Cub scouts pitch-in on Earth Day

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Cubs in Pack #445, in Winslow, walked several miles collecting trash around town on Earth Day. Shown here are Ashish Dabas, of Winslow, Able Byroade, of Albion, Lorelei Pullen and Freddie Pullen, of Winslow, Easton Vigue and Colton Vigue, of Albion, Ryder Johnston, of Albion, Alex Parsons, of Benton, Simon and Elliot Giroux, of Winslow, Gavin McGowen, of Benton, Owen Clark, of Winslow, and Josh Collins, of Waterville. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Cubs Scouts in Winslow Pack #445 spent Earth Day- Saturday April 22 – picking up trash around town. Sabrina Marie Garfield, Den Leader for the Wolf Den, organized the project as a way of teaching the Cubs that they have a responsibility to make their community a little better than they found it. The Wolf Den is made up of boys and girls in grade two and they cleaned up litter from more than four miles in town including around the elementary, middle and high schools; Fort Halifax park; Norton Street Playground area; near the town hall; Halifax Street playground, monument and cemetery; the Crummet Street trail; and along Monument Street.

Lorelei and Freddie Pullen collecting trash, in Winslow, on Earth Day. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

Since 1910, conservation and environmental studies have been an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts have rendered distinguished public service by helping to conserve wildlife, energy, forests, soil, and water. Past generations of scouts have been widely recognized for undertaking conservation Good Turn action projects in their local communities. Through environmental explorations, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts visit the outdoors and discover the natural world around them. Many natural resource careers are born in Scouting.

There are meeting plans, badges and awards for every level of the scouting program to remind youth about their role in protecting our natural places. Some include the Distinguished Conservation Service Award, the Sustainability Merit Badge, and the Cub Scout World Conservation Award. At all levels of Scouting, they learn “Leave No Trace” methods.

Garfield said, “We had a lot of volunteers. Most of the kids cleaned up their assigned areas and then chose to move on to do other places, too. Then after we were all done and they were hanging out and playing or heading to their cars to go home, the kids were still happily cleaning up trash they saw as they went. They were very proud of their hard work as they should be. They all did a really great job.”

“We chose Green Up Day to help the earth and help keep animals safe,” said Cub Scout Freddie Garfield. “Trash affects the earth and earth affects nature and the animals, and people are animals, too, so it affects all of us.” Young or old, everyone can do something to lend a hand.

EVENTS: Spectacular laser show to benefit Winslow Food Cupboard

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Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry—which serves thousands of food-insecure children, seniors, and other adults from Winslow, Waterville, Skowhegan, Fairfield, and 20 other surrounding towns—will benefit from a spectacular Drive-in Laser Show & Concert coming to the Clinton Fairgrounds from Thursday, May 18, through Sunday, May 21, with gates opening at 5 p.m. each evening. To assure admission, ordering tickets in advance at the link below is strongly suggested.

The Drive-in Laser Show & Concert (three shows each night, May 18 through 21) will be family-friendly and will feature many of your all-time favorite musical hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and beyond – current hits to Classic Rock! All songs are choreographed with cutting-edge effects, high-powered lasers, and Large Screen Laser Projection! Vendors and food will be on the fairgrounds, and there will be an exclusive infield seating area. (Please bring your own chairs and blankets.)

SHOW TIMES & DETAILS:

Clinton Fairgrounds, 1450 Bangor Rd., Clinton, ME 04927, May 18, 19, 20, and 21, 2023
Gates open at 5 p.m., 8 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
Shows at 7 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10:30 p.m.

ADMISSION FEE: Just $29 per entire carload when you purchase tickets in advance; $39 per carload at the gate. PLEASE NOTE: We strongly advise purchasing tickets in advance to guarantee admission.

Order Tickets at: https://www.freshtix.com/events/bangorlasers.

CAN’T ATTEND? Those who may not be able to attend a Laser Show & Concert – but who would still like to donate to Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry – are invited to do so by sending a check payable to “Winslow Community Cupboard”, to 12 Lithgow St., Winslow, ME 04901, or by visiting https://winslowucc.org/winslow-community-cupboard/ and clicking on the yellow “Donate” button.

Winslow Community Cupboard is a ministry of Winslow Congregational Church, 12 Lithgow Street, Winslow, which has served the local community since 1828.

For more information, please contact Winslow Community Cupboard at WinslowCupboard@Gmail.com.

A true friendship story between two centenarians

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Theresa Gagne, 104, left, and Lucille Caouette, 102, have been friends since school, in Brunswick. Both now reside in the Waterville area. (contributed photo)

Submitted by Pauline Rancourt

This is the story of Theresa and Lucille who grew up in Brunswick, Maine. As lifelong friends they went to the same schools, married and later both moved to Waterville.

