Books and baskets

The Spaulding Memorial Library artist of the month offering for May is a collection of garden treasures. The items to be raffled off include a sturdy garden tote, with gifts of nature from Bath and Body Works, garden gloves, seeds from Sebago Kids Growing Gardens and a hanging basket from Mayberry Farm in Sebago.

The estimated value of the items is $45, with a minimum starting bid of $30. The bidding will be open until Saturday, May 31.

The preschool story hour meets Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Story hour themes for May are Happy Mother’s Day for May 9, Alphabet Day for May 16, Piggie Pie for May 23, and a Story Hour party May 30.

Library volunteers are needed to work Sunday afternoons from 2-4 p.m. For more information call 787-232, or e-mail directors@spaulding.lib.me.us.

The final book club meeting until Septmeber will be held Monday, May 19, at 7 p.m. The book being discussed is “Cordelia Underwood, or the Marvelous Beginnings of the Moosepath League,” by Van Reid.

Tasty competitions

Last week, the Maple Grove Grange was the scene of a chocolate lover’s dream. The Grange Woman’s Activities Committee held its annual baking contest, which featured whoopie pies.

The aroma of chocolate whetted the appetites of judges Ralph Brown, Scott Gavett and Bob Burns, as five plates of pies were set in front of them. Each whoopie pie was judged according to appearance, texture and flavor. Only after the judging, were the other members of the Grange allowed to devour the rest of the tasty treats.

Grange members Esther Kilborn, Ellen Heigham, Valerie Gavett, Carol Brown and Fran Roberts made their favorite recipes. When the judges finished tallying their scores, Brown was pronounced the winner. She shared the fact that her prize winning recipe was given to her by Margaret Wentzell, who was a great baker, and many folks may remember her, as she used to live in Sebago.

The next level of competition was held by the Cumberland/Oxford County Pomona at Mount Etna Grange in North Baldwin. Here the winners for each subordinate grange again submitted whoopie pies.

Clayton Locke and Debbie Day represented Porter Grange, and Carol Brown the Maple Grove Grange as the contestants. Judges Phyllis Schroeder, Frances Roberts and John Willett chose Locke and Day to represent the local Pomona at the state level of competition at Maine State Grange Headquarters in Augusta May 3.

There were 13 female and nine male contestants at the state level of competition. Debbie Day won first place and received both a ribbon and a cash prize as well. Congratulations Debbie, hope we can sample some of your whoopie pies. How about coming to Sebago Days and selling some?

Get your kicks, part two

Boys in grades kindergarten through sixth may sign up for a summer soccer camp to be held at Lake Region Middle School, on Kansas Road in Naples.

Camp runs from June 16-20, 5-8 p.m. Don White, the Lake Region boys varsity coach, is the camp director. Also coaching are Harvey Toews and Peter Webb, both former Lake Region varsity coaches. Current Lake Region soccer players and alumni also help teach the children. The soccer camp is sponsored by Lake Region High School.

Every camper will receive a ball and a Lake Region T-shirt. Registrations must be received by June 1 so campers can receive their T-shirt and soccer ball in time for camp. Technical training, fun games, games and team competitions will be on the daily schedule.

Be sure each camper brings a water bottle, snack, cleats and shin guards to camp. For more information call 627-7757 or e-mail kdavis24@maine.rr.com. The cost is $75 per camper. To register, mail your registration form and payment to: Don White, 22 Pine Hill Road, Casco, Maine 04015. Make checks payable to: Lake Region Boys High School Soccer. Scholarships are available.

Daffodils for Sale

Bouquets of daffodils are now available for sale from the Sebago Kids Growing Gardens. They can be delivered to teachers and staff members at Sebago Elementary School, as well as taken home.

Bouquets are $3.50 each, and are mixed colors, if you have a preference, please write it down on your order and they will do their best to accommodate you. If you wish to add a card with your order, send one along with your order, or mention on your order form who the flowers are from.

There are straight yellow daffodils, white with yellow trumpets, or mixed. Make checks out to SKGG. If you have questions or special requests, please call Vanessa Wallace at 787-3755, Heather Grass at 787-3383 or Karen Wiles at 787-4252.

Contest winners announced

Recently, there was a contest held for school-age children to design a poster that showed the advantages of recycling. Jacqueline Morse and Maria Kolofsky designed the winning posters. Congratulations girls. All the poster entries and the winning posters will be featured in a collage in the Sebago 2008 Town Report.

Helping wishes come true

Henry McCarthy, a first-grader at Sebago Elementary School, raised more than $368 for the Make A Wish Foundation. He raised the money by writing letters to several businesses and asked them if he could collect their returnable bottles for a period of time.

The management of Shawnee Peak let him collect bottles for a weekend, and officials at the Sebago Transfer Station let him collect a days worth of bottles. Way to go Henry!