Tree Festival Returns to York

YORK—
The time has once again arrived for the 5th Annual Festival of Fostering Trees, taking place this year at the American Legion Function Hall at 9 Hannaford Drive in York during the first weekend of December.
The Festival’s mission is to encourage the community to join each other in not only viewing the “fostered” trees, but also working together to decorate them. The Festival of “Fostering” Trees (FOFT) donation collections support York County youth in foster care settings. Their goal is to serve the unique needs of each youth in a responsible and cost effective manner while easing the difficulties that these youth experience, with support and dignity. The Festival was started in 2006 with the specific goal to bring the “magic” that this Festival provides to the town of York!
How do you participate? Contact Janalee at janaleemoquin8@yahoo.com or at 351-1988 by Monday, November 22 to complete an entry form. Once registered, families or individuals donate a decorated artificial Christmas tree, any style or fashion, traditional or non-traditional, using any type of materials, and the tree will be raffled off at the end of the festival. All trees will be set-up and decorated by the participants, and all participants are asked to write your tree’s name on your tree box. Extension cords are provided.
If you don’t have an artificial tree to donate, a limited number of artificial trees are available for a minimal cost, and can be secured by inquiring at the time of entry. If you wish to donate something else instead of a tree, monetary donations and gift certificates are great ways to participate in the Festival, and all items will be used appropriately to contribute to the community. Free refreshments will be available, as well as many items to purchase provided by Pub 56 in the lounge area of the American Legion.
For those decorating trees, you could create your own masterpiece by creating a specific theme for your tree (ocean, hand-made ornaments, specific colors), create a non-traditional tree by utilizing non-specific Christmas items (tools, household items, collectables), create a money tree with scratch tickets, advertise your business with products, items or gift certificates from your establishment, dedicate a tree in someone’s memory and use their inspiration to decorate your tree, or stick with a classic Christmas theme.
Tree set-up by participants will take place on Thursday, December 2 from 9am-3pm. The viewing of the trees will take place on Friday, December 3 from 10am-8pm, Saturday, December 4 from 10am-8pm, and Sunday, December 5, from 10am-4pm. A raffle will take place at 4:15pm with calls placed from 6-9pm. Pick up of all trees must take place on Monday, December 6 from 8am-12pm. Admission is free, but a voluntary donation for the York Food Pantry (a non-perishable item), a Toys for Tots gift (new and unwrapped), or a monetary donation for either organization are encouraged. You do not have to purchase raffle tickets in order to view the beautiful trees, so come and enjoy the Festival along with your community and celebrate the season!
Photo caption: A few of the trees at a previous Festival of Fostering Trees event in York. This year’s participants must register by Monday, November 22. The event will take place the first weekend of December. (Courtesy photo)

