Police checkpoint nets 32 citations

Saco police say a vehicle inspection checkpoint that involved three departments was a success.

The July 9 checkpoint involved personnel from Saco Police Department, Old Orchard Beach Police Department and York County Sheriff’s Office. The checkpoint was held from noon to 4 p.m. on Ocean Park Road near the Saco-Old Orchard Beach border and involved 12 officers.

Approximately 1,600 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, according to Cpl. Kenneth Foss. Drivers of cars with inspection sticker expired for less than 30 days were issued verbal warnings.

Saco Police Chief Bradley Paul said police issued 32 citations for expired inspection stickers and discovered three counterfeit stickers. He said his department will continue to emphasize inspection sticker enforcement.

The combined effort was intended to educate the public about Maine inspection standards, according to police. The departments plan to hold additional checkpoints in coming months.

OOB town manager

will stay longer

Old Orchard Beach Town Manager Jack Turcotte announced he will not leave his position until Dec. 31.

Turcotte had said he would retire at the end of July. In a July 14 letter to employees he said he made the decision to stay through the end of the year after several meetings with town councilors. He said staying through December will “support the best transition to a new town manager.”

“This will allow ample time for a quality search and simultaneously give me time to attend to a handful of important current projects,” Turcotte said. “I am happy to help the council have a stress-free search and am delighted to stay around for a handful of additional months.”

Thornton to honor

longtime headmaster

Thornton Academy will honor longtime Headmaster Carl Stasio today during a  dedication ceremony of the new residence hall named in his honor.

The dedication ceremony for the Carl and Barbara Stasio Residence Hall will begin at 6 p.m. on the Saco campus. The 42-student dormitory will house female boarding students starting this fall. The James E. Nelson Hall, which opened two years ago to male and female boarding students, will become a dormitory for boys.

This fall, 114 boarding students from 16 countries will enroll in the school’s residential program. Additional students will stay with local families through the school’s home-stay program.

Stasio has been headmaster of Thornton Academy for 25 years and plans to retire following the 2011-12 school year.

“It is hard to express our great appreciation for Carl’s dedication to Thornton Academy. Under his direction we have broadened our offerings to include 13 (Advanced Placement) courses, 34 honors courses, nine foreign languages, athletics and extracurricular activities for all interests. We also know he couldn’t have devoted his efforts to TA without the loving support of his family,” said Thornton Academy Board of Trustees President Eric Purvis in a prepared statement. “Barbara has been by Carl’s side for his entire career. Barbara has opened her home to numerous events not to mention the life of an active headmaster demands many missed family meals, frequent nights at school events and whole weeks’ worth of school-related travel. Together they have served Thornton Academy beyond words.”

All are welcome to attend the ceremony and RSVP is requested by contacting Lisa Morin at 602-4456 or lisa.morin@thorntonacademy.org.

UNE pharmacy program accredited

The University of New England’s Office of Continuing Education in the College of Pharmacy was granted provider status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

The university is the first accredited provider of continuing pharmacy education in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.

“We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of continuing education program for faculty, future alumni and members of the pharmacy community,” said Ken “Mac” McCall, College of Pharmacy chairman and associate professor. “We seek to serve the educational needs of pharmacy professionals including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, scientists and researchers at UNE and throughout northern New England.”

Company honored for mill restoration

Wright-Ryan Construction was awarded the 2011 Maine Preservation Honor Award for Excellence in Preservation for its restoration work at the Mill at Saco Falls in Biddeford.

The Portland-based company was commissioned to renovate the historic mill building into mixed-income housing. The project included replacing more than 500 windows with historically accurate but energy efficient windows, repointing the exterior brick façade and adding 25 solar panels to preheat domestic hot water.

Formerly known as Laconia Mill No. 1, the mill opened in 1845 as the first cotton mil in Biddeford. It is the second oldest structure in the surrounding historic district on the National Register of Historic Places.