SACO
Bank donates $25,000 to LifeFlight campaign
Saco & Biddeford Savings (SBS) has donated $25,000 to The LifeFlight Foundation’s “Complete the Fleet” campaign to bring an upgraded critical care helicopter to Maine.
Over the years, LifeFlight helicopters have transported more patients and operated significantly more hours compared to medical helicopters throughout New England and the U.S. Despite meticulous maintenance and upgrades, aircrafts must be replaced when they are increasingly taken out of service for repairs, or when advancing technology overtakes their capabilities.
“This fleet upgrade means that LifeFlight will now have three helicopters that feature more power, speed, a larger workspace, and advanced aviation electronics,” said Kate O’Halloran, executive director of the LifeFlight Foundation. “We are grateful for this fantastic gift – LifeFlight truly depends on the support of great partners like SBS to make these investments that help us better care for the people of Maine.”

SCARBOROUGH
Land trust gives first conservationist award
Scarborough Land Trust (SLT) honored philanthropist Eddie Woodin with its first Conservationist of the Year award at the annual Broadturn Farm dinner event on Aug. 25.
For the past two decades, Wooden has championed many local causes, including Maine Audubon, Center for Wildlife, Boy Scouts of America, Southern Maine Agency on Aging, Scarborough’s Project Grace, Scarborough Garden Club, Scarborough Public Library, Friends of Scarborough Marsh, Friends of Casco Bay, and SLT. Often, his commitment comes in the form of a significant “challenge grant” that is intended to inspire others to give back and invest in their communities. In Project Grace’s annual “Rally to Keep Our Neighbors Warm” fuel assistance program, Woodin leveraged his initial gift into a $40,000 fuel fund while a similar gift to the Center for Wildlife grew to a $22,000 fund to rehabilitate injured owls.
“(Woodin) was always there with new ideas and opportunities on how to get people out on SLT properties while keeping them safe habitats for wildlife,” said Broadturn Farm dinner chair Dawn Piccolo.
A longtime environmentalist and supporter of many of SLT capital campaigns over the years, Woodin has helped conserve places like Broadturn Farm, Warren Woods, Pleasant Hill Preserve and Blue Point Preserve, ensuring public access and the protection of farmland, forests, wildlife and watersheds.
“Eddie is a true conservation champion. His love of our natural world comes from his own experiences in the outdoors over many years, and his reverence for creation,” said Kathy Mills, former SLT executive director. To learn more, visit scarboroughlandtrust.org or call 289-1199.

PORTLAND
Rotary club names new president
The Rotary Club of Portland has appointed Bruce Jones as their new president for the 2022-2023 session.
Jones has been a club member since 2004 and has served in several leadership roles.
He is retired and lives in Cumberland with his wife Suzanne.

ELLSWORTH & PORTLAND
Grants available fo early childhood, youth programs
Greater Portland early childhood and youth engagement programs are encouraged to apply for grants from the Maine Community Foundation’s (MaineCF) Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund grant program, which supports programs that help ensure a child’s readiness to enter school and youth engagement programs that help develop children’s aspirations and abilities.
In 2021, the grant program awarded 12 grants totaling $82,500. Grantees included: Maine Youth Court, to empower youth in Greater Portland and relaunch as Youth-LED Justice; Mayo Street Arts, to provide East End Community School students in-school performances and hands-on workshops with visiting performing artists; and The Opportunity Alliance, to foster more accessible learning and early childhood development with refugees and asylum-seekers and families who don’t speak English.
The deadline to submit proposals is Oct. 17.
For a list of all recent grantees, visit mainecf.org/recentgrants. To submit a proposal, visit mainecf.org or contact program officer John Ochira at jochira@mainecf.org or call 412-0837.

FALMOUTH
Pine Grove Preserve temporarily closed
Pine Grove Preserve will be closed over the next few weeks as forestry management harvests dead and dying trees .
Residents can expect increased noise and truck traffic on Route 88. To learn more about the history of the preserve, the challenges presented by this property, the management plan developed to address these issues, and what work residents can expect, check out “Focus on Pine Grove,” a series of articles which appeared in The Falmouth Focus earlier this year. For more information or questions, email openspace@falmouthme.org.

ROCKLAND
Outdoor mentorship program joins nature initiative
Local youth mentoring organization Trekkers has joined the “Get Into Nature” initiative as one of several programs supported by the National Recreation Foundation and a generous donation by Tom’s of Maine.
The goal of the 3-year, $3 million initiative that began in 2021 is to provide funding for outdoor recreation projects aimed at giving children everywhere equitable access to nature.
Trekkers is a six-year mentoring program, whose mission is to help students build skills in resilience, relationships, and aspirations so that they can thrive as adults. The journey starts outside. Students join in seventh grade and form a team of peers. After orientations, these new Trekkers embark on a three-day camping trip to Acadia National Park to canoe, hike, rock climb and camp, building foundational skills and relationships, together with student leaders, volunteer mentors, and staff. Teams continue to meet, plan trips, travel together, do community service, learn about cultures and perspectives, and explore goals and career paths – building life skills like reflection, empathy, and interest in learning. Learn more about Trekkers at trekkers.org.

BOOTHBAY
Artists sought to participate in juried exhibit
Boothbay Region Art Foundation is putting out a call for artists to participate in its 15th juried exhibition, “ART in MAINE,” to run Oct. 8 through Nov. 13 at the foundation gallery at 1 Townsend Ave.
The exhibit will present a fresh and selective look at the fine art being created by Maine artists today, showcasing originality in the media of painting, drawing and sculpture. More than $1,000 dollars in prizes will be awarded. Works will be juried by Kathleen Galligan who is represented by Portland Maine’s Greenhut Gallery and Littlefield Gallery in Winterport.
Submission deadline is Sept. 23 and the opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 8.
The prospectus and other details can be found on the gallery’s website: www.boothbayartists.org

RUMFORD
Town approves monthly real estate payment club
The Rumford legislative body approved the creation of a Tax Club Program, which offers residents an interest free monthly tax payment plan to pay their real estate property taxes over the course of the year. The tax club divides a property owner’s tax bill evenly over an eight-month period, beginning Oct. 15 with the final payment due on May 15 of the fiscal year.
Applications are available online at rumfordme.org or in person at the Rumford Tax Office. Applications must completed and returned before the Sept. 30 deadline. Payment books will be issued by the tax collector once applications are completed.
More details are available online or by contacting the Tax Collector’s office at 364-4576 ext. 216.