Spirit of Giving: A True Community Event

By Molly McCoy
Staff Columnist
OGUNQUIT—
Deck the halls! As unbelievable as it seems, it’s getting to be that time of year again. The time for turkeys and trees, coats and sweaters, and the dreaded, dreaded receipt season. In the past few weeks, I have become increasingly excited about the coming holidays – even a 22-year-old can look forward to the proverbial “Santa” – and yet, the adults around me seem to concur on a general complaint. “Oh, it’s all about money,” one woman says in response to my glee. “It’s all about expensive presents and expensive food and I wish we could all just be together without all the commotion and expectation. You’ll learn when you have kids…”
But for one organization in Ogunquit, receipts are the last things on their minds.
In its sixth year, Ogunquit Spirit of Giving – a small, local, non-profit organization – is endeavoring to bring holiday cheer to more than 400 deserving children across the state of Maine. This year, Spirit of Giving donations are benefiting children associated with the organization’s long-time partner, Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine, Inc., in addition to the children of Frannie Peabody Center, a new charitable commitment for the Giving committee. With five years of positive response and happy kids behind them, the expectations on the part of these organizations could be, I imagine, pretty high.
“We’re concerned we’ll have to turn kids away that have already made requests,” says Spirit of Giving committee member, Frances Reed. “Sponsors’ budgets are tight, too.”
When a child makes a “request” through AFFM or Frannie Peabody Center, the Spirit of Giving Committee receives a first name, age, sizes, and a few gift requests. For example: Brittany, 14, medium, and “anything girly, teen pop music, likes pink, hair accessories.” Sure, some kids throw in the occasional X-box or iPod, but Reed says, “It’s just because they have no idea how much those things cost.”
A more heart-wrenching request goes like this: Sam, 10, size 3, grateful for anything, needs boots.
Hearing that, the woman complaining about gifts and expenses at the holidays comes back to my mind. For many of these kids, boots could be the best, if only, present under their tree. No manic shopping trips. No overbearing mothers-in-law complaining about your casserole. Just a child content with their warm shoes.
Ogunquit Spirit of Giving is looking for help. With a tall order ahead of them, they have already begun assigning kids and families to sponsors, but the ratio is not in their favor. Like Reed said, they are worried they won’t meet their goal, and 5-year-old Sarah, who perhaps benefited last year and has already asked for a Polly Pocket, will be turned away.
For just $35-$50, you can sponsor one of these children in need, and contribute to a great cause that is gaining momentum in not only a town, but a community. As a sponsor, you receive information about a child (or children), you get to wrap the presents yourself, and you bring them to a party on Sunday, December 5 at MaineStreet Bar, 195 Main Street, Ogunquit. There, you place your gifts under one of the color-coded trees, and the rest of the night is spent celebrating together with the community of sponsors. It sounds to me like the perfect remedy to those Ebenezer complaints.
“This group takes the adage that it ‘takes a village to raise a child’ to a new and higher meaning,” says Bette Hoxie, director of AFFM, commenting about the 2007 event. Considering Ogunquit itself is home to less than 50 children, that comment seems particularly appropriate, as individuals – not businesses – “adopt” multiple children each year through this event. “In spite of the high costs of fuel and the cold weather, we are truly blessed in the richness of citizens who really care and are not afraid to let it show,” adds Hoxie.
So, when you look around at the turkeys and the trees, the sweaters and the coats, and anticipate your own, dreaded receipt season, consider how thirty-five extra dollars on that bill might put a pair of boots under Sam’s tree. It might be the best-spent $35 on that list.
Child and family sponsor assignments have already begun. To learn more about Ogunquit Spirit of Giving and how to sponsor a child or family, visit www.ogunquitgiving.com, or contact the committee at ogtspiritofgiving@letsmeet.net.
Photo caption: Sponsors taking a look at all the presents donated at last year’s Ogunquit Spirit of Giving event, which benefit children throughout the state. This year’s event is on Sunday, December 5. (Courtesy photo)

SeaCoast Trail Riders Give Back

By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
BERWICK—
A number of local organizations benefited when the SeaCoast Trail Riders hosted part of the AMA National Enduro series in Berwick.
SeaCoast Trail Riders is a non-profit club promoting responsible off- road motorcycling. The event, the first of its kind in Maine according to a club spokesman, drew riders from across the United States and is the first such event held in New England for more than a decade. The series, of which this was the ninth round, determines the best off- road rides within the discipline.
Profits from the event were donated to the North Berwick Police Department, North Berwick Rescue, Berwick Public Library, Berwick Police Benevolent, Noble High School Health Center, Noble High School girls’ basketball and lacrosse, Charles Hatch VFW Post, Lebanon Rescue, Acton Ambulance, Newfield Rescue, and Pease Greeters
The host club upped its number of entries from an average of 100 to over 400 for this event, raising over $11,500 that was distributed among the local agencies and charities.
“Each year we donate all monies collected from rider fees and sponsorships after expenses,” Peter Anania said. “Including these events, we have raised nearly $70,000 that has been given back to our communities.”
An enduro is a long distance off-road motorcycle endurance event with a timed element that includes going slow on roads, the spokesman said. The route of this event covered about 75 miles.
As a followup to this event, the SeaCoast Trail Riders hosted the Noble Woods Turkey Run. This event started at the Acton Fairgrounds and raised an additional $3,600 that was given back to the community.
The Trail Riders expressed their thanks to the Berwick and North Berwick Police Departments, the staff at Noble High School, North Berwick Rescue, Berwick Library, Acton Ambulance, Lebanon Rescue, Newfield Rescue, town administrators, and countless others.
The club issues a special thanks to the landowners and townspeople who graciously allowed it to use land and roads to stage the event.
“You all deserve special recognition and we look forward to the possibility of working with you in the future,” the spokesman said.
Photo caption: Funds raised by The SeaCoast Trail Riders were presented to several groups recently. Those attending the ceremony included, left to right, Lebanon Emergency Assistant Chief Jason Cole, Acton Chief Denise DeAngelis, Newfield Assistant Chief Wendy Elliott, Berwick Police Sgt. Jeff Scott, Trail Riders member Paul Boisvert, Trail Riders president Peter Anania. (Courtesy photo)

