Vassalboro Riverside Drive solar project gets final approval

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by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Planning Board members had three items on their Sept. 1 agenda and approved all of them, including final approval of another solar project in town.

The solar project is Longroad Energy’s development on land leased from Oak Grove Farm, LLC, at 2579 Riverside Drive (Route 201). As explained at previous meetings and at a sparsely-attended July 28 hearing, the project will cover about 27 acres and needs both state and local permits.

Kara Moody, one of Longroad’s two representatives at Vassalboro meetings, said the state Department of Environmental Protection reported today their state application has been found complete. Assuming state approval, her colleague, David Kane, anticipates work starting at the end of mud season next year. Construction should take about four months, he estimated.

The project is surrounded by trees on three sides, with a field on the east. Kane said some taller trees will be cut to avoid shading the panels, but clearing will be limited as much as possible.

The panels will not be fixed facing south, but will rotate to follow the sun from east to west. Kane said the panels will be high enough not to create a glare problem for drivers on Riverside Drive.

Planning board members found no adverse effects on the environment or neighbors and approved the project. Afterward, board Chairman Virginia Brackett, a teacher, mentioned the possibility of field trips to the installation. Kane, a former science teacher, said teachers and students would be welcome.

Board members also accepted the roadside screening plan for the previously-approved solar array on Bernard Welch’s land on Main Street (Route 32), between North and East Vassalboro.

Al Copping from ReVision Energy said a plan was developed in consultation with the state Department of Transportation and Steven Jones from Fieldstone Gardens in Vassalboro. It calls for 15 to 20 shrubs, a mix of forsythia, lilac and viburnum (chosen because they are supposed to be salt-tolerant and not attractive to deer).

The shrubs are to be planted in the spring of 2021. They will be about 10 feet apart and far enough from the roadway to allow for the state’s planned, and repeatedly postponed, reconstruction of Route 32. Copping said Welch has volunteered to help maintain the planting.

The third application Sept. 1 was from Edward Zinck, to add deck space at his Webber Pond camp. There will be no expansion toward the water, he said, and Codes Officer Paul Mitnik said the addition is within the size limit in the local shoreland ordinance.

Planning Board members approved Zinck’s permit, subject to state approval.

Mitnik announced that he plans to retire from the Vassalboro job in April 2021 – the third time he has retired, he said, and this time he intends to stick to it.

The next Vassalboro Planning Board meeting should be Tuesday evening, Oct. 6.

VASSALBORO: Town projects get attention of selectmen

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by Mary Grow

Vassalboro selectmen spent most of their Sept. 3 meeting talking about spending money for town projects.

The meeting included a public hearing on TIF (Tax Increment Financing) fund requests from Maine Rivers, which runs the Alewife Restoration Project (ARI), and the Vassalboro Sanitary District (VSD). Maine Rivers is creating fish passage between the Sebasticook River and China Lake by removing or modifying dams on Outlet Stream. The VSD is connecting Vassalboro’s sewer system to Winslow’s and thence to the Waterville treatment plant.

Both groups have received TIF funds in the past, most recently part of their 2020 requests in the spring. Selectmen promised additional money as soon as taxes on the natural gas pipeline through Vassalboro replenished the TIF fund.

In the spring, Maine Rivers got $83,000 of its $143,000 request. The money is being used to install a fishway at the Box Mills dam in North Vassalboro.

The VSD received $72,265 of $166,000 requested. The project engineer, Richard Green, Senior Environmental Engineer with Hoyle, Tanner & Associates of Winthrop, said Sept. 3 that district trustees plan to use the money to repay loans that financed the extension to Winslow. Their alternative is to raise the money from user fees.

Town Manager Mary Sabins presented a TIF balance of $120,245. The total promised the two groups was $155,735, leaving a deficit of $33,290 if the TIF balance were drawn down to zero.

Selectmen unanimously approved the Maine Rivers request. Spokesman Landis Hudson said the technically complex Box Mills project is going well. The final fishway at Outlet Dam in East Vassalboro is planned for 2021.

Discussion focused on the Sanitary District request. The district is repaying two loans, one requiring more than $37,000 a year for 30 years and the other more than $72,000 a year for 40 years.

Sabins said Vassalboro’s 30-year TIF is about four years old.

Green said the sewer project is “pretty much done,” and therefore no more grants are available. Sewage is flowing to Winslow, he said, and an odor control issue is being addressed.

There was consensus that Vassalboro’s fewer than 200 households on the sewer already pay high rates compared to users in other similarly-sized Maine towns. However, selectmen refused to spend more money than was in the TIF fund; and they refused to reduce the fund to zero.

When new Selectman Barbara Redmond asked why maintain the proposed $10,000 balance, veteran board member Robert Browne replied, “Just in case. Something might happen” that would qualify as an economic development project eligible for TIF money.

After almost half an hour’s discussion, selectmen approved $50,000 from TIF funds for the Sanitary District.