THERESA’S STORY

Theresa Wilson first lived on Golf Links Road, in Brunswick, and was part of a family of seven girls and three boys.

They would walk to school every day and meet up with other children at the cemetery, on River Road. From there they would walk to St. John’s school. Theresa did this every day, including Sundays for church. It was a good three miles for them. She and her sister Yvette became friends with Lucille during these walks. Theresa attended school up to eighth grade. Remember that in those days girls were only allowed an eighth grade education.

Once her formal education was completed she needed to find work. She was only 15 at that time. Some strings had to be pulled in order for her to get a job at the Freeport shoe shop. One night her ride was unavailable and she had to walk home from Freeport to Brunswick. It was dark when she got home. Her father was very upset that his daughter had to walk home that distance. Theresa needed to find a new job. Just say that was her last day working there. Strings were pulled once again as she was only 16 years old. She found a job at the Brunswick mill. She worked the dayshift and was responsible for the operation of 40 weaving machines.

During this time there was a guy named Emile who would travel from Waterville to visit his friend in Brunswick. During these visits he met Theresa and they dated for a good year. They married and she became Theresa Gagne, and were soon awaiting the birth of a child. It was a girl! Unfortunately, Emile was called into the service of our nation and had to leave the day of the birth of their child. When he returned from the service they continued to live in Brunswick and had three daughters. Emile had trouble speaking English and could not find work due to this issue. They ended up moving to Waterville, where they lived above Emile’s parent’s home. Their family grew with the birth of a son. After the passing of Emile’s parents, the family moved downstairs where Theresa lives to this day.

Theresa worked at the Bates Mill, in Augusta, and Emile worked at the Waterville post office.

Sadly, Emile passed away in 2010.

LUCILLE’S STORY

Lucille Menard also lived in Brunswick on a farm located on the River Road and was part of a family of six girls and three boys. Lucille would meet a group of friends, one of them being Theresa, at the cemetery, and they would all walk to St. John’s school. Lucille only made it to the seventh grade. She had health issues which kept her from completing the eighth grade. When Lucille turned 18, she worked at the Brunswick mill. She worked the night shift on the same set of weaving machines as Theresa. Lucille started by loading bobbins on the weaving machines. Her cousin noticed how well she was keeping up with the demands of this job. He moved her onto the weaving machines, and she was responsible for the operation of the same 40 machines as Theresa.

Then Ray came into the picture. He also worked at the mill, but in the cloth room. He wanted to meet Lucille so he noticed that she would go to the park and listen to the music and asked his friend to go talk with Lucille to see if she wanted to meet Ray. But her response was, “if he wants to meet me, let him ask me himself.” Lucille held off for a few months before she said yes. They dated for a year and then were married. She is now Lucille Caouette, and they lived in Brunswick. After the birth of the first three babies, in Brunswick, they moved to Waterville. Ray worked at Augusta Distributors, a division of Eastern Inc. After their eighth child was born, they moved to Winslow where they added two more.

Lucille was a stay at home mom until the last child started school and then she got a job working at St. John the Baptist church rectory, in Winslow.

Ray passed in 2002.

THEIR STORY

While living in Waterville and Winslow, they would see each other once in a while. It was when Theresa’s sisters, Yvette, Pauline and Doris came to see Theresa that they really started to see each other more often. Theresa and Lucille would often meet and go to lunch together.

  • Both are from Brunswick.
  • Both went to the same schools.
  • Both worked at the Brunswick mill.
  • Both married and moved to Waterville.
  • Both got their driver’s license in there 50s.
  • Both are now the only living family member.
  • Both have their birthdays in April.
  • Both celebrated their 100th birthday.

Now they both celebrated another birthday. Theresa turned 104 years old on April 18; Lucille celebrated her 102nd birthday on April 25.

A friendship that has lasted a very long time. How sweet is that?

41st Battle of Maine another success

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Matthew Christen performing his winning forms routine. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

Matthew Christen of Club Naha is Junior Grand Champion in forms and weapons

Huard’s Martial Arts student Jedidiah Keen, 12, of North Anson, captured first place in point fighting and fourth in chanbara at the Battle of Maine. (photo by Mark Huard)

The 41st Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships took place on Saturday, March 25 at Champions Fitness Club in Waterville. $1 of each spectator ticket went to help support the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. There were competitions is forms, fighting and weapons throughout the day.

