Doing whatever it takes 4 Kids’ Sake

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Big Sister Paige Lilly and her “Little Brother” Hunter Stevens. (Contributed photo)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine is reinventing its largest annual fundraising event “Bowl for Kids’ Sake” to do “Whatever It Takes” to support the 435 kids the agency currently serves in eastern, central and midcoast Maine. With all 13 of the agency’s bowling events canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, supporters will instead be walking, biking, reading, hiking, painting and doing other activities of their choice to raise funds for local youth, one-to-one mentoring programs.

According to Gwendolyn Hudson, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, revenue from Bowl for Kids’ Sake makes up half of the organization’s annual budget. The unforeseen changes due to Covid-19, Hudson said, are expected to result in a loss of more than $200,000 this year.

“Many Littles are experiencing increased stress, anxiety, fear and isolation. Even in the best of times, they are facing adversity at a higher rate than the average young person, and will bear the greatest burdens of trauma and financial insecurity because of this pandemic,” Hudson said. “Funding is critical right now to continue to provide Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring services to our most vulnerable population—our kids. That’s why we are asking our supporters to do whatever it takes to support our Littles.”

Teams and individuals can register online at bbbsmidmaine.org, and then create a personal fundraising page where supporters can make safe, electronic donations. Whatever It Takes 4 Kids’ Sake runs now through July 31. Every person who registers is included in a weekly drawing for local business gift cards. Individuals who raise $125 and teams that raise $500 or more will receive Big Brothers Big Sisters T-shirts.

Whatever It Takes 4 Kids’ Sake is presented by Hannaford Supermarkets and Camden National Bank, with support from local business sponsorships.

For more information about participating in Whatever It Takes 4 Kids’ Sake, becoming a sponsor, donating weekly prize gift cards, or information about becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister volunteer, visit bbbsmidmaine.org, email info@bbbsmidmaine.org or call 207-236-BBBS (2227).

Congratulations to area graduates — Class of 2020

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Carrabec High School

Emily Avery, Hunter Avery, Cassidy Ayotte, Anthony Berube, Isaac Boucher, Annika Carey, Ashley Cates, Summer Cole, Jacob Copeland, Caitlin Crawford, Shay Cyrway, Caroline Decker, Dominic Falk, Olivia Fortier, Joshua Foss, Paige Giroux, Olivia Gonio, Ricky Gordon, Ariel Guinn, Olivia Hassell, David Houle, Cheyanne Howard, Madison Jaros, Lemuel Kimball, Dylan Leach, Riley Maheu, Scott Mason, Mabel Mouland, Mary-Jenna Oliver, Colby Paquette, Kira Parent, Roy Pierce, Jasmyne Pray, Elijah Quimby, Abby Richardson, Damon Rogers, Cheyenne Sirois, Jayme Stafford, Sydney Steward, Cheyeanne Stubbs, Brandi Thibodeau, Ebony Walls, Dalton Way, Skye Welch, Jesiah Wilcox-Quimby, and Cameron Wooster.

Cony High School

Alimira Abdullah, Zina Ahmad, Nada Al Hoshan, Mohammad Al Jendi, Peter Allen, Hadeel Alsaleh, Abdulmajeed Al-Tameemi, Dakota Andow, Marian Arthur, Ashleigh Audet, Alexander Audette, David Barley, Sebastian Barron, Federico Barzasi, Hannah Beeckel, Gage Bernstein, Katherine Boston, Jordan Brooke, Jillian Brown, Logan Butler, Gabriella Campbell, Kaaleb Carey, Tyler Carr, Alexis Carter, Haylee Casey, Salemn Chapman, Paige Coaty-Neff, Sarah Cook-Wheeler, Riley Coombe, Jillian Coull, Joshua Crocker, Kaylee Cushing, Calvin Dacus, Jasmine Daly, Dakota Dearborn, Kody Demerchant, Isaiah Dodge, Anthony Donnarumma, Emily Douglas, Molly Dutil, Thomas Farris-Chason, Chloe Fleck, Jasmine French, Evan Galego, Jada Genest, Ian Gervais, Isaac Gichel-Curtis, Leighton Gidney, Ian Gifford, Crystal Gilber, Elsie Gin, Ashton Glockler, Kiara Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Megan Greaton, Cecilia Guadalupi, Jessica Guerrette, Mouaoeih Halwah, Ian Harden, Linda Hodgkins, Wyeth Houle, Emily Houston, Justin Huntley, Nathaniel Ieng, Timothy Johnson, Stephen Labbe, Benjamin LaPierre, Sophia LaPointe, Adrian Larrabee, Ryan Lathe, Faith Leathers-Pouliot, Cameran Letendre, Aaron Lettre, Carly Lettre, Emma Levesque, Meredith Lewis, Willow Longeree, Caleb MacFarland, Roger Mackbach, Joshua Martin, Iain McCollett, Lucas McCormick, Simon McCormick, Caleb McDougal, Courtney McFarland, Audrey McLaughlin, Samantha Melland, Abigail Merrill, Kameron Michaud, Gerald Moody, Caroline Mosca, Josephine Nutakki, Collin Osborne, Ayanna Osman, Renee Ouellette, Micayla Paquette, Marissa Parker, Abigail Pelletier, Nhasino Phan, Jillian Pion, Storm Plummer, Myles Quirion, Shakeera Radel, Ashleigh Redmond, Miranda Reichard, Mickayla Rheimer, Madison Riggs, Nathan Rivera Ayala, Jordan Robertson, Alexander Robinson, Natalie Rohman, Hannah Rouleau, Rebecca Smart, Aidan Smith, Karittha Sopasiri, Nathan Surette, Christopher Taylor, Devon Thomas, Kaley Trask, Mallory Turgeon, James Van Doren-Wilson, Sabrinna Vawter, Atlantis Veilleux, Jessy Veilleux, Linelys Velazquez, Arianna Vinal, Yasmine Wadleigh, Isaac Wallace, Proscha Ware, Nicholas Waterhouse, Haley Weston, Julie White, Sophia Whitney, Zachary Whitney, Joshua Wroten, Ayden Wyman and Devin Young.

