Maine Nightjar monitoring lecture

Nightjar

Join the Palermo Community Library in welcoming Logan Parker of the Maine Natural History Observatory (MNHO) for a lecture about Maine nightjar monitoring on Thursday, August 22nd at 7 p.m. Nightjars are medium sized nocturnal or twilight-active bird characterized by long wings, short legs and very short bills. Logan, a Palermo resident, is an assistant ecologist and founder of the Maine Nightjar Monitoring Project. This statewide citizen science project is collecting observations of whip-poor-wills, nighthawks, and other nocturnal birds, some of which are facing widespread declines.

Attendees will learn about the natural history of Maine’s nightjars and the efforts involved in monitoring these fascinating birds throughout the state, from Eliot to Calais, Kennebunk to Baxter State Park. The project is currently recruiting volunteers to adopt monitoring routes or simply make observations of nightjars in your own backyard.

The Palermo Community Library is located at 2789 Route 3 in Palermo, Maine and the lecture is free to the public. For questions or more information contact the library at (207) 993-6088​ or palermo@palermo.lib.me.us​.

Live auction and yard sale at St. Giles in Jefferson

A canoe will be among auction items Aug. 24 at St. Giles, in Jefferson.

A canoe, a table saw, nail guns and other serious tools, three days at an Arrowsic cottage on the water, horseback riding lessons, bicycles, new infant/child gear and clothing, homemade jams and pickles, a basket of green cleaning supplies, QuickBooks help – these are among the offerings at the Saturday August 24, St. Giles Jefferson silent and live auction and yard sale.

Added attractions will include a homemade pie sale, with dozens of choices, with a focus on fruit pies. There will be burgers and hot dogs from Bill’s grill, a homemade children’s quilt, a boat trip on Belfast Bay, home-organization sessions with a professional organizer, an organic produce basket, a new under-seat rolling suitcase, an antique table and lamp, and many “treasures” at garage sale prices.

Hours of the event are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the church hall and under the pines in the church yard. The silent auction will end at noon and the live auction will begin at 12:30 p.m. St. Giles Episcopal Church is located at 72 Gardiner Road, in Jefferson, a quarter mile west of the junction of Gardiner Road (Route 126) and Bunker Hill Road (Route 213). Hope to see you there. For more information, call 549-7872, or 215-3420.

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS: Dealing with angry customers

by Dan Beaulieu
Business consultant

Look, it’s going to happen. Someone once said that if you don’t make mistakes, you are not trying hard enough. So, yes sometimes you will make a mistake, you will screw something up that will make your customer upset and possibly even angry. And then there are sometimes that because of some misunderstanding the customer is angry with you and it’s not even your fault. And then there are those most challenging times when the customer is just angry, and he is unfairly taking it out on you. How do you handle that? How you handle these situations will define how truly outstanding your company is.

Here are a few rules for handling an angry customer that will work every time:

  • Stay calm, at all costs stay calm. Do not under any circumstances lose your cool. Remember cool heads always prevail. Do not fall to the temptation of talking back, or defending yourself, at least at this time.
  • Smile. No, not a stupid idiotic grin, but rather a friendly calming smile, that will demonstrate to your customer, that it’s okay, you come in peace and you want to gracefully solve the problem.
  • Use the customer’s name, and in most cases, this means using Mr. or Mrs. Or Miss. or Ms. Do not use their first name unless you have permission. There is something calming about hearing your own name said calmly and politely.
  • Listen carefully, very carefully to make sure you understand exactly what it is that the customer is unhappy about. Do not interrupt at this point. Let the person tell you in her own way, taking his own time what the problem is. Get the complete story from the customer.
  • Repeat what they told you. Once the customer has finished telling what the problem is, play it back to her in your own words. Pausing while relating to get her affirmation that you have a complete and clear understanding of what she is unhappy about.
  • Make sure that you now both agree as to what the issue is. Make sure you are both clear on this.
  • Ask the customer what he would like you to do about it? How can you fix this problem to her satisfaction?
  • Agree to fix it. If it is a reasonable request, even if you are not one hundred percent to blame, if you can possibly fix the problem and repair the relationship then, by all means do it. Agree to fix the problem if you can.
  • And if you are not one hundred percent on the wrong side of this issue. Still fix it. Not only fix it, but fix it to the customer’s satisfaction.
  • Make reparations. If you were truly at fault, or mostly at fault, then not only fix the problem but add something extra to make up for your mistake. This will go a long way towards strengthening your relationship with this customer.
  • Remember always, that the important thing is to retain the customer, the last thing you want to do is win the battle and lose the war. You want to retain the customer at all costs. It has been proven that unhappy customers love telling “horror stories” about bad service. In fact, statistics show that service horror stories are repeated so frequently that often over 250 people will hear them. Not a good thing. Especially if you are doing business in a small community.
  • On the other hand, happy customers love to brag about getting great service. It makes them feel so good and so smart for finding a great company that delivers super services and products that they will tell everyone they know about it… and if your smart you’ll make sure that the company they are bragging about is yours! That’s a great way to grow your business.

