Post Posts

New website for Kennebunk Post

Post Editor — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:43:08 GMT

The Kennebunk Post is now available, in its entirety, on a new website, www.mainelymediallc.com.

Residents and those who live outside the area can get online access to virtually everything the Post prints in the traditional weekly paper.

Advertising and special sections will also be shared online.

Kennebunk groups rally for research

Post Editor — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:52:53 GMT

By Mark Pechenik

Special contributor

On a sunny, cool day just perfect for running or walking, several Kennebunk groups joined with thousands of participants and volunteers last Sunday in the annual Mary’s Walk and Kerrymen Pub 5K in Saco.

In the hours before noon, the Kennebunk walkers joined with other groups and individuals who arrived at the Thornton Academy gymnasium for Mary’s Walk. Now in its 14th year, this grassroots event generates funding for cancer research and care in memory of Saco resident Mary Kerry Libby, who lost her life to cancer in 1997.

As in past years, participants raised funds by collecting pledges for either walking or, in the case of the Kerrymen Pub 5K, running. According to the Mary’s Walk website, $205,000 was raised by March 12 with more pledges coming in.

At least three Kennebunk groups participated in this year’s version of Mary’s Walk and the run: The Power of Pink, led by resident Jen Galipeau Barry; Regional School Unit 21 team led by Beth MacLeod, a teacher at Kennebunk Elementary School; and the Kennebunk Captain’s Club, led by high school Resource Officer Mark Carney.

Galipeau Barry said she became involved in Mary’s Walk last year.

“At the time, I was in treatment for breast cancer and several family members and friends walked in my honor,” she said.

“Now that I’m in recovery, I thought it would be a great idea to organize a team in tribute to those who walked and ran for me last year. And looking at the larger picture, it’s a wonderful event in support of others who are currently struggling with cancer.”

Prior to the walk, the Power of Pink had turned in slightly more than $2,200 in pledges.

For Beth MacLeod, leader of the RSU 21 team, the motivation for walking was simple and straightforward.

“Many of us who work in the school district know someone affected by cancer – husbands, fathers, sisters and brothers – and we decided to walk in their honor,” she said.

Of MacLeod’s group of 10, three members were walking, while seven had chosen to be part of the Kerrymen Pub 5K.

In addition to the satisfaction of raising money for a worthy cause, MacLeod pointed out that RSU 21’s participation in Mary’s Walk has another significant benefit.

“It sets a good example for our students,” she said. “Seeing role models like teachers volunteering or being part of fund-raising walks shows kids that they can make a positive difference in the world around them.”

If the assembled walkers and runners needed any further motivation, it probably came from featured speaker Dick Parker, a Saco resident and retired chemistry teacher who taught at Thornton Academy for many years. Parker, like many in his family, is currently struggling with cancer.

“If there is anything good that can be said about cancer,” he said to the walkers and runners just prior to the start of the event, “it’s that it has proven to be a galvanizing force in bringing all of you together to fight this terrible disease.”

Town fields budget requests

Post Editor — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:51:38 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

Nonprofit organizations that have seen county and state budget cuts pleaded their cases to the Kennebunkport Board of Selectmen and Budget Board in hopes the town might find room to fit them into the 2013 fiscal year budget.

Town Manager Larry Mead spoke in favor of two of those nonprofits and recommended each receive more than originally requested.

Representatives from nonprofits in York County that recently saw county budget cuts who spoke to the two boards on March 8 included York County Community Action and York County Shelter Programs, among others. Mead recommended both of these agencies receive more funds than they originally had requested.

York County Community Action asked the town for $3,500. Mead recommended an appropriation of an extra $1,000 to make up for what York County Commissioners withheld from the agencies when they decided not to spend money on social services in the county for fiscal year 2013.

“The reason I am recommending an increase for those two agencies is because those agencies previously received significant funding from York County Commissioners,” Mead said.

York County Shelter Programs requested a little more than $4,000 and Mead recommended the town allocate $4,400 to the nonprofit.

York County Commissioners allocated $31,000 for York County Shelter Programs’ food pantry, but refused to spend it for the upcoming fiscal year, Mead said. The Board of Commissioners said nonprofits should request funding from York County municipalities.

“I personally believe the county commissioners made a policy error in deciding not to use county funds to fund social service agencies,” Mead said. “I think what I suggest we do is have our appropriation from the town increased so that it would equal the amount of money this town would have paid if the county had approved those budgets.”

Mead said York County Community Action and York County Shelter Programs provide important services to Kennebunkport.

“This town will make a statement and say these are important services and really should be funded regularly,” Mead said.

He added that the county should fund social services and should not rely on municipalities to “step up” and take the responsibility.

“Although this town does fund around $20,000 in social services, some towns don’t do anything,” Mead said.

Mead said the town budget for the 2013 fiscal year is $7.3 million. He did not recommend allocating funds to agencies that did not receive funds from the town last year.

“Any agency that did not receive an appropriation last year is not recommended by me for an appropriation this year,” Mead said, including Southern Maine Parent Awareness and Southern Maine Medical Center Visiting Nurses.

However, despite Mead not recommending the two agencies receive funds from the town, representatives from Southern Maine Medical Center Visiting Nurses and Southern Maine Parent Awareness both spoke before the board of selectmen and the budget board to explain their situation and their need for town funding.

“I want to influence you this evening to help us. Parent Awareness has been an asset in York County for 32 years now,” said agency representative Elizabeth Seavey.

Seavey said the agency works with local organizations to help children with special needs and their families. She also said the nonprofit receives calls from families who have needs that range from legal support to help with heating their home.

Brad Bohon, communications director for York County Community Action, said the organization is one of 10 community action agencies in Maine and serves about 25,000 households each year. York County Community Action provides community outreach services for families, children and seniors. Bohon said the organization helps people in York County with home heating, weatherization, legal matters, health care, education and transportation. He said the nonprofit has doctors on staff along with licensed clinical social workers and dental hygienists. Bohon said the money the town gives to York County Community Action contributes greatly to all of these services, not just in Kennebunkport, but throughout York County.

“We know that the economy has turned around a little, we know that we’re doing a little bit better, but you can’t tell that by people coming through our doors,” Bohon said.

Joan Sylvester, director of community relations for York County Shelter Programs, spoke to the boards on behalf of the nonprofit.

“The last six months of this fiscal year our food pantry usage went up 38 percent,” Sylvester said. “We do appreciate the fact that you have funded us in the past.”

York County Shelter Programs’ primary contributions to the communities in York County are food and housing. The programs include a food pantry that provides nutritional and affordable meals for residents who cannot afford to feed themselves an adequate diet.

Sylvester said her organization also provides a single women’s shelter, a shelter for families and a single men’s shelter for York County residents in need. A caseworker screens all people admitted to the shelters.

“There is not a lot of affordable housing in York County compared to the amount of people who need it,” Sylvester said.

Mead may have recommended funds for two nonprofits, but nearly a dozen organizations approached selectmen and budget board members for a contribution from the town. The two boards will review each request and distribute funds as they see fit in terms of all-around budget needs and priorities for the town of Kennebunkport.

The next meeting of the board of selectmen and the budget board is scheduled for March 15 at 6 p.m.

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Student ready for state geography bee

Post Editor — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:50:03 GMT

By Mark Pechenik

Special contributor

There was just one point in the recent National Geography Bee at Sea Road School where fifth-grade student Brandon Hauser had a moment of doubt.

“I didn’t know the country where Tutsi and Hutu tribes lived,” he recalled during a recent interview in the office of Sea Road School Principal Stephen Marquis. “The answer was Rwanda, in Africa. But I’ll remember it now.”

Fortunately, there isn’t a lot that Hauser doesn’t remember or know about world geography, which is why he won Sea Road School’s contest held March 8.

