Area teams take part in Battle for Breast Cancer field hockey tourney

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Members of the Winslow field hockey team, front seated, left to right, Leah Pelotte and Lainey Bell. First row, Coach Mary Beth Bourgoin, Bohdi Littlefield, Savannah Joler, Haley Moore, Taylor Rodriguez, Alaina Lambert, Sage Clukey and Alayna Morneault. Back row, Kayla Hanson, Marisa Elwell, Madison Lower, Silver Clukey, Mariah Morrison, Justice Picard, Abby Wright, Kassidy Bibeau, Hunter Lee, Lilly Harvey, Sabrina York, and coach Lori Fredette. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff)

Members of the Skowhegan field hockey team, front row, from left to right, Meredith Mitchell, Samantha Bonneau, Sydney Curtis, Emily Reichenbach, Chloe Dubois, Olivia Hatch, Lexi Michonski, Bhreagh Kennedy, Brooklyn Hubbard, Cheyenne Anthony and Mackenzie McConnell. Second row, Jackie Dodge, Nyah Gunst, Harlee Taylor, Kate Kelso, Paige Gilbert, Logan Wing, Mariah Whittemore, Jordyn Flannery, Norrie Tibbetts, Ella Siren and Laney Leblanc. Back row, Coach Tammie Veinotte, Coach Paula Doughty, Riley Enright, Samantha Thebarge, Kayla Furbush, Rachel Tuck, Hannah McKenney, Zoe Nicholls, Emillie Burchett and Brooke Gilbert. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff)

Share the Road with Carol bike ride slated

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Bicycling enthusiast Carol Eckert was tragically killed in a bike accident in 2016.

Share the Road with Carol is an all ages commemorative bike ride planned for Sunday, September 15, 2019, in Windsor and Whitefield, Maine. The ride, which has 12-mile and 27-mile options, starts and ends at the Windsor Town Office.

This annual ride honors the memory of Carol Eckert, M.D. Carol was tragically killed as a result of a bike accident that occurred in Windsor on October 10, 2016. Biking was Carol’s passion and we invite everyone who feels the same to join us in remembrance of a life well pedaled and to further the cause of bicycle safety in Maine. Register online (https://www.BikeReg.com/share-the-road-with-carol) or at the event from 7:30-8:30am.

There will be one rest stop on the 27-mile ride. Please join us after the ride at the Windsor Town Hall for fellowship, remembrances and light snacks.

Whether you knew Carol or not, this ride is a wonderful opportunity to explore the lovely rolling hills along the border of the Kennebec and Lincoln Counties.

Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/CarolsRide.

United Way of Mid-Maine’s annual Stuff the Bus event a great success

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The Mid-Maine community showed up in force to support local school children on Thursday, August 8, donating about $25,000 worth of school supplies and other classroom essentials at the United Way of Mid-Maine’s Annual Stuff the Bus event.

One supporter shared her story with us: “It wasn’t too long ago that a bag showed up on my doorstep… I was 11 years old… it was filled with school supplies. At the time I couldn’t understand how a garbage bag filled with papers and pencils would make my sweet Momma cry….”

Donations this year included traditional school supplies such as backpacks, notebooks, and folders, and also highly-requested items from local schools: socks, sneakers, tissues, sanitizing wipes, and classroom snacks.

Supplies will be delivered to Mid-Maine school districts over the next two weeks. Families seeking school supplies for their children can contact their school superintendent’s office for information on how the supplies will be distributed.

Kennebec Savings Bank sponsored this year’s Stuff the Bus event, and Maine Technology Group was the media sponsor.

Local youth boxer moving up in the ranks

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Braden Littlefield between rounds of a recent bout listens to his coach, Glenn Cugno, with instructions. (photos by Mark Huard, owner Central Maine Photography)

by Mark Huard

Braden Littlefield, 13, of East Benton, a talented young boxer, fighting out of Cugno Boxing, fought and obtained a unanimous decision win over his opponent at the Lewiston Armory on August 3. He was also the recipient of a belt, given to both Littlefield and his opponent for being the Fight of the Night. The event titled “Gettin’ Gritty in the City,” was promoted by Cugno Boxing and was held in the upstairs gymnasium of the Lewiston Armory.

