Financial Fitness Fair held at Messalonskee High School: New Dimensions FCU hosts mission to provide financial education

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Financial Fitness Fair 2017

Messalonskee High School Gym – Financial Fitness Fair 2017. Contributed photo

On January 17, New Dimensions Federal Credit Union arrived at Messalonskee High School, in Oakland, and set up and put on a Financial Fitness Fair for around 720 students. The mission was to provide education on financial security and basic real-life budgeting concepts. The students chose a profession and were assigned an annual salary and credit score. They then visited several booths such as housing, furnishings, credit cards, autos, student loan debt, and more. The students rounded the booths complete with little twists such as the “Reality Wheel of life” that threw in real-life “curveballs” such as speeding tickets and cell phone repairs. The test was that they had to come back with a balanced budget at the end of the exercise which needed to include a savings plan.

New Dimensions FCU President/CEO, Ryan Poulin, met with Messalonskee High School to discuss the idea and ability to host a Financial Fitness Fair for the students. This was a huge undertaking. “The importance of educating our young people about financial stability and sustainability needs to be a priority. Not enough education is provided in this area and they are not always ready for the real world,” Poulin said.

Contributed photo

Students hold Saluting Our Veterans day at Messalonskee Middle School

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Veteran Tina Richard, right, of Clinton, with keynote speaker U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

Veteran Tina Richard, right, of Clinton, with keynote speaker U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

On November 4, students at Messalonskee Middle School held Saluting Our Veterans Day tribute. The ceremony began with a light breakfast, and the veterans chatting with the students. The veterans then moved to the auditorium accompanied arm-in-arm by a student under a canope of American flags. The Messalonskee High School band played America the Beautiful march, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. A slide show was then presented of the students’ interviews at the Cole Lane Transportation Museum, in Bangor, and many poems were read about what freedom meant to the students. U.S. Senator Susan Collins was the keynote speaker. Collins stressed the fact that veterans possess two distinguishing qualities of integrity and humbleness. VFW Post #1285 announced the winner of the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest, which was followed by a moment of silence and the playing of Taps. The veterans were then escorted from the auditorium at the end of the ceremony with much appreciation and thanks from the students.

Students form a canopy of American flags as military veterans are escorted into the auditorium by students

Students form a canopy of American flags as military veterans are escorted into the auditorium by students

Text and photos courtesy of Tina Richard

Golf Fore Kids’ Sake nets $31,000 for BBBS

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Big Brothers Big Sisters Golf Fore Kids’ Sake

Big Brothers Big Sisters Golf Fore Kids’ Sake raised over $31,000 for mentoring services that benefit local kids facing adversity in Kennebec and Somerset counties. Winning the first place gross prize in this year’s event was Charlie’s Family of Dealerships, from left to right, Charlie Shuman, Stephen Shuman, Ryan Madore and Roger Williams.
Photo by Monica Charette

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine’s 2016 Golf Fore Kids’ Sake, presented by Kennebec Savings Bank, raised  $31,186 to benefit school and community-based mentoring services for children in Kennebec and Somerset counties. Twenty-three teams competed in the 17th annual golf tournament, held September 2 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club. This year’s tournament was again chaired by Nicolas Patenaude, from Kennebec Savings Bank.

2016 Golf Fore Kids’ Sake Tournament Winners:

First gross – Charlie Shuman, Stephen Shuman, Ryan Madore, Roger Williams (Charlie’s Family of Dealerships).
Second gross – Jason Gall, Ed Gall, Mark Plummer, Jim Quinn (Wendy’s).
Third gross – Adam Moran, Mike Wilson, Scott Maccheyne, Gary Schewe (Great Falls Marketing).
First net – Cole Smith, Jacob Bernatchez, Conor Ferguson and Colby Charette (Messalonskee High School Big Brothers).
Second net – Marc Lacasse, Bill Purington, Will Purington, Chip Stevens (Augusta Fuel Company).
Third net – Randy Charette, Jeff Jolicoeur, Bert Languet and Troy Martin (Golden Pond Wealth Management/Century 21 Surette).