Board members also heard updates on the Gray Road culvert replacement project and on the Vassalboro Volunteer Fire Department’s plan to buy a new fire engine, as authorized at town meeting in July (postponed from the usual June).

After discussion of timing of the Gray Road project, which will require closing the road, Gregory MacAlister, of Calderwood Engineering, proposed going out to bid in December, with plans to do in-water work in 2021 during the mid-July to mid-September window authorized by state environmental regulators.

Fire department spokesman Mike Vashon (who said he has been speccing fire trucks since 1983) described the new truck to be delivered in July 2021. He hopes to spend slightly less than voters approved, and is enthusiastic about the new engine’s larger pump and increased equipment storage space.

In other business Sept. 3, board Chairman John Melrose announced a Sept. 19 work day on the trails in the town forest north of the ballfields. Interested volunteers should contact him or town office staff.

Selectmen and Fire Chief Walker Thompson scheduled a selectmen’s tour of Vassalboro’s two fire stations for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Following up on the board’s Aug. 20 action, Sabins reported she sold the old police car to Ron’s Auto Parts on Main Street for $300, almost double the only bid selectmen received for the vehicle.

Melrose said East Vassalboro area residents would like selectmen to consider installing a fishing dock. Board members expressed interest in discussing the idea.

The next regular Vassalboro selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.

Popular Winslow Gospel Reflection Group returns September 14

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The St. Joseph Center Gospel Reflection Group will resume on Monday, September 14, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Eight people will participate from the center, located on Garland Road, in Winslow, while all other participants will connect via Zoom.

The reflection group is open to all. Organizers can provide one-on-one technical assistance to help you set up. To obtain the link to the group or request assistance, email CSJsofLyon.Maine@gmail.com or call (207) 873-4512.

The meetings are hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon, in Winslow, who desire to reflect a “profound love of God and neighbor without distinction.”

In addition to the reflection group, the St. Joseph Center is also offering two other group meetings via Zoom.

“Becoming a Welcoming Community,” which explores how we can better follow the U.S. Bishops’ call for parishes to reach out in love and service to LGBT persons and their loved ones, is held on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.

“Rose’s Room,” offering support for the family and friends of incarcerated loved ones, is held on the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. People of all faiths or no declared faith are welcome.

For more information or to participate in either group, call (207) 873-4512 or email CSJsofLyon.Maine@gmail.com.

Lions Club launches community enhancement project

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photo: Waterville Lions Rock Facebook page

The Waterville Lions Club launched a community enhancement project in September with the goal of lifting spirits and inspiring others during this difficult time.

Called “Waterville Lions Rock,” club members gathered together and painted rocks with inspirational messages or smile inducing artwork. A message was written on the back of each rock, “Post a pic and rehide #watervillelionsrock”. Club members then placed the rocks throughout the community on nature trails, near public buildings and in other locations where the general public were sure to see them.

A Facebook page and Instagram account were created for Waterville Lions Rock where everyone can follow the adventures of each rock as they are found and rehidden. “We really wanted to do something for the community that stayed within the current guidelines and yet still helped people,” said Club President Jill Huard. “We hope these little rocks will provide inspiration to people as well as something fun for individuals and families.”

Currently there are nine rocks placed in the Waterville/Winslow/Fairfield area. The club intends to paint and place more rocks in the coming weeks.

Where will you find a Watervillle Lions Rock?

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, September 10, 2020

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To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@townline.org!

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Michael Bilinsky, of China Village, had plenty of feathered visitors lately.

A female mallard duck got up close and personal, by Michael Bilinsky, of China Village.

A male mallard duck basks in the late afternoon sun, by Michael Bilinsky, of China Village.

A great blue heron visits the dock, by Michael Bilinsky, of China Village.

China School’s Forest gets ready for students

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China school teachers get the China School’s Forest ready for students. (photo by Anita Smith)

Six animal cutouts stolen from the grounds

by Eric W. Austin
A few weeks ago, a heinous act was committed in the China School’s Forest. Someone snuck into the outdoor learning center and stole six of the animal cutouts that were set up along the trails to teach children about wildlife in the Maine woods.

“Not only did you steal them, you stole the hard work of middle school children and volunteers who made the project happen,” admonished a post added to the China School’s Forest Facebook page on July 22, shortly after the incident. “You stole the grant money that was used to make them. You stole the enjoyment and learning opportunity from hundreds of children and visitors to the school forest. You stole the desire to continue to do projects like this that our whole community can enjoy. You stole the pride our community feels with the entire school forest project.”

Danica Ferris, left, and Anita Smith putting up a crow cutout. (photo by Katie Reed)

The China School’s Forest, founded in 1995, is located behind the China Primary school and is designed to serve as an “outdoor classroom with trails and learning stations to teach children about the Maine forest in a real-life, hands-on setting.” The trails are also open to the general public.

In the current age of COVID-19, the China School’s Forest has become an important place for local teachers to hold classes in a safer, outdoor setting, and the Forest has been scrambling to get ready for the upcoming school year.

Thankfully, since the incident, community volunteers have rallied to help with the work.