Hauser will soon represent his school in the Maine State Bee on March 30.

Hauser’s interest in geography stems from his grandmother.

“She gets National Geographic magazine at home and, when she is finished reading it, she drops it off at my house and I read it,” he said.

Asked what he likes about geography, Hauser is quick to answer.

“The reason why I’m captivated by geography is that I like reading about different religions and politics around the world – it’s like a big tapestry or jigsaw puzzle where everything comes together.”

He is especially fascinated by Europe and Asia.

In a way, Hauser is a living example of such diversity. His grandmother comes from England, while his grandfather emigrated from India.

“I’ve been to London, Scotland and many other parts of Great Britain,” he says. “And I’ve heard a lot of stories from my grandfather about India.”

When not studying geography, Hauser enjoys robotics (his Sea Road School team won second place in the Innovative Solutions category of the first Lego League Robotic Contest this past December) as well as learning about physics and other sciences. His favorite subject is math. Outside of school, he enjoys learning how to play piano, karate and about nature.

With the Sea Road School contest now behind him, Hauser is busily preparing for the state competition. He is a regular visitor to the “How to ace the National Geographic Bee” section of the National Geographic magazine website. In addition, he is combing through issues of National Geographic itself; reading a book, “Countries A to Z”; and reviewing the National Geographic Atlas.

Many at Sea Road School are both supportive and optimistic about Hauser’s chances at the state contest.

“He is a tremendous young man – bright, thoughtful and a strong school citizen,” said Marquis. “I think he’ll be very competitive in the March 30 contest.”

“He is a remarkable student, very well rounded and a great learner,” agreed Erin Neale, director of Sea Road’s gifted and talented program. “I think he will do very well on the state level.”

The Maine State Bee will take place in Hannaford Hall on the University of Maine’s Farmington campus. The state winner will go onto the national bee, which takes place in May in Washington, D.C.

From barber shop to butter pecan

Post Editor — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:48:44 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

Instead of cigars and haircuts at the barbershop in Dock Square, tourists and Kennebunkport residents can expect handmade Argentinean-style ice cream this spring and summer.

Lauren Guptill of Berwick plans to open an ice cream shop called Rococo Ice Cream at 6 Spring St. in Dock Square.

She met with the planning board for the first time on March 7 and received positive feedback from members. A public hearing on Guptill’s ice cream shop is set for March 21.

Guptill said she is not altering the building structurally in any way. Planning board members agreed that Guptill’s application looked good and her ice cream shop would be a great addition to Dock Square.

“Unfortunately we have to go through a public hearing,” said board member Gordon Ayer. “I’m just sorry we have to put somebody through this when changing from one business to another.”

Board member Leo Famolare said he was pleased with Guptill’s application and wished her luck with her new business.

“I think you have a great location and I wish you a lot of luck, I think you’re going to do well,” Famolare said.

Board member Greg Reid said he didn’t see Guptill’s upcoming public hearing as an obstacle because he didn’t foresee the pubic having any problems with a new ice cream shop in Dock Square.

“I think Rococo Ice Cream sounds like a great idea,” said board member John Hathaway.

“(Rococo Ice Cream) has been in the works for a couple of years now,” Guptill said in an interview after the meeting.

“Right now I’m in the middle of a lot of paperwork,” she said. “The whole idea behind all the (planning board) meetings is so everyone knows what’s going on.”

Guptill has planned for the new shop since October. It took her several months to find a location, but she finally settled on an available retail space in Dock Square that used to be a barbershop. Former barbershop owner Mike York worked out of the retail space up until Guptill signed the lease and became the new tenant.

“I found the barbershop in January,” Guptill said, adding that she rents the space.

Guptill used to own a study abroad business in Argentina for several years, but decided to sell the business and move back to Maine. The idea to open the shop came to Guptill while she was sitting in an ice cream shop in Argentina with a friend from South Africa.

“He mentioned opening an ice cream business. I thought it was a good idea, but I was already committed to my study abroad business,” Guptill said.

Guptill sold her business about a year and a half ago to another entrepreneur she knew in Argentina and made her way back home to Berwick with the idea of an ice cream business in the back of her mind.

“She purchased the business from me and that freed me up to reinvest in moving home,” Guptill said. “I love Maine. It’s an important part of who I am.”

Guptill knew she wanted to sell Argentinean-style ice cream because it is different from the “hard scoop” ice cream many other shops sell.

“(Argentinean ice cream) is thicker and creamier. It is not as dense as hard scoop,” she said. “It’s served at a warmer temperature.”

Guptill wants to offer something different to the Kennebunkport community and is working hard to come up with new flavors not available elsewhere in town. She plans on making all of her ice cream on site in Dock Square.

“I want that artisanal variation of flavors,” she said.

Guptill named the shop after a baroque style of architecture. She said the style was very feminine and soft.

“I was looking for the best way to describe the ice cream,” Guptill said.

Guptill said she is happy to go through the process of a public hearing and applying for a building permit, but said she looks forward to setting up shop once she has cut through all the red tape.

“I’m really excited to start the creative process of making the ice cream,” she said.

Guptill said she hopes to open by mid-May, but has not set a date for opening day just yet.

“I’m still in the middle of the whole process,” Guptill said.

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Honor roll

Post Editor — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:47:10 GMT

Middle School
of the Kennebunks

Second Quarter

Eighth Grade High Honors

Eric Aiken, Issak Allaire-MacDonald, Steven Anastas, Jillian Antonelli, Logan Aromando, Stephanie Ayotte, Ameliagh Beaudette, Travon Bradford, Jennifer Bush, Collin Campbell, Harley Carruthers, Katherine Charlton, Ryan Chiasson, Dana Comeau, Donovan Connor, Ryan Coughlan, Matthew Cressey, Lucas Deely, Stewart Doe, Amy Eckland, Olivia Ferrick, Alexandra Hale, Fiona Harms, Gabriella Harrison, Chloe Kapantais, Ashley Kayser, Colleen Keegan, James Kennedy, Shae Kingston, Kristen Koch, Joelle Krause, Stephen Langone, Colby Lapointe, Nathan LaPointe, Mackenzie Lewia, Marshall Lowery, Anna Luddy, Lauren Ludwig, Stephanie Macisso, Cameron Mahoney, Gordon McCulloh, Kelli Molloy, Samantha Morin, Mia Noble, Shannon O’Toole, Molly Parent, Carlton Robie, Grace Robinson, Kathryn Ross, Taylor Rossics, Carly Sandler, Kyra Schwartzman, Cara Small, Erin Snow, Stephanie Sullivan, Victoria Sweet, Julia Towne and Isaac Vaccaro.

Eighth Grade Honors

Alec Barry, Amanda Borden, Donald Bryant, Riley Burrows-Brown, Brennan Cain, Sydney Campbell, Draigc Carrington, Elizabeth Carroll, Mikayla Cloutier, Joseph Corbett, Rosemary Crimp, Autumn Desrosiers, Mary Farmer, Acadia French, Patrick Gassman, Mackenzie Gordon, Jacob Gould, Miranda Gould, Patrick Grady, Matthew Jones, Conner Keithley, Evan Kennedy, Zander Kosmala, Gabrielle Krutuleski, Jenna Kuun, Alexander Larrabee, Joshua Lennon, Kyle Livermore, Zachary MacKinnon, Cole MacLeod, Hope Manning, Lauren Mercer, Ryzen Mickeriz, Charles Miller, Joseph Mooney, Emily Moore, Liam Nelligan, William O’Neil, Kylie Plunkett, Casey Pyle, TomHenry Reagan, Carolyn Richardson, Shawn Roberts, James Ross, Dakota Rynne, Mary Sachs, Olivia Sandford, Emma Sheehan, Elizabeth Sukalas, Alex Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, Steven Temm, Spencer Thibodeau, Robert Thyng, Benjamin Walker-Dubay, Talia Webber, Megan West, Matthew Whalen, Gabrielle White, Ezekiel Wilson and Andrew Zogg.

