Winslow Community Cupboard Food Bank seeks donations for much-needed cooler

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Submitted by Dave Carew

Due to the pandemic and the economic crisis it has triggered, Winslow Community Cupboard, the food bank at Winslow Congregational Church, is experiencing record-level demand for its food bank services. To be able to store enough quality food to assist food-insecure children, seniors, and other adults, the food bank is in serious need of a walk-in cooler. The all-volunteer staff is hoping to raise $4,000 to pay for the cooler and installation.

“We’ve experienced much higher demand than we anticipated—and on a regular basis. We’ve had generous food donations from Good Shepherd, USDA, Hannaford, and others in the local community, but have struggled to house it all before serving days. Purchasing a cooler unit will allow us to accept all cold and frozen food donations going forward,” said Bruce Bottiglierie, Operations Manager, and Anna Quattrucci, Assistant Operations Manager, in a joint statement.

Donations from individuals and businesses in the local community would be enormously appreciated. PayPal or credit card donations may be made at the following link, by clicking the “Donate” button:

https://winslowucc.org/winslow-community-cupboard/

Checks payable to “Winslow Community Cupboard” may be mailed to: Winslow Community Cupboard / 12 Lithgow St. / Winslow, ME 04901.

For more information, please email Bruce Bottiglierie or Anna Quattrucci at WinslowCupboard@gmail.com.

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.

Winslow High School announces Class of 2020 top 10 seniors

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Winslow top 10 seniors from left to right, top: Katie Doughty, Brennan Dunton, Cameron Goodwin, Aaron Harmon, Jacob Huesers; bottom: Justice Picard, Colby Pomeroy, Carrie Selwood, Grace Smith, Katherine Stevens.

In Alphabetical Order:

Katie Doughty is the daughter of Laura and Wayne Doughty, of Winslow. Katie was a senior captain for soccer along with participating in lacrosse and indoor track where she broke two school records. She is a member of the National Honors Society, American Legion Auxiliary, and Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute. She has also participated in the W Club, Service Club, volunteered at Jackson Food Pantry and is a youth sports volunteer. She has been a part of the prom and sadie’s committees along with being a freshmen orientation leader. Katie was a part of the National Youth Leadership Forum, was a delegate at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders and received the Bausch and Lomb Science Award. For soccer Katie received a KVAC second team award her freshman year, KVAC first team award her sophomore and senior years, KVAC honorable mention her junior year and was a regional all-star her senior year. For track she received KVAC All Conference awards her freshman and sophomore years. She will be attending the University of Maine at Orono where she will study Biology and Pre-Medicine.

Brennan Dunton is the son of Brian and Sara Dunton, of Winslow. Brennan participated in soccer, basketball, track and field, outing club, and is a member of the National Honors Society. He received the KVAC All Academic Award for soccer, the Phi Beta Kappa Certificate of Recognition, and the Voice of Democracy Certificate of Merit. He will be attending the University of Maine at Orono where he will study Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Cameron Goodwin is the son of Larry and Kelli Goodwin, of Winslow. Cameron is a member of the National Honors Society and has participated in basketball and lacrosse where he served as a defensive captain. He was a member of the Service Club and was a youth basketball and lacrosse mentor. Cameron has received the Sage Student Scholar Award, Highest Achievement Award in math, and the On the Road to Success Award. He will be attending Lasell University where he will study Fashion Media and Marketing.

Aaron Harmon is the son of Wayne and Nicole Harmon, of Winslow. Aaron has participated in band, chorus, jazz band, pep band, drama, show choir, and barbershop choir. He is also the secretary of the Thespian Society and a member of the National Honors Society. He earned an ALL Cast Award for the MPA One Act Play competition for the last two years. He will be attending the University of Maine at Augusta where he will study Music with a concentration in Education.

Jacob Huesers is the son of Tom and Katie Huesers, of Winslow. Jacob is a member of the National Honors Society and Thespian Society. He is the senior Class President and has attended Boys State as well as the special honor of attending Boys Nation. He participated in cross country, track, drama, Youth in Government through the YMCA, and the Black Raider News Network. He earned the Williams Book Award and George Eastman Young Leaders Award, as well as Renaissance Awards for Top Performance in Honors Algebra II, AP Calculus, Spanish III, Honors World Geography and Honors English 9. Jacob is currently weighing various options for next fall.

