Vassalboro News: Selectmen, budget committee look at initial budget

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by Mary Grow

The Vassalboro selectmen’s March 9 meeting was followed by an initial 2017 Budget Committee meeting at which major department heads presented funding requests.
Selectmen and two cemetery committee members discussed a plan to find out for sure who is buried where in Vassalboro cemeteries, a plan set back by recent denial of a grant application for the project.

Town Manager Mary Sabins and Selectman Philip Haines know of a man with ground-penetrating radar they could hire to work on the project. Board Chairman Lauchlin Titus said two area women who call themselves grave-dowsers might help. Cost of the project is estimated at $50,000. Currently, Sabins said, the town has more than $12,000 in the fund that came with the Cross Hill Cemetery when it became a town-managed graveyard plus more than $5,000 in interest from the cemetery perpetual care fund. The principal in the perpetual care fund cannot be spent, she said.

Selectmen are likely to propose asking voters to contribute to the project. They did not have an opportunity to present the idea at the budget committee meeting.
Another issue at the selectmen’s meeting was the 2016 town report. Board members unanimously accepted Titus’s suggestion that the former mill superintendent’s house in North Vassalboro be the centerpiece, and talked about some of its history. Anyone with documented knowledge about the building or any of its owners or inhabitants is invited to get in touch with Sabins at the town office.

Budget committee members spent two hours hearing presentations from Transfer Station Manager George Hamar, Public Works Director Eugene Field and Sabins on 2017-18 budget requests for solid waste disposal, road maintenance and town government.

Sabins recommends three percent salary increases for town employees, except two percent for herself.

The transfer station budget shows increases in trash-hauling costs and equipment maintenance. The latter, Hamar said, is because the town’s old backhoe, which he used to borrow from public works, has been turned over to his department. Although he adds maintenance and fuel costs, he gains convenience.
Field said the past winter depleted the supply of road salt more than usual, and he is also low on culverts. The longest discussion was over paving and – mostly – repaving town roads. Field had asked for almost $900,000; selectmen recommend less than $400,000.

The selectmen’s March 9 list includes part of Taber Hill, Cross Hill and Cushnoc roads, Holman Day Road, Webber Pond Extension, Mill Hill and more of the Hunt Road. Titus said they deleted the Nelson Road and town buildings’ parking lots from Field’s list to save money.

Budget committee members asked questions, but made no decisions. Their next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21. Sabins plans to invite representatives of two social service agencies applying for town funds for the first time and one whose budget request has been cut, and to notify other out-of-town agencies of the meeting. Also scheduled to attend are Police Chief Mark Brown to talk about replacing Vassalboro’s 2007 police car and a representative of Vassalboro Rescue to discuss that budget request.
On Thursday, March 23, selectmen will again meet an hour earlier than usual, at 6 p.m., leaving time for a 7 p.m. budget committee meeting.

Obituaries, Week of March 16, 2017

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JAMES J. O’NEAL

WINSLOW––James Joseph O’Neal, 82, of Winslow, passed away Saturday, February 18, 2017, at Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor. He was born March 30, 1934, in Waterville, the son of James Edward O’Neal and Leona Violette Vellieux.

James “Jim” served with the US Army during the Korean War. Those who knew Jim well knew he was rarely seen without his Korea Veteran cap. Jim was a member of the J. Forrest Pare VFW Waterville Post #1285 then transferred to Grover-Hinckley Post #6924, in Fairfield, and became quartered master there. He retired as a life-long employee from Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, in Connecticut.

Jim will be remembered by many for his love for the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and his hobby of fly tying.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Shirley (Denis) O’Neal; daughter Cheryl Johnson; son Randall O’Neal; grandson Dennis Johnson; and sister Marlene LeClerc.

He is survived by his sons Mark O’Neal and Ryan O’Neal; daughter Tabatha Stepensky; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four sisters, Betty King, of Florida, Eleanor Kerr, of Island Falls, Helen Brock, of North Carolina, Lorraine Daveluy, of Terryville, Connecticut, his close friend Theresa Boudreau; and many nieces and nephews.

DOROTHY J. BREWSTER

SOUTH CHINA – Dorothy J. Brewster 69, of Pleasant View Ridge Road, died Friday, March 3, 2017, at her home following a brief illness. She was born in Bangor on April 6, 1947, the daughter of Joseph Brewster and Dorothy (Shorey) Brewster.