Erskine Academy

Pedro Albarracin Nunez- Mera, Lucy Allen, Lucas Anderson, Jay Austin II, Alec Baker, Julia Basham, Derek Beaulieu, James Berto, Adam Bonenfant, Faith Bonnell, Zyashia Borrero, Ashlee Bossie, Yanic Boulet, Haley Breton, Alexander Buzzell, Kole-Tai Carlezon, Jacob Cater, David Chubbuck Jr, Bridget Connolly, Abigail Cordts, Samantha Couture, Summer Curran, Colby Cyr, Norah Davidson, Sean Decker, Dominic Denico, Lily DeRaps, Joshua Donahue II, Joshua Duggan, Michael Dusoe Jr, Dominick Dyer, Jacob Elsemore, Vincent Emery, Nathan Evans, Cheyann Field, Jasmine Fletcher, Jada Fredette, Mitchell Gamage, Alyssha Gil, Annika Gil, Lydia Gilman, Ella Giroux, Boe Glidden, Bryce Goff, Joshua Gower, Clara Grady, Tori Grasse, Ian Gundberg, Alyssa Hale, Emma Harvey, Nicholas Hayden, Jesse Hayes, Gage Henderson, Brayden Hill, Summer Hotham, Nicholas Howard, Julianna Hubbard, Ashley Huntley, Emily Jacques, Sarah Jarosz, Ricker Jean, Cameron Johnson, Colby Johnson, Kyle Jones, Luke Jordan, Zaria Kelly, Marisa Klemanski, Tristan Klemanski, Riley Kunesh, Brandon LaChance, Benjamin Lagasse, Benjamin Lavoie, Cole Leclerc, Eleena Lee, William Leeman, Desiree Leighton, Madison Leonard, Gabriel Lewis, Stephanie Libby, Jordan Linscott, Colby Loden, Sydney Lord, Brandon Loveland, Shawn Manning, William Mayberry II, Haymanot Maynard, Reece McGlew, Marissa McGraw, Lexigrace Melanson, Kaytie Millay, Grady Miller, Jakob Mills, Jamara Moore, Adalaide Morris, Krysta Morris, Nathaniel Mosher, Alecia Paradis, Joseph Peaslee Jr, Shelley Peaslee, Isaak Peavey, Chloe Peebles, Chandler Peele, Lyndsie Pelotte, Matthew Picher, Jareth Pierpont, Jasmine Plugge, Hunter Praul, Dalton Pushard, Miina Raag-Schmidt, Benjamin Reed, Hailei-Ann Reny, Jennifer Reny, Mitchel Reynolds, Andrew Robinson, Dominic Rodrigue, Michael Rogers, Katelyn Rollins, Alyssa Savage, Shawn Seigars, Serena Sepulvado, Santasia Sevigny, Nicholas Shelton, Danielle Shorey, Taylor Shute, Ryan Sidelinger, Alissa Sleeper, Kayla Sleeper, Dominic Smith, Samuel Smith, Lily Solorzano, Makenzi Strout, Matthew Stultz, James Sugden, Jacob Sutter, Audrey Swan, Nicole Taylor, Kobe Thomas, Courtney Tibbetts, Brandon Tibbs, Katelyn Tibbs, Kaitlyn Tims, Ashleigh Treannie, Hailee Turner, Cameron Tyler, Tanner Watson, Andrew Weymouth, Curtis Weymouth, Kayleigh Winam, Richard Winn, Wesley Wood and Amber Wysocki.

