Tracey Martin, Lakes Region Recovery Center
Stories
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This Week's Community Kettle |
Former Student of the Month Rebekah Knights to Address Rotary A 2020 graduate of Lake Region High School, Rebekah went on to University of Maine - Farmington to major in Creative Writing and Environmental Science. There she maintained honors for all four years. Upon graduation in 2024, and wishing to remain in western Maine, she ventured into real estate, passing licensing requirements in record time. She is employed by Home Port Realty in Harrison. Dr. Lisa Ryan, President of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club, remarked "We are very excited to have a former Student of the Month with us again and are eager to hear about her activities over the past five years. She is a remarkable young woman continuing her love of writing along with her skills at learning. She will be an asset in any field she enters." |
RYLA - Leadership Program for Rising JuniorsFor More Information Contact Us At - lakeregionrotary@gmail.com  For More Information Contact Us At - lakeregionrotary@gmail.com
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Community Kettle - January 9th _
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Matt Merkot Exec. Dir. Loon Echo Land Trust to Speak to Rotary Matt Merkot of Loon Echo Land Trust will speak with members and guests of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club on Thursday, December 12 at 7:30AM at the Bridgton Alliance Church on Harrison Road in Bridgton. The event is Free and Open to the Public, Coffee will be served. Doors open at 7:15AM. This is an in person meeting, but there will be a zoom option. Contact LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com for the link.Issues of land conservation, trails, and community development in the Lake Region will be the subject of Merkot's talk. Also, he will answer any questions you might have. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Prior to LELT Matt worked for the Nature Conservancy in Maine as their Northern Maine Lands Steward, served as an AmeriCorps Environmental Steward with the Maine Natural Areas Program, and as an environmental educator at Kieve-Wavus. He has worked in a variety of roles for LELT since 2017 and as Executive Director since 2019. Matt lives in Bridgton and enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and paddling. For more information about Loon Echo Land Trust, please visit lelt.org. |
Bridgton's Community Development Director to Address Rotary The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is pleased to welcome Nicole McKeith on Thursday, November 14, 2024. She will provide up-to-the-minute insights into the community development initiatives in Bridgton. The meeting is at 7:30AM at the Bridgton Alliance Church, 368 Harrison Rd., Bridgton, Maine. There will be a zoom option. Email LakeRegionRotary@gmail. |
ROTARY CLUB PARTNERS WITH STEVENS BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON LITERACY Rotarian Joanne Cohn; Aliza Wyman, SBES Librarian; Valerie Young, SBES Principal; Jess Emery, SBES Instructional Coach; Linda Soutier, Friend of Rotary The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club has been awarded a grant of $4000 to support childhood literacy at Stevens Brook Elementary School. The local Club itself will contribute another $500 to the project. This generous grant was from Rotary District 7780, which encompasses 39 Rotary Clubs in southern Maine and coastal New Hampshire. All of the funds will be used to purchase books for classroom teaching and the school library. Perhaps more importantly, Rotarians and community volunteers will work to help third and fourth grade classroom teachers during literacy classes. Jess Emery, Literacy Instructional Coach for the Stevens Brook Elementary School, said, “It is the current third and fourth graders who were most affected by the loss of classroom teaching during the Covid pandemic. They lost a full year in the classroom and then were disadvantaged by the masking that was required once school resumed. The masks prevented the children from seeing the teachers’ lips in literacy classes and made listening more difficult.” |
Greatest Golf Ever ROTARY GOLF CLASSIC A SUCCESS The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club held its 15th Annual Golf Classic on September 14 at the Bridgton Highlands Country Club. With 80 Golfers and 20 sponsors, the event was spectacular. The weather couldn't have been better. The Golf Classic is the Club’s biggest fundraiser and very important so Rotarians can do the work they do in the community. “Although there is much to say about the event”, remarked Co-Chair Laurie Paldino, “I want to mention the winners.” First Place Team - Ben Chaine, Kristen Huntress, Matt Beauchesne, and Alex Bessey with a Score of 58. Second Place Team - Paul Tworog, Mike Graef, Pretty Drew, Alex Cardamone with a Score of 59. Longest drive, men - Ruben Lopez Longest drive, women - Laurie Paldino Closest to pin, women - Becky Merola Closest to pin, men - Mark Boucher |
Annual Golf Classic Right Around the Corner |
COMMUNITY KETTLE IN BRIDGTON ON AUGUST 1ST The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club will host a Community Kettle at the Bridgton Community Center on Depot Street in Bridgton on Thursday, August 1st from 5:00-6:00 p.m. or until the food runs out. This will be an eat-in supper with the option for “take-out”. Everyone is welcome. Menu: Spaghetti with Meat or Marinara Sauce, Garden Salad, and Jello for Dessert. The meal is free to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted. Rotarians and Friends of Rotary will be assisting with food preparation, serving and clean up. If you would like to help at this community event, contact us at LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com. We welcome volunteers to help, especially with cleanup.
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New Member - Patty Burns We recently held our annual Changeover Dinner, where we pass the gavel to the new President, Lisa Ryan. A highlight of the dinner meeting was President Lisa welcoming our newest member Patty Burns. |
Duck Race Draws Huge CrowdNew Rotarian Patty Burns (left) and Longtime Rotarian Dave Barker (right) Catch the Winners. ROTARY 25TH ANNUAL DUCK RACE A SUCCESS. The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club held its 25th Annual Duck Race at the bridge on Stevens Brook at Main Street in Bridgton. There were winners: Isabell Homscheid, 1st Place, $500 Michael Richardson, 2nd Place, $250 Tom Wickstrom, 3rd Place, $100 “Thank you, everyone, who played with us. This is our second biggest annual fundraiser and makes a big difference in the amount of dollars we can invest in the community,” said Lisa Ryan, incoming president of the Club. “The Duck Race is more than a Rotary Event. It’s a community event in which many of the same people participate every year”, Lisa continued, “We are most thankful to them. The community enthusiasm is contagious, bringing much joy to us Rotarians who are out selling tickets.” |
Bridgton Hospital President to Speak to Rotary |
Learn About Bridgton Comprehensive Plan |
Little Free Libraries |
Learn More About DEI |
Let's Get Healthy |
Rotary Delivers Eclipse GlassesRotarians Erin Nelson and Aaron Hagan delivered Eclipse Glasses to the local elementary schools. Here are Erin and Aaron with students of Songo Locks School.
