O’Rourke promoted to commercial loan officer at New Dimensions FCU

/0 Comments/in , /by

Kyle O’Rourke

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union has announced its new Commercial Loan Officer, Kyle O’Rourke, who has years of lending experience as a Commercial Loan Underwriter and Mortgage Loan Officer.

Directors and the lending staff are excited to have O’Rourke join their team as his experience and wealth of knowledge will be valuable as he settles into his position. His goal is to help as many small business members as he can. He states, “I am truly excited to be working with local business members and being an integral part of their growth. This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am looking forward to diving in. Over my time here at NDFCU this organization has shown me what it means to take care of our members and I am proud to be part of the team.” O’Rourke enjoys the beach and sitting outside by a campfire in the summer and fall months. O’Rourke resides in Waterville with his dog, Molly.

Ryan Poulin, CEO, states, “I am excited to promote Kyle to the Commercial Loan Officer position at New Dimensions.  His passion, experience, and dedication make him the right fit for our business members.”

Rep. Perkins announces local projects in Maine DOT work plan

/0 Comments/in , , /by

State Representative Mike Perkins R-(Oakland) is pleased to announce that the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Work Plan for Calendar Years 2022, 2023 and 2024 is available. The estimated value of work in the plan totals more than 2,316 individual work items with a total value of $3.17 billion. This represents a substantial increase from last year due to anticipated federal funding.

The MDOT Work Plan for House District #77 includes projects in Oakland and Sidney. They include:

• Drainage Maintenance on Route 11 in Oakland,
• Highway Paving on Middle Road in Oakland,
• Bridge and Structural Maintenance on the Town Farm Brook Bridge (Route 104) in Sidney, and
• Highway Paving on Middle Road in Sidney.

“I am pleased to see several projects scheduled for out area over the next three years and throughout Maine,” said Rep. Perkins. “I wish that additional federal dollars would allow DOT to do more. Unfortunately, the federal money will mostly offset the runaway inflation we are experiencing, not go toward the chronic underfunding of our roads and bridges. I understand that, like the rest of us, DOT is trying to do more with less.”

The full work plan, searchable by municipality, is available at the Maine Department of Transportation’s website: https://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/workplan/search/.

Celebrate Earth Day with free trees for kids!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Plant a tree and help the Earth! The Waterville Public Library (WPL) is celebrating Earth Day this spring by participating in the 13th Annual Neighborhood Forest free tree program, whose aim is to provide free trees to kids every Earth Day! To get one, parents can fill out the online registration form.

The tree (6-12 inches in size) will be delivered during Earth Week (April 22-30) to the library where it can be picked up. Planting instructions and species information will be emailed a few days prior to the trees arriving.

To register, visit the Waterville Public Library’s Dedicated Parent Registration page on the Neighborhood Forest website, https://bit.ly/3sNcpe1 or find the Waterville Public Library in the drop-down menu on the school search page on https://www.neighborhoodforest.org/school-search/

For questions or directions to the Waterville Public Library, visit www.watervillelibrary.org, email librarian@watervillelibrary.org, call 207.872.5433, or stop by the Library.

Since 2010, Neighborhood Forest has reached over 100,000 families and planted over 50,000 (mostly urban and residential) trees through the hands of children and parents across North America. We endorse this project and are excited to be participating in this wonderful program that teaches kids stewardship through the magic and wonder of planting and watching trees grow.

For more information about the Neighborhood Forest program: www.neighborhoodforest.org.

Waterville Creates announces Youth Art Month Exhibition and launch of Youth Arts Access Fund

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Waterville Creates, a nonprofit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs in central Maine, is excited to host the 8th Youth Art Month (YAM) exhibition at Ticonic Gallery and Railroad Square Cinema from March 1-31, 2022. Established in 1961, YAM is a national program designed to celebrate visual art education for grades K – 12 with a goal to increase community understanding and interest in art and art education through active participation in exhibitions, workshops, and other creative ventures. This year’s YAM theme is “Art Connects Us.”

This year’s YAM exhibition will include the work of aspiring youth artists from 19 participating schools.

