Covers towns roughly within 50 miles of Augusta.

Area scouting leaders recognized with awards

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

District Chairman Eric Handley, of Sidney, presented Scott Bernier with his Veteran Service Pin. Scott, of Augusta, has been consistently active in Scouting since he was a youth member for a total of 45 years. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Scouting leaders from Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Franklin and Somerset counties gathered to honor Yvette Bernier with the highest award a local Scouting district can bestow on a volunteer – the District Award of Merit – in recognition of her service as an Assistant Scoutmaster and volunteer role of nurse for many years both at Camp Bomazeen events, local camporees, and at the annual International Camporee, held at Cobscook State Park. She has served as a leader in Winslow Troop #433 for 15 years.

Yvette and Chris are so connected to Scouting in this area that they were married in 2010 at Camp Bomazeen in Belgrade. “I am honored to present you with the District Award of Merit in recognition of all you have done for Scouting,” said Kennebec Valley Advancement and Recognition Chair Luann Chesley of Vassalboro. The event was held at the Park and Recreation building, in Winslow, on Saturday, March 22.

During the evening, other awards were presented to the Scouting leaders. Scott Bernier and Chuck Mahaleris, both of Augusta, were presented the 45-year and 50-year Veteran Scouting Service pins, respectively. District Training Chairman Walter Fails, of New Sharon, presented the Den Leader Training Award and Scouters Training Award Cub Level to Winslow’s Sabrina Garfield; the Scouters Training Award District Level to Christopher Santiago, of Vassalboro; the Scouters Training Award Troop Level, to Stacey Wells, of Brooks and Shelley Connolly, of Pittsfield; Connolly also earned the Scoutmasters Key. Connolly is Scoutmaster of Troop #428 and Cubmaster of Pack #428, both in Pittsfield. Shelley also earned the Unit Leader Award of Merit and Troop #428 was recognized with the National Outdoor Challenge Award. Service recognition certificates were presented to members of the District Committee and Commissioner staff for their efforts to improve and expand Scouting in the five counties that make up the Kennebec Valley Scouting District.

Pine Tree Council Scout Executive Gary Savignano was on hand to share the appreciation of the Scout council to the assembled volunteer leaders and thanked them for their steadfast commitment to the youth of Maine.

District Award of Merit recipient Yvette Robichaud Bernier (center) with her daughter Paige Spears and husband Christopher Bernier. Paige is a member of Scouts Canada and earned Scout Canada’s Chief Scout Award. Chief Scout is the highest rank in the Scouting section of Scouts Canada, making it equivalent to Eagle Scout in Scouting America or Gold Award in Girl Scout. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

Browntail moths are down, but not out

/0 Comments/in , /by

Browntail moth caterpillars can be identified by the two distinctive orange dots at the tail end and white tufts along the sides.

Browntail moth (BTM) aerial surveys revealed a decrease in populations in some areas of the state; however, there are still some towns that have high concentrations of winter webs. These include areas in towns surrounding Sebago Lake, communities in a line from Livermore Falls to Falmouth, and communities in Dedham.

It is not unusual to have single trees or clusters of trees with elevated populations amongst areas with low populations due to the caterpillars’ hitchhiking nature. Communities that have BTM winter webs in their trees should make plans to remove and destroy the webs before April. Clipped BTM webs can be destroyed by soaking them in a bucket of soapy water overnight or by burning them in a contained fire – read our Winter Checklist for Browntail for tips on how to manage BTM in the winter.

If winter webs are not removed and destroyed before next month, the caterpillars will emerge from the winter webs and begin feeding on host trees, causing defoliation and increasing risk for their hairs to cause an irritating rash in humans. Even small numbers of webs can result in thousands of wandering caterpillars come spring (there are dozens to several hundred caterpillars in each web).

There are only a few weeks left to remove BTM winter webs before the caterpillars emerge in mid-April.