North Berwick Students Score Top 10% in National Math Contest

NORTH BERWICK—
This fall, three students from Mrs. Carter’s third grade class at North Berwick Elementary School participated in the Noetic Learning Math Contest: a national contest for students grades 2-5. Over 4,000 students representing 262 teams participated in the contest.
Madison Momenee, Jackson Hett, and William DoByns from North Berwick Elementary School scored in the top 10% and were put in the National Honor Roll. William DoByns tied for 1st place in the nation, missing only one problem.
These students met after school to practice and prepare with their teacher before taking this challenging test. These students will be participating again in the spring with the hope that they have inspired their classmates to stretch themselves and participate with them.
Photo caption: Madison Momenee, William DoByns, and Jackson Hett, all third-graders at North Berwick Elementary School, were recently recognized for their performance in a national math competition. (Courtesy photo)

10th Annual Veterans’ Day Celebration

ELIOT—
On November 5, Marshwood Middle School commemorates its Tenth Annual Veteran’s Day Celebration. The school-wide assembly, which starts at 9:00 a.m., features various tributes from students and faculty to local veterans. Last year, over 200 veterans attended the celebration. Several veterans are from local American Legion and VFW posts. Many veterans invited are relatives and friends of Marshwood students who have served our country past and present.
Local dignitaries including town officials and selectmen, local politicians, state representatives, school board members, and members of the South Berwick, Eliot, Kittery and Berwick police, fire and emergency departments also attend the celebration to honor the veterans.
All guests form a reception line at 8:30 a.m. down the corridor to the entrance of the gymnasium. As students are called down to the celebration, they enter the reception line and greet our guests with handshakes and small talk. The reception line emphasizes a personal touch for every student to actually meet our guests and sets a respectful tone for the celebration.
As everyone gathers in the gymnasium, patriotic music is played on the sound system. Once everyone has been seated, the veteran guests enter the gymnasium. For the next hour, various tributes are presented to guests in form of song, poems, readings, and PowerPoint presentations.
Marshwood Middle School is made up of six communities (two per grade level). Each community presents a tribute at the assembly. Teachers work with students in their communities, and this celebration could never occur without their collaboration. After the celebration, there is a reception in the library for guests and faculty.
It is extremely important for students to understand the sacrifices our veterans have made and continue to make for our country. This celebration encourages us to stop and realize again that “Freedom is never free.”
For more information about this event, contact Catherine Locke at cclocke@msad35.net. Marshwood Middle School is located at 626 H. L. Dow Highway, Eliot.
Photo caption: Veterans lining up for last year’s Veterans’ Day Celebration at Marshwood Middle School. This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the school-wide assembly. (Courtesy photo)

