Exploring Nature Club Opportunities in China

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Two Exploring Nature Club participants explore natural surroundings at the China School’s Forest last year. Contributed photo

Local educator and Maine Master Naturalist, Anita Smith, will be facilitating an Exploring Nature Club for children in grades 2 – 6 this spring at The China School’s Forest in China. There will be two sessions, one for homeschoolers and one for the general public. We will be learning about a variety of topics such as trees, pond/macroinvertebrate studies, mammals, adaptations and migration, life cycles, watersheds and geology with fun interactive games and activities. Sessions will be rain or shine, so children are expected to dress for outside conditions, including rain, mud, snow, insects, etc. If RSU #18 is cancelled due to weather, our session will also be cancelled.

  • Naturalist Anita Smith at last year’s Pirate Camp. (Photo courtesy of China School’s Forest)

    Session 1 Homeschoolers – Mondays from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. April 9, 16, 30 and May 7, 14, 21. Parents are welcome to stay with siblings and use the trails while they are in session. Students should bring their own water bottle. Pick up and drop off will be at the dirt parking lot between China Middle & Primary Schools. Look for the dirt drive just before the wind turbine.

  • Session 2 General Public – Mondays from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. April 9, 16, 30 and May 7, 14, 21. China students can stay after school and are encouraged to bring a small after school snack and water bottle. Parents will pick their children up at the Primary School at the end of the session.

Cost is $30 per child for the six session program. Checks should be made out to Anita Smith.

Enrollment is limited to 10 children. If less than 7 children enroll by April 4, the sessions will be cancelled and money will be refunded. There are no refunds given after April 4 if the child cancels. Space will be reserved once payment is received – first come, first served.

For more information call 968-2255 or contact chinaschoolsforest@gmail.com. Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/chinaschoolsforest/.

Attend world champion training

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Huard’s Martial Arts Little Dragon Lane Irish, 7, of Corinna, with World Champion Danny Etkin. Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff

Over 40 young martial arts students from Huard’s Martial Arts, in Winslow, and various invited Dojos attended a special World Champion Martial Arts Training Seminar. This special event with World Champion Danny Etkin, from New York, took place on February 3 at the Community Center, in Fairfield. There were special demos, tricking, open forms, extreme forms and nunchucks. Young martial arts enthusiasts had the opportunity to train with a multi-world champion.

Erskine girls team national winner

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Front row, left to right, Bailey Cloutier, Summer Hotham, Parker King, Tori Grasse, Lydia Boucher, Madison Boynton, Alyssa Hale, Julia Basham. Middle row, Hunter Hoague, Lauren Wood, Joanna Linscott, Chiara Mahoney, McKayla Doyon, Keara Doughty, Isabella Bishop. Back row, Headmaster Michael McQuarrie, Assistant Coach Meghan Hughes, Coach Mitch Donar, Elizabeth Sugg, Madyx Kennedy, Mercedes Tibbetts, MaKenzi Strout, Alyssa Savage, Jordan Linscott and American Cancer Society representative Brian Casalinova (far right). Contributed photo

The Erskine Academy girls varsity basketball team that recently won the national American Cancer Society’s 2018 Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge, by raising $10,000 throughout the 30-day challenge. Over 330 high school basketball teams from across America participated in the program.

CSA Fair at Lithgow Public Library

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Friends of Lithgow Public Library

On Saturday, March 10, from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m,. the Lithgow Public Library will host a multi-farmer CSA Fair. The fair is free and open to the public.

Community Supported Agriculture, also called farm shares, is a great way to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. By pre-paying before the start of the growing season, you support the farmer through the early days and you reap the rewards of the harvest throughout the growing season. You can pick up your CSA box of produce at farmers markets, directly at the farm, or even have them delivered to your home or office. If you are a farmer interested in representing your farm at the fair, please contact Julie Olson, the adult services librarian, at Lithgow Public Library.

Lithgow Library is located at 45 Winthrop Street, in Augusta. For more information, please call the library or visit our website at www.lithgow.lib.me.us.

