Send your sweetheart a special Valentine — for FREE

Leave your special someone a message in the paper — for FREE! Send us your greeting of 25 words or less to townline@fairpoint.net by February 7 to have it included in the February 13th edition of The Town Line. Use the subject “VALENTINE’S GREETING”.

LEGAL NOTICES for Thursday, January 30, 2020

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 January 23, 2020

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-C M.R.S.A. §3-804

2019-390 – Estate of MARK A. TRIAL, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Jessica Linsey Trial, 6 Trueworthy Ave., Augusta, Me 04330 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-391 – Estate of DANNY L. FITZGERALD, SR., late of Skowhegan,Me deceased. Danny L. Fitzgerald, Jr., 50 St. Marks Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-392 – Estate of CAROL S. RASMUSSEN, late of Smithfield, Me deceased. Erik Rasmussen, 5 Cunliff Lan Ext, Smithfield, Me 04978, Paul Rasmussen, 105 Madbury Road, Durham, NH 03824 and Hans Rasmussen, 622 W. Wilson Creek Dr., New Bern, NC 28562 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2019-394 – Estate of BARBARA W. JONES, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Priscilla Jones, 146 Badgerboro Road, Palmyra, Me 04965 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-395 – Estate of LEO J. BOUCHARD, JR. late of Madison, Me deceased. Katharine M. Leeman, 268 West Mills Road, Anson, Me 04911 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-397 – Estate of ROBERT S. JOHNSON, SR., late of Canaan, Me deceased. Nancy L. Johnson, 216 Whitten Road, Canaan, Me 04924 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-398 – Estate of JILL B. HODSDON, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Albert E. Hodsdon, III, 88 Pirate Lane, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-402 – Estate of ADRIEN A. BROCHU (aka Adrian A. Brochu) late of Madison, Me deceased. Jason A. Brochu, 365 Greeleys Landing Road, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426, Christopher R. Brochu, 32 Cold Stream Lane, Lowell, Maine 04493, Stephanie L. Voter, 488 Oxbow Road, Cornville, Maine 04976 and Tabatha Andrews, 85528 Christensen Road, Eugene, OR 97405 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2019-405 – Estate of MERLON P. OUELLETTE, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Peter J. Ouellette, 226 Bates Street, Pittsfield, Me 04967 appointed Personal Representative.

2019-407 – Estate of MARY C. GOTT, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Norman J. Ambrose, 104 East Bates Street, Auburn, Me 04210 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-002 – Estate of WILLIAM A. LINDSAY, late of Bingham, Me deceased. Scott Shaw, PO Box 574, Bingham, Me 04920 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-003 – Estate of ARTHUR E. DEMMONS, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Gail Demmons, 13 Maple Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-004 – Estate of BRUCE H. BERRY, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Rebecca Berry, 86 Square Road, St. Albans, ME 04971 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-005 – Estate of MALCOLM C. CIANCHETTE, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Charles B. Cianchette, 622 Gladstone Lane, Holmes Beach, FL 34217 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-006 – Estate of DENISE M. QUIRION, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. James E. Poulin, 299 Center Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-007 – Estate of RICHARD W. NASH, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Nelson E. Nash, 482 Greenhill Road, Barrington, NH 03825 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-008 – Estate of BEVERLY J. FRANCIS, late of New Portland, Me deceased. Martin Tatro, Jr., 91-1078 Kaikohola Street, Ewa Beach, HI 96706 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-011 – Estate of WADE A. HAWKINS, late of Madison, Me deceased. Gerald A. Hawkins, 18 White School House Road, Madison, Me 04950 appointed Personal Representative.

2020-017 – Estate of BRENDA LOU CLARK, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Bobbie-Jo Sue Dusty, 34 North Ave., Skowhegan, Me 04976 and Alicia Brett Bailey, 904 Hill Road, Clinton, Me 04927 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2020-018 – Estate of THERESA M. DYER, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Chantal Spinazzola, 79 Bilotta Way, Fitchburg, MA 01420 appointed Personal Representative.

To be published on Jan 23 & Jan 30, 2020.
Dated: January 17, 2020 /s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(1/30)

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 February 5, 2020. 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.

2019-403 – Estate of ARIANNA RENEE PRICE. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Arianna Renee Price, 23 Newhall Street, Fairfield, Me 04937 requesting name be changed to Justin Walter Price for reasons set forth therein.

