The Youth Enrichment Center at Hilton-Winn Farm Honored by the State of Maine

CAPE NEDDICK —

The Youth Enrichment Center at Hilton Winn Farm is proud to announce that it was recently honored with a proclamation by the State of Maine. Nancy Breen, its executive director, was recently presented with a Legislative Sentiment from the 123rd Legislature of the State of Maine.
The Sentiment was introduced by Representative Dawn Hill of District 149 and passed by the Legislature and the Senate. Representative Hill presented Nancy with the document at a ceremony held at the farm. Community members as well as twenty children from Club Chameleon in New Market, N.H. were on hand to see the presentation and hear speeches from Representative Hill and Nancy.
Nancy Breen purchased the 1907 Hilton Winn Farm house and 48 acres from the Hilton family in 2002 to begin her dream of creating a nature based learning experience for children from all walks of life. After hundreds of family and friends gathered for thousands of hours volunteering, the house and barn were renovated. The Youth Enrichment Center at Hilton Winn Farm was established as a 501(c)(3) corporation in 2003. Their mission is to create a country farm experience to enrich the hearts, minds and spirits of our children.
Hundreds of children and their families who come to the farm every year enjoy environmental, educational, team and esteem building exercises, and nature based development activities aimed at fostering a sense of stewardship and personal connection to the natural world and to one another.
Nancy Breen and the community of volunteers are dedicated to shaping the leaders of the future through cooperative efforts that teach young people about caring for and appreciating nature.
The sentiment closes with the following: “ We acknowledge Ms. Breen’s dedication to the Youth Enrichment Center and to her community. We extend our best wishes for the continued success of the Youth Enrichment Center. And be it ordered that this official expression of sentiment be sent forthwith on behalf of the 123rd Legislature and the people of the State of Maine.”
The Youth Enrichment Center at Hilton Winn Farm is located at 189 Ogunquit Road, Cape Neddick, Maine. For more information, please call (207) 361-1385. Or visit our web site www.hilton-winnfarm.org.

Photo Caption: Nancy Breen, executive director of The Youth Enrichment Center at Hilton Winn Farm (left) was presented by Representative Dawn Hill (middle) with a Sentiment from the 123rd Legislature of the State of Maine. Unidentified woman stands to the right. (Courtesy photo)

WHS Student’s Work Selected in Maine Department of Education Photo Contest

WELLS —

On a weekend in late July of 2006, Wells High School student Erik Cady was on a visit to Maine’s Baxter State Park. A while after entering the southern entrance to the park, Cady stopped at a turn off and walked to the shore of a nearby lake. There, just a few feet in front of him, was a large frog clinging to a stick; perhaps enjoying the warm sunshine. While the frog remained motionless, Cady snapped a photo of the big-eyed amphibian and added the digital picture to his growing collection of images.
For Cady (and the frog) it became a situation of being in the right place at the right time. In January of this year, the MLTI Screen Saver Contest, sponsored by the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, selected Cady’s frog photo to be one of 20 to appear as screen savers on thousands of Apple laptops distributed to Maine middle school students and teachers during the 2009-2010 school year.
Cady’s art teacher, Vanessa White-Capelluti, was notified of Cady’s selection from MLTI Project Manager for the Maine Department of Education Stephen Vose. According to Vose there were 192 entries in this contest this year.
“Congratulations,” stated Vose’s letter in all capital letters. “We are thrilled with the quality of the work and are VERY excited about Maine student artwork being placed on the 45,000 MLTI laptops.” The letter indicated that a photographer, an art teacher, and a college professor comprised a panel of judges that helped to make the selections.
Cady indicated that he has been snapping photos for about five years. He said that by seventh grade he had saved up enough money to buy his first digital camera, a Kodak Easy Share camera. Recently, he says he “wore out” a Sony Cypershot DSC H2 when an important part of the camera broke off. He said he took over 8,000 pictures with that camera in just one year alone. Today he still uses a Sony but has moved up to a Sony Cybershot DSC H9.
“I was kind of surprised,” answered Cady when asked for his reaction to being selected to be featured on the MLTI laptops. He said that he entered the contest on the day of the deadline for entering.
“I will always do photography whether I major in it or not,” said Cady about his future plans which include working on his Associates Degree in Architecture at York County Community College (YCCC) after graduating from WHS.
“He is a prolific photographer” commented White-Capelluti of Cady in a brief interview. Capelluti went on to add that Cady also videotapes many events that happen at the school. “He has done so much for the school. It was really nice to have him get credit for his work,” said White-Capelluti who later added, “I love the (frog) picture.”
When asked about his other interest Cady said he was a Boy Scout in local troop 390 and reached the rank of First Class. Today he is active in “Venturing,” a program of the Boy Scouts of America. It is an activity for boys who are 14 and have passed the eighth grade through age 20. This past summer Cady spent time at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico where he was a “Venturer” on a venture crew.
Cady, has a website of his photography on display on his newly created website found at www.redleafpics.com. His frog photo, titled “Jump” can be found in his gallery on the site called “Water.”
This article was submitted by Reg Bennett, the Public Information Officer of the Wells Ogunquit Community School District.
Photo caption: Sitting for a photo with his winning digital picture on is laptop in the computer lab at Wells High School is senior and photographer Erik Cady. (Reg Bennett photo)

