Making a Difference in Haiti

YORK —
The story of how residents, students, and Rotarians in southern Maine have helped build and support a school in Haiti will be told in a slide presentation on Friday, October 22, at 7pm at the York Public Library.
Paul Salacain of York and Amy Miller of South Berwick, who have both traveled to Haiti, will present slides showing how the Eben Ezer School in Milot, Haiti, has thrived since first South Berwick, then Kittery, and most recently, York residents have become involved. Thirteen-year-old Georgia Barlow of South Berwick, who led a student effort to raise $18,000 for Eben Ezer, also will show a short video based on her trip there.
The York Rotary Club, which donated the money for a generator for the school, sent Salacain to Haiti in August to set it up. Traveling with Life and Hope, the organization that founded the school, Salacain became part of a team that hooked up electricity so students can have refrigeration, lights, and, most importantly, computers to connect them to the outside world.
Miller, a freelance writer, has traveled annually to Milot since 2007, when her family first stumbled upon the school while living in the Dominican Republic.
Since then, hundreds of Maine residents, several schools, and three local Rotary clubs have become committed to making a difference in Haiti through the Eben Ezer School. With so many people from this area already involved in Haiti when the January 2010 earthquake struck, this community responded quickly and with great generosity.
In the two months after the earthquake, South Berwick and Eliot students and teachers raised more than $30,000 for Life and Hope. Classes at both Berwick Academy and public schools are sponsoring students in Milot.
Southern Maine residents now sponsor several dozen children at Life and Hope Eben Ezer School in Milot. The South Berwick Eliot Rotary in 2008 raised $4,300 to pay for schoolbooks for the school.
Miller’s slides will include pictures of the earthquake devastation, taken in February when she accompanied Eben Ezer School founder Lucia Anglade to the epicenter, where Anglade’s sister runs a compound for the destitute.
The York Public Library is located at 15 Long Sands Road in York, Maine. For additional information or directions, please call 207-363-2818 or visit the Library’s website at www.york.lib.me.us. For more about Life and Hope, go to www.lifeandhopehaiti.org.
Photo caption: A slide presentation will be shown at the Library about local support for a school in Haiti. (Courtesy photo)

Sea-Vu Campground Donates Over $20,000

WELLS —
Sea-Vu Campground recently completed their summer activities with their annual, fun-filled Labor Day weekend events. Donations totaling more than $20,000 were realized during the summer-long project, which encompasses many activities. Proceeds from the activities will be donated to the American Cancer Society of Maine.
During the summer, there are various events that range from yard sales and bike rides, to the campgrounds’ “Sea-Vu’s Got Talent.” Activities for fundraising efforts culminate each year with a variety of activities on Labor Day weekend. Included are children’s games, cookouts, ice cream socials, and the famous Labor Day Auction.
On Sunday, October 17th, Elaine Talevi presented a check to the American Cancer Society for more than $20,000. The presentation was made at 10am in Monument Square, Portland, at the start of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Sea-Vu Campground celebrated their 38th Anniversary this year. In addition to the original Sea-Vu Campground, the Talevi family has expanded their campground business to include Sea-Vu South Campground, owned by their son David and his wife Molly, as well as Sea-Vu West Campground, owned by their son Jason and his wife Lee.
A family-friendly business, the Talevi family supports the community in many ways. Every year, a “Happy Camper” scholarship is awarded to a Wells High School graduate. Their donations were also instrumental in furnishing the Urgent Care waiting room, the kitchen at the Senior Center, as well as numerous other contributions to the Wells community.
Photo caption: Sea-Vu staff participating at one of the many fundraising events this year. (Courtesy photo)

Pumpkinhead Festival, Fundraiser for Maine Cancer Foundation

ELIOT —
Pumpkinhead Festival Weekend, October 29-30, held at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center in Eliot, features two days of Halloween and pumpkin-filled fun.
The weekend schedule of activities includes a Friday night five-course beer dinner featuring Shipyard Brewing Company’s fine ales, a family-friendly festival with scarecrow building, pumpkin tosses and a costume parade as well as a chef cook-off competition Saturday afternoon and an adult Halloween party with a costume contest and live music Saturday night. Proceeds from the Pumpkinhead Festival Weekend will benefit Maine Cancer Foundation.
All events will be held at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center, located at 28 Levesque Drive (Route 236) in Eliot.
On Friday, October 29, the Regatta will host a fun and interactive Hops and Harvest Beer Dinner beginning at 6:30pm. Guests will enjoy a five-course harvest menu expertly paired with some of Shipyard’s award-winning brews. Trade brewer Bruce Elam will talk about the beers, the brewing process, and the ingredients. The dinner and beer pairing is $35; seating is limited, reservations are accepted in person at the Shipyard Brew Pub (located next to the Regatta) or through calling (207) 351-4623. The first 25 people who purchase tickets for the beer dinner will receive a Sunday River Early Season ticket.
On Saturday, October 30, the Pumpkinhead Family Fun Festival will run from 11am until 3pm. Children and adults will enjoy live music, entertainment, food, and activities including a pumpkin hurling contest, cookie decorating, scarecrow building, and pumpkin painting. Musician Dan Blakeslee will entertain the crowd with his humorous and spooky Halloween songs. Children are encouraged to come in costume for a costume parade at 12:15pm. This is free and open to the public.
Beginning at 1pm, the Chefs’ Pumpkinhead Cook-Off will have chefs from the region competing to create enticing appetizers, entrees, and desserts featuring the great flavors of either pumpkins or Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale. Sampling is encouraged, attendees will vote for their favorite. The Regatta’s own kitchen will also provide delicious tastes of pumpkin foods ranging from savory to sweet and just in time for ordering for the holidays. Entry to the cook-off is by a suggested donation of $10, in support of Maine Cancer Foundation.
Knowing that Halloween isn’t just for kids, on Saturday evening, beginning at 7pm, Shipyard will host a Halloween Party featuring the Beatles Tribute Band All Together Now at the Regatta Banquet & Conference Center. There will be prizes awarded for the best costumes. Call 207-351-4623 for tickets or purchase them in person at the Shipyard Brew Pub.
Halloween will be celebrated all week long; the Shipyard Brew Pub will host a series of Halloween-related activities beginning Monday, October 25, including Halloween trivia and horror movies chosen by pub votes. A full list of activities leading up to the Pumpkinhead Weekend Festival is available online at www.regattaroom.com.
For more information on any of these events, visit www.regattaroom.com or call 207-351-4623.
Photo caption: (Courtesy photo of festival promotional artwork)