2020-016 – Estate of JESSICA LEE HOFFSES. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Jessica Lee Hoffses, PO Box 140, New Portland, Me 04961 requesting her name be changed to Jessica Lee Cairnie for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: January 17, 2020
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(1/30)

I’M JUST CURIOUS: For my garden

by Debbie Walker

(Something a little different)

In the garden of my life there are many colored plants. I choose mine because of my attraction to their colors or combination of colors. I plant mostly perennials because they are always there, even when they are resting and waiting for the next blossoming period. Sometimes friendships are like that. You get to communicate regularly and then you don’t get to for a while but you still know your friend is there when you bloom again or when they do. Life gets in the way sometimes and we don’t always get to tend them as we should but when we can they will be right there where you knew they would be.

To grow a full and beautiful garden it takes a little gentle care, patience, love, attention and some understanding. You have to understand that things will happen and they will have to do their own thing from time to time. Sometimes no matter how closely you tend them a plant might look a little pale or tired no matter what you do to keep them tended and you may never really know why. But with patience they will usually return no worse for the wear and maybe sporting just a little different hue of color that will just add to the garden.

The perennial garden is the best because you don’t have to hover over the plants. You don’t have to worry about the weather affecting them, if it is rainy or dry they will still be there. Sometimes they fade off for a while but they will be back in full bloom when their sun shines and they are watered again. Sometimes you might get a little busy and you over look the garden for a little while but at soon as you check in on it and give a little care it will be back in full bloom.

Some friends are more like annuals, they seem to have a season and then they are gone. You plant them with the same care and you tend them the same as the perennials but for whatever reason in nature they only stay in your garden for a period of time. I guess with friends it is whatever time either you or they may have the need, sometimes you don’t even know whose need it really was. They come in beautiful colors but then after a while they just seem to slowly disappear, one by one. Sometimes maybe it is because we needed them in our life or they needed us in their life but either way it can be a beautiful thing if only for a season. Annuals have their purpose in the garden of life as well. And sometimes maybe it’s so you will know to appreciate your perennials more.

I’m just curious if you are tending the flowers in your garden. This was just to thank you for keeping me in your garden no matter what the weather or the season.

Questions or comments, just catch me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Gilbert and Sullivan Weekend

Sir William Gilbert (left) and Sir Arthur Sullivan (right).

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Gilbert and Sullivan Weekend

The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company; London, 430144-4, cassette, selections recorded between 1959 and 1973.

Playwright Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836-1911) and composer Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842-1900) began a collaboration that produced 14 comic operas from 1871 to 1896, several of which are still produced often around the world. They were noted for the combination of Gilbert’s witty lyrics and Sullivan’s melodies. The story lines involved thinly-veiled satires on the customs and attitudes of 19th century English society and the then-reigning and wonderful Queen Victoria was one of their biggest fans.

Sir Richard D’Oyly Carte

The premieres and long runs were bankrolled by businessman, Sir Richard D’Oyly Carte (1844-1901) who founded the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, which has produced many stagings and recordings of the Gilbert and Sullivan works, still doing so to this day. The company established the state of the art Savoy Theatre, in London.

Gilbert and Sullivan themselves were micro-managing perfectionists who had the right balance of strictness and wit to get everybody’s best performances, having little tolerance for prima donnas and sloppiness of detail .

The selections on the above cassette come from H.M.S. Pinafore, the Mikado, Yeomen of the Guard, Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, and the Gondoliers, and feature at least two examples of the team’s famous patter songs, which demand tongue-twisting singing- Pinafore’s I Am the Monarch of the Sea and Penzance’s I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General, both of them sung by the very gifted John Reed (1916-2010), who is joined by soprano Elizabeth Harwood (1938-1990) in a special favorite of mine, the Yeoman of the Guard’s I Have a Song to Sing, O!

I can’t finish without offering a few quotes from G & S:

H.M.S. Pinafore – “What, never? No, never! What, never ? Well, hardly ever!”

Pirates of Penzance – “I don’t think much of our profession but, contrasted with respectability, it is comparatively honest!”

Princess Ida – “Darwinian man, though well-behaved, at best is only a monkey shaved.”

“Man is nature’s sole mistake.”

Carrabec High School announces second quarter honors

Carrabec High School

Carrabec High School, in North Anson, announces the 2019-2020 second quarter honor roll

Grade 12

High honors: Isaac Boucher, Annika Carey, Caitlin Crawford, Shay Cyrway, Caroline Decker, Olivia Fortier, Ricky Gordon III, Scott Mason, Cheyenne Sirois and Dalton Way. Honors:  Emily Avery, Cassidy Ayotte, Ashley Cates, Olivia Hassell, Madison Jaros, Lemuel Kimball, Mary-Jenna Oliver, Abby Richardson and Skye Welch.

