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Friday, February 7, 2025 Volume 21 • Issue No. 6
Helen Wood Turns 103! WELLS Avita of Wells is honored to celebrate the remarkable 103rd birthday of one of its beloved residents, Helen Wood, a woman whose life has been filled with adventure, dedication, and an unwavering spirit. Born and raised in Everett, MA, Helen was lovingly brought up by her grandparents, Arthur and Alice Thompson, alongside her aunt, Eleanor, who became more like a sister to her. Over the years, she built a beautiful life centered on family, commu-
nity, and creativity. She married her husband, Don Wood, and together they shared 57 wonderful years, raising two daughters along the way. A lifelong advocate for the arts and community engagement, Helen chaired the annual art show for American Mutual Insurance Company in Wakefield, MA, an event that became a beloved local tradition. She also served as a regional Girl Scout Cookie chairperson and was a dedicated troop leader, fostering leadership and confidence
in young girls. In her free time, Helen enjoyed playing bridge, bowling, and sewing clothing for herself and her daughters. Helen celebrated her birthday with a big party at Avita on Wednesday, February 5, complete with decorations throughout the facility and a live band playing all her favorite tunes. As she marked this milestone, she enjoyed her favorite foods – including chocolate cake – and caught up with friends and See WOOD on page 2 . . .
Mainspring Holds Grand Opening as Social Services Hub KITTERY Mainspring, a new collaborative social services hub designed to address poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity in Southern Maine and the Seacoast region of New Hampshire, will be holding its grand opening on Saturday, February 8. The event will take place at MainSpring’s new location, 22 Shapleigh Road in Kittery from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with remarks scheduled for 11 a.m. A joint initiative led by Footprints Food Pantry and Fair Tide Housing, Mainspring brings multiple nonprofit organizations together under one roof, offering a centralized intake process and shared data system. The model aims to streamline access to essential services while reducing common barriers such
as transportation and childcare. According to the U.S. Census, an estimated 10% of Seacoast residents live below the poverty line, while Feeding America reports that nearly 9% of York County residents experience food insecurity. Additionally, a United Way ALICE report indicates that 40% of York County households struggle to afford basic necessities. In response to these challenges, Footprints has seen a 67% increase in the number of households seeking assistance over the past year. Mainspring will offer a range of services, including a free food market, cooking and nutrition classes, weekly community
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YORK For the fourth consecutive year, York Public Library (YPL) will host several programs focusing on climate change in an upcoming educational series titled “Climate Change: Coastal Impacts and Resources.” In collaboration with York Ready for Climate Action and York Land Trust (YLT), York Public Library will host eight community programs starting this February and running through April, focusing on the adaptations coastal communities have needed to make in response to climate change. The majority of programs will be held online via Zoom, with a few in-person in the library’s Community Room or
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operate similarly to a market, allowing families to select from a variety of free food options in a more dignified setting. The project was made possible through a fundraising effort led by Footprints Food Pantry, Fair Tide Housing, and a team of volunteers, who secured more than $6 million for its design,
development, and construction. Organizers emphasize that Mainspring is a system-changing initiative that integrates case management and case conferencing to ensure households receive coordinated, long-term support toward financial stability. For more information, visit www.mainspringcollective.org.
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suppers, culinary job training, and refrigerated lockers for after-hours grocery access. Other available resources include housing assistance, adult education, financial literacy coaching, legal aid, prescription assistance, and peer recovery support. York County Community Action’s WIC and Outreach programs, Kittery and Eliot’s General Assistance programs, and services for veterans and seniors will also be available on-site. In addition to expanding access to essential services, the Mainspring model seeks to improve efficiency and reduce overhead costs for partner organizations. The food pantry will
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off-site locations. This year’s opening presentation, “Sea Level Rise: Local and Regional Impacts,” is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12, at 6 p.m. online. Dean Lessard, P.E., engineering director for the Town of York, and Hannah Baranes, Ph.D., research scientist at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, will discuss the science of sea level rise, its impacts on
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southern Maine, and future adaptation strategies. The program will include an overview of the damage to York’s beaches during the storm events of 2024 and the Town of York’s Long Sands Beach seawall project. Other programs in the series include: “Offshore Wind,” with Dr. Habib Joseph Dagher (February 26); “How to Speak Bird,” with Dan Gardoqui
(March 12); a native bird stroll at Center for Wildlife (March 16); “Working Waterfront: Seafood Industry Adaptations,” (March 26); “Coastal Tourism and Sustainability,” (April 9); “Helping Coastal Towns to Adapt to Climate Change,” (April 23); and an invasive plant removal workday at Fuller Forest Preserve in York (April 29). All sessions will be recorded and available to watch for free on YPL’s website. York Public Library is located at 15 Long Sands Road in York. For more information, visit www.yorkpubliclibrary.org/ climate or call 207-363-2818. Photo of York Harbor Beach courtesy of www.yorkparksandrec.org/beaches.
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