BBBS hires new Midcoast school-based manage

CAMDEN — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, which serves youth facing adversity in Knox, Lincoln, Kennebec, Penobscot, Somerset and Waldo Counties, has hired Sarah Woodman of Rockland as a school-based manager. In this position, she will be responsible for recruiting, interviewing, screening and training prospective new high school students to serve as mentors (Big Brothers and Big Sisters) for elementary and middle school students.

She will coordinate school-based mentoring in Knox, Lincoln and Waldo Counties, and provide match support as Bigs and Littles develop their relationships. She will work out of BBBSMM's Camden office.

Prior to coming to Big Brothers Big Sisters,  Woodman worked as the program manager for Youthlinks through the AmeriCorps Great Strides Rural Education Corps program. In this role, she created and organized high school and middle school programs andplanned and organized special events and fundraisers.

She recruited new volunteers and community partners and built strong relationships with the faculty and staff of Oceanside East and West high schools. She also volunteers for Trekkers, where she tutors students and has coordinated and marketed fundraising events.

She received a B.A. in English and minored in philosophy at the University of Maine and attended the Institute for Civic Leadership's Emerging Leaders Program in 2014.

Alex Gaeth, CEO for BBBSMM said in a news release: "Sarah's experience working with middle and high school students and her program and volunteer management skills will be very helpful in this position as she recruits high school students and matches them with younger children. We are excited to have her join our team.”

"I am committed to helping our community thrive and I am passionate about connecting youth and adults with new opportunities to learn and develop. I am motivated to use my experience and skills in a transformative way to help make a difference in our world," said Woodman in the news release.

Local high school student who would like more information about becoming a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine ma contact Woodman at 236-2227 or email her at: sarah@bbbsmidmaine.org.

Eastern Tire and Strand Theatre collaboration yields donation to theater 

ROCKLAND — Eastern Tire and Auto Service, 70 Park St., and the Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., recently gave each other's organizations a boost with a unique cooperative effort, according to a news release.

The Strand helped spread the word to Facebook users that every "Like" to Eastern's Tire's Facebook page during a specific 48-hour period, up to 100 "Likes," would be matched by a $5 donation to the Strand Theatre. Though 85 "Likes" were tallied, earning a donation of $425, Eastern Tire rounded it up to an even $500. 

For more information on the Strand Theatre, visit www.rocklandstrand.com. Tel: (207) 594-0070 or email: info@rocklandstrand.com.

Searsport Farmers' Market Now Taking Applications

SEARSPORT — The Searport Farmers' Market is getting ready for its second year and is looking for additional vendors.

The market is on Route One, on the Crescent of the Penobscot Marine Museum.

It will operate Tuesday, May 26 through Tuesday, October 13, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Market vendors are Highland Organics, The Local Variety and Bake Shop, The Good Kettle, Farmetta Farm, Down Home Farm, Ducktrap Valley Maple Farm, and Gander Gardens.

For more information about the market, or for an application to join, call market manager Jim Nichols of Gander Gardens at 567-3967.

Sweet Pea’s donates to Teen and Young Parent Program

ROCKLAND — The Teen and Young Parent Program have received a donation from Sweet Pea’s Family Consignment in Rockland. On Tuesday, Jan. 13, Adrienne Randall accepted a check from Laurie Campbell-Boyer, co-owner of Sweet Pea’s.

The Teen and Young Parent Program is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been partnering with families in the Midcoast to provide support since 1989. The nonprofit has an account with Sweet Pea’s and anyone is welcome to donate their unwanted items. Just mention ‘Teen and Young Parent Program’ when dropping off the items and when they sell, the account is credited a percentage of the sale price.

Any items that Sweet Pea’s cannot sell gets donated elsewhere in the Midcoast community. Contact Sweet Pea’s for more information.

To learn more about the Teen and Young Parent Program, call 207.594.1980. For more information about Sweet Pea’s Family Consignment,  call 207.594.0095.