PHOTOS: Lawrence High School homecoming

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Rocky and Marcia Buck get ready to kick off the Lawrence homecoming weekend. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)

Lawrence football players as they anxiously await to get suited up for the big game. From left to right, Gavin Lunt, Maddox Santone, Cameron Stewart, Preston Roy, Cole Quirion, Jack Pelletier, Hunter Curtis and Brandon Watson. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)

PAL football KSW cheerleaders at the homecoming parade included, from left to right, Addie Cohen, Jasmine Goodwin, Alexis Johnson and Aaliyah Slocomb. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)

PHOTO: Messalonskee varsity at homecoming

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Members of the Messalonskee varsity football team riding in the parade. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography)

TEAM PHOTO: Messalonskee 5/6 youth blue team

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Front row, from left to right, Walker Bucknam, Teagan Cox, Austin Pearl, Blake Masse, Kael Segars, Jake Cyr, and Dax Allen. Middle row, Bennett Pottle, Aiden Desrosiers, Jamaica Jackson, Dom Veilleux, Everett Wadleigh, and Easton Gradie. Back row, assistant coach Pete Bucknam, head coach Dan Cyr, assistant coach Josh Desrosiers, and assistant coach Kris Segars. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

SNHU announces summer 2023 President’s List

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Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in Manchester, New Hampshire, announces the following students to the Summer 2023 President’s List.

Talon Mosher, of Winslow, Alisha Barrette, of Skowhegan, Candice Eaton, of Waterville, Alyson Cass, of Waterville, Matthew Bandyk, of Jefferson, David Gerry, of Fairfield, Stormy Wentworth, of Fairfield, and Jacob Colson, of Albion.

Those named to the dean’s list include: Carrielee Harvey, of Waterville, Robert Farrington, of Augusta, and Ashley Parks, of Anson.

The summer terms run from May to August.

EVENTS: Messaloskee girls to host girls youth soccer mentoring day

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(contributed photo)

Messalonskee High School girls soccer and the ShineOnCass Foundation will host its 8th annual girls youth soccer mentoring day “ShineOn Saturday” September 23, 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 at no cost. 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 a special snack and recognition at the Lady Eagles’ homecoming soccer game. Healthy snacks will be provided.

To assist in planning, please pre-register at shineoncass.org, or send your child’s name and age, parent/guardian name and contact info to shineoncass@gmail.com. Walk-ins 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.

Emery Pell (front) and her twin sister Shea, learn new soccer skills under the guidance of their mentor and Messalonskee girls soccer player Brooke Landry, at last year’s ShineOn Saturday. The 8th annual event connects young girls with high school soccer players, for a fun day of skills, games and positive youth mentoring. ShineOn Saturday is organized by the Lady Eagles and the ShineOn Cass Foundation 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. Contributed photo

KVCOG schedules household hazardous waste pickup dates

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The Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, based in Fairfield, plans to host Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days in October in Kennebec and Somerset counties.

Skowhegan, Anson, Bingham, Canaan and Madison will collect from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Skowhegan Transfer Station, 29 Transfer Station Drive. This is open to residents of those towns, who must call their own town office to schedule a time slot (Skowhegan, 207-474-6902; Anson, 207-696-3979; Bingham, 207-672-5519; Canaan, 207-474-8682; Madison, 207-696-3971).

Winslow, Belgrade, Clinton, Fairfield, Oakland and Waterville will collect from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 21, at Winslow Public Works, 135 Halifax St. Residents must call their municipal office to schedule a slot (Winslow, 207-872-2776; Belgrade, 207-495-2258; Clinton, 207-426-8322; Fairfield, 207- 453-7911; Oakland, 207-465-7357; Waterville, 207-680-4200).

Those who don’t have an appointment slot made with their town will not be able to drop off that day.

Many chemicals commonly used around the home are hazardous, either alone or when combined with other chemicals, and need to be disposed of by professionals trained to handle hazardous materials, according to a KVCOG news release.

Improper disposal of these materials can disrupt the function of sewage treatment plants or private septic systems, contaminate ground water, and harm animals and residents. Items that are difficult to recycle or dispose of — such as electronic waste, batteries, paint, anti-freeze, chemical cleaners, yard chemicals, old fuels, oils and mercury thermostats — many of which can also become harmful if left unmonitored.