Dorothy was employed for many years as a CNA by HealthReach Network.

She was predeceased by her parents, a daughter, Sonya Brewster in 1969, a granddaughter, Melissa Bragg in 2005, two brothers, Joseph Brewster and Ralph Brewster, and a sister, Susan Cushman.

Surviving are her longtime companion, Grover Bragg, of South China; two sons, Steve Bragg, and Dave Bragg and his wife Amy, all of China; two daughters, Michelle Bragg and her companion Ray Haskell, of Waterville, and Melissa Libby and her companion Shane Willett, of Vassalboro; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Small, of Florida; one brother, Phillip Brewster, of Kentucky; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 983 Ridge Road, Windsor, ME. Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.

JON A. McKEIL

CHINA – Jon “Kilo” A. McKeil, 57, passed away Friday, March 3, 2017, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. He was born October 16, 1959, in Waterville, the son of John E. and Arlene M. (Hoxie) McKeil.

He graduated from Community School in Camden in 1979. Jon’s employment included working at Alco Meat Packing Company, construction with Dick Willette and Harding Brothers, as well as Harris Bakery. He loved boating, sunbathing, four-wheeling, music, writing poems, making up songs, and lobster.

Jon is survived by his son, Shawn McKeil, of Winslsow; grandson, Caleb McKeil, of Winslow; two brothers, Peter McKeil, and Carl McKeil, both of China; two sisters, Debbie Michaud, of Waterville, and Mary Quirion, of Wisconson; “sister” best friend, Cindy Brown Miner, of China; aunt, Judy Evers, of Fairfield; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial donations may be made to the China Rescue and Fire Department.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, Maine 04976.

MARIE MASSE

WINSLOW––Marie “Lillian” Masse, 99, passed away Monday, March 6, 2017. Lillian was born in Madawaska, on February 20, 1918.

During her lifetime, she experienced many vocations. Starting at a young age, she worked on farms in Aroostook County to help support her parents’ large family. Later in life, she was a homemaker, did waitressing, and worked at Hazzard Shoe Co. until she retired.

She and her husband George moved to Florida and lived there for 23 years, deciding to return to Maine in 2004 to be closer to their families. She enjoyed being outside working in her yard, planting flowers, and making her home beautiful. Her neighbors were constantly amazed by her strength and vitality when she did yard work and landscaping.

She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Euphemie Gorneau; brothers, Walter, Aurelle, Victor, and Matthew Gorneau; sisters, Leda Ouellette, Germaine Michaud, Rita Theberge, and Jeannine Joler; and her infant daughter, Joanne.

She is survived by her sons, John R. DeMerchant and wife Delores, and Terry DeMerchant and wife Bonnie; grandchildren John R. DeMerchant II and wife Cathy, Joel DeMerchant and wife Jennifer, and Julie, Tera and Adam DeMerchant; great-grandchildren John R. DeMerchant III and wife Aliyssa, Joshua Carrier, and Logan, Leah and Nicole DeMerchant; great-great-grandson John R. DeMerchant IV; many nieces and nephews; brother-in-law Donald Massey and wife Pat; and sister-in-law Bernadette Massey.

Memories may be shared at www.directcremationofmaine.com.

NATALIE J. BRANN

WINSLOW––Natalie J. (Randlette) Brann, 70, of Winslow, passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at her home. Natalie was born on September 20, 1946, in Lewiston, the daughter of George and Gertrude Randlette, and was raised in Monmouth.

Upon graduating from Monmouth Academy in 1964, she began working various office jobs and later became a full-time homemaker caring for her home and family. In 2002, she re-entered the outside workforce and began working for Maine Mobile MRI, retiring in March 2016.

On November 25, 1967, Natalie married Richard W. Brann, whom she sadly lost in October 2010. Natalie and Dick, as he was better known, moved to Clinton where they raised their two daughters.

She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and painting, but her favorite pastime of all was spending time with her family. She and Dick moved to Winslow in 2005 to be closer to their girls and their families.

She was a kind and loving woman with an infectious personality, quick wit, and great sense of humor. She was an avid shopper and a self-proclaimed sockaholic! She would never leave the house without matching completely from head to toe.