Berwick Academy to Circulate Kindles

SOUTH BERWICK—
Berwick Academy is proud to announce that the Jackson Library has become the first school in Maine to circulate Amazon Kindles to its faculty, staff, and Upper School students.
The Kindle is a portable electronic reading device, which uses the latest technology to deliver a unique reading experience. The school will carry six Kindles, which were purchased for the library by the Technology Department, the Berwick Academy Parents Association, and the BA Administration. The availability of the Kindles has several advantages to the Berwick community, including the immediate access to any number of titles including books the library does not carry.
The Kindles will be loaded with hundreds of books, including popular fiction and non-fiction bestsellers. In addition to these titles, millions of out-of-copyright titles are available for free download via the web through organizations like Open Library, Project Gutenberg, and Internet Archive. Currently available on all six Kindles are titles like The Host by Stephenie Meyer, Bob Dylan in America by Sean Wilentz, The Time Machine by H. G. Wells, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and multiple works by Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, and Edgar Allan Poe. It is the goal of the librarians to ensure that the collection grows, evolves, and responds directly to student needs.
Upper School Librarian Darcy Coffta commented, “We are thrilled to be the first school in the state of Maine to circulate Kindles and to have this opportunity available for the Berwick community. Upper School students will be able to come to Jackson Library and check out a Kindle for two weeks. Reading on a Kindle can be a lot of fun and it greatly increases their immediate access to the written word. I see it being used for both research purposes as well as for leisure reading.”
Founded in 1791, Berwick Academy is an independent, coeducational country day school located in South Berwick, Maine. For over 200 years, the Academy has pursued its mission through a purposeful blend of strong academics, arts, and athletics. Berwick serves nearly 580 students in grades K-12 from the seacoast area of southern Maine, New Hampshire, and northeastern Massachusetts.
Photo caption: Berwick Academy students with two of the six Kindles now available to students and staff, making Berwick Academy the first school in Maine to circulate Kindles. (Courtesy photo)

Maine Recycles Week at Hannaford Market

KENNEBUNK—
The Kennebunk Energy Efficiency Committee (EEC) and the Kennebunk High School Green Club, eKo, will be celebrating Maine Recycles Week with exhibits, workshops and films at Kennebunk’s Hannaford Market from November 10th through the 13th.
On Saturday the 13th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be two workshops in the morning and the same two in the afternoon--along with a variety of videos--in the old Starbucks area adjacent to the Red Box.
George Herman, Master Gardener, will be speaking on the how-to’s of composting and taking questions on the subject during his presentations at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Herman, a graduate of the College of Forestry at Syracuse, is a member of the York County Master Gardeners and on the board of the York County Cooperative Extension. Herman will also show “Turning Your Spoils to Soil,” a how-to film on compositing.
Suzanne Duplissis, Recycling Outreach Coordinator for the Maine State Planning Office for Waste Management and Recycling, will present at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Duplissis educates the Maine public on recycling through social media, print and television outlets and manages the matching grants for recycling promotion for municipalities. In addition to her talk and Q and A session, Duplissis will show the documentary film “Re: Think Re: Cycle,” which gives insight into the origins of our products and their various methods of disposal.
On Wednesday through Friday, November 10th, 11th and 12th, from 3 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 to 4, the EEC and eKo will have an exhibit showing which plastic bags and film should be recycled and which should not. The eKo students will also be displaying clothing made from recycled goods.
Educational information on recycling and composting will also be available. Other freebees include pens and pencils made from recycled products and informative refrigerator magnets, while the supplies last.
Anyone bringing five empty, clean plastic grocery bags to the EEC table, will get one free Hannaford cloth bag, while the supply lasts. The exhibit will be set up next to the Camden National Bank branch in Hannaford Market.
Photo caption: Members of the Kennebunk High School eKo are shown in the KHS cafeteria holding the reusable tableware they purchased with a grant from Hannaford Market. The eKo students made the signs shown here, color-coded for tableware, bottles, compost and trash. From left: Emily Flaherty, faculty advisor, Amanda Sparks, Hannah Rolland, Faye Heisch-Lewis, Beth Ash, Emily Mokler, and Stephanie Conzelman, co-advisor and member of the Energy Efficiency Committee. (Courtesy photo)