more job retraining  benefits

Workers laid off from WestPoint Home in Biddeford last summer are eligible for increased retraining and job placement benefits.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced April 27 the workers are qualified to apply for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance program. The program provides a variety of benefits to workers who have lost jobs to competition from foreign suppliers or shifts in production to facilities outside the United States.

All workers at the company who lost their jobs on or after Jan. 22, 2009, are eligible to apply for benefits through April 23, 2012.

Program benefits include employment services that provide counseling, testing and job placement assistance; training benefits in approved training programs, including paid tuition; job search and relocation allowances for travel expenses to job interviews and relocation expenses; and health coverage tax credit to provide assistance for health insurance premiums.

WestPoint Home workers produced a line of flocked fleece blankets commonly found in hotels and hospitals. The plant was the last operating textile mill in Biddeford before it closed last summer.

“These workers took such pride in making these blankets and contributing to Biddeford’s great legacy in textile manufacturing,” Pingree said in a prepared statement. “We need to do everything we can to help these people put their skills back to work. These Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits will help workers get retrained and cover expenses that come with looking for work.”

ShuttleBus adds another run

from Maine Mall to Biddeford

The ShuttleBus InterCity “Tri-Towns-Portland” bus has added an additional weekday run from the Maine Mall to Biddeford.

The bus will leave Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford at 8:25 p.m., travel through Saco, Old Orchard and Scarborough to the Maine Mall. The last InterCity bus departing the mall for Biddeford will now be 9:30 p.m. The bus previously left the mall at 7:15 p.m.
   Another change to the InterCity weekday schedule is an earlier departure from Portland City Hall. The bus will now leave at 5 p.m. instead of 5:15 p.m. to ensure a timely connection with the local ShuttleBus in Old Orchard Beach.

The one-way fare for the Tri-Towns-Portland bus is $4. Ten-ride passes are available for $39.

Saco Farmers Market opens

new season on Saturday

The Saco Farmers Market will open for the season at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Now in its 35^th season, the market was one of the original farmers markets in the state. Items available on opening day include potted plants, vegetable seedlings, hanging baskets, local glass-bottled milk and grass-fed beef, goat cheese, lobster and steamers, homemade organic dog treats, baked good and various crafts.

Local vegetables, fruit, cut flowers and herbs will be available later in the season. Many vegetable farms accept WIC checks.

The market is open 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday and Wednesday through October in the Saco Valley Shopping Center next to Greater Portland Pediatric Associates office. The market is open rain or shine.

For more information, go to www.sacofarmersmarket.com.

Biddeford police caution

residents to lock vehicles

Biddeford police are warning residents to lock their cars when they are unattended.

Deputy  Chief JoAnne Fisk said detectives are investigating 12 motor vehicle burglaries that have occurred throughout the city since April 15. Items taken are mostly coins and GPS units left in plain sight, she said.

Fisk said residents should always lock car doors and should not leave valuables in the car. Car windows have not been broken because the cars were unlocked.

Anyone with information about the burglaries or who sees something suspicious is encouraged to contact police immediately at 282-5127.

UNE medical college named

one of top graduate schools

The University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine was named one of the nation’s best graduate schools.

U.S. News & World Report released its annual report that ranks professional graduate school disciplines, including medicine. The College of Osteopathic Medicine on the school’s Biddeford campus was recognized as sixth in the nation for its leadership in primary care training. The rural medicine and geriatrics programs were both ranked in the top 20.

Since it was founded in 1978, the medical school has graduated nearly 2,400 physicians. Ten percent of all practicing physicians in Maine are UNECOM graduates.

Saco Police Department names  its top officer of the year

Sgt. Raynald Demers of the Saco Police Department has been named 2009 Officer of the Year.

Demers was recognized by the Saco City Council at a meeting Monday night. Mayor Roland Michaud said the award, a first for the department, is the most prestigious award a police department can give a member. He said Demers is a “problem solver” who is energized and not overwhelmed by the challenges of his job. Michaud said Demers’ commitment to his job and the city of Saco were primary factors in his selection.

Chief Bradley Paul said Demers has worked “tirelessly behind the scenes and his enthusiasm for police work has not flagged” during his 26 years on the job. Demers is a senior member of the department.

– Compiled by Staff Writer Gillian Graham