The Sentry’s annual Great Person Award nominations are in and there are eight candidates. Voting begins today.

Nominations for the Sentry 2009 Great Person are:

 Chuck Igo has nominated South Portland resident Bud Ellis for this year’s Great Person Award.

“Over the years, Bud has given of himself and his time freely in order to help the kids of the city, especially in the areas of football and ice hockey.  Stepping up to serve as president of both the South Portland Hockey Boosters and South Portland Football Boosters, Bud has taken on some very weighty volunteer positions, and continues to do a stellar job! And these positions require a year-round commitment – there’s no real off-season time when these two sports combine in-season and out-of-season activities, such as summer leagues, spring leagues, volunteering at bingo, golf tournaments and the like.  I am pleased to know Bud, and to call him a friend,” Igo said.

 Sandra Farrin has nominated South Portland resident Chris Grasse for his efforts to make South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough more “green.” 

Farrin said he does this by refurbishing unwanted computers, printers, scanners and other electronics before donating the items to low-income families.

“He obtains the unwanted items from the Cape Elizabeth dump as well as from people who don’t want to see their items end up in the landfill. He distributes the newly put-together computer systems on the South Portland Recycles Web site. Chris deserves to be recognized as a Great Person!” Farrin said.

Ralph Newell  has nominated South Portland couple Jane and Steve Martin for supporting the city’s schools.

“For many years Jane and Steve have been huge supporters of first, the South Portland Music Boosters program, then the South Portland Robotics Team. For over seven years they ran the Saturday night bingo, which supports our music program. Then, for at least the last dozen years they became heavily involved in the Robotics program despite the fact that their two daughters had long ago graduated from South Portland High School,” Newell said.

Newell praised Steve, an engineer at Fairchild Semiconductor, for working seven days a week with students from the robotics team during its build season in January and February.

“Both Jane and Steve work the year-round to help raise money for this program including running highly successful bottle drives.  The success of both these programs has depended upon the commitment of this wonderful, community-minded couple,” Newell said.

 Carol Darling Campbell has nominated Kathryn DiPhilippo, director of the South Portland Historical Society, for her tireless work on behalf of the society.

“Through her leadership the building as well as many of the upgraded services and building materials were donated and the building was moved to a permanent address,” Campbell said.

“Her weekly “A Window of the Past” appearing in the Sentry and her work with school children have taught so many to learn about and respect our heritage. We are most fortunate to have Kathy in our midst!”

 Jake Viola has identified another couple in the South Portland area as “great” people – Ralph and Kathy Cabana. 

 “If South Portland is Metropolis, then Ralph and Kathy Cabana are its Superman and Lois Lane.  This dynamic duo has given so much of its time, money, and energy to improving South Portland and continuing to make it a community of which I, along with countless others, am proud to be a part,” Viola said.

Viola said whether it be as leaders of the South Portland High School Track Booster Club, members of the South Portland Project Scholarship or simply the friendly faces you bump into at Shaw’s, the Cabanas do much for others, yet expect nothing in return.

“With our sincere appreciation, let’s give the Cabanas the credit they absolutely deserve with the distinction of being the Sentry 2009 Great “People” of the Year.”  

Tom Biskup has nominated South Portland resident Jennifer Major for her commitment to bettering the lives of students as an educator and more important, a caring person to all.

Lorna Kierstead has nominated South Portland resident John Kierstead for his dedicated commitment to history and its connection to South Portland.  

“He works year round trying to raise funds for the well-deserved monument to the 19 victims of the Long Creek Air Tragedy. He volunteers as Winston Churchill for all of South Portland parades and raises resident’s awareness of the important tie to England.  (The South Portland shipyard was integral to England’s war effort).

 He also volunteers as Benjamin Franklin to read The Declaration of Independence at the annual July 4 celebration at the South Portland Historical Society and speaks at local schools as a Maine Civil War soldier.  He strongly believes that speaking as a person in history delivers interesting facts to both young and old and cements the connection to South Portland and Maine.”

Ann Swasey has nominated Sybil Riemensnider of the South Portland Food Cupboard for her “complete, driven and untiring commitment in organizing, facilitating and promoting the South Portland Food Cupboard, which supplies food for 70 to 90 deserving persons and families each week. Her commitment of time and devotion to this endeavor is inspiring!” she said.

There are two steps in the Great Person Award process – nominations and then voting. 

A ballot of everyone nominated will be printed in the Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 editions. Voting will end at noon, Thursday, Dec. 24, and the winner will be announced in the Jan. 8 edition. 

Ballots must be dropped off at the Sentry office, located at 180 Main St., Biddeford, or mailed.