Area Legislators Announce Reconstruction of Route 1 and Route 9

AUGUSTA/WELLS—
Senator Ron Collins (R-Wells) and Representative Kathy Chase (R-Wells) were pleased to recently learn that road maintenance projects have been planned and are scheduled to begin this summer for sections of both Route 1 and Route 9 in Wells.
The Route 1 project, which will include paving and drainage improvements for 0.9 miles between Route 9 and Harriseckett Road, is scheduled to begin July 5, with a completion date of August 27, 2011. This project has been awarded to Pike Industries of Lewiston, Maine.
The second project will include paving and safety improvements of 1.2 miles of Route 9, between Homestead Drive and the northerly intersection of Depot Street. Work is scheduled to begin after May 9, 2011 and will be completed by June 18, 2011. Because of the nature of the maintenance that needs to done, this work will be performed at night between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“Maine winters can cause havoc on our roadways, and the roads in Wells are no exception. There are several roads throughout my district that need repair,” said Sen. Collins. “I am pleased to see the beginning of these projects being scheduled and hope to see many more this spring. As Senate chair of the Transportation Committee, I know that this problem is widespread throughout the state.”
Rep. Chase said the Route 1 stretch has been a problem for some time. “It’s the number one question asked by motorists who drive that part of the road,” she said. “I’m glad they are paying attention to our concerns. And these projects come on top of the rebuild of Route 109 between the turnpike and the town line that we worked so hard to get. It’s good to see some highway investment coming to Wells.”
The Route 109 project, announced in January of this year, addresses nearly 4.5 miles of Route 109 in Wells. The first phase of construction will begin this spring and is due for completion by October 2012.
Sen. Ron Collins represents Maine State Senate District 2 which includes the York County towns of Acton, Berwick, Cornish, Lebanon, Limerick, Newfield, North Berwick, Parsonsfield, Shapleigh, and Wells.

National 9/11 Flag Comes to York

YORK BEACH—
From 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, the National 9/11 Flag stopped at the York Beach Fire Station, one of many Maine stops on its national tour.
According the Flag’s website (http://national911flag.org), the National 9/11 Flag is one of the largest American flags to fly above the wreckage at Ground Zero in New York City. Destroyed in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, the flag was stitched back together seven years later by tornado survivors in Greensburg, Kansas.
The flag is currently on a tour of America in commemoration of the 10th Year Anniversary of 9/11. The goal of the tour is “to display this historic flag at leading venues nationwide, to empower local service heroes in all 50 states with the privilege of stitching the flag back to its original 13-stripe format, and to inspire 300 million Americans with the flag’s rich visual history in order to deepen our sense of citizenship and national pride and bolster the spirit of volunteerism on the 9/11 Anniversary and year-round.”
When the tour is complete, the Flag will become part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center in New York City.
Photo caption: On March 23, the National 9/11 Flag appeared at the York Beach Fire Station. (Photo courtesy Dave Osgood)

Berwick Resident Achieves Eagle Scout Award

BERWICK—
Ross Andrew Conroy of Troop 313 in Berwick, Maine, recently earned the highest advancement award the Boy Scouts of America offers to Scouts, the Eagle Scout Award. Only 2% of Boy Scouts nationwide earn this award. Ross was 15 years old when he completed the requirements and attained the rank of Eagle on November 24, 2010.
Ross was recognized in a formal ceremony on March 12, 2011 at the First Parish Federated Church, in South Berwick, Maine, with over 90 friends, family and fellow scouts in attendance. Joining them were Maine State Senator Ron Collins, Maine State Representative Beth O’Connor, Cabela’s retail store manager of Scarborough, Maine, Rich Pschirrer, Mr. Glen Walsworth from the American Legion Charles S. Hatch Post 79, as well as numerous representatives from the York District and Local Troop 313.
Ross earned over 30 merit badges and successfully completed a community service project to earn his Eagle Award. His project was building wildlife enclosure for the Center of Wildlife in York, Maine. Through donations from local businesses and individuals,Ross raised in excess of $1,000 in cash and materials for construction to build a wildlife enclosure for recuperating small mammals.
Rick Raynes, the Scoutmaster of Troop 313, met Ross in his first year as a Webelos Scout in 2005, at an outdoor winter event with temperatures below zero. According to Raynes, who spoke about Ross at the Eagle Court of Honor, “It was evident that Ross showed a lot of promise, as he started his own fire to enjoy a warm lunch.”
Numerous scouts participated in the Eagle Court of Honor in South Berwick. Scouts Cody Farwell and Casey Wallbaum read the Scout Law, as it was interpreted by John Wayne when a Scout ranch in California was dedicated in his honor.
State Senator Ron Collins presented Ross with a flag that flew over the State House in Augusta, and spoke to the importance of leadership. Representative Beth O’Connor read a formal recognition from the state of Maine, “This is the highest award in Boy Scouting and is given for excellence in skills development, leadership, personal growth and community service...”
Ross is the son of Drew and Janet Conroy of Berwick, Maine. His younger brother Luke is also Webelos Scout, who opened and closed the ceremony with a few musical arrangements played with fellow Webelos Scout Noah Safford on their trumpets. Ross would like to thank all the sponsors and fellow scouts who have supported him along the way.
Photo caption: Ross Conroy of Berwick recently received his Eagle Scout Award in a formal ceremony on March 12. (Photo courtesy Rebecca Chasse)