FOR YOUR HEALTH: Good Nutrition Made Easy For Older Adults

(NAPSI)—Roughly 110 million adults in the U.S. are age 50 or older. If you’re one of them or know someone who is, there’s something you need to know: As you age, your nutrition needs change. You may become less active, your metabolism slows, and your ability to absorb some nutrients becomes less efficient. You need fewer calories to keep you going—which means the amount of nutrients in your food becomes even more important.

To help, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and nutrition scientists at the Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, with support from AARP Foundation, created MyPlate for Older Adults.

What’s on MyPlate for Older Adults?

Based on the federal government’s guide to forming healthy dietary habits, MyPlate for Older Adults makes good nutrition easy. Even better, it helps seniors with fixed incomes select healthy foods within their budget. That includes showing how frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables can be wise alternatives to fresh produce.

MyPlate for Older Adults encourages eating whole grains, which are high in fiber, as well as plant-based proteins such as beans and tofu, along with fish and lean meat. Vegetables and fruits make up half the plate, reflecting the importance of eating several servings a day in a range of colors. MyPlate for Older Adults also recommends using herbs and spices instead of salt to season food. Cutting back on salt can have big health benefits—especially for older adults, who are at risk of hypertension.

You can use the MyPlate for Older Adults as a tool when you shop to help you decide on types and combinations of foods, and as a reminder that the foods you choose to eat should be rich in vitamins and minerals.

The rest of the recommendations include:

  • Brightly colored vegetables such as carrots and broccoli
  • Deep-colored fruit such as berries and peaches
  • Whole, enriched and fortified grains and cereals such as brown rice and 100 percent whole wheat bread
  • Low-fat and nonfat dairy products such as yogurt and low-lactose milk
  • Dry beans and nuts, fish, poultry and eggs
  • Liquid vegetable oils, soft spreads low in saturated and trans fats
  • Lots of fluids such as water and fat-free milk
  • Physical activity such as walking, resistance training and light cleaning.

Learn More

You can check out MyPlate for Older Adults and find more information about AARP Foundation at www.aarpfoundation.org/myplate.

Roland’s Trivia Question for the Week of March 29, 2018

Question: In addition to pitching a one-hitter in game two of the 1967 World Series, who became the first Red Sox pitcher to win the AL Cy Young Award in 1967?

Answer: Jim Lonborg

<– Return to Scores & Outdoors

 

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Stink bug or pumpkin (squash) bug?

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

A reader called the office last week to inquire about a bug that resembles a ladybug, but is green in color. She was wondering if it was a pumpkin bug. Well, it very well could be.

The pumpkin bug, or squash bug, are also called stink bugs, but are not the traditional stink bug. Although some pumpkin bugs are called stink bugs, not all stink bugs are pumpkin bugs. If you ever spot a sizable green stink bug, there’s a good chance that it’s a pumpkin bug. They are similar in appearance to stink bugs because they both have a foul odor when squashed. However, stink bugs are wider and rounder.

squash bug

The squash bug, Anasa tristis, is common throughout the United States. It primarily attacks squash and pumpkins but can also attack other cucurbits, such as cucumbers.

They are the bane of a gardener. They are difficult to kill and can cause a lot of havoc.

The adult bugs are somewhat flat, large insects, measuring 5/8 inch long and 1/3 inch wide. They are usually dark gray to dark brown. The edges of the abdomens protrude beyond their wings and typically have alternating orangish and brown stripes. They are able to fly, however they often simply walk around on plants.

These bugs overwinter as adults in sheltered places, such as under plant debris, around buildings, or under rocks. When adults emerge in the spring, they fly to growing cucurbit plants to feed and mate. Females lay eggs individually in small clusters of about 20 commonly on the undersides of the leaves, especially between the veins where they form a V. The females usually begin to appear in gardens in early June, and continue to lay eggs through mid-summer.

These bugs have piercing-sucking mouth-parts they use to suck the sap out of leaves. This process produces yellow spots that eventually turn brown, and disrupts the flow of water and nutrients, which can cause wilting. Young plants are more susceptible to extensive damage. Larger, more vigorous plants are more tolerant of feeding damage, although they can also be injured or killed if they are severely attacked.