Maine Moose 12U Tier II team wins state championship (2025)

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Maine Moose 12U Tier II team wins state championship The Maine Moose 12U Tier II hockey team has been crowned the 2024-2025 Maine Amateur Hockey Association State Champions after an outstanding performance in the state tournament. The team showcased skill, determination, and teamwork, securing the title with a thrilling final victory. The Moose will now move on and represent Maine in the New England Regionals starting Friday, March 14.

State Championship Roster:

Goaltenders:

• #1 – Isak Harrington
• #48 – Gabe Loubier

Defensemen:

• #8 – Reagan Gendron
• #21 – Parker Boucher
• #27 – Lincoln Fogg
• #52 – Easton Gradie
• #87 – Austin Roderick
• #97 – Greyson Arnold

Forwards:

• #2 – Brendan Greer
• #4 – Eli Bilodeau
• #10 – Campbell McCarthy
• #22 – Bryson Johnson
• #24 – Bryson Nichols
• #63 – Isaac Turner
• #76 – Malcolm Campbell
• #82 – Landon Ward
• #88 – Wesley McPherson
• #89 – Ezra Orlandello

Coaching Staff:

• Head Coach: Brian Boucher
• Assistant Coach: Brian McCarthy

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Tariffs to dramatically increase energy burden on Maine families

/0 Comments/in , , /by
by Lucy Hochschartner
Maine Conservation Voters’ Climate and Clean Energy Director

In the early hours of the morning, President Trump enacted 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, with 10 percent tariffs on Canadian energy imports. These tariffs are poised to have a devastating effect on Maine families who are already struggling to keep up with rising energy costs. Half of Maine families rely on oil for heating, and 80 percent of Maine’s heating fuel and gasoline is imported from Canada. Regionally, the New England grid operator anticipates $66 million in import duties to import Canadian electricity that will have to be passed on to customers. These tariffs will affect all energy costs, from heating to electricity to gasoline at the pump.

President Trump’s tariffs are going to hurt us. Whether it is you who is impacted, your family, your neighbors, or your friends – these tariffs will increase energy costs dramatically at a time when we must do the opposite. It is time for all of us to take care of each other, regardless of whether we voted for the same person or share the same views. The only way forward is to lean on each other, and into the future of a clean, Maine-made energy system.”

In the long term, Maine can look to Maine-made renewables like onshore wind, offshore wind, and solar to avoid this kind of dependency on volatile global fossil fuel markets. In the meantime, customers should look to local Community Action Agencies, their town’s general assistance program, or their utility company for help if they are struggling to pay. Mainers can get connected to local assistance programs now by calling 2-1-1.

PHOTOS: SAD #18 students busy with school projects

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

China Primary School: 2024 Maine Stem Film Challenge Winners: Second grader, Syar, from Ms. Kimmie’s class and his brother, Shya, from Mrs. Dunn’s kindergarten class recently participated in the 2024 Maine Stem Film Challenge held by the University of Southern Maine. They submitted a film on the topic of ecology – focusing on amphibians and won first place in the K-3 division!

China Middle School: Gifted and Talented Students Delve into Space Studies: Gifted and Talented students at both China and Messalonskee Middle schools participated in a space mission with the Bangor Challenger Learning Center. Both schools created a live 3D space timeline posted in their buildings. Students then learned how to use Canva to “digitize” their timeline and create a video. Some students used AI tools in and out of Canva to do voice overs. Mrs. Paquette and Ms. Fish teamed up for this technology piece.

Williams Elementary School: Challenger Learning Center of Maine: In an exciting educational initiative, Mrs. Pullen’s and Mr. Polley’s fifth graders teamed up with the Challenger Learning Center of Maine to delve into the mysteries of Mars and its moons. Through interactive simulations and expert guidance, students explored the unique characteristics of Mars’ moons. During their discussions, students connected to the science standard about Earth’s revolution and recognized that there is a critical window of landing opportunities on Mars, which is influenced by its orbit around the Sun.

Messalonskee Middle School: Seventh Grade Social Studies Colonization Simulation: Ms. Michaud’s social studies classes on Team Boothbay have been role playing life in Colonial America. Students have been journaling and acting out as though they are traders, explorers, governors, teachers, healers, blacksmiths, and Native Americans in class to gain first-hand experiences at life in the New World during the 1600-1700s. Students have enjoyed this engaging unit and exceeded expectations in their roles as colony members!

