Welch receives MPA principal’s award at Carrabec High School

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Brooke Welch

Brooke Welch, daughter of Dereck and Aaron Welch of North Anson, a senior at Carrabec High School, has been selected to receive the 2022 Principal’s Award, according to Prin­cipal Timothy Richards. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals’ Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior’s academic achievement, citizenship and leadership.

According to Richards, Ms. Welch has distinguished herself as a leader for her class, a role model for her peers, and an athlete on the court and on the field. She always has a smile on her face and has a positive attitude. Brooke is hard-working, kind, and humble, all of which will ensure her future success. She is also very involved in her community, volunteering for many events, always willing to lend a hand.

Strong and focused, Brooke has not only thrived in the sports world, but has taken honors courses, as well as, AP and Dual Enrollment classes, and was March 2022 Student of the Month.

For all of these reasons, Richards is proud to announce that Brooke Welch is the Carrabec High School MPA Award recipient for 2022. Brooke can attend a LIVE Virtual Event on April 1, 2022, where she will be eligible to be selected for one of ten scholarships.

NORRIDGEWOCK: King Foundation grants extrication equipment to Fire Department

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Lt Josh Corson (cq), left, and Firefighter Andrew Dexter of the Norridgewock Fire Department. (Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel)

NORRIDGEWOCK, ME — The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation awarded $40,000 to the Norridgewock Fire Department for the purchase of vehicle extrication equipment. The four pieces of equipment – spreader, cutter, ram, and stabilization struts will support a more efficient process of freeing patients from life-threatening conditions, most usually as the result of a motor vehicle accident. This grant enabled the Department to replace equipment that was 21 years old.

“We are extremely grateful to the STK Foundation for supporting our important project. The new battery-operated Hurst tools will speed the extrication process and eliminate the complications of working with older technologies. We are eliminating a gas-powered motor, hydraulic pump, hoses and fittings, all while upgrading our ability to cut modern metal alloys found in late model motor vehicles. The positive environmental impact is also a bonus,” said Deputy Chief Todd Pineo.

The equipment has been added to Engine 21, a 2019 Pierce Responder pumper, which is the customarily the first apparatus to deploy to an accident scene.

Town Manager Richard LaBelle expressed great thanks for the grant. “Acquiring this new equipment would not have been possible without the support from the King Founda­tion. These lighter-weight, portable tools will help our crews respond quickly to emergency calls and provide them with the right tools to do the job. This grant benefits not just the people of Norridgewock, but anyone who may travel through town.”

The equipment being replaced, through the generosity of this grant, will be donated to a Somerset County fire department in an effort to assist another rural, mutual aid partner.

About the Norridgewock Fire Department:

The Norridgewock Fire Department serves the Towns of Norridgewock (pop. 3,249) and Mercer (pop. 664) for a total of 78.57 square miles.

Hanson, Blaney big winners at Battle of Maine

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Crowd at the Battle of Maine in Waterville. (photo by Mark Huard)

by Mark Huard

WATERVILLE, ME — The 40th Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships took place at Champions Fitness Club, in Waterville, on Saturday March 26, and helped support the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals here in Central and Northern Maine.

Jackson Hanson, 9, of Clinton, captured first place in forms, first place in weapons and first place in fighting. Hanson also captured the overall 12 & under Weapons Grand Championship title. (photo by Mark Huard)

It was a packed Champions and Elm Plaza parking lot, with around 340 competitors and close to 1,000 spectators from around Maine and New England. The Battle kicked off at 8:30 a.m. with the full contact padded sword fighting competitions.

At 10:15 a.m. opening ceremonies began with an amazing National Anthem sung by Rebecca Pushard. This was a special day since the event hasn’t been able to be in person for the last couple of years. Everyone was in great spirits and happy to be back to in person competition.

After the National Anthem, hundreds of prizes were thrown into the crowd for all of the kids to catch! The tournament then proceeded a special demo by world champions and then with forms, weapons forms and fighting competitions throughout the day.

Special thank you to Central Maine Motors and Hammond Lumber for being a major sponsor of the Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships.

Boston Blaney, 9, of Winslow, captured first place in fighting at the Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships. (photo by Mark Huard)

China Village Volunteer Fire Department appoints new chief

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China Village VFD newly-appointed fire chief, Joel Nelson. (photo by Eric W. Austin)

by Eric W. Austin

CHINA, ME — Let me introduce you to Joel Nelson, China resident and the new fire chief for China Village Fire Department. He strikes an imposing presence on first acquaintance, standing over six-feet tall and broad-shouldered. Soft-spoken and thoughtful, Nelson told me a bit of his life in China and his plans for the China Village Volunteer Fire Department.

Nelson takes over from longtime fire chief and former state representative, Tim Theriault, who will stay on as deputy chief. Raised in Winslow, Nelson moved to China in 2016 with his wife Elana, who works as an occupational therapist. They are expecting their first child, a boy, within the next several weeks.

