Wells High School Senior Wins at National Art Competition

WELLS—

Patrick Menard, a senior at Wells High School, recently learned that he is the recipient of the Silver Medal award from the prestigious Alliance for Young Artists and Writers for one of his winning entries in the regional 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Several weeks ago, Menard received two Gold Keys in the contest. One award was for a digital photograph in the Mixed Media category, the other for his design of a video game in the newly created video game category. Receiving a Gold Key qualified him to move forward and compete at the national level, where he received the Silver Award for his photograph, entitled “Spectre.”

Over 200,000 works of art and writing were submitted. About 11 percent of those entries will recieve gold or silver medals.

On June 1, Menard will be honored with other talented young artists at a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

While in New York, Menard will have an opportunity to meet art and writing professionals and view the work of his contest peers. He will also be able to participate in a number of showcase events at Parsons School for Design.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards has been recognizing and presenting awards to talented teenage artists since 1924. Previous winners include Andy Warhol, Richard Avedon, Zac Posen, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Joyce Carol Oates and Robert Redford.

The Alliance for Young Artists and Writers was founded in 1994 to provide national recognition for Gold Key recipients in the Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Photo Caption: Patrick Menard in art class at WHS, holding a photograph that received a national Silver Award from the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. (Courtesy Photo)

Donato J. Tramuto Foundation and Physicians Interactive Award Grant to Frannie Peabody Center

OGUNQUIT—

The Donato J. Tramuto Foundation and Physicians Interactive (PI), the leading provider of online and mobile clinical resources and solutions for healthcare professionals, are proud to announce a joint grant award of $10,000 to The Frannie Peabody Center (FPC). The Center will use the funds provide direct services, including medical case management and housing assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS in Maine as well as HIV prevention services in the wake of discontinued government funding in the state of Maine.

The Frannie Peabody Center provides HIV prevention services to its local community in Southern Maine, and the contributions from the Donato J. Tramuto Foundation and Physicians Interactive will go towards the Frannie Peabody Center’s Emergency Medical Assistance Fund. This fund covers unpaid medical and dental costs incurred by clients in FPC’s case management program when MaineCare or private insurance doesn't, thereby providing clients with access to vital treatment and medication that they otherwise would not have received.

“Overshadowed by the debates now going on in Augusta, many people in the community don’t know that early in 2011, the Ryan White Part B Program discontinued reimbursements for many of the medical needs that our clients face each day,” said Patti Capouch, executive director, Frannie Peabody Center. “The monies awarded will go a long way in replacing some of those costs and is just another demonstration of the tireless generosity of Donato Tramuto and the trustees of the Tramuto Foundation as well as the many generous people who came out to support us that day. We are grateful to each and every one of them for making this possible.”

“The Tramuto Foundation’s longstanding philosophy has always been to help individuals or communities overcome obstacles they are facing,” said Donato Tramuto, founder of the Tramuto Foundation and CEO and Vice Chairman of Physicians Interactive. “Our nation’s progress and prosperity is dependent on the active involvement of its citizens, and investing in healthcare subsidy programs like the ones offered by the Frannie Peabody Center is essential to help reduce the burden of healthcare costs for people and families in need.”

The Donato J. Tramuto Foundation, which provides grants and aid to help disadvantaged youth reach their educational goals, awards two grants annually to organizations helping either an individual or community overcome a serious challenge.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Ed Corley, director of development, at 207-774-6877, x8013 or email him at ecorley@peabodycenter.org.

United Way Pledges One-Year Grant to Children’s Program

KENNEBUNK—

Kids Free to Grow—the Child Abuse Prevention Council of York County (CAPC)—is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a one-year grant by United Way of York County (UWYC) totaling $41,100. Through mobilization of resources, expertise and funds that support programs focused on education, income and health—the building blocks of a good life—United Way of York County advances the common good and strengthens the whole community.

This grant will support the following programs at Kids Free to Grow: Baby Think It Over, providing students with the opportunity to understand the care of an infant and learn the risk factors that can lead to child abuse ($5,000); Break the Silence, assisting fifth grade students in understanding the four types of child abuse and that it is important to tell a trusted adult ($7,000); Mandated Reporter Training, providing professionals working with children the opportunity to learn how to recognize, respond and report child abuse ($5,000); Personal Body Safety, programs teaching young children the importance of “No, Run and Tell” and to tell a trusted adult ($5,000); The Nurturing Program is offered in communities by providing parents and their children a meal with ten parenting workshops and activities for the children ($10,100); Project Prevention is centered around April being Child Abuse Prevention Month but encompasses the whole year as children learn personal body safety ($9,000).

Thanks to the continued support of many dedicated individuals, businesses and organizations throughout York County, this year, the United Way is investing in 78 community programs serving children, youth, adults and families.