Mid-Maine Chamber gift checks

Thanks to the generosity of Kennebec Savings Bank, Mid-Maine Chamber Gift Certificheck sponsor, it is able to now offer increased options when purchasing gift checks with the introduction of the $5 check. Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce Gift Checks now come in denominations of $5, $10, $25 and $50.

Mid-Maine Chamber Gift Checks are available for purchase at the Mid-Maine Chamber, M-F, 8A – 5P and can be used at approximately 180 area Mid-ME Chamber member businesses. Since its inception in 1997, Mid-ME Chamber has sold over $1.3 million in gift checks, thereby providing the sale to our member businesses, keeping the money in our local economy.

Obituaries for Thursday, August 15, 2019

CAROL B. FERREIRA

UNITY – Carol Beaulieu Ferreira, 75, died at her home on Friday, July 26, 2019, following a long illness. She was born on Decem­ber16, 1943, in Waterville, the daughter of Edward and Edwina Beaulieu.

Carol grew up in Fairfield and was a graduate of Lawrence High School, class of 1961. She was always quite proud to be a Lawrence Bulldog. Upon graduation she married her high school sweetheart, Robert Ferreira on September 2, 1961.

Carol lived in Unity where she enjoyed being a homemaker and working at Unity Pharmacy for many years. She enjoyed spending summers at the lake and eventually lived year-round on the lake. She enjoyed knitting, she would knit beautiful mittens all year long and give them to the local school and church for area children. In her early years, she and Bob enjoyed camping, snowmobiling and going to the races. She also enjoyed going to Disney World every spring with her grandchildren. She was a member of Unity Union Methodist Church. In her later years she loved just being at home and would help her husband do paperwork for their business, Ferreira Trucking.

Carol was predeceased by her husband, Robert Ferreira on June 12, 2019; her parents, Edward and Edwina Beaulieu; her father and mother in-law, Henry and Edna Ferreira; her son-in-law, Michael Jones; and a very special aunt, Joann Miville.

She is survived by her daughter, Lori Ferreira Jones, of Unity; her son, Timothy Ferreira and wife Suzanne, of Unity; her grandchildren, Amy Jones Corson and husband Michael, and Adam Robert Jones and Nikki Abrahamson, and Hannah Ferreira and Nicholas Ferreira, all of Unity, Alissa Jones Keene and husband Kyle, of Belfast; her eight great-granddaughters, Kaylee, Allyee and Rylee Corson, of Unity, Mikala, Kristyn, Kelsey and Savanna Jones, of Unity, and Raegan Keene, of Belfast; her sister, Ann Beaulieu Maglaras and husband John, of Pittsfield; her niece, Megan Maglaras Stevenson and husband Bob and daughter Ashlynne Donovan, of Vassalboro.

A service for Carol will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2019, at Unity Union Church, on Depot Street, in Unity, at 1 p.m. Burial will immediately follow at Unity Pond Cemetery. The family would like to invite you to join them back at the church for refreshments.

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

Arrangements are by Lawry Brothers Funeral & Cremation Care, 107 Main St., Fairfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you would consider a donation in Carol’s memory to the Unity United Methodist Women’s Group, Unity Union Church, 13 Depot St., Unity, ME 04988

CHARLES J. PARE

OAKLAND – Charles J. Pare, 81, of Oakland, formerly of Enfield, Connecticut, died on Sat­urday, July 27, 2019, at his home. He was born on June 28, 1938, in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Alice (Sullivan) and Edward Pare.

He attended and graduated from Hartford schools before enlisting in the US Air Force.

He married the former Jeanette Malpas and together they would have three children. Charles worked at combustion engineering and then was a senior materials analyst with Pratt & Whitney where he retired. He was instrumental in opening the Senior Center, in Oakland, with Sherry Gilbert.

