Vassalboro Appeals Board upholds permit to So. Stanley Rd. resident

by Mary Grow

At a May 22 meeting, Vassalboro Board of Appeals members unanimously denied Jonathan Blumberg’s appeal of a March permit granted by Codes Officer Richard Dolby to Bernard Welch of South Stanley Hill Road.

On March 20, Dolby issued a permit to allow Welch to modify a previously-approved auxiliary building, described as a shed for processing vegetables, by adding a stairway to upstairs living quarters. Blumberg believed the permit was improperly granted, for a variety of reasons.

In a preliminary action when the appeal was first presented May 8, Blumberg challenged the adequacy of public notice. Board members John Reuthe, Leon Duff and Gary Coull voted unanimously that notice requirements were met for the May 22 meeting.

Blumberg again challenged the list of abutters who were notified, claiming it should have included residents across South Stanley Hill Road and across Outlet Stream. Welch’s lot with the building for which the permit was issued extends west to the stream; he owns a separate lot on the east side of the road.

Board members, guided by town attorney Kristin Collins, found that Welch’s second lot was not involved and that Outlet Stream is a barrier.

In other preliminary issues, board members rejected Blumberg’s claims that Collins and Reuthe were not impartial. Collins said she had nothing to do with granting the permit. Coull and Duff voted that Reuthe’s connection with Welch’s wife Jody through the Oak Grove Foundation did not constitute conflict of interest or bias.

Oak Grove Foundation spokeswoman Joann Austin said Jody Welch is on the foundation’s board and Reuthe is a candidate for membership who attended an April board meeting.

With the preliminary issues out of the way, Blumberg presented arguments against the permit, starting with Welch’s violation of Vassalboro’s subdivision ordinance in 2015 and 2016. The town ordinance prohibits issuing a permit to someone in violation of any ordinance or who has done something requiring a permit without getting the permit.

He also questioned the validity of the curb cut permit issued by the state Department of Transportation; questioned the type or types of business in which Welch engages, whether farming, a bed-and-breakfast or something else, and whether a site review permit should have been required for a new commercial operation; and claimed the septic system approved with the building was too close to a wetland.

Board members found Welch’s earlier violation had been resolved before the March 2018 permit was issued. They emphatically rejected Blumberg’s interpretation of the town ordinance as meaning that someone who acted without a required permit was thereby forever barred from getting any other town permit.

They ruled that they had no jurisdiction to review the curb cut approved by the state.

They found that the septic system permit had been properly issued, based on information Dolby supplied from state shoreland maps and his report of an inspection by state officials and local soils scientist Jack Lord.

They ruled that the modification to the building did not require a site review permit. Collins read from the town ordinance that site review requirements do not apply to residences, home occupations or agricultural occupations.

Having unanimously rejected Blumberg’s arguments, board members voted unanimously to deny his appeal.

Blumberg asked that his objections to several board actions be recorded. Collins stated Blumberg’s right to ask for a reconsideration or to appeal the board’s decision to Superior Court. The board’s decision is final as of May 22, she said, but board members will need to reconvene at a date to be determined to sign a formal notice of decision in a public meeting.

Give Us Your Best Shot! Week of May 31, 2018

BUSY SHUTTER: Michael Bilinsky, of China Village, has been busy with his camera. From top to bottom, a cardinal, a blue jay, and, just as summer is approaching, a reminder from last winter.

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!

photo by Michael Bilinsky

 

photo by Michael Bilinsky

 

photo by Michael Bilinsky

Senior Services Fair first event at renovated church

Photo courtesy of Pearley Lachance

Many local people attended the Vassalboro Senior Services Fair on May 23, the first event held at the newly-renovated St. Bridget’s Community Center, formerly the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, on Main St., in North Vassalboro. An open house will be held Sunday, June 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Pearley Lachance

CORRECTION: This story previously stated the community center’s open house was on June 20. It is on Sunday, June 10. We apologize for the error.

JMG students visit MCS library

China Middle School Jobs for Maine Graduates students stand with David Richards, director of the Margaret Chase Smith Library, and a life-like portrait of Margaret Chase Smith as a young lady. (Contributed photo)

The Jobs for Maine Graduates program at China Middle School recently visited the Margaret Chase Smith Library, in Skowhegan, as the JMG program was being recognized for a community service project that they had done earlier in the school year. They did a Spare Change Drive to help with Hurricane Harvey relief in China, Texas. They were invited to attend by Director David Richards, who spotted the article months earlier in The Town Line, newspaper. As they got the tour, they were expecting the building to be more like a library, but it was actually more like a museum. It was really interesting that the museum was added on to her house.

