Funds Set Up

The tragic deaths last weekend of Limington residents Peter Reynolds and Cherrie DeMelle have impacted the entire Bonny Eagle community. The couple was huge supporters of the football team cheering on Peter’s sons at each game this season.

Two funds have been set up to help with funeral expenses for the couple as well as medical expenses for Peter’s son, Zachary Reynolds, who was injured in the accident on Cape Road in Limington. By Wednesday, friends had already donated more than $23,000. To donate, please go to www.gofundme.com/6781cs for the Reynolds Family Fund or www.gofundme.com/67gogk for the DeMelle Family Fund.

‘First Foot’

Out of more than 140 FIRST teams from around the world that submitted their ideas for how they will use engineering to change the world, the Bonny Eagle High School Robotics Team (BERT) has won a $1,000 grant and placed second in an International Engineering Competition. BERT won second place for its “First Foot” engineering concept for a shoe that collects and stores energy.

Members of BERT created and produced a video that featured their innovative design and entered it into the Rockwell Automation’s “Engineering Our Future” contest.

The Bonny Eagle Robotics Program was established in 1995 and is affiliated with the National Organization, FIRST, which is an acronym for inspiration and recognition of science and technology. The goal of FIRST is to help high school students to become more involved with science, technology, engineering and math, which is achieved by creating a game each year in which teams of students, parents, engineers, and mentors have six weeks to design and build a competition robot.

The Bonny Eagle team is trying to raise $30,000, which will enable them to participate at the district competitions and championships. They are having a calendar raffle as one of many fundraising activities planned. Of course, you can always make a tax-free donation. All donations should be sent to: Bonny Eagle Robotics Team, c/o Bonny Eagle High School, 700 Saco Road, Standish, ME 04084. FMI please contact bertrobotics@gmail.com.

If you are interested in seeing their winning video presentation, please visit: www.rockwellautomation.com/rockwellautomation/news/110-anniversary/engineering-our-future.page?

BETV

Have you heard? Bonny Eagle Television (BETV) is the educational television channel for Bonny Eagle. BETV broadcasts on Saco River Community Television Channel 7, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their channel features programs created by BE students and staff. BETV provides public service announcements for the community, live broadcasts and replays of cool and important programs.

If you would like, you can submit an upcoming event to BETV’s calendar or let them know about an upcoming concert, play, game and potentially broadcast on the Bonny Eagle Television System.

There is even a submission form if you are creative and would like your own program to air on BETV. (Subject to approval.) For more information, visit www.beon7.org.

Pet Food Pantry

Eligible Standish residents may receive one bag of dry cat/dog food per household/per week depending on supplies. The Pet Food Pantry is open on Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. in the Dispatch center located at town hall (175 Northeast Road).

Steep Falls Meetings

The following schedule has been set for meetings of the Steep Falls Village Master Design Committee:

Thursday, Jan. 16 – Meeting

Thursday, Feb. 6 – Workshop

Thursday, Feb. 27 – Workshop

Thursday, March. 20 – Workshop

Thursday, April. 17 – Meeting

All meetings are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to participate. All meetings will be recorded and shown on Saco River Community Television Channel 5. For more information, contact Bud Benson, Town Planner at bbenson@standish.org.

Honoring King

In honor of Martin Luther King, all Bonny Eagle schools will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20.

Late Arrival Day

All Bonny Eagle students Pre-K through Grade 12 will have later arrival on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Essay Contest

In 1964 Sen. Margaret Chase Smith of Skowhegan was the first woman to run for the Republican Presidential nomination. A half a century later, the Margaret Chase Smith Library invites Maine high school seniors to write an essay on the significance of the changes the nation has undergone; politically, economically, technologically, and culturally over the past 50 years.

The rules for this contest are minimal. The Margaret Chase Smith essay contest is open to all Maine high school seniors. Essays must be typed and double-spaced. Contestants should provide contact information so they can receive notification of final results. There is no minimum or maximum length requirement. The quality of evidence, argumentation and writing is more important than quantity of words; the best essays support personal opinions with historical context and cited facts.

Thanks to generous support from the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation, prizes this year are $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, $250 for third place, and five $50 honorable mention prizes. Essays are due by April 1. Awards will be announced on May 2. For sample essays and a list of past contest winners, visit http://www.mcslibrary.org/program/edu/past.htm.

B.E. the Idol

If you enjoy the singing competition shows like American Idol, then save the date for the evenings of Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 for the Bonny Eagle version of the singing contest. For more information, contact Rick Osann at rosann@bonnyeagle.org.

The Bonny Eagle High School Robotics Team (BERT) has won a $1,000 grant and placed second in an International Engineering Competition. BERT won second place for its “First Foot” engineering concept for a shoe that collects and stores energy.  Shawna Meserve and Beth Simmons from Woodford Family Services, are pictured here with National Honor Society (NHS) member Kelsey Sicard after they recently completed a hat, mitten and glove drive for Woodford. The students collected 45 hats, 51 pairs of mittens and 34 pairs of gloves. The collection will go out to foster children in the Greater Portland area. In addition, the members of the National Honor Society recently sent out holiday cards to the troops with the help of the AP Government class, the math team, and students from several classes. They sent out about 130 cards with a personal note in each thanking the troops for their dedication and service.