8th annual Battle for Breast Cancer tourney raises over $34,000

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Group photo of the teams from Dexter, Lawrence, of Fairfield, Maine Central Institute, of Pittsfield, Messalonskee, of Oakland, Mt. Blue, of Farmington, Nokomis, of Newport, Skowhegan, Winslow and Winthrop. Photo by Cheyenne Paron, Central Maine Photography staff

by Mark Huard

On July 21, field hockey teams from Skowhegan, Messalonskee, Mt. Blue, Nokomis, Winslow, Dexter, MCI, Lawrence, and Winthrop, in Central Maine, participated in the 8th Annual Battle For Breast Cancer Tournament at Thomas College, in Waterville. Now in its eighth year, more than $163,600 has been raised since 2011 for the beneficiary, the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center, a program of Franklin Memorial Hospital, in Farmington. Diagnostic breast imaging, biopsies, lab services, surgical consultations, and post-surgical garments are just some of the examples of how the money has been used.

“One hundred percent of the money raised is used to support those with breast cancer living in Central Maine,” said organizer Paula Doughty. “And new this year are platinum through bronze sponsorship opportunities with special recognition in the event’s program and during the opening ceremony.”

This year’s event was another huge success and all of the teams together helped raise $34,126.85, the most yet in a single year.

A breakdown of the last seven years:

2011 – $16,655
2012 – $20,858
2013 – $25,936
2014 – $18,831
2015 – $25,105
2016 – $23,666
2017 – $32,563.

China town manager presents several proposals to selectmen

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Image Credit: chinalakeassociation.org

by Mary Grow

China selectmen spent much of their July 23 meeting discussing the Tax Increment Finance Committee’s causeway project, which consists of replacing the bridge at the head of China Lake’s east basin and, as phase two, improving the boat landing and access to the lake.

Additional parking is a prerequisite for state improvements to the boat landing. Selectmen approved committee members’ plans to have a state Department of Environmental Protection staff member inspect Susan Bailey’s property to assess its suitability for parking, to ask other nearby landowners if they are interested in selling and to discuss an easement for use of part of the China Baptist Church parking area.

The Bailey property is on the market for $120,000.

In other business, new Town Manager Dennis Heath presented several proposals, none ready for immediate action.

He and transfer station employees are discussing ways to have the facility open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, without additional expense. The Transfer Station Committee was expected to continue the discussion at its July 25 meeting.

Heath and veteran road employee Gary Cummings talked about a long-term road repaving plan, which Heath said could create an eight-year cycle. That issue he intends to discuss next with China’s Road Committee.

A third issue, on which Heath said he spent most of his first three weeks in office, was town finances. The manager had a summary of revenue and expenses beginning in fiscal year 2015 which, among other things, illustrated the difference between accounting on a cash basis, as done by the town office system, and on an accrual basis, as used by the auditors.

Heath’s preliminary conclusion is that the annual tax rate has been slightly higher than necessary to cover annual expenses, resulting in a healthy surplus.

The China website says the next China selectmen’s meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6.

China company retains contract for bridge replacement at the head of China lake

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by Mary Grow

The bid for the China Lake causeway bridge replacement is still awarded to Comprehensive Land Technologies, of South China, after a last-minute discussion almost led to reconsideration.

At the rescheduled China Tax Increment Finance Committee meeting held July 19, members of the subcommittee overseeing the project objected that China selectmen had awarded the contract without their recommendation.

Selectmen reviewed four bids at their July 9 meeting and unanimously awarded the contract to Jason Tyler’s Comprehensive Land Technologies, the lowest and only local bidder (see The Town Line, July 12, p. 3). (ep)

Tyler’s bid was $493,750. The next lowest bid, $529,000, was from T. Buck Construction Inc., of Auburn.

Engineer Joe McLean, of Wright-Pierce, the town’s consultant on the project, said T. Buck had more experience with bridges, but did not argue against Comprehensive Land Technologies. Selectmen had favorable recommendations from similar jobs Tyler has done, and they pointed out that the China project is not exactly a bridge, but a large precast concrete culvert.

Tyler asked for a prompt notice of the award, saying he had to order the culvert right away to have it by October.

At the July 19 TIF meeting, new Town Manager Dennis Heath said he was unsure that the four bids should have gone directly to the selectboard, rather than to the TIF subcommittee and the full TIF Committee.

Several TIF Committee members wanted to review the bids, even if doing so meant rescinding the notice of award and delaying the project.