Lawrence High School

Ashley Allen, Mackenzie Allen, Raygen Alley, Colby Anderson, Alexis Armstrong, Riley Avery, Lindsay Bagley, Dakota Batchelder, Wyatt Belmont, Mathew Berry, Rilee Bessey, Brody Bickford, Nathan Bickford, Hannah Bilodeau, Hailey Bolduc, Tyler Bolduc, Alan Bourget, Colby Brann, Aaron Breton, Sydney Bridger, Eva Brisk, Lauren Buck, Brooke Butler, Ethan Caldwell, Kendra Campbell, Deleyni Carr, Madison Carrero, Journey Champagne, Abigail Charland, Alfred Cochrane, Ethan Cochrane, Samuel Coro, Evan Craig, Megan Curtis, Cody Dixon, Parker Doane, Dylan Donnell, Bryson Dostie, Dawson Drew, Victoria Dubay, Dylan Eldridge, Annabelle Emery, Abigail Fisher, Wyatt Fortin, Samantha Fuller, Victoria Fye, Kieara Garland, Skylah Grivois, Paige Hale, Tyler Hall, Harley Hamlin, Jacob Hamlin, Ricky Hamlion, Dylan Hardenburg, Alaina Haywood, Caitlin Hedman, Carson Jersey, Haley Hersey, Alaina Hood, Silvia Hoover, Sophia Hoover, Mackenzie Huard, Sumner Hubbard, Jeremiah Hunter, Kristin Jackson, Camron Jordan, Donovan Knapik, Miranda Lambert, Julie Lane, Kyle Languet, Storm Lavway, Nicholas Lawler, Allison Leary, Grace Leary, Tyler LeClair, Austin Leighton, Aubrey Levesque, Alexis Lewis, Erica Maillet, John Manzo, Cassandra Martin, Dylan Martin-Hachey, Joshua McFarland, Joseph McKinley, Kristin Morneau, Paul Morneau, Destiny Mulholland, Morgan Niles, Cassandra Noyes, Bailey Parlin, Jacob Patterson, Benjamin Pierce, Gabrielle Pierce, Isaac Plourde, Cheyenne Poulin, Benjamen Pressey, Brian Pressey, Kassey Pressey, Chase Quimby, Nathaniel Regalado, Brianna Rice, Mackenzie Roberts, Gain Robinson, Mary Robinson, Lydia Rogers, Hunter Roy, Michael Roy, Tucker Roy, Jacob Ryder, Emma Salisbury, Ranea Sapienza, Hailey Sargent, Colby Shorey, Isaish Shuman, Riley Sinclair, Breanna Sirois, Melaina Smith, Paul Southwick, Jayden Stephenson, Elsie Suttie, Jacob Suttie, David Thurlow, Abigail Towne, Lydia Townsend, Haley Trahan, Jacob Turlo, Cody Veilleux, Abbie Vigue, Kyle Walch, Amber Wescott, Savannah Weston, Liberty White, Emily Whitney, Haley Wilkie, Cassondra Wood and Gabriel York.

Madison Area Memorial High School

Chance Allen, Katrina Barney, Shelby Belanger, Graham Briggs, Nevaeh Burnham, Reid Campbell, Autumn Cates, Olivia Clough, Aaron Corson, Caleb Cowan, Isaiah Cyr, Stacy Depoala, Dawson Eanes, Emily Edgerly, Todd Edgerly, Caden Franzose, Aliya French, Dakota Hall, Glen Harrington IV, Chandra Holt, Lauria LeBlanc, Grace Linkletter, Carolyn McGray, Riley Merrill, Cianan Morris, Aidan O’Donnell, Izaiah Perkins, Lucy Perkins, Luke Perkins, Isabella Petrey, Roger Picard, Roland Picard, Evelyn Pisch, Skyelar Pollis, LeiLani Rexford, Abigail Spaulding, Jared Tozier, Mikayla Violet and Daxton Winchester and Kathryn Worthen.

Messalonskee High School

Alyson Albert, Nicholas Alexander, Connor Alley, Ava Ardito, Austin Arsenault, Abigayle Barney, Jennessey B aylis, Madison Beaulieu, Austin Bedsaul, Sami Benayad, Brianne Benecke, Taylor Bernier, Lauren Bourque, Rebecca Bourque, Lydia Bradfield, Andrew Brann, Sydney Brenda, Alexa Brennan, Ethan Burton, Hannah Butler, Salvatore Caccamo, Kaiya Charles, Tucker Charles, Patrick Chisum, Sadie Colby, William Cole, Connor Collins, Emma Concaugh, Bradley Condon, Abitail Corbett, Anne Corbett, Breanna Corbin, Ainsley Corson, Shiela Corson, Hunter Cote, Cameron Croft, Emily Crowell, Hannah Cummins, Dylan Cunningham, Lydia D’Amico, Austin Damren, Zachary Davis, Cassidy Day, Hannah DelGiudice, Jordan Devine, Kristen Dexter, Emma Di-Girolamo, Zachary DiPietro, TaylorJefferey Doone, Cooper Doucette, Haley Dunn, Benjamin Edman, Cade Ennis, Connor Evans, Andrew Everett, Nicolas Fontaine, Lauren Fortin, Joseph Fougere, Brennan Francis, Alexis Furbush, Amelia Gallagher, Austin Garrett, Sydnie Gay, Sara Getchell, Molly Glueck, Joshua Goff, Martin Guarnieri, Juliana Gudaitis, Jayde Gurney, Gavin Haines, Danielle Hall, Benjamin Hellen, Shelby Hoffman, Toni Holz, Maxwell Hopper, Travis Hosea, Gage Hughes, Elizabeth Hume, Alexander Jackson, Madison Jewell, Maya Johnston, Lucas Jolin, Shane Kauppinen, Gregor Keimel, Christopher King, Kody King, Nathan Kinney, Dawson Kitchin, Konnor Koroski, Grace Kroeger, Tabitha Lake, Dominique Lamontagne, Chance Languet, Isabelle Languet Joshua Languet, Hanna Lavenson, Jimmy Lemlin, Jayden Lenfestey, Benoit Levesque, Daimian Lewis, Eve Lilly, Addison Littlefield, Sarah Lowell, Sydney Lucas, Caleb Luce, Isabella Luce, Katie Luce, Ashlynn Lund, Christopher Mairs, Jayden Martin, Alyssa Methieu, Samantha Matthews, Mackenzie Mayo, Connor McCurdy, Aislinn McDaniel, Leighara McDaniel, Garrett McKenna, Kassie McMullen, William McPherson, Meghan McQuillan, Dylan Mercier, Nathan Milne, Ella Nash, Andrew Needham, Mattea Ogden, Joselyn Ouellette, Makayla Ouellette, Alexandria Pearce, Kailey Pelletier, Nathan Perkins, Jacob Perry, Rosemary Peterson, Francis Petrillo, Alexnader Pierce, Adam Pooler, Melayna Porter, Nathalie Poulin, Rylee Poulin, Brian Powell, Brian Powell, Colby Prosser, Valerie Quirion, Alysan Rancourt, Joshua Raymond, Kyera Ripley, Kaylee Rocque, Sean Rodrigue, Elijah Ross, Dharani Singaram, Lindsey Sirois, Emily Smith, Hunter Smith, Makenzie Smith, Taylor Staples, Hart St. Clair, Damian Taylor, Victoria Terranova, Richard Thompson, Deklan Thurston, Chloe Tilley, Eliza Towle, Sydney Townsend, Casey Turner, Brandon Veilleux, Jade Veilleux, Maria Veilleux, Matthew Veilleux, Kaitlyn Vigue, Carter Violette, Isaac Violette, Makayla Violette, Mason Violette, Aran Walker, Keith Warman, Elizabeth Webb, Gabrielle Wener, William Wentworth, Rebekah White, Mary-Jane Williams, Kaley Wolman and Joshua Zinkovitch.

