Neighborhood News-- South Portland Land Trust works with program organizer

The South Portland Land Trust recently appointed Michelle Smith, a communications professional, as the organization’s new program coordinator. As the sole employee of the Land Trust, Smith will help the organization achieve its financial, membership and community goals by managing and coordinating both internal and external communications.

Michelle Smith

She will work closely with the organization’s membership and public relations, fundraising, easements, and trails committees to promote communication and collaboration, and to share her goals and achievements with the Land Trust community.

“Michelle is a strong communicator. She is well organized, can work independently and collaboratively, and has an excellent background in fundraising and public relations, ”said Richard Rottkov, President of the Land Trust, in a written statement. “She has played a similar role and made significant contributions to many local organizations. We are fortunate to have someone of Michelle’s talent, experience and energy on the South Portland Land Trust team. “

Smith previously served as communications and marketing director for Maine Audubon and early in her career as communications manager and spokesperson for Goodwill in northern New England. She has also worked as a freelance communications consultant for organizations such as Sea Change Yoga, Business Network for Offshore Wind and Friends of Spannocchia.

Garden collective plans seedling and plant sales

The South Portland Community Garden Collective is holding a seedling and plant sale. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 22nd at the Hamlin School Community Garden behind the South Portland Planning Office at 496 Ocean St., South Portland.

The organization will offer a selection of vegetable, flower and herb seedlings, as well as a limited selection of perennials. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about and join the South Portland Land Trust at the seedling sales. The Land Trust is the tax sponsor of the Community Garden Collective.

The 2021 plant sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. outdoors in the rain (under cover) or shine. The general public is welcome. Guests are invited to bring seeds to trade and find a gardening book. The collective asks that masks be worn for shopping for reasons of distance. The event is a fundraiser for the Redbank Neighborhood Community Garden, which will open in 2022.

For more information, please contact Mary Linneman at [email protected] or 207-409-4253.

The Southern Maine Community College awards degrees and certificates for the 74th beginning

Southern Maine Community College awarded more than 1,100 degrees and certificates in a virtual ceremony on Sunday to mark the 74th inception of the college.

A total of 1,073 students obtained 1,109 degrees and certificates in the 2020-2021 academic year. Graduates were recognized during a taped graduation ceremony available on SMCC’s YouTube channel.

Students in the 2021 class came from all 16 counties in Maine, 15 other states, and 36 other countries. The youngest graduate was 17 years old and the oldest was 59 years old. Nearly 10 percent of the graduates were members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

“This year’s graduates demonstrated exceptional resilience and steadfastness while completing their degrees and certificates amid a pandemic,” said Joe Cassidy, president of Southern Maine Community College, in a written statement. “23 graduates at SMCC had a perfect grade point average of 4.0 and 48 a GPA of 3.95 or higher.

“Despite all the challenges of the past year, this is one of our biggest graduation classes of all time. Our graduates have excelled and now is the time to celebrate their accomplishments and look forward to their continued success as they begin their careers or continue their education. Our graduates can go anywhere from here. “

Cassidy led the ceremony with the keynote address by SMCC alumnus Quang Nguyen. Nguyen moved to Maine from Vietnam in 2007, graduated in business administration in 2010 and now has a successful career as an entrepreneur and financial advisor.

Hundreds of this year’s graduates in applied technology, business and information technology, liberal studies, health sciences, public safety and other programs from SMCC are joining or have already joined the workforce. Among them is Colby Roy, who has a degree in precision machining and manufacturing and already has a job in a machine shop in Arundel. A degree in hand will open doors in his career, he said in an email.

“I can make more money now that I graduate and basically work anywhere I want,” said Roy.

Hundreds of other graduates continue their education in public and private four-year schools, both in Maine and outside of the state.

Oliver Walker, who has a degree in Liberal Studies with a major in art, is transferring to the Maine College of Art, where he received a prestigious scholarship that covers a large part of his education. Walker certified SMCC as serving as a launch pad to accomplish his goal of becoming a conceptual artist and creating illustrations that convey ideas or themes for movies, video games, comics, and other media.

“All of the teachers I have met and taken lessons with have been some of the best people I have ever met,” Walker said in a written statement. “I also learned to do things because you have a passion for them, not just a class. This is a big thing that I got out of SMCC. “

Courtesy photo

The South Portland Land Trust held its second annual Cedar Seedling Giveaway at Mill Creek Park this past weekend. Additional seedlings will be available to parishioners at the Community Garden Collective plant sale on Saturday, May 22nd. On sale at Hamlin Community Garden, 496 Ocean St., behind the town planning office, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Visit southportlandlandtrust.org for details.

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