In conjunction with YAM, Waterville Creates announces the launch of the Youth Arts Access Fund (YAAF). Established under the belief that all youth, regardless of income, ability, or background, should have access to outstanding arts programming and arts education opportunities, YAAF is designed to support free admission for youth ages 18 and under to the full range of programming.

For more information on YAM, please visit the website. Ticonic Gallery is free and open to the public Monday – Friday from noon – 5 p.m. Railroad Square Cinema Lobby is free and open to the public Monday-Sunday from 2 – 9 p.m. All gallery visitors are required to wear masks.

More information about the Youth Arts Access Fund, including a link to donate to the fund, can be found on the Waterville Creates website.

YAM 2022 participating schools: Albert S. Hall School, Bloomfield Elementary School, Canaan Elementary School, Carrabec High School, George J. Mitchell School, Madison Elementary School, Madison Junior High School, Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, Maine Arts Academy, Messalonskee High School, Messalonskee Middle School, Mount Merici Academy, North Elementary School, Skowhegan High School, Warsaw Middle School, Waterville Alternative High School, Waterville High School, Winslow High School, Winslow Junior High School.

Trout stocking sale underway; Pre-order deadline is May 6

/0 Comments/in , /by

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District (KLSWCD) is once again sponsoring an annual trout stocking sale for your home or farm pond. We offer two sizes, 4 – 6-inch rainbow trout and 7 – 9-inch brook trout, as well as oxygen bags that hold up to 20 – 30 fish. Minimum order is $50.

To order, you must have a current stocking permit from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W). Permit applications must be on file with KLSWCD before May 19. Please allow two weeks for IF&W to process your application. Permit applications and trout order forms are available on the KLSWCD website at http://www.knox-lincoln.org/trout-sale or contact us to receive one by mail.

Trout sale pre-order deadline is May 6, 2022, with pick-up at noon on May 20, at the District Office, located at 893 West St., (Rte. 90), in Rockport.

For more information, visit: https://www.knox-lincoln.org/trout-sale, call 596-2040, or email info@knox-lincoln.org.

Turner couple raising money to bring Ukraine orphans to Maine

/0 Comments/in , /by

Chelsea and Andrew Davies have been hosting twin orphan boys from Ukraine for the last two years during the summertime. The couple, who lives in Turner, grew concerned over the last few weeks as they learned more about Russia’s threats to invade Ukraine. Chelsea created a GoFundMe account to help with efforts to reunite them with the boys who become like family.

To view the GoFundMe, please visit: https://gf.me/v/c/gfm/bring-our-boys-home-safely.

UNITEL to join Direct Communications family

/0 Comments/in , /by

Photo credit: Barta IV, https://www.flickr.com/photos/98640399@N08/9287370881

Direct Communications of Rockland, Idaho, announced that it has acquired Unitel of Unity, Maine. Direct Communications, a family-owned broadband provider, has been assisting customers with their communications needs since 1954.

The heart and soul of Direct Communications lies in the rural areas that they serve. They bring to Unitel a vast knowledge of fiber construction, networking, and the ability to scale quickly to expand their reach.

“We are thrilled to welcome Unitel to the Direct Communications family,” said Owner of Direct Communications, Tim May. “Our company takes ‘family’ very seriously, and we treat our employees and customers as family as well. We feel that Unitel is the perfect fit for us because of the groundwork that has already been laid in their network, and the relationships that have been forged with current customers and communities.”

Direct Communications plans to hit the ground running and get to work expanding fiber optics and working hard to upgrade the network. The front office will remain in Unity, and there will be no hiccups in service as all original employees will stay in place to keep fulfilling the local communications needs.

“We have no intention of slowing down,” said May. “We know that the employees and community members are eager for us to bring faster internet speeds, we intend to do that as quickly as possible.”

Diocese of Portland removes strong recommendation for masks at Masses in Maine churches

/0 Comments/in , /by

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Effective immediately, the Diocese of Portland is removing the “strong recommendation” for all parishioners to wear masks at Masses celebrated in Maine’s 141 Catholic churches. Those who still wish to wear a mask are welcome to do so.

The recommendation for priests, deacons, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to wear masks during the distribution of Holy Communion is also removed.