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ROTARY CLUB HOSTS SPEAKER: WAYNE RIVET, PUBLISHER, BRIDGTON NEWS ON MARCH 28On March 28th Wayne Rivet, Publisher of the Bridgton News will speak at the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club’s Thursday morning meeting at 7:30 a.m. at Stella’s on the Square, 6 N. High Street, Bridgton. Rivet was the longtime editor of the Bridgton News when the Shorey family, which founded the paper and owned it for over 140 years, sold it to him in 2012. He had joined the newspaper in 1984 so was on staff for nearly 30 years at the time of the transfer. Under Rivet, The Bridgton News was named Newspaper of the Year among larger weeklies in the Maine Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The paper won third-place awards for General Excellence in the 2010 and 2011 contests. Owner and publisher now for 12 years, Rivet will discuss not only the Bridgton News, but the status of print media in general with an emphasis on small town and regional weeklies. Vice President Rick Whelchel remarked “Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is pleased to welcome Wayne and we look forward to his presentation. Others in the wider community are also welcome to join us. The event is free. Coffee will be served.” |
Rotary Provides Unique Opportunity for HS Sophomores to Learn Leadership SkillsThe Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is proud to announce its sponsorship of three local high school sophomores to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp at Camp Hinds in Raymond, Maine, from Sunday, June 23rd to Wednesday, June 26th. Bridgton Rotary will pay the camp tuition of $750 per student as part of the club's ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders in the community. RYLA is a transformational leadership program designed to empower young people and provide them with the skills, confidence, and motivation to become better leaders in their schools and communities. Upon arriving at RYLA, the 144 participants from Maine and NH are assigned to a Leadership Exploration Group (LEG) with up to 11 others. LEG’s spend four days in a series of workshops and team-building activities aimed at developing their leadership potential and fostering a sense of Rotary’s “Service Above Self.” “The benefits of attending RYLA extend far beyond the camp experience.” said Rick Whelchel, Vice President of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club. “In addition to learning crucial leadership skills that will be invaluable both in academic settings and in future careers, they will meet other like-minded students from throughout southern Maine and coastal New Hampshire and create lasting connections that can support their personal and professional growth.” "We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to three deserving sophomores in our community both from the Lake Regional High School or home schoolers," added Whelchel. "We believe that RYLA has the power to unlock their full potential and inspire them to be the leaders of tomorrow. Please encourage sophomores you know to apply! And, by the way, other Rotary Clubs are sponsoring kids as well so reach out and we'll answer your questions.” The deadline for applications is June 1, 2024. Interested sophomores can find more information and download the application form at https://ryla7780.org/ or call Past President Aaron Hagan at 207-774-1426. Mail the completed application to P.O. Box 845, Bridgton, Maine, 04009 or email it to LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com. |
Eclipse Lecture Held at Magic Lantern We were fortunate to have Edward Herrick-Gleason, Director of University of Maine’s Southworth Planetarium speak before a crowded Magic Lantern on Thursday Evening. While his talk focused on the upcoming eclipse, he spent time explaining not only the mechanics of the eclipse, but also the power of the sun and our small part in the Solar System. As for the Eclipse, we in the greater Bridgton Area while we will not see a total eclipse, we will enjoy a 98% coverage of the sun and the resulting darkening of the sky. It should be spectacular. |
Community Kettle - February 1st. |
Angie Cook to Address Rotary |
ROTARY PRESENTS DICTIONARIES TO 3RD GRADERS
The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club presented more than 120 3rd graders at Crooked River Elementary School in Casco and Stevens Brook Elementary School in Bridgton and to Bridge Crossing students in Bridgton with dictionaries. “We are interested in supporting literacy. The goal of this program is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary. Educators see third grade as the dividing line between learning to read and reading to learn,” remarked Rotarian Erin Nelson, Project Team Leader. The Club has sponsored this project for over a dozen years. Students are always appreciative of having their very own dictionary to use at school and home for years to come! At the same time, the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is expanding its literacy projects in the Lakes Region and beyond with Little Free Libraries and books for very young readers.
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ROTARY VETERAN OF THE YEAR – MILTON MCKEEN OF BRIDGTON  Picture #1: Milt McKeen of Bridgton arriving in DC for Honor Flight with a local greeter. Picture #2: Milt McKeen in front of the Korean War Monument in DC during his Honor Flight. In Rotary Year 2021-22, the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club chose to fund an Honor Flight experience for a worthy veteran from the Lake Region. Milton McKeen was chosen and the Flight in May of 2022 became a major highlight in the veteran’s life. Milt, as he is called by his friends, was spotlighted in the Bridgton Community Center newsletter in October 2023. A lifelong resident of Bridgton, Milt was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he received numerous awards. When interviewed for this article, Milt proudly read the awards from his DD214 papers. They included the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a Meritorious Unit Commendation. |
ROTARY CLUBS PROMOTES POLIO AWARENESS  The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club joined with the Fryeburg Area Club for two Polio Events this year. The first, Pints for Polio, was held at the Saco River Brewing Company in Fryeburg on October 18. On World Polio Day, October 24, members from the two Clubs walked from Stella’s on the Square to the Queen’s Head Pub in Bridgton, where they enjoyed a delicious lunch. Participating were Rotarians from both clubs and friends of Rotary. The purpose of the walk was to bring awareness about the continued existence of polio in the world and the need for each child to be vaccinated against this debilitating disease. |
Rotarians Updated on Childhood Literacy What’s the best way to help kids who may need us the most? Hilary & Chuck Wilcoxen of Team Long Run shared some of their answers to that critical question at the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club meeting on Thursday, September 28. Team Long Run develops and delivers programs that support a child’s progress by linking learning, early literacy, and active play. They work exclusively in communities with schools and families that are often facing long odds, partnering with some of the most dynamic agencies and philanthropies that share their commitment to helping these children rewrite their futures. For years, Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club has focused on dictionary distribution to third graders as its primary Literacy Project. During the past year our literacy work has expanded under the leadership of Rotarian Joanne Cohn who is also active with the Bridgton Public Library. Club members are installing Little Free Libraries in the towns of Bridgton, Denmark, Sweden and Waterford. And, this past spring and summer, the club began a literacy project with the local Head Start inspired by Team Long Run. Rotary and the Bridgton Congregational Church contributed books that the children could take home over the summer to keep up their interest in reading. At the same time 30 new books were provided to help establish a classroom library at Head Start. The plan is to also provide the children with their own copies of books that are read as part of their curriculum. Bridgton Books has given a discount on all the books. Debbie McBride, Rotary's partner with the Congregational Church, attended this week’s meeting along with friends of the Bridgton Library. Rotarians want to thank Chuck & Hilary for the incredible work they are doing and for their partnership with Rotary! For more information about the organization, visit https://www.teamlongrun.org/. |
Golf Social August 31st.Every 5th Thurs (there are usually 4 each year), the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club hosts a social event. This month we are hosting a "shot" social at the Mountain Range in Bridgton. Come join us, hit a few balls, have a soft drink or a beer and a snack. Balls and snacks on us, cash bar. Thursday, August 31, 2023, 5-7 p.m. Mountain Range Golf 146 Harrison Rd, Bridgton The event is Free to All, but an RSVP would be helpful for planning purposes. |
Duck Race VideoFor a video of this years Duck Race - Click Here
