Members of the Lawrence boys sixth grade travel team are, front row, left to right, Riley Leary, Gavin Wilson, Dane Zawistowski, Gavin Lunt, Aiden Jackson-Heath and Dominic Clifford. Back, Bailey Pepin, Hayden Folsom, Cameron Blodgett, Brandon Watson and Jacob York. Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff
An unidentified boy receives Christmas gifts from Fairfield Police Department patrolman Blake Wilder.
Photos by Tawni Lively, Central Maine Photography staff
The Cops Care for Kids program was initially started and funded by Kingston Paul, who was the former Detective Captain at the Fairfield Police Department. The program started with an idea that the police wanted to build a great relationship with our community and the children of our community. They started out by delivering just one stuffed animal to approximately 50 children with a tag attached with all the officer’s names on them. Many years later, the program has grown to delivering three small gifts and a stuffed animal to over 200 children of the Fairfield Community. The officers and other employees of the Fairfield Police Department now donate a portion of their checks every week towards the Cops Care for Kids program to ensure that Kingston’s idea and dream continued on.
Fairfield police officers play Santa for local kids.
And even though we lost Kingston last year, his memory and spirit still lives on with the program. To ensure the program continues for many, many years, Kingston left the program financially sound, so we could continue the tradition, because we truly care about the children of our community.
“As Chief, I was very humbled when I was informed about this program when I first started,” said Fairfield Police Chief Tom Gould. “I feel honored to work with employees who care so greatly for the youth in our community.”
Officer Shanna Blodgett added, “The officers of the Fairfield Police Department are very proud of this program and what it has grown to be. We look forward to our ‘wrapping’ party each year and to be able to see the joy and excitement on the boys’ and girls’ faces when we arrive to deliver. They simply light up.”
Colby Charette, Cassidy’s brother, performed at the fundraiser. Contributed photo
The 16th Annual Warming Up for Christmas benefit Guitar Concert honoring Cassidy Charette brought more than 600 people to the Williamson Auditorium, in Fairfield, on December 2 and raised over $12,300 for the ShineOnCass Foundation. Orchestrated by Steve Fotter, a local musician and guitar instructor from Benton, and his wife Linda, the three-hour concert featured 80 of his students and local talent performing rock, blues, jazz and folk Christmas music. Fotter said it was the largest fundraiser in his concert’s history, which in total has raised well over $100,000 for local charitable organizations.
Fotter said, “We have tremendous talent here and the concert has become a special tradition to start the holiday season. We continue to be grateful and humbled by the people who support us.”
Cassidy Charette was killed October 11, 2014, as the result of a tragic hayride accident. Cassidy was a Messalonskee High School top scholar and athlete, and a life-long community volunteer and youth advocate. In the past three years, her friends, family and the greater Oakland community have started multiple programs and services to honor her. This is the second year the concert has benefitted the ShineOnCass Foundation, which was created by the Charette family to educate, inspire and empower youth to continue Cassidy’s passion for caring for others through volunteer charitable activities.
As part of the benefit concert, the ShineOnCass Foundation organized a collection of gifts for the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderers’ Christmas Program, which provides boxes filled with warm clothing and toys for 1,700 less-fortunate children in Maine. Over 200 hundred gifts, including books, pajamas, hats, mittens and toys were collected at the concert and by Messalonskee High School students, who delivered them to the program’s headquarters in Waterville. The Foundation will also gift proceeds from the concert to help purchase items needed to fill all the boxes before Christmas.
“This is how we Shine Cassidy’s Light, by giving back to our community,” said Monica Charette, Cassidy’s mother. “We know of no better way to honor Cass than to continue to support things that she was passionate about—especially programs that involve helping children.”
Abby King, of Fairfield, a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, in Worcester, Massachusetts, was one of seven fall WPI student-athletes to earn a spot on their respective sports All-Sportsmanship team. King was a field hockey selection. Now in its second year, the NEWMAC All-Sportsmanship team is intended to recognize one student-athlete from each team.