Committee member Frank Soares blamed the TIF group for being disorganized and feared the town would incur financial penalties if selectmen changed the award.

Consequently, the TIF subcommittee on the bridge project – Soares, Tom Michaud, and Jim Wilkens – met with Tyler before the July 23 selectmen’s meeting. Michaud presented the meeting as a chance to get acquainted with Tyler and a “pre-construction chat,” and there was no discussion of rescinding the award.

Tyler said Comprehensive Land Technologies started in 1995 as a logging business. Clearing land led to construction, construction became increasingly technical – he and his more than two dozen employees have built a boat landing and worked on Central Maine Power Company substations, among other things.

His largest single job was a $12 million project, he said. He likes to maintain a local presence, too, so he’ll cut down a resident’s unhealthy or unwanted tree for a few hundred dollars.

Wright-Pierce will be overseeing the bridge replacement on behalf of the town. Tyler will report to them; they will report to Heath; Heath will report to selectmen and TIF Committee members. Tyler emphasized that as construction proceeds, there might be changes in plans requiring local consideration.

The other major topic at the July 19 TIF meeting was acquisition of land for parking near the head of the lake. Soares said without better parking, the state will not enlarge or improve the boat landing.

Susan Bailey’s property, including the small lot now used unofficially for boat landing parking plus a larger parcel across Routes 202 and 9, is on the market for $120,000. Committee members said much of the lot is designated as wetland or resource protection; Michaud said he had arranged with Mark McCluskey, of A. E. Hodsdon Engineers, also assisting the town, to talk with state environmental officials.

Michaud moved that the town be authorized to make a deposit on the land pending environmental review, so Bailey would know the town’s offer is serious. Committee members could not think of a source of funds, and Michaud withdrew his motion.

At the committee’s June 18 meeting, Soares proposed that he, Michaud and Wilkens talk with other landowners across the highway about possible sales. No one had followed up as of July 19.

In November 2016 China voters authorized spending up to $10,000 for the smaller piece of Bailey’s property. She is unable to separate the two pieces. Voters have not been asked to approve spending $120,000 for the entire lot.

Most of the other business at the July 19 TIF meeting was procedural, including updates on preparing application forms for TIF funds and for the revolving loan fund the committee is establishing.

Heath said committee member Amber McAllister is resigning as chairman; someone else needs to be chosen to prepare agendas and run meetings.

The July 19 meeting had been scheduled for July 16, but no one sent reminders or an agenda and several members did not know of the meeting or had conflicts, so it was canceled that afternoon. Committee member Ronald Breton, unaware of the change, drove 113 miles from his summer camp. At the July 23 selectmen’s meeting, selectmen reimbursed him at the town’s mileage rate for his 226-mile round trip.

TIF Committee members scheduled their next meeting for 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 30.

Obituaries, Week of July 26, 2018

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ROBERT E. WARNER

VASSALBORO – Robert E. Warner, 92, of Vassalboro, died on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at the Maine Veterans Home, in Augusta. He was born in Searsmont on August 4, 1925, the son of William and Calista (Sprowl) Warner.

He grew up in Searsmont with his grandparents and attended school there. He also attended high school in Belfast at Morse Memorial High School. Bob served in the infantry in World War II, receiving the Purple Heart for wounds received in battle near Aachen, Germany. He worked at Sprowl Brothers in the log mill and the state of Maine before going to work at Togus VA for 30 years, until his retirement due to disability.

Bob was predeceased by his parents; his first wife and the mother of his children, Louise B. Warner and his second wife, Vivian Warner; daughter Marilyn Shorey and two brothers, William Warner and Lyndly Warner.

He is survived by wife Hazel (Brown) Warner; daughters Beverly Wyman and husband Reid, of Vassalboro, and Patricia Richards, of Vassalboro; brother Stanly Warner and wife Lynn, of Pittston; grandchildren, Brian Shorey, of Hallowell, Scott Shorey, of Rockland, Tammy Summers, of Colorado, William Bailey, of Freeport, and Sue Richards, of Lewiston; great-grandchildren Christopher and Justin Allen, Emily and Brandon Shorey, and Chelsea and Katie Summers.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, in Augusta, on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at 10 a.m.

Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements were in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, One Church St., Augusta.

NANCY A. ANDREWS

WINDSOR––Nancy A. An­drews, 78, of Windsor, passed away on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at MaineGeneral Medical Center following a short battle with cancer. She was born in Gardiner on March 11, 1940, the daughter of Charles and Betsy (Grant) Hill.

