Mills and Valente Become Finalists in National Merit Scholarship Program

WELLS—

In February, Wells High School seniors Michael Valente and Jesse Mills were notified that they had become finalists in the 57th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Each year, this program makes the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test or PSAT/NMSQT available to high school juniors throughout the United States in order for them to compete for scholarship money. From the initial group of 1.5 million test takers, 16,000 of the highest 50,000 scorers are later picked to become Semifinalists. After additional screening, 15,000 emerge as finalists.

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), “more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.” In late May, Valente and Mills will learn if and how much scholarship money will be made available to them.

Mills is a member of the National Honor Society, the Math Team and plays club tennis, a non-varsity sport at WHS. Earlier in the school year Mills indicated that he would like to attend Haverford College. At present he is undecided about a college major. Mills is the son of Wesley Mills and Cheryl Dearman Mills of Wells.

Valente is the Treasurer for the Class of 2012 and for the National Honor Society chapter at WHS. Last fall Valente indicated that he would like to attend Boston University or Tufts University to major in pre-med. Valente is the son of Dawn Valente of Wells.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation of Evanston Illinois. It is a non-profit corporation established in 1955. Scholarship money awarded by the NMSC comes largely from corporate and college sponsorship. According to NMSC’s website (www.nationalmerit.org), 10,400 students received 51 million in scholarships last year.

Taking the PSAT/NMSQT allows not only for the chance to receive a scholarship, but provides students with valuable experience for taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in their senior year.

Photo Caption: National Merit Scholarship finalists, Michael Valente and Jesse Mills. (Photo courtesy of Lillian Lagasse)

York Public Library Keeps Up With The Times

By Larry Favinger

Staff Columnist

YORK—

In the almost 10 years that the York Public Library has been at its home on Long Sands Road, there have been a lot of changes, many of them driven by the increases in technology.

Librarian Robert Waldman said during an interview in his office earlier this week that when the library moved from its much smaller home on York Street, there were two or three “public computers.” Today there are 19 and the ability to add more should the need arise.

The library’s number of actual books has risen from 40,000 when the move was made to what is now in the neighborhood of 60,000 volumes.

“We also have wireless,” he continued, “and that’s been one of the very big changes,” because “more and more people are bringing in their own computers. They’re more comfortable using them [here at the library].”

“The wireless technology is one of the more recent technologies that really has made a tremendous difference in library use.”

And the impact of electronics hasn’t stopped there. Now there are the handheld devices.

“Those devices are not only for access to information,” Waldman said. “It’s also for access to the actual reading materials.”

Waldman said the number of electronic books beings circulated is growing but, the “book circulation continues to go up. So rather than one instead of the other, they seem to be complimenting each other.”

With the increasing number of electronic devices being given as gifts or purchased and used, the library has responded with classes to help people use them to borrow electronic books from the library.

The increase in the popularity of the electronic readers is also causing concern with the publishing industry, he said.

“Some of the publishers are trying to decide how many circulations to give” to a library.

Their concern, he continued, is how to continue to make a profit while providing public access to the books that they have.

This is not dissimilar to when books first came out, he said. At that time publishers worried about how allowing libraries to lend books for free would impact the number of copies sold.

It actually worked well as the sales of books increased once the public could read it from a library and talk about it with others, many then went out and purchased the title for themselves.

Some years ago the library became part of the Minerva network, giving people the opportunity to access books York doesn’t have on their shelves. In joining this work, people can access material from any library within the state in a matter of days.

Included on the library’s web site is a newsstand that allows people to get magazines on their computers as well. By clicking on the magazine the reader wants, he or she has access to the entire issue. “We’re very excited about that,” Waldman said.

There’s also “learning express” available on the website, where people have access to tutorials on how to apply for a job, help in writing a resume and other helpful information.

“In some ways its like reading a science fiction novel and you’re in it,” he said. “Instead of reading what’s going to happen, it’s here.”

So at this point York and other libraries have the ability to offer more services that are more easily accessible than in previous years, and with computers and websites many of the services—e-books and audio books included—are accessible without ever leaving home.

And there is Minerva, a statewide library catalog. “We tell people now to think that you have a library of six million items,” he said.

A user goes on the site, finds the book he or she wants, and the library notifies them when it arrives, usually within a couple of days.

Additionally, there is Marvel, a service that offers juried information on a variety of subjects for those seeking noted, accurate data.

Other changes have also been made, albeit at a much slower rate. Where once audio books and movies on VCRs were the rage, these are being replaced by what Waldman terms a great collection of DVDs and CDs.

