Literacy Volunteers accepting poems for annual contest

FARMINGTON — The annual Literacy Volunteers Poetry Contest, free and for all ages, is open now until Wednesday, March 31, for all residents of Franklin and Somerset counties and the towns of Livermore and Livermore Falls. First-, second- and third-place winners will be selected in each of five categories: Age 0-10, 11-17, 18-25, 26 and […]

Mt. Abram High School announces honor students

SALEM TOWNSHIP — Mt. Abram High School has announced its second quarter honor roll for the 2020-21 academic year. High honors: 93 or above in all academic subjects Grade 12: Brian Thane Dustin, Joshua Ireland, Clara Logan, Trenton Reed, Brecken Sargent, Patrick Storer, Camryn Wahl. Grade 11: Sara Galusha, Emily Marden, Caleb Thibodeau, Cameron Walters, […]

Transportation programs for older adults get funding

ELLSWORTH — The Maine Community Foundation’s Maine Charity Foundation Fund has awarded $82,500 to 11 nonprofit organizations that support community-based transportation programs, including changes in response to the pandemic and efforts to keep community members aged 60 and older socially connected during a time of physical distancing. Grant recipients include: SeniorsPlus, Lewiston, to help fund […]

Scholarship available for agriculture education

ELLSWORTH — Graduating seniors from Maine high schools who are National Future Farmers of America Organization members, and interested in pursuing a career in farming, agriculture or natural resources, can apply for a Ronald P. Guerrette FFA Scholarship through the Maine Community Foundation. The Guerrette FFA Scholarship Fund provides one $1,000 scholarship a year. The […]

USDA temporarily suspends farm loan debt collections, foreclosures

BANGOR — Due to the national public health emergency caused by COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the temporary suspension of past-due debt collections and foreclosures for distressed borrowers under the Farm Storage Facility Loan and the Direct Farm Loan programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). USDA will temporarily suspend nonjudicial […]

VA Maine reaches out by text, phone for vaccine scheduling

AUGUSTA — VA Maine care teams are scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible enrolled veterans via VEText. Text “start” to 53079 to opt-in to receiving VEText messaging. VA’s VEText program allows veterans to confirm or cancel scheduled appointments and sends reminders for visits via text message. Veterans may also receive text message updates about availability and […]

King to speak on education beyond high school

AUGUSTA — U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, will be the guest speaker in an Idea Exchange Webinar presented by UMA Senior College at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, addressing the question “Should We Make Education Beyond High School Affordable to All?” The topic grew out of the concern that an educated workforce would be a […]

Community briefs for Thursday, Feb. 18

Youth group to put scarves in park for homeless LEWISTON — St. Michael’s Church Youth Group of Auburn will be in Kennedy Park at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, to hang scarfs around for the homeless.   YWCA to hold lifeguard review course LEWISTON — The YWCA will offer a lifeguard review course for those […]

Blanco to keynote ‘Fill the Plate Breakfast’ to benefit Meals on Wheels

LEWISTON — SeniorsPlus, the designated Area Agency on Aging for Western Maine, will hold a virtual fundraiser to benefit its Meals on Wheels nutrition program. The 2021 Fill the Plate Breakfast will be held virtually from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 19. The event will honor Don Harden with the Ikaria Award for his […]

Sweden Food Pantry acquires used van