Dodgeball, basketball tourneys to benefit Jacob Seigars

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Jacob Seigars

The Whitefield Elementary School’s National Junior Honor Society will host its 2nd annual Dodgeball Tournament on Friday, March 2, in the gym, beginning at 2:45 p.m. All proceeds from the tourney will help defray medical expenses for Jacob Seigars, a 13-year-old eighth graders who attends Palermo Consolidated School. He is an honor roll student and a multi-sport athlete, who is currently being treated for leukemia at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, in Portland.

Divisions will be grade 2-5 (2:45 – 4 p.m.; grades 6-8 (4 – 6 p.m.; adult and high school (7-9 p.m.)

Students in grades 6-8 can also join the adult bracket for an additional fee if they wish. The adult bracket includes all high school students and adults.

The cost to participate is $5 per person. Suggested spectator donations are $3 for adults and $2 students.

Registrations are accepted in advance or may be made at the door. Concessions will be available.

Also, a three-on-three basketball tournament will be held to benefit Jacob, on Sunday, March 4. Four member teams will also be accepted. Registration is $50 per team.The tournament will be open to middle school, high school and adult teams.

To simplify the registration process, they are now accepting registration donations at the door. Teams must be registered no later than February 25. If you email prayforjacob18@gmail.com, they will send you a simple registration form that you can complete and email right back. This form will allow them to get you added to the teams list as quickly as possible. There will prizes for teams with more donations raised, most creative uniforms, half court point competition. Each team is guaranteed three 15-minute games. Raffle, bake sale and concessions will also be available.

Lions hold model show

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From left to right, Whitefield Lions Barry Tibbetts, Calvin Prescott and Amanda Stevens.

The 32nd Whitefield Lions Club Model Railroad and Dollhouse show was held Saturday, February 17th at the Augusta State Armory. Whitefield Lion Steven Laundrie, who organizes the event said at least 40 exhibitors were in attendance and hundreds of spectators visited the show.

Contributed photo

Two area boys meet “Gronk” at Barbara Bush Hospital

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by Mark Huard

Thirteen-year-old Jacob Seigars, of Palermo, attended China schools until October 2017 when he transferred to Palermo Consolidated School. He continues to attend Palermo Consolidated via robot generously provided by Grahamtastic.org

Jacob’s mother is Heather Seigars, his father is Joseph (Joe) Seigars and his bonus mother is Natasha Seigars. Jacob has a 15-year-old brother named Shawn, as well as three younger siblings, Achiva (10), Joe joe (7) and Isabella (3). He also has two pets: a yellow lab named Honey and a cat named Shade.

Jacob Seigars, of Palermo, with New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, in Portland. Photos courtesy of Mark Huard

As many know Jacob has a fantastic sense of humor. He can take any situation and find humor, even when it’s a situation that is as debilitating as being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. After being sick with numerous illnesses for about six consecutive weeks, including colds and pneumonia, Jacob was diagnosed with AML on January 15, 2018, and admitted to Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, in Portland, that same day. He has remained an inpatient at Barbara Bush since then and will remain in the hospital for at least a few more months. Jacob completed his second round of chemo­therapy on Feb­ruary 18. He continues to fight Leukemia and is determined to beat the disease.

Jacob is a phenomenal athlete and whatever sport he plays he puts his whole heart into it! He stands out by his skill and his positive nature. Jacob started playing soccer at the age of three, and started playing basketball at the age of four. Jacob started baseball at five years of age with tee-ball and played up through Little League through sixth grade. Jacob joined track and field in sixth grade and continued to compete in seventh grade, also. His best events are discus and hurdles.

Jacob has received a lot of recognition over the years because of his athletic ability and been an integral part of many teams. His middle school soccer team has won the SVAC championship the last two years. His middle school basketball team last season, China Clippers, placed second in the 2017 SVAC championship. Last season Jacob placed first in hurdles at the invitational meet. Jacob recently earned a spot to the Dirigo U14 Premier soccer team and is hoping to get back on the field soon! This season Jacob played for the Palermo varsity basketball team. He was struggling health wise this season but still managed to dominate the court and end each game with “double-doubles” while he was still able to play.

