The 2022 U14 Winslow girls soccer team, front row, from left to right, Mirra Meak, Davanee Kimball, Isabella Loubier, Olivia Coldwell, Maria Moumouris and Tenley Nadeau. Back, Head coach Sim Meak, Meredith Tyler, Elaina Rioux, Hayden Breton, Elsie Spear, Alexandria Young, Kera Bilodeau, Assistant coach Joshau Giroux and Kayla Giroux. Absent from photo Mikaylka Achorn. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)
Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)
Vassalboro school board members got positive reports on the opening of school and the financial situation at their Sept. 20 meeting.
Principal Ira Michaud reported that staff members and students are starting the fall semester cheerfully. Eliminating masking and distancing requirements helped, he wrote: “For the first time in over two years school feels more relaxed and everyone feels more connected.”
Soccer games are under way and after-school clubs will be starting in early October.
Finance director Paula Pooler reported that the 2022-23 budget shows no problems. The unaudited 2021-22 budget, for the fiscal year that ended June 30, says the undesignated fund balance increased substantially, to over $1.2 million, she said.
Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer contrasted that preliminary figure with 2018, when the school department had a deficit of more than $250,000.
Pooler said part of the money came from additional state revenue during the pandemic. Another substantial portion is pandemic related, but less happily: school officials saved about $145,000 in payroll, because they were unable to fill positions.
Pooler does not expect such positive numbers in the future. School officials will make recommendations for using the surplus as part of 2023-24 budget planning.
Jennifer Lizotte joined board members to talk about the before and after school daycare program that has been housed at Vassalboro Community School for many years. There is less space for the program this year, raising questions about the agreement with school authorities.
Lizotte said the program operates weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to about 5:30 p.m. Currently 44 youngsters are enrolled, and she has a growing waiting list.
School board members agreed the service is valuable to Vassalboro parents. They will continue to monitor the situation.
The next regular Vassalboro school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Oct. 20.
Reminder to submit school lunch application
A reminder to all parents of Vassalboro Community School students: if you have not yet filled out and sent in your application for free and reduced-price school meals, please do so as soon as possible.
And do not be dismayed if you get a rejection: your children attending VCS will still get free breakfasts and lunches, because Maine is one of two states providing free school meals (California is the other).
The applications are important, officials said at the Sept. 20 school board meeting, because the number of qualified students determines the level of funding VCS receives under the federal Title One program and some state funding programs. Underreporting means VCS will not get its fair share of outside funding.
Malcolm Gilliland, Jace Elliott, and Kaiya Stevens ride a float for Junior PAL team VFW in the Lawrence Homecoming Parade on September 16. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)
Albion’s Junior PAL cheerleading team for Kennebec Timber Framing during the Lawrence Homecoming Parade, on Friday Sept 16. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)
Kahl Bolster, (36), of Clinton, maneuvers out of a close tackle by Keon Tae Stevens (12), of Benton, and gains a first down during the opening PAL Football Frenzy Game, on Sunday, September 4. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)
Fairfield PAL football team member Christopher Roy, (81), of Albion, makes a touchdown for his team during the Junior PAL Football Frenzy on Sunday, Sept. 4. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)
The Lawrence High School, of Fairfield, girls varsity soccer team, clockwise from bottom left, Hannah Burgess, Zoie Ward, Maddie Kissinger, Mya Williams, Olivia Cleaves, Kylie Yeomans, Zoe Hutchins, Kelsey Smith, Taylor Levesque, Kylie Delile, Alexis Williams, Paige Cyrus, Taylor Pellerin, Cyile Henderson, Brooklyn Allen , Whitney Churchill, Libby Boutin, Molly Cleaves and Desiree Clements. (photo by Missy Brown/Central Maine Photography)
Carrabec High School
Grade 12, high honors: Cheyenne Cahill, Sean Olson, Courtney Rollins, Seth Sayles and Cassidy Smith; honors: Lilly Augustine, Emma Baker, Julia Baker, Roger Beaulieu, Alexander Cloutier, Xavier Cloutier, Charlee Davis, Kiera Goodale, Autumn Ladd, Trinity Slate, Devon Spencer and Ethan Wyman.
Grade 11, high honors: Luke Carey, Joel Gehrke and Conner Peabody; honors: Jessica Benedict, Robert Lindblom, Jr. and Caitlyn Oliver and Faith Willette.
Grade 10, high honors: Kolby Carpenter, Devyn DeLeonardis, Cooper Dellarma, Brooke-Alexis Dube, Molly Hay and Emma Junkins; honors: Jayden Cates, Riley Crocker, Summer Lindblom, Dillon Nelson and Hailey Wyman.
Grade 9, high honors: Haley McFadyen, Machaon Pierce and Desmond Robinson; honors: Jeremy Barcelos, Logan Caldwell, Mason Courtney, Oakley Friend, Kobi Jennings, Seth Price, Levi Small and Brooks Sousa.
Winslow 9-10 year-old boys captured the state championship in the 4×100 relay at the USATF State Track Meet, held on Saturday, August 13, at Cony High School, in Augusta. From left to right is Dominic Akoa, Trafton Nadeau, Cooper Grant, and Zachary Katz. (Central Maine Photography Photo)
Winslow 11-12 Boys won the state championship in the 4×100 relay at the USATF State Track Meet, held on Saturday, August 13, at Cony High School, in Augusta. This was the second year in a row that Winslow won the age group relay at the state meet. Nixon and Kaiser were on last year’s relay as well. They were seeded at a 1:01.44 going into this meet and ended up with their best time of 59.86. From left to right, Larsen Ronco, Kaiser Stewart, Coach Kenneth Nadeau, Weston Pappas, and Nixon Souviney. (Central Maine Photography photo)
The 4th annual Vassalboro Community School supplies drive, held on August 27, at the North Vassalboro Fire Station, was another success this year. (photo courtesy of Don Breton)
(photo courtesy of Don Breton)
(photo courtesy of Don Breton)
Front row, from left to right, Marilyn Patterson Bouchard, Pauline Harding Gorham, Angie Fortin Loftus, Linda Pomerleau, Nancy Knauff Atkins, Louise Lord Proulx, Mary Ann White, Eva Couture Michaud and Cheryl Abbott. Back, Buz Brown, Peter Hallee, Mike Labbe, Charlie Breton, Tom Nale, John Hairsine, Roland Hallee, Peter Beckerman, Mike Paquette, John Nadeau, David Begin, Mike Vashon, Bob Bourassa, Dan Cosgrove, Ron Raymond, Jim Vashon, Norman Mattson and Jim Bosse. (contributed photo)
On August 3, the Waterville High School class of 1966 held its belated 55th (actual 56th) class reunion, at the Forrest J. Pare VFW #1285, in Waterville.
Eben Haviland, 10, of Waterville, captured the state championship in the boys 9/10 800 meters race walk at the USATF State Track Meet, held on Saturday, August 13, at Cony High School, in Augusta. (Central Maine Photography photo)