NORWAY, ME—Norway Savings Bank is pleased to announce it is the recipient of two distinguished accolades that recognize NSB for its commitment to supporting the wellness of team members and meeting the needs of working parents.

Wellness Workdays, a leading provider of corporate wellness programs, named NSB a “Best Wellness Employer.” NSB received a Gold Certification designation, the highest achievable level which is only awarded to select businesses in the country that consistently display a commitment to creating best-in-class corporate wellness programs. NSB met and exceeded rigorous evaluation standards in assessment, strategy, implementation, and evaluation. It marks the seventh straight year that NSB has so been honored. The Best Wellness Employer program was developed by Wellness Workdays in collaboration with experts from Harvard Medical School to recognize significant achievements of U.S. employers dedicated to improving employee health and wellbeing.

In addition, NSB has also been recognized as a “Best Place for Working Parents” winner for being committed to “supporting working parents through family-friendly practices.” The honor was bestowed by The Best Place for Working Parents, an organization that celebrates businesses across the country for their supportive policies regarding company-paid health care coverage, paid time off, parental leave, nursing benefits, childcare assistance, flexible hours, working remotely, and other categories.

“Offering education, encouragement, and programming that supports healthy living and a family-friendly workplace are priorities we’re happy to invest in,” said Dan Walsh, President and CEO of Norway Savings Bank. “We understand that creating and maintaining a flourishing culture is critical to success, and many team members have shared their appreciation for the effort made to emphasize proper work-life balance.”

The two accolades are an affirmation of NSB’s longstanding belief that caring for team members is the best way to achieve and maintain a positive and top-performing organization.

“An empowered and enthusiastic team helps encourage innovation and new ideas, navigate challenges, and provides us with a strong and hopeful path forward,” said Walsh.

Norway Savings Bank seeks passionate and self-motivated individuals to join our team in several currently open roles and there is plenty of opportunity to grow in your career. Our team supports and encourages each other in achieving our professional and personal goals, and we have a lot of fun along the way! Learn more and view current openings at www.norwaysavings.bank/get-to-know-us/careers. #ForTheLifeYouChoose #ACareertoMatch

MAINE — Join us on April 17, 2025, as we mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge regime. The event will be held in the Sam L. Cohen Community Hall at the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine,  1342 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04102, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Event is free and open to the public. Due to limited space, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

This presentation offers a critical update on the Khmer Rouge Tribunal’s judicial phase, completed in 2023, highlighting the convictions and life sentences handed down to three senior leaders deemed most responsible for these atrocities.

Our speaker, Theresa de Langis, PhD, is currently developing a curriculum on the Tribunal’s legacy for university students in Cambodia. With over two decades of experience in teaching, research, and practice within the U.S. government, the United Nations, and academia, Dr. de Langis is an expert in trauma-informed oral history and its role in transformative meaning-making and family history. Her work, focusing on women’s rights in conflict and post-conflict scenarios, bridges law, political science, literature, and film to provide deep insights into genocide, gender, and historical memory.

This event will explore not only the judicial outcomes of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal but also the ongoing efforts to support survivors and engage the younger generation in understanding this dark chapter of human history. The session will include a question-and-answer segment, inviting participants to reflect on how these historical events resonate with today’s uncertain global future.

We invite community members to join us for an evening of thoughtful dialogue and remembrance as we link the lessons of the past with the challenges of our present.

GORHAM, ME — Public Works (located at 80 Huston Road) will be accepting brush Saturday, April 26th and Saturday, May 10th 8AM – 3PM.

This event is for residents ONLY, no commercial drop offs will be accepted.

No stumps, please.

Leaves and grass clippings accepted in the designated area throughout the season.

Please do not leave your bags behind.

Contact the office with any questions at 207-222-4950 or dpw@gorham.me.us.

WESTBROOK, ME —  Join the Westbrook City Band as our 35-piece concert band plays toe-tapping fun and familiar music for all ages – show tunes, marches, and patriotic tunes!

Tuesday, April 15, 2025  7PM – 8PM

Westbrook Community Center

426 Bridge St. Westbrook, ME 04092

GORHAM, ME — Folks of all ages are invited to join the Gorham Conservation Commission in collaboration with the Gorham Village Alliance and the Think Blue Maine campaign for the 5th Annual Gorham Cleans Up event on Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 8:30am – 11:00am to pick up trash in the Village and along the drainage basins along New Portland Road and South Street.

As with previous years, Gorham Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) will help with traffic safety and the Gorham Conservation Commission will provide clean-up supplies, including donuts!

This is a great way to get outside, have some fun and keep trash out of Gorham’s stormwater run off basins. The event will start at the Municipal Center, and donations will be collected for the Gorham Food Pantry.

To sign-up and find more information about the event, please visit https://www.gorhamconservation.org/gorham-cleans-up/.

GORHAM, ME — Thanks to North Gorham Public Library’s esteemed former librarian Virginia Rundell and her husband Clark, toddlers can now easily access our collection of board books. Virginia found the bin and Clark attached some wheels. Our models are a bit older than our intended audience, but they still enjoyed browsing. We appreciate book lovers of all ages!

ORONO, ME – The Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine is thrilled to announce the launch of the 2025 Wild Blueberry Weekend T-Shirt Design Contest! As part of Maine’s annual Wild Blueberry Weekend, which will take place on August 2-3, 2025, the Commission invites artists, designers, and blueberry enthusiasts of all ages to submit their most creative and eye-catching designs for this year’s official event T-shirt.