Not only does Jacob love playing sports but he loves watching them as well! Jacob loves watching the New England Patriots play football. His favorite players are Chris Hogan, Deion Lewis, and Gronk. Jacob got a surprise on February 13, when Rob Gronkowski along with his father and two brothers visited the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital to deliver a $25,000 donation to the hospital from Gronk Nation! Jacob’s counts were so low he was unable to attend the gathering and the ball spiking lesson with Gronk, so Gronk and his dad were kind enough to stop by and visit in Jacob’s room!

For more updates on Jacob’s fight and upcoming events please follow www.facebook.com/PrayforJacob18.

A dodgeball tournament has been scheduled by Whitefield Elementary for March 2 and 3v3 basketball tournament for March 4 has been scheduled by Mike Roderick and Becky and Chris Young to be held at Erskine Academy. A donation account has been established at Bar Harbor Bank and Trust. The family’s address is: The Seigars Family, 888 Route 3, Palermo, ME 04354.

William Alger, of Winslow, is pictured with New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, in Portland. Photos courtesy of Mark Huard

William Alger, 12, of Winslow has Cystic Fibrosis. CF is a genetic disorder that causes complications in the respiratory and digestive systems. He typically visits the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, in Portland, for a “clean-out,” which is a 14-day course of antibiotics administered through an IV, once every year or two.

William has been in the hospital since January 31 and recently returned home on February 20. The goals of this admission were to improve his lung function and to gain weight. Healthy weight has a direct correlation to higher lung function in CF patients. William has been busy working through his treatments, with his tutor, keeping caught up on his academics. He has been working hard in physical therapy also – getting lots of exercise to stay strong. He also gets to have some fun with the Playroom staff and other kiddos.

William’s mom Esther Bullard is quoted as saying, “Our time here is filled with sleepless nights, busy days, and an enormous effort to improve William’s overall health outcomes. One of the blessings here at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital is that special guests come and meet with the kids, providing much needed encouragement. Today William got to meet New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski! It was an incredible, unforgettable surprise.”

Gronk was so kind and humble. He took time to talk with William. They chatted about the Super Bowl game, and he asked, “so what’s your favorite sport?” William responded, “well it’s lacrosse,” which was so funny! Gronk wasn’t expecting that answer (obviously), and he said, “that’s cool, I’ve never played lacrosse!” And, of course, William said Gronk was his favorite football player, and that the Patriots are his favorite team.

William got two autographs and some amazing photos. It was a wonderful day for William that will be forever remembered.

William Alger, of Winslow, gets an autograph from New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, in Portland. Photos courtesy of Mark Huard

Godleski named to Genesee Community College Fall 2017 Provost’s List

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Mikayla Godleski, of Sidney, was among 228 students from Genesee Community College, in Batavia, New York, who were named to the provost’s list for the fall 2017 semester.

Andrew Browne makes dean’s list

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Andrew Browne, of Vassalboro, majoring in communication, was among 2,419 students at Coastal Carolina University, in Conway, South Carolina, who made the fall semester 2017 dean’s list.

To qualify for the dean’s list, freshmen must earn a 3.25 grade point average, and upperclassmen must earn a 3.5 grade point average. All students must be enrolled full time.

Coastal Carolina University is a dynamic, public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, near the resort area of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Scrapbooking workshop at Erskine Academy

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The Erskine Academy Class of 2018 will host a scrapbooking workshop to benefit Project Graduation on Saturday, March 3, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., in the Erskine cafeteria. Creative Memories consultant Mary Haskell will be there with how-to workshops, ideas, and materials to purchase. In addition, Kiwi Lane consultant Gail Pottle, Stampin’ Up consultant Jeannine Tarrio, Positively Wonderful Creations consultant Sheila Bacon, A Handmade Occasion consultant Jenny Hansen, and Thirty One consultant Cara Hanson will also be available to demonstrate various techniques and products. The cost of the event is $30 and includes lunch, snacks, and drinks. All participants will also receive a thank you gift for attending.

To register, please send your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and seating preference (i.e. names of other participants you’d prefer to sit with) along with the non-refundable fee of $30 to: Betsy Benner, c/o Erskine Academy, 309 Windsor Road, South China, ME, 04358. Checks should be made payable to Erskine Academy and registration information should be returned by February 26 to ensure a spot. For more information, please e-mail Betsy Benner at bbenner@erskine247.com.