A few interesting facts they learned were Margaret was the first woman in congress to break the sound barrier. She earned 94 Honorary Doctorate degrees from colleges around the country. Family meant a great deal as she had many pictures of her family in the house, especially in the entry area of the house. And her mother seemed very important as she had a picture of her above her bed. She didn’t have any children of her own so she was very close with her nieces and nephews. Some of her family came from Canada and changed their surname because people that were French were discriminated against. One of her missions was to make sure all people were treated with equality and respect.

Margaret wanted all students, especially Maine students, to serve their community and aspire to be a leader. In the entryway was the book The Little Engine That Could because her feeling was if you tried as hard as you can you can succeed and that when someone needs help, you help. You don’t sit by the sidelines and watch. It was a great visit.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Is LASIK Safe? Plus, Answers To Six More Questions About LASIK

(NAPSI)—You’ve had it with glasses and contacts getting in the way of your lifestyle. You’ve heard about LASIK and maybe even talked to one of the more than 19 million people who have had the popular laser vision correction procedure. Dr. John Vukich, assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of Wisconsin and member of the Refractive Surgery Council, answers six of the most-asked questions about LASIK:

1) Is LASIK safe?

“All surgery comes with risk, but there is a huge amount of clinical research backing LASIK as safe and effective,” assures Dr. Vukich. “That research, and the clinical experience with the procedure, shows it has a 96 percent patient satisfaction rate and the risk of sight-threatening complications is extremely low—less than 1 percent.”

2) Does it hurt?

“The procedure is relatively painless because numbing drops are used throughout,” Dr. Vukich confirms. “Some people experience some mild discomfort after the procedure, mostly irritation and dryness, but that usually disappears within 24 hours.”

3) What are the side effects?

“Some patients experience dry eye symptoms. Some have light sensitivity, glare, halos, ghosting or starbursts,” says Dr. Vukich. “These generally go away with time and healing, but sometimes additional medication or other treatment may be needed.”

4) Will I be rid of glasses forever?

“LASIK doesn’t stop the aging process, so everyone needs reading glasses at some point,” answers Dr. Vukich. “LASIK improves the vision you have at the time of the procedure, but it won’t prevent the vision conditions that occur naturally over time, such as presbyopia and cataracts.”

5) Can anyone have LASIK?

“About 20 percent of patients aren’t good candidates for the procedure,” says Dr. Vukich. “Eye health, the shape of the cornea, medical conditions like lupus and diabetes, or certain medications can make it a less than ideal choice. It is important to share your complete medical history with your eye surgeon.”

6) Do they actually shoot lasers into your eyes?

“The short answer is yes! Today’s laser technologies reshape the cornea and correct vision without damaging any surrounding tissue,” says Dr. Vukich. “The technology we use today is so precise, the vision correction is customized to the individual patient’s eye, not just his or her prescription.”

If you are thinking now is the time to seriously look into LASIK, get the facts and go into it as an informed patient. Get started by visiting www.americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/blog.

Fishy photo: Hunter scores!

Hunter Hallee, 12, with his first trout.

Hunter Hallee, 12, of Rome, who is normally the goalie for his youth hockey team, had a big score on a recent fishing trip with his father and grandfather, at Tea Pond, in Eustis, on May 18-20. Hunter caught this 15-inch brook trout on Sunday morning, the first brook trout he’s ever caught. Hunter is the son of Ryan and Rachel Hallee, of Rome, and the grandson of Roland and Joan Hallee, of Waterville, Barbara Saxton, of Rome, and Terry Greenleaf, of Oakland.

Legal Notices, Week of May 24, 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 May 24, 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.

