Joseph Littlefield Named Ogunquit Outstanding Citizen

OGUNQUIT—
The Board of Directors of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce has announced that Joseph Littlefield has been selected as Ogunquit Outstanding Citizen.
Littlefield will be recognized for his contributions to the Town of Ogunquit on Wednesday, November 3 at the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Dunaway Center in Ogunquit.
The public is welcome to join us as we honor the man who is quick to give to people in need. Joseph is perhaps best known for his generous donation of Beach Plum Farm to the Great Works Regional Land Trust.
As one person so nicely noted, “It is a rare person who considers the beauty and environmental health of his town over his opportunity for financial gain. Current and future generations of Ogunquit residents will reap immeasurable benefit from Joe’s single act of charity.”
For those interested in learning more about attending the dinner, please contact Frances Reed at the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce at 207-646-1279 X11, or email karen@ogunquit.org by Friday, October 29.
Photo caption: Joseph Littlefield is Ogunquit Outstanding Citizen 2010. (Courtesy photo)

Walk for Ashley: Fundraiser Celebrates Homecoming of Student

KENNEBUNK—
Ashley Dubois is an 18-year-old senior at Kennebunk High School. She is described by friends and family as “your average, all-American teenage girl,” but Ashley is anything but average.
She made High Honors for multiple semesters, competed with her dance team, Stepping Out, trained for the Maine Marathon, won a competition to participate in an Outward Bound hiking trip in Utah, worked at The BuffleHead Cove Inn on weekends, and still found time to participate in day-to-day activities with her family and friends.
On Saturday morning, September 4, Ashley pulled out of Hillside Drive on her way to work, as usual. Moments later, she was struck by a vehicle, and her life - and the lives of many friends and family - monumentally changed.
Ashley suffered severe injuries, and only recently returned from the hospital to her home on October 12. Between the medical bills already incurred, and the extensive occupational and physical therapy she will soon undergo, the Dubois family is straining to make ends meet. Their lives have been indefinitely put on hold.
In an effort to help their daughter, sister, student, and friend, local supporters are hosting “A Walk for Ashley is a Walk for Hope” at Kennebunk High School on Sunday, November 7 at 1pm. The cost is $15 per student, $25 per adult, tee shirts sold on site, and additional donations being graciously accepted. All proceeds will be deposited into a tax-exempt fund, going straight to the family.
Come celebrate Ashley’s return home, and help fund her recovery, so she can return to the life she was so vivaciously living.
For more information about the walk, email walkforashley@gmail.com, or call Ted Nichols at 207-604-8216.
Photo caption: Ashley Dubois recently returned home from hospitalization after a serious auto accident. (Courtesy photo)

Marshwood Middle School Thinks Reading is Dynamite

ELIOT—
On October 20, Marshwood Middle School made its first ever music video to express the importance of reading. The video kicks off the school-wide reading challenge.
For the past three years, students at Marshwood Middle School have begun the school year with a reading challenge. As a school, encouraging students to be lifelong readers is one of Marshwood Middle School’s major goals.
What better way to get them pumped up to read than to make a connection to their world: music. This year’s challenge theme is music genres, so the Battle of the Bands has begun.
Each of the six teams are comprised of about 100 students, and each team is challenged to read approximately 500 books. The challenge will continue until a team reaches this goal. Students are documenting the reading process by completing a bookmark as they read.
Jamie Gagner of Fusion Dance Academy in Dover volunteered to lead and choreograph the whole school (580 students and 60 adults) in a hip-hop rendition of the song “Dynamite” by Taoi Cruz. The song lyrics were changed to represent the importance of reading at Marshwood Middle School.
Students learned about their challenge and then performed a hip-hop routine, dancing and singing along.
Marshwood Middle School principal, John Caverly, warmed up the students by dressing as a hip-hop artist and explaining the reading challenge to the student body. It was an afternoon filled with music, books, and laughter.
Photo caption: Marshwood Middle School students dancing in a school-produced music video, the kickoff event for this year’s reading challenge. (Courtesy photo)