Sebago Kids Growing Garden

The garden, the daffodils, the seed program…these are all programs that the Sebago Kids Growing Garden have successfully completed since they began in 2003. There seems to be no limit to the ideas that keep this program interesting and educational.

Last year, the program produced 350 pounds of vegetables to donate to Senior Citizens as part of the Plant a Row for the Hungry Program. Some were used for the Meals on Wheels Program and some were distributed through the Food Pantry. All vegetables are grown organically, so the students have to do pest control by handpicking the pests of the plants.

The sixth graders also have a project raising and selling cut daffodils. These daffodils sell for $3.50 a bunch and are sold at the school stand and at Batchelder’s Family Farm, next to the school. The daffodil program is now self-supporting and the funds are divided in three ways. One part goes to pay for the sixth graders’ end-of-the-year party, before they pass on to middle school. Another part goes to purchasing the bulbs for the fifth graders to plant the following year. And the third part goes back into the program. The daffodils are going to be on sale very soon, so make sure that you stop off to purchase yours for your enjoyment and to support this program.

The latest project, the Seed Store, is selling Fedco Seeds, as part of the Fedco School Seed Savers Program. These are good quality, Fedco proven seeds. There are many varieties of seeds, and they can be purchased at Jordan’s Store, the Batchelder Family Farm, Morning Dew, Sebago Elementary School, Spaulding Memorial Library, your favorite student or by calling Vanessa Wallace at 787-3755. You can also e-mail Vanessa at wallaceinsebago@adelphia.net.

So far, the students have sold more than 2,000 packets of seeds. The seed packet covers are hand-drawn by the children who age from 4-14 and they are worth buying just for the seed packet covers alone. The artwork is colorful and imaginative. The students weigh, measure, and count the seeds, as well as package them and design the covers. When you plant your garden this year please remember this program as a good source of quality proven seeds.

Spaulding Memorial Library

There will be a Meet the Candidates Night at the Spaulding Memorial Library on May 10 at 7 p.m. This will be a question and answer program and it will be for candidates who are running for local town official vacancies, as well as to fill School Board vacancies. Frank Gorham, Superintendent of Schools for SAD 61 will be present. If you have questions for these potential candidates, this is the time to get your questions answered.

Also, as part of the Artist of the Month Program, the decorative glass group, A Touch of Glass, designed and donated a brooch to the library. The brooch will be used for this month’s silent auction as a fundraiser. The library will announce the winner of the silent auction on the last day of April. If you like stained glass jewelry, be sure to stop by to put in your bid on this piece of jewelry before April comes to a close. You might be the lucky winner and help the library as well.

4H Program

The 4H program in Sebago is different than a conventional club. In Sebago, the 4H club operates as a school-based afterschool program. It started out as a rabbit club, but now operates as a general program.

Traditionally, the club supports the life skills needed for young people to learn to live successful lives. The program stands for Hands, Heart, Head and Health, and these students are learning, planning, organization, good choices and responsibility.

They meet once monthly and had to request permission from the school board to be allowed to operate in the school. Participants are SAD 61 students from first grade to eighth grade.

This year they have focused on a Wildlife Program, but are about to take on simple sewing projects. These programs work well for students who are not interested in sports or music.

This program is conducted by Ted Bridge-Koenigsburg. Interestingly Ted’s wife, Leslie McConnell, is also a 4H leader in the town of Naples. She has a slightly different focus on her program. She has a more traditional local program and is focusing on Forestry this year.

In past years, she has done programs on Geology and Small Animal Care. The thing that she likes about 4H is that it is a mixed age program and boys and girls work together. She said that some children belong to more than one club and she is currently working with ages 8 to 18. She wanted people to be aware that 4-H is still out there and it is very strong. For more information about 4-H you can contact Lisa Phelps at the University of Maine, Co-operative Extension Program at 1-800-287-1471.

Sebago Seam Rippers

On Saturday, April 28, there will be a Blanket Day in Gorham at Gorham Savings Bank as part of the Linus Project. Several times a year, the Sebago Seam Rippers get together to make blankets for the Linus Project. Many blankets are donated to hospitals for sick children and often blankets are given to different civic programs for them to use as fundraisers for their programs. When they have a blanket day planned the Seam Rippers can use both experienced quilters and willing workers.

In addition to the blanket day this group of women meet weekly at different member’s home to work on blankets. There are between three and eight members who come to help weekly on this project. If you would like to contribute your time and effort to this project, please call Eileen Russo at 787-2813.

Sebago EMS raffle, open house

A raffle is being held by the Sebago EMS for a 5′ x 8′ (60″ x 96″) quilt. This quilt was made by the Sebago Seam Rippers in 2005 and was donated to Sebago EMS. The quilt is reversible, has a different pattern on each side, and is done in blues and whites.

The EMS unit was appreciative of this donation and they waited a bit to decide how they wanted to use it to best help out the community. They decided to use it as a raffle and are now selling tickets for $1 each.

The Sebago EMS will have an open house on May 26, and the raffle will be held that day. Tickets can be purchased from rescue members, as well as by contacting Laurie Champagne at 787-3913 or Mike Foye at 787-2799. The proceeds of the raffle will be used to purchase life saving equipment for the rescue vehicle.