at the library. Volunteers read new and exciting stories every week. Story time is followed by parent/child crafts and snacks.

The Scene

Friday

Bonny Eagle Girls Varsity Basketball team takes on the Thornton Academy at 7 p.m.

Memory Lane Music Hall welcomes Sidereal. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Saturday

Memory Lane Music Hall welcomes Tsunami. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Contestants in The 2008 G. E. Jack Geography Bee featured 12 Standish students: Front row, from left: Dalton Sanborn, Brian Sawyer, winner Jeremy Warren, Mikael Irish, Christine Eliot, Jack Newberry, Allie Morin and Breanna Bullerwell. Back row, from left: Riley Libby, Rachel Ratte and Dylan Fowler. 4), Kelsey Price (gr.5).