Messalonskee High School Big Brothers Team

First place net award was presented to Messalonskee High School Big Brothers Team, from left to right, Cole Smith, Jacob Bernatchez, Conor Ferguson and Colby Charette.
Photo by Monica Charette

Course Challenge Winners:

Straightest Drive – Scott Maccheyne (Great Falls Marketing)
Closest to the Pin Contest – Vito Proietti (Great Falls Marketing)
Putting Contest – Joe Dorazio (Aetna)
Hit the Green Contest – Chris Russell (G & E Roofing)
Chipping Contest – Randy Charette (State of Maine)

A hole-in-one challenge was sponsored by Charlie’s Family of Dealerships. Golfers were treated to breakfast, sponsored by Aroma Joe’s, snacks and water were provided by Pine State Trading and lobster rolls, salads and chowder were served throughout the day by BBBS partner The Red Barn. The event Beverage Sponsor, Valley Distributors, along with Rita’s Catering, sponsored the Awards Reception. An auction with sponsor-donated prizes raised nearly $6,000 and “ShineOnCass” sponsorships, in honor of Big Sister Cassidy Charette who died Oct. 11, 2014, raised $3,000 for local school-based mentoring programs.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine changes the lives of over 700 children facing adversity in Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset and Waldo counties, for the better, forever by providing strong and enduring, professionally-supported, one-to-one relationships. By partnering with parents, volunteers and organizations, children in Big Brother Big Sister programs have higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, avoid risky behaviors and achieve educational success. For more information on volunteering or donating please call 236-BBBS (2227) or email info@bbbsmidmaine.org.

Looking for running space

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Michael Achorn

Messalonskee Youth Football team member Michael Achorn (87) and Drake Brunelle (25) during a recent game vs. Waterville.
Photo by Kevin Giguere,
Central Maine Photography staff

Pelletier to perform with marching band

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Kaitlynn Pelletier, of Waterville, will march with the 2016 Pride of The Valley Marching Band, of Lebanon Valley College, in Annville, Pennsylvania. Pelletier, a graduate of Messalonskee High School, is pursuing a bachelor of science and bachelor of arts in music education and music at The Valley.

The marching band performs at all home football games as well as exhibitions including the Cavalcade of Bands Championships in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and the Collegiate Marching Band Festival held in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

During the upcoming football season, members of the 2016 Pride of The Valley Marching Band will present its show “Rhapsody.” The premise of this year’s show is to take three great pieces of music with the word ‘rhapsody’ in the name and make a great show. “Rhapsody” features music from and inspired by “Rhapsody in Blue,” by George Gershwin, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” by Queen.

Local Students to attend Clarkson University

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The following students will begin studying at Clarkson University this fall, in Pottsdam, New York, as members of the Class of 2020:

Dakota Bragg, of Oakland,  a graduate of Messalonskee High School, is majoring in environmental engineering.

Brooke Davis, of Oakland, a graduate of Messalonskee High School, is majoring in civil engineering.

Friends of Messalonskee Watershed summertime events announced

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Submitted by Rachel Whitney, FOM Program Director

The milfoil harvest season is now underway in various parts of the lake. The Friends of Messalonskee (FOM) report that these areas are under control since they first began operations in 2012. They were awarded by Maine Community Foundation’s Fund for Maine Land Conservation to purchase and deploy burlap benthic barriers over areas affecting the Messalonskee Marsh and two coves in the lake.

They are now based out of Snow Pond Center for the Arts (SPCA), also known as the New England Music Camp, where FOM will be co-hosting some events and learning opportunities for the public and the new charter school.

Summer events include:

  • July 5-6: Ice Cream Social (on the water!). Swing on your boat to our float from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in front of the Music Camp for cold ice cream and beverages.
  • July 17: “All Belgrade Lakes” Fishing Derby. Register easily on their website or pick up a form at the Oakland, Sidney, or Belgrade town offices. $2,500 regular cash prizes plus  a $500 Grand Slam prize.
  • July 17: Maine Appreciation Day & Concert – 3 p.m., at SPCA. They will be selling FOM merchandise.
  • July 22:  Volunteer Day at their new office to fold informa-tional flyers to pass out on the Dock Hop day. 10 a.m. – noon, at SPCA.
  • July 23:  Oakfest! FOM will have a booth selling merchandise and providing information. In the children’s section, divers will assist the kids in making actual loon nests that we will deploy next spring.
  • July 24:  Dock Hop. Please join them by hopping on one of the boats and going dock-to dock informing lake home owners of programs and activities.
  • July 30:  Annual Meet-and-Greet at SPCA where all are wel-come to meet lake neighbors and to learn about FOM efforts on the water. Special speaker this year is Maggie Shannon, of Maine Lakes Society. 4:30 p.m. meeting time, followed by a BBQ at 5:30 p.m., then the Al Corey band at 7:30 p.m.
  • August 4:  Invasive Plant Patrol Workshop. Kayak/ Canoe coves of Messalonskee Lake to ID native and invasive plants!Learn how to be a responder! Some kayaks available, please RSVP.

For more information about the Friends of Messalonskee or any of their events and programs, please visit their website at www.friendsofmessalonskee.com. They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of our precious water system and the education of its users.