Vassalboro Community School bus driver Bev Smith, right, was recognized recently for her 40 years of service. Presenting her with a pin is Vassalboro Community School Principal Dianna Gram. Contributed photo
Clockwise from top left: Alysia Farrington, Helainia Lake, Lori Rioux, Grace Parker, Caitlin McGouldrick, Nancy Danforth.
On Sunday, October 1, six area woman from GeVolution Fitness, of Augusta, will be traveling to Norwalk, Connecticut, to compete in the annual Battle of the Belles #8, at Punch Gym, to honor breast cancer awareness month. This is a all woman Strongman competition with partial proceeds going to the Bennett Cancer Center in, Stanford, Connecticut.
Alysia Farrington, of China, Lori Rioux, of Winthrop, and Grace Parker, will be competing in the masters division; Helainia Lake, of Augusta, will be competing in the light weight open; Nancy Danforth, of Gardiner, and Caitlin McGouldrick, of Augusta, will both be competing in the heavyweight novice division.
Implements competing with will be axel clean and press for reps, axel deadlift for reps, farmers carry for 100 feet, yolk walk with keg carry, and Atlas stone to shoulder.
All parents of Erskine Academy students are invited to attend fall Parent/Teacher Conferences on October 4 and 5, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Progress reports will be emailed to parents by October 3.
For those parents who have not yet submitted a primary email address, please stop by the Guidance Office for a printed copy of your student’s progress report. No appointments are necessary as teachers will be available to speak with parents in their respective classrooms. However, to avoid long waiting lines, two separate evenings have been scheduled:
The sports boosters will also have items available to purchase on both evenings.
Contact the Guidance Office at 445-2964 with any questions or concerns.
Phil Haines
1945 – 2017
VASSALBORO – Dr. Philip “Phil” Wills Haines, 72, passed away Saturday, September 23, 2017, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. He was born July 19, 1945, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the son of Bernard S. and Elizabeth S. (Matlack) Haines.
Phil grew up in Maple Shade, New Jersey, attended Moorestown Friends School (New Jersey) and graduated from Westtown School (Westtown, Pennsylvania) in 1963. Phil then graduated from Union College with a bachelor of science degree in 1967, and earned a master’s degree in chemistry from Purdue University in 1969. Later, in 1982, Phil earned a Doctorate of Public Health from the University of North Carolina.
While working in a chemistry lab at Yale University, Phil met Susan Pitcher, and they married in New Haven in 1970. Phil and Sue moved together to Vassalboro in 1972, buying the home on Bog Road where they raised a family, tended a large vegetable garden, and enjoyed the woods on foot and on crosscountry skis.
Phil was a kind, caring, dedicated leader in the workplace who strove to ensure that his colleagues and associates received the support and recognition they deserved. He worked tirelessly in support of public health across Maine. He was employed by the Maine Bureau of Health in 1972 as a chemist in the Laboratory of Public Health, then promoted to assistant director after earning his doctorate degree, and eventually to Director of the Laboratory of Public Health. He was later promoted to Deputy Director of the Bureau of Public Health and served as acting director for the bureau for periods of time. Dr. Dora Mills, director of the Bureau of Health and a colleague of Phil’s for a number of years remarked that “Dr. Haines was an authentic, thoughtful leader who was dedicated to ensuring everyone received the support they needed to succeed. He worked tirelessly for public health in Maine, including these last few months to protect public health nursing. He also was gifted with a wonderful and contagious smile and laughter that cheered everyone around him.”
Throughout his life, Phil was devoted to both family and community. He energetically supported community and town functions, serving in numerous capacities throughout his life in Maine including: 16 years on the Vassalboro Board of Selectmen, many years on the budget committee and sanitation district trustees; more than 30 years as fireman and as treasurer of the Vassalboro Fire Department; treasurer of the Vassalboro Friends Meeting, Webber Pond Association and Tilton Lane Association; and ten years on Delta Ambulance Board of Directors (including time as President).
Another of Phil’s passions was enjoyment of the outdoors with loved ones. This began with childhood trips to Maine, hiking, canoeing and sailing. Later, Phil and Sue enjoyed introducing these activities to their children, exploring the forest behind their home as well as woods, streams, and mountains across Maine and elsewhere. Particular highlights included numerous trips paddling down the Allagash River, hiking up Mt. Katahdin, camping at Acadia National Park, and sailing on Webber Pond and Penobscot Bay.