These bugs inject a toxin into the plant and suck the sap right out of it with their sharp mouthparts. This causes yellow spots that eventually turn brown. The leaves will wilt because the damage prevents the flow of nutrients to the leaves, and then they will dry up and turn black.

The most important times to control squash bugs are when the plants are young seedlings and when they are flowering. Early detection is important because adult squash bugs are difficult to kill.

Remove or knock off and kill nymphs and adults by dropping them into a bucket of soapy water. This can be challenging because the bugs hide under leaves and move quickly when disturbed.

Crush the eggs that are attached to the undersides and stems of leaves.

Trap the bugs by laying out boards or pieces of newspaper. The bugs will congregate under the boards at night, and then can be collected and destroyed in the morning.

Check your plants daily. If there are no more than a few vines infected, keep collecting and destroying the bugs and crushing the egg clusters that you find.

Insecticides are not generally needed to control these bugs. They can be used if cucurbits are found wilting early in the season. Carbaryl/Sevin is most effective if applied when eggs are hatching. Consult your local garden center for controls that are locally approved. When using an insecticide, make sure to read the instructions well.

Planting time is approaching. Make sure your garden is free of these little pests. There is no worse feeling than seeing your plants being destroyed and you have no idea what is causing it. Check under the leaves.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

In addition to pitching a one-hitter in game two of the 1967 World Series, who became the first Red Sox pitcher to win the AL Cy Young Award in 1967?

Answer can be found here.

Legal Notices, Week of March 29, 2018

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
COURT ST.,
SKOWHEGAN, ME
SOMERSET, ss
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
18-A MRSA sec. 3-801

The following Personal Representatives have been appointed in the estates noted. The first publication date of this notice is March 22, 2018.

If you are a creditor of an estate listed below, you must present your claim within four months of the first publication date of this Notice to Creditors by filing a written statement of your claim on a proper form with the Register of Probate of this Court or by delivering or mailing to the Personal Representative listed below at the address published by his name, a written statement of the claim indicating the basis therefore, the name and address of the claimant and the amount claimed or in such other manner as the law may provide. See 18-A MRSA 3-804.

2018-045 – Estate of ALBERT LELAND MARSHALL JR., late of Solon, Me deceased. Roberta I. Marshall, PO Box 25, Solon, Me 04979 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-046 – Estate of LOIS R. WHITE, late of Athens, Me deceased. Robert W. White, 206 North Road, Athens, Me 04912 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-048 – Estate of KATHERINE A. BOUCHER, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Marc R. Bureau, 317 South Fillmore Street, Beverly Hills, FL 34465 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-051 – Estate of JULIANN L. O’CONNOR, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Diana Savage, 185 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-052 – Estate of MICHAEL PETER PICARD, late of Mercer, Me deceased. Michele Mosher, PO Box 101, Belgrade Lakes, Me 04918 and Roberta Young, 795 Lilybay Road, Unit 112, Beavercove, Me 04441 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-057 – Estate of ARTHUR G. CARPENTER, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Brian Carpenter, 74 Patterson Avenue, Winslow, Me 04901 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-059 – Estate of RENEE M. SCHEIRER, late of Bingham, Me deceased. Rodney Rehrig, 6005 Tenth Street, Zephyrhills, FL 33452-3521 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-060 – Estate of ANGELA M. DIONNE, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. James K. Dionne, 1125 La Costa Lane, Winter Haven, FL 33881 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-067 – Estate of NATALIE F. SAWYER, late of Embden, Me deceased. Alton Bell, Jr., 945 Falls Park Drive, Sanford, NC 27330 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-068 – Estate of MARCIA F. COOK, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Keith E. Cook, 10 Sanderson Drive, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-072 – Estate of ELEANOR G. DOYON, late of Jackman, Me deceased. Deborah A. Bourque, 130 Allds Street, Nashua, NH 03060 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-073 – Estate of BRUCE J. HILL, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Michael E. Hill, 26 Largay Lane, Glenburn, Me 04401 appointed Personal Representative.

