DIXFIELD — The Board of Selectmen have agreed to nominate sisters Brenda Jarvis and Caroline Smith for a Spirit of America Foundation Tribute.
The sisters converted their deceased parents’ mobile home into a cat shelter in 1974, and have been feeding and caring for abandoned cats in Dixfield ever since.
Jarvis and Smith, along with Donna Weston, Noreen Clarke, Valerie Warriner, are currently embroiled in a lawsuit with the trustees of the Barbara Thorpe estate, alleging that the trustees billed excessive fees to the Thorpe Trust and have failed for more than 13 years to carry out Thorpe’s intention to finance the care and feeding of abandoned cats in Dixfield.
Thorpe, a Dixfield woman who died in 2002, left more than $100,ooo of her $200,000 estate “for the purpose of providing shelter, food and health care for abandoned and unwanted cats in the town of Dixfield.”
Town Manager Carlo Puiia said Monday that the town received a letter from the Spirit of America Foundation “informing us that we, along with other Oxford County towns, were selected to pick a local project, person, or group to receive a 2016 Spirit of America tribute.”
According to its website, The Spirit of America Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that was established in Augusta in 1990 to honor volunteerism, and the Spirit of America Foundation Tribute is “presented to local individuals, organizations, and projects in Maine municipalities for commendable community service.”
“It’s not something that we have to participate in, and it doesn’t cost us any money,” Puiia said. “I thought it was important to put it before you, so you can read more about it and think about someone to nominate.”
Board Chairman Hart Daley pointed out that the deadline for submitting a name to the Spirit of America Foundation is Feb. 28.
“That doesn’t give us a lot of time to reach out to the public and get suggestions,” Daley said. “Plus, our next meeting is after Feb. 28. We wouldn’t even be able to submit the name on time.”
The board began to discuss the possibility of participating in the program next year when resident Susan Holmes said she knew two women who warranted consideration for the nomination.
“They’re in the news quite regularly and love animals,” Holmes said, referring to Jarvis and Smith.
Selectman Dana Whittemore said that since the town had a tight deadline to provide a name, he was in favor of approving Jarvis and Smith for the Spirit of America Foundation Tribute.
“I don’t have an issue with that at all,” Whittemore said. “I think it’s a great choice.”
Daley agreed, and said that if Holmes officially nominated Jarvis and Smith, the board could vote to accept the nomination and submit their names to the foundation.
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