She was an intuitive person as her advice was often sought out by family, friends, and sometimes even strangers. She had a special way of always making others feel better. Natalie reconnected with old friends, made special new friendships, and never stopped caring about and helping others.

She was predeceased by her husband, Richard W. Brann; parents, George and Gertrude Randlette; sister, Barbara Sousa; brother, Bradley Randlette; and in-laws, George, Eva, and Paul Brann.

She is survived by daughter, Michele (Brann) Strahan, her husband, Jim, and grandson, Michael, of Winslow, daughter, Melissa Brann-Boucher, her husband, Bill, and grandson, Lucas, of Winslow; sister, Marcia Cooper and husband, Delbert, of Winthrop; sister, Lottie Carlson, of Manchester; and several nieces and nephews.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.directcremationofmaine.com.

Memorial donations may be made to: MaineGeneral Hospice, 10 Water Street, Suite 307, Waterville ME 04901.

DENNIS K. MOODY

FAIRFIELD__Dennis Keith Moody, 70, passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at Maine Medical Center, in Portland. Dennis was born in Rockland on October 1, 1946, to Warren and Thursa (Lunt) Moody.

He attended and graduated from Union High School. After graduation Dennis enlisted in the U. S.  Air Force. Dennis went on to enlist in the U. S. Navy in 1979 and retired in 1996, after serving his country for over 30 years. While he was in the Navy Dennis started a Salt Marine Aquarium business in Rhode Island. Dennis also received his bachelor’s degree in technical engineering.

Dennis belonged to the Elks Club, Covert Club, and various other clubs as well. He loved to play golf and was an avid Boston sports fan. Dennis was a fun loving, free spirited enthusiast who enjoyed playing various sports with his family.

He was predeceased by his parents and his father-in-law, Robert Gardner.

Dennis is survived by his wife Janet Moody; his three sons, Lance, Chris, and Eric; his daughter Michelle; sisters, Brenda and her husband Frank Kern, and Laverne and her husband Maurice Jackson; brothers Brady Moody and his wife Martha; and his mother-in-law Doris Gardner and her children and their spouses.

An online guestbook may be signed at www.lawrybrothers.com.

Memorial donations may be made to the Maine Veterans Homes.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A memorial service will be held for ANN CATES HIGGINS on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at 2 p.m., at the East Vassalboro Friends Meeting, Vassalboro, Stanley Hill Rd.

OTHERS DEPARTED

THERESA G. CARON, 86, of Rochester, New Hampshire, passed away on Thursday, Februar 9, 2017, at her home. Locally, she is survived by a brother, Wilfred Caron, of Winslow.

LYRA I. TROTT, 62, of Gardiner, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2017, at her home. Locally, she is survived by a daughter, Brie-Anne mellor and husband Dustin, of Windsor.

THERESA LIBBY, 90, of Waterville, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at Woodlands Senior Living Center, in Waterville. Locally, she is survived by a son, Garry Willett and wife Libby, of Winslow.

RICHARD MERRILL, 76, of East Winthrop, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Locally, he is survived by a nephew, Rob Merrill and wife Donna, of China.

ELINOR C. GUENETTE, 84, of Madison, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2017, at Somerset Rehabilitation and Living Center, in Bingham. Locally, she is survived by a grandson, Ryan Worster, of Fairfield.

FORMER RESIDENTS

JOHN R. HACHEY, 69, of Daytona Beach, Florida, unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2017. John was born in Waterville, and graduated from Winslow High School, class of 1965.

INGA D. FERRARA, 67, of Raynham, Massachusetts, passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2017, following a two-year battle with cancer. Inga graduated from Waterville High School, class of 1968. Locally, she is survived by a sister, Lucille Zelenkewich and husband Felix, of Winslow.

CAROL A. (KING) HALLEE, 67, of Colebrook, New Hampshire, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2017, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, in Lebanon, New Hampshire, following a short illness. She graduated from Waterville High School, class of 1967. She was married to Peter Hallee, also formerly of Waterville.

Local residents named to RIT dean’s list for fall semester

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The following local residents made the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, New York, for fall semester 2016-2017:

Bethany Hartley, of Whitefield, is studying in the mechanical engineering technology program.

Alexandra Mcclintock, of Athens, is studying in the photographic and imaging arts program.