2018-117 – Estate of MARCIA J. KREBS, late of Starks, Me deceased. David Krebs, 86 Krebs Road, Starks, Me 04911 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-118 – Estate of LESLIE CLAYTON BEANE, late of Bingham, Me deceased. Judith Mae Lombard, 16B Sudeka Lane, Goffs Town, NH 03045 AND Cecil Leroy Beane, Jr., 47 Carry Pond Road, Pleasant Ridge, Me 04920 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-119 – Estate of BEATRICE A. WAITE, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Robin Steinwand, 28 Luckman Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-120 – Estate of LAWRENCE V. SWEATT, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Stephanie V. Sweatt, 11113 Concord Woods Drive, Farragut, TN 37934 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-121 – Estate of WILLIAM A. HALE, late of Norridgewock, Me deceased. Steven L. Hale, 408 East Shores Road, Palermo, Me 04354 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-122 – Estate of EDWARD A. THOMPSON, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Vanessa Thompson, 104 Dr. Mann Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-123 – Estate of DOROTHY D. TITCOMB, late of Rockwood, Me deceased. Stephan A. Titcomb, 6922 Shook Avenue, Dallas, TX 75214 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-124 – Estate of THOMAS H. KANNALLY, SR., late of New Portland, Me deceased. Thomas H. Kannally, Jr., 3 Liberty Drive, Northborough, MA 01532 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-128 – Estate of DARIA D. DONAHUE, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Wade Donahue-Beard, 5 Sturtevant Street, Waterville, Me 04901 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-131 – Estate of KAREN A. MAGNUSON, late of Madison, Me deceased. Karla Sevey-Dugas, 193 Eaton Mtn. Road, Skowhegan, ME 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-089 – Estate of PRISCILLA I. BUTLER, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Rhonda E. Southard, 21 Cyr Way, Hartland, Me 04945 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-133 – Estate of LYNN VERNON OLIVER, late of Detroit, Me deceased. Scott Oliver, 21250 N. 17th Pl., Phoenix, AZ 85204 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-134 – Estate of EDWARD C. NICHOLS, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Joleen A. Booth, 3207 Kenton Court, Toana, VA 23168 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-138 – Estate of MAURICE P. VIGUE, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Carol A. Sawyer, 210 Bradford Road, Charleston, Me 04422 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-139 – Estate of SANDRA P. FEENEY, late of Jackman, Me deceased. Glen P. Feeney, PO Box 639, Jackman, ME 04945 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-140 – Estate of MILBRED V. POLLIS, late of Madison, Me deceased. Dana L. Pollis Sr, 39 Heald Street, Madison, Me 04950 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-141 – Estate of ALFRED J. HJORT, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Jodi L. Taylor, PO Box 244, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-142 – Estate of LILLIAN VIOLET CANTERBURY, late of Solon, Me deceased. Angela Siranda-Staples, PO Box 412 Solon, Me 04979 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-143 – Estate of GENEVIEVE C. EMERY, late of Detroit, Me deceased. Dirk C. Emery, 225 North Road, Detroit, Me 04929 and Bryan K. Emery, 43 Main Street, Detroit, Me 04929 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2018-144 – Estate of BONNIE LYNNE DIXON, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Nikkia Finnemore, 5 Jodi Ave., Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-147 – Estate of DOUGLAS CHARLES BREINGAN, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Hugh Breingan, 55 Hanover Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-148 – Estate of GEORGE A. SCOTT, late of Cambridge, Me deceased. Sandra A. Blake, 708 Dexter Road, Cambridge, Me 04923 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-153 – Estate of DALE C. LAWERYSON, late of Bingham, Me deceased. Beatrice Laweryson, PO Box 62, Bingham, Me 04920 appointed Personal Representative.

2018-155 – Estate of JOSEPH A. MORIN, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Joseph Sargent, 10 Butler Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on May 24, 2018 & May 31, 2018.
Dated: May 21, 2018 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(5/31)

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, June 13, 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.

2018-136 – Estate of MARY KATHRYN SUTTIE. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by petitioner Mary Kathryn Suttie, 10 Woodman Avenue, Fairfield, Me 04937 requesting her name be changed to Molly Kathryn Suttie for reasons set forth therein.

2018-137 – Estate of KACIE LADD. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by petitioner Kacie Weymouth Ladd of 56 Grant Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 requesting her name be changed to Kacie Weymouth for reasons set forth therein.

2018-151 – Estate of LEXY RAY MOORE. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by petitioner Cheryl Moore, 235 North Avenue, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting that minor’s name be changed to Lexy Ray Lowe for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: May 21, 2018 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(5/31)

SCORES & OUTDOORS: You’ve heard it before, and you’re about to hear it again

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

There is nothing like beating a subject to death. But, in this case, it’s worth every word.

You have to be living in a cave not to know that deer ticks are at an all time high. They are everywhere. Friends and family have told me stories about their encounters with the insect, and they all have one thing in common. They have all had multiple numbers on them at one time.

Also, as you know, deer ticks are hazardous to your health, primarily because they are the carriers of the dreaded Lyme Disease. In the last decade alone, the population of ticks of all kinds has ballooned in the United States. The number of ticks that carry Lyme disease has been on the rise in the mid-Atlantic states, and has skyrocketed throughout the Northeast. It has gained a reputation as a serious health problem in many areas. They can cause a life time of misery.

Only adult female ticks and nymphs can transmit infections through their bite. Male ticks attach, but they don’t feed or become engorged. Adult females have red and brown bodies and are larger than males. Nymphs are actively feeding between early April and early August.

Although not all deer ticks are infected with Lyme disease, you never really know. Only ticks that have fed on infected mammals are infected. About half of deer ticks are infected (usually white-footed mice can be other culprits).

Deer ticks live two to three years, and in that time usually enjoy three blood meals. In the spring and summer of its second year, a nymph will take its second meal. They insert their mouth parts into the skin much like a corkscrew, which ensures them a nice tight grasp. They often take up to five days to complete their meal.