Seventh Grade High Honors

Samantha Abelson, Kaitlyn Anderson, Juliet Auman, Eliza Bartlett, Mallory Burchill, Simon Butterfield, Sabrina Cabral, Camden Connor, Lydia Corcoran, Ally Coughlan, Anna Cressey, Robert Davis, Spencer Desrochers, Kendall Dolan, Leah Dumas, Miles Eaton, Caleb Eickmann, Kyle Emmons, Dustin Ewy, Gabrielle Fogg, Sarah Gafner-Bergeron, Mackenzie Genest, Nathan Gere, Grace Grenier, Laura Haddad, Brandon Hall, Madison Harakles, Louise Holway, Katelyn Hurlburt, Eliza Johnson, Brendan Keefe, John Kiley, Katherine Koch, Olivia Kudas, Chelsea Lachance, Kristofer Leslie, Mimi MacKilligan, Kate Mallory, Nathan Masteller, Kaitlyn McKenzie, Laura McLaughlin, Angus McLean, Timothy Moyer, Ivana Mulcahy, Emma Murphy, Quinn Normandeau, Marran Oakman, Cassandra Pastorelli, Leah Payne, Hannah Richelieu, Lauren Richelieu, Caroline Rizzo, Katharina Roese, Emma Rogers, Gabrielle Roy, Ella Rumpf, Kyle Ryan, Riley Small, Kyle Stevens, Kaila Thomas, Garrett Trufant, Anne Vatcher, Edward Vatcher, Brenden Whitten, Samantha Witkus, Lilly Wolff, Hayley Wuerthner, and Colin Yates.

Seventh Grade Honors

Matthew Albaum, Shanelle Baker, Dylan Bard, Sean Berry, Andrew Bouchard, Noah Bove, Elizabeth Cain, Madalyn Chapman, Danielle Clark, George Conzelman, John Daley, Hannah Dente, Gabriella Earnest, Hayley Emmons, Allison Ferrick, David Gafner-Bergeron, Allie Gregoire, Cole Hansen, Emily Hill, Katelynn Hill, Matthew Holm, Alexander Hussey, Asia Kea, Trystin Killer, Ethan King, Alissa Kruszenski, Abigail Langley, Joshua Lavallee, Jenna LeBarge, Kristin L’Heureux, Scott Lightbody, Madison Lux, Erin Magaw, Michael Maloney, Lucas Marquis, Grace Mastrangelo, Emily McPike, Christopher Moreno, Alexis Nichols, Abbie Ouellette, Garrett Philbrick, Liesl Quigley, Brian Radel, Nolan Ragnarsson, Sydney Richelieu, Jonathan Rimmer, Jocelyn Rocray, Adam Rollins, Kylie Rossborough, Patrick Saunders, Casey Schatzabel, Caleb Shields, Chloe Smith, Claire Stevens, Emma Stevens, David Sullo, Sierra Tartre, Hannah Thomson, Caitlyn Todisco, Spencer Tomasini, Brooke Verge, Tucker Warren, Leah Watson, Bronson Welch-Thompson, Caleb Wentworth, Madisson Wills and Logan Zandri.

Sixth Grade High Honors

Olivia Aiken, Jacquelyn Allaire-MacDonald, Sophia Allaire-MacDonald, Briannagh Beaudette, Daniel Behrens, Saraphina Birtolo, Leah Bridgham, Britta Brown, Samantha Conzelman, Mary Couturier, Carlyn Davis, Kylie DeFeo, Elizabeth Flynn, Christopher Grady, Adia Grogan, Lila Harakles, Ava Haritos, Cole Hoffman, Piper Kingston, Katja Kosmala, Brady Lamontagne, Marcus Luddy, Sarah MacKinnon, Amelia Marquez, Olivia McLean, Samuel Miale, Mia Murray, Cameron Neale, Maggie Nguyen, Judah Phipps-Costin, Forrest Robie, Pierce Rotman, Kellie Ryan, Hallie Schwartzman, Ryan Scott, Katherine Sessler, Megan Stevens, Jordyn Sullivan, Osiris Thomas, Isabel Toth, Lily Verna, and Oliver Wainman.

Sixth Grade Honors

Timothy Aaskov, Jacob Ames, David Amoroso, Connor Archibald, Devin Bard, Nicholas Barry, William Bayha, Kyle Beaupre, Natalee Bickford, William Blastos, Sean Bradley, Zachary Brown, Bailey Cain, Francis Carroll, Cole Cerabona, Perrin Conant, Ian Connors, Emily Corleto, Cole Dickinson, Ana Dinino, Timothy Egan, Mary Everett, Benjamin Foisy, William Gardner, Ava Gaulkin, Britney Gregoire, Lindsey Gregoire, John Gurski, Sarah Harmon, Eryn Harrington, Anna Howarth, Jackson Humphrey, Jalen Jellison, Nathaniel Jewett, William Kenneway, Maxim LeBlanc, Chloe Leonard, Hannah Liautaud, Kyla Lynch, Conner MacDonald, Angelina Macedo, Sydney Macedo, Mackenzie MacLeod, Thomas Madden, Owen Manahan, Patricia Mankin, Jack Mason, Keegan McLeod, Julia Milligan, Abigail Montembeau, Kyle Mooney, Kate Moore, Marco Morin, Owen Nelson, Trevor Nelson, Andrew Pastorelli, Jack Patterson, Quynhnguyen Pham, Lucas Richardson, Alexander Robbie-Johnston, Taylor Roberts, Evie Roop, Spenser Rynne, Quinn Sargent, Brennan Schatzabel, Morgan Shmalo, Sophia Smith, Eliara Spinney, Katherine Sprague, Kurt Stentiford, Jett Tachibana, Christopher Taggart, Merredith Thibodeau, Sydney Waitt, Grace West, Justin Williams, Edward York, and Thomas Zub.

Obituaries

Post Editor — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:43:07 GMT

David M. Cluff

David M. Cluff, 75, of High Street, died Monday, March 5, 2012, at the Gosnell Hospice House in Scarborough. He was born in Cape Porpoise March 19, 1936, the son of Wendell Sr. and Charlotte (Bracy) Cluff.

He attended Cape Porpoise schools and Kennebunk High School. He served in the Army from 1954 to 1957. On Jan 9, 1960, he married Evelyn Mae Farnham. She died March 10, 2001.

Dave worked for Saco Defense for several years and later as a mason in Maine and Florida for 20 years. Dave cooked in many restaurants in Maine and Naples, Fla. In his later years, he assisted his son in the operations of his restaurant, Duffy’s Tavern and Grill in Kennebunk.

Dave was a captain of Washington Hose Fire Co. and a lifetime member of Kennebunk Fire Rescue. He was an avid reader, a diehard Yankees fan as well as a skilled cribbage player.

Survivors include his son, David “Duffy” Cluff, and his wife, Laurie, of Kennebunk, his daughter, Debbie Purinton, and her husband, Anthony, of Brunswick, four grandchildren, Chris and Dylan Cluff, of Kennebunk, and Kayla and Thomas Purinton of Brunswick. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he is predeceased by two brothers, Wendell Jr. and Wayne and his sister, Gwendolyn Chadbourne.

A funeral service was held March 8 with the Rev. Timothy Hutchins officiating. Spring internment will be in Hope Cemetery Kennebunk. A reception will follow at Duffy’s Tavern and Grill, 4 Main St. in Kennebunk.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Washington Hose Co., c/o of Kennebunk Fire Rescue, 1 Summer St., Kennebunk, ME 04043 or Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.

