Area students named to dean’s list at UNE

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The following area students have been named to the University of New England’s dean’s list for the spring semester 2025, in Biddeford:

Augusta: Mallory Erickson, Tyler Pelletier, and Nhasino Phan Daraun White. China Village: Nabila Harrington. Fairfield: Caitlyn Mayo. Jefferson: Ava White. Liberty: Mckenzie Kunesh. Madison: Peyton Estes. Oakland: Francesca Caccamo. Sidney: Valerie Capeless and Brady Doucette. Skowhegan: Elizabeth Connelly, Catherine Kelso, Zoe Lambke, and Ashley Mason. South China: Richard Winn. Vassalboro: Adam Ochs. Waterville: Asher Grazulis, Emma Michaud, Grace Petley, Emilee Richards, Elizabeth Schmitt, Caitlyn Smith and Evan Watts. Windsor: Kassidy Barrett.

EVENTS: Oakland’s Oakfest set for July 25-26, 2025

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Come experience a weekend of family fun Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, and see why Oakfest is rated among the 10 Best Outdoor Festivals in Maine this summer!

This year’s Oakfest theme is Margaritaville: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffet, with two days of family entertainment. Bring your children ages 8-12 downtown to participate in the Oakland Lions Club “Lions Safari” (call Kathy at 465-7357 to pre-register) and take a tour of Memorial Hall and the Oakland Museum from 5 to 7 p.m. Oakfest 2025 officially kicks off Friday night at 6 p.m., with a parade down Main Street, led by this year’s grand marshal Monica Charette, Maine’s Mother of the Year, and the ShineOnCass Foundation. Following the parade there will be food trucks, music by “RJ the DJ” Richard Jandreau from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and a street dance with live music by “I Want My MTV Band” sponsored by Decker Simmons American Legion, from 8 to 11 p.m. Stop by the American Legion Beer Tent for patrons 21+ and enjoy food and music all evening.

Saturday’s ShineOn Oakland Day festivities start at 9 a.m., behind Williams Elementary School, at 55 Pleasant Street, in Oakland, with an expansive, 75-booth ShineOn Oakland Open Air Market. The day-long event features Maine-made artisans and crafters, an extensive variety of food vendors, dozens of fun children’s activities sponsored by Kingdom Life Church, including bounce houses, a water slide, climbing wall, and carnival games. Have your children choose a free book to take home as part of the ShineOnCass Literacy Project. Plus there will be a Cruise-In Classic Car Show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy live music until 3 p.m., at the ShineOn Oakland Stage, plus much more!

Come to the ATV Barbeque from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and stay until dusk for Oakfest’s grand finale of Messalonskee Trail Riders’ “Glow Ride” to light up downtown Oakland.

Oakfest is proudly sponsored by the Town of Oakland, Oakland Ameri­can Legion, Oakland Furniture (In memory of Alan Breton), Somerset Stone & Stove, Kennebec Valley Federal Credit Union, Granite Corp., Kingdom Life Church, Bri Designs, United Rentals, Oakland Lions Club, RSU #18, Valley Beverage, and the ShineOnCass Foundation

Oakfest is pleased to partner with the ShineOnCass Foundation to provide an annual community support project for the summer festival. This year’s “Shine a Light on Literacy” will provide free books to children who attend ShineOn Oakland Day, on Saturday. For more information about the project, visit shineoncass.org.

“We are excited to welcome back hundreds of attendees to Oakfest 2025, offering food, music and family-friendly activities for all ages. Oakfest is the place to be this summer in Maine,” says Oakfest Committee Co-chairman Kathy Paradis, who along with Co-chairman Abby Marshall and a committee of volunteers, coordinates the annual community festival.

For more information about Oakfest 2025, call Kathy Paradis at 207-465-7357, visit the Town of Oakland Facebook Page or their website: oaklandmaine.us/oakfest/.

Owners of Emery’s Meats presented with plaque

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On July 19, members American Legion Riders of Decker-Simmions Post #51, of Oakland gathered for a short ride to Emery’s Meats, in Waterville, to present a plaque of appreciation to owners Roland and Kristy Emery for their contributions to the advancement of ALR programs and activities supporting our country’s veterans. (contributed photo)

Area students named to President’s List at Plymouth State University

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Area students have been named to the Plymouth State University President’s List, in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Included are Dylan Flewelling, Exercise and Sport Physiology major, of Oakland, Riley Johnson, Psychology major, of Windsor, Kaiden Kelley, Art and Design major of South China, and Courtney Peabody, Physical Education major, of Solon.