Nelson attended Winslow High School, graduating in 2004, before going to Kennebec Valley Community College, (KVCC), in Fairfield, and then Thomas College, in Waterville, where he completed a degree in Business Management. During the day, he works for Sheridan Construction, in Fairfield, as a project manager.

He brings a wealth of experience to the job. Aside from his background in business and project management, Nelson served with the Winslow Fire Department during high school and, since 2006, with the Albion Volunteer Fire Department, where he is currently deputy chief.

Nelson sees the volunteer fire department as an integral part of the community. He says, “We’re here in a time of need to help our neighbors and surrounding communities. Whether it’s an emergency or not, we’re here to support people and do what we can to help them.”

Nelson says there is a lot of work involved in running the department beyond just responding to emergency calls. That work includes monthly meetings, sending trucks out for annual pump testing, SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) testing, hose testing and training sessions for fire fighters. “There’s a lot of behind the scenes work that goes on here that people driving by don’t realize is going on,” he says.

The China Village Fire Department handles fire and emergency calls for everything north of Cross Road, while the South China Fire Department responds to calls south of that line, and Weeks Mills Fire Department covers Dirigo Road, Deer Hill Road and nearby areas.

While the China Village Fire Department has 24 members on the current roster, they are always looking for additional volunteers with the courage to fight fires and give back to their community. The squad meets every second Tuesday of the month when they discuss department business and conduct training sessions. Anyone is welcome to stop by to see what it’s all about. Prospective fire fighters will need to complete a 6 – 8 month (every other weekend) training course which, in recent years, has been offered by the fire department in Waterville. Support persons, who may not be directly involved in firefighting, but can help with fundraising for the department, or directing traffic at the scene of an accident, are also needed. Interested parties are invited to contact Nelson by phone, at 877-5911, by email at chinafd214@gmail.com, or through their Facebook page.

EVENTS: Gibbs Library presents students art exhibit from Prescott Memorial Elementary School

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Gibbs Library in Washington, ME. (photo from: librarything.com)

The Gibbs Library presents the 17th Annual Student Art Exhibit featuring the wonderful work of the student artists from Prescott Memorial Elementary School. Art Teacher Anthony Lufkin has guided the students, using a wide range of materials and cultural art forms, to express their creativity in these remarkable works. The pieces, representing all of the K-6 students, were selected and artfully framed and displayed by Mr. Lufkin. If you are in need of some inspiration or maybe a smile or two, come to the Gibbs and enjoy. They will announce a reception as soon as risk levels permit. The show runs through March and April.

The Gibbs Library is located at 40 Old Union Road, in Washington Village, and is open on Monday 4 – 7 p.m.; Tuesday 9 -noon and 4 – 7 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 3 -6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 pm. Phone (207)845-2663. Email info@gibbslibrary.org, Website: https://www.gibbslibrary.org/.

EVENTS: Battle of Maine set for March 26, 2022

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Carter Couturier, of Winslow, left, practices with Keegan Miranda for the upcoming Battle of Maine. (photo by Mark Huard)

The 40th anniversary of the Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships will be taking place on Saturday March 26, 2022, at Champions Fitness Club, in Waterville. Spectator Tickets are $10. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and will feature forms, fighting and weapons competitions throughout the day. The Battle of Maine has supported the Children’s Miracle Network for many years and has helped raised over $80,000. The city of Waterville Mayor Jay Coelho has proclaimed Saturday March 26, 2022, as Martial Arts Day.

Endicott College announces local dean’s list students

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Endicott College, in Beverly, Massachusetts, the first college in the U.S. to require internships of its students, is pleased to announce its Fall 2021 dean’s list students. In order to qualify for the dean’s list, a student must obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.5, receive no letter grade below “C,” have no withdrawal grades, and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits for the semester.

The following students have met these requirements:

Alana York, of Palermo, majoring in business management, is the daughter of Cheryl York and Andrew York.

Kristen Dube, of Sidney, majoring in nursing, is the daughter of Sarah Dube and Robert Dube.

FAIRFIELD: Town to hold public hearing to review PFAS report on drinking water expansion

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Looking south down Main St., in Fairfield. (Internet photo)

The Town of Fairfield will be holding a public hearing at the Fairfield Community Center, located at 61 Water Street, on Wednesday, March 23, at 6:30 p.m., to discuss the recently completed report by Dirigo Engineering and associated options for extending public drinking water. At the hearing, members of the public will have the opportunity to review potential changes to public water infrastructure within the town.

Community members and residents are encouraged to attend in-person, with a virtual hearing option available as well.

“Providing a public forum for the town’s residents to understand the proposed project and report will assist the Town of Fairfield in educating the public, achieving clean drinking water goals, and addressing impacts related to PFAS contamination,” states Fairfield Town Manager Michelle Flewelling. “The town’s priority is and will continue to be the well-being of its residents, and allowing the public to ask questions and submit feedback will help address this challenge going forward.”

