FMS sixth-grader: ‘Peace out’

Sarah Murphy, a sixth-grade student at Falmouth Middle School, has taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning a local competition sponsored by the Falmouth Lions Club.

Murphy’s poster was among more than 400,000 entries submitted worldwide in the 28th annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International sponsors the annual contest to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.

“The tree symbolizes life. The two girls picking the peace fruit represent that children can share peace. Every country has a choice to choose peace,” the 11-year-old Falmouth girl said. The poster was selected by Falmouth Lions members Polly Burke, Jessica Hayes and Donna Lee for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, “Share Peace.” The judging was held Nov. 5 at Falmouth Middle School.

The Murphy family have been invited to a dinner where Sarah will be honored for her participation by the Falmouth Lions Club at the American Legion Hall.

A total of 15 middle school students participated this year. For 13 years Falmouth Lions have been working with middle school art teacher Megan Lovett on the Peace Poster Contest. Every year the Lions Club provides each participating student with new drawing pads and art supplies. The Falmouth Lions also have professionally framed all of the past winning posters, which are hung throughout the middle school.

Murphy’s poster will advance to face stiff competition through the district, multiple district and international rounds of competition; one grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected.

Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization, with 1.36 million members in 210 countries and regions.

Students are seaworthy

Two SailMaine sailors attended the ISSA Cressy Singlehanded National Championship at Old Dominion University Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 after qualifying at the NESSA Singlehanded Regional Championship in Wickford, Connecticut, in early October.

Caleb Robinson from Falmouth High School finished ninth in the Radial Division and Cooper Siepert from Cape Elizabeth High School finished 12th in the Full Rig Division. Their competitors came from across the US, many from Olympic Development Programs. Both sailors will travel to Trinidad for additional training before participating in the Orange Bowl Regatta in Miami, Florida in late December.

SailMaine, a nonprofit community sailing center, connects people of all ages and abilities to the coast of Maine through fun and affordable sailing education, recreation, and competition, stimulating individual growth and creating community.

Greely grad now D.C. intern

Katelynn Boynton, a Cumberland native, has been awarded a fall internship in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Boynton, who is the daughter of Brian and Marcy Boynton, graduated from Greely High School in 2011.

“Katelynn is a very hard worker, and I am delighted to welcome her to Washington, D.C.,” Collins said. “It is always an honor to give students the opportunity to become actively involved in the legislative process and to serve the citizens of Maine.”

Boynton graduated in May from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she majored in political science. She hopes to earn a Ph.D. in Political Psychology and eventually work in academia.

Citrus sale is a class act

The Cumberland/North Yarmouth Lions Club’s 20th Annual Fresh Florida Citrus Sale is underway, with proceeds to benefit Greely High School seniors. Three different 20-pound citrus boxes are available: all oranges, all grapefruit, or half of each. Boxes are $26 each, delivered, with orders due by Dec. 1.

Home delivery in Cumberland/North Yarmouth is scheduled for around Dec. 19. Back by popular demand, orders can be taken for fruit to be delivered to local Community Food Pantry in Cumberland, a double win for the charitable program. More details can be found at www.cnylions.org/citrus-sale. All proceeds will benefit the senior class at Greely High School through college scholarships and support of Project Graduation. According to Lions Club members, since 1987 more than $208,000 has been awarded. For more information or to place an order, go to www.cnylions.org/citrus-sale, email citrusSale@cnylions.org or call 829-5063.

N. Yarmouth native inducted

Sophomore Nicholas Vogel of North Yarmouth, a business administration/finance  major in the Ithaca College School of Business, has been inducted into the Oracle Honor Society. Students who maintain a GPA in the top 10 percent of all students throughout their first full academic year are invited into the society. Founded in 1928, the Oracle Honor Society is an honors society that recognizes academic excellence at the college, located in New York’s Finger Lakes region.

FHS presents ‘The Wizard’s Crystal’

“The Wizard’s Crystal,” which chronicles the chase for the Magic Crystal between the Good Wizard Paraffin, and the Evil Sorcerer Balderdash, is being staged at Theatre at Falmouth High School Dec. 4 and 5. The one who claims the Crystal will have the power to make elephants fly, or turn a rock into a jelly sandwich – or use it for dark purposes of evil.

Written by Paul E Otteson and adapted by Samuel French, it’s a charming, enjoyable show for the whole family. The curtain will rise at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday. Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $5 for students, children and seniors, and are available 30 minutes before show time. For special seating needs, or for more information, email theatre@falmouthschools.org, see Facebook, or visit falmouththeatre.org. The school is located at 74 Woodville Road.

Sixth-grader Sarah Murphy is the winner of this year’s Lions Club Peace Poster contest at Falmouth Middle School and will go on to compete statewide. SailMaine students Caleb Robinson and Cooper Siepert competed and placed in the ISSA Cressy Singlehanded National Championship at Old Dominion University this fall.