2017-291-2 – Estate of EUGENE G. PRAY IV, late of Lexington, Me deceased. Eugene G. and Patricia R. Pray III, 1188 Long Falls dam Road, Lexington, Me 04961 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-074 – Estate of CATHERINE H. FIELD, late of North Anson, Me deceased. Frank Field, 8 Perryman Dr., Brunswick, Me 04011 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on March 22, 2018 & March 29, 2018.
Dated: March 19, 2018 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(3/29)

STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
41 COURT ST.
SOMERSET, ss
SKOWHEGAN, ME
PROBATE NOTICES

TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE ESTATES LISTED BELOW

Notice is hereby given by the respective petitioners that they have filed petitions for appointment of personal representatives in the following estates. These matters will be heard at 10 a.m. or as soon thereafter as they may be, on April 4, 2018. The requested appointments may be made on or after the hearing date if no sufficient objection be heard. This notice complies with the requirements of 18-A MRSA §3-403 and Probate Rule 4.

2017-159-1 – Estate of MASON BRIAN SCOTT STANLEY. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Whitney Parlin, 18 Family Circle, Apt 4, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting minor’s name be changed to Mason Brian Parlin for reasons set forth therein.

2018-062 – Estate of PATRICK MICHAEL GRAY COOKSON. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Patrick Michael Gray Cookson, 597 Higgins Road, Pittsfield, Me 04967 requesting his name be changed to Patrick Michael Gray for reasons set forth therein.

2018-063 – Estate of CHARLOTTE RENEE THOMAS, minor of Harmony, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by petitioners Jeffrey Thomas and Mychaela Denbow, 295 Athens Road, Harmony, Me 04942 requesting that minor’s name be changed to Clara Renee Thomas for reasons set forth therein.

2018-065 – Estate of KENT EARLE TAYLOR STINSON, Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Kent Earle Taylor Stinson, 331 Todds Corner Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 requesting his name be changed to Kenneth Ora Byron Jr for reasons set forth therein.

2018-066 – Estate of CHARITY LYNNE STINSON. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Charity Lynne Stinson, 331 Todds Corner Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 requesting her name be changed to Charity Lynne Byron for reasons set forth therein.

2018-075 – Estate of HEATHER MARIE ROLLINS. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Heather M. Rollins, 17 E. Dyer Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting her name be changed to Heather Marie Emery for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: March 19, 2018
/s/ Victoria M. Hatch
Register of Probate
(3/29)

I’m Just Curious: I think it’s interesting

by Debbie Walker

I think it’s interesting but do you? I have been into the magazines again; I once again, started just cutting articles out with no thought of what magazines the ideas came from. So I apologize to those writers for not being able to give them credit they are due.

Since I have no depth perception at all, as my brother told me, I was pleased to come across these: a quarter is nearly an inch in diameter and one foot is 16 pennies laid in a row. A dollar is approximately 6-1/2 inches. While we are still playing with money did you know a penny, nickel or a dime can be used as a flathead screw driver? Did you ever think of using a coin or two to steady a wobbly table? You can also use a penny inserted into a tire tread with Lincoln’s head upside down, if you can see his whole head your tires are worn out!

Don’t throw out that empty cardboard egg carton just yet. I read you can rest your laptop on it to prevent overheating. You don’t want to leave them on a pillow or blankets, seems harmless but….

Garden starter; use those disposed egg shells and cartons with a little soil to get a head start on the garden.

Although I wouldn’t recommend trying this one I had to see if you reacted as I did to the advice. I question the intelligence of this:

How to tell how hot your grill is without a thermometer: The writer claimed this tip is chef-tested (?) and trusted method. Hold your hand palm side down over the grill, about four inches from the grate. “Count the seconds you can stand (?) to keep your hand there. 2 seconds = high heat, 3-4 seconds medium heat, etc.” I have one comment “How Stupid!”

According to an Almanac Throwback of 1894, dandelions, young milkweed (?), mustard (?), horseradish (?) tops, young beet tops, cowslips (?) and turnip tops are good for greens. The ones I question marked I have questions about, imagine that! Do all of the questioned ones grow wild? And I think fiddleheads should be in this list. I love greens!!