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Getting a Head Start on Summer Reading Aaron Hagan, President of the Bridgton-Lakes Region Rotary (left) and Rev. Zeb Green, Sabbatical Minister at the First Congregational Church of Bridgton (right) present Amanda Brown, Opportunity Alliance Family Advocate, with two summer books for each child in the Opportunity Alliance Head Start program. The First Congregational Church of Bridgton, the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club, and Bridgton Books are working together to encourage early reading. When school closes for the summer, young children tend to lose some of their gains in learning new words unless their families continue to share books with them. The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club identified Opportunity Alliance’s Head Start Program to receive some summer books and the First Congregational Church donated two books for each child. Justin and Pam Ward selected the books and provided them at a substantial discount. Early reading is such a critical factor in determining how well children do in school that the Bridgton Rotary and the First Congregational Church want to continue this collaborative effort of helping children develop a love of reading. For information on how you can contribute, please contact either Debbie McBride of the First Congregational Church at 207-583-2365 or Joanne Cohn of Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary at 617-306-1956. |
24th Annual Duck Race A Huge Success
Bridgton, ME - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Duck #1724 which belonged to Adam Kennedy, took First Place in Rotary’s Annual Duck Race on July 4th winning $500. It was a yellow duck which took training of the waterfall jump seriously and it paid off for Adam. Two other ducks which distinguished themselves in a field of 2000 fast-swimming ducks belonged to Tim Raymond with ticket #1759 ($250 2nd place), and Lydia Sullivan with ticket #910 ($100 3rd place). In its 24th year, this fundraiser has been held annually on Stevens Brook on Main Street in Bridgton and is one of the more important ways the Rotary Club raises money for community service activities. The event is very popular, so buy your tickets as early as you can next year before they run out. For more information about the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club visit our website lakeregionrotary.com |
Golf Tournament Date Draws Near |
ROTARY HONORS CITIZENS OF THE MONTH Rotary's Citizen of the Month Honorees (l to r) Ryan Philbrook, Tristan Cormier, Jack Buelar, Kyan MacDonald, Alecssander Freitas, Sydney Mushrow, Olivia Pearson, Emily Rock and Rotary Club President Aaron Hagan. Elizabeth O'Leary was absent On Friday, May 19, the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club honored 9 Citizens of the Month (COM) from Lake Region High School (LRHS) at a celebratory breakfast at the Bridgton Community Center. Each senior COM received a Certificate, a gift card and information about Rotary. Accompanied by parents and guardians, the eight who were able to attend, each spoke briefly and enjoyed a delicious meal. The Citizen of the Month award is presented to high school seniors who have provided service in the community reflective of Rotary’s Motto: Service Above Self. President Aaron Hagan introduced each student and presented the awards. Several of the COMs had participated in Dirigo State, a week-long program offered by the American Legion to teach high school students how our state government works and to give them experience in debating issues, running for office, and setting up a model government. September COM: Elizabeth O’Leary (S. Casco) Elizabeth moved here from MA in her freshman year. She is interested in psychology and has taken dual-enrollment college courses in psychology. She is considering a career as a guidance counselor, a social worker, or a forensic psychologist. Elizabeth also enjoys writing poetry. October COM: Emily Rock (Bridgton) Emily enjoys sports and has been captain of her soccer and softball teams. She has volunteered at the Bridgton Rec Summer Camp and is head coach of the 3rd/4th-grade girls’ soccer team. This experience has helped her learn how to teach children, a skill she will put to good use when she becomes either a teacher or a coach. She also has had hands-on experience in governance. She was part of the LRHS DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) committee and was voted into the Senate in her week at Dirigo State. November COM: Kyan Macdonald (Bridgton) Kyan has demonstrated a real commitment to making positive changes in his community. With the help of his parents, he founded Team Kyan, a nonprofit that financially supports those impacted by childhood cancer. He also helped create the Student Summit at LRHS as a means for students to have their voices heard. Finally, Kyan was a delegate at Dirigo State and got first-hand experience with the process of government. December COM: Sydney Mushrow (Bridgton) Sydney is active in concert band, jazz band, choir, and theater. She enjoys helping younger kids and volunteers in the Stevens Brook library and before COVID at the Bridgton Public Library. She plans to study business management and fashion design in preparation to her opening her own bridal shop. She wants to help every bride find her dream dress. January COM: Jack Bueler (Bridgton) Jack comes from a big family of 8 children. He volunteers at the Bridgton Rec Program coaching basketball and helping with Halloween festivities. He hopes to become a therapist so he can help people work through their problems. February COM: Ryan Philbrook (Bridgton) Ryan volunteers at the Magic Lantern Innovation Lab and Learning Center helping kids with their projects. He plans to earn a master’s degree in automotive engineering and work for a large automotive company. March COM: Tristan Cormier (Bridgton) Tristan is active in cross-country, and track and field. He has been active in Boy Scouts and recently became a Scout Master. He participated in Dirigo State along with other COMs. April COM: Olivia Pearson (Bridgton) Olivia enjoys sports. She is captain of the volleyball team and has received two Laker Pride awards. During the summer she volunteers and works as a lifeguard. Olivia wants to study marine biology and business in college. May COM: Alecssander Freitas (Naples) Alecssander is the senior class leader of the Law Enforcement Program at LRVC. He was a delegate in the 2022 session of the American Legion Dirigo State and went on to represent Maine at the 2022 Boys’ Nation Senate in Washington, DC. This experience inspired him to become a serious student of government and the political process. Alecssander hopes to become a U.S. senator so that he can work to improve our country. |
ROTARY BUILDS NEW GARDEN BEDS
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Voc Ed Students Build Little Free Libraries for the Lake Region
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Gary Colello Speaks to Rotary Gary Colello, Director, Bridgton Recreation Department, gave an informative talk at a club meeting on Thurs. Pictured here with President Elect John Eliassen on left and President Aaron Hagan on right. Rec has moved far beyond the sports and summer camp Gary inherited to be a valuable resource for parents with before and after school programs, physical education for home schoolers, recreation for seniors and much more. And with the addition of the Ham Center, this year Rec will be host to the Brew Fest. For more information, check out their page on the Town of Bridgton's website.
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Tobacco Free Maine to Address Club |
ROTARY CLUB TO HOST COMMUNITY KETTLE DINNER IN BRIDGTON ON MARCH 9TH
Menu: Lasagna, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread, and Festive Cookies. Rotarians will be hosting this meal with Rotary helpers. Interact Club members from Lake Region High School (young Rotarians), Rotarians and Friends of Rotary will be assisting with food preparation, serving and clean up. If you would like to help at this community event, contact us at LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com. The meal is free to the public. |
RUFUS PORTER MUSEUM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SPEAK AT CLUB MEETING Feb 16th. Karla Rider, Executive Director of the Rufus Porter Museum of ART and Ingenuity, will speak to the Rotary Club of Bridgton-Lake Region on Thursday, February 16 at 7:30 a.m. at Stella’s on the Square, 6 North Main Street, Bridgton. This will be an In-Person Meeting Only. All are welcome. No Charge. Coffee only. If school is cancelled due to weather, the meeting will be postponed. Karla will share information about the latest projects at the Rufus Porter Museum, especially focusing on the expansion of its cultural complex with construction of a classic post and beam barn that will complement Main Street and the two other historic museum buildings on the site. The new structure will feature the Museum’s collection of over thirty wall murals, reconstructed and displayed in the design of the original rooms. The largest collection of wall murals of any kind in the United States, these beautiful murals have never been gathered together in one place or open to public view. This and other unique Rufus projects and programs make our region a locale for folk art, so popular in the US right now. For more information about the Museum and its contribution to the area, visit https://rufusportermuseum.org. |
ROTARIANS RECEIVE DONATIONS & ENJOY FELLOWSHIP AT BEAR MT. INN WINTER PUB Enjoying Winter Pub Fare, from l-r in back Rotarians Nick Orgo, Carol Madsen, Aaron Hagan and Erin Nelson, in front George Rice, President, Oxford Hills Rotary, Ted Gerber, Ray Kearns, Rotarians Patty Rice and Beth Abbott. Many came out to the Winter Pub at Bear Mountain Inn & Barn on Saturday, January 28, for live music, drinks and a delicious menu in support of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club. The club was raising funds for its long-time project in Kakamega, Kenya. Learn more at https://friendsofkenyarising.