Steve Fotter performs his self-written and produced song “Cass is Everywhere” at last year’s Warming Up for Christmas Concert. Proceeds from the concert will again support the ShineOnCass Foundation. Contributed photo
The 16th Annual “Warming Up for Christmas” Benefit Guitar Concert will be held Saturday, December 2, beginning at 5 p.m., at Williamson Auditorium, Lawrence High School, in Fairfield. The concert, presented by Benton musician Steve Fotter, has raised over $100,000 for local charities. This year’s concert will again benefit the ShineOnCass Foundation, in honor and memory of Cassidy Charette, of Oakland, who died October 11, 2014, in a hayride accident. Last year’s concert raised over $12,000 for ShineOnCass community programs.
The three-hour concert will include a variety of Christmas music, including rock, blues, jazz and folk, and features performances by Fotter’s 85 guitar students and musical friends. Concert tickets are $20, and can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com (search Steve Fotter). Tickets are also sold at Down Home Music Shop, in Fairfield, and Animal Hospital of Waterville. Limited concert tickets will be available at the door for $25.
In Cassidy’s honor, the Foundation is helping fill Christmas boxes of clothing and gifts for more than 1,700 financially disadvantaged children in Maine through the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderer’s Christmas Program. Attendees are asked to please bring new, unwrapped items to the concert or drop off gifts at Animal Hospital of Waterville located at 20 Washington St. in Waterville.
There will also be a raffle for an electric guitar, donated by Down Home Music Shop, and a handcrafted blue afghan “Cassidy” blanket. Raffle tickets are 3 for $5 or 7 for $10 and can be purchased at Down Home Music, at the concert, or by calling 207-314-6996. Winners do not need to be present to win.
Cassidy Charette. Contributed photo
The ShineOnCass Foundation was created by the Charette family to educate, inspire and empower youth to continue Cassidy’s passion for caring for others through volunteer charitable activities. Some of the programs created in Cassidy’s honor and supported by the Foundation include: “Cassidy’s Kitchen,” an outdoor kitchen built at Hart to Hart Farm & Education Center, in Albion; a student-led service program called “Cassidy’s Kids” at Mount Merici Academy, in Waterville; ShineOnCass mentoring programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine; girls youth soccer mentoring programs and annual $3,000 ShineOnCass Scholarships and Service Awards at Messalonskee High School.
For more information about the ShineOnCassidy Foundation, email shineoncass@gmail.com.
Fairfield PAL football league Sonny’s Pizza team captured the 2017 Junior Division championship with a 12-0 win over VFW on October 22. Front row, from left to right, Lane Chapman, Jeffrey Clark, Hunter Curtis, Damion York, Evan Greene, Jonathan Higgins, Joseph Greene and Landas Mansfield. Middle row, Trey Leclair, Noah Garza, Aiden Noble, Evan Sargent, Gauge Getchell, Ethan Sargent, Leighton Bradford, Benjamin Murphy, Rylan Smith, Brayden Mullen Xayvier Garcia, Dawson Moore, Tristyn Picchiotti and Garrett Leclerc. Back row, Coaches Jamie Foster, Mark Murphy, Mark Bradford, Justin Moore and Brady Leclerc.
Senior night took place on October 17 for the Lawrence High School, of Fairfield, soccer team. Members of the team make their way onto the field for their last game of the season.
Front row, from left to right, Jaiden Berube, Cole Quirion, Gaige Martin, Brett Lawler, Jeremy Thompson, Colby Nadeau, Braden Littlefield, Preston Roy and Connor Brown. Middle row, Austin Rackleff, Wyatt Gamage, Nash Corson, Parker Higgins, Ryan MacArthur, Jason Palmer and Noah Grass. Back, Coach Joel Littlefield, coach Mel Higgins, coach Nick Nadeau, coach Mike Corson and coach Barry Quirion.
Fairfield PAL football Central Maine Pharmacy Wolves senior team captured the Senior Division championship with a 13-6 win over the Clinton Lions on October 22.
Fairfield PAL football Yankee Trophy team member Garrett Murphy (3), of Fairfield, attempts to gain yardage while Central Maine Pharmacy team member Cole Quirion, of Benton, tries for the stop.
Photo by Kevin Giguere, Central Maine Photography
Fairfield PAL football Sonny’s Pizza team member Garrett Leclerc running down field during opening day.
Photo by Kevin Giguere, Central Maine Photography staff
An intense line of strong thunderstorms passed through the area with the winds uprooting this tree at the home of David “Bucky” Redmonds, on Brooks St., in Fairfield. Braden Littlefield, 11, of Fairfield, surveys the damage.