Bar Harbor Bank accepting applications from seniors for 2025 career & technical education scholarship

/0 Comments/in , /by

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is currently accepting applications for the Bank’s 2025 Career & Technical Education Scholar­ship. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to income-eligible high school seniors who attend a technical career program as part of their high school curriculum and are planning to attend a college or technical school in the academic year immediately following graduation.

Students must reside in counties in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont where the Bank has a branch location. Applicants selected to receive a 2025 scholarship will be eligible to apply for an additional $1,000 scholarship in 2026 to be used for their second year of college or technical school.

The deadline to apply for the 2025 Career & Technical Education Scholarship is May 1, 2025. Interested students can visit www.barharbor.bank/scholarships for more information about eligibility and to download the application.

EVENTS: 16 Counties for Courage: Neighbors for Common Ground

/0 Comments/in , , /by

People in Maine’s 16 counties are rallying to find common ground and push back on the actions of the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE, Saturday, March 1, 2:30 – 4 p.m., starting with a march from the Margaret Chase Smith Memorial Bridge, in Skowhegan, and ending at the Miller’s table parking lot.

Come march and gather to hear unifying speakers talk about how proposed laws, like the Save Act, might impact you and your neighbors. They welcome Mainers of all political persuasions to demand that our representatives and government officials restore, checks and balances, the established rule of law, equity for all under the law, and privacy and security of our information.

No child should be priced out of playing sports

/0 Comments/in , , /by
by Hanna Skandera

Participating in youth sports has long been a cornerstone of the American experience — or at least it used to be. Fewer American kids are playing sports, and shifting trends are leaving countless kids on the sidelines.

The importance of reversing this trend cannot be overstated. Youth sports are not just games; they are a critical component of childhood development. Simply put, the well-being of our nation hinges, in part, on our investments in youth sports today.

The cost of participating in sports has become increasingly prohibitive. The rise of digital entertainment has captivated kids’ attention, drawing them away from physical activities. These declining participation rates threaten young Americans’ mental and physical health. Anxiety and depression in kids, which can be alleviated by exercise, are on the rise.

Youth sports are becoming steadily more privatized: Today, “pay-to-play” youth sports is a $30-to $40 billion dollar industry. American families spend an average of almost $900 annually per child to participate in organized sports.

The growing socio-economic gap in sports participation is glaring. Today, while more than two in three kids from wealthier families are playing sports, only about one in three from the poorest families get the same opportunity.

Sports teach teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and resilience – traits that are essential both on and off the field. For many kids from challenging family situations, sports offer a sense of belonging and purpose and put them on the path to a more stable future.

Participation in sports has been linked to better academic performance, higher self-esteem, and a greater likelihood of college attendance. In fact, studies show that 66% of students who earn all A’s play organized sports compared to just 24% of students with mostly D’s and F’s.

Kids who play sports have higher lifetime earnings. They have vastly lower rates of depression, obesity, and other serious health conditions. The benefits are so stark that Americans would be a collective $57 billion richer each year, thanks to reduced healthcare spending and increased productivity, if the youth sports participation rate increased by just about ten percentage points, according to one recent study.

Investing in youth sports is a matter of public health — and national pride. The athletes who will represent us in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympics are today’s young hopefuls in recreational leagues and school teams.

Without a robust pipeline of young talent, not only will our health suffer – but our ability to compete at the highest levels will be compromised.

Nonprofit organizations have a unique opportunity to cultivate that pipeline. My organization, the Daniels Fund, recently teamed up with the Aspen Institute to launch the first-ever Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day. With over $3.7 million raised through overwhelming support from philanthropists and community members, this campaign demonstrates the deep belief in the importance of making sports accessible to all children.

As a society, we’ll need to make big investments to ensure that every child has a chance to experience the benefits of sports. By doing so, we will build a healthier, more resilient generation of Americans.

Hanna Skandera is president and CEO of the Daniels Fund (danielsfund.org) and is a former track and field athlete and coach. This piece originally ran in Salon.