Braden Littlefield

This is a special space for the Cugno Boxers, because their training space is directly below where the event was held. This is a historic site for Maine Boxing, and this is the first time that a boxing event has occurred in this building since 1999. Littlefield’s coach, Glenn Cugno, fought as a professional fighter in that same arena nearly two-and-a-half decades ago.

Braden Littlefield started boxing in 2016 at the age of 10. He has played sports for as long as he can remember to include baseball and football. Braden has 23 bouts under his belt. He and his coach pride themselves on fighting the very best around. Littlefield prefers to challenge himself by accepting fight with more experienced fighters. Many don’t understand that boxing doesn’t have a defined season like many sports. It is a year round commitment and demands dedication in and out of the gym. Littlefield works four days in the gym and does road and bag work on off days as well.

Littlefield has traveled all over New England fighting in every New England state. He has also traveled to Florida, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia. Littlefield has won the Silver Gloves New England Championships, as well being the Regional champion. He won the Sugar Bert National qualifier in Virginia Beach which qualified him for the national tournament in Kissimmee, Florida, where he made it to the finals and lost a close split decision in the final bout. Littlefield reports his biggest accomplishment to date is winning a bout against a national champion ranked number one in the country. Littlefield also won the New England Jr. Olympic title and went on to fight in the finals at the Regionals at the Olympic Training Center, in Lake Placid, New York.

Littlefield has grown up in Fairfield and Benton, and has a large fan base. He comes from a big family that all support Littlefield’s boxing goals. Littlefield plans to continue to travel and strive for that national championship.

Maine Nightjar monitoring lecture

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Nightjar

Join the Palermo Community Library in welcoming Logan Parker of the Maine Natural History Observatory (MNHO) for a lecture about Maine nightjar monitoring on Thursday, August 22nd at 7 p.m. Nightjars are medium sized nocturnal or twilight-active bird characterized by long wings, short legs and very short bills. Logan, a Palermo resident, is an assistant ecologist and founder of the Maine Nightjar Monitoring Project. This statewide citizen science project is collecting observations of whip-poor-wills, nighthawks, and other nocturnal birds, some of which are facing widespread declines.

Attendees will learn about the natural history of Maine’s nightjars and the efforts involved in monitoring these fascinating birds throughout the state, from Eliot to Calais, Kennebunk to Baxter State Park. The project is currently recruiting volunteers to adopt monitoring routes or simply make observations of nightjars in your own backyard.

The Palermo Community Library is located at 2789 Route 3 in Palermo, Maine and the lecture is free to the public. For questions or more information contact the library at (207) 993-6088​ or palermo@palermo.lib.me.us​.

Live auction and yard sale at St. Giles in Jefferson

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A canoe will be among auction items Aug. 24 at St. Giles, in Jefferson.

A canoe, a table saw, nail guns and other serious tools, three days at an Arrowsic cottage on the water, horseback riding lessons, bicycles, new infant/child gear and clothing, homemade jams and pickles, a basket of green cleaning supplies, QuickBooks help – these are among the offerings at the Saturday August 24, St. Giles Jefferson silent and live auction and yard sale.

Added attractions will include a homemade pie sale, with dozens of choices, with a focus on fruit pies. There will be burgers and hot dogs from Bill’s grill, a homemade children’s quilt, a boat trip on Belfast Bay, home-organization sessions with a professional organizer, an organic produce basket, a new under-seat rolling suitcase, an antique table and lamp, and many “treasures” at garage sale prices.

Hours of the event are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the church hall and under the pines in the church yard. The silent auction will end at noon and the live auction will begin at 12:30 p.m. St. Giles Episcopal Church is located at 72 Gardiner Road, in Jefferson, a quarter mile west of the junction of Gardiner Road (Route 126) and Bunker Hill Road (Route 213). Hope to see you there. For more information, call 549-7872, or 215-3420.