Waterville High School

Halah Al Subai­hawi, Devin Andreozzi, Trent Andreozzi, Emilee Arbo, Maryah Audet-Gagnon, Estaphanie Baez Vazquez, Jess Bazakas, Jacqueline Bean, Timara Bell, Kristen Bickford, Taylor Bielecki, Abigail Bloom, Hallee Brunette, Bryn Burrows, Elizabeth Campbell, Damien Carey, Amaryllis Charles, Katie Chase, Kevin Chen, Hope Cogswell, Jacob Cornforth, Logan Courtois, Remy Courtois, Mickayla Crowley, Maggie Didonato, Hannah Dillingham, Gavin Dorr, Duncan Doyon, Keegan Drake, Lauren Endicott, Jaimee Feugill, Sadie Garling, Daniel Gaunce, Chloe Geller, Trafton Gilbert, Ryan Gilman, Devin Goldsmith, Benjamin Combos, Emma Goodrich, Sierra Grant, Joseph Gray, Cierra Guarente, Jacob Gerrerro, Kylee Hamm, Madison Hanley, Alexis Hawkins, Shantylane Hubiak, Keona Jeror, Miranda Juliano, Madaya Kavis, Sadie Labbe, Ethan Ladd, Peter Lai, Michael LeClair, Jordan Lesiker, Dakota Libby, Jasmine Liberty, Emelaine Llanto, Hannah Lord, Olivia Lovendahl, Joseph Macarthur, Rebecca Maheu, Christopher Manigat, Madeleine Martin, Shane Martin, Isaac McCarthy, D’Nell McDonald, Maxwell McGadney, Zaharias Menoudarakos, Luquis Merrithew, Alana Monk, Mckayla Nelson, Flesha Paradis, Jelani Parker, Lauren Pinnette, Sophia Poole, Katlin Prat, Barry Preble, Nikkia-Lynn Pressey, Colby Quinlan, David Ramgren, Dasia Roberts, Corinne Rogers, Lily Roy, Kira Sencabaugh, Amanda Shirley, Anthony Singh, Jared Sioch, Keisha Small, Simon Smith, Isabella Sousa, Joey Stanton Jr., Alisha Stevens, Catherine Tracy, Brady Vicnaire, Natalia Von Leigh, Cole Welch, Wayne Williams, Alysia Wilson, Erin Winkley and Cairlyn Young.

Winslow High School

Haneen Ali, Carly Anderson, Alika Andrews, Kathryn Bailey, Lily Barkdull, Rylee Batey, Devin Bettencourt, Eric Booth, Sebastian Bouchard, Cameron Brockway, Brandon Campbell, Lydia Carey, Briell Carter, Gabriella Chambers, Garrett Choate, Jessey Cloutier, Silver Clukey, Abigail Cochran, Brooke Cochran, Brady Corson, Camden Dangler, Alexander Demers, Micah Dickson, Willa Dolley, Katie Doughty, Ronan Drummond, Hannah Dugal, Brennan Dunton, Summer Eyster, Cloe Fecteau, Sophie-ann Gerry, Isaiah Gidney, Christopher Girard, Isaiah Goldsmith, Hannah Goodine, Cameron Goodwin, Cody Green, Bryce Gunzinger, Dawsen Gurski, Aaron Harmon, Gabrielle Hatt, Wyatt Hood, Landon Hotham, Jacob Huesers, Ross Hughes, Sadie Irza, Cody Ivey, Savannah Joler, Caleb Joseph Lagasse, Kaelyn Lakey, Juliann Lapierre, Nicholas Lemieux, Felicia Lessard, Alexee Littlefield, Riley Loftus, James Mason, Ronnie Mason, Ethan Matthews, Caleb Mills, Christopher Mills, Brandon Moore, Haylee Moore, Madison Morin, Mariah Morrison, Shaylie Morrison, Gabriel Moumouris, Skylar Nye, Elena O’Hara, Wesley O’Neal, Chase Pelkey, Leah Pelotte, Christopher Phair, Madalyn Phillips, Justice Picard, Faith Pomerleau, Colby Pomeroy, Alexis Porter, Christopher Poulliot, Morgan Presby, Anthony Proulx, Ashley Quirion, Kristen Rancourt, Braden Rayborn, Miranda Raymond, Zachary Real, Jackson Reynolds, Jenna Rodrigue, Taylor Rodriguez, Cheyne Salvas, Nevaeh Schuchardt, Carrie Selwood, Mallory Sheridan, Grace Smith, Austin Soucy, Alison Stabins, Bryanna Stanley, Hannah Stevens, Katherine Stevens, Nicholas Sweeney, Kaleb Thomas, Sage Vance, Gage Vaughan, Austin Veilleux, Abigail Washburn, William Weiss, Caleb Welsh, Austin Williams and Abigail Wright.

