Purnell Wrigley Field dedicated in Waterville

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by Mark Huard

Major League Baseball Chicago Cubs All Star pitcher and former Boston Red Sox, Lee Smith, was on hand at the renovation site on Wednesday, September 7, for a ground breaking ceremony and celebration dinner. Lee Smith reflected on his all-star career and how Waterville’s completely accessible replica of Wrigley will positively impact the youth of Waterville, statewide and beyond!

This ceremony also honored and recognized Hall of Fame college baseball coach, Dr. John Winkin and Maine native Clyde Sukeforth, a former MLB alumni who was instrumental in signing Jackie Robinson to the Major Leagues.

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Lee Smith

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Lee Smith, left, who pitched for both the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, was on hand on September 7 for the dedication of the new Purnell Wrigley Field Little League complex, named in honor of long-time director Fran Purnell, right. More photos on available here. Photo by Central Maine Photography staff

A special tribute was given to Fran Purnell who coached, managed, and developed baseball in Waterville at this very field for over 45 years. Fran still coaches the “Challenger Program” for kids with disabilities, a program that will be the cornerstone of the new $1.4 million Purnell Wrigley Field sponsored by Major League Baseball Tomorrow Fund, The Harold Alfond

Foundation, North East Turf, Inc., the city of Waterville and numerous other benefactors.
Purnell Wrigley Field joins the Harold Alfond Fenway Park, in Oakland, as the only two licensed replica turfed fields in the country – located right here in Central Maine. CEO, Ken Walsh of the Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA at the Alfond Youth Center said, “These fields give kids the opportunity to feel like real Major League players! The turf not only gives everyone the chance to play but extends the baseball season here in Maine, giving kids more time to develop their skills and learn sportsmanship while playing the game they love. The Purnell Wrigley Field is truly a grass roots community project built on the support of many and varied contributors of monetary and in-kind gifts. It’s a wonderful project honoring the legacy of some terrific ‘home town’ heroes.”

For more information, contact Ken Walsh, CEO Alfond Youth Center 207-649-1824 or kwalsh@alfondyouthcenter.org. www.clubayc.org; www.mainesfenway.org; www.newenglandsportscamps.org.

Local students graduate from Bates College

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The following students graduated from Bates College at the school’s 150th commencement ceremony on May 29.

Shaun Carroll, son of Mr. and Mrs. Shaun N. Carroll, of Clinton, graduated after majoring in history at Bates. He is a 2012 graduate of Lawrence High School, in Fairfield.

Lindsey Prelgovisk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Prelgovisk, of Oakland, graduated after majoring in art and visual culture at Bates. She is a 2012 graduate of Messalonskee High School, in Oakland.

Nicolas Margitza, son of Joyce A. Galea, of Winslow, graduated after majoring in philosophy at Bates. He is a 2012 graduate of Waterville Senior High School.

Bates College graduated 462 students from 32 states and 43 countries. Cumulatively, the Class of 2016 performed 17,500 hours of community service, exemplifying Bates’ commitment to community learning and civic action.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, often called “one of the most courageous persons the civil rights movement ever produced,” delivered the address at Bates’ 150th commencement ceremony on May 29. In his speech, recounting his first meeting with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis said that the great civil rights leader “inspired me to stand up, to speak up and speak out.” Lewis told the graduates, “You must find a way to get in the way and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. You have a moral obligation, a mission and a mandate, when you leave here, to go out and seek justice for all.”

Area students earn dean’s list at University of Maine

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The following area students have earned dean’s list ranking for the fall 2015 semester at the University of Maine:

Paige Castonguay and Thad Chamberlain, both of Benton; Jack Brannigan, of Chelsea; Aaron Brown and Tiffany Clifford, both of Clinton; Hannah Grover, East Vassalboro; David Austin, Paige Belanger, Nicole Bowen, Josie Champagne, Hannah Chavis, Meaghan Foster, Zachary Hale, Paige Hanson, Samantha King, Alex Leathers, Joseph Leclair, Lindsay Morris, Anthony Sementelli and Lawryn White, all of Fairfield; Samuel Dubois, Kirsha Finemore, Erik Holmsen, Forest LeBlanc, Samantha Mathieu, Emily Pellerin, Benjamin Schaff, Cody Stevens and Allan Walsh, all of Oakland; Emily Deering, Eleanora French, Alyssa Gartley, Alton Hawk, Kaitlyn Hayward, Jade McGuire, Gregory O’Connor, James Poulin, Sarah Poulin, Elena Smith, Brittany White and Katherine Wight, all of South China: Taylor Bailey, Marissa Bovie, Moriah Cloutier, Patrick Meunier, Jeffrey Pulver and Nathaniel Trask, all of Vassalboro; Alexander Danner, Cassandra Dechaine, Grace Gould, Lucas Higgins, William Hoffman, James Lavin, Ryan Lopes, Morgan Pellerin, Nicole Pinnette, Waleed Rahmatullah, James Robe, Mathew Rumsey, Amy Samson, Allison Scully and Todd Serbent, all of Waterville; Chase Drummond, of Weeks Mills; Sarah Allisot, Cady Hockridge and Emma Wilkinson, all of Windsor; Sean Ducker, Ryan Dutil, Brian Ouellette, Karlee Price, Sierra Savage, Rachel Sirois, Gabriel Smith, Aysha Vear and Elizabeth Weiss, all of Winslow; Trevor Diemer, Zoli Kertesz and Briana Littlefield, all of Freedom; Adriana martineau and Ethan Poisonnier, both of Norridgewock; Corrine Anderson, Kirstie Belanger, Ryley Burkhart, Nicoltee Curran, Jaden Dickinson, Cody Dillingham, Elijah Holland, Kaylin Knott, Rhiannon LaPlante, Briann Prentiss, Jillian Redmond and Nicole Sevey, all of Skowhegan; Tamika LaCroix, of Solon; and Joshua Savoy and Bronwyn West, both of Liberty.