He is survived by his children: Mark Pare and his wife Joanne, of Arizona; his daughter Annette Ramsdell and her husband Andrew, of Connecticut; his daughter Michelle Leary, of Arizona; his grandchildren, Kristen Pare, David Ramsdell, Brett Pare, Taryn Ramsdell, Brenden Leary, Courtney (Pare) Hollman, Keegan Leary, MacKenzie Ramsdell; his great-grandchildren, Luca, Finley, Zoe, Kali, Luna, Finn, Ava and Kayden; his brother James Pare, of Connecticut, and his sister Pauline Collins, of Florida.

He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years; his great-grandson Kaydence Charles Ramsdell; his brother Raymond and his sister Mary.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Charles’ memory to: American Cancer Societ, NE Division, Inc., 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086.

EREK C. LINDBERG

VASSALBORO – Erek Charles Lindberg, 76, passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, following several months of illness. He was the youngest of four children. He was born December 5, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts, and at the age of 10 moved to Waterville upon meeting Leslie and Berle Ward, who took him into their home and raised him. He graduated from Erskine Academy, in South China, in 1960. His fondest childhood memories were living with “Gramp” and Berle on the small farm in Vassalboro.

Erek was a pipefitter by trade. While working at Statler Tissue, in Augusta, in 1977, he received massive back trauma which ended his career. Following numerous surgeries and years of “rehabilitation,” (a.k.a. “Freddie’s Garage”) he was back on his feet. With his two best friends of 50 years by his side, Bill (William) Pullen and Jessie Ackers, of Vassalboro, Erek enjoyed building and riding dune buggies on weekends with their wives by their side, (He may not have liked much but he did like that). He also enjoyed riding his Harley with his wife in tow and the wind blowing through his nonexistent hair. He and Helen visited many states with their Hog friends.

Erek was predeceased by his daughter, Janice (Jan Jan S—Poke) Pelotte, of Vassalboro, his “favorite sister-in-law” Linda MacKenzie, also of Vassalboro, and his brother, Charles, of Florida.

He leaves behind his wife, Helen of 36 years; granddaughters, Courtney and Rebecca Pelotte; a stepson, Rob Starratt and a stepdaughter, Carrie Starratt; also six grandchildren and four great-granddaughters; his two sisters, Barbara Shadrick and Ginger Dellasandro, both of North Carolina.

There will be a graveside service on Saturday, August 24, at 11 a.m., at Village Cemetery, on Cemetery Street, in Vassalboro. A gathering will follow at the United Methodist Church, Rte. 32, in Vassalboro.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Redington Funeral Home. Please visit www.redingtonfuneralhome.com to share your memories and condolences with Erek’s family.

ANGELA A. PHILBRICK

SOMERVILLE – Angela Ann Philbrick, 36, of Frye Road, died unexpectedly on Thursday, August 1, 2019, at Lincoln Health Miles Campus, Damariscotta. She was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, on January 12, 1983, the daughter of Harry E. Philbrick, Sr. and Patricia Ann (Vaillancourt) Philbrick.

Angela was a graduate of Erskine Academy, of China, and she received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine at Augusta.

She was a loving mother to her three daughters and an aunt to her niece and nephew and the many children whom she gave encouragement and inspiration to in life. She gave whatever she could to them to help them to see and do things they may have not gotten the opportunity to do.

She was a strong person who had overcome many obstacles in her life. She fought through and persevered through all of them even though at times it seemed impossible to her.

The greatest joy in her life was her three beautiful daughters whom she absolutely lived for. They were her whole life and her passion. There was nothing that she would not have done for them.

She was a loving and caring wife to her husband and showed him that, sometimes even in the darkest moments, there is always hope for better times.

Angela was employed by Hussey’s General Store, in Windsor. She worked in the grocery department, pumped gas and helped do grain. She had many customers that would look just for her to help them. She also trained many of the new employees.

Surviving is her husband, Timothy M. Dostie, of Somerville; her parents, of Waldoboro; three daughters: Bianca Ann Dostie, Ashlyn Kayson Dostie and Samantha Rose Dostie, all of Somerville; and one brother, Harry E. Philbrick Jr., of Warren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: The Angela Memorial Fund, c/o KV Federal Credit Union, 316 West River Rd., Augusta, ME, 04330. Donations go to the benefit of her children.