Sawyer meets a Waterville police officer; but still wants to tour police station

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Four year old Sawyer Bearce with Officer Steve Brame from the Waterville Police Department. (photo by Central Maine Photography)

by Mark Huard

Sawyer absolutely loves and admires police officers, and has for quite some time. Last winter he received a police uniform as a gift. He wears it quite frequently, almost daily. He wants to be a policeman someday.

For months he has been asking to go visit the police officers at the station and take a tour. The family knew because of COVID-19 that wouldn’t be possible. So, on Tuesday May 26, they called the Waterville Police Station to see if a police officer could come to the house and visit Sawyer.

Within minutes an officer was at the house – Officer Steve Brame. Sawyer is still anxiously waiting for the day he can actually go to the police station but the picture speak for itself as to how excited he was to finally meet a police officer. He had many questions and officer Brame was so patient and answered all of his questions. This was really a dream come true for this little four year old.

It’s graduation season for area high schools

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Graduates from Lawrence High School celebrating with their parade. (photo by Tawni Lively.)

by Roland D. Hallee

Hallee Brunette, left, and Colby Quinlan, celebrate following their graduation ceremony at Waterville High School. (contributed photo)

Typically, the first two weeks of June is the graduation season in central Maine. This year was no different, except that due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, things were done a little differently.

In Winslow, their graduation was held on June 10.

The graduates and parents participated in a procession of cars around the high school with fire and police vehicles leading the way. Supporters and well-wishers lined Danielson Street to celebrate the occasion.

Senior class secretary Riley Loftus and class president Jake Huesers both stressed the positives in their graduation addresses.
Both pressed the importance of what has happened over their collective school careers, and not to what the pandemic has taken away from them.

School principal Chad Bell also spoke about lessons graduates could take from this extraordinary experience. Bell emphasized he told seniors they would have a special graduation ceremony for them. The key points in his speech were about “positivity and perserverance.”

Bell was also impressed with the success that was achieved in pulling off this year’s graduation ceremony.

Above left, Winslow High School parade as it winds down Frankwood Drive, in Winslow. (photo by Kelley Bernard)

Following the distribution of diplomas, with students back in their vehicles, graduates were led in the traditional transferring of their respective tassels from one side of their caps to the other, signifying they were now Winslow High School alumni.

On the following evening, June 11, the Waterville High School seniors and their parents took to the streets of Waterville for an impressive parade from the high school to Central Maine Motors Chevrolet-Buick auto dealership, on Kennedy Memorial Drive, many in convertibles or standing through the vehicles’ sunroof, for their graduation festivities. Most of the students video recorded along the parade route. The motorcade left the high school, proceeded west on Western Avenue to the intersection with First Rangeway, where they turned left and headed south toward Kennedy Memorial Drive, horns honking, and the blaring sound of the sirens from Waterville police cars, fire trucks, including the ladder truck, and rescue unit. Supporters and other family members lined the parade route.

Upon arriving at the dealership, cars were lined up in the lot. Speakers included principal Brian Laramee, and the featured speaker, retiring faculty member Scott Rivard. With the formalities completed, seniors approached the stage in groups of 10, to receive their diplomas.

Again, being led by Class of 2020 president Lauren Pinnette, the graduates, in keeping with long time traditions, transferred their respective tassels from right to left, a symbol they were now Waterville High School alumni.

The final act of the night, which lent itself to a touching finish, came when all the faculty members lined both sides of the Airport Road, waving goodbye to their graduates.

The graduation was made possible through the generosity of Central Maine Motors owner Chris Gaunce and his family, and many volunteers.

Local groups observe 76th anniversary of D-Day invasion

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From left to right, Pearley Lachance, chaplain at the Waterville American Legion, Michael Switzer, commander of Waterville’s Bourque-Lanigan American Legion Post #5, Craig Baily, commander of Winslow’s VFW Post #8835, and State Rep. Bruce White, who organized the event. (photo by Eric W. Austin)

by Eric W. Austin

They say weather was one of the biggest factors in determining the success of World War II’s D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. After a cantankerous month of May, meteorologists were pessimistic about fair weather for the invasion planned at the beginning of June. Without a break in the weather, planes could not see well enough to bomb German fortifications or drop paratroopers behind enemy lines; in rough seas, boats would have trouble navigating close enough to the beaches to drop off Allied soldiers safely. Many conversations and heated arguments were had between British and American forecasters about whether the invasion should go forward.

Left, State Rep. Bruce White, who organized the event, and his wife Doreen, who read the poem “Normandy.” (photo by Eric W. Austin)

Seventy-six years later, a small crowd gathered in a soggy parking lot at the Forrest J. Pare VFW Post #1285, in Waterville, to remember the bravery of Allied soldiers on that fateful day, and similar questions about the weather were on everyone’s minds. Similar to that June day in 1944, the weather wasn’t perfect, but it was “good enough,” and as they rang the small Liberty bell at the conclusion of the ceremony, the sun broke free from its cover of clouds to shine down on the gathering, as if to bless the assembled crowd and the cause of freedom they were celebrating.

The ceremony was part of the “Freedom Rings Global” event to remember the 76th anniversary of the Allied D-Day invasion, named “Operation Overlord.” It was the largest single-day operation in history and laid the foundations for the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi tyranny.