Grade 11

High honors:  Sarah Olson. Honors: Aidan Caplin, Sierra Corson, Ethan Johnson, Chantelle LaCroix, Adam Lawrence and Ryan Vigneault.

Grade 10

High honors:  Cheyenne Cahill, Tyler Edwards, Shyanne Holmes and Trinity Slate. Honors: Lilly Augustine, Emma Baker, Abigayle Ballard, Aliyah Grunder, Abigail Luce, Sean Olson, Courtney Rollins, Seth Sayles and Garrett Wilson.

Grade 9

High honors:  Jessica Benedict, Luke Carey and Laci Dickey. Honors: Zebadiah Burnham, Twyla Carpenter, Robert Lindblom, Jr., Caitlyn Oliver, William Price II, Isabelle Slate and Hunter Sousa.

Mid-Maine Chamber to host “meet the reps”

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and KV Connect will host “Meet the Reps,” an event that brings members of the business community and public together with elected officials at all levels of government, Wednesday, February 5, 2020 from 5:30-7 p.m., at Chace Community Forum, located at 150 Main Street, in Waterville (Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons).

The two organizations renewed their partnership for the upcoming legislative session in order to continue to encourage communication between business and community leaders, professionals and young professionals, and their government representatives.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is appreciated. Please contact Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce at 873-3315 or cindy@midmainechamber.com if you plan to attend. This event is possible thanks to the sponsorship of Central Maine Growth Council and Kennebec Savings Bank.

Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advocating for business prosperity and regional economic improvement. Their region includes the towns of Albion, Belgrade, Benton, Branch Mills, Burnham, China, Clinton, Fairfield, Hinckley, Oakland, Rome, Shawmut, Sidney, South China, Thorndike, Unity, Vassalboro, Waterville, Weeks Mills, and Winslow. Legislators and councilors from all of these towns and cities have been invited. For more information on the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, including how to become a member, call (207) 873-3315 or visit www.midmainechamber.com.

KV Connect, greater Waterville’s affiliate of the Realize Maine Network, fosters community among young professionals to create economic growth in the region. To learn more about KV Connect, visit www.kvconnect.org or e-mail kvconnectme@gmail.com.

TOCmedia to host three new social-media marketing business-breakfast events

TOCmedia will host three new social media marketing business-breakfast events, “How to Recruit & Retain Top Talent on Social Media.” The series will kick-off on Friday, January 31, at Thomas College, on West River Road, in Waterville.

TOCmedia, the Waterville-based digital marketing firm, has announced the next three upcoming presentations in its popular “Social Media Breakfast Central Maine” (SMBCME) series of business-breakfast presentations. Hosted by Tracy O’Clair, President/CEO of TOCmedia, the social-media marketing business-breakfast series is designed to empower local business, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial marketers. The series is sponsored by The Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College.

Each “Social Media Breakfast Central Maine” presentation will spotlight 2020’s best practices in social-media marketing, as revealed by a speaker from one of Maine’s most marketing-savvy business organizations or nonprofits.

The first presentation, on Friday, January 31, will feature Rob Gould and Katie Denoia, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications Specialist, respectively, at WEX Inc., who will speak on the topic “How to Recruit & Retain Top Talent on Social Media.” Rob and Katie will reveal today’s most savvy social-media tactics for highlighting your organization’s culture, increasing engagement with great future employees, and showcasing why you offer a great place to work.

Subsequent Winter 2020 SMBCME speakers will be Anthony Ronzio, Director of Digital Strategy at Colby College, who will present “Going Digital in a Physical World” on Friday, February 28; and Luke Labree, Chief Marketing Officer at Dennis Paper & Food Service, speaking on the topic “The Secret to a Successful Social Media Strategy” on Friday, March 27. Each of the SMBCME speakers was carefully selected for his/ her distinctive talent, social media expertise, and ability to illuminate and share empowering advice and insights to marketers in today’s rapid-paced, constantly changing digital-marketing landscape.

Each SMBCME event will be held in the Spann Student Commons, at Thomas College, 180 West River Road, in Waterville. Advance registration and payment of $15 is recommended for your convenience at http://Social-Media-Breakfast-Central-Maine.eventbrite.com. The admission fee includes breakfast and coffee, plus a 30-minute business-networking opportunity from 7:30 to 8 a.m. For more information, please visit www.Thomas.edu/haibi or call Tracy O’Clair at (207) 512-0532.