…And then, there is football

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Spencer Minihan

Waterville Youth Football team member Spencer Minihan getting in some practice time prior to the beginning of the upcoming season.

 

Brendan Roderick

Waterville Youth Football team member Brendan Roderick practicing for the upcoming season.

All photos by Mark Huard, owner of Central Maine Photography

University of New Hampshire announces graduates

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The following local students graduated from the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, New Hampshire, during the commencement ceremony.

Julie Arbour, of Augusta, earned a BS in nursing.

Maxwell Brown, of Waterville, earned a BA in Spanish.

Sydney Crogan, of Winslow, earned a BS in business administration: marketing.

Leah Caverly, of Clinton, earned a BS in sustainable  agriculture and food systems.

Maxwell Kenney, of Fairfield, earned a BSENVE in environmental engineering: municipal, Cum Laude.

Jacob Withee, of Norridgewock, earned an MS in zoology.

Kallie Buzzell, of Oakland, earned a BS in nutrition and wellness.

Win medals at national competition

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Jake Lapierre, of Winslow and Peter Mayhorn

The 15th edition of the National Cup track and field trials were held in Aurora, Colorado, on July 22-25. Two local athletes, Jake Lapierre, of Winslow, left, and Peter Mayhorn, of Waterville, won medals at the competition. Photo by Mark Huard, ownere Central Maine Photography

Area students spend fall in areas across globe

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No education is complete without the opportunity to discover the world and our role in the global society. Stonehill college students, in Easton, Massa­chusetts, traveled to countries near and far in the pursuit of knowledge, humanity and service during the fall 2015 semester.

Marissa L. Jordan, of Whitefield, studied in Italy at John Cabot University, Rome. A member of the class of 2017, is studying communication and political science and international studies.

Abigail S. Weston, of Waterville, studied in Germany at Freie Universitat Berlin European Studies Program. A member of the class of 2017, is studying graphic design.

Three area students named to the University of Vermont dean’s list

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The following local students have been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2016 semester at the University of Vermont, in Burlington, Vermont:

Delaney Curran, of Skowhegan. Curran is a biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Kaitlyn Sutter, of Palermo. Sutter is a professional nursing major in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Emily Higgins, of Waterville). Higgins is an athletic training education major in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Track and field action

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Photos by Mark Huard, owner Central Maine Photography

Logan Tardif

Logan Tardif, 11, of Waterville, competing in the USATF summer youth program through the parks and rec department. He was a double medalist earning two bronze medals.

 

Eric Boot

Eric Booth, of Winslow, competing in the 100 meter hurdles at the state championships, in Augusta.

New Dimensions raises funds for Maine Children’s Cancer program

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by Mark Huard

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union hosted their third annual car show at the Faith Evangelical Free Church at 250 Kennedy Memorial Drive on June 4. There were 20 different vehicle classes available, ranging from antiques to street rods. More than 110 people registered their vehicles at the show, surpassing more than double the participants from the first show. NDFCU staff volunteered at the event in order to sell food, merchandise, and facilitate the trophy ceremony and silent auction. With the help of local sponsors and community donations, the event raised $12,345.16. An additional $10,000 was donated by CO-OP Financial Services’ Miracle Match Program, bringing the total amount raised from the show to $22,345.16.

Members of the New Dimensions Federal Credit Union

Members of the New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, in Waterville, surround Sylvio Normandeau, front center, who recently met his lifetime goal of $500,000 raised towards Maine Children’s Cancer program.
Photo by Mark Hard, owner Central Maine Photography

All proceeds from the Cruisin’ for a Cure Car Show are donated to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program (MCCP) on behalf of local fundraising legend Sylvio Normandeau. Since the mid 1990s, Normandeau has been inspiring others with this dedication to the MCCP, all because he made a promise to his late wife that he was going to help kids in Maine with cancer. Since making that commitment to her, he has devoted years of his life to children and their families in our state in an effort to reach his personal fundraising goal of $500,000.

For several years during the summer months, Sylvio could be found at many area businesses as well as at Sam’s Club handing out hot dogs, where he would “give you a smile, a treat, and a thank you” in exchange for a small donation. He also helped facilitate and organize the annual MCCP Walk for the Waterville area for several years and continues to place spare change containers in central Maine businesses. His mantra of no donation is too small or too big has proved successful – at the close of 2015, Mr. Normandeau has raised just over $474,000 for his charity!

On July 6, New Dimensions FCU held an event at the Waterville branch to reveal the total amount raised for the MCCP. Normandeau was overjoyed when he learned that he reached his lifetime goal of $500,000.