Stories

The Rotary Students of the Month for April are Seventh Grader Jaxson Amaral-Usle for Shapleigh School, introduced by Teacher Nick LaPierre; and Senior Colby Christiansen for R.W.Traip Academy, presented by Teacher Michelle Hayward.

Bernie Reim joined is for our April 2, 2024 meeting to talk about the upcoming solar eclipse and astronomy in preparation for the upcoming eclipse to occur across Maine and down through Texas on April 8th.

 

At our meeting on March 26^th, we were honored to recognize the March 2024 Students of the Month, For Shapleigh School, 8^th Grader Adeline Economou, and for R.W. Traip Academy. Sophomore Olivia Sillsby.

 

 

The 2024 Northeast President-Elect Training Seminar brought together over 400 Rotarians, the majority were incoming Club presidents, and we were well represented.

 

The Rotary Club of Kittery was invited to join the Kittery Rotary Afterhours Club for their 5th Thursday Social on February 29th.

Brian Nolen, responded to the devastation he saw in the invasion of Ukraine and knew he wanted to do something. Six trips and hundreds of of thousands of dollars of direct aide to Ukrainians later, he is planning on yet another trip into the country. 

Once again, the Rotary Club of Kittery joined in friendly competition with the Kittery Lion's Club and the Kittery Rotary Afterhours Club in a "Souper Bowl" to benefit Footprints Food Pantry.

The New Kittery Town Planner, Jason Garnham, was our Guest Speaker this morning for a short talk on what was being planned in Kittery.

Mental health is a significant focus area for Rotary.  We welcomed the head of one of the major organizations in Maine to talk with us this morning as we welcomed the president and CEO of Sweetser Jayne Van Bramer, and the organization's Senor Director of Public Relations, Justin Chenette.

January's Social at the Board! We embrace new ideas, Celebrate the newest gathering place in town , all with Old friends and New!

Congratulations to our January Students of the Month, Shapleigh School Cecilia Higgins, a 4th Grader, and R.W. Traip  Acaemy Junior Camden Wiles.

Supporting a safe and fun celebration for the 2024  R.W.Traip graduating class, the Club donates to project Graduation.

The Club donates funds to the Mitchell school 3rd grade classrooms for books.

Sheila Chapman and Chris Lombardo joined us today to provide more information about the Wreaths Across America program and especially the efforts in the Kittery community. Several club members have participated in placing the wreaths the last couple of years and as the pastor of 2nd Christian Congregational UCC Church Brad has officiated for the annual event.

Marshwood High School Interact Club member and Rotary Club of Kittery Family member Nellie Young presented a project to fund the renovation of a school in Peru. Nellie's Interact Club is traveling to Peru at the end of February.

The Club was honored to host the December Students of the Month, their families, and school representatives. For December, the Shapleigh Student of the Month is Fifth Grader Michael Shapleigh; the R.W. Traip Academy Student of the Month is senior Terry Gagner.

The Rotary Club of Kittery is pleased to invite the owners of new businesses in the community to be our guests at a Club meeting and briefly introduce themselves and their business. This week we were honored to have Chloe Scala , co-owner of " Board" join us.The Board is a charcuberie restarant and wine bar at 5 Shapleigh Road.

Traip Academy will have a group traveling to Normandy France this spring to tour the areas where the allies invaded occupied France in World War II.The group has been raising funds to ensure that the trip is open to all who want to go and has been studying the history of the battle and the area in preparation.

The Club sponsored another CPR and NARCON training session on December 9th

Our 2022-2023 Exchange student form Romania, Erika Parashiv contacted the club  this week to share scenes of holiday preparations at her home and asking for news from from  of  seaaonal activitieshere in Maine.

Great support by the Club for last Thursday's Table of Plenty

Our guest Speaker at our December 5th Club meeting, was Nicole Rutherford from the Maine Chapter of Make a Wish. Nicole talked about the focus of Make A Wish and what they have achieved, including some stories of the impact the program has made 

As we have for years, the Rotary Club of Kittery was waiting at the parade's end with free hot cocoa and cookies! Once again, we had very strong support from the very active Traip Interact Club. Many thanks to Aroma Joe's for the use of the thermos's, Subway for their donation of cookies, and 2nd Christian Church for the use of their kitchen to make all the cocoa.

December 5, Pam and Andy report that they have contributed a Rotary buoy to the town Buoy Tree. The "tree" is being assembled again this year next to the hardware store to raise funds for the new MainSpring Collabrative. White buoys are purchased by donors and decorated any way they wish and then hung on the tree form.

 

 

Capping years of work, Club member Maryna completed her Doctorate this year and invited the Club to join her, her family, neighbors, business friends, and fellow academic warriors to party and celebrate with her. Sixteen years ago, as a young student, Maryna arrived in the area, She achieved her bachelors, masters, and now her doctorate while hold multiple jobs, mentoring other students, raising a family and also, being a very active Rotarian, With all the fun and celebration, Maryna also took the moment to put a large spotlight on Rotary

                               

 

The November Students of the Month are Senior Bahnaya Cohen for R.W. Traip Academy, and 8th Grader Samuel Abbott for Shapleigh School

November Club Board meeting, all members invited to attend

In a special meeting Tuesday November 14 the Rotary Club of Kittery and the Congregation of 2nd Christian Church joined to honor the Service Above Self efforts of Wilma Wheeler.

 

Kittery Rotary initiates multi-year support of four students at the Eben Ezer School in Haiti.

District Governor Marion Cheney's Official Club Visit on November 7, 2023

 

A busy last Saturday of October capped off a very busy month for the Rotary Club of Kittery.

Kittery Community Center held its annual Community First Nonprofit Fair on October 25, 2023. 

 

 

 

At our October 24, 2023 meeting, we celebrated Students of the Month for Shapleigh Middle School and Robert W. Traip Academy for the months of September and October.

 

Kittery Rotary Club held our Community Champion Recognition Social at Robert's Maine Grill on October 24, 2023. This year's recipients are Ernie and Lisa D'Angelo who own Kittery Ace Hardware.

 

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Kittery Rotary club's support of the October 19, 2023 Red Cross Blood Drive