The library’s website is done locally and is purposely easy to read and use. Along with access of those services aforementioned, there is a listing of local community events.

“We’re very fortunate that this library is the center of all kinds of activity,” Waldman concluded.

York’s 10-year-old library has grown and continues to do so not through technology alone, but by acting as a social destination for the town as well.

York and Wells High School Students Selected as National Youth Delegates

YORK & WELLS—

Victoria Knoepfel, a student at York High School, has been selected to represent Maine as a National Youth Delegate at the 2012 Washington Youth Summit on the Environment at George Mason University. Emilee Wooldridge, of Wells High School, was also selected as a Maine representative.

Knoepfel and Wooldridge have been awarded the opportunity to join a select group of 250 students from across the country to participate in an intensive study week-long of leadership in environmental science and conservation. They were both chosen based upon academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest and excellence in leadership in the sciences and conservation studies.

George Mason University, along with partners National Geographic and the National Zoo, are excited to welcome the nation's youth scholars to Washington, D.C. With distinguished faculty, guest speakers and direct access to elite D.C. practitioners, the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment offers aspiring environmentalists and student leaders an unparalleled experience.

The week-long program is held at George Mason University's state-of-the-art campus. The Summit will encourage and inspire young leaders who desire a unique experience focused on successful careers in this dynamic industry.

The Washington Youth Summit on the Environment will be held June 24-29.

Berwick Academy Senior Reaches Hockey Milestone

SOUTH BERWICK—

Berwick Academy senior hockey player Shannon Farrell, of Kennebunk, recently reached a milestone that only a few others before her have accomplished. On Saturday, February 11, she scored her 100th point during the Girls Varsity Hockey game against Portsmouth Abbey. Farrell is only the second person to reach the 100-point mark in Berwick Academy girls hockey history, and the first to do it in just three years. Shannon had 98 points going into the game against Portsmouth Abbey. She earned her 99th point in the third period by netting a goal with an assist by Tilly Burzynski at 8:31. Shannon got a break away with 2:57 left in the third, faked the goalie and backhanded it over her into the net to reach 100 points.

Although a significant achievement, Shannon would prefer to be out of the limelight. She gives credit to her teammates wherever possible, and especially in this moment. “I never imagined I would get 100 points. Our main goal was to win EIL's, so personal points aren't really important. We worked really hard to get to where we are and without these girls 100 points definitely wouldn't have been possible. This team has unreal potential and I can't wait to come back and watch them leave their marks on this program.”

Farrell has been playing hockey since the age of six. She first played on a boys’ team for two years and joined the Biddeford Lady Breakers when she was eight. She played with the Lady Breakers until she was 16. In her freshman year, Farrell played on the boy’s team at Kennebunk High School. She transferred to Berwick the following year and began playing for Coach McNulty on the Girls Varsity team. In addition to this 100-point milestone, Farrell has several achievements under her belt. She was named to the Eastern Independent League First Team All-League from 2009-2011, received MVP for her BA team in 2011, is a five-time New England Select Festival participant (2006-2011), and has competed in the U-14 and U-19 National Tier Tournaments.

The Bulldogs clinched the semi-final found of the EIL tournament yesterday, beating Portsmouth Abbey 6-1.

Farrell will go on to play for the Women’s Hockey team at Trinity College next year.

Founded in 1791, Berwick Academy is an independent, coeducational country day school located in South Berwick. For over 200 years, the Academy has pursued its mission through a purposeful blend of strong academics, arts and athletics. Berwick serves nearly 600 students in grades PK-12 from the seacoast area of southern Maine, New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts.

A ‘Golden’ Moment!

PORTLAND—

On Monday, February 13, at South Portland’s Marriott Hotel, Maine’s credit unions made a major announcement on the success of their efforts towards “thawing” out hunger in Maine in 2011 at the ‘Thaw to End Hunger’ Celebration Event. At this annual event, credit unions were recognized for their success in raising the most funds ever for the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, and the official, record-breaking total was announced. The total raised in 2011 was $446,929.56, an increase of nearly $45,000 over last year’s record. In addition to raising a record-setting amount in 2011, the Campaign also surpassed the $4 million milestone in funds raised since the Campaign began 22 years ago.

Three credit unions with ties to York County placed in the Top 25 in Total Funds Raised and Highest Per Member Contributions: Saco Valley CU, which has branches in Saco and Waterboro; York County FCU, which has branches in Biddeford, Saco, Sanford, North Berwick and York; and PeoplesChoice CU, which has branches in Biddeford, Saco, Sanford and Wells. Also, Ocean Communities FCU, with branches in Biddeford, Kennebunk, Saco, Sanford and York, and Shaw’s Employees FCU of Wells, participated in the fundraising Campaign.

