Easton awarded grant from Project Canopy
EASTON NEWS
Project Canopy, a cooperative partnership between the Maine Forest Service and GrowSmart Maine, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Project Canopy Assistance Grants.
The review team selected 12 Planning and Education grants and seven Tree Planting and Maintenance Grants, totaling $134,916 in awards. Planting grants were awarded to Easton, as well as Belfast, Camden, Hallowell, Scarborough, Topsham and Yarmouth.
Project Canopy received 24 applications — eight from new communities and organizations, with a total grant request of $173,763.
The 2015 Project Canopy Grant Application and associated Easton Urban Forestry Program 2016 activities are intended to effectively contribute toward Project Canopy and United States Forest Service (USFS) goals and will focus on three distinct priority areas. The first activity includes shade tree planting along Duncan Drive, a relatively new development currently lacking adequate shade and noise/visual barriers from traffic.
The second focus activity for 2016 is the pruning and shaping, fertilizing, and base improvements to existing community trees, many of which were planted with 1999 Project Canopy funding. These trees are located in the Estes Cemetery, along Main Street, at the schools, and along major routes in the growth area.
The third proposed activity is the planting of an evergreen windbreak adjacent to the Easton Elementary School. This windbreak will be located on the west side of the school which is the direction of the prevailing winter winds. Although the school has taken great strides to improve on the energy efficiency of the school, a significant amount of heat loss at the school is due to the extreme winter winds from the west which create a negative pressure and thus heat loss from the school. A windbreak planted on the west side of the school will help reduce the heat loss in the school and also reduce the amount of windblown snow required to be removed.
The committee plans to get the school children involved in the planting of this hedge windbreak and as the hedge develops, this project will serve as a science-based educational tool for the school children — one of the major USFS national goals.
Happy Days Club announces new officers
The Happy Days Senior Citizens’ Club met for a potluck lunch on Jan. 28 with 14 members and two guests present. The officers elected for 2016 were President Annette Copeland, Vice President Barbara Bonville, Secretary Jean Ann Ames, Assistant Secretary Pat Coffin and Treasurer Liana DeMerchant.
The next meeting will be a potluck lunch at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11 in the recreation room at the Manor. The special guest will be Lisa Clark from RSVP. Please join us and bring a friend.
Girl Scouts in need of troop leader
The Easton Girl Scouts are currently looking for adult volunteers to lead a new troop of girls in Kindergarten and grade one.
Troop 691, the troop currently based in Easton, can no longer take on younger girls in order to better care for their current members of girls in grades 2-8. A second troop and new leaders are needed to keep the Girl Scouting traditions and experiences alive in our great community of Easton.
Anyone can apply to be a Girl Scout volunteer. You do not have to be a Girl Scout mom to be a leader. Dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles and even moms with sons who just want some “girl time” can apply to be a volunteer!
Each troop needs two unrelated, Girl Scouts of Maine-approved volunteers, one of which is a female, to work together as its leaders. Those interested in being a volunteer or if you have a daughter who would like to join Girl Scouts should contact Kris Lento at 207-488-2632 or krislento@gmail.com.
Kiwanis Calendars available
Easton Kiwanis Community Birthday Calendars have arrived and there is an ample supply available for purchase. The cost is $10. Please contact Keith or Esther Richardson at 488-6101 to ensure getting your calendars.
Kiwanis meetings
Kiwanis Club of Easton meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend. Dinner provided for a small fee. Please plan to join them.
Hillary Hallett is the correspondent for Easton. She can be reached by sending an e-mail to hillary_jt@myfairpoint.net or calling 551-7737.