“Despite economic uncertainty in 2010, local people gave very generously to our United Way community campaign,” said United Way of York County President and CEO Kathryn Davis. “As a result, in 2011, we are able to provide much needed support for essential human services across the region.”

Kids Free to Grow offers these free programs and more to York County. If you would like more information about these programs or would like to volunteer, please call 207-985-5975.

York County Hunger Programs Receive Congressional Recognition

ALFRED—

Representative Chellie Pingree in the U.S. House of Representatives recognized the Mothers and Others Against Hunger project and the York County Shelter Programs on Thursday, March 1.

In Rep. Pingree's remarks for the Congressional Record she stated: "Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize an incredible program in Maine, The Mothers and Others Against Hunger through the York County Shelter Programs. The York County Shelter Programs is a homeless services provider in Alfred that has been in operation for more than thirty-one years and continues to be an essential part of York County—over the years caring for thousands of Mainers. Maine is a state that has struggled with food insecurity and Mothers and Others Against Hunger is making great strides in eradicating hunger in Maine. Projects like this demonstrate Maine's unbreakable community bond in our fight against hunger today."

Pingree personally presented an official, framed recognition of her endorsement of the work of the York County Shelter Programs and Mothers and Others Against Hunger on Thursday, March 15, when she and her staff toured the Shelter buildings in Alfred and learned about their many programs that address Mainers in need.

Over one hundred businesses, agencies, and individuals have pledged to donate either $50 in food or a $50 donation to help support the work of the Mothers and Others Against Hunger project. A map has been set up on the Mothers and Others Against Hunger website (www.mothersandothersagainsthunger.org) depicting all the towns in Maine and New Hampshire that have pledged their support to this program.

Twenty-three of the twenty-nine York County towns already have participants in this hunger project. Pledges have been made from seven counties in Maine and New Hampshire, and from Arkansas, Iowa, Rhode Island and Vermont. Area businesses and individuals concerned about the issue of hunger are urged to consider joining this group.

The Mothers and Others Against Hunger group will host a Mother's Day Dessert and Tea in Alfred on Sunday, May 13, from 1 to 4pm. Proceeds from this event and from the Fifth Annual 5kRun /Two Mile Walk for the Homeless and the Hungry on Saturday, May 19, at Mother's Beach in Kennebunk, will benefit efforts to eradicate hunger. For additional information contact Mary Doyle at 207-793-2759 or email: mqdoyle@gmail.com.

Photo Caption: York County Shelter Programs Executive Director Donald Gean discusses the Shelter's several feeding programs with U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree outside the Shelter's Bakery on March 15. (Photo courtesy of Mary Doyle)

York, South Berwick and Wells Police Departments Receive Federal Grant

YORK COUNTY—

While the next national and state wide Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 28, from 10am-2pm, police departments in the towns of York, Wells and South Berwick are now offering community members the opportunity to safely dispose of unused, unwanted or expired medications at any time.

Three MedReturn “Drug Lock” boxes were recently purchased for South Berwick, Wells and York police departments through a Drug Free Communities Grant from Choose To Be Healthy and with a donation from York Hospital.

The Drop Boxes are large green metal boxes located in the police departments’ waiting areas and entrances. All are secure, within eye and camera of a police officer and available to the public 24/7 for convenient and proper disposal. Area police will coordinate proper and safe disposal of the drugs collected in the Drug Lock Boxes on a regular basis.

Chief Dana LaJoie of South Berwick Police Department said that he “welcomes this addition as it allows for expedient and safe disposal. No longer do citizens have to be burdened with how to dispose of medications.” All three police departments—Wells, York and South Berwick—encourage people from surrounding communities to also take advantage of the new Drug Lock Boxes.

Sally Manninen, who coordinates the Drug Free Communities grant that helped pay for the MedReturn boxes, said when she asked York Hospital if it could help pay for the rest of the expensive boxes, Jud Knox, President of York Hospital and John Phyllis, Head of the Hospital Pharmacy both quickly agreed that it was a worthy effort.

In York County schools, 16 percent of the 9-12th graders surveyed reported abusing prescription drugs at least once in their lives (Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, 2011). The good news is this number has gone down from 20 percent in 2009. Restricting access to prescription drugs in the home and disposing of drugs properly is just part of the effort to prevent prescription drug abuse in our communities.

During the last Drug Take Back Day in October 2011, the State of Maine collected 14,120 pounds of drugs, ranking Maine number one per capita in the U.S. collection effort during each of the three previous national collection events. Here in nine communities of southern York County served by Choose To Be Healthy, police and community members collected almost 1200 pounds in last year’s April and October Drug Take Back Days.

The next National Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 28, from 10am-2pm. The event is anonymous and free. Area collection locations for April 28 include: Wells Ergent Care, Ogunquit Transfer Station, Hannaford in York, the Fire Station on Gorges Road in Kittery, the Police Stations in Eliot, Berwick and North Berwick, and the Community Center in South Berwick.