Waterville State Representative Bruce White organized the event after learning the story of World War II paratrooper Tom Rice, a member of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division known as the “Screaming Eagles.” Last year, at age 97, Rice re-enacted his paratrooper jump over Carentan, Normandy, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The video of the jump garnered millions of views on social media and YouTube. Rice had planned to join celebrations in France this year, but was prevented from doing so because of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Freedom Rings Global” was an event planned for 2020 in Rice’s honor as a way to remember that important day and the men and women who gave their lives in the fight for freedom. At 6:44 p.m. – a reference to the date of the operation: June 6, 1944 – people were encouraged to ring bells throughout the world as a reminder.

Here in Waterville, the event began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Waterville VFW Commander Michael Switzer. After a prayer by Subdeacon Steve Crate, of Saint Joseph Maronite Catholic Church, Rep. White spoke about his reasons for organizing the event. He said, in part: “We are ringing the bell in honor of Tom [Rice], and many others who sacrificed on this day 76 years ago. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, ‘This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.’ The young Americans of that time made up a generation marked for greatness, a generation that would take its place in American history. The American people understood the tremendous burden of the challenge before them, the need for unified national commitment, and most of all they knew that only one result is acceptable: victory. Our nation turned to its young to carry the heaviest burden – to battle against the enemy in the enemy’s own territory, thereby keeping the homefront safe. These young men and women understood what was required of them and willingly volunteered for duty…[On this day] we remember how many of that generation didn’t make it to their twenties, to their thirties and beyond. How many scientists, how many business leaders, teachers, politicians and spiritual leaders were lost in the greatest war the world has ever seen? Today we take a moment to remember them.”

Craig Baily, the Com­mand­er of the Waterville Bourque-Lanigan American Legion Post #5, speaking at the event.

Craig Baily, the Com­mand­er of the Waterville Bourque-Lanigan American Legion Post #5, also spoke to the gathering. He said, in part, “Thank you all for coming out to remember this 76th anniversary [and] those … men and women that served to help free Europe from the tyranny of fascism from the Germans, to free France, and to free the Netherlands, to free Belgium, and to free all of Europe…It was a Herculean effort…to land [on the beaches of Normandy]…It is a testament to the will and spirit of the Americans who went there, the many who died… [and] the many who survived.”

Pearley Lachance, a chaplain for the Waterville American Legion and member of the Winslow MacCrillis-Rouseau VFW Post #8835, has been compiling information about Maine veterans for several years. He spoke about some of the local residents who served during World War II. “Before the war would come to an end, both in the Atlantic and the Pacific campaigns, over 16 million men and women served in uniform,” he said. “They were supported by those who worked in military industries at home. Over 3,000 residents of Waterville were drafted or volunteered. The sad part is, 60 of them did not return because they made the ultimate sacrifice. Waterville’s first causality was Arthur W. Lanigan, a sailor on the USS Houston, which sank when it was attacked by the Japanese on February 28, 1942 — but it was only after the war that it was determined he had died and was not taken as prisoner of war…In Winslow, over 700 were called, and 30 did not return. Joseph Janquist, a Winslow High School graduate, died in the attack on Pearl Harbor [on] December 7, 1941.”

Commander Michael Switzer then spoke briefly to thank everyone for coming.

Doreen White, wife of Rep. White, stepped forward to read a poem, “Normandy,” by Cyril Crain. By way of introduction, she said, “My dad quit school – Waterville High School – at 17. [He] had to get his parents’ permission. They reluctantly gave their permission for him to volunteer in the Navy. He wasn’t at D-Day, but he was a member of the Greatest Generation and served in the Pacific during World War II. I’m reading this poem with his memory in my heart. This poem is called ‘Normandy,’ and it’s by a young veteran who landed on Juno Beach:

‘Come and stand in memory
Of men who fought and died
They gave their lives in Normandy
Remember them with pride.

Soldiers, Airman, sailors
Airborne and marines
Who in civilian life were tailors
and men who worked machines.

British and Canadian
And men from USA
Forces from the Commonwealth
They all were there that day

To Juno, Sword and Utah
Beaches of renown
Also Gold and Omaha
That’s where the ramps went down.
The battle raged in Normandy
Many lives were lost
The war must end in victory
And this must be the cost
When my life is over
And I reach the other side
I’ll meet my friends from Normandy
And shake their hands with pride.’”

After the reading of the poem by his wife, Rep. White read a recent statement from Archbishop Timothy Broglio, of the Archdiocese for Military Services, USA: “It is good to remember that many nations participated in the D-Day invasion. Particularly, the U.S. forces were composed of men of different races, national origins, religious creeds, and so forth. In this time of tension, we ask Almighty God that their sacrifice not be in vain. We beg Him to transform our most earnest longings into a force for peace and understanding, to teach us to see every person as brother or sister whose Father is our God. We pray for the ability to negotiate, to talk, and to listen. We pray to remain vigilant against the forces of evil in our troubled world, and to pour our energies into building lasting peace and justice among nations.”

Rep. White then played a recording of General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s speech to the troops on D-Day. Here is that speech:

“Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”

Rep. White concluded by saying, “Father Patrick Finn is going to ring the bell at the church of St. Mark’s, in Winslow. Pittsfield’s MCI (Maine Central Institute) is ringing the bell, and…there are a thousand cities around the world that are doing this same ceremony.”

The Liberty bell rung at the event.

At 6:44 p.m., Waterville Fire Captain and veteran, Rodney Alderman, stepped forward to ring the small Liberty bell set up in the parking lot of the VFW to honor the brave soldiers that fought on the field of battle that fateful June day in 1944.