York Resident, Berwick Academy Alumna Receives Nationwide Writing Award

By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
SOUTH BERWICK/ YORK—
A 2008 graduate of Berwick Academy was presented the Cum Laude Paper – 2008 nationwide writing award Monday by The Cum Laude Society.
Katherine Edkins of York won the award for a work, “Sixty-four Square Feet” which she submitted during her senior year at the academy.
“It was a complete surprise,” Ms. Edkins said of winning the award. “It’s been totally unexpected.”
Ms. Edkins is a freshman at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., and made the trip to South Berwick to receive the award from head of school Greg Schneider at a gathering of Upper School students and faculty.
“This achievement is truly extraordinary for Katie, and it has brought tremendous recognition to Berwick Academy as well,” Schneider said. “In some ways, we should not be surprised at this outcome given Katie’s remarkable career at Berwick. Her essay demonstrates an extraordinary integration of description, innovative structure, self-analysis, and a hauntingly shared sense of coming of age for both author and reader alike.”
“I believe that this is the first time in the competition’s five-year history that the national winner has come from a District I school,” said William Prescott, the regent for the Society’s District 1. “As I said to Katie in a recent message I sent to her, I hope she continues to write while in college - and not necessarily just for specific course work. She has a gift, and I’m pleased to have had an opportunity to share in recognizing and honoring it.”
When Ms. Edkins learned of the competition last year she was quick to decide to enter.
“I consider myself to be a writer,” she said, “This is what I love to do and I might as well give it a shot.”
Just what she’ll do when she graduates is up in the air. She mentioned law school, and is taking English and Chinese classes. She is really enjoying the latter, noting it’s exciting to be “learning something entirely different.” And there’s that love of writing.
“I want to see where I am after all this,” she said of her years at Dartmouth.
Ms. Edkins, the daughter of Bill and Laurie Edkins of York, moved to York when she was in seventh grade from St. Louis, Mo. “I really, really love Maine,” she said.
She also expressed her thanks to Berwick Academy.
Her essay was selected from submissions from the Cum Laude Society’s 350-member schools from all over the world. In addition to a plaque she also received a cash award of $1,000.
The Cum Laude Society, an international academic honorary founded in 1906, said the annual competition is designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding academic achievement in high schools.
Ms. Edkins was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a junior and the National French Honor Society as a sophomore.
She also earned a departmental recognition award in English, was involved with the Math Team, Honor Committee, and co-founded the literary magazine with her sister Maggie, a member of the Berwick Class of 2009.
Ms. Edkins also participated in the National Youth Leadership Forum and the Stanford Education Program for Gifted Youth.
Berwick academy was founded 1791 as an independent, co-educational country day school. For over 200 years the academy has pursued its mission through a purposeful blend of strong academics, arts, and athletics.
Berwick currently serves over 600 students in grades K-12 from the seacoast area of southern Maine, New Hampshire, and northern Massachusetts.
Photo caption: Katherine Edkins of York receives the Cum Laude Paper – 2008 nationwide writing award from Berwick Academy head of school Greg Schneider. (Courtesy photo)