I cruised the 2018 Farmer’s Almanac and decided to share the 11 symbols that make people think of America. They are: American Bald Eagle, Apple pie, American Bison, The Flag, Fourth of July Parade, White Picket Fences, Norman Rockwell Illustrations, Thanksgiving, Uncle Sam, Statue of Liberty, and Little red wagons!

I didn’t know how talented chickens are in gardening. It seems in the spring they are the aerators and tillers. In the summer their specialty is pest and weed control. Fall finds the chickens busy with the clean-up and fertilization. Winter is for composting, maintenance and spring prep. (even in Maine?) Who knew those little critters kept so busy and how important they are. I just thought of them in terms of my Sunday morning breakfast supplies!

Okay, I am just curious if this column gave you info you didn’t know. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com with your questions or comments. And don’t forget we are also online.

Thanks for reading!

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Singer/Songwriter: John Prine; Album: Ralph Towner/Gary Burton; Movie: Angel and the Badman

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

John Prine

John Prine

The first time I heard singer/songwriter John Prine, now 71, was at the Gorham gym, of what is now the University of Southern Maine, during the spring of 1972. He was the opening act for Lighthouse, was totally new to me and failed to make any impression .

Even his incredible fame over the 47 years that have elapsed since then never stirred my curiosity – that is until just over two weeks ago. While surfing YouTube, I chanced upon a 2011 post featuring him singing a duet with Iris Dement, who has been a favorite singer of mine for at least 25 years.

The song was In Spite of Ourselves with these opening lines; “She don’t like her eggs all runny/She thinks crossin’ her legs is funny/She looks down her nose at money/She gets it on like the Easter Bunny/She’s my baby/I’m her honey/I’m never gonna let her go.”

I won’t quote further because the lyrics go a bit over the top but they are a celebration of true love between a couple who each have two verses to “extol” each other. And, yes, the song was written by Prine and featured on a 1999 album as the title one. He had Dement in mind for the duet. His wife called the singer to tease her about the lyrics, while Dement took a period to gather the courage to record it.

The song became a much requested hit; there are numerous YouTubes from over the last 19 years in which Prine sings with Dement, Emmy Lou Harris and others, not to mention other couples.

Ralph Towner/Gary Burton

Matchbook; ECM records, ECM-1056, stereo LP, recorded 1975.

This very exquisite, delectable album is a collaboration between two very gifted players – guitarist Ralph Towner, now 78, and the presently 75-year-old vibraphonist, Gary Burton. It assembles some of the most captivating “soft” jazz to be heard anywhere, yet not in the superficial, commercialized mode of a few other performers, especially from the ‘70s when such muzak really thrived.

The nine selections include seven original Towner compositions, the Adolf Comden, Betty Green and Leonard Bernstein, Some Other Time, and Charlie Mingus’s Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. The album is one I shall return to.

Often during the past 47 years, I would confuse Burton, with another Gary who was also a wonderful vibraphonist, was born the same year, 1943, as Burton, but died very tragically at the age of 38 in 1971 – namely, Gary MacFarlane !

Angel and the Badman

starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey, Sr., Bruce Cabot, Tom Powers, etc.; directed by James Edward Grant; Republic Pictures, 1947, 100 minutes, VHS cassette.

John Wayne

John Wayne is a gunslinger who served as Wyatt Earp’s deputy at OK Corral but is running from an otherwise questionable past. Gail Russell portrays the Quaker maiden who falls in love with him. The very engaging actor, Harry Carey, Sr., is the sheriff in pursuit of Wayne while Bruce Cabot appears as another outlaw also gunning for JW. Due to space, all I can say is that I love this film for its plotting, pacing, character development, phenomenal performances from every cast member and the most splendid concluding confrontation scene and aftermath. Finally, there are moments when Carey comes very close to stealing the show; his death within a year was a major blow to cinema!

John Wayne was a very caring friend to Gail Russell, who was an extremely shy, vulnerable woman and who would succumb to alcoholism at the age of 36 in 1961, despite Wayne’s very caring and frequent help and support.

SOLON & BEYOND: Local pastor undertakes mission trip to Uganda

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy!

Several columns ago I told you that Pastor Tim Hunt of the New Hope Evangelical Free Church, in Solon, was going on a mission trip to Uganda. He sent me a very interesting and inspiring letter telling about his trip and I take great pleasure in sharing it with you.

