VIPS honored

The Greater Portland Council of Governments presented its Recognition Award June 19 to the town of Standish and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department to honor the Volunteers in Police Service program.

The Standish program was started last year by the sheriff’s office and is run by Deputy Paul Pettengill, a community policing officer, and local volunteer Janet Biczak. The volunteers were put through months of training on various police procedures and have been serving the towns of Cumberland County in various capacities.

Most recently volunteers directed traffic at the Naples fireworks, allowing deputies to focus on other safety issues during the holiday weekend. Volunteers also assist with accident scenes, property checks, and speed monitoring.

The Recognition awards are given to identify and promote success stories in local government and community-based groups and organizations while encouraging the same practices elsewhere.

The awards are presented for best practices in regional cooperation, municipal planning, municipal management, economic development, citizen participation, and sustainability initiatives.

Standish Town Manager Gordon Billington nominated the Volunteers in Police Service program for this year’s award.

“I felt they deserved this award becuase of the solid community support both from the volunteers, as well as the businesses in town that have supported them,” said Billington. It really is a fantastic program.”

Cumberland County Chief Deputy Kevin Joyce agreed.

“This program has been more successful in the past seven months than we would have ever thought,” said Joyce. “We are one of the few departments in the state to use this program and it is a great honor to have the Greater Portland Council of Governments recoginize us and our inititive.”

The Volunteers in Police Service program is a nationwide program designed to provide support and resources for agencies interested in developing or enhancing a volunteer program and for citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills with a community law enforcement agency.

“Now that the volunteers are trained and divided into specialty areas, we are ready to take the program to the next level,” said Joyce.

For more information or to volunteer contact Janet Biczak at biczak@cumberlandcounty.org, or Deputy Paul Pettengill at pettengill@cumberlandcounty.org.

Friday night flicks

The perfect place to take your young one to the movies is the Standish Municipal Center on toddler movie night.

Held the second Friday of the month, it’s one movie where parents don’t have to worry about them making noise, fidgeting or getting up. The concession stand will be open and there are free popcorn refills.

Please bring a blanket or something to sit on. Pajamas are encouraged for toddlers to make it easier for when you get home, and parents are required to stay through the movie, which starts at 6:30 p.m. This month’s movie is “Dinosaur.”

The scene

Into the Schoolhouse

The Schoolhouse Performing Arts Center presents the award-winning musical “Into the Woods” July 11-27.

Performances of “Into the Woods” are at the Schoolhouse Arts Center on Route 114, just north of the intersection of routes 114 and 35, in Sebago Lake Village.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 5 p.m. Call 642-3743 for reservations.

Friday

Memory Lane Music Hall invites you to Funky Friday. The disc jockey will be spinning disco until close. Those wearing an Afro wig – are admitted free. There is a $2 cover for all others. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Saturday

Memory Lane Music Hall welcomes Small Town Defenderz. Doors open at 4 p.m.