http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/-t1.htm Mainers that stand out. Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:34:53 GMT 10 http://i18.servimg.com/u/f18/11/65/21/31/banner10.jpg http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/-t1.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/lego-may-snap-up-maine-7-year-old-s-idea-t18799.htm Outspoken Lego may snap up Maine 7-year-old's idea The company wants to talk with Falmouth's Quaid Guarino about his brainstorm for using the toy. By RAY ROUTHIER Staff Writer Portland Press Herald Quaid Guarino was playing with some Legos at the dining room table in March when an idea hit him. The 7-year-old – who has 32 bins of Lego products filling two rooms of his family's Falmouth home – was sure he had discovered something the Lego company would want to know about. "He called ... Maine People Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:34:53 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/lego-may-snap-up-maine-7-year-old-s-idea-t18799.htm#22106 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/lego-may-snap-up-maine-7-year-old-s-idea-t18799.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/grand-marshal-surprised-to-be-selected-t18751.htm Outspoken Grand marshal surprised to be selected BY SCOTT MONROE Staff Writer Morning Sentinel WINSLOW -- H. Sylvio Normandeau was outside the Winslow Community Federal Credit Union, doing what he normally does this time of year: Grilling hot dogs and accepting donations for children with cancer. But what was about to happen was out of the ordinary. Ron LeClair, chairman of the volunteer Winslow Fourth of July Family Celebration Committee, approached the 81-year-old man and asked if ... Maine People Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:54:58 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/grand-marshal-surprised-to-be-selected-t18751.htm#22049 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/grand-marshal-surprised-to-be-selected-t18751.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/from-ground-control-to-endeavour-mainers-connect-t18746.htm Outspoken From Ground Control to Endeavour, Mainers connect A York High graduate is part of the shuttle crew, and an Old Town native will manage his three spacewalks. By BETH QUIMBY Staff Writer Portland Press Herald When the space shuttle Endeavour blasts off soon on a trip to the International Space Station, it will carry the third astronaut with ties to Maine. On the ground, another Mainer will manage his spacewalks. Christopher Cassidy, a 1988 graduate of York High School, is one of ... Maine People Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:00:03 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/from-ground-control-to-endeavour-mainers-connect-t18746.htm#22042 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/from-ground-control-to-endeavour-mainers-connect-t18746.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/boy-who-saved-grandfather-gets-ovation-t18737.htm Outspoken Boy who saved grandfather gets ovation The 8-year-old is honored by Gov. Baldacci and the Legislature for his quick thinking in an emergency. The Associated Press AUGUSTA — When a lobster trap rope pulled Lester Drisko Sr. into the water and entangled him last month, his 8-year-old grandson didn't panic. Mathew Drisko reached over and tied a life jacket around his barely conscious grandfather and took control of the boat. Authorities say he saved his grandfather's life. Mathew ... Maine People Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:03:16 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/boy-who-saved-grandfather-gets-ovation-t18737.htm#22033 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/boy-who-saved-grandfather-gets-ovation-t18737.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/d-day-t18702.htm Outspoken D-DAY Two veterans of the Allied landings on Omaha Beach bear witness to history: 'I've never seen such bravery in my life' By ELBERT AULL Staff Writer Portland Press Herald LEBANON — His friends called him "Saint" back then. He was 23. More than six decades later, Florien St. Arnault still remembers the gunfire, the mines, the artillery shells – the chaos of the day that turned the tide of World War II in Europe. "It was hell on earth, and I lost some buddies," ... Maine People Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:33:47 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/d-day-t18702.htm#21990 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/d-day-t18702.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/belgrade-lakes-man-to-take-space-cation-for-200000-t18684.htm Outspoken Belgrade Lakes man to take space-cation for $200,000 BY AMY CALDER Staff Writer Morning Sentinel WATERVILLE -- Stephen LaVerdiere's childhood dream of becoming an astronaut may not have panned out, but next year he plans to be the first Maine native to catapult into space. LaVerdiere, 59, is scheduled to travel up to 80 miles into space aboard the rocket ship, SpaceShipTwo, as part of a space tourism venture developed by Virgin Galactic. SpaceShipTwo will be launched by ... Maine People Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:16:21 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/belgrade-lakes-man-to-take-space-cation-for-200000-t18684.htm#21972 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/belgrade-lakes-man-to-take-space-cation-for-200000-t18684.