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Rotary Peace Fellow Cassandra Varanka to speak Jan 19th.CASSANDRA VARANKA
ROTARY PEACE FELLOW TOPIC: WHAT I HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS! Thursday, January 19, 7:30 am - ZOOM ONLY For the Zoom link, contact gszoksbox@gmail.com. Cassandra was one of 50 international winners out of 600 applicants. She has chosen to pursue her masters work at the University of Queensland in Australia, one of seven Rotary peace centers throughout the world. Cassandra was nominated by our club and in turn by Rotary District 7780, comprising 41 clubs in southern Maine and coastal New Hampshire. This prestigious award is part of a global program to advance research, teaching, practical training and knowledge on issues of international relations, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. It offers a tailored Master's Degree in International Studies for potential world and community leaders, designed to have a practical effect on addressing international and regional conflicts. More about this program at https://www.rotary.org/en/our- |
BRIDGTON’S REC DIRECTOR TO SPEAK ON Jan 26th Gary Colello, Bridgton's Director of Recreation, will speak to the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club on Thursday, January 26, at 7:30 am. This will be an in-person meeting only at Stella’s on the Square, 6 High Street, Bridgton. He will talk about the Rec Department: past, present and future. Hired in 2013, Gary has run the ever-expanding Recreation Program for the Town of Bridgton since then. He has a Master's in Education with a specialization in programming in sports and fitness. He moved his family to the lakes region nearly 10 years ago from Laconia NH and has become a well-known and respected member of the broader community. In 2020 he received the “Dr. Bill Eckart” Young Professional Award from the Maine Recreation & Parks Association, a note of respect from his professional peers. Coffee Only. No Charge. All are welcome. |
ROTARY CLUB DONATES WINTER GEAR TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN LAKES REGION Rotarians Deliver Winter Gear to Crooked River Elementary School (l-r) Rotarian George Klauber; Elizabeth Shane, Academic Leader; and Rotarian Lisa Ryan. On Thursday and Friday, December 15 and 16, Rotarians from Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club delivered needed winter outer garments to Crooked River Elementary School in Casco, Songo Locks School in Naples and Stevens Brook School in Bridgton. Requests were for winter coats, boots, gloves and hats. Earlier in December, needed winter coats were delivered to Harrison Elementary School. Several items were also made available to those in need through Crosswalk Outreach in Naples. President Aaron Hagan remarked, “The club covers the communities of Bridgton, Denmark, Harrison, Naples and Sweden so whenever we can help students from any of those communities, we are happy to do so. Members of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club and our Friends always generously contribute for this worthy cause. Thank you, all, again this year for helping us help the schools distribute winter clothes on an as-needed basis. Our Club wishes all those in the Lakes Region a very happy Holiday Season.” |
Pints for Polio |
ROTARY CLUB TO HOST COMMUNITY KETTLE DINNER IN BRIDGTON ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club will host a Community Kettle at the Bridgton Community Center on Depot Street in Bridgton on Thursday, September 22 from 5:00-6:00 pm, or until the food runs out. This dinner will have both a Sit Down and a Takeout option. Rotarian and chef, Nick Orgo of MANE Catering and Stella’s on the Square, will be preparing this delicious meal with Rotary helpers. Everyone is welcome. Menu: Roast Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Green Beans, tossed salad and cookies for dessert. The meal is free to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted. If you would like to volunteer at this community event, contact us at LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com. For more information about the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club and its activities, check the website https://lakeregionrotary.com or the Facebook Page. |
ROTARY PREPARES TO DELIVER DICTIONARIES TO 3RD GRADERS IN CASCO, NAPLES & BRIDGTON AND DOESN'T WANT TO MISS HOMESCHOOLERS. Rotarians deliver dictionaries to 3rd graders at Stevens Brook School in 2019, the last time access to classrooms was possible. Project Leader and Rotarian Erin Nelson of Norway Savings Bank-Bridgton is contacting all schools in our area with third graders for a count of how many dictionaries we will order for delivery this fall. She reminds us, “We continue to seek homeschoolers at a third-grade level so that we can give those children dictionaries as well. Please contact us at LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com
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RI Presidential Message - Sept. '22 Jennifer Jones |
GOLFERS WANTED FOR ROTARY’S 13TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC ON SAT., SEPT., 17TH. There is still time to register yourself or a team for the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club 13th Annual Golf Classic on Saturday, September 17, 2022. Contact Rotary at lakeregionrotary@gmail.com or just show up at Bridgton Highlands Country Club on Saturday at 8:00 am. “This is the club’s biggest fundraiser and it's always more fun with lots of golfers” said Aaron Hagan, Rotary Club President and avid golfer himself. Registration and refreshments at 8:00 am and Shotgun start at 9:00 am. This is an 18-hole scramble format with barbecue and awards following play. A Myrtle Beach Golf Vacation, valued at $5000, will be awarded for a Hole in One. Rotarian Lisa Ryan, Golf Committee Chair, remarked “At $100 per player, teams and individuals should contact me. We’ll register you. Just reach out to LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com.” |
AARON HAGAN SWORN IN AS NEW PRESIDENT The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is proud to announce the induction of Aaron Hagan as its President for the Rotary Year 2022-23. Each July 1st around the world, local Rotary clubs, districts and worldwide affiliations swear in new officers. |
WINNERS OF 23RD ANNUAL GREAT BRIDGTON DUCK RACE ANNOUNCED The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club hosted its 23rd Annual Great Bridgton Duck Race at Stevens Brook bridge on Main Street in Bridgton on July 4th. The lucky winners were Kara Wood with first place for $500; Wells Carr with second place for $250; and Hannah Doyle (plus Hazel) for third place for $100. Congratulations to all the winners. And a huge Thank You to all the Rotarians and community members and visitors who played. A grand time was had by all. |
RI President Jennifer Jones Introduces "Imagine Rotary"  Incoming President Jennifer Jones explains the back story to Imagine Rotary. Take a few minutes and watch President Jones' powerful speech before the Rotary International Assembly. It will help us all remember why we are Rotarians. CLICK HERE to see this amazing video. |
ROTARIANS HOST 23RD ANNUAL DUCK RACE AT STEVENS BROOK ON JULY 4, 11:30AM The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is hosting its 23rd annual Great Bridgton Duck Race on Monday, July 4th at 11:30 am at the Stevens Brook bridge on Main Street, Bridgton. Rotarians are selling tickets outside Renys Department Store on weekends, at Music on Main, at the fireworks on Sunday evening at Stevens Brook Elementary School, and the day of the race on Main Street. At $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00, Rotarians are able to raise about 30 percent of the funds needed for scholarships, community suppers, and other projects addressing the needs of veterans, children and the food insecure. Winners of the Duck Race receive prizes in the amount of $500, 1st prize; $250, 2nd prize; and $100, 3rd prize. Reach out to a Rotarian for your tickets. |
Justin McIver Updates the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Justin McIver of Main Eco Homes, spoke with Bridgton-Lake Region Rotarians and Friends about working together to enhance the vibrancy of Bridgton. Examples he cited included: Music on Main, a planned Market on Main, and the revitalization of the Stevens Brook Trail. About 20 people assembled either in-person at Stella's on the Square or via Zoom. |