Pandemic casualty: Joseph’s Fireside Restaurant closes its doors

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Joseph’s Fireside Steakhouse (photo: facebook.com/jfs.me)

The COVID-19 pandemic did what owners Kevin Joseph (no relation to Kevin Joseph of Guacamole’s and You Know Whose Pub) and E. J. Fabian feared the most: closing their beloved restaurant on other than their own terms.

Effective immediately, Joseph’s Fireside Restaurant, located on West River Road, in Waterville, will not reopen for business and remains up for sale.

Opened in June 2011, the original thinking on the parts of both owners was a five-year plan of operation that would allow them to cross items off their respective bucket lists. At the seven-year mark, the decision was made to place the restaurant up for sale – planning to sell to a community-focused buyer. Now, at nine years, the difficult determination has been made to close permanently, due to the restrictions in place forced by the pandemic. Operating at the mandated limited capacity is not sustainable.

In a letter to many friends, customers, area business owners and especially their employees, Kevin and E.J. included a personal note of thanks: “We would like to thank each and every one of you for making this dream of ours a success for many years. We have been so fortunate to have opened our restaurant in such a caring community. This is not the exit plan we had in mind at all, and we wish we could pass this on to new ownership, but at this time it is not an option. We will truly miss you all.”

The owners wish to let gift card holders with balances know that these will be honored. To assure that the money remain in the area, gift cards will be redeemed through the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, 50 Elm Street, Waterville. Fireside gift cards will be replaced with a Chamber gift certificate of equivalent value, redeemable at a Chamber member restaurant from a provided list. Gift card holders will also receive extra value of 10 percent above and beyond the value of the gift certificate issued, from the participating restaurants, at the time of a visit. The 10 percent bonus value cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions the restaurant may be offering. The 10 percent bonus will be honored by the participating restaurants only until August 31, 2020.

Fireside gift cards must be surrendered at the time of exchange at the Chamber office. Please contact the Chamber at 873-3315, or chambergiftcertifs@gmail.com for information.

Restaurant owner and family provide lunches for front line workers

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Guacamole’s owner Kevin Joseph with a staff member from Northern Light Inland Hospital. (contributed photo)

Guacamole’s owner serves up burrito lunches to healthcare professionals

by Roland D. Hallee

Kevin Joseph, owner of Guacamole’s and You Know Whose Pub, in Waterville.

Ever the community-conscious entrepreneur, Kevin Joseph, owner of Guacamole’s Mexican sandwich shop on Main St., and You Know Whose Pub, at East Concourse, both in downtown Waterville, has been providing free burrito sandwiches to local front-line health care providers over the past several weeks.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week, Joseph visits a healthcare facility in the area and delivers free lunches. He will continue to do it until the funds run out.

The brain child of Kevin’s family, he began to provide the service on May 26 with a visit to Inland Hospital, in Waterville, where he provided the sandwiches to staff workers.

Kevin’s family provided the seed money to begin the deliveries. “It was a way for us to say thank you to all the hard work these professionals do for us on a daily basis,” said Joseph. “It’s a fantastic feeling to see how much they appreciated us bringing them lunch.”

Joseph was quick to note that his family donated the money, telling him to use it any way he saw fit. He decided to use it to thank the “front line” workers in the community.

Kevin Joseph with a staff member from Lakewood Manor in Waterville. (contributed photo)

His next stop was to Lakewood Manor, long-term nursing facility, and plans to follow up with a visit to MaineGeneral Medical Center.

He plans to continue the deliveries.

The effort has drawn national attention. He received a message from a Montana resident, a former Waterville native, who is willing to contribute to the effort.

State Represenative Bruce White commented, “What Kevin is doing is very kind.”

Some other Facebook posts stated, “Our lunch surprise put smiles on our faces. Fabulous burritos. Thank you for you support.“

Another post said, “Everyone loved them. Thank you. I didn’t even know this place existed.”

Joseph opened Guacamole’s in 2019, and has owned You Know Whose Pub since he purchased it in 2000. The Pub was originally founded in 1970 by Norton Webber, and purchased later by Al Oberlechner, who sold it to Joseph.

Next week, Joseph plans visits to MaineGeneral Medical Center and the Dialysis Center, in Fairfield.

giveIT getIT offers electronics recycling service

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Community Electronics Recycling update from give IT get IT (formerly SKILLS recycling and eWaste Alternatives) – has announced that all Maine businesses, schools and households are welcome to participate in this service:

They’ve opened their front drop off shed seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., on a free, self-serve basis for televisions, desktop printers, monitors and set-top boxes such as cable or satellite boxes, network gear, VCRs, game consoles. Please, no other materials are accepted in the drop off/self-serve area at this time.

If you have stereo equipment, computers, mobile devices, batteries, anything they might be able to reuse, contains personal data (and other types of electronics not listed above), they can accept those in the main facility on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Just call 872-2615 when you arrive at the facility and a staff member will assist you.

They ask that visitors please respect these limitations by only dropping off acceptable materials in the appropriately marked containers, or on the proper day/time for that item. They want to encourage proper management of these environmentally-unfriendly materials, but can only continue to offer this community service if everyone does their part.

Please call (207) 872-2615 if you need more information and like/share the efforts on www.facebook.com/giveitgetitusa or google places and tell others about this free and convenient resource.

Waterville farmers market open every Thursday…rain or shine!

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The Waterville Farmers Market is now open every Thursday, from 2 – 6 p.m., at the Head of Falls, off Front Street. You must order ahead.

Contact your farmer to order your goods ahead of time. Here is a list of all members – and whether and how they handle ordering ahead for pickup at market. For more info about each market member, visit the market members page at the market’s website.

