ACTON

Students gear up for Children’s Business Day

Acton Academy Kennebunkport students recently learned about entrepreneurship and the importance of giving back to their community.
With a generous donation of deli meats and sandwich materials from Hannaford Supermarket, Acton Eagles assembled 130 sandwiches which they donated to the York County Shelter Program and Community Outreach Services of the Kennebunks.
The experience taught students about different processes for making products, assembly lines, defining quality, quality control, staffing, and teamwork, information that will help them as they gear up for their annual Children’s Business Fair, which will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the South Church Community House in Kennebunkport.

BIDDEFORD

Golf fundraiser raises over $14,000 for breast care center

The 26th Annual Pink on the Links women’s golf tournament raised $14,732.65 for Southern Maine Health Care’s Center for Breast Care.
About 140 female golfers participated in the event, held in July at the Biddeford-Saco Country Club.
This is the 10th year that Laura Blanchette and the Biddeford Saco Country Club Ladies donated all proceeds from their annual event to SMHC’s Center for Breast Care. Overall, the Club Ladies have contributed over $140,000 to support care for breast cancer patients in their community.
To support this effort, visit smhc.org/give or contact Hailee Flaherty, development coordinator, at 283-7251 or hailee.flaherty@mainehealth.org.

BIDDEFORD

UNE students spread holiday cheer in city

About 20 students from the University of New England fanned out in downtown Biddeford recently to spread holiday cheer and brighten the holidays for residents and those less fortunate.
The students hung holiday lights along Main Street and put together packages of personal care items for people in need.
They joined members of Heart of Biddeford, an organization helping to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable downtown for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Gifts for the packages were donated by local businesses. Monetary donations were also given by individuals. The packages will be distributed by Seeds of Hope, a resource center that offers hospitality and support for those who are struggling in Biddeford and surrounding communities.
The event was sponsored by the Class of 2025 and UNE’s Office of Citizenship and Civic Engagement.

SCARBOROUGH

Grant nominees gather for reception

Nominees from the 25 nonprofits up for grants from Town & Country’s Federal Credit Union’s 2022 ‘Better Neighbor Fund’ gathered in person for a special reception Nov. 9. The online vote program, founded in 2010, allows the general public to nominate grant recipients. The 2022 online vote, conducted throughout the month of October, resulted in the second-highest vote total ever, with nearly 13,000 votes cast.
The eight nonprofits receiving the most votes received grants totaling $25,000, with individual grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. Additionally, the credit union surprised all nominees by presenting appreciation grants of $100 each for those not receiving larger grants.
Receiving grants of $5,000 each were: Palaver Strings of Portland, to expand access to string music education classes and instruction to young children across Southern Maine; First Lutheran Church of Portland, to provide tuition assistance to local families in need; and the Esther Residence of Saco, to continue expanding family-centered parent coaching program for women coming out of incarceration.
Recipients receiving $2,000 each were: Maine Association of Recovery Residences of Portland, to provide scholarships for up to 10 people to cover the entry expense for a sober living residence and a new way of life; The Summer Camp, Inc. of Bridgton, for camperships for summer 2023 for 20 girls living in financially insecure families or foster homes with a residential summer camp experience; Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland in Westbrook to help the Plentiful Pet Food Pantry; Through These Doors of Cape Elizabeth to provide financial resources to help survivors of domestic violence access housing, transportation, cell phone service, food, and children’s needs; and Riding to the Top at Windham to expand equine assisted learning for children with special needs

SACO

Free Thanksgiving Dinner at church

The 23rd Annual Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24, at the Most Holy Trinity Church Hall, 271 Main St. However, those who prefer home delivery for a meal must place their orders in advance by 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20.
The traditional turkey dinner will include all the trimmings, along with dessert and beverages, with deliveries made between noon and 1 p.m. Menus are available at the Good Shepherd Parish office at 271 Main St., Saco, and delivery orders can be placed by calling Mitch or Dave at 467-5357 or the Parish office at 282-3321. ext. 100. Take-out orders also can be picked up at the hall. All are welcome.
Anyone wishing to make a donation towards the dinner may send it to Knights of Columbus, P.O. Box 1487, Biddeford, ME 04005. Checks can be made out to Knights of Columbus with a note for Turkey Dinner on the memo line.

SACO

Three area teachers recognized by Maine Psychological Association

The Maine Psychological Association has recognized three “psychologically minded” teachers who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to advancing positive mental and behavioral health outcomes for Maine’s school-aged population.
Teachers Lisa Carleton of South Portland Public Schools; Ellen Flores of Portland Public Schools; and Anna Soule of Falmouth Public Schools are the 2022 recipients of MePA’s Educator Recognition Awards.
“Perhaps most importantly, all of our award recipients have proven their ability to establish and maintain strong, trusting relationships by adapting to students’ unique strengths and needs,” said Jamie Pratt, president of MePA. “These qualities promote a culture of mental wellness within their schools.”
The MePA is a membership organization whose purpose is to advance psychology as a science, as a profession, and as a means of promoting health and human welfare.

WELLS

WHS announces November Athletes of the Month

The Wells High School Athletics Department recently honored students Anna Woodward and Jackson Koh with the distinction of Student-Athlete of the month for November in recognition of their academics and sportsmanship on and off the field.
Present when the award certificates were handed out to the students in WHS’s trophy display area were Interim Athletics Director Jodie Lawlor, WHS Volleyball Coach Rachel Graceffa, and WHS Soccer Coach Richard Terwilliger-Smith.
Woodward, a senior, was recognized for her participation on the school’s volleyball team.
Koh, a junior, was recognized for his academics and participation on the WHS boys varsity soccer team.

CAMDEN

LEGO replica of public library on display

Local LEGO artist Colby Adolphsen has created a replica of Camden Public Library, made entirely of LEGO blocks. The project took an estimated 80-90 hours, over a two-month period, to complete. It is now on display on the library’s first floor space at 55 Main St.
No detail escaped Adolphsen’s notice – from bond patterns in the bricks to the light-up lighthouse in the children’s room. Not only is the library’s exterior architecture and landscaping precisely engineered in LEGO, but the inside is, too. The view through the lit-up windows shows library staff and patrons working, reading, and enjoying the space.
During the past year, Adolphsen has worked on several other LEGO creations that have both personal significance to him and a coastal Maine theme. On Instagram, he has posted replicas of Breakwater Lighthouse, Marshall Point, his own home, a lobster sculpture, a Camden Harbor diorama, and a schooner based on the Lewis French.

WATERVILLE

Volunteers still needed for festival

The Alfond Youth & Community Center is still seeking volunteers for its Family Festival of Trees, set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 18, 19, 25 and 26, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, at The Elm, at 21 College Ave.
The event will feature over 50 trees. Drawings for tree winners will begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 27.
Admission is $2 for ages 12 through adult, with younger children admitted free of charge.
Proceeds raised will support families in the community experiencing food insecurity.
For more information about the festival, or to volunteer, go online to festivaloftreesmaine.com or contact volunteer coordinator Bonnie McBreairty by emailing bmcbreairty@clubaycc.org.