ROTARIAN JESSE WALSH AWARDS ADULT ED SCHOLARSHIP Rotarian Jesse Walsh presented a $500 scholarship to Sarah Rowe of Denmark as part of the 2022 Adult Education Graduation Program on Tuesday, June 14. Sarah is looking forward to her studies at Central Maine Community College with plans to enroll in the Social Sciences Program and eventually transfer to a Bachelors Program in the future. We Rotarians wish you congratulations and all of the very best in your future plans, Sarah Rowe! This award represents one of three scholarships given out by the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club each year to students pursuing academic or vocational careers. |
ROTARY RECOGNIZES CITIZENS OF THE MONTH FROM LRHS
Picture Caption: Citizen of the Month Honorees Recognized (l to r): Libby Blais, Sam Brown, Abby Elsaesser, Brianna Sargent and Shivani Prado. Sabrina Lopez was absent from the event and picture. Thursday, May 19, 2022, Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club had the extreme pleasure of honoring six Citizens of the Month, seniors from Lake Region High School, who exemplify service in school and the community. Each student, as well as their family members, friends and teachers were recognized. The celebratory breakfast was created by Rotarians Carol Rothenberg and Joanne Cohn, key members on the Club’s Youth Committee. From the podium Carol Rotenberg did the honors of acknowledging each student. President Jessica Lynn Putnam presented each in turn with a framed certificate and a $100 gift card. About 30 people attended the gathering held at the Bridgton Community Center. Due to the pandemic, this is the first celebratory event for Citizens of the Month in three years. The six were honored all together rather than separately as they have been in years past. Honorees were Libby Blais (November), Sam Brown (December), Abby Elsaesser (January), Sabrina Lopez (February), Brianna Sargent (March), and Shivani Prado (April). Remarked Jessica Putnam after the event. “Congratulations to all the Citizens of the Month. What an outstanding group of young people. For us Rotarians, it was a wonderful occasion for an in-person meeting, something we’ve not done enough of lately.” |
ROTARY CLUB CONTINUES TO SUPPORT FOOD BANK
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ROTARY CLUB MAKES HYBRID WORK! Rotary Club President Jessica Putnam and Speaker Mike Jewell of Kismet Rock Foundation After nearly two years exclusively on Zoom, the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is adapting well to the hybrid option when the majority of members are meeting in person. “Each meeting the Hybrid Option is working better and better,” exclaimed Jessica Putnam, President for the Club. “This past week we had three speakers, two in person and one virtual. About 12 Rotarians and guests attended the meeting in person at Stella’s on the Square. Another six attended virtually. We are making it work, even with slide shows and speakers both in person and virtually. The benefit of hybrid is that members who are out of town, checking in from work, or not yet comfortable meeting with others indoors, are able to participate. And those choosing the fellowship that in person gatherings affords are able to do that as well. We are excited that it is working so well.”
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Bridgton Lakes Region Rotary Club Cooks up another Successful Community KettleThe Bridgton Lakes Region Rotary Club held its first Community Kettle for 2022 on Thursday, February 24 at the Bridgton Community Center. Chef Nick Orgo, owner of Stella’s on the Square, guided a group of enthusiastic volunteers from the Rotary Club and the Interact Club of the Lake Region High School in the preparation of a hearty combination of chili, cornbread, salad, and cookies. The delicious take-out dinner was well-received, as usual. Please look for our next Community Kettle and join us for a special gourmet meal.  Rotary Club President-Elect Aaron Hagan and LRHS Interact Club member Tyler LaFontaine giving take-out dinners to a happy drive-through customer.  LRHS Interact Club members Tyler Lafontaine, Barbara Kelly and Vella Woodbury help distribute chili dinners to drive-through customers at the Community Kettle on Feb. 24. |
ROTARY CLUB TO HOST COMMUNITY KETTLE DINNER IN BRIDGTON FEB 24th The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club will host a Drive-Through Community Kettle at the Bridgton Community Center on Depot Street in Bridgton on Thursday, February 24th from 4:00-5:00 pm or until the food runs out. Rotarian and chef, Nicholas Orgo of MANE Catering and Stella’s on the Square will be preparing this meal with Rotary helpers. Everyone is welcome. Menu: Chili and Cornbread, mixed greens salad and homemade cookies. The meal is free to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted. Interact Club members from Lake Region High School (young Rotarians), Rotarians and Friends of Rotary will be assisting with food preparation, serving and clean up. If you would like to help at this community event, contact us at lakeregionrotary@gmail.com. For more information about the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club and its activities, check the website https://lakeregionrotary.com or the Facebook Page. |
ROTARIAN HELPS RESCUE AFGHAN FAMILY The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club jumped into the New Year 2022 with a wonderful, heart-warming presentation by Jen Fullmer, Rotarian from the Biddeford-Saco Club. She told (via Zoom) about the step-by-step process of the rescue of an Afghan family from Kabul. She expressed the effort it took by American military in the U.S. and in Afghanistan to bring this family safely into Kabul Airport hours before the bombing and the airport closing. Jen, a retired Air Force Colonel, had met the father of this family, a Colonel with the Afghan military, during training at the War College in the U.S. 10 years ago and had stayed in touch with him. She is now very actively involved with resettling the family in Maine. “Jen was just the first of a lineup of speakers on important topics which the Bridgton-Lake Region Club is hosting,” remarked Jessica Putnam, President of the local club. “We have a roster including a speaker Adverse Childhood Experiences and the impact on human development and health challenges, the training of security dogs by Maine prisoners and the hazards of mining in Maine. We welcome those who are interested in these topics or in Rotary itself.” For more information about upcoming Rotary programs, being hosted via zoom during January, check out the website https://lakeregionrotary.com and Facebook Page. For the zoom link, email gszoksbox@gmail.com. If you would like to be on the mailing list to receive notification of programs and volunteer opportunities, email lakeregionrotary@gmail.com. |
ROTARY DONATES WINTER CLOTHING TO AREA SCHOOL Rotarian Aaron Hagan, Laura McCabe of Community Help, Caroline McCarthy of Bridge Crossing, Rotarian Jessica Putnam and daughter Landyn Putnam, Rotarian George Klauber and Friend of Rotary Diane Ozuma during gift giving at Bridge Crossing in Bridgton.The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club donated 20 winter coats, 20 pairs of snow pants, 25 pairs of waterproof gloves, 15 pairs of snow boots to the Crooked River Elementary School in Casco for distribution as needed by the school to children in need. “In the past,” said Aaron Hagan, President 2022-23 of the local Rotary Club, ”we’ve donated to the Songo Locks and Stevens Brook Elementary Schools. This year they were set, due to the generosity of others. The newly reopened Crooked River School had needs and would share with the other schools if some needs did develop.” Rotarians George Klauber and Aaron Hagan were pleased to hand the gifts over to Principal Steve Gagne and his team the week before Christmas. |
ROTARY DONATES THERAPEUTIC DEVICES TO AREA SCHOOL Rotarians George Klauber and Aaron Hagan drop off children's winter clothing with Crooked River Elementary School Principal Steve Gagne and staff Elizabeth Shane.The Rotary Club donated several therapeutic devices to help students at Bridge Crossing adapt to classroom learning. “When Laura McCabe at Community Help reached out to the community asking for holiday support for Bridge Crossing, I jumped into action”, reported President Jessica Putnam. “Although not as much fun for gifts as toys and even clothes, we knew it was exactly the type of need that Rotary would want to fulfill. We were so pleased to be able to help.” Rotarians were given a tour of the rehabbed common space where students live, while the students were at their brand-new school in Bridgton.