Justice Picard is the daughter of Sandra Darby and Michael Picard, of Winslow. Justice is a member of the National Honors Society, Olympia Snowe Leadership Institute, and the W Club. She participated in field hockey, basketball, unified basketball, cross country, and track. She was a part of the prom, sadies, and homecoming committee’s along with being a science mentor aide. She is a volunteer at MaineGeneral and is also a hospice volunteer. She received The Wellesley College Book Award.and was named to the High School National Academic Squad. She plans on attending the University of New England where she will study Pre-med and Medical Biology.

Colby Pomeroy is the son of Cory and Kristen Pomeroy, of Winslow. Colby is a member of the National Honors Society and participated in football, basketball, baseball and the W-Club. Colby has received the MPA Principal’s Award, the Daughters of the American Revolution Award, and the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award. He was a Big 11 Football Co-Player of the Year along with earning KVAC first team for basketball. He earned All Academic Awards for both football and basketball. Colby will be attending the University of Maine at Farmington where he will study Biology.

Carrie Selwood is the daughter of Joel and Shelly Selwood, of Winslow. Carrie is a member of the National Honors Society and has served as the Secretary and Treasurer of the group. She is also a member of the International Thespian Society, American Legion Auxiliary Girls State and Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute. She has participated in school and community theatre, soccer, lacrosse, and dance committees along with being a part of concert, jazz, and pep bands. She is also the Treasurer for Student Senate. She has received the University of Rochester, Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award, the Daughters of the American Revolution Jenny Paine Howard Award, KVAC Athletic All Conference Award for lacrosse, a special commendation for Stage Management at Regional One-Act Competition, Winslow Girls Lacrosse Coach’s Award, and excellence in Honors English. She will be attending Providence College next fall.

Grace Smith is the daughter of Kim Leadbetter, of Winslow, and Jim and Cheyl Smith, of Belgrade. Grace was a captain of her soccer and basketball teams along with participating in track and unified basketball. She is the Co-President of the National Honors Society and is a member of the International Thespian Society. Grace is a math mentor and the Class Treasurer. She also participated in fall musicals, plays, Math Team, Student Senate, W Club and the Civil Rights Team. She received the Dirigo Girls State’s Miss Dirigo and Senator, the Dartmouth Book Award and the Shine on Cass Award. She was also the Most Defensive for soccer, KVAC All Academic for soccer and basketball, KVAC All Conference second team for basketball, and KVAC All Star honorable mention for basketball. Grace will be attending The University of Maine at Orono where she will study Kinesiology and biology with the intention of becoming a pediatric physical therapist.

Katherine Stevens is the daughter of Roger and Stacy Stevens, of Winslow. Katie participated in cross country, track, art club and dance classes. She was a Captain for the Cross Country team her senior year. She is a member of the National Honors Society and a volunteer at HVWA Resale Shop. She received the New Dimensions Credit Union College Scholarship, KVAC All Academic Awards for cross country and track, and the AFSCME Council 93 Local 2178-02 Scholarship. Katie will be attending the University of Maine at Orono where she will be majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

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.

Summer reading program for children & teens coming from Winslow Public Library

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Winslow Public Library

Sign-up starts June 1; theme this summer will be “Imagine Your Story”

This summer the Winslow Public Library will again proudly offer the Summer Reading Program for children and teens. The theme this summer is “Imagine Your Story,” which young readers will discover through fantasy, mythology, and imagination- themed activities. Due to the epidemic, most aspects of the program will be offered online, with some other aspects offered using social-distance protocols.

“With this year’s online Summer Reading Program, we hope to inspire continued reading over the summer, along with an ongoing love of learning,” said Kathleen Powers, Youth Services/Technology Librarian. “We do this by offering activities for all ages, along with reading incentives.”

Participants will work towards incentives through a challenge-tracker card that will include reading and activity challenges. In this way, youthful participants will be able to earn fun prizes such as free books and comic books throughout the summer.

