FALMOUTH
Recent high school graduate gets scholarship
Falmouth Fire-EMS has awarded a $1,500 scholarship to Alexandra Dowling, a 2022 graduate of Falmouth High School.
This is the scholarship’s third year, created to recognize graduating high school seniors living in the Falmouth community who plan to continue their post-secondary education in the field of firefighting, emergency medical services, nursing, or a related field.
Dowling plans to attend Tufts University this fall.

SOUTH BERWICK
Bank, coffee shop donate $1,500 to food pantry
Partners Bank and Aroma Joe’s recently partnered up to raise $1,511 in funds for the South Berwick Community Food Pantry through sales of a traditional lemonade stand, set-up at South Berwick’s Strawberry Festival on June 25. Lemonade was donated by Aroma Joe’s and served up by a crew of 12 Partners Bank volunteers. Both companies made additional $250 contributions, bringing the total donation to the organization to $2,011.

WESTBROOK
Fund set up to get kids outside
In honor of its 10 year anniversary, WinterKids Downhill 24 has created the Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund to help get even more kids outside and active across Maine and beyond.
For the inaugural year of the fund, WinterKids is granting $25,000 to four organizations that help to address the barriers to healthy outdoor activity, including but not limited to equipment, clothing, and transportation. Winning organizations will be determined by community vote. The top vote-getting nonprofit organization, school, or recreational program will receive $10,000, with runner-up grants awarded to the next three organizations at $5,000 each.
Funds must be used to get more kids outside and active more often. Preference is given to organizations that pitch a plan for the winter season. WinterKids reached upwards of 50,000 kids and teachers last year – and plans to do the same in the coming year.
Applications are open on the WinterKids website through the Aug. 15 deadline. The community voting period is Sept. 1 to 30, with winning organizations announced on Oct. 11.
For further information and eligibility guidelines, visit winterkids.org.

SACO
Baby bottle drive raises over $7,000
A baby bottle drive – held at churches in Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Lyman – has raised more than $7,000 for future parents.
The drive was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, and parishioners at Good Shepherd Parish (comprised of Most Holy Trinity Church, Saco; St. Joseph Church, Biddeford; St. Margaret Church, Old Orchard Beach; St. Philip Church, Lyman; and St. Brendan Chapel, Biddeford Pool) responded by collecting loose change and paper money to stuff in baby bottles for donation to local pregnancy resource centers.
“Proceeds from the collection will be donated to the Alpha Pregnancy Resource Center in Sanford and ABBA in Portland,” said Guy Cadorette of the Knights of Columbus.
For more than 25 years, the Alpha Pregnancy Resource Center has offered a safe and confidential haven to those facing an unplanned pregnancy. The center is committed to serving all clients in a caring manner regardless of age, race, income, religion, nationality, or disability. ABBA is a medically certified women’s pregnancy resource center that offers pregnancy testing, obstetrical ultrasounds, STD testing and treatment, consultations, and women’s health education. The centers offer free and confidential services.

ROCKLAND
Short film competition for middle, high school students open
The Strand Theatre announced its 3rd annual Strand Youth Film Fest (SYFF), which gives young people living in Maine an opportunity to create and submit their own short films.
All filmmakers must be entering grades five through 12 for the 2022-23 school year, or be ages 9 to 18 years old. The junior division includes ages 9-13, and the senior division includes ages 14-18. Participants must live in Maine. Films must be 1 to 5 minutes in length and follow a G or PG movie rating. Submissions must be entered into one of the following categories: narrative (fiction), documentary, music video, or animation. Prizes will be awarded in each film category for both divisions, plus one “Best of Fest” prize. Films must be submitted in .mov or .mp4 format. Only one film per submitter is permitted.
Entries will be accepted through Oct. 31, with awards and a public presentation of the films scheduled for December. Prizes will be awarded by a panel of judges comprised of Strand staff and local film professionals.
For more details and submission instructions, visit the Strand Theatre website at rocklandstrand.com, email: info@rocklandstrand.com, or call 594-0070.