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BRIDGTON-LAKE REGION ROTARY CLUB SPONSORS GLOBAL ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIP WINNER. By: Carol Madsen, District Newsletter Editor,Public Image Committee Member, RC of Bridgton-Lake Region Each year, Rotary International awards up to 50 fully-funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of its seven peace centers. This year the candidate Cassandra Varanka, sponsored by Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club, was one of these 50 winners. Chosen from some 600 applicants across the globe, Cassandra will study at the University of Queensland's (Australia) Rotary Centre for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution starting in early 2023. This Centre is part of a global program to advance research, teaching, practical training and knowledge on issues of international relations, conflict resolution and peace-building. It offers a tailored Master's Degree in International Studies, aimed at potential world and community leaders, designed to have a practical effect on addressing international and regional conflicts. Cassandra now lives and works in Washington DC, but has strong ties to New England, where she was born, finished her college studies, and where her parents still live. She is especially attached to Bridgton where her parents have a vacation home and her uncle resides. |
LEA, ROTARY & BHS FORGING PARTNERSHIP AROUND STEVENS BROOK Alanna Doughty of Lakes Environmental Association and Mike Davis of the Bridgton Historical Society shared a wealth of knowledge with the 17 participants who joined the Stevens Brook Trail History Walk on Thursday, October 21st. The entire trail is rich with history. This walk focused on the mills from the Pondicherry Woolen Mill at the Food City site to the Smith Sash, Furniture and Coffins Factory on Smith Avenue. Participants were from Waterford, Sweden and Bridgton, along the brook and beyond. Newcomers and folks with a history of family members working in the mills participated and shared along with the educators. |
ROTARY TO HOST POLIO ERADICATION EVENT AT OLDE MILL TAVERN, THURS, OCT 28TH
WHAT: Pints for Polio |
Rotary Supports Innovation Lab Rotarians gather to witness check presentation: (l to r) Aaron Hagan, George Klauber, Carol Rothenberg, Therese Johnson, Jessica Putnam, Carol Madsen, Julie Forbes, Dave Barker and Rick Whelchel  Jessica Putnam Rotary President (R.) Presents Susan Jennings Ex. Dir of 4-H Foundation with Check for $10,000. The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club handed over its $10,000 match for local donations to the Magic Lantern Innovation Lab project. On Tuesday, October 12, President Jessica Putnam from the local Rotary Club handed a check for $10,000 to Susan Jennings, Executive Director, of the 4-H Foundation at the University of Maine, the organization behind the Magic Lantern Innovation Lab & Learning Center. This represented a pledged match for the first $10,000 raised from local citizens, nonprofits and small businesses in the lakes region. |
History Walk Scheduled for Thursday, October 21, 10:00 a.m. to NoonHistory Walk Scheduled for Thursday, October 21, 10:00 a.m. to Noon, starting at Food City parking lot in Bridgton. Carol Madsen, who chairs the Rotary Club’s Environmental Committee, said, “The portion of the trail and brook scheduled for cleanup is where Stevens Brook powered as many as nine mills from the late 1700’s into the 20th century. As recently as the 1960’s, mills were located on or near Stevens Brook. In fact, Food City is on the site of the old Pondicherry Woolen Mill. Built in 1865, it began using steam in 1889 and employed 225 people in 1904. We're excited to be working with Alanna Doughty of Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) on both the cleanup and the History Walk. Alanna has been leading these tours for several years now and will lead the historic tour of the mill sites on Thursday, October 21 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Mark your calendars." For more information about either event, contact Carol Madsen at carjmad@hotmail.com. You may reach Jessica Putnam, President of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club, for questions about Rotary at LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com. Website is https://lakeregionrotary.com. Like us on Facebook too. |
ROTARY CLEANING UP ALONG STEVENS BROOK TRAIL WITH LEAKID FRIENDLY: SCAVENGER HUNT, HEALTHY SNACKS, COSTUMES OPTIONAL. On Saturday, October 16, at 9:30 a.m., the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club and Lake Environmental Association (LEA) will lead a cleanup of Stevens Brook Trail between Food City and Smith Avenue. There will be a scavenger hunt for children, healthy snacks and costumes are optional. All are welcome. Rain Date: Sunday, October 17. This cleanup activity was originally scheduled for September and cancelled due to the weather. We’ll begin assembling at 9:30 a.m. at Food City in Bridgton and spot cars along the route. Cleanup will be from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Please bring your own work gloves and clippers. Trash bags will be provided. Although the trail is pretty clean, it is in serious need of trimming back. For more information, contact Carol Madsen at carjmad@hotmail.com. |
Tournament a Success Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club had its 12th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 18th at Bridgton Highlands Country Club. The Rotary Club would like to thank all those who made this Golf Tournament a success, including our sponsors, our golfers, our volunteers and, of course, Bridgton Highlands Country Club. “Everything was superlative," remarked Dr. Lisa Ryan, Committee Chair. "We had more golfers (68) and sponsors (40) than ever before. The weather was great for the game. The food provided by Stella’s on the Square and the Bridgton Highlands Country Club was outstanding. And we raised the amount of money we were hoping to, $10,000. This will allow us to continue to do the kind of work in the community that we are dedicated to doing.” For more information about our programs and our Club in general, check out https://lakeregionrotary.com or the Facebook page. For questions, contact President Jessica Putnam at LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com. |
OPIOID CRISIS HERE IN MAINE MAY BE WORSE THAN COVID! Chief Bob MacKenzie of the Kennebunk Police Department will speak to the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 7:30 AM via Zoom. He will address the Opioid Epidemic and Substance Use Disorder here in Maine. Chief MacKenzie is a Rotarian and Chairs the Rotary District 7780 Recovery Initiative. District 7780 covers southern Maine and coastal New Hampshire. He recently testified in front of the United States Congress H.E.L.P. Committee on the opioid epidemic and is speaking to Rotary Clubs and others across the District with the goal of educating Rotarians and community members on the crisis. Chief MacKenzie states “this is a public health crisis and we need to work together in our various communities to help save the lives of our sons/daughters, husband/wives, bothers/sisters etc.” |
Upcoming EventsROTARY CLEANING UP ALONG STEVENS BROOK TRAIL WITH LEA With SCAVENGER HUNT FOR KIDS. On Saturday, September 25, at 9:30 a.m., the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club and Lake Environmental Association (LEA) will lead a cleanup of Stevens Brook Trail between Food City and Smith Avenue. There will be a scavenger hunt for children. All are welcome. Rain Date: Sunday, September 26. We’ll begin assembling at 9:30 a.m. at Food City in Bridgton and spot cars along the route. Cleanup will be from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Please bring your own work gloves and clippers. Trash bags will be provided. For more information, contact Carol Madsen at carjmad@hotmail.com. History Walk Scheduled for Thursday, October 21, 10:00 a.m. to Noon, starting at Food City parking lot in Bridgton. Carol Madsen, who chairs the Rotary Club’s Environmental Committee, said, “The portion of the trail and brook scheduled for cleanup is where Stevens Brook powered as many as nine mills from the late 1700’s into the 20th century. As recently as the 1960’s, mills were located on or near Stevens Brook. In fact, Food City is on the site of the old Pondicherry Woolen Mill. Built in 1865, it began using steam in 1889 and employed 225 people in 1904. We're excited to be working with Alanna Doughty of Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) on both the cleanup and the History Walk. Alanna has been leading these tours for several years now and will lead the historic tour of the mill sites on Thursday, October 21 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Mark your calendars." |
Rotary District Governor Visits The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club welcomed 2021-2022 District Governor Dick Hall's visit to our local club. During his remarks, DG Hall remined everyone of the importance of Rotary and the aspects of Service in our Local Communities and around the World, Social Interaction, a place to meet people and develop long lasting friendships, and a place to have FUN. |
New President Presides Newly installed President Jessica Putnam presides over her first in-person Rotary Meeting since March 2020, on July 8, 2021. Going forward, the local Rotary Club will have a mixture of In-Person and Zoom Only meetings. Meeting locations will be posted to this website. Safety precautions for in-person meetings going forward include the requirement of masks for those members and guests not able to share their vaccination status. |
Duck Race Winners Lauren Richardson (lt), Duck Race Winner, with Rotarians Lisa Ryan and Merrill RollinsThe Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club announced the winners of the 21st Annual Great Bridgton Duck Race. Although most have yet to be reached via phone, we are pleased to feature our first-place winner, Lauren Richardson who won $500.
