Foster families needed
Walker Memorial Library, 800 Main St., is hosting a special event 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, to raise awareness of the need for foster care families in Southern Maine.
In celebration of National Foster Care Month, A Family for Me of the Maine Department of Human Services will show a DVD presentation and have informational packets. The library has a display with information and photographs of children, who are waiting for foster homes or adoption.
The program will be in the children’s room at the library. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.
Frenchtown neighborhood cleanup
The Frenchtown Neighborhood Association will host a neighborhood cleanup from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 14.
Frenchtown encompasses the streets bordered by Brown, Bridge and Cumberland streets. Those participating in the cleanup will meet in the neighborhood center at 198 Brown St.
People are asked to bring tools including rakes, brooms and gloves. A pizza lunch will follow the cleanup. In case of rain, the cleanup will held on Sunday, May 15.
For more information, call Steve Morrow at 854-1289.
Past 197 commanders face off
Nancy Dacar and Joseph Webster, both past commanders of Memorial Post 197 of the American Legion, will vie for the adjutant’s position in a run-off election at the meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17.
Dave Martin, outgoing adjutant, is the commander-elect. In the election of post officers on April 19, neither Dacar nor Webster was on the ballot. But each received the same number of write-in votes, which made a run-off necessary.
Martin said the meeting agenda also includes filling the chaplain’s positions in addition to electing six members to the executive board.
At installation ceremonies last week, Martin said he would focus more on American Legion programs than post activities. “Of course, post activities are important,” Martin said. “This is what keeps us active and financially stable and we must stay on top of that, but we must not get so wrapped up in these activities that we lose sight of our mission, which is veterans helping veterans.”
“We also need to stay abreast and be keenly aware of what is going on politically that might impact our past, present and future veterans,” Martin said.
Cutline (currier) – Rear adm. John P. Currier
Currier promoted to Coast Guard rear admiral
A Westbrook native became one of the Coast Guard’s newest admirals in a ceremony on April 6 at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.
John P. Currier was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) making him one of 30 admirals in the service. In conjunction with the promotion, Currier will report to Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he will become Deputy Commandant for Acquisitions, assuming responsibility for major systems acquisition and contracting.
Currier is completing a two-year assignment at the Coast Guard Pacific Area headquarters in Alameda, Calif. His first year was spent as the chief of operations, during which he directly coordinated law enforcement operations that among other accomplishments seized more than 100 tons of cocaine from entering the United States and homeland security operations that greatly enhanced the nation’s west coast anti-terrorism posture through joint operations with the U.S. Navy, FBI and DHS partner agencies.
Currier served as chief of staff, or deputy commander, of Pacific Area during his second year, where he was responsible for assisting the Area Commander with all Coast Guard operations west of the Rocky Mountains and across 73 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. This includes all Coast Guard marine safety, search and rescue, law enforcement, homeland security, aids to navigation, and polar ice operations throughout the Pacific region. These responsibilities also included oversight of four districts headquartered in Alameda, Seattle, Honolulu and Juneau, Alaska, as well as the Pacific-based maritime safety and security teams, high and medium endurance cutters and all of the Coast Guard’s polar icebreakers.
The Pacific Area command has the largest area of responsibility in the Coast Guard, ranging from Antarctica, to the Arctic Circle and to the Far East. Pacific Area resources include 27,000 active, reserve, civilian and auxiliary members, ten high endurance cutters, three polar icebreakers, six medium endurance cutters, 27 HH-65A Dolphin helicopters, 14 HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters, 12 HC-130 long-range aircraft, 29 patrol boats, and 12 buoy tenders.
Currier is a 1970 graduate of Cheverus High school and a 1975 graduate of the University of Southern Maine. A naval aviator, he is a qualified pilot and mission commander in both helicopters and turbojet aircraft. He holds a master’s degree from Embry-Riddle University and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Air War College in 1996.
A 28-year veteran Coast Guard officer, he was formerly employed by the Westbrook Police Department from 1973 to 1976. He is the son of William and Janet Currier of Westbrook and is married to the former Mary Jane Greenleaf of South Portland. The Curriers have two sons, Benjamin, who is a law student at the University of Denver, and Andrew, who is a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame.
Currier has earned numerous military decorations including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and the Coast Guard Commendation Medal. Other professional recognition includes the Harmon International Aviation Trophy for 1981, American Helicopter Association Fredrick L. Feinberg Award and the Naval Helicopter Association SAR Aircrew of the Year Award for 1982, and the Alaska Air Command Search and Rescue Pilot of the Year Award for 1983.
Currier also commanded Air Station Detroit and Air Station Miami during his Coast Guard career.
Cutline: Beulah Grant of Springbrook celebrates her 100th birthday on April 14 with her niece, Donna Rauschke, and her husband, Ken Rauschke of Scarborough. Courtesy photo
Beulah honored on 100th
Beulah Grant celebrated her 100th birthday on April 14 at a party with her niece, Donna Rauschke, and her husband, Ken Rauschke, of Scarborough.
Grant, a resident of Springbrook, lived for many years in West Cumberland where she and her husband, Maxcell Grant, owned a farm. She has been a widow since 1966.
She was a homemaker and a farm wife. They raised poultry and vegetables and she made butter from milk produced from their cows. They were supporters of the Cumberland Fair where Beulah worked in the West Cumberland Methodist Church food booth.
Beulah was born in East Greenville, Pa., on April 14, 1905. She grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch country.
Ken said Beulah is always optimistic. “She’s doing pretty good,” he said.
Fireman’s association to meet
The Cumberland County Fireman’s Association will meet at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, in the Westbrook Public Safety building.
The future of the association needs to be decided.
A meatloaf dinner will be served with potato, vegetable, rolls, dessert and coffee. For reservations, call Richard Cotton at 799-2060. All are welcome.
Memorial Day plans
Individuals or groups wishing to participate in the Westbrook Memorial Day parade should contact Reggie Washby at 232-4067.
The parade will form up at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 30, at the intersection of New Gorham Road and Longfellow Street.
Key Club to hold benefit car wash
The Westbrook High School Key Club will be holding a car wash to benefit Camp Sunshine on May 21 in the parking lot of Rite Aid from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Members of the Key Club will accept donations for Camp Sunshine at the event. There is no rain date, so hope for sun!
Volkssport invite
The Southern Maine Volkssport Association is inviting the public to attend its Memorial Library, 800 Main St., Westbrook.
Join us at 5:30 p.m. for a short “Intro-Stroll,” starting at the library. The meeting and stroll are open to everyone.
Youth hockey dance
Westbrook Youth Hockey will benefit from a dance at 8 p.m. to midnight on Friday, May 20, at Westbrook Eagles Club, 89 Saco St.
The evening will feature cash door prizes, fun and a cash bar. Admission is $10 per person. For tickets, call Dana Jenkins at 854-1747.
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