Colby students for mutual aid created

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Lorimer Chapel at Colby College.

This GoFundMe was created to support an ongoing fund by Colby College students for mutual aid. The organizers are students passionate about building a community within the Colby student body and alumni network where they can support the students most impacted by COVID-19 and Colby’s reopening. The fund is specifically benefiting students of color, first-gen low-income students, and queer and trans students. All donations will go directly to students for specific needs such as flights, groceries, and text-books

“As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the United States, marginalized communities are impacted the most. With Colby’s reopening, we must ensure these students have the support and abilities to return to Colby or choose to do remote learning without a significant financial burden.” says the fundraiser organizers.

Contact info can be found here:

https://www.instagram.com/colbymutualaid/

https://www.facebook.com/colbymutualaid/

To view the GoFundMe, please visit: https://gf.me/v/c/z4lq/2022-colby-mutual-aid.

CENTRAL ME: Check before giving to Ukraine relief efforts

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News reports of Russia’s attack on Ukraine may encourage concerned individuals to reach out and help victims affected by the conflict.

Before giving, go to BBB’s Give.org for tips on how to best help Ukraine relief activities. Among other things, it notes that not all relief organizations will be able to provide timely assistance unless they already have a presence in Ukraine. For additional advice as well as a list of BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., meet all 20 BBB Charity Standards) raising funds to help, visit tips for donating to Ukraine relief. List is provided below. As the Russian invasion of Ukraine has begun, concerns grow about current and potential emergency needs of the Ukraine people. Generous donors want to help by supporting charities that are raising funds for assistance. BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips for donors to consider along with a list of BBB Accredited Charities that have announced Ukraine-related activities or plans on their websites.

We certainly encourage generosity to help the people in Ukraine.

The following nationally-soliciting charities are BBB Accredited (i.e., they meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability). Their respective websites indicate they are either currently raising funds for assistance efforts in Ukraine or preparing for needs that could arise if conflict results in population displacement.

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

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.