City, water district to meet on main breaks

Officials from South Portland Public Works and the city fire department were scheduled to meet with representatives from the Portland Water District on Wednesday, after The Current’s deadline, to discuss a recent series of water main breaks in the downtown area between Aug. 25 and Sept. 6.

“It’s one thing to have a break, but when you start inconveniencing residents and business owners, especially two very popular sites in South Portland, that’s a major issue with me,” said City Manager Jim Gailey, referring to the most recent break at 724 Broadway.

Departments offer citizen police school

Police departments in Cape Elizabeth and South Portland are offering a class for residents who want a better understanding of what local officers must deal with on a daily basis.

The eight-week Citizen Orientated Policing School starts Thursday, Sept. 13. It is meant to be an overview of the functions and operations of law enforcement personnel. Participants will not be trained as police officers.

Topics covered will include the role of the police officer, the police department hiring process, police ethics, patrol procedures, criminal investigations, juvenile justice, the use of force and how to deal with the mentally ill, domestic violence situations and diverse ethnic groups. Use of a firearms training simulator, which trains officers in “shoot/ don’t shoot” scenarios, also will be featured.

Class size is limited and will be filled on a first-come basis.

A background check will be performed on all applicants. Those with felony convictions or extensive criminal backgrounds will not be accepted.

Application may be obtained at either the Cape Elizabeth or South Portland police departments.

For more information, contact Officer Mark Dorval (767-3323, ext. 208), or Officer Linda Barker (799-5511, ext.7424).

National Merit semifinalists named

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced this week the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 58th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, including a number of local students.

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

Local students include:

Cape Elizabeth: Allison Briggs, Cameron Caswell, Travis J. Delano, Daniel Epstein, Robert Freccero, Matthew Gilman, Franscesca Governali, Benjamin Hansel, Emma Inhorn, Brett Parker and Samuel Sherman.

Scarborough: Benedict Farino, Cynthia Jordan, Alison Pelczar and Aaron Ravin.

Art contest for Maine students

Students submissions are being sought for the Maine is ME Student Art Challenge, a partnership between the state and the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

The challenge is for Maine students, in grades K-8, who wish to submit an original work of art depicting what living in Maine means to the student. Artwork may be inspired by a wide range of images from favorite Maine places, outdoor activities, foods and state symbols, as well as families having fun together.

Selected artwork will be featured in first lady Ann LePage’s upcoming new family friendly “Love.Read.Learn! Baby Journal,” produced in partnership with the Barbara Bush Foundation. The journal is a scrapbook-style booklet to promote literacy and health to families of newborn babies in Maine. The baby journal will be provided at no cost to parents of newborns in 2012-2013.

All selected artists must be a Maine student (grades K-8), during the 2012-2013 school year, and be a legal resident of Maine at the time of his/her application.

Entries must be postmarked by Oct. 30, and the winners are expected to be notified during the week of Nov. 12. Entries can be sent to: Blaine House – Maine is ME Art Challenge, c/o Paula Benoit, 192 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330.

Students must return the student-parents forms with their artwork. Art Challenge guidelines and parent consent forms are available online at www.maine.gov/governor/lepage/family/first_lady.shtml as well as www.BarbaraBushFoundation.com.

For more information contact Elizabeth Hirst at 850-562-5300 or by email at Elizabeth@barbarabushfoundation.com.

Water district garners honor

The Portland Water District recently was awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The award represents a significant achievement and reflects a commitment to the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

Essential Tremor Support Group to meet

The Maine Essential Tremor Support Group will meet Thursday, Sept. 27, 6-8 p.m., at the MMC Scarborough Learning Resource Center. One Hundred Campus Drive, front entrance, signed West at the top. The discussion will be on the patient-doctor relationship. For more information email Ted_Metremorsupgroup@yahoo.com.

Hospice training in South Portland

VNA Home Health & Hospice, at50 Foden Road, South Portland, will host a special 24-hour training for volunteers to visit hospice clients.

The training will prepare participants to be part of the VNA Home Health Hospice team bringing comfort to individuals and families facing a terminal illness.

The training takes place on Tuesdays, Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For an application, call Linda Hopkins at 400-8714 or email hopkinsl@vnahomehealth.org.

Church time change

First United Methodist Church, 179 Ridgeland Ave., South Portland, will begin worship service at 9:30 a.m. effective Sunday, Sept. 16. Everyone is welcome.

South Portland Rec offers Halloween trip

South Portland Parks and Recreation is offering a trip to the Ghoullog at Cranmore Mountain on Saturday, Oct. 20. Cranmore Mountain becomes transformed into a scary mountain coaster. Just in time for Halloween, it’s a great way to celebrate the season with friends and family. This trip is not recommended for children under 10 years old. Cost is $50 per person and includes transportation to and from the resort and your mountain coaster admission. Bus departs from the Community Center at 4:30 p.m. and will return at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Spaces are limited. Register at the South Portland Community Center or online at www.southportland.org.

Mentor training session in Cape

My Sister’s Keeper (MSK), a mentoring ministry for women in transition from corrections, will be facilitating a mentor training session for interested mentors and community volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 15, 8:30a.m.–3 p.m., at the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church, Route 77, Cape Elizabeth.

MSK provides mentors for women transitioning from incarceration to community. Mentors strive to empower women to make positive choices for their spiritual, physical, emotional and mental health needs. Working collaboratively with faith groups, community groups, and government agencies, MSK assists women with the resources they need and provides mentors with direction, through training, practical and emotional support. To register or for more information, contact Kelly Dell’Aquila, director of services, at 712-5962 or mysisterskeeper@ceumc.org.

Benefit auction on Broadway

Seventy-Five State Street benefit auction, with all proceeds to the New Van Fund, will be held Thursday, Sept, 13, 4-7 p.m., at Events on Broadway,

729 Broadway, South Portland.

Tickets at $20 available at the door. More than 120 items will be available to auction.

This casual gathering will include hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, music and a large silent auction, culminating with an exciting live auction conducted by professional auctioneer Jill Daviero of Tranzon Auction Properties.

The auction sponsor, Seventy-Five State Street, is a residential community for the elderly of all backgrounds and financial means. As a not-for-profit organization, Seventy-Five State Street has been adversely affected by these difficult economic times. Meanwhile, residents took it upon themselves to establish the New Van Fund to raise funds for the replacement of the organization’s 13-year-old vehicle, which provides transportation services for residents going to medical appointments, shopping areas and group outings.

For more information, contact Janice Drinan, development director, at drinan@75state.org or 775-7775, ext. 203.

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