$1.4 million for New
England groundfishermen

PORTLAND — NOAA Fisheries Service has awarded $1.4 million to Portland-based Gulf of Maine Research Institute for New England groundfisherman to comply with new federal regulations.

Last year, the federal government changed the way it monitors the groundfish industry, which includes 13 different species of “fin fish,” such as cod, haddock, flounder, that are caught three miles offshore and beyond.

Previously, fishermen were monitored by number of days allowed at sea. The new monitoring program is based on pounds of fish caught by each ‘sector’ or fishing cooperative.

New England has 17 sectors, with three sectors in Maine: The Sustainable Harvest Sector, Port Clyde Community Sector and the Northeast Coastal Communities Sector.

The $1.4 million will be divided evenly between the sectors, entitling each sector to approximately $74,100. GMRI will administer the funds to the sectors to offset expenses related to complying with the new management program.  

The funds are a follow-up to an initial $1.7 million grant that GMRI received in October 2009 to administer and help support sector implementation.

Good deeds, donations

MaineLine, a non-profit coalition of Maine businesses providing catastrophe relief and rebuilding assistance, raised more than $25,000 at the “Do Good with Your Game” Celebrity Golf Tournament at Scarborough’s Nonesuch River Golf Club. All proceeds will directly benefit school and community center rebuilding efforts in Haiti.

Southern Maine Community College received a $10,000 donation from the Grainger Foundation for support of its trade programs and student scholarships. The Integrated Manufacturing Technology, Construction Technology and Heating Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration and Plumbing programs will receive $8,000. The remaining $2,000 will be used to fund four $500 scholarships for students in those programs.

The Casco Bay Culinary Association, a Maine chapter of the American Culinary Federation, awarded Wayside $1,000 to support the soup kitchen’s efforts to feed needy children in Cumberland County.

South Portland-based National Distributors Inc., and Heineken, USA, presented a check on behalf of Cumberland Farms to the Portland Police Department for $3,400 as part of the ‘Heineken with a Heart’ community program. The money will support outreach to children through the Portland Police Department’s Youth Services Division.
 
Yarmouth Arts awarded $1,000 to Yarmouth musician Vinny Fuerst of Pytheas Center for Contemporary Music to perform four musical events in the community over the next year. Merrill Memorial Library’s program “Poetry at the Library,” received $250 for program support. Yarmouth Elementary School teacher Carli Page-Redmon was awarded a $250 grant to provide supplies for her knitting program for second graders.  

 
Gorham Savings Bank has donated $20,000 to fund a USM Presidential Scholarship, as part of the University of Southern Maine’s Creating Maine’s Future Scholarship Campaign. The scholarship is awarded to a Maine high school graduate in $5,000 increments over four years of undergraduate and graduate study. USM’s location in southern Maine, a region cited as one of the most liveable in the country, offers a range of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities.

New Hires, Promotions

Gene Wendland of Portland was appointed the chief financial officer of Tilson
Technology Management in Portland. Previously, Wendland was chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Village Candle, Inc., in Topsham.

Sasha Yapparov has joined the Portland School of Ballet as director of its CORPS Program, the ballet school’s intensive dance program for high school students in partnership with Portland High School. Most recently, Yapparov was an instructor and assistant to the artistic director at Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington, D.C.

Edward Jones has named Benjamin J. Wilson as its principal financial advisor and office manager at its Cape Elizabeth branch office.

The Tractor Supply Company has named David Smith as store manager of its new Brunswick-based store located at 24 Farley Road.

Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc., of Yarmouth hired Faith Baker of Yarmouth as assistant director of marketing, responsible for managing internet ad campaigns, coordinating trade show schedules, and writing press releases.

Dr. Hugh Harwood of Cumberland has joined the practice of Southern Maine Geriatrics.

Paragon Commercial Real Estate has recently had several new hires. They are Shawn Gilbert of South Portland, broker; Jennifer Small of Portland, Licensed Associate Broker and CCIM Candidate; Diane Churchill of  Cape Elizabeth, office management and brokerage support.

The  Town  &  Country  Federal  Credit  Union  Board  of Directors named David Libby as chief executive officer and president of the organization.

Headlight Audio Visual of Portland has named Andrew Bruns as president and CEO. Bruns succeeds his father, Robert Bruns, who will remain as chairman of the board. David Coffin was named chief operations officer of the company.

KeyBank has named Steven M. Byrnes assistant vice president, team leader, and in business banking for the Southern Maine Market of Key’s Maine District. Gary Chavoustie of Key Bank has been named Key@Work executive for Maine.

Sidebar Elements

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Eddie Woodin of Scarborough, on left with his two dogs, is pictured here with Larry Gross, executive director of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, presenting a $2,500 check for the Best Friend Fund. Woodin had initiated a challenge grant to support senior citizens who need help with pet expenses and approached the Southern Maine Agency on Aging to administer the fund. Subsequently, Planet Dog Foundation, The Banfield Charitable Fund of Oregon, Fetch, Broadway Gardens Greenhouses, and private individuals made matching gifts totalling $5,795. Contributions made out to Best Friend Fund can be sent to the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, Development Department, 136 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074 or made online at smaaa.org. For more information, contact Susan DeWitt Wilder at 396-6513 or swilder@smaaa.org.