Hired through a recent RFQ process, Dirigo Engineering has completed a feasibility report to assist the town with determining necessary water infrastructure extensions needed within the bounds of the municipality. Dirigo Engineering, based in Fairfield, is a consulting firm that provides professional services through civil engineering, with specialties including wastewater engineering, environmental services, and water supply engineering.

Additional information regarding the municipality’s ongoing PFAS investigation, including the Dirigo Engineering Report, can be found on the town’s website: www.fairfieldme.com.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Town of Fairfield at 207-453-7911 or info@fairfieldme.com.

Dirigo Labs announces selection as AWS activate provider

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photo credit: Dirigo Labs

Dirigo Labs, Maine’s newest accelerator program, has been designated as an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Activate Provider, allowing Dirigo Labs-based startups and entrepreneurs to access exclusive benefits to help accelerate growth as they build their respective businesses. The accelerator, launching its first cohort in March, will host appro­ximately 10 Maine-based startups representing a range of industries including biotechnology and information technology.

Startups affiliated with Dirigo Labs who are building or about to start building web-based programs on AWS may apply for the AWS Activate Portfolio and receive free AWS credits, technical support, training, resources, and more. Inclusion in the Activate program differentiates the Dirigo Labs accelerator as an important solution to the maturation of startups building and scaling their companies on AWS.

“Being designated as an AWS Activate Provider will allow Dirigo Labs participating founders access to an exclusive toolset to help them succeed at every stage of their development,” states Dirigo Labs Managing Director Susan Ruhlin. “We welcome all cohort members to take full advantage of these incredible benefits.”

Dirigo Labs will offer a 12-week curriculum for seed-stage entrepreneurs scaling their startups. Topics will include product development, fundraising strategies, revenue modeling, and pitch refinement. Utilizing regional assets to encourage job creation and retention while improving access to capital for startups, Dirigo Labs is building an innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and showcases central Maine as a destination for business development and success.

“Joining an impressive portfolio of AWS Activate Program companies, including Coinbase and Toast, Dirigo Labs will provide opportunities and services to startups in our accelerator that they wouldn’t have had access to before, such as AWS Cloud credits, AWS business support, and access to the Activate console to help their business prosper,” elaborates Central Maine Growth Council Development Coordinator Sabrina Jandreau. “We look forward to working with our startups to utilize these opportunities while supporting rural business development for years to come.”

Startups and potential mentors interested in learning more about Dirigo Labs and submitting an application can visit www.dirigolabs.org.

Dirigo Labs is a regional startup accelerator based in Waterville, Maine. With a mission to grow mid-Maine’s digital economy by supporting entrepreneurs who are building innovation-based companies, the Dirigo Labs ecosystem brings together people, resources, and organizations to ensure the successful launch of new startups. Dirigo Labs operates under Central Maine Growth Council and is supported by several organizations, academic institutions, and investment firms.

Hedrich inducted into National Association of Conservation District’s Hall of Distinction

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Mark Hedrich

Both the Knox-Lincoln SWCD Board of Supervisors and staff, and the Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) Executive Committee have announced that Mark Hedrich, of Agricola Farms, in Union, has been accepted by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) for entry to their Hall of Distinction in 2022.

Mark’s service and contributions span local, state, and national conservation. His volunteer leadership in chairing the Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District for multiple decades—36 continuous years of service—has impacted the local area through identifying and addressing natural resource priorities, highlighting and  assisting with resource concerns unique to the region, as well as supporting education and outreach to inform local landowners of services available, funding opportunities, and issues important to landowners of all levels; from recent landowners to beginning farmers to diverse operation property owners/managers.

When not farming in Union, or assisting Knox-Lincoln SWCD or MACD, Mark can be found at Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry as the nutrient management specialist where he assists producers with nutrient management planning, solar pasture endeavors, irrigation, and compost management statewide.

In addition, Mark’s knowledge of farm operations, resources, permitting requirements, and soil health provide important input and recommendations for creating and updating informational resources – published documents, brochures, and Best Management Practice guides – provides the agricultural community with vital material statewide.

As an expert in carcass composting, Mark has assisted in helping the agricultural community on a national level, as well. He is a recognized USDA Compost Subject Matter Expert. As such, Mark was deployed in 2018 to North Carolina to assist poultry operations recover after Hurricane Florence where he worked directly with growers to supervise poultry losses (broilers) through composting. Mark’s expertise and willingness to deploy is important during these types of catastrophic events to ensure sustainability and safety on site during devasting animal loss.

A member of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts Executive Committee, Mark makes recommendations and offers guidance to advance the profile and public awareness of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. With long-range awareness to conservation methods, common sense approach decision making, and skills that provide extensive assistance, Mark Hedrich more than deserves the recognition of the National Association of Conservation Districts Hall of Distinction.

For more information about NACD and the Hall of Distinction, please see: https://www.nacdnet.org/about-nacd/nacd-history/hall-of-distinction/. For more information, please call Julie at 596-2040 or email julie@knox-lincoln.org.