To order ahead for pickup at market, order from each market member who you want to buy from. Since the farmers’ market is a group of individual producers, they each have their own way of going about placing a pre-order with them. Most of them are pretty easy and straightforward, and many even allow you to pay online via a credit/debit card, paypal, etc. Here is a list of all of the members and whether and how they handle ordering ahead for pickup at market. For more info about each market member, visit the market members page at the market’s website. It is noted below which members are attending market now.

Apple Farm, 207-453-7656, email mainecider@gmail.com.

Burke Hill Farm, 207-460-6215, burkehillfarm@gmail.com We are not at market until harvest time, but we deliver frozen organic Maine wild blueberries all year long. If you would like a delivery, contact me by phone, email, Facebook, or telepathy.

Cornerstone Farm, cell: 207-416-2676, email: HanneTierney@gmail.com.

Eagle View, 207-660-5179, email frednas@gmail.com.

Good Bread, cell 207-368-4788, email info@good-bread.com. Attending market now.

Heald Farm, 948-2111, email penobscotrider@yahoo.com.

The Highlands, 207-938-2710, email thehighlands55@gmail.com. Check out our FaceBook page, The Highlands & Gracie’s Food Truck, for a current list of available meats, prepared meals, etc. Attending market now.

Hridaya Hermitage, see Sat Manav Yoga Ashram.

Humble Forge, 207-877-5963, email roger@humbleforgeblacksmithing.com.

Junction Garden, https://JunctionGardenME.square.site, 207-518-8661, email JunctionGardenLLC@gmail.com. Attending market now.

Kennebec Cheesery, 207-480-0431, email kennebeccheesery@gmail.com.

LOMAH, https://lomahfarmstead.com/store/, 207-924-0954, email lomah207@gmail.com.

Marr Pond Farm. Pre-orders (and a great new website!) coming soon.

Marr Pond Farm will be attending market in late May with greens, storage crops, and seedlings. Check our Facebook, Instagram, and website for the most up-to-date info. Traditional ‘Pick-up CSA’ shares available at market this year, limited availability – sign up here. Market Shares can be used for pre-order sales, email to sign up, 207-717-3571, email info@marrpondfarm.com.

Sat Manav Yoga Ashram, 207-485-1228, Sunyatashyam3@gmail.com.

Snakeroot Organic Far. Early Seedlings Order Form for 2020, Warm Weather Seedling Order Form for 2020. Online Organic Produce Store for delivery to Orono or Waterville Farmers’ Markets or pickup at the farm. CSA members, please check what’s available at the above online store, then email us your order directly and tell us your preferred pickup location (Orono, Waterville, or our farm). Attending market now.

Stone Fox Creamery, 207-323-2850, email stonefoxfarmcreamery@gmail.com.

Winterberry Farm, https://winterberryfarm.square.site/. Attending market now.

Wise Acre Farm, https://wiseacresfarm.square.site/.

Worcester’s Wild Blueberries, https://wildblueberryproducts.com/shop/.

Please be aware that the information booth will only be processing EBT/SNAP cards.

The first half hour of market is dedicated to seniors and immunocompromised folks.

Vendors will be taking cash, check and most of them will be processing their own credit/debit.

Maine-Japan printmaking exchange celebrates 5 years

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Image Credit: Michiko Kusakabe, Grape Hunting, 2019, Woodblock print

Common Street Arts, in Waterville, will host a collection of prints by artists from Maine and Aomori, Japan, beginning May 18 through July 18, at the Hathaway Creative Center, in downtown Waterville. The traveling exhibition is part of MAPS (Maine-Aomori Printmaking Society), a cultural exchange program sharing art and artists between Maine and Aomori. The MAPS initiative is celebrating five years of collaborative exhibitions and artist exchanges. MAPS will be on view virtually through Common Street Arts’ social media channels including Facebook and Instagram. Common Street Arts will provide associated virtual programming through its Afterschool Art Club Facebook series and provide additional video content to share the exhibition with viewers. There will also be opportunities to purchase prints through the Maine Aomori Printmaking Society.

Since 2015, curators Jeff Badger and Jiro Ono have coordinated the exchange of ten prints each year from artists in Maine and Aomori. The prints have been exhibited in Maine and Japan and now the collection numbers over a hundred works. The prints exchanged in 2019-2020 will be exhibited at Common Street Arts in Waterville from May 18 through July 18. The same collection was shown at the Aomori Arts Pavilion in Japan during the Citizen Culture Days in October 2019. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with MAPS and look forward to showcasing this beautiful collection of prints. It’s a wonderful partnership and we are so pleased to be able to serve as a virtual venue,” says Patricia King, Vice President of Waterville Creates.

The official relationship between Maine and Aomori has been in place for over 20 years, but the fascinating connection between the two states goes back to the wreck of a ship from Bath off the Japanese coast in 1889, resulting in a daring rescue of American sailors by Japanese villagers. In addition to MAPS, Friends of Aomori – the all-volunteer non-profit that supports the partnership – also supports high-school exchange programs, educational workshops and events, and economic development opportunities. “The MAPS print collection has grown into a beautiful representation of the diversity and excellence in printmaking that can be found in both Maine and Aomori. Our goal is to exhibit this dynamic and growing collection all over the State of Maine. We are proud to partner with Common Street Arts to share the work with the people of Waterville and neighboring communities,” says Badger.
h MAPS is presented by Friends of Aomori and made possible by the generous support of the Rines-Thomspon fund of the Maine Community Foundation and Ocean House Gallery and Frame.