OLD ORCHARD BEACH — In November 2008, community group OOB365 was established. In it’s nearly 10 years, it has brought countless community events to town.
OOB365 President and founding member Sharri MacDonald spoke at Tuesday night’s Town ocuncil meeting to invite the council to the group’s 10th anniversary gala. The event will be held at Duffy’s Tavern and Grill on Nov. 10 to celebrate the group’s success and the assistance it has received from the town and tax payers.
“We’re going strong,” said MacDonald. She said the organization’s membership is growing and the group continues to receive good input from local businesses. The group has also recently acquired a trolley bus as well as a trackless train.
She said nearly 1,000 people attended the recent New Year’s event at the beach, despite frigid temperatures, and the group has many events planned in the upcoming year.
MacDonald said OOB365 is hosting a bistro night during bingo at the American Legion on Jan. 22 as a fundraiser for the Legion’s ladies auxiliary group in appreciation for its collaborative work with OOB365. OOB365 is also hosting a community dinner on Jan. 28 and will hold a winter carnival in February.
“We’ve got a lot of cool things happening,” said MacDonald.
MacDonald said OOB365 is working on a new event with the organization, A Family for ME on May 19 during Foster Care Awareness Month, to help educate the community about the need for foster homes in Maine.
“I just want to say thanks to the town, to the council, to all the staff that help us do what we do, and year 10 is going to be a big year for the group and for the town, I promise,” said MacDonald.
Town Councilor Kenneth Blow thanked MacDonald for her tireless efforts with the group, and said he knew that MacDonald at times donated her own money to ensure the success of events.
“I just want to thank you. I don’t want you to think it goes unnoticed,” said Blow.
Resident Jerome Begert said the OOB365’s activities provide the town a lot of “feel good” publicity and gives a good impression of the town to the rest of the state.
“Everyone loves family-friendly events, especially when they are free,” said Begert.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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