PORTLAND
Saco woman receives AARP public service award
Jean Saunders of Saco is the recipient of AARP Maine’s 2022 Andrus Award for extraordinary public service. The award is the organization’s the most prestigious and is given annually to individuals who make a difference in the lives of others and bring about positive social change.
A native of Winslow, Saunders, RN MSN MPH, began her nursing career in Maine but spent many years in New York as a nursing administrator. In 1990, she returned to Maine as a hospital administrator for Maine Medical Center.
Saunders heard about the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in 2013 and worked to help the city of Saco become part of the network, with a specific goal of helping individuals stay in their own homes and age successfully with support from the community.
Saunders continues to collaborate with fellow Saco residents and spearhead important programs, services, and resources for the benefit of residents of all ages.
WATERVILLE
Businesses, individuals invited to Light Up The Town
The Children’s Discovery Museum, with support from CTB Electronics, is hosting 2022 Light Up The Town, a citywide light celebration that invites businesses and individuals to decorate their properties with as many lights as possible. The registered parties will be part of a citywide map for members of the community to drive or walk by to admire the decorations.
People who register are responsible for decorating their property by Nov. 26 and and keeping those lights up all season long.
Registration deadline is Nov. 14.
PORTLAND
Congress Square Park group announces winter programming
The Friends of Congress Square Park will host a variety of free programming this winter.
S’mores Nights,will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursdays, from Dec. 1 through the month of February. Ingredients for s’mores will be free, with donations encouraged. The Pink Waffle food truck also will offer sales of hot beverages. S’mores Nights will also feature supplemental programming, including shadow puppets with Mayo Street Arts and performances by local musicians.
Cozy Winter Market also returns from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 11, featuring vendors selling baked goods and hot beverages, gifts for purchase from local makers and shops, and FoCSP’s fleet of fire pits. Local jazz musician Kafari will play multiple sets during the market.
Also, a variety of local restaurants and food truck vendors will convene for a Hot Cocoa Sip-off from 1 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 19.
The events are all free (sometimes with suggested donation) and open to the public.
PORTLAND
2023 Top Gun applications open
The Maine Center for Entrepreneurs and partners the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation and the Lewiston Auburn Metro Chamber are accepting applications for Top Gun, an entrepreneurship acceleration program. The program is open to Maine startup companies across all industry sectors in the regions of Portland, Lewiston/Auburn and Waterville.
The program will accept up to 36 companies in total, with 8 to 12 companies in each of the locations. All three locations are accepting applications.
In addition to submitting a short online application, prospective companies will be required to submit a pitch deck and present to an interview committee in their preferred location..
The top two finalists in each region will compete in the Statewide Top Gun Showcase for a $25,000 cash prize sponsored by the Maine Technology Institute.
Go to mced.biz/top-gun to learn more and view our application.
PORTLAND
Local 9-year-old pens a winning poem
Resident Joanie Sacks, age 9, placed third in the July Cricket League poetry competition. Her poem “Fireworks” will appear in the Cricket League section of the November/December 2022 issue and is posted at cricketmagkids.com/contests.
For more details, go to cricketmedia.com.
BELFAST
Online workshop to teach calming strategies
Registration is open for the online professional development program “Helping to Calm Strong Emotions with Resonant Language.” This three-day online workshop, part of the University of Maine Hutchinson Center’s professional development program, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and 14 via Zoom.
The program is designed to benefit people who work with youth, frontline workers, people who work in service industries or customer service, municipal workers and parents/guardians.
Program facilitator will be Peggy Smith, who is a certified trainer with the International Center for Nonviolent Communication.
A stable internet connection and the ability to participate in these synchronous sessions as they are happening is required. Participants will receive a certificate of completion, and 0.6 CEUs/6 contact hours are available.
The cost is $175 per person. For more details, contact Abby Spooner at um.fhc.pd@maine.edu or call 338-8002. Participants may be eligible for funding from the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce.
Early registration is recommended as spots are limited.
ROCKPORT/NEWCASTLE
Audubon chapter accepting bird seed orders
Mid-Coast Audubon will be accepting bird seed orders through Saturday to raise funds to support bird conservation and educational programming. Orders can be placed online through their website, or by mail-in form available at midcoast.maineaudubon.org/event/fall-bird-seed-sale/.
Seed must be picked up from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 19 at one of two locations: Plants Unlimited, 629 Commercial St. (Route 1) in Rockport, or Lincoln County Publishing, 116 Mills Road, Newcastle. Please specify preferred pick-up location on order form.
Five varieties will be offered: Black oil sunflower seed 20 pounds for $22, 40 pounds for $38; Sunflower meaties (hulled) 25 pounds for $31, or 50 pounds for $56; Melody Mix 20 pounds for $20, 40 pounds for $31; Thistle (Nyger) 5 pounds for $14; and Suet blocks, $2.50 each.
All seed is pre-ordered and payment due by 5 p.m. Saturday.Make checks payable to Mid-Coast Audubon, and mail to Seed Sale Sue, 12 Audubon Rd., Bremen, ME 04551.
For more details, check FB page, or contact Sue by email at sschubel@tidewater.net and put BIRDSEED in the subject line.
KENNEBUNK
Free Thanksgiving meal will be curbside pick-up
Community Harvest, a local nonprofit organization, will host the 24th Annual Project Pilgrim as a curbside pick-up meal this year, on Nov. 24 at St. Martha’s Church on Route 1.
Traditionally a complimentary sit-down community Thanksgiving Day dinner, this year will again be offered take-out style due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19.
Meals will be provided cold, with heating instructions.
Community members should reserve their complimentary meals in advance by Sunday by calling 967-1911 or by visiting communityharvestmaine.org. You will be assigned a time for pick-up on Thanksgiving Day.
AUGUSTA
The Finance Authority of Maine will partner with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) again to offer Invest in ME Reads, a program to support family financial education by empowering families to engage in conversations about future goals, saving money, and the value of choice.
FAME launched the program in 2020 to serve second graders and is expanding it this year to provide free resources to all public students in grades 2 through 4.
Student participants will receive a collection of educational resources, including free books that encourage saving, giving, and delayed gratification. Families also will receive materials to use at home, including a parent guide, information to help kick-start their focus on college savings, and special content to encourage them to visit InvestinMeReads.com, an interactive web page with fun activities and resources for students and their families.
For more visit nextgenforme.com/invest-in-me/invest-in-me-reads.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