This fact is key to reducing panic when discovering a tick. An infected tick must be attached to its host for at least 24 hours, and up to 48 hours to transmit the disease. It’s the very reason for checking your body right away after any possible exposure to a tick-infested environment.

Deer ticks crawl. They usually grab onto people or animals that brush up against plants near ground level, and then they crawl upwards to find a quiet place for their blood meal. Although many sources will state that ticks don’t land on you from an overhanging tree branch, many people have insisted it has happened to them.

Deer tick, left, and dog tick

Ticks live in wooded, brushy areas that provide food and cover for mice, deer and other mammals. The ideal tick environment is humid. Your exposure will be greatest along trails in the woods and fringe areas between woods and the border, where they will wait patiently on the tips of vegetation for an unsuspecting host to walk by.

Life is too short to avoid the outdoors during our short spring, summer and fall. In Maine, that is about half the year. There is no need to be brave, just be smart: cover your body; wear repellant; check yourself for ticks, if you find a tick, remove it immediately; shower soon after being outdoors; throw clothing in the dryer, that will kill any ticks present; and finally, if you are concerned, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor.

The best way to remove a tick is to use fine-point tweezers and grab the tick as close to the skin surface as possible. Pull backwards gently but firmly, using an even, steady pressure. Do your best not to jerk or twist. Don’t squeeze, crush or puncture the tick’s body, the fluids inside may contain infection-causing organisms. After removing the tick, wash the skin and your hands thoroughly with hot soap and water. If any mouth part of the tick remain in the skin, leave them alone. They will be expelled on their own. It could take weeks. Trying to remove them will only cause you unnecessary pain.

For the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, deer are the preferred host of the deer tick, but they can also be found on small rodents. After the female is engorged, the tick drops off and overwinters in the leaf litter of the forest floor. The following spring, she will lay several hundred to a few thousand eggs in clusters. They are very hardy creatures. They will be active even after a moderate to severe frost, as daytime temperatures can warm them enough to keep them actively searching for a host. In the spring, they are one of the first invertebrates to become active.

It may be monotonous to keep hearing about the health hazards of being infected by a deer tick, but it’s one that needs to be repeated.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

The 1927 New York Yankees batting order, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, was known by what nickname?

Answer found here.

Roland’s Trivia Question, Week of May 24, 2018

The 1927 New York Yankees batting order, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, was known by what nickname?

Answer:

Murderer’s Row.

I’m Just Curious: Interesting facts?

by Debbie Walker

Kids have some really good books. My latest example would be National Geographic KIDS, 5,000 Awesome Facts (about everything). Kathy is lucky; she gets any work out of me at school with all the books! I love books but you may have figured that out already. Anyway, the following is my latest and I hope you find some of it interesting to you.

North America’s only marsupial, the nocturnal Virginia Opossum, pretends to be dead = “Playing Opossum” – for up to six hours when threatened.

If a dolphin becomes sick, other dolphins will take turns pushing it to the surface so it can breath.

British author Ian Fleming, who created the character James Bond, was a spy himself during World War II.

A palindrome is a word that is spelled the same backward as forward such as noon, kayak, and race car.

Sign language is not a universal language – each country has its own sign language and vocabulary and grammar vary by region.

The word Quiz also means “odd person.”

A group of prisoners is called a PITY.

An Australian slang, “Bingle,” is a car accident, a “Captain Cook” is a look around, and a “whinger” is a complainer.

A Canadian Ice Breaker Ship weighs 33 million pounds and can break through thick ice sheets that are 62 feet thick. (Do we need one of those in Maine?)

Here are some survival facts. But I would check and double check on these before you rely on them.

Drinking salt water is worse than not drinking at all. Saltwater actually dehydrates you.

The International sign of distress when using fire is to build three fires in a triangle.

Quick sand can be an issue in some parts of Maine. The best way to escape Quicksand is to calmly lean back as if doing a back float. Slowly move your feet in small circles until you free yourself and can paddle to safe land.

Moving your arms like you’re swimming and keeping your mouth shut so snow doesn’t pack into your throat can help you survive an avalanche.

Compacted snow is like a recording studio sound proofed. When buried in snow, it’s a waste of oxygen to shout for help unless someone is very close by.

You are more likely to survive a shark circling your surf board if you stay calm. Thrashing around makes you look like its favorite food – a seal.

I love this one: A bear cub that survived a New Mexico forest fire in 1950 was nursed back to health and taken to the National Zoo. He became known as Smokey Bear!

If you count the seconds between the Lightning flash and the thunder and then divide by 5, that’s how many miles away the lightning is. It’s closer than you think.

Well, I hope some of this was informational for you, I enjoyed it and I haven’t gone a quarter of the way through the book. I probably won’t do much more of it unless you ask. Needless to say I’m Just Curious if I will hear from you. Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com and don’t forget to check us out online. Thanks for reading!