Area students named to Merrimack College fall semester dean’s list

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Merrimack College, in North Andover, Massachusetts, has recognized two local students who have achieved dean’s list for Fall 2016:
Allison Leighton, of Oakland, and Leyna Tobey, of Augusta.

 

Rumble strips to be installed on Rte. 3

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By next November, most of Route 3 through China should be a bit noisier – and a lot safer.

Stephen Bodge, of the Maine Department of Transportation, spoke with China selectmen at their March 6 meeting about the plan to install center-line rumble strips in the heavily-traveled road in late September or October.

The installation is part of a state-wide project aimed at reducing head-on collisions. Rumble strips pay off, Bodge said; Maine has been adding them for 11 years, and studies comparing the 10 years before and after a road is treated show that head-on collisions decrease by 40 percent and fatalities resulting from head-on collisions decrease by 90 percent.

The only complaints the department receives have been about noise, Bodge said. Procedures to minimize the problem include leaving gaps at intersections, in passing zones and in front of hotels, motels, campgrounds and anywhere else “where people pay to sleep.”

CHINA: Information on transfer station articles

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COMMUNITY
COMMENTARY

by Transfer Station Committee
Frank Soares, chairman; Mark Davis, Lynne O’Connor, Paul Lucas, Larry Sikora, Irene L. Belanger, China selectmen member, Cheryl York, Palermo representative, Dan L’Heureux, China Town Manager.

China Residents:

On March 25, 2017, the annual town meeting will be held. Two articles to be considered this year are the Town of China Solid Waste Flow Control Ordinance (Article #44) and the Town of China Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance, (Article #45). We would like to take a moment of your time to give you an overview of each ordinance.

The ordinances which control how we handle waste in China are essentially unchanged since the landfill at the China transfer station was closed in 1992. The Transfer Station Committee (TSC), which as established about a year ago, has worked diligently to bring these documents up to date. In many cases, the sections of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated (MRSA) governing transfer stations has changed over time though our ordinances have never changed to become compliant. The ordinances’ purpose is to protect the public health of China by establishing rules and regulations for the proper handling and disposal of wastes generated in China. Fundamentally, the ordinances set up rules all of us currently follow when we use the China transfer station, for instance, establishing collection locations for cardboard, newspaper, and paint for recycling.

The Town of China Solid Waste Flow Control Ordinance outlines specifically how the China Transfer Station handles solid waste (from receiving waste to ultimate processing) and includes hours of operation, wastes that can and cannot be accepted, authority to enforce regulations, penalties that result from improper disposal, and location of the free for taking items, etc. The Town of China Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance is a general outline for Maine towns to follow that accept solid wastes within their borders.
The ordinances the Transfer Station Committee ask you to approve now are simply updates of the old documents. These updated documents do not place any additional burdens on users of the facilities, nor do they add costs to the town. If the respective ordinances are not updated, the town will be found out of compliance by the State and we could ultimately be penalized.

If you wish to review these documents, copies can be found on the town’s Web site (http://www.china.govoffice.com/). Copies are also available at the town office. We hope, after careful consideration, that you will approve these proposed ordinance revisions at the annual town business meeting, Saturday, March 25, 2017. Thank you for your time.

You are also encouraged to contact any member of the China Transfer Station Committee for a conversation on the proposed changes.

CHINA NEWS: Three topics on agenda for March 20 meeting

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by Mary Grow

Monday, March 20, will be a good evening for China residents to gather at the town office to get information on three different topics, two related to the March 25 town business meeting.

The selectmen’s meeting that evening will be preceded by a 6 p.m. public hearing on proposed amendments to the town’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing) program. The amendments, to be accepted or rejected at town meeting, include adding new areas in town as potential development areas; adding the Central Maine Power Company substation on Route 3 as a new revenue source; and extending the program to 30 years instead of 20 years.

At the 7 p.m. selectmen’s meeting, board members have invited the chiefs of China’s three fire departments and China Rescue to talk about the proposal on the town meeting warrant to appropriate funds to compensate emergency personnel.

Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux has invited a representative of Redzone Wireless, of Rockland, to the March 20 meeting to talk about potential service in town.

China Village fire chief Timothy Theriault attended the March 6 selectmen’s meeting. He told selectmen when he polled his department, all but one member – the chief himself – favored the proposed compensation.