Social-distance parts of the Summer Reading Program will include themed to-go craft bags. Each week will feature a special theme such as dragons, fables, magic, and music. The library will also be offering a table of crafts surrounding each theme every week, while supplies last. On alternating Fridays the library will offer “Weavers of the World” craft bags, which will include weaving, knitting, bracelet making, or simple sewing kits for older youth.

The library’s weekly online story times will be held at 10 a.m. each Tuesday via Facebook, Instagram, and the library’s website. This will provide an opportunity for a younger audience to interact with fun videos and songs. Past story videos also are accessible through the virtual programs tab of the Winslow Public Library website.

Starting June 29 and extending for the following six weeks, the library also will be offering a weekly children’s yoga course. This will include simple yoga and fun tie-in activities. Choose Your Own Adventure Interactive Read Aloud live stream will also be offered, each Thursday afternoon during the summer at 3p.m. These will feature titles such as Dungeons and Dragons Endless Quest Choose Your Own Adventure series. The library’s program for junior high and high school students will include online food challenges and virtual gaming events.

Sign-up for Winslow Public Library’s Summer Reading Program starts June 1, through an online survey (link below) to be presented on the library’s website or by calling (207) 872-1978 or emailing winslowlibrarycirculation@winslow-me.gov. Trackers will be emailed to participants who sign up online.

All parents and young readers interested in the Summer Reading Program from Winslow Public Library should check the library’s website, Instagram, and Facebook pages for the most up-to-date information on programs and events.

To register, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J378882

For more information, please contact Kathleen Powers at Winslow Public Library, 207-872-1978.

Stocks seminar to be presented at Winslow Library

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Sasha Fitzpatrick (Photo courtesy of Edward Jones® Investments)

“Stocks: The Nuts and Bolts,” a 45-minute WebEx online seminar that can help you better understand stocks and how they can help you achieve your long-term financial goals, will be offered by financial advisor Sasha Fitzpatrick on Wednesday, May 20, starting at 5:30 p.m. Ms. Fitzpatrick’s virtual seminar is sponsored by Winslow Public Library.

“With the stock market going up and down recently, I’ve had lots of people ask me about stock purchases,” Sasha Fitzpatrick said. “This online seminar should offer them timely information and insight.”

The seminar is specifically designed to help anyone serious about achieving important financial goals—both people just starting out and well-seasoned investors. In just 45 minutes, Sasha Fitzpatrick will cover the differences between common and preferred stock … dividends … investment strategy … and different ways to own stock.

Ms. Fitzpatrick’s online presentation will be followed by a Q & A session, in which participants can call-in and receive specific answers to their questions. The event is free and nothing will be sold.

To register, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L36X5GG.

For more information, please contact Lisa Auriemma at Winslow Public Library, 207-872-1978.

Now a financial advisor with Edward Jones® Investments, in Waterville, Sasha Fitzpatrick previously was a language arts and math teacher at Winslow Junior High School.

Lucille Caouette turns 99

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Lucille Caouette

Lucille Caouette’s birthday is usually celebrated each year with a large family gathering lasting the day with meals and social time.

It should be noted that her family consists of 10 children, 20 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren, and two great-great -grandchildren, and is still growing with two new babies expected soon.

This year, her 99th birthday, the festivities were canceled due to the coronavirus stay-at-home order. In place of the usual family party a (DRIVE BY) was planned, with family members only, but soon grew to decorating mémère’s porch with her favorite party theme, Flamingos.

These flamingo’s came to be as a way for her grandchildren to cheer mémère up during one of her hospital stays, and has since taken hold as a part of all the celebrations.

As the date of the drive-by approached, the number of participants grew from just family members to include friends and public service individuals. On Saturday, April 25, the drive-by was led by two Winslow Police cruisers, the Winslow Fire Departments ladder truck and rescue unit, and was bracketed by a fire truck from the China Village Fire Department. After the initial procession was completed, the individuals took the time to drive up to mémère’s porch and wish her a happy birthday.

Lucille enjoyed her lobster meal and gifts with no knowledge of what was about to happen. With sirens and lights the procession approached, mémère was overwhelmed shedding tears of joy and a big smile as they drove by.

