News you
wan!t to read
Sentinel The Weekly
ECRWSS PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID Seacoast Media Group Portsmouth, NH POSTAL CUSTOMER
Your Community Newspaper Serving: arundel, BERWICK, CAPE NEDDICK, ELIOT, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, KITTERY, kittery point, LEBANON, moody, NO. BERWICK, OGUNQUIT, SO. BERWICK, WELLS, YORK & YORK HARBOR
Friday, November 30, 2012
Volume 8 • Issue No. 48
Kennebunk Gets Governor’s Nod as Business-Friendly Community Town is one of four named by LePage this week KENNEBUNK – Representing vastly different geographic regions of the state, the newest “Certified Business Friendly Communities” join a growing list of Maine communities to be honored by the LePage Administration for their willingness to create opportunities for existing and new businesses. The four communities designated “Certified Business Friendly” in the third round of the program are Kennebunk, Ellsworth, Fairfield, and Topsham. “It’s no doubt our great State is diverse, and that’s why I love it. But it’s also great to see each community named today has a common desire for economic prosperity, job growth and an ‘open-for-business’ mentality,” Gov. Paul R. LePage said while announcing the four newest cities and towns to be designated as a Certified Business Friendly Community. As an applicant from the first round, the review team noted that Kennebunk’s active and involved Economic Development Committee has utilized approximately $2
Index
Page
Arts & Entertainment 29 Calendar of Events 24 & 38 Classifieds 34-35 Computer Lady 22 Home & Business 32-33 Pets 30 Puzzles 37 Real Estate 27 Sports 28 Where To Dine 16-19
million in Community Development Program Grant funds for infrastructure and façade enhancements, and for economic development projects. Since the program’s inception in March, a total of 18 Maine communities have received the business friendly status. To be certified “business friendly,” multiple areas of criteria are considered, including customer service, business involvement and collaboration, input from the public, and licensing and permitting. Communities named business friendly will be
presented with a certificate, two MaineDOT road signs and will become a key part of Maine’s business attraction strategy. While the administration recognizes that every Maine community strives to be business friendly, it is important to recognize those communities that follow the Governor’s lead in understanding a proactive approach to business development is a successful approach. “Through the efforts of the Governor and, more importantly, the continued hard work and ded-
High
WELLS – Last weekend was full of testing lights and programming, according to the Norton Lights Facebook page. “We will be kicking off the show on Saturday, December 1 at 5 p.m. and then we will be running nightly Sunday-Thursday 5-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday nights 5-10 p.m.,” the page said. Stan Norton said the show
has changed quite a bit this time around. “We did a lot of tweaking this year,” he said. “The (Wells) boys’ high school soccer team helped put things up in the yard. They were a great help.” Again this year, the incredible lightshow will raise money for Make-a-Wish Foundation of See LIGHTS page 6...
Low
am pm
am pm
1
12:32
12:30
6:16
6:50
Sun 2
1:09
1:08
6:54
7:27
Mon 3
1:47
1:48
7:34
8:06
Tue
4
2:27
2:32
8:18
8:49
Wed 5
3:11
3:20
9:06
9:35
Thu 6
3:58
4:13
9:59
10:25
Fri
4:49
5:11
10:57
11:19
Sat
7
Sun Rise Sun Set Sat
1
6:54
4:09
Sun
2
6:55
4:08
Mon 3
6:56
4:08
Tue
4
6:57
4:08
Wed 5
6:58
4:08
Thu
6
6:59
4:08
Fri
7
7:00
4:08
Ellsworth first applied in the second round of the Certified Business Friendly Communities program and received certification in the third round for its significant efforts to proactively address business concerns regarding traffic congestion issues. The community also offers programs aimed at skill enhancement and workforce development. Fairfield, in its successful application, showcased its positive efforts to create and retain jobs. The town networks and collaborates with regional economic and community development entities, such as the Central Maine Growth Council, on a broad range of development initiatives. See TOWNS page 7...
Kindergartners Think Spring, Await Pink Blooms
Norton Family Light Show Starts this Weekend
Local Average Tide Chart
Date
ication by our communities on behalf of businesses to grow and thrive, Maine continues to rise in the ranks of top states for business,” said Commissioner George Gervais of the Department of Economic and Community Development. “We ask that every community continue to work to improve their business climate, and to reach out to the DECD for any reason. Our programs and initiatives are here to help.” A team of public and private economic development experts reviews each application to determine eligibility in the program. Each community is evaluated on an individual basis. The following are some highlights from this round’s other successful communities:
Ryan Norton works on the lights with Perri, the family’s Australian Labradoodle. (courtesy photo)
Health & Fitness A special section concerning your health... INSIDE:
PG 10-13
WOCSD resource coordinator Maryanne Foley holding up a tulip bulb for a group of kindergartners that will emerge in the spring as a pink colored flower. (courtesy photo)
Effort to raise breast cancer awareness Story and photo by Reg Bennett WELLS – For most, springtime is a much-anticipated season of renewal with flowers blooming and trees budding. But with a Maine winter and heating bills looming, springtime is probably not foremost on people’s minds in November. However, Wells Elementary School kindergarten students recently had a bit of anticipation for spring when they planted
News from the State A new section sharing stories from around the state of Maine
tulip bulbs. These are not just ordinary tulip bulbs, but ones that will yield a vivid display of pink blossoms for breast cancer awareness. Since 2003, kindergartners have been planting tulips in the school’s courtyard. What they planted year after year rose in the spring as tulips of varying colors. In some years they also planted daffodils, alliums, crocus and hyacinth. This year, the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), See BULBS page 8...
Also check out our special section on
business & finance PG 26
PG 14-15