Local Restaurant Receives National Award

By Devin Beliveau
Staff Columnist
WELLS —
A local restaurant has just received national recognition. East, a restaurant featuring Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisine, has recently been honored as one of the top 10 Chinese restaurants in the entire nation by Chinese Restaurant News (CRN), a trade publication in San Francisco, Calif. with a circulation of 43,000 throughout the country.
Owner Ri Teng Li was notified in December that East had been awarded Top 100 status by CRN’s annual competition, and was invited to a ceremony in Las Vegas, Nev. to witness the unveiling of his restaurant’s official number ranking.
Before leaving for Las Vegas in early January, Li was notified that East was voted into the Top 10 in the “overall quality” category. At the CRN ceremony, he discovered East was voted no. 1 overall in the “décor & atmosphere” category.
“It was really exciting,” said Li. “Everybody’s working hard here, the manager, all the employees. I think this award really belongs to everybody at the restaurant.”
These two achievements are especially impressive considering the thousands of Chinese restaurants in competition from the big cities of New York, San Francisco, and everywhere in between. He is especially proud about taking home the no. 1 prize in “décor & atmosphere.”
“Everything here, the materials, the colors, the lighting has been done so beautifully and professionally. To be number one in the country is a true honor, ” Li reflected.
This is the first time a Maine Chinese restaurant has been honored as a Top-10 restaurant by CRN.
Li received official congratulations at the Las Vegas ceremony from Master Chef Martin Yan (host of the popular cooking show on TV, Yan Can Cook) and from Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. Li and Yan then together graced the cover of a recent edition of CRN.
Li believes news of the award is already helping his business.
“People are now coming all the way from Portland and New Hampshire. Business is better than expected,” remarked Li.
Restaurant manager Johnny Zhao agrees.
“Last weekend for Saturday dinner we had a full house. We even had a long waiting list,” Zhao commented.
CRN determines its rankings by sending undercover diners to competing restaurants who then rank the restaurants on numerous checkpoints in several categories. East is located at 636 Post Rd (US Rte. 1) in Wells. For more information, visit www.eastdining.com
Photo caption: Left to right: Owner Ri Teng Li, Master Chef Martin Yan, and Li’s wife We Li at the ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Courtesy photo)

The Clock is Running on a New Era of Confidence

By Magen Petit
Staff Columnist
YORK COUNTY —
A few days have passed since the inauguration of Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th President of the United States of America and most people are interested in what Pres. Obama has in store for the next four years.
As a country, we wanted change. As a country, we voted for Obama. As a country, we want to see relief from this horrific recession and depressing economic times. We want the country to turn itself around. We want something positive shed upon us. We want everything yesterday, but as with most everything else, time will tell all.
After arriving to the White House around 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21 after all the celebrations from the previous day, Pres. Obama was reportedly in the Oval Office around 8:30 a.m.
Pres. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama attended a prayer service at the National Cathedral. Following that, reports show Pres. Obama met with advisers to “discuss the variety of problems facing his administration and the country.”
Already, the President sought a suspension of the trial proceedings in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
According to reports from the Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. and the Associated Press, Pres. Obama is putting a freeze on the pay of White House employees who make more than $100,000 a year.
“The freeze would hold salaries at their current levels for about a hundred employees,” reported IBS and AP. “It was part of a presidential memorandum that was issued Wednesday when Obama attended a swearing-in for staff at the White House.”
Pres. Obama has begun supporting statements he made during his inaugural address.
The report goes on to say, “In a statement, Obama said ‘families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington.’”
Part of Pres. Obama’s speech read, “…the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”
And so, we shall see what the future and Pres. Obama has in store for us as a nation, afterall we’re looking for a new era of peace and confidence.
Be sure to visit the special section of the historic 44th inauguration in this edition of The Weekly Sentinel.