From Pastor Tim: ” We have all had “profound moments” in our lives. February 5 – 16, 2018, was one of those times for me. While our wives stayed home to shovel snow and tend the wood fires, three other pastors and I went on a mission trip to Uganda, Africa. to encourage and minister to Ugandan pastors. It was an awesome time, a challenging time, a rewarding and fulfilling time. There were heart-wrenching moments, but there were times of fun and laughter, too. There was great fellowship as we four American pastors served together. Above all, it was a”God-moment” in time for each of us as our horizons were broadened and we saw the struggles, the joy, and the faith of our Ugandan brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you who supported me financially on this trip and who prayed for me and my colleagues as we ministered in that beautiful country. Here is a brief summary of what we did there.

On February 5, three pastors – Bob Emrich, Tom Brown, and I left Boston on an eight-hour flight to Amsterdam. There we connected with the fourth member of our team, Jerry Conklin, from Oregon, before another nine-hours to Entebbe, Uganda, where we stayed overnight in a brand new hotel. The next day, Wednesday, we traveled to our destination – the Kalungu District – which is just southwest of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

Thursday and Friday we had Bible conference at Faith Bible School where each of us spoke for an hour session via a translator, with Q & A both days. Then in the evenings, we divided into two groups of two and had two one-hour Bible studies in two local churches nearby. It was impressive to that these Bible School students, after being in a conference all day, walked a mile to get two more hours of Bible teaching in the evening. These student-pastors are hungry to learn the Word of God.

Saturday was the first graduation of Faith Bible School. What a privilege to be there and experience and excitement of the nineteen students and their families as they received their diplomas! This was quite an achievement for them, as they also have to work long hours in their gardens just to feed their families.

Sunday the four of us went to different churches in the area. I was to go to one that was a half-hour drive away. I was to be picked up at 9:30 a.m. However, my ride never came. Just after 9:30 a.m., a small motorcycle arrived (with a live turkey tied to the back), and thinking this might be my ride I inquired. The driver declined. Forty minutes later my ride did come, and I had a great time ministering in Pastor Joel’s church for the remainder of the morning and early afternoon. Many of those in Uganda were amazed that we Americans would come all the way to Uganda to the poor countryside to teach them the word of God.”

In this letter that I received from Tim it goes on to tell of some of the other churches they visited on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I found this one quite interesting: ‘Richard pastors a church where there are rural farms. We literally followed a cow path to the church location. Richard leaves home on his motor-cycle for Bible School at 5 AM, picks up student #2, then goes and picks up student #3 and travels for three hours (three men on a bike) to arrive at school by 8 a.m.’”

On Thursday they headed back to Kampala and ultimately home sweet home.

And so for Percy’s memoir:

May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

(There wasn’t any name to say who wrote these words, but I hope they help you.)

Young martial artists have their day at Battle of Maine

Front row, left to right, Emily Feyler, Mikayla Achorn, Logan Dow, Lucia LaCroix, Jason Feyler and Daniel Ouellette. Back, Carlie Bertrand, tournament director Mark Huard, Luke Raven, Tate Jewell, CMN director Kelly Pearson, Abby Dudley and major tournament sponsor Corey Dow (H&R Block). Absent from photo is Elyse Wilson. (Photo by Central Maine Photography staff)

Young students from Huard’s Martial Arts, in Winslow, recently collected pledges for the Battle of Maine Children’s Miracle Network fundraiser. Over the years, students and the event have raised over $75,000.

The 38th Battle of Maine Martial Arts championships took place on Saturday, March 24, at Thomas College, in Waterville. The event helped raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network and was a great success. Over 375 competitors and many spectators joined the event for a fun and action-packed day of martial arts competition.