The council will have local law enforcement officials on hand in Winslow and Skowhegan to collect and properly dispose of any pharmaceuticals that residents want to bring in.

New pastor welcomed at Fairfield United Methodist Church

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photo credit: Fairfield United Methodist Church Facebook page

Fairfield United Methodist Church welcomes Brenda E. Haskell, as pastor. Though she has always felt a calling for the ministry, she was told at an early age that women are not ministers. After graduating from Winthrop High School, she attended the University of Southern Maine for art education.

Then, several years later attended the University of the State of New York as an undergraduate of liberal arts. Later in life she took a disciple course and was told by her peers that ministry was her calling. She immediately signed up for seminary school and graduated from Bangor Theological Seminary in 2003.

Brenda first pastored in Hartland at Grace Linn UMC (1999-2004) as a licensed local pastor and then at Vassalboro UMC (2006-2008). In addition to attending seminary, and serving as licensed local pastor, she also worked as an investigator at the Maine Human Rights Commission. In 2007, she changed jobs and went to work for the University of Maine system, as an investigator and then as director of equal opportunity, retiring in 2017.

Though she left the ministry to work full time for the University of Maine, her call to ministry never faded and continued to serve at Vassalboro UMC in various capacities, was a member of the preaching team for the Fairfield Center UMC and filled in for other pastors for vacation or health reasons.

The congregation is happy she is once again serving, now as pastor of the Fairfield Center church. Her greatest joy in the ministry is to bring God’s word of hope and caring to those struggling; those seeking to live the good life God intended for them. Wherever she serves, her motto remains, “Everyone is welcome here.”

The congregation meets for Sunday service at 10:30 a.m.

PHOTO: Central Maine Senior Football Camp (2023)

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2023 Central Maine Youth Senior Football Camp directed by Lawrence High School Coach John Hersom with assistance of his Lawrence Bulldogs players. The senior camp ran from July 24-26 for grades 5-8, with players from Central Maine. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)

Ken Smith inducted into Cal Ripken Coaches Hall of Fame

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Ken Smith, right, of Fairfield, accepting his induction into the Cal Ripken Coaches Hall of Fame (contributed photo)

On July 6, 2023 Ken Smith, of Fairfield, was inducted into the Cal Ripken Coaches Hall of Fame. The presentation took place in Fairfield prior to an 11U state tournament game. Cal Ripken League representatives, family, community members along with past and present coaches and players from Ken’s teams were present for the ceremony.

Ken grew up in Fairfield, and started playing Farm League baseball in 1965 at age 6. In those days teams wore ear flaps instead of helmets and used wooden bats. His father, Ken Sr., pitched and hit baseballs to Ken and his friends growing up and helped develop his skills and love of baseball. He went on to play Little League, Babe Ruth, high school and on American Legion teams, all in Fairfield. He continued to stay involved with baseball by umpiring little league and playing on adult softball teams. He also enjoys watching baseball and visiting both minor and major league parks.

In 1996 he started coaching at the Little League level and is still coaching today. He has been playing, coaching, umpiring and involved with baseball for 58 consecutive years. While coaching baseball Ken has helped transfer his knowledge and love of baseball to many young players and his four sons. He recognizes his players’ first hits by presenting them with a special dated baseball to commemorate the milestone. He also ends each season with a parents vs. kids game and presents players with individual and team stats that he carefully keeps track of each season, with the help of some very good scorekeepers.

In his early days of coaching he was one of the only coaches in the local league to have his players hitting off a tee and using tennis balls during practices. He also had his teams bunt during games which he still believes in, and does today.

He has coached over 350 games and umpired over 150 games in his career to date. His teams have won nine league championships and four district tournaments. One special team won the state championship in 2010. This team went on to represent Maine in the New England tournament, finishing in fourth place twice.

Ken has an extensive knowledge of baseball and a true dedication to the sport.

PHOTO: Central Mainers attend football camp

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The Lawrence Bulldogs Junior football camp was held July 17-19 (grades 2-4) with players from Central Maine. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)