Arrangements are under the care of Plummer Funeral Home, Windsor Chapel, 983 Ridge Road, Rte. 32, Windsor, ME.

Condolences, photos and stories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.

RICHARD H. GRAY SR

WINDSOR – Richard H. Gray, Sr., 85, died Thursday, August 8, 2019, at the VA Maine Health Center at Togus following a brief illness. He was born in Vassalboro on May 10, 1934, a son of the late William W. and Sara (Hunter) Gray.

Mr. Gray was a graduate of Gates Business College and had been employed by Central Maine Power for over 24 years.

He was a Whitefield Lions Club member, coached Windsor Little League, and extremely proud of his Eagle Scouts he helped as Scoutmaster for Troop #609.

Mr. Gray was pre-deceased by a brother, Phillip Gray.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Laura M. (Fowle) Gray, of Windsor; two sons, Richard H. Gray, Jr. and his wife, of Windsor, and Timothy S. Gray and his wife, of China; a brother, William Gray, of China; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Condolences, photos and stories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.

DANNY W. DANFORTH

SIDNEY – Danny Wallace Danforth, 61, died peacefully at his home on Friday, August 2, 2019. Danny was born in Leominster, Massachu­setts, on September 22, 1957, the son of Cecil M. and June F. (Slattery) Danforth.

He graduated from Monmouth Academy in 1975.

Danny worked for Digital Equipment Corporation, in Augusta, before starting his longterm career in postal operations. He worked for the USPS, for the Department of Defense as a contractor in Balad, Iraq, and was currently employed as a supervisor of mail operations with the state of Maine.

Danny (a.k.a Boone) enjoyed hunting in Maine and Texas with his buddies, Trailboss, Blindman, Bushwhacker, Shooter, Slayer, Kdawg, Cockroach, Blackfly, P, and Annie. He would not want anyone to forget about his prize Texas whitetail and all of his hunting and fishing adventures.

He was also an avid baseball fan, from coaching Little League in Mt. Vernon to cheering on his son when the Maranacook Black Bears won the state championship. He cherished his trips to Disneyworld with the family and in later years with Robin. Of course, we can’t forget to mention his love for the Dallas Cowboys.

He was predeceased by his parents; and father-in-law, Robert L. Boynton.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Robin; mother-in-law, Shirley Boynton, of Oakland; son Matthew and wife, Sarah, and granddaughters, Claire and Charlotte, of Elm Grove, Wisconsin; and son Patrick and fiancée, Shana, of Dickinson, Texas; brothers, Bret and partner, Ann, of Athens, and Kent and wife Audrey, of Willis, Texas; and sister Audrey, of Westbrook; brother-in-law Barney and wife Theresa Boynton, of Gray; and sister-in-law Ronda Karter, of Augusta,; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins

At Danny’s request, there will be no memorial service and his ashes, which are being stored, also at his request, in a Folger’s Coffee can, will be scattered on a future date.

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

Arrangements are by Wheeler Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 26 Church St., Oakland.

Danny strongly believed that “no child should go hungry in our community, our state or our country!” He has requested that donations be made to the Mt. Vernon Elementary School’s Backpack/Lunch Program, 1507 North Road, Mount Vernon, ME 04352, or the James H. Bean School’s Backpack/Lunch Program, c/o Erica St. Peter, 896 Middle Road, Sidney, ME 04330.

Author and registered Maine Guide to speak at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library

Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village.

Earl Brechlin, author and Registered Maine Guide, will speak about his life and works at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library on Sunday, August 25, at 2 p.m. He plans to read from his newest book, Return to Moose River: In Search of the Spirit of the Great North Woods, a collection of essays describing outdoor adventures – white-water canoeing, snowmobiling, backpacking – in many parts of Maine. Return to Moose River won the 2019 John Cole Award for Maine-themed non-fiction.

Earl Brechlin

Brechlin’s presentation includes a slideshow about great figures in Maine’s outdoor heritage. He says that Maine’s land and water conservation programs have been successful, but, “We haven’t done as well preserving the human history and legends that populate these places. Whether it’s the native Americans, early settlers, explorers, loggers or others, you can’t separate the people from the land or the land from the people and we need to do more to celebrate that.”

He will also have books for sale, autographed on request.

The Albert Church Brown Memorial Library is located at 37 Main Street in China Village. The program is open to all at no charge; refreshments will be served.

