Kullen Roy, Andrew Marsh, Harper Keenan, Arabella Vorias, Oscar Stanton, and Jacob Thibodeau, on hand for his late sister Emma, received certificates at a recent Old Orchard Beach Town Council meeting for the award winning artwork they drew for the Community Friendly Connection OOB Resource Guide. Jolene Perkins, who has moved from the community, was also an award winner. Courtesy Photo

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Need sewing alternations, car repairs or the help of a handyperson?

Now Old Orchard Beach residents can find all of those services and businesses in one location — from adult day care services to window replacement — and everything in between.

The Old Orchard Beach Community Friendly Connection Resource Guide was a true community effort, from researching resources from A-Z to the artwork drawn by students from Jameson School, including this cover piece by Kullen Roy. Courtesy Image

In Old Orchard Beach, a subgroup of the Community Friendly Connection — Lee Koenigs, Helene Whittaker, Sheila Flathers, David Guay and Laurie Lord — took on the task of building resource guides for the community. They started the work in 2020 and with the help of AARP had 100 copies printed at no cost. Once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Community Friendly Connection’s Pat Brown said they’ll be distributed in the community. For now, the resource guide is available online at: https://www.oobmaine.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif3621/f/uploads/resource_guide_2020_withlinks.pdf.

Because the guide is aimed at Old Orchard Beach residents, the students in the PreK-grade 2 Jameson School provided the art work for the guide, drawing what Old Orchard Beach means to them.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to connect schools to the community,” said JoAnne Dowd, director of instruction and curriculum for Old Orchard Beach schools. “Art teacher Dawn Strandburg was on board — it sounded like great fun.”

Dowd said the children’s art work was hung around the school and then about 50 pieces went on to Libby Memorial Library for display there.

Community members were invited to vote for their favorites. In the end, seven pieces were chosen for inclusion in the resources guide, including the cover piece, the Merry-Go-Round, drawn by Kullen Roy, who earned first place. A memorial to student Emma Thibodeau, who passed away in November, and who drew a picture of Lisa’s Pizza as her submission, is included in the guide.

Now, residents who peruse the guide can view the artwork of some of the community’s youngest students.

“This entire collaboration was so rewarding, the CFC wanted to present each of the students whose artwork is in the guidebook, along with Emma’s parents, a certificate and a framed copy of their art,” said Brown. It was difficult getting that accomplished during COVID, she said but the presentation to the students took place a week ago at an Old Orchard Beach Town Council meeting.

“They were so cute,” said Dowd of the young students. “They were nervous at the Town Council meeting, but they were quiet during the presentation and as the photos were taken. It was a long time coming. It was great.”