Club Naha student Matthew Christen, 12, of Benton, captured first place in forms, weapons, and point fighting. He also took the Junior Grand Championship Titles for forms and weapons.

Referee Kyoshi Andy Campbell holding up Matthew Christen after he won first place in point fighting. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

Winslow’s Mike Siviski to be inducted in sports hall of fame

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Mike Siviski, center left. (contributed photo)

The Maine Sports Hall of Fame will induct ten in ceremonies at the Merrill Auditorium on October 29. “I am very proud of our diversity in terms of geography and the variety of sports represented,” said Board Chairman Brian Corcoran. “It’s intriguing to learn the stories of those who are the best of the best in Maine athletics.”

Among the 10 new inductees is Winslow’s Mike Siviski, who has won 287 games as a coach at his alma mater Winslow High School. He was a three-sport athlete at Winslow before heading to the University of Maine at Orono, where he played football. He became an assistant football coach at Thornton Academy for 16 years before succeeding Harold “Tank” Violette as the head coach at Winslow in 1985. Over the next 35 seasons, he would lead his teams to eleven regional and seven state titles. Three times the Black Raiders won back-to-back championships.

Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry to benefit from Hannaford shopping bag promotion

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photo from: foodpantries.org

Looking for an easy, effective way to support a local food pantry? For the month of April, Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the $2.50 reusable “Fight Hunger” Shopping Bag sold at the Hannaford supermarket located at 190 JFK Plaza (Kennedy Memorial Drive) in Waterville.

Every dollar donated will go directly to assist food-insecure children, seniors, and other adults in Winslow, Waterville, and 22 other surrounding towns, with demand steadily rising.

Those unable to purchase the Hannaford “Fight Hunger” Shopping Bag, or who wish to make a direct donation, may do so by mailing a check payable to “Winslow Community Cupboard” to: Winslow Community Cupboard / 12 Lithgow St. / Winslow, ME 04901. Credit card or PayPal donations are also greatly appreciated at this link: https://winslowucc.org/winslow-community-cupboard/

“Winslow Community Cupboard” food pantry is a ministry of Winslow Congregational Church, 12 Lithgow Street, Winslow, which has served the local community since 1828.

For more information, please contact Winslow Community Cupboard at WinslowCupboard@Gmail.com.

Local residents named to Clark University’s fall 2022 dean’s list

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Following are names of local students whose outstanding academic performance earned them a spot on Clark University’s Fall 2022 dean’s list, in Worcester, Massachusetts:

Anna Pellerin, of Winslow, was named to first honors, and Sam N. Golden, of South China, was named to second honors.

Area residents named to dean’s list at UNE

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Photo credit: University of New England Facebook page

The following students have been named to the dean’s list for the 2022 fall semester at the University of New England, in Biddeford.

Albion: Emma McPherson and Olivia McPherson.

Augusta: Valerie Capeless, Zinaida Gregor, Jessica Guerrette, Brooklynn Merrill, Daraun White and Julia White.

Benton: Jessica Andrews.

Fairfield: Caitlyn Mayo.

Jefferson: Mallory Audette.

Oakland: Kierra Bumford and Francesca Caccamo.

Palermo: Peyton Sammons.

Sidney: Sarah Kohl.

Skowhegan: Wylie Bedard, Elizabeth Connelly, Ashley Mason and Dawson Turcotte.

South China: Richard Winn.

Vassalboro: Adam Ochs.

Waterville: Mohammad Atif-Sheikh, Elias Nawfel, Grace Petley and Evan Watts.

Winslow: Juliann Lapierre, Kristopher Loubier and Justice Picard.

SNHU announces summer ‘22 president’s list

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Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in Manchester, New Hampshire, congratulates the following students on being named to the Summer 2022 President’s List. The summer terms run from May to August.

Kate Murphy and Justin Drescher, both of Augusta, Matthew Bandyk, of Jefferson, Merval Porter, of Palermo, Lisa Johnson, of South China, Lacey York, of China, Lilly Reardon, of Benton, Jeffery Wheeler and Brendon Peace, both of Waterville, Talon Mosher, of Winslow, Jacob Colson, of Albion, Carrie Stackpole, of Clinton, Stormy Wentworth, of Fairfield, Glenn Rich and Mariah Rich, both of Madison, and Kassandra Grant, of Vassalboro.

York County Community College announces fall 2022 honors

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York County Community College

York County Community College, in Wells, recognizes students each semester for their outstanding academic achievements. They include: Lorenna Ambrose, of Chelsea, part-time dean’s list; Michaela Bisson, of Winslow, dean’s list; and Ella Buck, of Sidney, part-time dean’s list.