She graduated from Hallowell High School.

Nancy worked at Health Tex for 30 years, and then worked for Uplift for 10 years. She loved spending time with her family and friends, traveling with Tammy, and watching her Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents; husband, Richard G. Andrews; and a sister, Julie.

She is survived by her daughter, Tammy Andrews, of Windsor; and several cousins.

Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

KATHLEEN BARRETT

WINSLOW––Kathleen Barrett, 72, of Winslow, died unexpectedly on Thursday, July 12, 2018, at Inland Hospital. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 16, 1945, a daughter of Alice (Lange) and Roland Huggard.

She attended and graduated from Cambridge schools.

Through the years Kathleen worked as an administration assistant for mechanical engineering firms, retiring as office manager for Trimont Engineering Co. She was an avid reader and when not reading could be found outdoors, working in the yard tending to her flower gardens. She also enjoyed the company of her cats.

Kathleen will be remembered for her many fine qualities of loyalty, honesty, her ability to listen, friendship and love of others. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, John Barrett, of Winslow; her daughter Jodi Mezzanotte, of Scarborough; her granddaughter Paige Lemieux, of El Paso, Texas; her grandson Nathan Lemieux, of London, england; her sister Diane Clark, of Bremen; her nephew William Clark and wife Jennifer and their children: BJ, Nathan, and Austin, all of South Bristol; her step-daughter Anji Barrett, of Austin, Texas; her step-son John Barrett, Jr, of Austin, Texas.

Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Damariscotta at a later date.

Please visit www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Kathleen’s life and to share condolences, memories and tributes with her family.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Kathleen’s memory to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Attn: Memorial/Honor Program, PO Box 1000 Dept. 300, Memphis TN 38148-0552

SYLVIA A. PEASLEE

VASSALBORO––Sylvia Alicia (Campbell) Peaslee, 83, of Vassalboro, passed away at her home, on Thursday, July 12, 2018. Sylvia was born in Augusta on January 15, 1935, the daughter of Elmer and Marian Campbell.

She attended Cony High School where she met her soulmate, Keith Peaslee. They fell in love and were engaged. After two years at the University of Maine at Farmington, and Keith being away in training for the U.S, Army, they decided to marry on October 6, 1956.

They shared 63 years together and celebrated an extraordinary love. They built a home and decided to have children. Whether it was working in the garden or tending the animals on their farm, Sylvia enjoyed work and was always willing to help.

She worked for the U.S. Army , in the commissary, while they were stationed in Governors Island, New York. She sold Avon briefly and was a very successful saleswoman for Electrolux. She put in countless hours at her church as a deaconess, Sunday school teacher, handy woman, and she also worked with the Chapel on Wheels ministry at the fairs. Sylvia;s caring and loving heart put others before herself. Always prepared with a firm, but kind, word of wisdom, a delicious meal, or a hug only she could provide, no matter how bad you felt before you arrived, you knew you’d feel much better when you left.

Sylvia inspired her family to be kind, honest, hard working, and to appreciate the little things.

She was predeceased by three siblings, Ruth Dow, Richard Campbell, and Bruce Dow.

Surviving is her husband, Keith Peaslee; son, Daniel Peaslee; daughter, Kathleen Hinkley; son-in-law, Peter Hinkley and wife, Nancy Camelio; granddaughters: Shila Hammond, Samantha Peaslee, Heather Peaslee and Zack Oxley, Melina Peaslee, Diane Cook and husband, Tim, Crystal St. Onge and husband, Jacques, Alicia Hinkley and James Paine; great-grandchildren: Christopher Hammond, Mariah Hammond, Paige Cook, Carly Cook, Khloye Cloutier. Gabriel Wachter, Tyson Pooler, James Jolly, Shiloh St. Onge, Solomon St. Onge and Jaelyn Paine; her sister, Phyllis Dore; also many nieces and nephews.

MURRY B. MCINTOSH JR.

VASSALBORO––Murray Bernard McIntosh Jr., 86, passed away on Sunday, July 15, 2019, following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Murray, also known as Bob to family and friends, was born April 23, 1932, in Caribou.

He faithfully served the Lord with the gifts God gave him for over 50 years. He helped build and maintain churches and served in various church leaderships. Bob visited Swaziland, Africa, twice in his later years, where he helped feed hungry, needy children and literally gave the shoes of his own feet to a man who had none.