Everyone is looking forward to next years 100th celebration with the hope that all can be close together again.

Despite fewer volunteers, longer hours, local food pantries soldier on

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Volunteers Captain Gombojav, left, and Lucas Gombojav, right, prepare food boxes before the opening at China Community Food Pantry. (photo by Ann Austin)

by Eric W. Austin

Pervasive in my discussions with local food pantries is a sense of profound gratefulness.

“We have been receiving monetary and food donations from many residents,” says Vassalboro Food Station director Cindy Ferland. “The community support has been tremendous.”

Volunteer Dale Peabody sets up food boxes on the front porch of China Community Food Pantry. (photo by Ann Austin)

Food pantries in China, Winslow, Albion and Palermo expressed similar sentiments.

“There are very generous and thoughtful people in our community,” writes June Foshay, manager of Palermo’s food pantry, in an email response to my inquiry.

“It’s gratifying to receive so much community support,” says Ann Austin, director of China Community Food Pantry.

When Maine declared a state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, local food pantries were on the front lines.

Winslow’s Community Cupboard was forced to move up their plans to launch because of the crisis. “Our intent was to open a local food pantry in September 2020,” assistant operations manager Anna Quattrucci recalls. “The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic hastened our journey along! We were encouraged by Good Shepherd Food Bank to accelerate our opening…and we did! Talk about hustle. We went from having no ready space, no food, and no organized plan, to being fully set up, stocked and ‘open for business’ in a few short weeks.”

Area food banks have scrambled to adjust to the new conditions created by the pandemic and have worked to help new clients suddenly in need because of the economic shutdown. “We have had families who have previously used food pantries to help with food insecurity,” says Quattrucci, “but have seen many for whom this is a first-ever experience due to job loss or non-essential business closings.”

The greatest challenge for local pantries has been the operational changes forced on them by the new social distancing safety rules.

“We had to change our operating process [from] letting clients come in and select the food they wanted to pre-filling boxes to place in their cars as they drive by,” says Vassalboro’s Cindy Ferland.

Other pantries, like Albion’s Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, have opted for a “minimal contact” approach by severely limiting how many people can enter the pantry. Manager Russ Hamm says it’s added significantly to the time it takes to serve everyone.

“We’re going to have to take a longer time to supply people with their food needs,” he says. “Rather than doing it in two hours, it looks like it may take three or four.”

Volunteers Lucas Gombojav, left, and Donna Loveland, right, demonstrate how food boxes are delivered to clients while maintaining social distancing at China Food Pantry. (photo by Ann Austin)

Like Vassalboro, the China Community Food Pantry has also shifted to a drive-thru format. The new procedures keep volunteers and clients separated and maintains social distancing, but since food boxes must be prepared in advance, it means more work for volunteers.

And that’s been a challenge, as many of the dedicated volunteers food pantries used to count on are now in high risk categories.

Albion’s Russ Hamm says, “I normally have a team of six women, and four or five men to carry the bags and boxes [of food] under normal circumstances.” Now, though, he’s down to just four people – and that includes himself.

Vassalboro’s Cindy Ferland relates a similar experience: “The pantry has many elderly volunteers that are much more vulnerable and understandably have decided to stay away from the pantry,” she says. “Fortunately, we have a few VCS teachers that have some time and are willing to step in and help our operation weekly.” She adds, “Our challenge is finding volunteers to go to stores to shop for the pantry, given the restricted access and limited products available in stores.”

Volunteer Cathy Bourque fills food boxes at the China Community Food Pantry. (photo by Ann Austin)

China’s food pantry has been faced with a similar challenge. To comply with the new restrictions, they have focused on grouping volunteers in family units. “We have a husband and wife team that drives the van to pick up food,” says Ann Austin, pantry director, “and two boys from a local family do most of the heavy lifting.”

Once social distancing restrictions are lifted, pantries look forward to beefing up their volunteer base again. “When we eventually return to a ‘normal’ routine,” says Anna Quattrucci, of Winslow’s Com­munity Cupboard, “we will expand our volunteer team, as many have asked to be part of the work.”