The winning design, featuring the artist’s signature, will be showcased on the official Wild Blueberry Weekend T-shirt, available for purchase at the event. The contest is a unique opportunity for artists to showcase their talent while celebrating Maine’s iconic wild blueberry.

How to Enter: Participants must submit their original design by June 1, 2025. Entries should adhere to the following guidelines:

Must include the words “Wild Blueberry Weekend”

Must include either the word “Maine” or a graphic representation of the state

Must NOT include the year 2025

Design size: Must fit within a 9” x 9” space

Format: Digital submissions should be in JPEG, PNG, or PDF with a resolution of 300 dpi

Submission email: Jennifer.Maskala@Maine.edu (Subject Line: Wild Blueberry Weekend T-Shirt Contest Submission)

Contest Details & Prizes: The winning designer will receive two free T-shirts featuring their artwork and a selection of Wild Blueberry goodies. The winner’s signature will be included on the official T-shirt design. The selected design will be used for promotional and commercial purposes for Wild Blueberry Weekend. Winner receives special recognition at the Maine Governor’s event in July 2025.

Why Enter? Maine’s Fifth Annual Wild Blueberry Weekend celebrates the state’s beloved native fruit, drawing thousands of visitors annually to explore wild blueberry farms, meet local farmers, and enjoy blueberry-inspired foods and experiences. This T-shirt contest is a fantastic way to become part of the tradition and leave a lasting artistic mark on the event.

About Wild Blueberry Weekend

Now in its fifth year, Wild Blueberry Weekend has become a cherished annual tradition, inviting locals and visitors to experience Maine’s rich agricultural heritage. With farms participating across Cumberland, Hancock, Lincoln, Kennebec, Knox, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington counties, the event offers farm tours, blueberry picking, fresh produce sales, and wild blueberry-themed food and beverages.

For more information on the contest and Wild Blueberry Weekend, visit wildblueberryweekend.com.

GORHAM, ME — The Town Council Appointments Committee is seeking citizen volunteers for a newly formed Cemetery Advisory Board Committee. 

 The committee has been created for the purpose of encouraging citizen involvement in maintaining, documenting and preserving Gorham’s local public cemeteries.

 The committee shall consist of seven members appointed by the Town Council for staggering terms and shall be advisory in nature.

 If you are interested in applying to serve on the Cemetery Advisory Board Committee, or for more information, please visit the Town Clerk’s Office. To apply, please complete and submit a Committee Volunteer Application available online. You may also contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 222-1670 or e­mail the Town Clerk Laurie Nordfors at Inordfors@gorham.me.us.

Applications will be accepted until March 27, 2025.

GORHAM, ME — Now through April 2025, citizens can access various maps and a survey on site in Gorham offices or visit https://www.gorhamopenspace.me to share input via an online survey that will help develop opportunities, connections, and issues for the Town to adopt under its Open Space & Trails Master Plan.

MAINE — At the 2025 Maine Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) Conference on Monday, March 17, Gorham Recreation’s Community Recreation and Events Manager, Zachary Lambert, was selected as the MRPA’s “Dr. Bill Eckart” Young Professional of the Year for 2025.

“Dr. Bill Eckart Young Professional Award”

Dr. William Eckart retired from the University of Maine at Machias in 2011 after 31 years as Professor of Recreation Management. During his tenure, he built the program into one of the most respected programs in the country, and it was Maine’s only nationally accredited recreation degree program. Dr. Eckart was an active member of MRPA, serving as Treasurer on the Board of Directors, spearheading the professional certification program, and managing membership.

Criteria that the annual award recipient must possess is a minimum of three years working within the Recreation Field and at least a two-year period should have been within the state of Maine, with no more than ten years experience. The candidate should have a degree in the field of Recreation, or a related field, and they must maintain membership in MRPA. Candidates should have demonstrated outstanding performance on a community level through innovative programming, partnerships and civic involvement, and should exhibit networking skills, and be involved with local and regional recreational issues and committees within MRPA.

The Gorham Recreation department has had two other “young professionals” awarded over the years with the MRPA: Alan Grady and Julio Santiago.

In the Gorham Recreation staff’s nomination of Zachary “Zach” Lambert for this award, they share that Zach has “hit the ground running” in his position, implementing new programs almost since the first week he arrived, with participation and offerings growing in fitness programs under Zach’s leadership. Zach also volunteers as the Town of Gorham Employees Wellness Committee Chairperson, leading programs that promote employee wellness through various wellness-related events such as a well-attended Urban Runoff 5k. Zach has developed successful programs including indoor rock climbing for middle school students, an adventure program for the middle school age group in addition to an annual Scare Crow Festival in the fall.

 In addition to carrying the required combination of employment history/experience, education, professional affiliation, program development and professional involvement required for MRPA’s Young Professional of the Year award nomination, Zach studied for and passed the National Recreation and Park Association’s Certified Park and Recreational Professional exam, obtaining the CPRP designation in September 2024.

 Zach is described as being involved in and instrumental in all aspects of the Gorham Recreation department and being “a bundle of energy and kindness,” keeping a positive outlook at all times that is both admired and appreciated by the Recreation staff and certainly at the Town of Gorham.

 Please join us in congratulating Gorham’s Zach Lambert on this deserving achievement!