Bob was a skilled craftsman and enjoyed working with his hands. He was a welder by trade and worked for United Technologies for over 30 years. He was a dedicated father and grandfather and used these skills to help his family and anyone else in need.

When Bob wasn’t working, he was fishing. Faithfully accompanied by the love of his life, Murial. He enjoyed fly fishing as she watched him and knitted on the bank of the river. Most of the time, they didn’t even keep the fish Bob caught. Instead, he would think of someone who could use it more and gave it away. Together they loved camping, long rides through the back roads of Maine and showering friends and family with their unending hospitality.

Bob was predeceased by Muriel, his wife and friend of 61 years; his son Rodney McIntosh; and infant son Basil McIntosh.

Bob is survived by daughters, Julie and husband Larry Rowe, Mary Ann and husband Danny Quirion; son Bernard and wife April McIntosh; 17 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.lawrybrothers.com.

LEWIS A. OUILETTE, JR.

MADISON – Lewis A. Ouilette, Jr., 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. He was born in Fairfield Center on July 19, 1927, the son of Florence (Ronco) and Lewis Ouilette, Sr.

Lew graduated from Skowhegan High School, class of 1944. While attending the University of Maine, Lew left for a time to serve our country in the United States Navy. After his service, he finished his bachelor’s degree in engineering. For the majority of his working life, Lew was a shoe design engineer at Alfond’s Shoe, Norwalk Shoe, Viners Shoes, Little Falls Footwear, other famous designers and special needs shoes. He worked all over the U.S. and was known professionally as an expert in his trade.

On October 30, 1948, he married Joyce Fenderson and they raised their sons Nick and Dean, in Madison.

Joyce passed away in January 1976. In February 1977, Lew married Katie Valliere-Denis and with her three children they made their home in East Madison. Although Lew dabbled in real estate in New Hampshire, he was most active in his retirement working for Allied Realty and Whittemore’s Real Estate.

Lew was an active member of the civic organizations Rotary International and Kiwanis. He also served on Madison Planning Board and others throughout the Madison-Skowhegan area, including serving on the Finance Committee for Christ the King Catholic Parishes in Skowhegan, Madison and Bingham. He loved the outdoors especially hunting and fishing. He made many great memories with Nick, Dean, Russell, Matt, Kenny, Mac and others during the many fishing trips to Bull Dog Pond and Parlin Pond and most recently at a pond in Aroostook County.

Lew also loved going to and acting in live theater. While in Little Falls, New York, he performed in Fiddler on the Roof and Oliver.

Lew is survived by his wife of 41 years, Kathleen “Katie” Ouilette; son, Nick Ouilette; son, Dean Ouilette and his wife Donna; step-children, Craig Denis and his wife Laurie, and Lynn Rooney; grandchildren, Danny Ouilette, Michelle Wilhelm, Matthew Ouilette, Brittany Bondar, Angela Norton, Andrea Standring, Mark Denis, Paul Denis, Danielle Denis, Roxie Paine, Leigh Paine and DJ; great-grandchildren, Landon Arevelo, Kinley, Caden, and Kyler Wilhelm, Olive and Frances Ouilette, Arabella-Joyce Bondar, Rylie Norton, Colvin, Alexis and Cody Standring, Sydney Duncan, Reese and Owen Paine; sister, Elene Higgins and her husband George.

Lew was predeceased by his parents; wife, Joyce; step-son, Russell Denis; and sister, Ina.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11a.m,. Friday, August 3, 2018, at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, Water Street, Skowhegan, with the Rev. James Nadeau, celebrant. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Canaan. Family and friends are invited to a reception at Lew and Katie’s home following services.

Lew and Katie’s grandson Landen is a cancer survivor due to the wonderful research at St Jude’s. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Gifts, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38148-0142,

LOCAL TIES

JAMES D. TONER, 59, of New Vineyard, passed away on Monday, July 16, 2018, following a courageous battle with cancer. Jim spent 18 years as the well-respected director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Waterville, where he helped build new sports fields, oversaw the construction of a new public pool facility, and even dressed up as the Easter Bunny for the popular city Easter egg hunt. In the latter part of his tenure for the city of Waterville, his job expanded to include director of the Public Works Department. He later went on to be director of the Fitness and Recreation Center at the University of Maine at Farmington, in 2006.

Last call for Common Ground Country Fair poster contest

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The submission deadline for the 2019 Common Ground Country Fair Poster Contest is nearing.