University of Maine at Augusta honors (Fall 2024)

/0 Comments/in /by

University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) Provost Joseph Szakas announces the Fall 2024 full-time president’s list and the Fall 2024 full-time dean’s list.

Fall 2024 Full Time President’s List

Kennebec County:

Yasmeen Al-Hoshan, Waterville; Aysha Al-Qudah, Litchfield; Ruqayah Alzirej, Augusta; Kaleb Ames, Hallowell; Tristan Anderson, South China; Fatima Babar, Farmingdale; Emma Berto, Augusta; Alana Braley, Winthrop; Nicole Brann, Manchester; Gabriel Brents, West Gardiner; Morgan Britto, Augusta; Abigail Bucknam, Augusta; Veronica Burgett, Winslow; Tylor Cannon, Augusta; Jason Carlson, Hallowell; Addison Carter, Pittston; Nolan Cartwright, Augusta; Trinity Chrissman, Chelsea; Sarah Cook-Wheeler, Augusta; Emmylee Crocker, Augusta; Elizabeth Crommett, Hallowell; Hannah Daigneault, Winslow; Jantsa Dansranbavuu, Augusta; Gabe Denbow, Oakland; Caitlyn Denico, Vassalboro; Bri Dowling, Chelsea; Bella Dunn, Winthrop; John Ellis, Hallowell; Erika Engstrom, Augusta; Abbie Fielding, Augusta; Sage Fortin, Augusta; Morgan Fortin, Vassalboro; Jemima George, Hallowell; Spencer Gibson, Oakland; Zoe Gottlieb, Mount Vernon; Destiney Graham, Hallowell; Megan Grenier, Sidney; Selina Grivois, Clinton; Luna Grosborne, Hallowell; Faustine Hakizimana, Hallowell; Jacob Hanscom, South China; Nikita Hart, Waterville; Natasha Heath, Winthrop; Noah Hickman, Hallowell; Landen Huff, Hallowell; Christopher Jamison, Randolph; Bobby Johnson, Manchester; Caleb Kalel, Hallowell; Osra Kharoti, Augusta; Sydney King, Belgrade; Geoffrey King, Gardiner; Luke Kramer, Belgrade; Lexi Kramer, Sidney; Meadow Laflamme, Vassalboro; Emma Le Teuff, Hallowell; Devyn Lee, Hallowell; Jason Linneken, Augusta; Jordan Linscott, Windsor; Marie Lough, Wayne; Eamon MacDonald, Hallowell; Maleah Manson, Gardiner; Emma McCutcheon, Augusta; Collin McGuire, Manchester; Michael McLaughlin, Belgrade; Grace Meikle, Waterville; Izabella Milbury, Augusta; Isaac Misner-Elias, Benton; Isabella Moody, Augusta; Alejandra Moya, Augusta; Lynsey Nava, Oakland; John Nawfel, Hallowell; Ben Ouellette, Winthrop; Ezra Padgett, Windsor; Madison Paradis, Winthrop; Annaliese Patterson, Hallowell; Jade Philip, Farmingdale; Sara Qamar, Augusta; Jed Rampulla, Gardiner; Joe Reithofer, Randolph; Sara Rice, Hallowell; Mackenzie Roberts, Clinton; Zach Rollins, Hallowell; Lindsay Romanica, Augusta; Sierra Samowitz-Bellows, Augusta; Kassidy Sienko, Gardiner; Brittany St Amand, Pittston; Josh Stover, Augusta; Jaqui Swanson, Benton; Colby Taylor, Oakland; Sammy Thornton, Hallowell; Tyson Tibbetts, Augusta; Melissa Weymouth, Augusta; Vanessa Wharton, Augusta; Allen White, Winslow; Jess Wiggin, Benton; Kat Wood, Oakland; David Young, Augusta; Pelle Ziervogel, Hallowell.

