Shirley Cheney Shirley Cheney Stands With Her Grandson Alex as Make A Wish Development Director Eric Knutsen announces that Alex's wish of going to Walt Disney World has been granted. (Photo Ryan Thompson)

Alex Cheney and his grandmother Shirley have learned that the Make-A-Wish Foundation is making his dream come true by sending him to Walt Disney World in late January.

Development Director at Make-A-Wish Eric Knutsen made the announcement at the beginning of a community meeting at the Wiscasset Primary School last week.

"I'm really excited. I'll finally be able to go to Disney," said Alex after the meeting.

Shirley said her grandson has talked about wanting to see Orka the Killer Whale at Seaworld and all of the science exhibits at Epcot Center.

Principal Jan Hoffman said the primary school will be participating in a penny drive to show its appreciation for Make-A-Wish and to help raise money for other kids who need a wish granted. Students were asked to bring in their pennies to put into a large, plastic container.

"Let's see if we can make the jug fill up with pennies," Hoffman told the enthusiastic crowd. To kick off the three-week drive, she emptied her pockets of pennies and dropped them into the jar.

Knutsen held his microphone up to the container and the audience listened as Hoffman's pennies clanked to the bottom.

"A Penny Drive helps Make-A-Wish, it really makes a difference," said Knutsen.

Another surprise awaited two young artists in the audience. Art teacher Jackie Curley announced that Crysta Brown and Alyssa Urquhart have placed in a statewide school bus poster competition.

Curley said every year the students show their appreciation for their bus drivers by designing a poster thanking them for all their hard work.

Brown came in second in the third through fifth grade category and Urquhart was third in the Kindergarten through second grade category.

Curley said the girls will be invited to travel to the Blaine House in Augusta to meet Governor John Baldacci on October 22.

Physical Education Teacher Linda Hanson then gave a presentation of her running club. The 31 members jogged around the building, ran in place, and performed synchronized exercises.

Hanson said her club has been running twice a week since the beginning of the school year. They started the year running 30 minutes every session and gradually increasing the time and distance run. She said some of her runners participated in the one mile fun run during Wiscaseet's homecoming last weekend.

Proceeds from the run, along with a five kilometer race, will benefit the Steve Auvil Scholarship Fund. The event raised over $1,000.

She gave recognition to those who ran and announced that the club has set a goal of running in the five kilometer race next year. Hoffman said that Partners In Education has generously donated money for two i-movie cameras and tripods. This, Hoffman said, will enable teachers to film events at the school and put these movies on the school computers. In all the group donated about $1,200 for the equipment.

Partners is a parent/teacher/staff council for the Wiscasset Primary School. Partners member Trish McLeod said they raised $10,000 over last year to help the school.