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/go-for-it-t18637.htm Outspoken 'GO FOR IT' At 78, great-grandmother graduates from Poland Spring Academy BY LINDSAY TICE Lewiston Sun Journal Nellie DeCoteau heard it so often growing up -- "You can't do anything right. You'll never amount to anything" -- that she almost came to believe it. By the time she was 16, she'd dropped out of her South Paris high school. DeCoteau had been ill and away from class for two years and everyone seemed so far ahead of her. She didn't believe she could catch up. For ... Maine People Sun, 31 May 2009 11:47:26 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/go-for-it-t18637.htm#21918 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/go-for-it-t18637.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cop-testifies-in-1983-slaying-death-is-delayed-t18544.htm Outspoken Cop testifies in 1983 slaying; death is delayed BY AMY CALDER Staff Writer Morning Sentinel Waterville Detective Sgt. John Gould, like many police officers, never knows what he's going to get into from day to day. Last week, he was called to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., by that state's U.S. Attorney's Office to testify in a case about death-row inmate John Richard Marek who initially was scheduled to be executed Wednesday at Florida State Prison, but whose execution was stopped. Marek, ... Maine People Sat, 16 May 2009 00:15:33 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cop-testifies-in-1983-slaying-death-is-delayed-t18544.htm#21809 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cop-testifies-in-1983-slaying-death-is-delayed-t18544.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cony-grad-will-study-ukraine-forests-t18499.htm Outspoken Cony grad will study Ukraine forests as result of Fulbright Scholarship BY BETTY ADAMS Staff Writer Kennebec Journal Growing up in the Pine Tree State fueled Brian Milakovsky with a love of forests. Now his keen intellect, knowledge of Russian and forestry master's degree from Yale University has earned him a Fulbright scholarship to study the forests of Ukraine. Milakovsky, 23, whose home is in Somerville, will be based at the National Agricultural University in Kiev, where ... Maine People Mon, 11 May 2009 23:46:53 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cony-grad-will-study-ukraine-forests-t18499.htm#21759 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cony-grad-will-study-ukraine-forests-t18499.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/madison-more-than-a-century-of-memories-t18342.htm Outspoken MADISON: More than a century of memories BY DOUG HARLOW Staff Writer Morning Sentinel MADISON -- To say that Mary Russell Foss is old-fashioned and conservative would be something of an understatement. After all, Foss, who is 104, grew up in a house with kerosene lamps, horse-and- buggies and dirt roads. She was already 16 years old, in 1920, when women were granted the right to vote. Old-fashioned? "Yes I am, and proud of it," she said. Foss said she never ... Maine People Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:08:52 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/madison-more-than-a-century-of-memories-t18342.htm#21576 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/madison-more-than-a-century-of-memories-t18342.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/showing-their-mettle-t18308.htm Outspoken SHOWING THEIR METTLE: Gardiner brothers collect aluminum to help soldiers BY MECHELE COOPER Staff Writer Kennebec Journal GARDINER -- For the past 10 months, Nathan and Cole Cameron have been collecting aluminum soda-can tabs to help purchase artificial limbs for soldiers. Eleven-year-old Nathan and Cole, his 8-year-old brother, decided to start a tab drive after seeing a young soldier at Togus VA Medical Center with an artificial arm struggle to hold his infant son. They were ... Maine People Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:49:27 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/showing-their-mettle-t18308.htm#21535 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/showing-their-mettle-t18308.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cony-grad-comes-up-short-in-her-bid-to-become-miss-usa-t18292.htm Outspoken Cony grad comes up short in her bid to become Miss USA BY BILL STEWART Staff Writer Kennebec Journal One by one, the lucky 15 semifinalists were announced before a national-television audience Sunday night. Kentucky, Arkansas, California, West Virginia and North Carolina. And one by one, the contestants made their way to front of the stage inside the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, their dreams of becoming Miss USA still alive. Connecticut, Tennessee, ... Maine People Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:58:41 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cony-grad-comes-up-short-in-her-bid-to-become-miss-usa-t18292.htm#21517 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/cony-grad-comes-up-short-in-her-bid-to-become-miss-usa-t18292.