Phil is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan (Pitcher) Haines, of Vassalboro; two sons, Josh Haines and wife Heather, of Acton, Massachusetts, and Seth Haines, of Boulder, Colorado; grandsons, Henry and William Haines, of Acton, Massachusetts.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 1 – 2 p.m., at the Vassalboro Community School, under the care of the Vassalboro Friends Meeting. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association of Maine, 122 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330-5689 or the Kennebec Land Trust, PO Box 261, Winthrop, ME 04364.
Select students have been named to the Spring 2017 dean’s list at Roger Williams University, in Bristol, Rhode Island. Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits per semester and earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher are placed on the Dean’s List that semester.
Area students include Jordan King, of Liberty, and Michael Oliveira, of Waterville.
On August 19, Rusty Sugg, of Palermo, along with over 250 first-year University of Vermont students, were led by 80 upper class peers as they began their UVM experience as part of the UVM TREK program, a unique, seven-day first year enrichment program sponsored by the University’s Department of Student Life.
Sugg participated in Rock Climbing TREK. A part of the Wilderness TREK program which provides students the opportunity to build lasting friendships, initiate self-discovery, and explore the people and landscapes that are Vermont. Rock Climbing TREK provides incoming students an opportunity to learn the basics of rock climbing — from safety, equipment, belay techniques, climbing techniques and top roped anchor system while visit legendary rock climbing sites throughout Vermont and the Adirondacks.
Kenneth G. Priest II will present the History of Kenway Corporation on Thursday, October 5, at 6:30 p.m., at the Palermo Community Library, at 2789 Route 3, Palermo. The event is co-sponsored by the Palermo Historical Society and the Palermo Community Library.
After serving in the Air Force in World War II, Kenneth G. Priest founded Kenway Boats in his garage, building wooden run-abouts of his own design. Located at the junction of the South Liberty and Banton roads, in Palermo, Kenway provided employment to many local resi-dents to work in the boat-building shop. Kenway became a valued and respected business in Palermo and the surrounding areas.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, please contact www.palermohistorical.org or Palermo Library at 993- 6088, www.palermo.lib.me.us.
St. John Regional Catholic School
In observance of the 10th anniversary of the creation of Corpus Christi Parish, which consists of the com-munities of Fairfield, Oakland, Vassalboro, Waterville and Winslow, a Family Fun Day was held on September 17, at St. John Regional Catholic School, in Winslow. Nearly 400 parishioners and friends attended the all-free outing. Also, the previous day, according to pastor Rev. Dan Baillargeon, over 35,000 pounds of e-waste was collected at Notre Dame Church, in Waterville, raising approximately $1,600 for the Catholic Charities fight against poverty in Maine.
Kennebec Retired Educators Association (KREA) will award three $150 grants to educators in Kennebec County schools. The KREAtive grants supplement expenses incurred in student-centered, interdisciplinary projects and may be expended for materials used in the classroom, speakers’ fees, project development expenses, etc.
Grant description and applications are being disseminated to every principal of all elementary, middle, and high schools. The principals are then asked to make them available to their classroom teachers.
“Even though we are not actively teaching in the classroom anymore, for many of us that is where our hearts remain long after we retire,” says Rosanna Joseph of Waterville, chairperson of the innovative KREAtive Classroom Grant Committee and retired Winslow elementary teacher.
“We just want to give back to our schools and students in as many ways as possible,” says committee member Phil Gonyar of Waterville where he served as chairperson of the high school social studies department. Having also served as superintendent of schools in Bangor, Gonyar initiated the annual grant project in 2014.
Grant applications must be submitted by email to gldavis56@yahoo.com or be postmarked by October 30 to KREAtive Grant Committee, c/o George Davis, 12 Fieldstone Drive, Waterville, ME 04901. The deadline for submitting the grant application is October 31, 2017. The winning applicants will be notified by December 1, 2017 and will receive the grant money at that time.
KREA is comprised of retired educators from 54 schools in 31 cities and towns.
St. Lawrence University, in Canton, New York, has welcomed Saige Knight, of Oakland, as a member of the class of 2021. Knight attended Messalonskee High School.