People are asked to remove any personal identifying info from labels. Medicine accepted includes prescription, over-the-counter or veterinary pills, drops and ointments. Police will not accept thermometers, batteries, durable medical equipment, intravenous solutions, injectables or illegal substances.

For more information, contact Sally Manninen, Choose To Be Healthy’s Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator at York Hospital’s Center for Community Health, at 207-439-2936. Go to the Drug Enforcement Administration DEA website www.dea.gov for the National Drug Take Back Day drop off locations nearest you.

Final Winter Gateway Farmers’ Market This Saturday

YORK—

This Saturday, March 31, marks the final date for this year’s Winter Farmers’ Market in York. Stop by and support your local farmers, food producers, artists and artisans. Pick up your usual market foods: fresh veggies, Maine maple syrup, breads, fish, baked goods, jams, granola, fresh eggs and locally raised pork, beef and chicken. They also have some select crafters participating with knitted goods, soaps, wood items and handcrafted jewelry.

The summer market will kick off its tenth season on Saturday, June 2, from 9-1pm here at the Chamber of Commerce with their new sponsor, When Pigs Fly. Keep your eyes and ears open for more information as the summer season approaches. The 2011/2012 Winter Gateway Farmers’ Market took place on eleven Saturdays between November and March, indoors at the American Legion (9 Hannaford Drive), in York. The market runs from 9am-12pm and there are 25-30 vendors each Saturday.

The Bank of Maine sponsors the market. Local decisions, local people, and a banking partner committed to providing exceptional service. Visit their website at www.thebankofmaine.com.

Check out www.gatewayfarmersmarket.com for a complete list of participants and when they’ll be attending the market. For more information contact the Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce at 207-363-4422.

Photos Caption: Linda of Archer Angus shows off her grass-fed beef at a recent Market. (Courtesy Photo)

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Endures Through Recession

By Larry Favinger

Staff Columnist

KITTERY—

While the economy of Southern Maine and Southeastern New Hampshire had its ups and downs during 2011, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard continued to be a huge, steady financial contributor to the local areas.

According to the Economic Impact Study released recently by the Seacoast Shipyard Association, the shipyard increased its employment, its civilian payroll, its military payroll, the purchases of more goods and services, and contracts in 2011.

The total of those activities is over $560 million.

Civilian employment at the Kittery yard has risen from 5,168 in 2010 to 5,187 last year with a corresponding increase in payroll. In 2011, workers earned $408,395,305 compared to $395, 166, 516 the year before.

Those figures break down to show $234,047,564 to 2,948 workers from Maine, $150,79,790 to 1,946 New Hampshire workers, $10,378,138 to 131 Massachusetts residents and $13,176,793 to workers from other states.

A breakdown of the number of employees in area towns and cities and the total payroll for them can be found in accompanying information boxes.

The number of civilian employees has risen each year since 1998 when there were 3,648 on the employment rolls.

The military payroll to the Navy and Coast Guard shows an increase over 2010 with $40,498,582 last year compared to $39,939,431 the previous year.

The shipyard purchased nearly $50 million in goods and services and over $63 million in contracted facility services, much of it from Maine and New Hampshire.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the oldest of the Navy’s four remaining shipyards, is considered “the most efficient yard in the Navy”, according to Navy Capt. William McDonough, a retired shipyard commander, now a spokesman for the Seacoast Shipyard Association.

The Association is concerned about the possibility of the formation of another BRAC down the road to consider another round of facility closures across the military landscape.

McDonough said the economic study underlines that a closure of the shipyard would be “a devastating thing to the local economy, as well as the overall states of Maine and New Hampshire.”

McDonough noted the shipyard has “a good workload for the foreseeable future,” another positive situation. Following World War II the Navy had 11 shipyards but that number has since been reduced to four.

More good news for the shipyard is the recent awarding of two contracts totaling over $65 million for modernization work at the yard.

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) welcomed the announcement.

“The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is an economic engine that drives the economy of southern Maine and New Hampshire," Sen. Collins a member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee said. “I am pleased that the Navy recognizes the critical need for these investments at the shipyard. This will help improve the safety and efficiency of the terrific workforce that keeps our Nation's nuclear submarines ready for sea every day."

Sen. Shaheen and Sen. Ayotte are also members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“We have strongly advocated for the Navy to address critical infrastructure and modernization needs at the shipyard, and we’re pleased that this important work is now moving forward,” said the Senators in a joint statement. “The projects announced this month will make a significant dent in the facility modernization backlog and help improve safety and efficiency at Portsmouth, whose workers set the standard for maintaining our nation’s nuclear submarine fleet.

“We are pleased that the Navy has continued to recognize and correct the critical need for investments at Portsmouth.”