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12/12/2007

This gift marks the largest donation from a business to the campaign. Merrill Bank will present the contribution during a check donation ceremony at the Library at 1 p.m. today.

"In the past three years, visits to the Library have increased 14 percent and the total circulation of materials has increased 29 percent," said Sarah Sugden, library director. "Merrill Bank understands what a rich community resource the Library is -- helping more than 12,000 visitors a month pursue their information and recreation needs -- and wants to give back in a meaningful way."

Lucille Zelenkewich, the manager of the new branch on Main Street, said, "Libraries are critical in our Maine communities in helping further the learning experiences and aspirations of people both young and old."

Proposed seven-town

unit offers choice

PALERMO -- The proposed new regional school unit in which Palermo is involved includes Alna, Westport, Wiscasset, Windsor, Whitefield and Somerville, according to School Committee Chairman Simeon Blake Brown.

Brown told selectmen Thursday evening that the seven towns have two major things in common: They all offer high-school choice -- two don't even have elementary schools, offering students a choice of schools from kindergarten on -- and none wants its school closed.

To meet state requirements for a regional unit, the public high school in Wiscasset has agreed to take the Whitefield alternative education program as a satellite.

If the plan is approved by the state and by local voters in all participating towns, Palermo students will still be able to attend Erskine Academy in South China as they do now, Brown said. Erskine cannot be the designated high school for the regional unit, however, because Erskine trustees are unwilling to contract to accept all students.

UMF professor gets

training award

FARMINGTON -- Loraine Spenciner, University of Maine at Farmington professor of special education, has received a $10,000 award from a program designed to help make assistive and universally designed technology more available to young people with disabilities.

UMF said the award will allow Spenciner to continue her work with teachers in training on how to use assistive technology in the classroom.

The technology devices are tools that children with disabilities can use to be successful, receive their education in general education classrooms, and show their strengths and abilities when they participate in local and statewide assessments.

For more information, contact lspencin@maine.edu or visit the Web site at http://specialed.umf.maine.edu/at.php.

From staff reports

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