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ROTARIANS CONTINUE TO SELL DUCK RACE TICKETS UNTIL 11 am ON ON JULY 4TH
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ROTARY PARTNERS WITH BRIDGTON PD TO DISTRIBUTE BIKE HELMETS Rotarians Jessica Putnam, Dr. John Eliassen and SFC Brian Conroy, members of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club, joined Patrol Officer Matthew Regis and Officer Craig Hammond from to Bridgton Police Department to collect donations for Special Olympics, a special charity of the BPD, and to promote the importance of helmet safety for children in our community. Situated in front of Hayes True Value in Bridgton, 12 children were very happy with their shiny, brand new helmets.
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The 21st Year for Rotary's Great Bridgton Duck Race
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Susan Breau - Maine Hydrogeologist to Speak to Rotary
We are pleased to announce that Susan Breau, a Maine Licensed Geologist and the Water Resources Team Leader at the Maine CDC, Drinking Water Program will be our Speaker on June 3rd at 7:30 am via Zoom. Susan and her team provide technical assistance and administer funding programs for Maine public water systems in the areas of source protection; emergency preparedness, response and recovery; and water system security. During her presentation she will address these important issues:
Susan currently serves as chair of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) Security Committee and is on the WaterISAC Board of Managers. She was the Source Water Program Manager for Maine Rural Water Association for 15 years and served on the National Rural Water Association Peer Leadership Committee. Susan has experience working for a large public water system and as a hydrogeologic consultant. She has a BA in Geology from Colby College, an MS in Hydrogeology from Duke University, and is certified in mediation. Our speaker is eminently qualified. The program will be very interesting. To obtain access to the link for the program, contact George Szok at gzoksbox@gmail.com Contact Rotarian Carol Rothenberg at scroth256@gmail.com with any questions you might like to ask Susan. |
ROTARY AND BRIDGTON’S FOOD CITY PARTNER ON VOUCHERS FOR FOOD PANTRIES Lynne Barboza, Food City Assistant Manager, and Rotarian Carol Madsen Kick Off Voucher Program Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club member and past president Carol Madsen worked out details of the voucher program with Bridgton’s Food City Manager Jennifer Moran and Assistant Manager Lynne Barboza. The $5.00 vouchers can be used for laundry detergent or other household cleaning supplies by food pantry patrons. Over 200 vouchers have been distributed over the past few weeks by local pantries.
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ROTARIANS CHECK ON STATUS OF CROCUS BULBS PLANTED IN OCTOBER TO PROMOTE POLIO ERADICATION Rotarians Amy Dugas, Julie Forbes, Lisa Ryan, Carol Madsen and Bridgton Hospital’s Director of Nursing and Patient Services Jill Rollins assembled on Thursday, April 15, at the planting site to see the crocuses' progress. It was feared the delicate blooms would not survive the impending Nor'easter on Friday. "Only a third of the bulbs we'd planted in October had bloomed and they looked a little bedraggled" said Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club President Julie Forbes, ND.
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Save The Date |
Rotarians Help with Roadside Cleanup Rotarian Jessica Putnam during Trash Pickup Earth Day 2018 ROTARIANS TO HELP WITH ROADSIDE CLEAN-UP IN NAPLES & BRIDGTON Rotarians will help with roadside trash pickup in Naples and Bridgton in honor of Earth Day. On Thursday, April 22, at 9:30 am, they will assemble at the Bridgton Community Center to work on Depot Street and in Pondicherry Park. On Saturday, April 24, at 9:30 am, they will assemble at the Lake Region High School parking lot in Naples. If you would like to join us either day, contact Rotarian Carol Madsen at carjmad@hotmail.com.
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Third Round of Masks Distributed by Rotary in the Lakes Region Rotarian Carol Madsen Gives 1200 Masks to LRHS’s Linda White. On Wednesday, March 24th, Rotarian Carol Madsen delivered 1200 Masks to the Lake Region High School. This represented 1000 adult masks and 200 children’s face coverings donated by the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club. Linda White, LRHS's Admin Assistant, remarked, “the students return full time the week of March 29th and these masks are very much appreciated.” |
Rotary Delivers Rotarians Carol Rothenberg and Peter Kaurup Present Adult Masks to Faylene McKeen at the Universalist Church of Norway. SECOND ROUND OF ROTARY’S MILLION MASK CHALLENGE DISTRIBUTED TO FOOD PANTRIES. Rotarians Carol Rothenberg of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club and Peter Kaurup of the Oxford Hills Club handing over 70 hygienically-repackaged packets of 10 masks each for distribution to patrons of the Universalist Church of Norway Food Pantry on Wednesday, March 10. Fayelene McKeen, Director of Food Pantry gratefully accepted them. |
Rotary Donates Needed Boots NEEDED BOOTS DELIVERED TO STEVENS BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BY ROTARIANS FROM BRIDGTON-LAKE REGION CLUB |
Rotary Supports Veterans (L-R) Dick Bell, Marine Veteran; Stephen Lapointe, Son of Legionnaire; Rotarian Julie Forbes, Rotary Club President; Steve Smith, Post Commander, Army; Maxine Godwin, Auxiliary; and Rotarian Dick Enright, Air Force. Naples: On Friday, February 26, the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club presented a check for $520.10 to the American Legion Post #155 in Naples to support their Veterans in Need program. |
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Annual Dictionary Project |
Rotary Distributes 750 Child MasksBRIDGTON, Maine — Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club Distributes 750 children's face coverings.  |
Rotary Club Receives 5000 masks to distribute to Local Food Pantries Patrons January 18, 2021 - Rotarians Peter Kaurup and Carol Rothenberg were part of Mask Handoff in Harrison
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Rotarian Dr. Lisa Ryan Receives First Vaccine Dose |
Rotary Supports Bridgton Public Library Library accepts Rotary Club’s donation. Shown holding the check are Amy Stone – Library Director, and Aaron Hagan – Rotary member; others from Left are: Sally Dunning President of Library Trustees, and Friends of the Library Mary Hubka, Debbie Szok, Therese Johnson and Carol Bibeau. |
FOOD CITY-BRIDGTON PARTNERS WITH ROTARY CLUB
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Rotarians Deliver for Christmas Angel Rotarians Nick Orgo and George Klauber deliver Christmas Angel gifts to Songo Locks School.