Some of the youth competitors are showing off their first time tournament awards at the Battle of Maine. (Photo by Central Maine Photography staff)

 

Some of the many winners from the Battle of Maine Martial Arts championships. From left to right, Xander Giguere, third place forms, first place chanbara, Adam Fitzgerald, first place forms, first place chanbara, Abby Dudley, first place weapons, first place forms, first place fighting. (Photo by Mark Huard)

IF WALLS COULD TALK: March 17 has more meaning to me than St. Patrick’s Day

Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

WALLS, you sure have been busy this week! Frankly, if I were you, I’d begin by wishing The Town Line congratulations for bringing the news to everyone, at least to everyone in these parts, for 30 years. We should also thank Gary and Trish Newcomb for their being the founders of The Town Line. Like all things, time does change us along life’s way, but everyone who knows The Town Line must be especially grateful to Roland Hallee, since, as managing editor, he has carried the good works of The Town Line for all faithful readers since 2005. Actually, I have to admit that I had been writing this column for another newspaper. When that newspaper became history, I received a call from Roland and here you and I are, WALLS.

Well, that paragraph was easy, but, yes, WALLS was very busy this week. It all began on St. Patrick’s Day, as that was daughter’s birthday and Chuck planned a wonderful party for her. Then, in my ‘stuff’ there was a write-up with the heading “Did You Know?” Yes, faithful readers, do you know that St. Patrick was born in 389 and died in 461? Wow! He was the son of a Romano-British official, Calparius. When St.Patrick was captured by raiders at age 16, he was carried and became a slave in pagan Ireland. Six years later, he escaped and returned to Britain when he was about 22 years old. He studied at the monastery of Lerins. He was ordained, sent to Ireland, founded the Church of Armagh, which is now known as St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral. Yes, there he converted the Irish.

Now, Lynn’s birthday was on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, and then Skowhegan celebrated Governor Abner Coburn Day, per declaration issued by the Skowhegan Selectmen.

However, Governor Coburn was a very generous man and the name Coburn has been mounted on buildings all across the country. He was generous in death, also, and left money to have the Skowhegan Free Public Library built.

Attorney “Rob” Washburn was the one who delivered the Coburn message on March 22, while Evalyn Bowman and Shirley Whittemore served refreshments to all who attended. Oh, lest I forget, John Harlow was videographer for the event, in case you get Ch. 11 on your TV.

Today, there were so many folks attending Maine Maple Saturday and Sunday, and Kristina, Director of Skowhegan Main Street, you surely did a wonderful bit of organizing for all of us to enjoy.

China board denies BioFuels’ request to reconsider

by Mary Grow

At a March 22 meeting, the China Board of Appeals refused to reconsider its Feb. 15 refusal to hear two appeals of codes officer’s decisions filed by Bio Renewable Fuels (BRF).

The case began in August 2017, when Codes Officer Paul Mitnik notified BRF owner Ralph Howe that he needed a planning board permit to continue his Dirigo Road operation. In September 2017, Mitnik sent the company a notice of violation.

Howe appealed both documents. At the Feb. 15 hearing, board of appeals members unanimously rejected both appeals on procedural grounds, without going into the merits of the issue.

The rest of the board agreed with Chairman Spencer Aitel that the appeal of the August letter was not filed within the required 30 days, and that the appeal of the notice of violation incorrectly listed the property-owner as BFR, when in fact the company leases its land from Ralph Howe’s wife Linda.

Attorney Kristin Collins, of Preti Flaherty, in Augusta, disagreed with both reasons and objected to the board’s not giving the Howes a chance to rebut them. She therefore asked the board to reconsider its Feb. 15 decisions.

Aitel arrived at the conclusion that the appeal was filed late by counting days on a calendar. Collins referenced state Rules of Civil Procedure that say that the day of an action does not count as the first day, and if the final day of a time period is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, the next day should be counted as the final day. By those rules, she said, the appeal was filed within 30 days. On the second point, Collins said BFR was the entity to which Mitnik’s documents were addressed, and since the company has a 99-year lease on the land it is the owner for relevant purposes. She added that nothing in town ordinances allows dismissal of an appeal because of an error on the form; in fact, she said, the town does not even require a form, as long as an appeal is in writing, nor does it require the property-owner to submit the appeal.

Board of Appeals members approved motions not to reconsider each previous action by identical 4-1-1 votes, with Robert Fischer, Lisa Kane, Anthony Pileggi and Dale Worster in the majority, Michael Gee opposed and Aitel abstaining.

Aitel told the Howes they may appeal the board’s decisions to Superior Court.