WATERVILE
Rotary club names mini-grant recipients
The Waterville Rotary Club raised funds over the past year to support local schools, churches and other organizations, providing food and basic necessities to its neighbors in need. Grants were awarded to 13 local organizations who work hard to ensure that no one goes hungry or lacks basic living supplies.
The club became acutely aware of the issue of food insecurity during the pandemic and used discretionary funds to provide support to local organizations through a mini-grant process. Last year’s president, Jeff Melanson, chose food insecurity as his “president’s project,” directing club funds toward the grant program. Members also raised an additional $12,000 last spring to fund this initiative for a third year.
Current president John Dalton continues the work with the Community Services Committee and recently awarded grants of varying amounts to all 13 applicants, including to the Winslow Community Cupboard, Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, Alfond Youth and Community Center, Starfish Village, Northern Light/Inland Hospital, Mid-Maine Technical Center, Albert S. Hall School, Waterville Junior High School, Messalonskee High School, Waterville Area Essentials Closet, Waterville Area Soup Kitchen, Oakland Food Pantry, and Vassalboro Food Pantry Station.
Tricia Moran, school counselor at Albert S. Hall School said that having the support of the Waterville Rotary means a lot to the school and the families it represents.
“These gifts will enable us to keep providing families with nourishing food that they need and appreciate,” said Moran. “The need is great, and we can’t keep providing without community support.”
For more details, go to watervillerotary.com.

WELLS
Kindergarten registration starts for fall enrollement
Kindergarten registrations are beginning for parents who wish to enroll their children in the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District for the 2023-24 school year.
Children, who will be 5-years-old on or before Oct. 15, 2023, are eligible to attend.
Parents are asked to go to bit.ly/weskinder or k12wocsd.net for additional kindergarten information and for all necessary forms to complete the registration process online.
Forms may also be picked up in person at Wells Elementary School, at 276 Sanford Road, or call 646-5953.
Additional documents that cannot be uploaded online should be brought to the WES Main Office. The enrollment process will not be completed until all documents have been submitted, including an original birth certificate, proof of immunizations and proof of residency.

Elementary school celebrates reading
Wells Elementary School celebrated its annual Celebration of Reading Day on March 3, one day after Theodor Seuss Geisel’s (Dr. Seuss) birthday and the national Read Across America Day. Throughout the day students in every class were visited by at least one of 50-plus volunteer guest readers.
Wells Junior High held a similar event for fifth grade students, where six Wells Rotary Club members and 12 Interact students from WHS volunteered to read to students.
Guest readers at the elementary school this year included Wells Town Manager Mike Pardue, several former WES teachers, a former WES principal, three officers from the town police department, a fireman, grandparents and parents of students, and many others.
The first Read Across America Day was launched on March 2, 1998. It was an idea proposed by the National Education Association. It remains the largest event of its kind celebrated in schools, libraries, and bookstores throughout the United States.

GRAY
High schooler makes it to AKC junior agility team
Annaka Miller of Gray has earned a spot on the American Kennel Club’s 2023 AKC USA Junior World Agility Team, the only junior team in the United States and represents 14 states: California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. The 24 junior handlers and their K-9 companions have been selected to represent the U.S. at the Junior Open Agility World Championship competition July 13-16 in Southam, England.
The individual competition is held in categories of small, medium, intermediate and large dogs and is divided into three handler age categories. There are two rounds of jumping and agility. The second round is run in the reverse order based on results from round one. The winner, respectively in each height category, is the junior with the best total results from both rounds.
Miller, a student at Gray New Gloucester High School, is the first team member to be chosen from Maine. She earned a spot on the intermediate team with her border collie, Cody and her corgi, Shamu, earned an alternate spot on the small dog team.
Miller began training and showing dogs at the age of two and has participated in dog shows and performance events all over the U.S. and Canada. She is a member of the Flyball Maineiacs, 4-H club Paws and Pals, United Dog Sports of Northern New England, Dirigo Working Dog Sports, GNG Softball and ultimate frisbee.
Miller and her dogs train with Jordyn Baker of Glorious Agility at Happy Tails of Portland and Mainely Agility of Raymond.