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/hundreds-pay-tribute-to-ricky-gibson-t18280.htm Outspoken Hundreds pay tribute to Ricky Gibson BY BETTY ADAMS Staff Writer Morning Sentinel A community almost 500 strong said good-bye to 16-year-old Ricky Gibson on Saturday, gathering first at St. Francis Xavier Church in Winthrop and then at the parish hall to share memories of the boy who literally lit up his world. Gibson, who lived in Wayne and was a sophomore at Maranacook High School, died of a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer April 10, seven months after the diagnosis. But ... Maine People Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:59:12 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/hundreds-pay-tribute-to-ricky-gibson-t18280.htm#21503 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/hundreds-pay-tribute-to-ricky-gibson-t18280.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/uma-professor-to-teach-in-slovenia-as-fulbright-scholar-t18264.htm Outspoken UMA professor to teach in Slovenia as Fulbright scholar BY MATTHEW STONE Staff Writer Morning Sentinel AUGUSTA -- Lisa Botshon is curious to see what her academic field looks like overseas. An English professor at the University of Maine at Augusta, Botshon learned this week she'll get a chance to see how American Studies are taught at a university in Slovenia. In fact, she'll be doing the teaching. Botshon is the latest UMA professor to be selected as a Fulbright scholar. ... Maine People Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:05:40 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/uma-professor-to-teach-in-slovenia-as-fulbright-scholar-t18264.htm#21484 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/uma-professor-to-teach-in-slovenia-as-fulbright-scholar-t18264.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/treasure-hunters-t18254.htm Outspoken Treasure hunters A Portland-based company hopes to find billions of dollars worth of platinum ingots beneath 600 feet of ocean. By JOHN RICHARDSON Staff Writer Portland Press Herald A Portland-based shipwreck hunter says he is about to recover the world's richest sunken treasure – a secret World War II cargo of platinum and diamonds that's worth $3 billion to $5 billion. Greg Brooks and his partners have filed a claim to the wreck in U.S. District Court in Portland. ... Maine People Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:29:40 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/treasure-hunters-t18254.htm#21473 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/treasure-hunters-t18254.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/waterville-author-wins-another-award-t18245.htm Outspoken Waterville author wins another award BY VALERIE TUCKER Correspondent Morning Sentinel WATERVILLE -- Local novelist Ron Currie Jr. has won the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Addison M. Metcalf Award, a $10,000 prize given to a young writer of great promise, according to the academy. "An award from the Academy of Arts and Letters is particularly gratifying," Currie said, "because winners are chosen by Academicians, bar none the best American writers alive ... Maine People Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:38:38 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/waterville-author-wins-another-award-t18245.htm#21464 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/waterville-author-wins-another-award-t18245.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/inspirational-athlete-dies-t18144.htm Outspoken INSPIRATIONAL ATHLETE DIES BY GARY HAWKINS Staff Writer Kennebec Journal Ricky Gibson, the Maranacook Community High School sophomore whose dreams of illuminating his team's football field came true, died Friday night, seven months after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The 16-year-old Wayne native made statewide and national headlines after he was contacted by the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and asked that the organization's $6,000 grant go toward lights for the football ... Maine People Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:15:50 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/inspirational-athlete-dies-t18144.htm#21346 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/inspirational-athlete-dies-t18144.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/augusta-a-gift-that-keeps-giving-t18125.htm Outspoken AUGUSTA: A gift that keeps giving BY MECHELE COOPER Staff Writer Kennebec Journal AUGUSTA -- Leftover donations collected by Harry McKenney to help Robert and Elizabeth Bell light their 50-foot blue spruce last Christmas have been put to good use. With the assistance of J&S Oil Co., McKenney purchased an electric hot-water heater for the Bells' single-wide trailer on Eastern Avenue in Augusta. McKenney, a chief civil deputy for the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office, said ... Maine People Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:35:49 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/augusta-a-gift-that-keeps-giving-t18125.htm#21326 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/augusta-a-gift-that-keeps-giving-t18125.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/comforting-kids-in-courtrooms-t18012.htm Outspoken Comforting kids in courtrooms BY BETTY ADAMS Staff Writer Kennebec Journal AUGUSTA -- An 8-year-old girl hugged a stuffed animal while the man who sexually abused her was sentenced at a recent Kennebec County Superior Court trial. The toy that brought her some comfort came from Ruth Collins, of West Gardiner, donor of hundreds of stuffed animals over the past decade to child victims involved in cases in Superior Court. On Friday, District Attorney Evert Fowle presented Collins ... Maine People Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:32:32 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/comforting-kids-in-courtrooms-t18012.htm#21197 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/comforting-kids-in-courtrooms-t18012.