BENEFITS AND GOOD WORKS

 ROCKLAND REVITILAZATION PLAN GIVEN AWARD

Kudos to the City of Rockland who was recently given the 2010 Plan of the Year Award for their 2009 Downtown Revitalization Plan Update. The award was presented at the annual conference of the Northern New England Chapter of the American Planning Association. The plan was adopted in January and is now in the process of being implemented.

WE SALUTE MIKE EHREDT

Mike Ehredt dipped his feet in the water down at Harbor Park on October 15 to end his long 4,414 mile run across America to honor those service people lost in Iraq. He planted flags along the way to honor specific men and women from that state who were lost in Iraq. In Rockland he planted his last flag to honor Marine Major Jay Aubin of Waterville, killed in a helicopter crash on March 20, 2003. For this last leg he was accompanied by Rockland District High School runners and friends from Vermont.

CMP TAKETH AWAY AND CMP GIVETH BACK

Central Maine Power Company has recently been faulted for trimming trees back too much to protect their power lines. Rockland City Hall received many complaints about the company who was doing the trimming. Therefore, on October 15, CMP planted an Elm tree in Snow Marine Park as a goodwill gesture. We put that act, therefore, in the category of “good works.” Present at the planting were arborist, Douglas Johnson of Johnson’s Arboriculture-Treekeepers LLC; city and CMP representatives. Johnson said the planting was “an appreciated conciliatory gesture” and that CMP is now working with the city on the trimming and pruning of trees along the power lines.

SOUP OF THE DAY

The sixth season of free lunches began October 27 at the First Congregational Church of Camden with a soup making class. Volunteers serve the free lunch weekly to those in need; those who are lonely; and those who enjoy the fellowship of others while sharing a meal. An average of 68 people are served every week. The soup luncheons run through April 6 on Wednesdays, with the exception of November 24 and December 22. Everyone of all ages and all walks of life are welcome to share in the lunch or to volunteer.

BOOKWOMEN UNITE!

A new book club developed by Brian Sylvester, head librarian at the Thomaston Public Library; and by Georges Valley and Watershed School students; and mid-coast women from the local chapter of the American Association of University Women and the Coastal Senior College, had their first meeting October 13. The women plan to share their passion for reading and to exchange viewpoints. Thirteen women attended the first meeting. If you are interested in supporting the ongoing purchase of books, you may send donations to: Friends of Thomaston Public Library, 60 Main St., Thomaston, ME 04861.

RACERS NEEDED TO JOIN TEAM LITTLEFIELD

Half marathon and marathon runners are invited to join Team Little Field; an organization who runs one race a year to benefit Little Field Home, an orphanage in Malawi, Africa, run by a mid-coast native, Janet Littlefield.  A local SCARE ME 5K Road Race was run Oct. 31 to benefit the same orphanage. For more information, email:
ReadeBroweratreade@freepressonline.com.

MS SOCIETY LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

Ten fund-raising and awareness walks will take place in various places in Maine in April to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Greater New England chapter. The 22^nd annual walk needs volunteers to meet and help plan the various walks. For more information on any of the walks, contact Bethany Porter at bethany.porter@nmss.org.