Orr’s Island pioneer honored

New information on a family ancestor led descendants of Orr’s Island early settler Black Will Jr. to gather at the Community Memorial Garden of the Captain Morrill House on June 15 to commemorate Will’s life. The occasion was prompted by new information on Will in the book, “Lives of Consequence,” by Patricia Q. Wall. Family and friends shared family lore and connections and heard a discussion on Will and the era of slavery in Maine by Wall, Orr’s Island historian Gerald York and others.

Born in 1690 of an unlawful relationship between enslaved Black Will Sr. of Kittery and a white woman named Alice Hanscom, Will’s life was often beset by racism and injustice. Still, he succeeded in becoming a small property owner in the region, but sometime after his father died in 1727, Will Jr. sold off most of his property and, accompanied by his wife and young son, sought a better life in the forested wilderness of Downeast Maine. For a while he settled on what became known as Will’s Island (later, Bailey Island) and then, possibly in the late 1740s, he moved just north to settle on Orr’s Island. Today, navigational charts still mark the waterway between those two islands as Will’s Straight.

Breaking new ground

Project partners and Scarborough town officials broke ground June 21 and celebrated progress to date on The Beacon at Gateway, which is being built at Scarborough Gateway, just across from Cabela’s plaza. The project is due for completion this fall.  

Moving forward

Lana Sawyer, an owner and operator of Portland-based VIP Tour & Charter Bus Company, has announced major new additions to the company’s vehicle fleet with the purchase of a motor coach that seats 55 passengers and as a new 38-passenger Van Hool luxury coach. 

Hires, promotions, appointments

Maine College of Art has appointed nationally acclaimed illustrator and long-time illustration educator Mary Anne Lloyd as chair and Assistant Professor of Illustration. Her publications as illustrator include work for Scholastic and Chicago Review Press. Based in Portland since 1988, Lloyd’s local efforts are known throughout the community and include Hannaford’s grocery bag and the branding of Rosemont Market and Bakery.

Portland native Kelsey O’Neil began a nine-month clinical rotation in June at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick as part of the Tufts University School of Medicine-Maine Medical Center Program Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship program. Commonly referred to as “the Maine Track,” medical students explore multiple disciplines including OB/GYN, internal medicine, psychiatry and general surgery. 

Androscoggin Bank welcomes Lisa McAuliffe as vice president, Treasury Services Officer. McAuliffe is based out of the bank’s Portland office.

The Connectivity Group, a design/build technology company based in Falmouth, announced the following new hires: Brandon Byrom, project manager/estimator; Karen Knights, executive administrative assistant/office manager; Deborah Fritszon, finance manager; and Theresa Soucie, accounting analyst.

The Portland Conservatory of Music welcomed Director Maria Belva, a long-time choral conductor for both adults and youth who comes from New Hampshire, where she founded and for 20 years directed the Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs.

Carrie A. Green, a founding member of Yardley Esq. PLLC, with offices in Yarmouth, Portland and Biddeford, has joined the Board of the Association for Consulting Expertise, a nonprofit association of consultants providing educational and skill-building programs, networking and collaboration.

Recognition

The Maine Association of Planners recognized excellence in planning at its annual meeting in Lewiston on June 15, when Lynne Seeley of Yarmouth was named Professional Planner of the Year and South Portland West End Neighborhood Master Plan was recognized as Plan of the Year.

Granted

Full Plates Full Potential has awarded 21 statewide summer food service program grants totaling over $53,000. Included were Mid Coast Hunger Prevention, Program in Brunswick, $1,500 for food and staffing, and Cumberland County Food Security Council Portland, $2,500 to print maps of summer meal sites.

Giving back

Ron and Cindi Lydick, owners of the Falmouth McDonald’s, donated a check for $500 to the local police department June 14. Chief Ed Tolan accepted the donation, which will be put toward community policing and school programs.

Save the date

Portland Buy Local Annual Meeting and Celebration will be held 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 at Maine Craft Distilling, 123 Washington Ave. Snacks will be provided and beverages available for purchase. Members of the board will update attendees about what the organization accomplished in the past year and the new 2018-19 directory will be available. Members are encouraged to bring guests to the event, which is free and open to the public.

O’NeilSeeleyMcAuliffe

Descendants of Orr’s Island early settler Black Will Jr. gathered at the Community Memorial Garden of the Captain Morrill House on Harpswell Road on June 16 to commemorate their ancestor’s life. In front, from left, are Paul Boisvert, Pat Wall and Rosanne Adams. In back are Pat Boisvert, Faith Woodman, Gerald York, Nola Denslow, Stephen Black and Robert Fisher.

Mid-Coast’s first responders were honored at a community barbecue in Brunswick on June 23. From left are Monica Johnson, Topsham Fire Department & EMS; Dave Hudson, Mid-Coast Hospital; Adam Cafro, Brunswick Fire Department & EMS; Ian Kay, Topsham Fire Department & EMS; Lt. John Faith, Brunswick Fire Department & EMS and Chris Hallisey, Brunswick Fire Department & EMS.