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/augusta-man-heads-to-italy-for-world-pizza-championships-t17915.htm Outspoken Augusta man heads to Italy for World Pizza Championships BY BETTY ADAMS Staff Writer Morning Sentinel Bedecked in a blue, black and white chef's frock, Powers McGuire will prepare pizza the Augusta way next month in Salsomaggiore Terme, a spa town in northern Italy. McGuire is competing on a team of pizza makers from the United States. They're entered in the World Pizza Championships April 6, 7 and 8, billed as the biggest competition in the world for pizza. In contrast to ... Maine People Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:09:59 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/augusta-man-heads-to-italy-for-world-pizza-championships-t17915.htm#21086 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/augusta-man-heads-to-italy-for-world-pizza-championships-t17915.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/underwood-to-compete-for-miss-usa-title-t17914.htm Outspoken Underwood to compete for Miss USA title BY SADA REED Staff Writer Morning Sentinel BENTON -- In the not so distant past, Ashley Underwood was playing basketball for the University of Maine, training for a program to which she contributed 1,000 career points. These days, Underwood, 24, is studying for a different kind of performance. After being crowned Miss Maine USA last November, Underwood has spent the last three months preparing for the Miss USA pageant by, among other things, ... Maine People Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:08:26 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/underwood-to-compete-for-miss-usa-title-t17914.htm#21085 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/underwood-to-compete-for-miss-usa-title-t17914.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/she-makes-the-most-of-her-time-t17896.htm Outspoken She makes the most of her time By COLIN HICKEY Staff Writer Morning Sentinel Dorothy Cochrane is dying. The 88-year-old Cochrane is battling bladder and lung cancer, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (better known as COPD). She also had a stroke three years ago. She spends almost every waking and sleeping hour in her recliner in a corner of her room at Mount St. Joseph Nursing Home on College Avenue. She has every right to be miserable. But ... Maine People Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:22:53 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/she-makes-the-most-of-her-time-t17896.htm#21060 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/she-makes-the-most-of-her-time-t17896.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/pearl-harbor-vet-loses-final-battle-t17802.htm Outspoken Pearl Harbor vet loses final battle Former Winslow resident suffered wounds on Georgia Island, received Purple Heart BY SCOTT MONROE Staff Writer Morning Sentinel Charles L. Sherman Jr., who grew up attending schools in Winslow and was among a rare and dwindling group of survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor, died March 14 in Florida. He was 88. The surprise Japanese airstrike on Dec. 7, 1941, on the Hawaiian naval base was the catalyst for the United States' military entry ... Maine People Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:53:40 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/pearl-harbor-vet-loses-final-battle-t17802.htm#20957 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/pearl-harbor-vet-loses-final-battle-t17802.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/he-answered-when-duty-needed-him-most-t17784.htm Outspoken 'He answered ... when duty needed him most' Recruits will take the oath in a room now dedicated to Army Master Sgt. Gary Gordon. By DAVID HENCH Staff Writer Portland Press Herald PORTLAND — Betty Gordon watched with pain and pride as the unrivaled bravery of her son, Army Master Sgt. Gary Gordon, unfolded on a small television monitor in the State of Maine Room at Portland City Hall. There, as portrayed in the climactic scenes from the movie "Black Hawk Down," was ... Maine People Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:35:14 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/he-answered-when-duty-needed-him-most-t17784.htm#20928 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/he-answered-when-duty-needed-him-most-t17784.htm http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/walkers-target-breast-cancer-prevention-t17777.htm Outspoken Walkers target breast cancer prevention BY AMY CALDER Staff Writer Morning Sentinel WATERVILLE -- Jen Thibert and Aliza Welch love to walk and are passionate about raising money to help prevent breast cancer. In July, they will join six other women on the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church Pink PANTers team to walk 60 miles in Boston as part of 2009 Breast Cancer 3-Day. They each must raise a minimum of $2,300 to take part in the event, which benefits the Susan G. ... Maine People Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:36:03 GMT http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/walkers-target-breast-cancer-prevention-t17777.htm#20921 http://kennebecvalleypodium.forumotion.com/maine-people-f40/walkers-target-breast-cancer-prevention-t17777.htm