Lincoln County:

Kat Aitken, Whitefield; Kayden Ames, Southport; Aleesha Boyer, Dresden; Fantaysha Gross, Wiscasset; Kayla Guenard, Whitefield; Mya Hall, Waldoboro; Anna Harrigan, Waldoboro; Kayla Hodgkins, Whitefield; Samantha Lewis, Dresden; Maggie Marseglia, Dresden; Joanna Montgomery, Waldoboro; Blake Morrison, Somerville; Lexi Stephens, Waldoboro; Daniel Vannah, Waldoboro.

Somerset County:

Sharyn Atwater, Skowhegan; Alonna Battis, Fairfield; Austin Bois, Fairfield; Rita Collins, Skowhegan; Skyla Dean, Pittsfield; Jasminne Drouin, Fairfield; Kirsty Green, Hartland; Alison Griffeth, Madison; Alaina Hall, Fairfield; Makayla Hayden, Madison; Alicen Higgins, Fairfield; Kassandra Lewis, Fairfield; Victoria Lewis, Fairfield; Haleigh Mclain, Fairfield; Lexi Moran, Fairfield; Breanna Sherburne, Fairfield; Abbie Stevens, Detroit; Payson Washburn, Skowhegan; Amanda Welch, Cornville; Mara Wilbur, Cambridge.

Waldo County:

Gabby Allen, Palermo; Brenna Audet, Palermo; Laura Seaton, Searsport.

Fall 2024 Full-Time Dean’s List

Kennebec County:

Ihsan Abdalnabi, Hallowell; Camille Arkas, Randolph; Lacey Arp, Windsor; Elsbeth Bates, Litchfield; Alivia Bennett, Augusta; Tristan Bieling, Augusta; Cash Bizier, Oakland; Holly Blackwood, Augusta; Lia Brann, Oakland; Aiden Breau, Winthrop; Benjamin Brown, Hallowell; Savannah Brown, West Gardiner; Jade Brusoe, Augusta; Joseph Burk, Windsor; Brandon Carter, Randolph; Michael Chalmers, Fayette; Miranda Charest, Manchester; Drew Cherkis, Winslow; Alex Clark, Readfield; Eric Collins, Gardiner; Nathan Corey, Waterville; Lillian Cox, Hallowell; Lynn Danforth, Gardiner; Jevon Daniels, Chelsea; Julia Davidson, Oakland; Haley Dehahn, North Monmouth; Ben DeMerchant, Waterville; Owen Henry Dickey, Augusta; Gail Dietz-Sola, Augusta; Haley Dionne, Winthrop; Ian Dowling, Chelsea; Paige Dudley, Sidney; Victoria Evans, Winslow; Alec Flotten, Hallowell; Jasmine Fox, Winslow; Gabriel Froude, Hallowell; Matthew Gallant, Augusta; Phoenix Gatlin, Waterville; Jacob Genest, Winslow; Kevin Glazier, Augusta; Kara Greene, Waterville; Karissa Heath, Pittston; Levi Hooper, Augusta; Dalton Hughey, Winslow; Janeille Isaacs, Hallowell; Kaylee Jones, Manchester; Sequora Kelley, Augusta; Bashar Khalaf, Augusta; Abbigail Kolreg, Oakland; Lauren L’Heureux, Augusta; Laney Ladner, South Gardiner; Travis Letourneau, Winslow; Tyler Lewandowski, North Monmouth; Blair MacDonald, Hallowell; Rachelle Marable, Windsor; Jessie Mayberry, Chelsea; Sarah Melden, Readfield; Samantha Merrill, Augusta; Amy Michaud, Manchester; Peyton Morris, Augusta; Branden Murray, Oakland; Amber Nethers, Waterville; Karysta Nickless, Belgrade; Anna Norris, South China; Aidan Norton, Hallowell; Melissa Norwood, Manchester; Sullivan O’Keeffe, Waterville; Andrea Patrick, Hallowell; Emily Pellerin, Oakland; Sabrina Poulin, Augusta; CortneyLeah Real, Pittston; Mikayla Rioux, Winslow; Liam Robson, Gardiner; Patrick Rodgers, Randolph; Taylor Rodriguez, Winslow; Katelyn Rollins, Pittston; Dayton Schlosberg, Augusta; Kaite Sechrist, Manchester; Olivia Servidio, Hallowell; Raphael Seveleder, Hallowell; Kevon Sharples, Sidney; Raquel Shaw, Hallowell; Gabrielle Sienko, Sidney; Jovan Sisovic, Augusta; Atticus Sookma, Augusta; Cameron Souther, Gardiner; Kiana Spaulding, Hallowell; Alyssa Steiner, Sidney; Tarah Strother, Manchester; Kaitlyn Theberge, Farmingdale; Amelia Theriault, Manchester; Liz Thibeault, Hallowell; Anthony Tompkins, Waterville; Terri-Jean Wilkinson, Waterville; Chloe Wilson, Winthrop; Gabe Withee, Augusta; Erica Wright, Benton; Dylan Yakimchick, Waterville.