More information on the guest speaker is available at the “Return to Moose River” Facebook page or www.earlbrechlin.com.

 

 

New Dimension Cruisin’ For A Cure car show raises money for Children’s Miracle Network

One of the many cars on display during the 6th annual New Dimension Credit Union’s Cruisin’ for a Cure car show, to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. (contributed photo)

The 6th annual Cruisin’ For a Cure Car Show, sponsored by the New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, has announced that this year’s event raised $11,741.55 for the cancer program. With an additional $5,000 award from the Children’s Miracle Network, the new total raised is $16,741.55.

Each year the proceeds from the car show benefit the Maine Children’s Cancer Program (MCCP), an affiliate of The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center, and is located in Scarborough. The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals the matched the award.

This year’s event was the biggest event yet with a record-breaking 160 participants who entered their cars into one of the 24 car classes offered. DJ Mike Davis played music from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, the Flamingo Café food table sported lengthy lines all day, and the trophies were accepted with giant smiles and pride one-by-one.

Thank you has been extended to the participants, businesses, and community for their continued support of the Cruisin’ For A Cure Car Show. Additionally, they are thankful to car enthusiasts who proudly showcase their beautiful cars each year.

CHINA: Planners discuss possible ordinance amendments

by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members continued discussion of possible ordinance amendments at their Aug. 6 meeting, focusing on one word in one of the 15 conditional use criteria. Conditional use criteria are the requirements for a new, changed or significantly expanded commercial use.

The criterion reviewed Aug. 6 requires the applicant to show that the proposed use or change “will not have a significant detrimental effect on the use and peaceful enjoyment of abutting property as a result of noise, vibrations, fumes, odor, dust, glare or other cause.” Board members talked about noise.

They agreed with Codes Officer Bill Butler that a baseline noise study is needed before he or the board can determine whether additional noise will be loud enough to violate the criterion. A study would need to be specific to the area of the proposed project, since, for example, residents along main roads are accustomed to more noise than residents on back roads. Noise regulation would probably require zoning, Butler suggested. In the past most China voters have opposed zoning.

Even a background study could get complicated. Board members mentioned as examples the different effects of high-pitched and low-pitched sound, and the effect of atmospheric conditions on how far sound carries.

There was no consensus on other aspects of noise regulation.

One disagreement was over whether the noise standard applies only to commercial development or to everyone in town, for example, someone who runs car races on his land. Ralph Howe argued that the standard would apply to everyone, and he opposed strict regulations on the ground that people can do what they want on their own property.

Jim Wilkens believes “You can’t do totally what you want with your property.” A resident’s peaceful enjoyment right must be balanced against a neighbor’s right to make loud noises. When Butler cited a Rockland ordinance that exempts recreational activities from noise limits, Wilkens considered it unfair unless, he suggested, the town wants to abate the taxes of the resident deprived of peaceful enjoyment.

Howe called an ordinance applying to private uses “restrictive to people’s freedom.” Wilkens countered by citing the “freedom from being harassed” by noisy neighbors.

Butler said a conditional use standard would not necessarily have to apply to private, non-commercial activities. Board Chairman Tom Miragliuolo doubted exempting noisy private activities would be popular. Butler suggested a nuisance ordinance might be an alternative way to deal with private activities that led neighbors to complain about noise or other impediments to their peaceful enjoyment.

Another issue touched on, with no consensus, was exceptions and exemptions to a noise ordinance. Butler said multiple exemptions are standard, for example for farming and commercial activities. Having stricter noise limits overnight than during the day is another common ordinance feature.

Miragliuolo asked Butler to find sample ordinances from other Maine towns to guide future discussion.

The planning board is trying to make ordinance criteria easier to apply in response to a request from the Comprehensive Planning Committee (see The Town Line, Aug. 1).

In other business Aug. 6, Butler reported in the previous two weeks, he issued eight building permits, including two for new homes, and did 12 Maine Universal Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) inspections of construction under way, a pace he called “pretty aggressive.”

He suggested other ordinance changes the planning board should consider to bring the town ordinance into conformity with state shoreland zoning standards. Should town officials and voters not act, the state Department of Environmental Protection will, though probably not immediately, he said.