Arrangements are by Stetson’s Funeral Home in Brunswick and Bibber Memorial in Kennebunk. Memorial condolences may be expressed and a video tribute may be viewed at stetsonsfuneralhome.com.

Beach road trees to come down

Post Editor — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:06:55 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

If one drives down Parsons Beach Road in Kennebunk many giant old Norway maple trees can be seen lining the side of the road and adding to the scenic nature of the surrounding area.

That soon will change with the town planning to remove nearly a third of the tree population on the road and replanting a few new species of trees in place of the Norway maples.

Upon closer inspection of some of the more gnarled and withered trees, a white spray-painted circle with a line below it stands out, decorating the stripped surface where bark used to grow.

Town manager Barry Tibbetts said trees marked with the white symbol are dead and will be removed by the town and replaced with new trees.

The first phase of the tree project should begin at the end of March. Tibbetts could not be reached for comment on how much the project would cost, but at a Feb. 28 selectmen meeting he said the tree removal and replanting is within the town budget.

“A number of trees have been identified that are dead or in danger of being so severely decayed that some of those braches could fall over the roadway,” Tibbetts said.

Tibbetts said the trees are simply old and did not die due to disease.

Tibbetts said the road was walked and surveyed by the tree committee and two arborists, one from Tamarack Tree and Landscape in Kennebunk and one from Urban Tree Service in Rochester, N.H.

“(Arborist evaluations) were done last fall, but we’ve been talking about (Parsons Beach trees) for over a year now,” said Greg Searle, chairman of the Kennebunk Tree Committee.

Searle said there are 69 Norway trees on Parsons Beach Road; the arborists identified 23 dead trees in need of removal.

“As they come down, we’ll replant,” Searle said.

Tibbetts said the goal of the tree project is not to cut down all of the trees, but to preserve the healthy trees that are there and replace the dead ones. He said the Norway maples still alive and standing would continue to receive maintenance pruning.

“The goal is to preserve the trees as many and as long as we can,” Tibbetts said. He said he understood how sensitive the subject of tree removal on Parsons Beach Road would be to some residents and assured the public that the trees scheduled for removal were definitely dead and beyond saving.

“That road has a lot of heritage for everyone in this community. We have all walked it with our kids and our grandkids. We’ve really strived to create as minimal impact as we can (while removing and replanting),” Tibbetts said. He said removing the trees in the winter while the ground is still frozen would limit damage to the land from the tree removal process and would have less impact on members of the public who use the road.

Searle said Norway maples would not be replanted in place of the dead trees because the Maine Forest Service considers them an invasive species. Norway Maples compete for resources with native tree species in Maine, especially in early stages of growth, according to the Maine Forest Service. By outcompeting native species, Norway Maples contribute to lower diversity in Maine forests.

Two species of tree will replace the dead Norway maples on Parsons Beach Road: swamp white oak and red maple. Searle said there may be one more tree species planted, but he could not recall the name. These species survive well in the salt air and the wind, Searle said. He said the town will purchase 3 ½- to 4-inch caliper trees. Caliper is stem thickness measured six inches above the ground.

“They’re pretty good-sized trees,” Searle said.

Tibbetts said some of the stumps would be pulled out of the ground and the ones that remain would be ground down.

“Where we know that those stumps will not be in the way of planting a new tree we will grind the stump 8 inches into the ground and cover it over,” Tibbetts said. “Everything I described to you is built into our current budget costs. We would order the trees in the next two to three weeks and water those and monitor those and carry them through to make sure they survive.”

Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Albert Searles, balked at the idea of Norway maples being labeled as an invasive species.

“This nonsense of Norway maples are an invasive species is foolishness. I don’t know why we’re not planting the same kind tree that’s there right now,” Searles said. “Just because something is a big old maple tree somebody brought here 150 years ago doesn’t mean we have to go cut every one of them down. Those trees (on Parsons Beach Road) are pretty old so that tells me there’s no reason not to plant the same trees there and let them grow big as they are now.”

Removing the trees at the end of March would only be the first phase of the multiple-phase project, which Searle said could take “a few years.”

“It’s a pretty big project and a pretty emotional one too,” Searle said. He said some people might become upset when they learn about the tree removal on Parsons Beach Road. He has already had a phone call from a seasonal Kennebunk resident in Pennsylvania who was not happy to hear about the tree removal.

“What we’re doing, is we’re putting a big storyboard down there that explains the project and why we’re doing it,” Searle said.

“I think it’s important for the public to know we’re doing everything we can to preserve the trees as long as we can,” Tibbetts said.

Searles agreed with Tibbetts.

“That’s the main thing: we are not cutting all those trees down,” Searles said.

Tibbetts said the town is not just preserving trees, but preserving the heritage of the iconic Parsons Beach Road for future generations.

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Church begins weekly Taizé worship

Post Editor — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:05:32 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

Candles, long moments of silence and chanting seem like a recipe for a new age meditation technique, but these are components of a long-standing form of Christian worship now offered at First Congregational Church in Kennebunkport.

Taizé, pronounced “TY-ZAY,” a service of silent reflection, will be available at the church on the first Friday of every month and will be led by Pastor Derek White. White brought Taizé to the church after he learned about the meditative service while he was a pastor in Chicago.

“It’s a smaller service, more intimate (than the usual Sunday morning service),” White said. “Taizé is a unique service of reflection for folks dealing with tragedy.”

White said people going through tough times benefit from the silent service Taizé offers, but anyone in need of silent reflection might find the service beneficial as well.

Taizé originated in France in 1940, when it was founded by Robert Schutz, the son of a protestant pastor who was in search of a different way to express his Christian faith.

Schutz, of Switzerland, said the “defeat of France awoke powerful sympathy.” He thought France would be ideal in providing a place for silence and reflection for those most affected by the war because of how desolate and damaged the country was after World War I.

White said people in recovery benefit from the quiet solitary-style of Taizé worship because the social and uplifting atmosphere of Sunday morning service can be overwhelming and overbearing to some who still need time to heal.

“Folks that have gone through divorce or gone through that season of life don’t want the high experience of coming to church and feeling good,” White said. “This is a service that has a different feel.”

White said people enter the service in silence and leave in silence.

“They don’t feel that pressure to meet (social) expectations,” White said.

The Taizé service is monastic in nature and includes chanting and long moments of silence in between.

“In place of a sermon there is stretch of silence for about 10 minutes,” White said. “It seems very Eastern-like, but it is not.”

White said a lot of former Catholics like Taizé because it in reminiscent of monastic devotions.

“It’s rooted in the mystical tradition of Christianity,” White said, who added many people travel and make pilgrimages to the Taizé community in Burgundy, France.

White performed the church’s first official monthly Taizé service on March 2. White said he hoped the church could offer Taizé every Friday night at some point in the near future, but for now people can expect the service on the first Friday of every month at 7 p.m.

“We wanted to start (Taizé) during Lent because it is a spiritual journey and time of reflection,” White said.

The service only lasts about 30 minutes and White said the chanting helps people go deeper into reflection.

“The chants are prayers, but they are sung,” White said.

Ancient prayers are usually sung in Greek, French, Russian or Latin, but White said he would sing in English while his congregation gets familiar with Taizé. Most of the ancient prayers can be found on the official Taizé website at www.taize.fr/.

At the service on March 2, three deacons and a couple congregation members took part in the service, which was lit by Candles glowing in the dim evening light, giving the church a warm and welcoming feel. People could sit wherever they felt comfortable and White stood at the pulpit to conduct the service.

White provided informational leaflets for each person who attended the service. The leaflet provided information on how White would conduct Taizé and offered the words to the prayer the group would repeat in song. Friday’s Taizé included a communion service at the end of the chanting and silence proceedings.