Tracy O’Clair, President/CEO of TOCmedia and a certified Constant Contact solutions provider, founded her digital marketing firm in 2009 and launched the “Social Media Breakfast Central Maine” series of educational presentations in 2014. TOCmedia serves businesses and other organizations who want to successfully spotlight their brand, enhance their growth, and heighten their visibility through social-media marketing management, email marketing, digital advertising, and blogging solutions. For more information, please visit https://toc-media.com/ .

Named for Maine’s premiere entrepreneur and innovator, The Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College has been established to spur economic vitality in Central Maine by nurturing the very talent that will assist in the creation of both jobs and wealth for the area. The institute provides the platforms from which instruction, training, events, mentoring, and access to talent are all made available within the context of entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information, please visit www.thomas.edu/institute.

Singing Valentines

The Heart & Soul quartet

Heart & Soul, a quartet with the Maine-ly Harmony a cappela barbershop chorus, is one of the groups that will be delivering singing Valentines in central Maine. To have the group sing for your sweetheart, call Lea at 622-1273, email leadavis@roadrunner.com, or Betty at 626-0225, bavery1937@gmail.com.

Valentine Vaudeville

Pictured, from left to right, front row, Emily Rowden Fournier, Maria Wark, Shana Page, and Katie Howes. Back, Joshua Fournier, Joseph Page and Jennifer Mayers. (photo by Ryan N. Toothaker)

Enjoy a night out at Valentine Vaudeville with a buffet dinner and floor show at 6 p.m., on Saturday, February 8, in the Ballroom, at Governor’s Restaurant, in Waterville. Purchase tickets online at signupforms.com/registrations/20575 or by calling 207-314-8607. For more information, contact Emily Fournier at 314-8607.

Vassalboro selectmen OK RFPs for solar energy project

by Mary Grow

At their Jan. 23 meeting, Vassalboro selectmen unanimously approved a request for proposals (RFP) for a solar energy project for the town, including the school department and the Vassalboro Sanitary District. The RFP was prepared by the Solar Energy Project Committee; committee chairman, Selectman John Melrose, said Sanitary District and school officials were consulted.

The schedule for bidders is as follows: notices of intent to bid are due by Feb. 7; a mandatory pre-proposal meeting, RFP review and site visit are scheduled for Feb. 12; town officials must respond to any comments or questions arising from the meeting by Feb. 18; and proposals are due at the town office by 3 p.m. March 9.

The solar installation is to tie into Central Maine Power Company’s service. Bidders have a choice of four sites: Vassalboro Community School land or, with an engineer’s approval, the roof of the building; the town office lot; the North Vassalboro fire station lot; and the Vassalboro Sanitary District’s East Vassalboro property that currently contains a sand filter bed, to be discontinued when the sewer connection to Winslow is finished.

Selectmen also had a request from Michael Vashon, representing the volunteer fire department, to clarify whether town funds approved by voters to match grants the department received are to be used only for state or federal grants, or whether they can match grants from private foundations.

Selectmen voted unanimously that foundation grants can also be matched with tax dollars.

Vashon said with grants and town funds the firefighters have bought and installed new mobile radios and partly funded new portable radios. They’re saving money now for a new fire truck, at an estimated price of about $365,000.

In other business Jan. 23, selectmen renewed the liquor license for Natanis Golf Course, with course owner and Selectman Robert Browne abstaining from discussion and voting.

They told resident Michael Poulin, who would like the town’s Tax Increment Finance (TIF) policy amended, that a consultant is reviewing the policy (see The Town Line, Dec. 19, 2019).

Tom Richards, Commander of Vassalboro American Legion Post #126, asked whether town funds might be used if the post helped organize a Memorial Day ceremony. Board Chairman Lauchlin Titus and Sabins said past observances have cost $300 or less. Titus suggested Richards talk with his wife, Linda Titus, head of the Vassalboro Business Association, about past and possible future events.

Sabins said repairs to the utility room and updates to the computer system are in progress, with the computer system nearly done and more time-consuming – and therefore more expensive – than expected. Once that is finished, she said, the Cemetery Committee will be able to install a much-needed cemetery record program and hire an intern to collect information to fill it.

Voters appropriated $28,000 this year for the town’s share in the maintenance of cemeteries and public grounds and for Memorial Day expenses.

The next regular selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. They plan an initial work session on the 2020-21 budget at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11.