“The generosity of the over 615,000 credit union members in Maine is extraordinary,” explained John Murphy, President of the Maine Credit Union League. “This marks the sixteenth consecutive year that the Campaign has raised a record-setting total, and the milestone of the Campaign surpassing the $4 million mark in funds raised since the Campaign began—a remarkable effort in such a challenging economy.”

The celebration was a luncheon event, and featured an address by award-winning author Ernest Thompson. In addition to giving the keynote address on community-service and the “can do” attitude and the “neighbor helping neighbor spirit” he learned from spending nearly every summer in Maine, Thompson helped to unveil the big check announcing the total raised during the 2011 Ending Hunger Campaign. Thompson also had his picture taken with representatives from each credit union in attendance and presented them with certificates and envelopes containing the total funds each credit union has to distribute in their own community.

Ernest Thompson won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for writing the classic film, On Golden Pond, which is based on Thompson’s summers at Belgrade Lakes in Maine. On Golden Pond was named by the American Film Institute as one of the Top 100 romantic films of all-time.

Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised more than $4.3 million to help end hunger in Maine.

About the Maine Credit Union League

Formed in 1938, the Maine Credit Union League is the State Trade Association for Maine’s 63 credit unions providing a variety of services and products to assist credit unions in meeting the needs of their membership. For more information, please visit www.mainecul.org.

Photo Caption: York County FCU’s Brenda Robbins (second from left) represented her CU at the Luncheon announcing the record-setting results raised by the Maine CUs’ Campaign for Ending Hunger in 2011. Pictured with her are (l-r) Luke Labbe, Academy Award-winner Ernest Thompson, and John Murphy. (Courtesy Photo)

Kittery Residents Meet with Prime Minister

KITTERY—

Kittery residents David, Cathleen and Kay O’Shaughnessy had the opportunity to meet Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Thursday, February 16, at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. Mr. O’Shaughnessy is the President and Managing Director at the Seaport, and is an Irish native who moved to the US only three years ago with his family. He was honored to welcome Prime Minister Kenny to the Seaport yesterday, who stopped by during his two-day tour of Boston to be feted by the City’s Irish community. Also at the reception were Senator Scott Brown, Irish ambassador Michael Collins, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis and Ireland’s Consul General to Boston Michael Lonergan.

Photo Caption: David O’Shaughnessy, President of Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center, his daughter Cathleen O’Shaughnessy, Prime Minister of Ireland Enda Kenny and (David’s wife) Kay O’Shaughnessy. (Photo courtesy of Dom Miguel)

Seashore Trolley Museum Wins 2012 Preservation Award

KENNEBUNKPORT—

The Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, recently announced the receipt of the 2012 H. Albert Webb Memorial Railroad Preservation Award given by the Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc. The grant, in the amount of $10,000, will pay for key components needed to complete the restoration of former Bay State Street Railway car 4175, a valued part of the museum’s operating collection of historic electric railway equipment. The award was presented to the Museum on January 28 during the “Railroad Hobby Show” in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

James D. Schantz, Seashore’s Chairman of the Board, received the award.

“We are truly honored and pleased to receive this generous grant which will greatly move forward our restoration work on Car 4175. We hope to have the work completed in time for Seashore’s 75th Anniversary which will take place in 2014.”

The Laconia Car Company of Laconia, New Hampshire, built car 4175 in 1914. It was part of the 4100 series of cars built for the Bay State Street Railway. The car was state-or-the-art for its day, built for the largest street railway system in the world at the time, and the only Bay State car in existence today. Laconia was a boutique car builder and car 4175 is a prime example of that builder’s art with an interior of hand-rubbed cherry woodwork and polished bronze hardware. So strong was the car’s external construction that car 4175’s riveted steel body has not needed any re-work—the joints are still tight after almost a century.

Car 4175 has had many lives in its 98-year history, including originally running in Revere, Massachusetts, on the Boston-Beachmont line. In 1917, it was transferred to Newport, Rhode Island, to run on the Newport division of the Bay State system and was subsequently sold to the Newport County Electric Company. In 1926 it was sold to the Coast Cities Railway in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where it ran until 1929. After it was removed from service in 1929, it evolved into a summer cottage in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, where it remained until the Seashore Trolley Museum acquired it in 1976. Restoration began in 1985 and will hopefully be completed and fully restored to its original grandeur to celebrate it’s 100th birthday by 2014.