“We’re doing (communion) a little different than usual,” said Lynne Vaughan, a deacon at First Congregational. “We’re asking people to come up to receive their communion.”

She said White would hold a chalice full of wine that people could opt to dip their bread into or they could take their own portion of wine separately. The usual communion proceedings at the church consist of first passing bread through the pews, followed by the wine.

Vaughan attended the service with her husband. During the service, the congregation chanted words to the prayer “Alleluia.”

“Friday night might be the perfect night for the service, especially during Lent,” Vaughan said. “I think it’s an interesting time to try experimenting with various options for service.”

White welcomed the congregation and instructed them when to sing or chant the prayer. People stopped singing when they felt moved to do so. A period of silence followed each singing portion.

“Breathe in and release,” White said as he led the service.

No instruments accompanied the sung prayer and only a clock ticked in the background as people silently reflected and prayed.

Once communion had been served White led the congregation through the final round of sung prayer. He then closed with the familiar Pater Noster, or Our Father, prayer. People sat in silence and left the service whenever they felt ready.

“Let us enter into the world again in silence,” White said while he led the congregation through the end of the Taizé service.

White stood near the back of the church to bid goodbye to each person as they left.

The small congregation returned immediately after exiting the service to help White extinguish the candles and clear the communion materials.

“We’ve done Taizé a couple of times before,” White said at the end of the service. “We’re going to keep it up and try to get the word out.”

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Parks and recreation teams with business

Post Editor — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:04:10 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

The Fitness Nut House and Kennebunk Parks and Recreation Department have teamed up to offer three new fitness programs to the community.

Daryl Conant, owner and operator of the Fitness Nut House, developed all three programs and Brian Costello, director of Kennebunk recreation, helped spread the word to residents in the area.

Conant’s recently expanded fitness facility allows him to accommodate three community-focused programs at one time.

The programs Conant will offer through the recreation department are Family Fit Fun, Strength and Conditioning, and the Fit Club. Conant targeted a specific demographic in each program and tailored the classes to fit the needs of the people in each program.

“The whole idea for me has always been the focus on fitness education and families. It’s always been my goal to try to get as many people involved in fitness as possible because everybody should be exercising,” Conant said.

“We sent out an e-mail blast and (Conant’s programs) are listed (on the parks and recreation website),” Costello said.

Kennebunk Parks and Recreation has an e-mail list used to notify residents of available programs.

“They are all signing up online; that’s how they do it. Fifty percent of parks and recreation participants sign up at home, which is nice,” Costello said.

Costello said when people pay to sign up for Conant’s programs through the recreation center they pay for a Fitness Nut House membership that will last through the duration of the program in which they participate. He said the online sign up also includes all health forms people must sign to participate in physical activities through the recreation center.

“Our system allows (Conant) as the instructor to log on to the system and get all the information (on program participants). If they’re allergic to something or someone is on medication, then he will know going into it,” Costello said.

Family Fit Fun began March 5 and will run until April 11. The program takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays. People older than 8 benefit from the Family Fit Fun program, Conant said.

“The idea of (Family Fit Fun) is to allow kids and parents to work out together,” Conant said. “They do different drills together and work through different drills to keep up that healthy aspect with family. We want to help parents stay fit with their kids.”

Activities for Family Fit Fun include obstacle training, agility and speed drills, circuit training, strength training and flexibility exercises.

“The idea is to offer a place here where families can come not only exercise, but to learn about exercise and what it does to the body. We keep it safe and effective for all ages,” Conant said.

Conant’s Strength and Conditioning program targets people age 15 and older. The program begins March 19 and runs until May 2. Classes take place on Monday and Wednesday and combine proper technique and general lifting exercises.

“Strength and conditioning is 15 and up because if (participants) are too young they’re not ready for it yet,” Conant said. “It’s really to learn the techniques and really engaging for the high school athlete.”

Costello said he liked that the strength and conditioning program could also focus on an individual athlete’s strengthening needs for their specific sport.

“The program is geared more toward what (athletes) are doing for sports. A lot of these kids go into a gym and they are not even working on what they’re supposed to be working on,” Costello said.

The Fit Club is a weight management program designed by Conant for participants older than 20. Fit Club began on March 5 and will run until April 30. Classes take place on Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 through 6:30 p.m.

The Fit Club program includes nutritional counseling, a meal plan, weekly exercise plan, group support meetings, weekly checkins and two group exercise classes per week led by Shannon Corliss, a health and fitness professional. Conant, who has two degrees in health and fitness and is a former bodybuilder, said he will lead the education and group support sections of the program. Conant said the Fit Club promotes lifestyle changes people need not only to lose weight, but also to improve their metabolism and increase their overall health.

“When (participants) go to eat they’re going to realize what happens to their body when they eat certain foods. They’re investing into this program and they don’t want to just throw that away (by continuing to eat poorly afterward),” Conant said. “By the end of the program a person is not only going to feel better, but gain greater knowledge about how the whole system works. It’s really about a lifestyle change than just trying to drop pounds.”

Conant said he wants the Fit Club to be an ongoing, year round program through the recreation department.

“I would like the program to continue through the fall, summer and winter,” Conant said.

All three of the programs use the 3D conditioning center Conant opened in the vacant business space next door to the Fitness Nut House in Shoppers Village Plaza. The space is wide open and synthetic turf lines the floor from wall to wall. Conant obtained the space a little over a month ago.

“(The expansion) has been in the works for three years,” Conant said.

When Conant first approached Costello about offering fitness programs through the recreation department the two discussed what types of fitness programs the community would best respond to.

“When Daryl and I talked we wanted to offer something that’s different. There are no other programs like his through the rec center,” Costello said. “(Each program) is a different avenue for them to do something which they might not think of and they can do it with the family,” Costello said.

He said he liked the educational approach Conant takes in each of his programs and how the programs are geared toward lifestyle changes instead of just a “quick fix.”

“Exercise is a lifetime activity and (Conant’s programs) allow (families) to exercise and spend quality time together,” Costello said.

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Children’s organization seeks funds in Arundel

Post Editor — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:02:19 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

Arundel resident and budget board member Melanie Mitchell urged residents and selectmen to consider donating $200 to Kids Free to Grow organization.

Although the town has donated to the nonprofit organization in previous years, selectmen had questions about how the town would benefit from the donation.

Kids Free to Grow is the child abuse and prevention council for York County. The nonprofit strives to prevent child abuse and neglect of all kinds by providing services, support and educational programs for children and parents.

The organization formed in 1980 under the handle the York County Child Abuse and Neglect Council. Laurie DuPaul, executive director of Kids Free to Grow, said the council is all about letting children know that abuse is never their fault and they should always say no, run away, and tell a trusted adult if they feel unsafe.

“Arundel definitely gets the benefit from this nonprofit organization and they’re only asking for $200 to help fund their programs,” Mitchell said at the Feb. 24 selectmen meeting.

Mitchell said she spoke at the meeting as a budget board member and supporter of Kids Free to Grow.

She outlined a few programs Kids Free to Grow offers to local schools in York County. Mitchell said her children benefited from the Baby Think it Over program offered at Thornton Academy in Saco. Baby Think it Over provides students with a lifelike baby doll that performs natural functions of a living infant and electronically records the care it receives by the student. If the student shakes or mistreats the baby, lights in the doll indicate that serious damage has occurred or that the baby was mistreated beyond repair.

Students must care for and handle the doll as if it were a living baby. Kids Free to Grow has 16 of the specialized dolls that cost around $600 each and schools in York County can borrow the dolls if they want to participate in the program.

Velma Jones Hayes, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said she has seen the baby dolls for the Baby Think it Over program and was impressed by the quality of the dolls.