Plymouth State University announces dean’s list (2025)

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Plymouth State University, in Plymouth, New Hampshire, recognizes students who made the dean’s list for the Spring 2025 semester. They include Colby Corson, Exercise and Sport Physiology major, and Sidney Hatch, Social Work major, both of Oakland.

Area students named to All-Maine Academic Team (2025)

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Five area Maine community college students have been named to the All-Maine Academic Team in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and service.

Area students receiving the award and a $500 scholarship from the MCCS Board of Trustees are:

Stephanie Wright, Oakland, Eastern Maine Community College.
Skye Havey, Somerville, Kennebec Valley Community College, in Fairfield/Hinckley.
Andrea King, Unity, Kennebec Valley Community College.
Jaikari Rada-Gonzalez, Palermo, Kennebec Valley Community College.
Jasmine Sanders, Augusta, Kennebec Valley Community College.

EVENTS: Oakland Legion Memorial Day parade

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This year’s Memorial Day Parade will be on Monday, May 26, starting at noon.

Before the parade there will be a service held at Lakeview Cemetery At 11 a.m., to honor and remember those veterans who have passed.

For his many years of service Dana Wrigley has been chosen as your Grand Marshal. Also, many organizations will be in attendance. The Kora Temple Riders and Clowns, Military Vehicles, Oakland Middle School Band, antique cars and trucks, along with many others.

Sons of American Legion will be hosting their traditional BBQ starting at the end of the parade with burgers, hot dogs, beans and more at the Legion Hall.

The parade will be lining up At the Messalonskee Middle School. All participants are expected to arrive and line up beginning at 11 a.m. At noon it will proceed down Pleasant Street, continuing onto Main Street, from there to Memorial Hall for a ceremony and ending up at the Oakland Post Office. This will be one of the best parades in the area!

If your organization, class or group are interested in participating please contact Bonnie Audet at the Legion Hall and leave a message (207)-465-2446.

PHOTO: Grand Marshal for parade

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From left to right, Jeffrey Flye, Dana Wrigley, Patrick Linehan. Dana Wrigley has been named Grand Marshal of the Memorial Day Parade, on Monda,y May 26, 2025. On behalf of Decker-Simmons American Legion Post #51, Oakland, Jeffrey Flye presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Dana Wrigley for his many years of distinguished service to the community of Oakland Maine. (contributed photo)

PHOTOS: SAD #18 students busy with school projects

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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!

Oakland woman named Maine Mother of the Year

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Monica Wilcox Charette

Monica Wilcox Charette, of Oakland, has been named 2025 Maine Mother of the Year. Charette will be recognized and represent Maine at the 90th National Convention of American Mothers, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in April, where one honoree will be named American Mother of the Year.

A native of Aroostook County, Charette is a graduate of Presque Isle High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Maine at Orono. She has lived in Oakland, Kennebec County, for the past three decades with her husband Randy, and their children, Cassidy and Colby.

She is a journalist, photographer, author, and podcast creator/host. Charette has a 35-year professional career working in the nonprofit sector, including serving as director of public relations for the former Mid-Maine Medical Center, fund development director at Mount Merici Academy, and she served the last 10 years as communications director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine.

Charette is the founder and executive director of ShineOnCass Foundation, a nonprofit created 10 years ago to carry forth the legacy of her 17-year-old daughter Cassidy Charette, a longtime community volunteer and advocate for children, who died in a Maine hayride accident in 2014. According to American Mothers, Inc., Charette has used this platform to champion youth mentoring, animal welfare, youth literacy, provide scholarships for athletics, music and art, and establish multiple community scholarships and awards for service-focused high school students in central Maine. She also helped inaugurate multiple youth mentoring programs in her community and created free lending libraries for children at Boys/Girls Clubs and YMCAs in Waterville and Augusta. She and her son Colby co-host Holding the Light Podcast to support bereaved families of child loss.

Charette also volunteers as a weekly coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters ShineOnCass youth mentoring program at Messalonskee, serves on the Oakfest, Maine Committee, and is a member of the Waterville Area Women’s Club.

“It is an honor to represent all Maine Moms, and especially my fellow bereaved mothers, at the national convention this spring,” Charette said. “I am humbled to be chosen to represent our beautiful state and many mothers for whom I have tremendous respect and admiration. I’ve never been more inspired, or prouder, to be a Mainer.

Every year, mothers from around the country are selected by a national committee from American Mothers, Inc. to represent their respective state as Mother of the Year. The mission is to recognize mothers and their positive impact in their families and communities. To support this year’s Mother of the Year through the Maine Chapter of American Mothers, contact Lisa Newall at Lisa.Newell@va.gov. For information about American Mothers, Inc., visit americanmothers.org.