2009 Chocolate Extravaganza in Kennebunk

KENNEBUNK —
There’s only one place to be Sunday, Feb. 1, the Kennebunk’s 2009 Chocolate Extravaganza held at the Kennebunk Town Hall from 12 to 4 p.m. It’s been an annual event since 2001 and with free admission for everyone and with everyone receiving chocolate giveaways, it’s the ‘can’t miss’ winter event in Maine.
“February brings “cabin fever at its finest,” according to event organizer Danie Connolly. “We figured everyone loves chocolate so what better excuse to face the winter elements than to sample every kind of chocolate there is!”
Every year the event features a chocolate sculpture. In the past the sculptures have been a chocolate covered heart, a sand castle with an edible top, and a chocolate dipped man. Last year an eight-foot lobster was built and then covered in chocolate. This year is a 10-foot tall white and dark chocolate lighthouse with a working light!
Although the main purpose of the event is to beat cabin fever, two charities also benefit from the fun. The Art of Kindness is a fuel assistance fund that supports the local fuel fund and will be selling winter prints of the area for anyone that might like to purchase one for the charity.
In addition to them, Ever After Mustang Rescue will be bringing their horses to the event. This charity provides a haven for wild horses from all over the U.S. There will be a table selling “hot dogs for a cool cause” and all profits will be donated to the mustang rescue program.
The day is filled with many other sights and sounds. Miss Maine United States 2008, RaeAnne Seubert and Miss Maine Teen United States, Christina Morse will be making a special appearance at the Kennebunk Town Hall from noon to 4 p.m. Recently crowned, they have been guest hosting a numerous events including www.winafreewedding.com, a year-long event that will be giving away a free wedding for a lucky couple wanting to be married in the Kennebunks. They will be signing autographs and having their pictures taken with the public. The town’s fire department has been collecting their 8x10 glossies every year adding to their collection!
Lucy and Ethel and their Chocolate Conveyor belt will be there along side the crazy Sugar Plump Fairies who make the annual trek to Maine’s favorite chocolate city! Straight Lace, Maine’s favorite band returns for their umpteenth performance playing the crowds favorite tunes as venders compete to give away the best free chocolate.
“It’s very important to our community that everyone is invited… whether you’re two years old or 102, this day appeals to everyone, plus, it’s handicap accessible at the Kennebunk Town Hall which makes it terrific for everyone. Local Kennebunk businesses join in the frenzy in addition to door prizes during the event. It is amazing what some of the businesses tables come up with,” Connolly said.
Some ideas that have been presented in the past are chocolate nachos, chocolate coffee, and a chocolate kiss bustier. They have also had attractions such as a five-foot chocolate fountain with strawberries that the On The Marsh restaurant featured last year as ‘On the Marshmallow’ while Federal Jack’s creates mini hot fudge sundaes as their special giveaways.
FMI call Danie Connolly at (207) 985-8888 or e-mail danie.connolly@yahoo.com.
Photos: Top - Miss Maine United States 2008, RaeAnne Seubert. Bottom - Miss Maine Teen United States, Christina Morse. (Courtesy photos)

Restaurants Continue “Stimulus Package”

By Magen Petit
Staff Columnist
YORK COUNTY —
News headlines display it. Civilians are frightened by it. Most everybody is affected negatively by it. The fact is the country’s economy is failing. Many people are facing foreclosures of their homes and businesses, banks are closing, and the rate of unemployment is skyrocketing. Now, more than ever before, more and more restaurants in the area are continuing their own version of a stimulus package.
With feature guest Tommasi Viticoltori, Bintliff’s Restaurant, located in Ogunquit, will carry The Wines of Italy on Friday, Jan. 23. Besides cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and a four-course dinner, Bintliff’s also features Thursday night specials all winter long. For only $17,95, you can choose three entrées, demi-salad, glass of wine, and Chef’s choice dessert.
Just a few miles up the road in York on Clay Hill Rd., the Clay Hill Farm Restaurant, which features modern cuisine and a classic setting, has January winter warmer specials where Wednesday nights are wine nights and two people can eat for just $59 and that includes soup or salad, a choice of five entrées, dessert, coffee and/or tea, and a bottle of wine. People can enjoy prime rib and popover night for under $20 on Thursdays. If you want to take your loved one out to dinner, Clay Hill offers date night on Fridays where the second entrée is half price.
Over a couple towns in Kennebunkport, The Port Tavern & Grille, which is at the Kennebunkport Inn offers a two-for-one special where every Wednesday night, through the spring, you can purchase one entrée and receive a second for free! As Kennebunkport’s only steakhouse and seafood grille, The Port Tavern & Grille carries a neighborhood appreciation special on Wednesdays and Thursdays where all entrées are priced under $16.
Some places like the Bull and Claw, located in Wells, has a $7.95 comfort menu and offers a free six-piece shrimp cocktail. The cocktail bar features signature drinks like The Nubble Light, The Perkins Cove, The Wells Jetty, and Grey Goose Combos.
All you can eat fried haddock and clam strip dinners are under $12 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at The Barn Seafood and Grill in York. A one-pound lobster is just $12.95 from Wednesday through Sunday.
Sundays are special at Spring Hill in South Berwick because you can relax to the live jazz music of Vivando and you can buy one entrée and receive the second free.
When you purchase the first lunch at regular price at Chef’s Cove Café in Kittery, you get the second lunch at half price. They also feature luncheon specials like chicken cordon bleu on ciabatta. If that doesn’t make you hungry, I’m not sure what will!
Finally, you can enjoy a neighborhood bistro in downtown Kittery at Anneke Jans, which is open seven nights from 5 p.m. to close.