“I will say that I have seen the baby and held the baby. It’s about an 8-pound baby and very lifelike and I think children that get a chance to take the baby home for the weekend are very surprised and learn a lot from taking a child home,” Hayes said.

Selectmen were not opposed to donating to the nonprofit, but they did have a few questions for Mitchell.

“Who monitors these programs?” Hayes asked.

Mitchell said Kids Free to Grow self monitors its programs. Hayes asked Mitchell what the town’s $200 would be going toward specifically. Mitchell said the money would fund the Baby Think it Over program offered at Thornton Academy and the Nurturing Program offered in Biddeford with the help of Joyful Harvest Neighborhood Center.

The Nurturing Program is a free 10-week program for families focused on the improvement of the quality of family relationships. The nonprofit also offers a new program called Project Empathy focused around bullying and personal body safety, among others.

“It is something that our surrounding towns do fund,” Mitchell said.

Selectman Dana Peck asked Mitchell why the nonprofit needs to ask for donations from the towns.

DuPaul said Kids Free to Grow holds various fundraisers through the year that help fund community programs, but the nonprofit relies heavily on donations.

“We have an auction in April at the Nonantum and we do a garden tour in July,” DuPaul said.

During the garden tour, residents open their private residential gardens to the public, who pay for tickets to participate in the tour.

DuPaul said most Kids Free to Grow programs are held in schools for free. She said the nonprofit has also received money from a United Way grant that helps fund its community programs.

Peck asked Mitchell if the town of Arundel had donated to the nonprofit in the past and Mitchell said the town had given to Kids Free to Grow before. Mitchell said Arundel donated $300 in 1995 and donated $200 every year from 1997 through 2005. Arundel’s most recent donation was $200 in 2009.

“Is there a reason why they are going through us instead of the schools?” Peck asked.

Mitchell said she believed it was common practice for nonprofits to solicit the town as opposed to schools.

“I’m wondering if we could put this on the agenda for the budget board?” Hayes asked.

Selectman Mark Paulin asked if Arundel donated to Kids Free to Grow, would the funds have to come out of the social services budget.

The board tabled Mitchell’s request and will hear a presentation on programs available to Arundel families through Kids Free to Grow by DuPaul at the selectmen’s meeting on March 12.

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Obituary

Post Editor — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:32 GMT

Sondra Shields

Sondra Susan Stevens Shields, 69, of Kennebunk, passed away Feb. 13, 2012 with dignity and grace after an arduous battle with cancer. Sondra’s charismatic personality was a beacon of humor, generosity and kindness. She embodied good will, great stories and the love of family and friends.

Sondra was born Aug. 6, 1942, and was a lifelong resident of the Kennebunk community. She is predeceased by her parents Maurice “Sonny” and Dorothy “Dot” (Towne) Stevens and brothers, Jeffrey and Scott. Sondra married the late David H. Shields Sr. and was the mother of four sons and a daughter.

Sondra’s childhood was spent outdoors on the idyllic farmlands of West Kennebunk. As a young girl her hobbies included 4-H and the performing arts. She danced, sang and twirled her baton on every stage in Kennebunk. Sondra attended Kennebunk schools, graduating in 1960. She participated in civic groups, played softball and twirled baton, along with excelling in her studies.

Sondra’s devotion to her alma mater and the children of her community was endless. Her volunteer endeavors spanned from hand-making athletic banners that hang in the Kennebunk High Gymnasium, to coaching countless recreation sports teams. She devoted more than 17 years to the baton twirling program in the community, producing variety show and ushering majorettes down Main Street in parade after parade.

She was an avid supporter of the theatrical and athletic departments at Kennebunk High. Her blue and white Ram legacy culminated in October by being named the first Kennebunk High School Homecoming Grand Marshal 2011 and nicknamed ‘Gram of the Rams’ by the 2011 football team. Sondra took great pride in operating her small business the Costume Connection.

Once her children were grown she earned her bartending license and worked at several area restaurants entertaining tourists by serving some local flavor. In recent years she worked on the restoration of the Dorothy Stevens Community Center in West Kennebunk and was a member of the West Kennebunk Committee. Sondra’s full time commitment was caretaker of the Pine Grove Cemetery in West Kennebunk. This duty she proudly attained from the former caretakers, her parents. Sondra was fondly known as the “tractor woman” as she could always be found driving her John Deere tractor maintaining the cemetery or working on her numerous gardens at her property in Kennebunk. She was an avid gardener with an affinity for lilies.

Sondra is survived by her children, David Jr. and wife, Jeni Shields, of Cape Elizabeth, Gregory and wife, Sarah Shields, Dean and wife, Michelle Shields, and Steven and wife, Rose Shields, all of Kennebunk; daughter, Kacey and husband, Allen Shaw, of Swedesboro, N.J. Sondra’s beloved grandchildren: Brenden, Austin and Phoebe Shields, Lindsey Shields and husband, Dr. Andre Sirois, Kelsey, Gibson, Caleb, Alden, Grisam, Sydney, Keisha, Jesse, Eric and Luke Shields and Ehryn and Allen Shaw. She also leaves behind her sister, Jackie Kellett; her sister-in-law, Dawn Stevens and in-laws Chris and Cecile Shields, Ted and Marie Shields and Jim and Minerva Shields, many nieces, nephews, family by choice and dear friends.

A funeral service was held Feb. 17 at Christ Church in Kennebunk followed by burial at Pine Grove Cemetery in West Kennebunk.

Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made in her name to: Dorothy Stevens Center c/o of Kennebunk Town Hall, One Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043 or to Pine Grove Cemetery, PO Box 424, West Kennebunk, ME 04094.

Arrangements by Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk.

Chamber expo ‘around the corner’

Post Editor — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:37:19 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

Residents should be ready to get down to business at the Greater Kennebunks Home and Business Expo on March 10.

The Kennebunk-Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce will host the event at Kennebunk High School. The event could display up to 80 vendors and will also include short informational seminars for the public.

“We’re hoping to have 80 booths. We’ve sold 60 so far,” said Jim Fitzgerald, president and chief executive officer of the chamber of commerce. He said this is the first official business expo event in Kennebunk, although the town attempted similar events in the past.

The cost for booths is $225 for chamber members and $295 for non-members. Non-member vendors who purchase booth space can receive half-off a new chamber membership, which cost $250 for one year. Booths will have electricity available.

The theme for the expo is “Spring is just Around the Corner” and prizes will be awarded to vendors who best present the theme.

“We charge $2 to get in the door, but if people donate one nonperishable food item then they get in for free. All the money from admission goes to the food bank and fuel fund,” Fitzgerald said, who added that nonprofit organizations receive a special booth rate.

Donated food will benefit Church Community Outreach Food Pantry.

“(The expo) includes businesses from all over Maine, not just the Kennebunks,” Fitzgerald said.

He said businesses for the 2012 expo include most of the local banks, Nvest Financial Group, Party Plus, New Morning Natural Foods, Chicks Marina, Fitness Nut House and Maine Art Gallery, among many others.

Cheryl Price, assistant director of Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk, said the expo is an opportunity for the museum to display its upcoming exhibitions.

“(The expo) is an opportunity to encourage both individual families and businesses to consider becoming members (of the museum),” Price said.

Brick Store Museum staff will sell gift shop items and museum memberships at the expo booth.

“Incentives and discounts are available for people who buy memberships at the show,” Price said.

“The business expo is a great opportunity to show off what we do,” said Bill Huston, owner of Huston and Company. Huston designs and builds custom furniture in Kennebunkport and he said he is excited to show off his company.

“We’ll be showing furniture and showing people what we do and how we do it,” Huston said. “People who don’t know about (Huston and Company) can learn more about us.”

Huston said this would be his first business show in the Kennebunk area, but he has participated in other business expos and furniture shows up and down the East Coast.