Theriault said his main objection was lack of a plan for distributing funds if voters approve the money. Now he has learned that there will be a plan and supports the idea, which selectmen presented as a way to encourage more people to join the fire departments and the rescue unit. Based on personal experience, he believes “money’s going to make a difference,” he said.

At the March 6 meeting and in anticipation of the Redzone presentation, selectmen appointed a three-person Broadband Committee, consisting of Tod Detre, Robert O’Connor and Raymond Robert. Detre and O’Connor, and audience member Lee Pettengill, talked knowledgeably about the possibilities of competition among internet service providers for China residents’ business.

The March 6 meeting began with a proud demonstration of China’s new police vehicle by officers Michael Tracy and Tracey Frost. The 2017 all-wheel-drive Ford Explorer, plainly marked as the Town of China’s, has front-and rear-facing radar and a state-of-the-art light bar whose multi-colored flashing lights can be turned into a steady white beam to illuminate an accident scene.

Frost said the vehicle gets about 18 miles a gallon and probably can go 140 miles an hour. “It won’t with us in it,” Tracy joked. A grant plus the trade-in for the previous police truck completely paid for the Explorer, which Frost and Tracy expect should last the town 10 years or more.

In other business March 6:

  • Selectmen appointed Toni Wall to the China for a Lifetime Committee and appointed board members Irene Belanger and Ronald Breton to the Regional School Unit #18 cost-sharing committee, which Belanger said is beginning its work over again. The same two selectmen represented China on the prior cost-sharing committee.
  • Theriault, who is also a state Representative, said the bill he introduced to charge Kennebec Water District customers a fee to help with China Lake clean-up is dead for this legislative session. However, he said, it had two useful consequences: the water district is again supporting the clean-up effort financially, after a lapse, and water district customers have been educated about where their water comes from.

A season of success and championships

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The China Middle School girls varsity basketball team experienced a fantastic season, capped off by a win in the SVAC championship game against Vassalboro Community School. Both China and Vassalboro had only one loss each during the regular season, to each other, with both games decided by one point. On February 17, the two teams met for a third time for the conference championship with the China girls pulling out a thrilling three-point victory. Schools participating in the SVAC are China, Windsor, St. Michael’s, of Augusta, Vassalboro, Palermo, Chelsea, Temple Academy, of Waterville, and Whitefield. China team members include, front row, from left to right, Courtney Paine, Mackenzie Roderick, Hayden Hoague, Madison Lully and Sarah Praul. Back row, Samantha Golden, Catherine Durant, Katie Bourque, Coach Ryan Reed, Acadia Senkbeil, Madyx Kennedy, Julia Barber, Emily Clark, Lili Lefebvre, and assistant coach Mike Crommett. Absent from photo, Emma Jefferson.
Contributed photo

The Winslow Youth Wrestling team went through another successful season. Front row, from left to right, Ben Thomas, Hunter Bussell, Liam McKenney, Kael Segars, Ryder Rodrigue, Ethan Larrabee, Owen Vigue and Noah Young. Back, coach Kris Segars, Morgan McKenney, Gunner Bussell, Ian McKenney, Troy Hachey Chase Larrabee, Benjamin Ireland and coach Frank Ouellette.
Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff

The Central Maine Youth Hockey Association Bantam Hornets won the gold medal at the MHD March showdown tournament, posting a 4-1 record during the event. Front, goalie Thomas Thornton. Front row, from left to right, Wyatt Grenier, CJ Larson, Tyler Harris, Ethan Timmins, Joel Parker, Owen Evans and Chase Cuevas Bumps. Back row, Coach Evans, Dominic Burgoyne, Nathan Miller, Nicolas Fontaine, Dominic Rodrigue, Coach Rodrigue, Abigail Ross, Katie Bailey, Connor Evans, Thomas Fortin and Coach Gendreau.
Contributed photo

Local students named to Clarkson University dean’s list

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The following students have been named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2016 semester at Clarkson University, in Potsdam, New York:

  • Dakota Rae Bragg, of Fairfield, a freshman majoring in environmental engineering.
  • Justin Cruz, of Waterville, a senior majoring in chemical engineering.

Winslow players in Raider Rumble tourney

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Winslow Rec basketball team members, from left, Braden Rioux, Tyler Nadeau and Justin Rodgers playing in the Raider Rumble Tournament on February 25.

Photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff