Waterville Opera House announces auditions

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Disney’s “Newsies” 1992

The Waterville Opera House (WOH) is announcing the audition dates for its new fall musical – Disney’s Newsies the Musical – the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right! Opening Friday, November 8, this production will run through Sunday, November 17, at the Waterville Opera House, in downtown Waterville. Tickets are available at www.operahouse.org or by calling 207-873-7000.

Auditions will take place on the Opera House Main Stage. Show Dates: November 8, 9, 15, at 7:30 p.m.; November 10, 16, 17 at 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

1 p.m.: Adults Music Only
2 p.m.: Jack, Katherine, Delancey Brothers, Newsboys Music.
(Dance auditions for all to follow music auditions.)

MONDAY, AUGUST 26

6 p.m.: Jack, Katherine, Delancey Brothers, Newsboys Music.
Dance auditions for all to follow music auditions.
(Adults may sing at 6 p.m., if unable to attend Sunday’s audition.)

Character descriptions and audition materials are available on the Waterville Opera House website at https://www.operahouse.org/auditions. Upon arriving, candidates must fill out an audition form to be turned in to the production team. Candidates may also receive an audition number and be required to have their photo taken upon arrival. Please have your scheduling conflicts available. Candidates should review the audition materials and come prepared to perform as an individual and in group work. Auditions will likely involve singing, book work, and dancing. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

9th annual Battle for Breast Cancer raises $42,000

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Messalonskee field hockey team. Front row, left to right, Riley Waraskevich, Ann Corbett, Journey Charles, Chloe Tilley, Abby Breznyak, Nealey Dillon, Jenna Cassani and Jenna Reardon. Back, Coach McLaughlin, Morgan Wills, Logan Alexander, Sidney Hatch, Alyson Violette, Shea Cassani, Malaika Thurston, Frankie Caccamo, Sarah Hellen and Coach Feldpausch. (photo submitted by Kim Kennedy)

by Mark Huard

The 9th Annual Battle For Breast Cancer took place at Thomas College, in Waterville, on Saturday, July 13, and was a truly great success.

The July 13 benefit tournament featured 11 Central Maine high school field hockey teams: Skowhegan, Messalonskee, Mt. Blue, Lawrence, Dirigo, Dexter, Nokomis, MCI, Winslow, Erskine Academy and Winthrop.

Now in its 9th year, more than $240,000 has been raised since 2011 for the beneficiary, the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center, a program of Franklin Memorial Hospital, in Farmington. Diagnostic breast imaging, biopsies, lab services, surgical consultations, and post-surgical garments are just some of the examples of how the money has been used.”

“Money raised is used to support those with breast cancer living in Central Maine with health care costs as well as practical resources for patients such as gas cards and help with child care which may impact patient care,” said organizer Paula Doughty. “Last year we started a program with platinum thru bronze sponsorship opportunities for businesses or individuals, which provides sponsors with special recognition in the event’s program and during the opening ceremony.” This sponsorship has helped us tremendously.

“For over 40 years I drove 45 minutes a day to work and 45 minutes back from work,” said organizer Paula Doughty. “During this time I did my best thinking. Over the years I had experienced in my family and other people who had jobs but no insurance or high deductibles suffer. Often they got no care at all or couldn’t follow up with medical recommendations because of their financial situations. The hospitals would hound them for the payments they couldn’t make, and they were denied government help, yet didn’t have the money to pay on their own. Often many just gave up and ultimately died. That’s when I thought it would be great to try to help some of these local people with their needs. I met with some of my Skowhegan Field Hockey Boosters and the Battle for Breast Cancer came about.”

The Lawrence field hockey team. Front row, left to right, Abigail Townsend, Taylor Jordan, Sophia Luckern, Ashtynn Stewart, Taylor Leclerc, Emma Poulin, Alexis Trask, Lexi Gordon, Emily Hersey, Haylei Niles and Holly Bolduc. Back, Coach Shawna Robinson, Abbie Vigue Brooke Butler, Capt. Miranda Lambert, Capt. Lexi Lewis, Victoria Dunphy, Capt. Elsie Suttie, Tori Richards, Cassie Richards and Maddie Niles. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff)

They chose the Martha B. Webber Center because it was local and rural. Often people don’t have the will or the resources to drive to the cities of Maine and they thought it was a good fit. Back in 2011, a total of four teams got together and had the first Battle for Breast Cancer at Colby College which included Skowhegan, Mt. Blue, Winslow and Nokomis. Their goal was to raise $1,000 and they ended up raising $16,655.

Since that time with over 11 teams they have now raised $242,000 dollars which has helped over 550 local people in Central Maine with everything from a gas card to get to treatments to many medical procedures. The entire central Maine field hockey community has stepped up and wanted to participate. Over the last two years they also have been collecting sponsors which has really helped boost the final amounts. The majority of the money is raised by field hockey players raising one dollar at a time with bottle drives, car washes, toll booths, and personal collections.

Next year will be the tenth year and Doughty said we plan on going all out to make it the best ever. “We know after reading and listening to testimonials of patients we help how worthwhile this event is. Hopefully more and more people in the Central Maine Area will donate for our cause,” Doughty concluded.

Larry Brown inducted to Cal Ripken Hall of Fame

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Waterville coach Larry Brown, center holding plaque, was recently inducted into the Cal Ripken Baseball Hall of Fame. The group includes Coach Brown’s former players and coaches, Spencer Brown, Wyatt Gradie, Ben Foster, Garrett Gendreau, Gage Hibbard, Alex Spaulding, Pete Sack, Brendan Roderick, Dustin Hunter, Kody Vallee, Rick Gradie, Wayne Gendreau. (photo by Mark Huard, owner Central Maine Photography)

Samantha Munro graduates cum laude from Becker College

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Samantha Munro, of Waterville, graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in Veterinary Science, Pre-Veterinary Concentration from Becker College, in Worcester, Massachusetts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New pastor at First Baptist Church, in Waterville

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Moderator of First Baptist Church, Sam Goddard, has announced David A. Rodrigue as its Interim Pastor.

Rodrigue, a native of Waterville and educated in Waterville and Winslow schools, currently resides in China with his wife Valma.

Rodrigue served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam Conflict. A Marine for a total of 21 years, retired with the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant. His occupation in the Marine Corps was telecommunications and data processing. Upon retirement from the Marines, Rodrigue was employed for 26 years by Maine state government.

Rodrigue has been a youth coach at various levels of Tiger Cub, Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, and coached wrestling in New York and Maine.
Currently a member of the China Baptist Church, he served as its chairman of the Board of Trustees, board member of Board of Deacons, and Sunday School teacher. In addition, he has been clerk for the Kennebec Baptist Association and past president of the American Baptist Churches of Maine.

Area students named to highly selective dean’s list at Colby College

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Area students were recently named to the highly selective dean’s list at Colby College, in Waterville, for outstanding academic achievement during the spring semester of the 2018-19 academic year. A total of 443 Colby students – or 23 percent of the qualified student body – earned a spot on the Dean’s List last semester.

Kathryn K. Bernier, a member of the class of 2020, attended Waterville Senior High School and is the daughter of Daniel and Jennifer Bernier, of Watervillee.

Eleanor Rose M. Theriault, a member of the class of 2021, attended Erskine Academy, in South China, and is the daughter of David and Linda Theriault, of Vassalboro.

Students had to earn a semester grade point average of 3.78 or higher this spring to be included on Colby’s Dean’s List.

Area students on dean’s list at Dean College

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Dean College, in Franklin, Massachusetts, has announced the local students that have earned a place on the dean’s list for the Spring 2019 semester.

Zoe Derosby, of Waterville.
Cami Dubois, of Winslow.
Joshua Veilleux, of Winslow.

Lead drills at football clinic

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Pictured are Waterville and Winslow high school players who participated. (photo by Mark Huard of Central Maine Photography)

Over 40 local youth took part in a free USA Football First Down clinic offered by Winslow Youth Football and Cheerleading, and Waterville Youth Football on June 22 at Poulin Field, in Winslow. Winslow and Waterville football players led the drills while coaches spoke about the importance of school and working hard in everything you do.

Central Maine Motors makes gift to art center

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Paul J. Schupf Art Center in Waterville, ME. (photo credit: Colby College)

Waterville Creates!, a nonprofit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs and institutions in Waterville, Maine, announces a gift in the amount of $25,000 from Central Maine Motors Auto Group in support of the community capital campaign for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center.

Designed to bring together under one roof some of Waterville’s most beloved arts institutions, including the Maine Film Center, Common Street Arts, and a new gallery of the Colby Museum of Art, the Paul J. Schupf Art Center will be constructed on the current site of The Center building at 93 Main Street, directly adjacent to the Waterville Opera House and City Hall building and downtown’s central green space, Castonguay Square. Waterville Creates! and Colby College are partnering on this transformative project, which will create a distinctive hub for visual arts, performing arts, arts education, and film for children and adults. In addition to enhancing Waterville’s reputation as a destination for arts and culture, this new facility will add vitality to downtown Waterville during both the daytime and evening hours and serve as an economic driver for the region.

“Central Maine Motors Auto Group is dedicated to supporting the community of Waterville because we are Waterville – this is where we live, work and play,” says Chris Gaunce, president of Central Maine Motors. “Supporting our community means supporting the arts, especially this new art center, which will create accessible arts opportunities for people of all ages and have a huge economic impact on the city.” Central Maine Motors’ gift was pledged in support of the $2 million community capital campaign being led by Waterville Creates! as part of the overall fundraising goal of $18 million for the project.

“The impact Central Maine Motors Auto Group has on Waterville cannot be overstated – they generously fund so many community events, like our free summer concert series, Waterville Rocks!, and support programs and organizations that bring a high level of visibility to Waterville, including the Maine International Film Festival and the Waterville Opera House.”

Area residents graduate from Colby College

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In an outdoor ceremony May 26, 462 degrees were awarded to members of Colby’s Class of 2019 at the College’s 198th Commencement, in Waterville. Award-winning television writer David E. Kelley told graduates to reject a career that is “not so terrible” and instead pursue what will make them truly fulfilled. Colby President David A. Greene handed a diploma to each of the graduates.

Emily H. Goulette, of Oakland, who majored in Government, attended Messalonskee High School, in Oakland, and is the daughter of Greg Goulette, of Waterville, and Kelly Smith of Oakland.

Adam C. Zarfos, of Waterville, who majored in American Studies, attended Waterville Senior High School and is the son of Donald Zarfos and Elizabeth Schiller, of Waterville, and Karen Kurtz, of Waterville.