“I’m glad they’re doing the expo. (Kennebunk) did something similar a few years ago, but I am glad they’re bringing it back,” Huston said.

He said the expo allows local businesses to show off the services they provide and offers the public an opportunity to see what is available.

“There’s all this talk about ‘buy local,’ but most people aren’t aware of what’s available right in their backyard,” Huston said.

Fitzgerald said the chamber organized seminars that should be short, but informational for many people.

“We were going to do a jobs fair, but the jobs we wanted to showcase were just too specialized,” Fitzgerald said. “As a result of that we have very short education sessions – gardening, coupons, insuring your home – most seminars are for residents because we couldn’t really pull business owners out of their booths to attend seminars.”

Seminars at the expo include “Coupon Queen” with Kathy Slowik, “Facebook for Business,” panel discussions on home financing and insurance, gardening with Helene from Black Rock Farm and a discussion on homes and energy.

Fitzgerald said there are about 20 booths left for the event. For more information about the 2012 Greater Kennebunks Home and Business Expo, call the chamber of commerce at 967-0857 or visit www.visitthekennebunks.com.

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Park Street construction is on track

Post Editor — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:36:04 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

Renovations to the old Park Street School in Kennebunk are underway and on schedule. The mild winter has made construction easier on Wright-Ryan Construction Inc.’s crew working on the project.

The project has been a few years coming with Avesta Housing, an affordable housing company out of Portland, trying to purchase the building since 2008 when selectmen voted to rescind the sale of the building.

The building renovations have been going smooth said superintendent of the construction site, Marc Bourgeois. He said the $8 million project should be complete, from the roof down to the landscaping, by August.

Bourgeois said renovation plans for Park Street School have been in discussion for a couple of years.

The 80- by 70-foot community garden space, reserved on the property through an easement, will probably not offer plots to the public at the same time the building opens, but may open plots in the spring of 2013.

Vegetables and other grown edibles will occupy 25 percent of the new garden space and the town plans to donate what the harvest yields to local food pantries.

Avesta Housing spearheaded the project after Kennebunk sold the Park Street property to the housing company in September. Avesta broke ground with Wright-Ryan Construction shortly after obtaining the property in the fall. Avesta Housing functions out of Portland and provides housing for people in need, such as the elderly and low-income families. The Park Street School building will offer 30 apartments available for rent by senior citizens.

Matt Peters, development officer for Avesta, said he is pleased with construction so far and also said the mild weather has been a positive for progress.

“I’m down there once a week and things are going very well,” Peters said.

He added that Avesta, which converted Cousens Elementary School on Day Street in Kennebunk into apartments in 2008, will most likely hold a ribbon cutting ceremony when the apartment building on Park Street opens in August.

“We’re excited to be open and to be a part of the community,” Peters said.

Bourgeois said since the start of construction crew members have gutted the old school and taken care to preserve the historical integrity of the building. Park Street School was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 2011.

“They have some historic tax credits here so that was one of the conditions (of building improvements),” Bourgeois said. “We restored all the original windows in the existing building.”

He added that his crew will recondition existing stairwells in the building as well, but will modify them to bring them up to code.

“There’s some existing wide plaster crown molding on the third floor. Originally, there was an auditorium on the third floor,” Bourgeois said. “So, some of that is getting restored and will be left exposed in the corridor.”

Bourgeois said renovating the building while retaining historical integrity has not been easy, but his crew has pulled through with the task so far.

“(Preserving historical building aspects) is definitely a different animal,” Bourgeois said. “It definitely requires a much higher level of attention to detail.”

On top of restoration and renovations, the building has undergone “extensive abatement,” Bourgeois said. He cited asbestos and lead paint removal as initial steps that had to be taken before construction could move forward.

Bourgeois said he and his crew will also help the town in laying out the community garden that will grow at the rear of the property.

“I think the town’s going to deliver loam and I’m going to level it. Landscaping and paving, though, are primarily under my scope,” Bourgeois said.

He said leveling the loam would be the extent of Wright-Ryan’s involvement in development of the garden.

Leslie Lindgren, who is on the Kennebunk Community Garden Committee, said with construction possibly finished in August, the new community garden’s first full planting season for the public would most likely not occur until next year. Kennebunk’s first community garden opened in West Kennebunk in 2009.

“If construction ends in August, we will probably plant a cover crop and then something like garlic,” Lindgren said.

A cover crop, such as oats, enhances soil by boosting different components of it.

“It looks like grass,” Lindgren said.

Lindgren said rough neck garlic would be a good first plant for the garden because it’s hearty garlic that plants well in the fall, grows over winter and is harvested in July and August.

She said resident plots for the Park Street community garden will most likely not be available before spring 2013, but the public should visit the community garden website at www.kennebunkcommunitygarden.org for changes in the tentative availability dates of the new garden.

“We look forward to (a new garden),” Lindgren said. “We are definitely excited to have a community garden in a downtown location.”

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Winterfest carries on without the winter

Post Editor — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:34:47 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

The wind blew heavy and the sun shone brightly on the melted water that used to be the frozen surface of the ice rink in downtown Kennebunk Saturday. The words, “Rink Closed” spelled out in big black letters across a giant orange sign kept the public off the melted surface.

The rink was supposed to be alive with ice skaters whizzing around on smooth ice and spectators enjoying cider and a warm bonfire nearby. Instead, there was only the sound of the wind whipping. A blue bus pulled up in front of the rink and waited for any residents that might need a shuttle ride to the next 2012 Kennebunk Winterfest event downtown, but there was no one waiting in line.

The rain and warm weather dampened some fun at the 2012 Kennebunk Winterfest, but residents still got outside and enjoyed the remainder of events that couldn’t be ruined by wet weather and a lack of snow. Festival goers who commented on the cancellations said the day was not ruined and there was still fun to be had by all.

Happening spots in town included the craft fair at town hall, face painting and a fire department demonstration at the teen center and the streets had enthusiastic families participating in the scavenger hunt.

“There were lots of things cancelled because it’s so warm out,” said scavenger hunter Benjamin Quist, 10.

The day’s events were supposed to include snow sculptures, a skating party at the downtown ice rink, bonfire and a softball game — all cancelled due to lack of snow and warm temperatures. Rain forced the closing of the ice rink and mucked up the softball field.

Other events went on as scheduled, such as Holy Cross Lutheran Church’s soup tasting and the after parties at Sebago Brewing in the evening, among others.

Quist braved a very windy Main Street with his mother Cindy Quist and Cynthia Furber and her son, Benson, 9. The sun was bright and the group followed clues from business to business down Main Street and collected bits and pieces of a snowman. Whoever built their snowman first won the scavenger hunt.

“(Warm weather) does change the atmosphere quite a bit,” said Cynthia Furber.

A few other families wandered from storefront to storefront trying to build their snowmen in the scavenger hunt as well.

“We’re on the first (clue),” Quist said.

Before he could say more about the scavenger hunt, a big wind swept by and Quist and Benson Furber leaned into it and screamed in delight.

The craft fair at town hall drew a medium-sized crowd, but the auditorium was by no means filled. Dozens of local vendors offered handmade goods for the public. Woodcrafts, knitted hats and mittens, jams and even dog treats were on display tables for people to sample and purchase.

Regina and Laura Stone of Ogunquit, owners of Brownie’s Barkery, peddled homemade all-natural dog treats. They said they were thrilled to be at Winterfest and did not think the unseasonable weather took away from the fun.

“I think it’s nice,” Laura Stone said. “The sun’s out. It’s a good day to walk around downtown.”

She said the craft fair was a great opportunity to get their product out to the public and hoped the nice weather would bring more people out to the festival.

“We’re still a start-up. We’re really trying to get out there,” she said.