If you have already sent in your poster design, thank you!

If you have not yet submitted, and are interested, you will find the the poster guidelines and application are available at http://mofga.org/The-Fair/Poster

The winning artist receives $2,500, a press release, and is highlighted in MOFGA’s quarterly newspaper, The Maine Organic Farmer and Gardener. The selected design is also featured on the Fair poster, website, T-shirt and in promotional literature.

The theme of the design must be in line with MOFGA’s mission and the general guidelines for participating in the Fair. We welcome all Maine residents and MOFGA members to enter submissions by August 3rd.

For more information please contact the Fair office at commonground@mofga.org.

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: No evidence that anadromous fish restoration would have negative impact on Sheepscot Lake

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by John Glowa, South China resident

In a recent submittal by the Sheepscot Lake Association (SLA), regarding restoring anadromous fish passage into and from the lake in the July 19, The Town Line, Carolyn Viens of the SLA stated, “…the residents of Palermo won a major battle in the opposition to LD 922, the legislative bill mandating the opening of the Sheepscot Dam to alewives and other migrating fishes which would have had a negative impact on the health of the lake.”

Ms. Viens provided no evidence of her claim that anadromous fish restoration “would have had a negative impact on the health of the lake.” Ms. Viens also failed to note that L.D. 922 would have also (1) required the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to cooperate with the Department of Marine Resources (the two agencies have had and continue to have a decades long turf war over anadromous fish restoration vs. maintaining artificial freshwater sport fish populations), and (2) require the Department of Marine Resources to develop a management plan for Sheepscot Pond for anadromous fish species and habitat. Opposition, including from shorefront property owners around Sheepscot Pond resulted in the bill being withdrawn.

I have fished Sheepscot River below the outlet dam and have never seen the fishway functioning. In my opinion, it serves no purpose and needs to be replaced. The bill in question would have required that the existing fishway be kept open and operational from April 15-June 30. Unfortunately, It did not address the functionality/suitability of the fishway or downstream fish passage for adult and juvenile alewives from Sheepscot Pond.

I believe that local opposition to anadromous fish restoration in Sheepscot Pond has more to with perceived negative impacts on property values than it has to do with “the health of the lake”. Concerns about water quality impacts are, in my opinion, a red herring. One lakefront property owner I spoke with who lives in Oakland, was mainly concerned about potential negative impacts to the value of her property and lampreys wrapping themselves around her daughter’s ankles. When I asked her to provide any credible scientific evidence of negative impacts to Sheepscot Pond, she did not.

Ms. Viens noted that a representative of the Highland Lake Association will be coming to talk to the SLA “…regarding their experience with alewives and the impact on their deteriorating water quality….” This statement makes the assumption that alewives have, in fact, caused water quality in Highland Lake to deteriorate. There is NO scientific evidence to support this assumption. Highland Lake has suffered from human caused excessive nutrient loading and deteriorating water quality for decades. While I strongly encourage efforts to assess and improve water quality in Maine’s lakes, those efforts should not be based on hearsay and unproven assumptions. They should be based on science.

If the SLA wants to hear from those familiar with waterbodies that have healthy anadromous fish populations, perhaps they should hear from someone representing Damariscotta Lake, where the alewife run into the lake exceeds one million fish annually.

Sheepscot Pond has been home to anadromous fish populations for milennia. If anyone or anything has caused harm, it is humans who dammed the lake and upset the natural ecosystem. Maine is finally working to right these wrongs by restoring anadromous fish runs up and down the coast. Despite red herrings, roadblocks, and other delaying tactics, it is only a matter of time before the natural ecosystem of Sheepscot Pond will be allowed to return, as well.

Town embarks on Comprehensive Planning process

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Messalonskee Stream cascade, Oakland, ME; from a c. 1906 postcard published by G. W. Morris, Portland, Maine.

Engages community to envision the town’s future

The Town of Oakland is currently in the process of crafting a Comprehensive Plan with the goal of creating a blueprint for the future. Fifteen community members have volunteered to join the Oakland Comprehensive Planning Committee (OCPC), which is facilitating the process.

A Comprehensive Plan is a broad, long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of a community. At its core, a Comprehensive Plan reviews the history of the municipality, evaluates its current status, and outlines a vision for its future. It typically describes the community’s natural resources, housing, economy, infrastructure, transportation, recreation and public spaces, and community facilities, and provides recommendations for those components.