Lincoln County:

Ammie Aitken, Whitefield; Stacey Carr, Jefferson; Rohan Glendinning, South Bristol; Krystal Hisler, Whitefield; Arthur Krenzel, Wiscasset; Jessica Lando, Jefferson; Allison Mank, Nobleboro; Madalyn Mercer, Nobleboro; Dylan Orr, Wiscasset; Brady Parsons, Bristol; Nathalie Paulino, Edgecomb; Draco Peaslee, Boothbay Harbor; Jasmine Rego, Alna; Jade Rego, Newcastle; Kristin Rivas, Wiscasset; Hannah Roberts, Boothbay; Jessica Severson, Waldoboro; Brooke Thayer, Whitefield.

Somerset County:

Katelynn Babine, Ripley; Jessika Bateman, Ripley; Rosadee Bouley, Fairfield; Meaddoe Brown, Fairfield; Ashley Getchell, Norridgewock; Cade Goodell, Canaan; Alysha Hassele, Canaan; Olivia Hatch, Cornville; Molly Hay, Athens; Katelyn Holt, New Portland; Jade Hurley, Mercer; Tasha Jencks-Ayres, Madison; Angela Jenson, Hartland; Emma Junkins, New Portland; Mya Kelsea, Skowhegan; Abigail Linkletter, Athens; Arabel Linkletter, Athens; Kloe McEachirn, Palmyra; Savanna Michaud, Cornville; Megan Muller, Saint Albans; Isabelle Picard, Pittsfield; Maize Post, Madison; Brianna Poulin, Norridgewock; Josh Smith, Cornville; Doug Souza, Pittsfield; Ethan Staples, Skowhegan; Alivia Ward, Pittsfield; Parker White, Norridgewock.

Winter greetings from SymmeTree Arborist

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Gosh it feels nice to have a protective and insulative layer of snow on the ground. We hope you have been staying safe and warm during these winter months.

This time of year, cozied up by our woodstoves or taking long walks through the woods, we begin to remember the cold season of trees and the transformations they, too, experience. Soon the Maples will run their sap. It’s this coming time of winter: cold nights and warming days, we’ll begin to prune our orchard trees. It’s nice to have some sun and warmth for this annual task, which takes place before winter ceases.

If you have any fruit trees that need tending, Galen & Ashton will begin serving our Central Maine community starting at the end of this month (February) – early April.

Please reach out to schedule a free estimate, or be in touch if Galen has pruned your trees before and they are in need of another haircut this winter. We’ll put you on the schedule!

Benefits of Fruit Tree Pruning According to FEDCO:

If you have any fruit trees that need tending, Galen & Ashton will begin serving the Central Maine community starting at the end of this month (February) – early April.

Once your fruit tree begins to bear you will want to prune annually.

Most pruning should be done in late winter or early spring.

Good pruning brings sunlight to all parts of your tree. Maximum sunlight encourages more and higher-quality fruit. Sunlight also encourages fruit buds to form for next year’s crop.

A well-pruned tree will produce larger fruit and will tend toward more annual bearing.

Good pruning discourages fungal diseases and promotes greater spray penetration.

There’s an old saying that a bird should be able to fly through your fruit tree.

You can call or text us at: 207-458-7283 or respond to this email: office@symmetreearborists.me.