Jameson School in Old Orchard Beach will hold kindergarten registration this month.

Parents of children eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall are encouraged to make an appointment for screening by calling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the week of April 25. Appointments will be May 24 to 26.

Children entering school for the first time must be 5 on or before Oct. 15, 2011. No exceptions are made for children born after that date.

The school encourages parents to enroll their children early to help with planning for instruction, transportation and supplies for students in the fall.

Ballpark recognized by state association

The Ballpark in Old Orchard Beach was recognized as a “Facility of Merit” by the Maine Recreation and Park Association.

The award was presented March 31 at Point Lookout Resort in Northport. The annual award recognizes a Maine recreation facility established or reestablished in the past two years that demonstrates innovation and creativity while increasing local recreational opportunities.

Town Manager Jack Turcotte accepted the award on behalf of the town.

The first baseball game was held in 1984 at the Ballpark, which was built as home to the minor league Maine Guides team. After the Guides left Old Orchard Beach, the facility was used for concerts before standing empty for 15 years.

During the past two years, a group of volunteers revitalized the Ballpark. They raised nearly $300,000 in donated funds and materials to fix the facility. Beginning this spring, the Ballpark will be home to the Raging Tide collegiate baseball team.

OOB women honored as citizen volunteers

Sharri MacDonald and Linda Mailhot were presented the Citizen Volunteer Award by the Maine Recreation and Park Association.

The annual award is given to a community volunteer who has made a significant contribution to the development and enhancement of recreation and community programs. It was presented March 31 at Point Lookout Resort in Northport.

MacDonald and Mailhot were honored for their contributions to OOB365, a nonprofit organization formed by local businesses and residents to develop regular activities to promote Old Orchard Beach year-round. The group partners with Old Orchard Beach Recreation Department to offer events such as Autumn Celebration, Woofstock, Winter Carnival and community dinners.

Families displaced after Biddeford fire

Eight people were displaced by an apartment building fire April 9 in Biddeford.

Fire Chief Joe Warren said crews were called to 36 State St. just before 5 a.m. to fight a fire that started in a basement apartment. He said it took firefighters about an hour to put out the fire in the three-unit building.

“The damage is quite heavy,” Warren said.

Warren said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials believe the fire started in the ceiling area of the basement apartment.

The American Red Cross assisted tenants after the fire.

Partnership allows more UNE training

The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine has created a collaborative partnership with Eastern Connecticut Health Network.

Under the partnership, 16 third-year UNECOM students in July will join Rockville General based in Vernon, Conn., and Manchester Memorial hospitals for a year of clinical and academic training.

The Biddeford-based medical school currently has 10 core clinical campuses with 18 training facilities. This will be the school’s first partnership in Connecticut. Students currently train at hospitals and medical systems in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

Students will rotate through medical specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, behavioral health, surgery and community health.

“This collaboration creates a full medical school affiliation that provides a core clinical campus together with faculty appointments for ECHN medical staff members that are invaluable to UNECOM. This partnership extends our already impressive reach in educating and placing our medical students with some of the finest doctors in New England,” said Dr. Marc Hahn, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and senior vice president of health affairs.

UMaine student will run for mayor

A University of Maine student announced April 10 he is running for mayor of Biddeford.

Ryan Gavin, 20, announced his candidacy on the steps of city hall. He is a 2009  Biddeford High School graduate and a political science student at the University of Maine. Gavin said in a video posted on his website he is running because Biddeford needs new leadership.

 Beginning this week he will post regular updates on his website that outline his stance on issues that range from restoring civility to city government to creating a world-class school district.

Gavin previously served as a student representative to the Biddeford School Committee.

Biddeford woman held after robbery

A Biddeford woman was arrested for robbery after she allegedly threatened to shoot everyone in the Sanford CVS pharmacy.

Kimberly Vigue, 23, was arrested Sunday by Sanford police after she allegedly demanded OxyContin from pharmacy employees and threatened to shoot everyone in the store, said Deputy Police Chief Craig Sanford. She was given “several thousands of dollars” worth of medications and fled the store, he said.

As Vigue ran out of the store, William Leonord of Springvale tackled her to the ground. He and his wife sat on Vigue until police arrived, Sanford said.

Officers did not find a weapon on Vigue. She is being held on $25,000 bail at York County Jail.

– Staff Writer Gillian Graham