Butler expects Clifford Glinko to present a revised application for a medical marijuana store on Route 3 in South China at the next planning board meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Grange presents annual awards at Palermo Days

Ann Bako, right, grand master of the Branch Mills Grange, presents the Spirit of America award to Summer Hotham. (photo by Mary Haskell)

As a part of Palermo Days festivities, the Branch Mills Grange #336 hosted its annual public supper/awards dinner. Every year, the Grange recognizes two deserving individuals. This year, Summer Hotham was the recipient of the Spirit of America Award. The Spirit of America Foundation was created in 1990 to honor volunteerism. Through Erskine Academy’s Community Service Program, Summer has accrued over 248 volunteer hours.

Marylou Sydney McNeil was this year’s recipient of the Grange Award. The purpose of this award is to formally recognize an individual who, although not a Grange member, has volunteered their time and talents for the betterment of The Order. Marylou has used her decorating flair to decorate the tables for public suppers and has helped sort and stage items for the Grange’s flea markets.

Ann Bako presents Marylou Sydney McNeil with the Grange Award. (photo by Mary Haskell)

After 200 years, alewives set to return to China Lake

Fish ladder construction at Ladd Dam, in North Vassalboro. (photo by Eric W. Austin)

by Eric W. Austin

For more than five years, a group of dedicated people have been working to re-open Maine waterways to the state’s native migratory fish population. The obstacles have been fierce, but the rewards promise to be well worth the effort. Clearer water in our lakes and ponds, an enhanced food web and improved habitat along our rivers and streams are just a few of the benefits proponents of the project expect to see.

Map of the dams along Outlet Stream. (Click to enlarge.)

As European settlers spread into central Maine in the 1700s, they found a lush landscape: forests filled with wildlife and lakes teeming with fish. They also saw untapped potential in Maine’s many rushing rivers and flowing streams. Dams popped up everywhere as settlers sought to harness the region’s hydropower to grind their grain and drive their saw mills. No less than six dams were built along Outlet Stream, in Vassalboro alone.

Dams are basically good for one thing: preventing water from flowing. They also, unintentionally, prevent fish from traveling upstream. Migratory species like river herring (alewives and blueback herring), sea lamprey, shad and salmon, which spend much of their lives at sea but return to fresh waters to spawn, were – pardon the pun ­– left high and dry by the dam construction.

These obstructions along Maine’s rivers had a particular impact on alewives which – unlike their cousins, the blueback herring, that spawn in the rocky beds of freshwater streams and rivers – prefer to lay their eggs in the muddy bottoms of our lakes and ponds. Alewives were already faced with the daunting task of navigating up Maine’s rivers and through the maze of Maine’s many streams before finally reaching the calm and safety of interior lakes. With the additional obstacles posed by man-made dams built along Maine’s streams and rivers, migratory fish populations virtually disappeared from many of our lakes. Alewives, which had been so plentiful in our ponds and lakes before the arrival of European settlers, dwindled to almost nothing by the 20th century.

The site of Masse Dam, which was removed a year ago. (photo by Eric W. Austin)

Alewives in particular offer an ecological benefit to Maine lakes that was lost when they disappeared. These migratory fish feed on the phosphorous-rich plankton that also serve as a nutrient for the blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) that is currently such a problem in our lakes. The alewives carry the phosphates they consume back to the ocean, depriving the algae of this essential nutrient and curbing its growth.

Most of this phosphorous enters the lake as runoff from melting snow and summer rains. When soil around the lake is disturbed, such as during construction for rural development, it brings more of these nutrients to the surface, which then are carried into the lake by the rains or melting snow. As the population around Maine’s lakes grew and development along the shoreline increased, more phosphorous-rich soil was disturbed and those nutrients were carried as runoff into nearby bodies of water.

Unfortunately, the very creatures that could have helped balance the increased phosphorous were stuck – quite literally – out at sea. The algae and cyanobacteria in the lake had no such problem, however, and as a result they began to multiply and spread like crazy. Lakes, once beautifully blue, began to turn green.

The China Lake Alewife Restoration Initiative aims to reclaim this balance by restoring alewife passage back to China Lake. The project is headed up by the nonprofit organization Maine Rivers, in collaboration with the towns of China and Vassalboro, the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Kennebec Water District, the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust, and the China Region Lakes Alliance.

“‘Collaborative’ is not a strong enough word,” says Maine Rivers’ executive director, Landis Hudson, describing the team effort.

Much of the early groundwork for the project was laid down by the China Region Lakes Alliance, which was founded in 1995 by residents of China, Vassalboro and Windsor, along with the Kennebec Water District, to address water quality and erosion concerns around China Lake, Three Mile Pond, Webber Pond and Three Cornered Pond.

