TOPEKA, Kan., Aug.

ELLSWORTH - The Washington County committee of the Maine Community Foundation recently awarded $30,993 in grants to nonprofits, including Mano en Mano-Hand in Hand of Milbridge. The money will be used to pay for English as a Second Language classes and GED preparation for Hispanic residents.

ELLSWORTH - The Western Mountains Committee of the Maine Community Foundation recently awarded $29,900 in grants to six Somerset and Franklin County nonprofit organizations. Among the funded programs is the Lake George Corp.

By MICHAEL DABRIEO; OF THE NEWS STAFF ELLSWORTH - The local school district will be taking a different approach to teaching this year. The district adopted a new method called Personal Learning Communities, which will change the way teachers do their jobs.

Historically, Branch Lake in Ellsworth was, for years, a fine sport fishery. With annual fish stockings and sensible fisheries management, lake trout, salmon and brown trout fared well in the lake's cold, deep waters.