The Kennebunk-Kennebunkport Alumni Association sold refreshments near the entrance of the craft fair.

“This is the first year (Alumni Association has been at Winterfest) in quite a while,” said Barbara Weeman, member of the alumni association. “We do things like (event refreshments) on a regular basis.” Refreshments included hot dogs, chili, coffee and other items.

“All the money goes to a scholarship fund for local students,” Weeman said. “We do a lot of work.”

The soup tasting contest put on by the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kennebunk had 11 contestants, all local restaurants. The winning soup was a chicken dumpling prepared by Grissini Italian Bistro in Lower Village Kennebunk. Toppings Pizza in Kennebunk and its lobster corn chowder snagged second place only one vote behind Grissini, while Cummings’ Market and its corn chowder tied for third place with the Kennebunk Inn and its carrot ginger soup.

The teen center buzzed with children and parents who played pool, video games, and air hockey and got their faces painted. Brian Costello, director of Kennebunk Parks and Recreation, had hot dogs and pizza available for visitors. The recreation building provided a haven from the outdoors and Kennebunk Fire Department talked about safety to the children.

The softball game planned at Parson’s Field next door to the teen center. The game was originally Costello’s idea.

“It’s not really cancelled, just postponed,” Costello said. A rain date has not been scheduled yet.

The game raised funds for the teen center building. Costello said he had five or six teams signed up at $125 per team.

“We’re hoping they stay with us (until the rain date),” Costello said.

Costello said he was amazed at how much of the festival was cancelled because of warm weather and a lack of snow.

“Even the carriage rides were cancelled because the man that does them got sick,” Costello said. “The stars were not aligned.”

Costello said he remembered when the winter festival consisted of magicians, snow sculptures and plenty of outdoor fun.

“The past few years just kept getting blown away by rain, snow and sleet,” he said.

Costello said not all was lost, though, and plenty of families were out to enjoy the day, which he said was the entire point of the winter festival.

“It’s supposed to be a community event for everyone to participate in,” he said.

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.

Safaris headline annual church auction

Post Editor — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:33:39 GMT

By Kristy Wagner

Staff Writer

What do jazz parties, massages, home energy audits, hot fudge and two African photo safaris all have in common? They are all items people can bid on in the upcoming silent and live service auction at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Kennebunk.

The auction is set to take place 6:30 p.m. March 24, but people can bid on silent auction items as soon as March 18. A variety of people, small businesses and organizations contributed items and services to the auction at the church. This will be the sixth auction the church has put on and money raised will go into the congregation’s general fund.

“There is a foundation that manages the historical nature of the outside (of the church) so that part is funded from that organization, but all of our programming and events are funded by the auction,” said Sally Keene, chairman of the auction.

Keene worked with two co-chairmen for this year’s auction, Karen Tannenholz and Barbara Delaney. Tannenholz and Delaney trekked throughout the surrounding communities and promoted the event while also enlisting businesses and individuals to donate services and items. Between the silent and live auction, Keene said the church may have up to 100 items and services open for bid.

“The parties people offer are really interesting,” Tannenholz said.

She and Keene said there will be admission to a jazz party, cocktail party and crawfish party among other items and experiences.

“Karen has gone out to the community people looking for contributions. A lot of the community folks have been pretty generous with gift cards and stuff like that,” Keene said.

Tannenholz is new to southern Maine and moved to Wells from Concord, Mass., in September.

“Sally’s been doing this for years, it’s like her full time job,” Tannenholz said. “I’m doing only Wells, but we have someone covering Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel.”

Keene and Tannenholz said the church decided not to charge admission to the auction.

“We figured people are coming here to bid money on something, so why charge them to get in,” Tannenholz said.

“If we had it catered we would probably have charged something,” Keene said.

Aside from the auction, March 24 will also include a potluck of chocolate items provided by the congregation and others.

“People are donating chocolate desserts. We’re also going to have strolling violin music and perhaps singing with it, which would be nice,” Tannenholz said.

Keene said Tannenholz came up with the idea of the chocolate themed potluck and Delaney, chairman of the Unitarian Universalist Board of Directors, will play the violin at the event.

Keene said items will be divided and placed for bidding in either the silent or live auction.

“We’re at the point where we’re bringing in items and we’re never sure which end they’ll end up on,” Keene said.

Two photo safaris in Africa were donated by Zulu Nyala Game Reserve in South Africa and will be part of the live auction as will a few other services, such as two home energy audits donated by Andrew Proulx of AGP Energy Solutions in Concord, Mass.

Silent auction bidders do not need to be present at the auction March 24 to win.

“What we do is we start the silent auction the Sunday before (March) 18. People can come in (to the church) and bid on their items,” Keene said.

“There are only a few items for the live auction,” Tannenholz said.

Silent auction bidders can stop in to the church on Main Street and fill out a bid sheet. Instead of writing their name down, the bidder writes their assigned bid number and then the number assigned to the item they bid on. The church will assign each bidder at the live auction a number as well, but live bidders will not use a bid sheet.

Keene said three people volunteered to work as auctioneers at the live event.

“The auctioneers will be Ki Leffler and also Paul Beach for the live part. Bill Pasquill (of Kennebunk) will participate as well,” Keene said.

“(Leffler) is on our (historical preservation) foundation and (Beach) is a member of the choir and a retired lawyer,” Tannenholz said.

Keene said the church has promoted the auction more this year than in previous years.

“Sally makes posters for each of the items that are donated and they’re fabulous,” Tannenholz said.

“We’re doing a lot more with advertising this year. In the past, we’ve usually had around 50 to 60 people bidding,” Keene said. “Because we have this photo safari, I am doing a lot of e-mailing to photographers and photography clubs.”

Keene said the first couple years the church held the auction the event was live only and consisted of all local artist contributors. Holding both a silent and a live auction should make the bidding interesting, Keene said.

“I have a feeling the costs will be all over the map. There are things that we sell from $10 an item up to $100 an item,” she said. “Someone will offer eight hours of painting or bush hog mowing and those types of things are very popular.”

Paula Moulton of Kennebunk, a travel enthusiast, won the photo safari in the church auction three years ago. Trevor Shaw, who owns the Zulu Nyala Group and is also the founding member, donated the photo safari.

“There were two of us bidding. We purposely bid each other up so the church could benefit,” Moulton said. Moulton is a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. She said she won the six-day safari for two with a bid of $1,200. Keene said the trip has a value of nearly $5,000, airfare not included.

“Zulu Nyala is game reserve and they get most of their tourists (by offering safaris to auctions),” Moulton said. “They don’t advertise, they put it up for charity things. Basically, everyone there from the U.S. did the same thing; they bid on the safari at a charity auction. The prices varied wildly, we were all comparing.”

Moulton took her daughter, Valerie, on the trip and left for South Africa in spring 2009. The winning bidder must go on the safari within two years of the purchase date, according to Zulu Nyala regulations.

“(African wildlife) had babies in the spring. Sometimes things aren’t so good in springtime because everything is lush, but there had been a drought so we had great visibility,” Moulton said.

She said the staff at the game lodge would take visitors off the reserve in a Land Rover to a neighboring wildlife refuge where people could photograph lions and other bigger game.

“(Staff) didn’t just leave you sitting around during the day. We went to a Zulu village and talked to the people and visited the school. You really get a sense of the Zulu,” Moulton said. “All this in six days; you couldn’t beat it with a stick.”

Moulton said she probably wouldn’t bid on the safari again, but if she bid on anything she would try to go as high as she could to benefit the church.

“I would bid to bring the price up. I travel, that’s my hobby. Usually, I do things like dinners and personal service things like computer updates, parties, lawn services,” Moulton said. “It is a human service auction and not so much items. (The photo safari) is by far my biggest bid.”

Staff Writer Kristy Wagner can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.