Lombard Dam was one of those removed by the Maine Rivers team. (photo by Eric W. Austin)

Of the six dams along Outlet Stream which were blocking fish passage from Sebasticook River, two have been completely removed, Lombard and Masse dams. Fishways are planned for three others, Outlet, Box Mill and Ladd dams. Morneau Dam will be the final one tackled by the team, scheduled for the summer of 2022, although at this point they haven’t decided whether a fishway or a complete removal is more appropriate for the location.

Currently, the team is constructing a fishway at Ladd Dam in Vassalboro, which they hope to complete no later than September 30. The fishway is based on a design first proposed in 1909 by the Belgian scientist G. Denil.

“The channel will be four feet wide,” says Matt Streeter, project manager for Maine Rivers and the Alewife Restoration Initiative. Removable barriers, called baffles, will be placed along the fishway to help control the flow of water and give the fish a place to rest as they fight the rushing current. Grating will also be installed over the fishway – extending a few inches above ground level – to allow observation of the fish migration, but prevent anyone from falling into the racing water.

“The key thing that will attract fish into [the fishway] will be its location,” Streeter explains. “It’s gotta be in the vicinity of one of the major currents in the stream – and you really should have more water coming out of your fishway than going anywhere else, because it’s got to be the most attractive stream for them to follow up. They’re basically looking for the deepest, swiftest, largest volume of water.”

A fishway was installed a decade ago on Webber Pond at the outlet to Seven Mile Brook in order to allow alewives to re-enter the pond (although alewives have been stocked in Webber Pond and China Lake by the Maine Department of Marine Resources since 1997).

“[Water quality] is much, much better than it was before the alewives,” says Frank Richards, president of the Webber Pond Association, in Vassalboro. “It’s not perfect. The alewives are not a panacea, but the [algae] blooms are just a fraction of how intense they used to be. Before the alewives, there would be a green, gelatinous, slime-mess starting in late June and lasting until mid-September. With the alewives, we have clear water for most of the summer.”

Richards warns that opening up passage for alewives into the lake will not solve all the problems associated with an overabundance of nutrients in the water. On Webber Pond, there is still usually one algae bloom each summer. “There’s almost always at least one bloom,” he says, “and it’s very rare – even with the alewives – not to have a bloom that qualifies as a ‘severe bloom,’ meaning a [water visibility] reading of two meters or less. So, the alewives have not completely eliminated blooms, but the intensity isn’t even remotely comparable to what it was before the alewives were introduced.”

Landis Hudson, executive director of Maine Rivers, at Outlet Dam, in Vassalboro. (photo by Eric W. Austin)

There has been some concern that alewives dumped into China Lake might become ‘landlocked’ and unable to return to the ocean. If this happens, any phosphorous reduction they provide could be outweighed by the nutrients reintroduced at their deaths. Generally, this does not seem to be a problem in either Webber Pond or China Lake, as they are able to leave the lake with water as it is released through the dam’s control gates, but the Alewife Restoration team aims to prevent any alewives from becoming landlocked by including, along with the fishways, renovations to the dams which will provide an ‘alewife outlet’ designed specifically to facilitate their return downstream. The real problem is that the dams prevent the alewives from returning to the lake once it’s time to spawn, so populations can only be maintained by continually restocking the lake from other sources.

The completion of the fishway at Ladd Dam in Vassalboro will be a major milestone for the Alewife Restoration team, but there is still much work to do. Additional fishways need to be constructed at Box Mill Dam (behind the Olde Mill Place) and at the dam where Outlet Stream flows out of China Lake.

Maine Rivers is actively working to plan the renovations with the community in mind. “We have fairly detailed plans for the fishway that will go here [at Outlet Dam],” says Hudson, “but I’m interested in exploring the idea of making this a more holistic planning and design process to figure out what people in town want and try to make that happen.” One idea is to build a bridge which would serve as a place for visitors to observe the fish migrations.

The team plans to complete construction of a fishway at Box Mill Dam during the summer of 2020, and at the head of Outlet Stream during the summer of 2021. The final step will be tackling Morneau Dam, likely sometime in 2022.

By the spring of 2023, alewives will be returning to China Lake under their own power for the first time in nearly 200 years.

See also:

Construction begins for alewives restoration at Ladd Dam in North Vassalboro

China Lake Association holds 2019 annual meeting