For Town Manager Gary Bowman, a Comprehensive Plan represents an important milestone for Oakland. “We have embarked on a two-year process to inventory the Town of Oakland and gather public input on a wide range of topics; this magnitude of data hasn’t been compiled in over two decades, and it is critical for leading the Town in its desired direction for the next twenty years.”

Volunteers on OCPC have convened for several months to build an inventory and to create methods of collecting public input. Their dedication to the process has impressed Bob Nutting, who participates in OCPC. “It’s very special to have fifteen community members volunteer two years of their time, energy, and skill. Their volunteerism illustrates the passion OCPC members have for the Town of Oakland,” said OCPC Chair Bob Nutting.

OCPC emphasizes the importance of community involvement in the Comprehensive Plan process. Input from the community is critical, as it shapes the vision for the Town’s future.

This summer, all Oakland residents and businesses will have the opportunity to express their thoughts on Oakland’s core values, possibilities, needs, and direction. OCPC looks forward to the community’s participation in its efforts to collect input, including public workshops and a community-wide survey, which will be going live digitally and mailed to Oakland residents on Monday, July 2nd. The first public workshop will be held at the Town of Oakland’s Cascade Room (6 Cascade Mill Rd, Oakland, ME 04963) on Thursday, June 21st at 4:00pm.

Once the asset inventory analysis has been completed and public input has been collected, OCPC will craft a Comprehensive Plan that is easily-readable and usable. Comprehensive Plans are commonly used to promote quality of life, prosperity, and dialogue between neighbors, and to gain an advantage when applying to state and federal funding opportunities.

Information regarding methods by which the residents and businesses of the Town of Oakland can voice their opinions on the future of the community may also be accessed via OCPC’s Comprehensive Planning website: http://www.centralmaine.org/oakland-comprehensive-plan/.

Pollinators in agriculture: Identification and Conservation

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Bumblebees are one of our most important native pollinators of food crops, including wild blueberries. (Photo courtesy
of Xerces Society)

There is a lot of buzz about pollinators these days, especially for farmers. Join farmers Brady Hatch and Brendan Quillen at Morning Dew Farm, in Damariscotta, on Wednesday, August 1, from 5-7 p.m., for a free walk and talk, “Pollinators in Agriculture: Who’s Who and How to Conserve Them.” Eric Venturini, Farm Bill Pollinator Conservationist and NRCS Partner Biologist will lead this program to ID pollinators on the farm, learn about their ecology, and discuss steps to getting involved in pollinator conservation efforts, including how to successfully establish wildflower plantings for pollinators.

In addition, Joe DeStefano, NRCS technical service provider and owner Posto Bello Apiaries, will be on hand to talk about building successful, beneficial partnerships between farmers and beekeepers. For those who wish to stay for a potluck following the program, please bring utensils, etc, and a dish to share.

This free program is part of the 2018 Farmer & Gardener Workshop Series sponsored by Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Midcoast Farmers Alliance; Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association is a co-sponsor of this event. For more information: www.knox-lincoln.org/beginning-farmer, hildy@knox-lincoln.org or 596-2040.

Give Us Your Best Shot, Week of July 26, 2018

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To submit a photo for The Town Line’s “Give Us Your Best Shot!” section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@fairpoint.net!

NATURE’S FINEST: Tina Richard, of Clinton, a frequent contributor to Give Us Your Best Shot, sent along these photos recently.

a chipmunk beginning to store acorns for the winter

a deer wandering out of the woods probably in search of food

a momma loon with a chick in tow

Bog Brook culvert replacement set to begin in August

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The detour you’ll need to take during the construction.

The Bog Brook culvert replacement schedule has been released by the town of China. The 25-day project is expected to begin on Monday, August 13, and continue until Friday, September 21. During that period of time, through traffic will be detoured around the project, and only local traffic will be permitted in the area.

Preliminary work will begin on Tuesday, August 14 with site demolition scheduled for Monday, September 3. The new culvert will be installed from Monday, September 10 through Friday, September 14. Road work and paving should take place from Monday, September 17 until Wednesday, September 19. Restoration and clean up will then take place around Thursday, September 20, and continue for about four days.

For the duration of the project, the Hanson Road from the Cross Road to the Bog Brook Road, where the project is taking place, will be closed to through traffic and open only to local traffic, as well as the end of the Bog Brook Road to Pleasant View Ridge Road. Please see the map for more information. Feel free to contact the town office at 445-2014 or info@chinamaine.org with any questions or concerns.