FIRST RESPONDERS HONORED. Members of the Professional Firefighters of Maine, International Association of Firefighters, Maine Fire Chiefs Association, Maine Troopers Association and Maine Ambulance Association joined Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, as her First Responder Bus Tour rolled through the local area on Sept. 5. The tour, intended to honor the sacrifice of Maine's brave first responders and Collins' support for the men and women who serve as firefighters, police officers, EMTs and paramedics, began with a rally outside the gates at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and continued in the local area with stops at the York Fire Department in York Village, the York Beach Fire Department the Ogunquit Fire Department. Collins, seen here outside the York Beach Fire Station with Rep. Windol Weaver and former legislators Mary Andrews and Brad Moulton, local members of the Republican party seeking election to the Maine Legislature in November, told the many firefighters and police who were on hand at her stops around town that, "The men and women who serve as our first responders are always on the front lines protecting our communities, our children, our families, our friends and loved ones. They put their lives on the line for us. That is why I have always been a strong advocate in the U.S. Senate on their behalf. Our government has an obligation to honor their sacrifice, and to ensure that they have the resources and support necessary to do their jobs."
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders

COASTAL CLEANUP! Allie Hayford, York's Adopt-A-Beach Coordinator for Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, has been coordinating the International Coastal Cleanup at all of York's public beaches, and volunteers are invited to take part in the next event, set for Sept. 20 at the Long Beach bathhouse at 1 p.m., and for an upcoming Short Sands Beach cleanup, with the date and time to be announced. The International Coastal Cleanup is a cleanup of oceans, rivers and waterways all over the world during the third week of September. Hayford has been working diligently to clean York's beaches and ocean and has hosted numerous cleanups over the past two years, including one with local Girl Scouts and members of York's Coastal Clovers 4-H Club, pictured here. Hayford said she plans to share the data on the cleanup efforts and seek community input on ways to reduce the sources of York's ocean pollution problem. For more information, contact Allie Hayford at dhayford@maine.rr.com or 361-1790.
Courtesy photo