Even with longer hours and fewer volunteers, most pantries do not report feeling overwhelmed – yet. However, this could change if the current crisis stretches from weeks into months.

“Overall the pantry is seeing a slight decrease in people coming in,” says Vassalboro Food Station manager Cindy Ferland. “The mix [of people] has changed, with new people that are self-employed and out of work coming in as they are not yet eligible for unemployment relief benefits. There has been a decrease in clients that receive SNAP benefits. The combination of dramatically increased SNAP benefits and the federal economic relief payments apparently has lessened their need for supplemental food.”

Russ Hamm, director of Albion’s Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, agrees. “As far as the amount of people — that has fluctuated remarkably, in the sense that we’re not seeing quite as many people as we normally would, and I have a suspicion that everybody got their stimulus check. I think that has made a little bit of difference.”

All of this is good news, and it’s the result of the amazing generosity shown by local communities in this time of crisis and the dedicated work of pantry volunteers. However, if current economic conditions continue in the downward direction of recent weeks, local food pantries could be facing a rough road ahead, and continued support of these important resources will be essential.

To see a list of local community food pantries, their hours of operation and contact information, please visit this page.

Eric W. Austin writes about local community issues and can be reached at ericaustin@townline.org.

Local restaurateur helps community during crisis

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Rita’s Catering staff ready to help feed community. From left to right, Shara Nabarowsky, Joshua Long, Carolyn Elkins, Areti (Rita) Lacroix-Menoudarakos and Zaharias Menoudarakos. (photo by Tawni Lively of Central Maine Photography)

by Mark Huard

It was once said that “you don’t know what you are made of until you are broken.” When you are faced with trying times that take away your ability to live life as you have, what do you do? Well, the Kennebec community certainly knows what Areti “Rita” Lacroix-Menoudarakos, of Rita’s Catering, does in tough times…. she cooks! During this time of crisis when Covid-19 hit, she had a catering event that canceled after all the food had already been ordered. Cathy Bond, from the Winslow Credit Union, knows that Rita takes every opportunity to help the frontline staff at local police and fire stations. So when the event canceled, Cathy gave Rita the green light to do what she does, and help others in time of need. Rita and her staff started off on a smaller scale and made batches of food for the different departments to pick up.

As the State of Emergency continued, Rita adapted and thought of a way to help the broader community on a larger scale. Rita knows that this community has many people that depend on restaurants and takeout services to feed them on a daily basis. Many people do not cook and are now forced into isolation without supplies or knowledge of cooking or baking. This inspired Rita to develop a plan to create low cost meals for the community members during this time of need.

She used her gift of cooking to help others in their time of need.

This plan was extremely well received by so many. In fact, Rita went through all of the food that she had and then had to order two more times after that in order to continue helping the community she loves so much. The meals are being used for multiple different purposes from fueling our first responders to ensuring that our vulnerable elderly population is well fed. There are many seniors that pride themselves on being independent and these meals have helped them stay safe and nourished in this difficult time.

There are some wonderful federally-funded programs out there, but not everyone qualifies for those programs. Rita’s mission was to prevent people from falling through the cracks. She did not want the elderly to have to go out to the stores or go without food. The low cost has allowed others to purchase the meals for others as well, and enable more to continue giving and taking care of each other. Easter was difficult for many being away from family; however, Rita and her team worked hard to give affordable options for people to have a nice dinner over the holiday.

Apple crisps (photos by Tawni Lively)

Tracy O’Clair, of Waterville, says, “As a community we are blessed to have people like Rita.” I think many agree with these sentiments.

Meals ready for pick up at Rita’s Catering, on Bay Street, in Winslow. (photos by Tawni Lively)

During the time of crisis, Rita didn’t break but rather rose to the occasion. She used her gift of cooking to help others in their time of need. She didn’t think of herself, but thought only of how to help others. This pandemic will certainly go down in history, but for our community so will Rita and her generous acts of kindness.”

Meal pick up is at Rita’s House of Pizza, 51 Bay Street, in Winslow. She has also created a Facebook group called Rita’s covid-19 family meal.

If anyone is in need of help at this difficult time, please feel free to contact Rita at the Winslow House of Pizza at 872-0773.