In addition, starting on Monday, March 7, masks are optional for participants in parish faith formation programs and students and staff at Maine Catholic schools.

“Masking while indoors was strongly recommended as a concrete expression of love for our brothers and sisters, especially when gathered as the Body of Christ for Mass, said Bishop Robert Deeley. “Our guidance suggests that it is time to take the next step in returning to a more normal celebration of Masses. The diocese is so grateful for the understanding and cooperation in this challenging time.”

As always, if the number of positive cases surges in a specific town, city, or school, mitigation measures, including mandatory masking, could be reinstated.

Spectrum Generations, Capital Area New Mainers Project will help deliver services to underserved in central Maine

/0 Comments/in , /by

Spectrum Generations, Central Maine’s Agency on Aging, has entered into a contract with Capital Area New Mainers Project to expand equity of access to Older Americans Act services to New Mainers in central Maine. This partnership will provide New Mainers who are caregivers or who are over 60 with culturally competent delivery of services including information and referral services, benefits enrollment, caregiver support and respite, and meals on wheels.

“This has been a priority initiative for Spectrum Generations,” said Gerard Queally, President & CEO of Spectrum Generations. “As a community-based organization, we need to ensure all persons living in Maine have equal access to services and must be proactive in removing barriers that may not be obvious to native Mainers. Spectrum Generations looks forward to working with the Capital Area New Mainers Project this year and into the future. From benefits screening and enrollment to services supporting care partners, this will help ensure all have an opportunity to age in place and remain independent.”

“When immigrants and refugees arrive here, they have many obstacles to overcome in order to integrate into our community and thrive,” said Chris Myers Asch of Capital Area New Mainers Project. “This partnership helps us connect New Mainers who are aging or are a care partner to someone aging or living with disabilities with the resources all older adults should be afforded. We look forward to this partnership.”

Area scouts take part in Klondike Derby

/0 Comments/in , /by

The sled. Scouts from China and Winslow show how they were the dogs in the dog team sled pulling. Part of the challenge was to build the sled so it can withstand the event while trying to keep it light. Scouts were also told some items were required to be on the sled for safety, and they could put other items they thought they would need. Some Scouts, who had packed too much, were “dog”-tired by the end of the Klondike Derby. (photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris

Camp Bomazeen, on Great Pond, in Belgrade, saw several inches of new snow, temperatures hovering between 0 and 10 degrees, and a camp full of eager Scouts hunting for gold during the annual Klondike Derby winter activity on Saturday, February 26.

Scouts and Cubs from across Franklin, Somerset, Kennebec and Lincoln counties re-enacted the historic Klondike gold rush on sleds filled with gear and supplies and they were their own sled dog team. They competed as a team at different stations and earned “gold” nuggets by demonstrating teamwork, Scout spirit, and mastery of the skills that are needed to stay alive in the woods in winter.

“Our Scouts have been learning at troop meetings not only how to dress and pack for winter camping but also how to survive in the wilderness,” said Klondike Derby chairman Julie McKenney. “At the Klondike Derby, they put all that training to work at stations such as orienteering, shelter building, fire starting, first aid, fishing, and rescue.”

There were also Scout favorites including rifle shooting, tomahawk throwing and an obstacle course. Cub Scouts had fun with stations for their younger age group including sling shots, big foot walk, and the cardboard sled race. The Winslow Cub pack raced a cardboard box made to look like a dragon.

Skowhegan Troop #485 was one of three troops that earned 158 gold nuggets by the end of the day. Sam Bass­elett lives in Chelsea but is a member of Man­chester Troop #622 and enjoyed the shooting sports range.

Scott Adams of Troop #479, in China, ran the fire-starting station where Scouts had to build and light a fire in the snow and then boil water. Afterwards, they had to properly dispose of their fire area.

Albion Scout Caught his Trap: Trevor Pellerin, of Albion, shows off the mouse trap he caught in the “fishing pond” which was really a challenge to lash a sturdy fishing pole. (photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris)

John and his son Ian Martin, of Augusta Troop #603, show that scouting is a great program for families. (photo courtesy of Chuck Mahaleris)