Mid-Maine Chamber gift checks

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Thanks to the generosity of Kennebec Savings Bank, Mid-Maine Chamber Gift Certificheck sponsor, it is able to now offer increased options when purchasing gift checks with the introduction of the $5 check. Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce Gift Checks now come in denominations of $5, $10, $25 and $50.

Mid-Maine Chamber Gift Checks are available for purchase at the Mid-Maine Chamber, M-F, 8A – 5P and can be used at approximately 180 area Mid-ME Chamber member businesses. Since its inception in 1997, Mid-ME Chamber has sold over $1.3 million in gift checks, thereby providing the sale to our member businesses, keeping the money in our local economy.

Author and registered Maine Guide to speak at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library

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Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village.

Earl Brechlin, author and Registered Maine Guide, will speak about his life and works at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library on Sunday, August 25, at 2 p.m. He plans to read from his newest book, Return to Moose River: In Search of the Spirit of the Great North Woods, a collection of essays describing outdoor adventures – white-water canoeing, snowmobiling, backpacking – in many parts of Maine. Return to Moose River won the 2019 John Cole Award for Maine-themed non-fiction.

Earl Brechlin

Brechlin’s presentation includes a slideshow about great figures in Maine’s outdoor heritage. He says that Maine’s land and water conservation programs have been successful, but, “We haven’t done as well preserving the human history and legends that populate these places. Whether it’s the native Americans, early settlers, explorers, loggers or others, you can’t separate the people from the land or the land from the people and we need to do more to celebrate that.”

He will also have books for sale, autographed on request.

The Albert Church Brown Memorial Library is located at 37 Main Street in China Village. The program is open to all at no charge; refreshments will be served.

More information on the guest speaker is available at the “Return to Moose River” Facebook page or www.earlbrechlin.com.

 

 

New Dimension Cruisin’ For A Cure car show raises money for Children’s Miracle Network

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One of the many cars on display during the 6th annual New Dimension Credit Union’s Cruisin’ for a Cure car show, to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. (contributed photo)

The 6th annual Cruisin’ For a Cure Car Show, sponsored by the New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, has announced that this year’s event raised $11,741.55 for the cancer program. With an additional $5,000 award from the Children’s Miracle Network, the new total raised is $16,741.55.

Each year the proceeds from the car show benefit the Maine Children’s Cancer Program (MCCP), an affiliate of The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, and is located in Scarborough. The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals the matched the award.

This year’s event was the biggest event yet with a record-breaking 160 participants who entered their cars into one of the 24 car classes offered. DJ Mike Davis played music from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, the Flamingo Café food table sported lengthy lines all day, and the trophies were accepted with giant smiles and pride one-by-one.

Thank you has been extended to the participants, businesses, and community for their continued support of the Cruisin’ For A Cure Car Show. Additionally, they are thankful to car enthusiasts who proudly showcase their beautiful cars each year.

Grange presents annual awards at Palermo Days

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Ann Bako, right, grand master of the Branch Mills Grange, presents the Spirit of America award to Summer Hotham. (photo by Mary Haskell)

As a part of Palermo Days festivities, the Branch Mills Grange #336 hosted its annual public supper/awards dinner. Every year, the Grange recognizes two deserving individuals. This year, Summer Hotham was the recipient of the Spirit of America Award. The Spirit of America Foundation was created in 1990 to honor volunteerism. Through Erskine Academy’s Community Service Program, Summer has accrued over 248 volunteer hours.

Marylou Sydney McNeil was this year’s recipient of the Grange Award. The purpose of this award is to formally recognize an individual who, although not a Grange member, has volunteered their time and talents for the betterment of The Order. Marylou has used her decorating flair to decorate the tables for public suppers and has helped sort and stage items for the Grange’s flea markets.

Ann Bako presents Marylou Sydney McNeil with the Grange Award. (photo by Mary Haskell)