Nick coordinated this years holiday gifting project. The BLRRC donated new snow coats, snow pants, winter boots hats and gloves to the school. |
Rotarians Dedicate Bus Stop Shelter ROTARIANS DEDICATE BUS STOP SHELTER AT BRIDGTON COMMUNITY CENTER Bridgton, Maine: Rotarians from the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club assembled on Friday, December 4, to dedicate the Bus Stop Shelter at the Bridgton Community Center in the name of Rotarian Marlee Turner who passed two years ago. The Shelter is a Rotary project inspired by Marlee and championed by Dick Enright who worked with the Lake Region Vocational Center, Construction Technology Program, which built this beautiful structure to top quality specifications as a community project. President Julie Forbes welcomed the group and praised Marlee Turner as living Rotary's motto, Service Above Self. Carmen Lone, Rotarian and Selectperson for the Town of Bridgton, accepted the turnover of the Shelter to the Town of Bridgton. Dick Enright thanked everyone for their role in this project, especially the Lake Region Vocational Center, Construction Technology students from the Classes of 2019 and 2020. A Certificate of Appreciation has been prepared and will be formally presented post pandemic. Rotary wants to thank the Lake Region Vocational Center participants and retail partners who offered discounts or made donations of product including Hancock Lumber, Hayes True Value, Home Depot, and Lowes. The Regional Transportation Program, the Lakes Region Explorer Bus Company made a significant donation to the project. This is the first shelter along the Bridgton to Portland route. The bus company will assess the value of this structure to see if other shelters would be warranted. For more information about the bus service, check out the Town of Bridgton's website: Lakes Region Explorer 2020 Schedule & Route Updates - Town of Bridgton, Maine. For information about Rotary and our projects and service programs, email LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com. Like Us on Facebook and keep uptodate on the local Rotary Club's work. |
Interact Club presents donationsInteract Club, Astra Club & Lake Region High School present donations to Bridgton American Legion Post.     |
Bridgton's Community Development Director |
Community Kettle Community Kettle - Our club hosted the dinner on 11/5/19 at the Bridgton Community Center. Nick Orgo, Rotarian lead the team that provided a delicious meal of squash soup, turkey, ham, mashed potatos, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and cookies for dessert. Our High School Interact Club served the meals.     |
Youth Safety DayOur Rotary Club donated $1200 in support of Youth Safety Day. Funds were used to purchase bike helmets.  .JPG) .JPG) .JPG) .JPG) |
November 8th Meeting Features NAHGAThe Bridgton Lake Region Rotary Club is hosting the first in a series of programs featuring local businesses. Our November 8th meeting kicked us off to a great start... Have you ever wondered what happens in the beautiful NAHGA building in downtown Bridgton? Marney Chalmers joined us and gave a really wonderful presentation of how this business in small-town Bridgton is making a big impact in the lives of their clients. Out-of-this-world claims processing by down-to-earth people: at NAHGA, Stellar Service is no accident! NAHGA is a Third Party Administrator (TPA) that is nationally recognized for processing claims with a personal touch. While they value technology, they know that automation cannot take the place of a friendly voice and a personal connection with your adjuster. Others may say they care about every client, but at NAHGA, they demonstrate that with personal attention and timely, accurate service on every claim. Earning Clients' NAHGA is a family-owned company with offices in Bridgton, ME and North Conway, NH. Since their founding in 1991, they've grown to more than forty employees, and process claims for ten of the premier writers of health and accident insurance for students, sports leagues, day cares and many other organizations. They can customize a claims adjudication program for any organization, large or small, including high-deductible and self-funded plans. BRIDGTON, MAINE LOCATION P. (207) 647-3108 | F. (207) 647-4569 https://www.nahgaclaimservices.com/
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Literacy Loons! Children’s Librarian Samantha Zawistowski accepts donation for Literacy Loons!
The Bridgton Public Library is excited to announce a partnership with the Bridgton-Lakes Region Rotary Club in a project to help promote literacy among children in the community. Literacy Loons! gives every Stevens Brook first grader the opportunity to receive up to $14 of free books from Bridgton Books simply by using their library cards! This community effort is supported also by Bridgton Books, Friends of the Library, and Bear Pond Learning. It’s always exciting to see more young faces at the library!
Samantha is flanked by George Szok and George Klauber |
ROTARY TO HOST STREETSCAPE & WASTEWATER PROJECTS TALKS |
9th Annual Golf TournamentOur 9th annual Golf Tournament was held on Saturday, 6/9/18. Proceeds benefit Youth, Seniors and Veterans.  |
Citizens of of MonthCitizens of the Month Michael Peterson and Dominic Adams were recognized at last week's meeting and also volunteered at the June 9th Golf Tournament.   |
Community KettleOur Club will prepare and serve the Community Kettle on February 8th. Volunteers will be needed for serving and clean up.
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Paul Harris Award - Julie ForbesRotarian Julianne Forbes received her sixth Paul Harris Fellow pin for contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Her contributions are directed to the Polio Plus program.  |
Citizen of the Month - JanuaryCitizen of the Month, Olivia Deschenes, is recognized for displaying good citizenship and contributions to the school community. Presenting Olivia is Linda England, Rotary Interact Advisor and Rotarian Lisa Ryan. Congratulations Olivia!  |
Spreading Christmas Joy!This Christmas our Rotary Club adopted students from Songo Locks and Steven’s Brook Elementary Schools so they could have presents under the tree. These included clothes, winter wear and toys. Here is a letter from Amy Saunders at Songo Locks expressing her appreciation. “Songo Locks can't thank you enough for your kindness and generosity to the children and families at the holiday time. The families were grateful for the thoughtfulness and usefulness of items. It is people like you and your organization that make this community great. Please send out sincerest appreciation to all your volunteers and club members. Cheers to a New year!”  Pictured making deliveries (left to right) are George Klauber, Dave Barker, Amy Saunders and Joe Barth. |
New Playground in Bridgton     Our club completed installation of a new playground at Bridge Crossing/Dodge House School in Bridgton. This facility is a co-educational facility for students 5-14 years of age. Rotarian Sheila Rollins, Project Coordinator, advises it will provide opportunities for development of cognitive skills, problem solving, and social/emotional skills. This was partially funded through a District Grant by the Rotary Foundation. |
Dictionary DistributionOver 150 dictionaries were delivered to third graders today at Stevens Brook Elementary, Songo Locks Elementary and the Dodge House School. Rotarians who made it all happen were Erin Nelson, George Klauber, Linda England, Carol Madsen and Mike Daley.      |
Fryeburg Fair 2017Thank you for supporting us at the Fryeburg Fair!   |
Community KettleAs part of our serving the community we prepared and served an "Hawaiian" dinner on August 10, 2017.    |
DG Dave Underhill Visit District Governor Dave Underhill was our guest on September 14th. We were presented with a grant check to assist with the construction of a playground at Bridge Crossing.
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Rotary members in the Bridgton-Lakes Region are taking action in honor of World Polio Eradication to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today. $1 of every pint sold on October 28, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to Closing at the Olde Mill Tavern will be donated to Rotary’s fight to eradicate Polio. 
THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021
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