Front row, from left to right, Jaxon Troxell, Phoenix McLoy, Peyton Ross, Judah Young, Tristan Ware, Cole Bean, Carson Pinkham and Zekhi Alvarez. Middle row, Benjamin Veilleux, Jase Spaulding, Dylan Devlin, Evan Karter, Malakhi Klaiber, Isaac Chase, and Brody Ware. Back row, Gage Eldredge, Donovan Reynolds, Ender Coleman, Alexander Sheehan, Jayce Damron, and Connor Jones. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)
Local girls participate in last year’s ShineOn Saturday. The 9th annual event connects youth girls with Messalonskee girls soccer players for a fun day of skills, games and positive youth mentoring. ShineOn Saturday is held annually to honor and remember former Eagle midfielder and youth mentor Cassidy Charette. The event is free to all interested girls, Pre-K to Grade 5, on Saturday, September 28, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Messalonskee High School Turf Field, in Oakland. To pre-register, visit shineoncass.org. (contributed photo)
(contributed photo)
Cassidy Charette (contributed photo)
Messalonskee High School Girls Soccer and the ShineOnCass Foundation will host its 9th annual girls’ youth mentoring day “ShineOn Saturday”, September 28, from noon to 2 p.m., on the Messalonskee High School Turf Field, in Oakland. The event is held to honor former Messalonskee soccer player and youth mentor Cassidy Charette, who died in a hayride accident October 11, 2014.
Area girls, ages pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, are invited to attend this free event. Soccer skills are not required. In addition to participating in skill building and fun field games, attendees will receive an autographed team poster and a ShineOnCass wristband that earns them Cassidy’s favorite candy, Skittles, at home games and recognition at the Lady Eagles’ Homecoming game. Healthy snacks will be provided at the event.
To assist in planning, please pre-register at shineoncass.org. Walk-ins are welcome.
The ShineOnCass Foundation was created to educate, inspire and empower youth to shine their own light through kindness and volunteer charitable activities. For more information about the ShineOn Saturday event or the Foundation, visit shineoncass.org or email shineoncass@gmail.com.
(contributed photo)
(contributed photo)
For the second year in a row, the American Heart Association’s school-based youth programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, has awarded Palermo Consolidated School a grant to support health resources. This year, the school received $2,199 for a Hands-on Healthy Kitchen/Cooking Mobile Unit. Over the past two years, the Association has provided the school with $4,699 in grants to help enrich the lives of their students and staff. The annual grant program supports schools by funding resources to extend school wellness programs.
“PE/health teacher Lisa Sturgis and the whole Palermo School community came out for a really fun after-school Kids Heart Challenge event with students, staff, and parents to raise awareness of heart disease, learn Hands-Only CPR, and have a good time. The fact they were awarded an American Heart Association grant was icing on the cake,” said Gary Urey, the Association’s Director of School Engagement, Maine.
The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, is helping educators make whole-body wellness a priority by bringing more resources to school campuses. Grant recipients are now able to expand their schools’ wellness offerings with additions such as physical activity equipment, water bottle filling stations and educator training opportunities on their campuses. The application process was open to all schools who participated in the school-based programs in the 2023-2024 school year.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, only 20 percent of kids get enough activity to meet physical activity recommendations.
Both the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are rooted in proven science, which has shown that kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood.
In addition to physical health, the benefits of physical activity for children include improved grades, school attendance and classroom behavior. Physical activity can also help kids feel better, improve mental health, build self-esteem and decrease and prevent conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Funds raised by Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge participants support the American Heart Association’s scientific research and outreach programs, paving the way for improved health outcomes for healthier communities.
Schools are encouraged to register now for 2024-2025 school year. The program provides grant funding twice a year, mid-school year and year end, to provide resources in real time to students. The application for the next round of grants is December 15th if the school completes the Kids Heart Challenge by December. If not, they can apply for the second round of grants by May 31st if their school is participating in the program during the second half of the school year.
To learn more about the American Heart Association’s kid’s initiatives, or to make a donation, please visit www.heart.org/kids. To find out how to get your school involved, contact Gary Urey, the Association’s School Engagement Director for Maine, at Gary.Urey@heart.org.
Western New England University (WNE), in Springfield, Massachusetts, recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of two area students named to the president’s list for the Spring 2024 semester.
They are, Kasen Sirois, of Sidney, who is working toward a BA in communication/media & journalism, and Andrew Mayo, also of Sidney, who is working toward a BSE in civil engineering.
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Winslow’s Natalie Cassiana, competing at the USATF Youth Track and Field championships, held at Cony High School, in Augusta, on August 10.. (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)
The USATF Youth Track and Field Championships took place at Cony High School on Saturday August 10. Over 1,000 youth track & competitors from all around the state of Maine were in attendance for a great day!
Eli Nadeau (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)
Dominic Akoa (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)
Charlie Young (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)
2024 Annual Junior PAL Football Camp. Varsity Coach John Hersom and his high school players volunteer to run a 3 day evening camp (7/30 – 8/1) for youth football players to inspire a love of football. Group photo from the kick off of camp at the Fairfield PAL field with Coach Hersom, his highschool players, and junior camp PAL players: ages 8-10. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)
Lawrence High School Varsity Coach John Hersom and his high school players volunteer to run a three-day camp, July 30 – August 1, for youth football players to inspire a love of football. Group photo from the kick off of camp at the Fairfield PAL field with Coach Hersom, his high school players, and senior camp PAL players, ages 11-12. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)
All incoming freshmen or new students and their parents are invited to attend the Erskine Academy New Student Orientation, on Tuesday, August 27, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym. The administration strongly encourages all incoming students to attend this event as it is an opportunity to become further acquainted with the faculty, facilities, and programs at Erskine. The first day of school for freshmen only will be Wednesday, August 28.
Please contact the school at 445-2962 with any questions.
Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts, recently announced the dean’s list for the Spring 2024 semester.
They are Cole Bazakas, Class of 2027, of Waterville, and Bella Wallingford, Class of 2026, of Oakland.
Olivia Varney
Olivia Varney, of Pittsfield, was selected as the scholarship recipient from a field of applicants.
Varney graduated this spring from the Maine Central Institute High School, in Pittsfield, class of 2024.
Varney was inducted into the National Honor Society and Honor Society for Visual & Performing Arts, as being involved with the student council and Key Club. Outside of her school activities, she has devoted time to a variety of service organizations, including the Paul E. Bertrand Community Pool house revitalization project, Coats Disease, Husky Throw Down, and the Town of Pittsfield Recreation Department.
Varney plans to continue her post-secondary education at Husson University, in Bangor, pursuing a degree in nursing.
Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Ezhaya Memorial Scholarship Committee convenes annually to award the prize to a local graduating senior with an exemplary record of citizenship and community service. Applicants are required to submit an essay on their community involvement, and finalists are interviewed by the Ezhaya Memorial Scholarship Committee.
“We are very pleased to award the 16th annual Ezhaya Scholarship to Olivia Varney,” said Kimberly Lindlof, president and CEO of Mid-Maine Chamber and coordinator of the scholarship. “The committee chose Olivia from an impressive group of accomplished applicants, because her dedication to service and leadership truly reflect Joe Ezhaya’s spirit and generosity.”
The scholarship is awarded by Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce in memory of Joseph Ezhaya, a dedicated community volunteer, and successful candidates share his interest in citizenship and involvement. Recipients must be graduating from a high school in mid-Maine and attending post-secondary school in New England. Awardees receive a $750 scholarship after successfully completing one semester with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher. This amount will be awarded for up to four years, for a total of $3,000.