South Berwick Resident Awarded for Engineering Expertise

SOUTH BERWICK /
SOUTH PORTLAND—
Jon R. Cavallo, P.E., who serves as Paint Engineer for the Maine Center for Creativity’s “Art All Around” project in Portland Harbor, has been honored with a prestigious international award for engineering expertise.
Cavallo, a South Berwick resident who is known worldwide in his field, recently received the Award of Merit and accompanying title of fellow from the ASTM International Committee D33 on Protective Coating and Lining Work for Power Generation Facilities. The Award of Merit is the highest organizational recognition for individual contributions to ASTM standards activities.
Cavallo is providing pro bono paint engineering services to MCC’s “Art All Around” project (www.mainecenterforcreativity.org), which involves the painting of 16 Sprague oil storage tanks in South Portland. When completed in 2012, it will be the world’s largest public art painting, viewed by land, sea and air – even from space.
He recently inspected the second finished oil tank. London-based artist Jaime Gili’s bold, colorful design was completed last fall on the first 36-foot tall tank. Professional paint subcontractor AMEX has been enlisted to transfer Gili’s artwork onto the Sprague tanks.
Cavallo’s expertise in surface preparation, corrosion mitigation and paint adherence will help ensure the project stands the test of time, especially against the often harsh weather conditions in the Northeast.
“Jon is one of the best in the business and we can’t thank him enough for the time and expertise that he is donating to this project because it’s something we never could have afforded,” said Jean Maginnis, MCC’s executive director. “He is one of a true all-star collection of experts who have agreed to assist us in this effort and who share our vision of fostering creativity and innovation here in Maine.”
Maine Center for Creativity conceived the Art All Around project as an important strategic step in developing Maine’s worldwide reputation for creativity and innovation.
MCC is continuing to raise funds for the project through donations from private individuals, corporations and foundations. To date, more than $655,000 has been raised through the hard work of the MCC Board of Directors, she said. Anyone interested in making a contribution to help complete the project is encouraged to send donations to MCC (www.mainecenterforcreativity.org).
Cavallo works as a senior consultant and corporate corrosion and coatings specialist at ENERCON Services Inc. in Tulsa, Okla. He began his career in the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power Program, where he was certified as a nuclear submarine engineering watch supervisor. After leaving the military, he joined Stone & Webster Engineering Corp. and served in several technical engineering and managerial positions. In 1998, he joined Corrosion Control Consultants and Laboratories Inc., where he provided corrosion mitigation professional engineering services in surface preparation, protective coatings and linings. He joined ENERCON in 2009.
Cavallo graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in engineering technology. He is a registered professional engineer in three states, an SSPC protective coatings specialist, and a NACE International CIP Level III coating inspector with nuclear facilities endorsement.
In addition to ASTM International, he is also a member of the Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC), NACE International, ASME International and the National Society of Professional Engineers.
Photo caption: Jon Cavallo of South Berwick at second completed tank in South Portland. (Courtesy photo)

Kennebunk Savings Donates $80,000 to York County Nonprofits

KENNEBUNK—
Kennebunk Savings on July 8 announced that the company is donating $80,000 to York County nonprofits as part of its annual Customer Ballot. For 16 years the Customer Ballot has provided customers with the opportunity to help direct a percentage of the bank’s annual charitable giving. This year, customers across the bank’s three lines of business participated in record numbers with nearly 10,000 votes cast for more than 200 organizations. Kennebunk Savings Officers are now out personally visiting local nonprofits to deliver checks to the organizations that received votes.
This year, York Hospital received $1,600 as a result of how Kennebunk Savings customers voted in the annual Customer Ballot. “York Hospital is honored to have received so many votes and thankful to Kennebunk Savings for offering its customers an innovative way to make a difference in their community.” said Jud Knox, President of York Hospital. “This generous gift will be used immediately to support our efforts to provide exceptional care to our patients and their families.” York Hospital, a non-profit healthcare organization with locations in York, Kittery, Wells, South Berwick and Berwick, is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to expand and renovate the Surgery Center, privatize patient rooms and expand Breast Care to include Breast MRI services.
Bradford C. Paige, Kennebunk Savings President and CEO, said, “As part of our commitment to the community we contribute 10% or more of our earnings each year to nonprofits – this year our total contribution is over $500,000. Personally, I truly enjoy this time of year because we know we’re donating to organizations our customers tell us they value.” Paige added, “We are proud of the impact our Ballot contribution of $80,000 will make for our nonprofit friends. It means a great deal to us to be able to deliver unsolicited checks to so many different organizations throughout York County, knowing that these funds will be put to good use.”
All votes cast as part of the Customer Ballot by bank customers – including write-ins – are counted. The more votes cast for a nonprofit, the more money that organization receives. This year, contributions range from $25 to over $7,000 with over twenty organizations receiving a check of $1,000 or more. Since 1994, the bank has contributed over $7 million to the nonprofit community for various programs in five categories: arts and culture, environmental, educational, civic and human needs.
Photo caption: Jud Knox and Sue McDonough accept a “Big Check” for York Hospital from Kennebunk Savings Bank’s Brad Paige, President and CEO and Michael Moloney, VP, Branch Manager at York Route 1 Office. (Courtesy photo)

Maine Lakes Experience Early Problems

AUGUSTA—
Several Maine lakes, from York to Aroostook Counties, are turning green this year according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Reports have come in to DEP about problems ranging from gooey thread-like masses of growth near the shore that typically last a few days, to lake-wide pea-green conditions that last weeks or months.
This excessive growth is an indicator that the water quality of Maine’s streams and lakes are in trouble. DEP biologist Roy Bouchard states, “We know that an early thaw and warm water temperatures accelerate lake biology, sometimes to the point where lakes which usually don’t bloom have problems. Even shorelines that never had noticeable issues are experiencing sporadic blooms.”
“Many lakes showing these problems have been “on the edge” for years,” said Bouchard, “the result of development that builds up nutrients and sediment in our lakes. Many lakes have been waiting for the right weather to trigger a bloom, slowly getting worse without any warning until an exceptional year.”
“Whether a lake is changing or not, the climate is. The evidence is clear that Maine lakes have as much as two weeks less ice cover than before. Earlier ice out and warmer climate spell trouble for water quality, habitat, and wildlife,” according to Bouchard.
“Lakes are fragile, some more than others, but many are changing in unpredictable ways,” adds DEP biologist Barb Welch. “Soil erosion is the largest pollutant to impact Maine lakes. We need to stop feeding our lakes a diet high in soil and fertilizer regardless of climate change. The early ice out is showing us sooner which lakes are in trouble. What we do in our back yards does matter.”
Soil carries “hitchhiking” pollutants such as phosphorus, spilled oil and gas, fertilizer and pesticides. Phosphorus helps plants grow in the water, turning lakes green with algae blooms.
Simple things can be done like reducing or eliminating fertilizers and weed and bug killers in favor of raising the mower blade to 3” and leaving the clippings, a natural fertilizer, and stopping erosion on roads and driveways throughout lake watersheds. Welch encourages those on private roads to form associations to properly maintain their roads in order to protect their lake from the harmful effects of soil erosion. For more information go to www.MaineDEP.com and click on Camp Road Maintenance.
“We can also help make sure our communities do their share to protect lakes through Shoreland Zoning, good subdivision review, and managing town roads,” Welch added. ”These are not only smart things to do, but look to our future as well.”