“There has been a huge outpouring of volunteerism in the forest this summer,” says Anita Smith, administrator for the China School’s Forest.

Of the six animal cutouts stolen, three have been returned, says Smith. Additional cutouts have also recently been supplied by local residents Jim Burke and Katie Reed.

Katie Reed says she reached out to Joshua Newhall, of Madison, owner of Gridiron Woodworks, to make them. “Scrolling through Facebook, I came across a post from China Forest…[and] my daughter asked me if we could help replace them,” Reed explains. Her daughter, Danica Ferris, is a sixth grade student at China Middle School. “We did this because my daughter loves spotting the cutouts on the trail. You can see anything from a cat, skunk, bears and more,” she says. “[We’re] hoping the community gets to enjoy them for years to come.”

Lydia, left, and Luke Naegely test out the stump stools at the Geology outdoor classroom. (photo by Anita Smith)

That’s just the tip of the iceberg though, in terms of the work community members have accomplished in the last few months. Volunteers have been mowing and weed-whacking. Extra seating has been added to the Geology Station, and outdoor-themed art has been stenciled on the walls of the wooden classroom structures to remind children to practice social distancing.

In addition, Anita Smith says, “Nine new interpretive signs, manufactured by Leighton Signworks, in Oakland, have been installed to explain features from last winter’s harvest and thinning, and a few additional points of interest on the trails.”

The wood from last year’s harvesting is also being cut up and will be donated to local families. “At the end of July, we had a large crew of volunteers from Central Church,” says Smith. “They helped cut up trees that will be used for firewood for those in need this winter. They also stained picnic tables, water-sealed several structures, raked trails, trimmed brush, replaced the roof on the CPS entrance kiosk and donated two new tables to the outdoor classroom spaces.”

Danica Ferris, adding a hare and bunny. (photo by Katie Reed)

A “Firewood for Friends” event held last Saturday drew an additional eight volunteers who cut wood into workable sizes and stacked it for drying. “We got 1.5 cord cut today,” says Smith. “The wood will be distributed through the China for a Lifetime Committee or the town office as needed.”

Smith says another event will be held on Saturday, September 12, from 9 a.m. – noon. “People with chainsaws are needed as well as others to lug and stack the wood,” she notes.

Steve Childs, of SD Childs & Sons Excavation, in Palermo, has also donated gravel, which volunteers used to smooth and cover muddy areas of the trails.

It’s looking like, with the generous help from many volunteers in the community, the China School’s Forest is going to be ready to serve its purpose as an outdoor learning center when China schools open this month.

“I am so proud of our little town and grateful to those who have helped to make the Forest a place that everyone can enjoy and our students can use this fall,” says Smith. “The teachers and I are so appreciative of the help!”

For more information about the China School’s Forest or to find out how you can help, contact Anita Smith by email at chinaschoolsforest@gmail.com.

Contact the author at ericwaustin@gmail.com.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: You Can Help Fight Lyme Disease

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You can help protect yourself and others from suffering with Lyme disease.

(NAPSI)—As the summer months wind down, many will continue to flock outdoors and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and fishing. What you may not realize is that despite the weather cooling off, ticks are still very prevalent outdoors. It is important to check for ticks after spending time in the grass or garden, as ticks can transmit a bacterial infection known as Lyme disease.

The Disease

A bull’s-eye rash is one of the hallmarks of Lyme disease, but other symptoms can be non-specific and even overlap with symptoms of COVID-19. These include body aches, fever, breathlessness, eye pain, diarrhea, chest tightness, headache, fatigue or joint pain. According to the Global Lyme Alliance, there are approximately 427,000 new cases of Lyme disease in the United States every year. However, Lyme disease is often missed—or misdiagnosed—due to unreliable testing. In fact, only 30% of people with early Lyme infections have a positive test result with existing tests because the disease is difficult to detect in its earliest stages, even though this is when it is easiest to treat. If you suspect you have Lyme disease or have been recently diagnosed, you can be part of the solution to improve detection of the disease in others.

How You Can Get Involved

If you’ve recently been infected with Lyme disease, your immune system can provide important information about how to detect and treat the disease that current tests cannot. To help advance new tests for Lyme disease, Adaptive Biotechnologies has launched the ImmuneSense Lyme study to better understand our body’s immune response. You may be eligible to participate in the study if you have signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, or were recently diagnosed and have not taken antibiotics for more than three days. To participate, you can visit a participating doctor to have your blood sample collected or schedule an at-home visit compliant with social distancing guidelines.

Why Your Participation Matters

If left untreated, Lyme disease can become a serious illness for many people, but if caught early, it can typically be treated with antibiotics and long-term complications can be avoided. Early detection is key for early treatment and now there is an opportunity to help bring about new detection methods for this serious and often overlooked disease.

Learn More

Visit www.immunesensestudy.com to learn more about the study, and how you can be a part of the solution for better testing. Editor’s Note: This article can be of interest to anyone but is of particular use to those living in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C., New York, Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts.

THE MONEY MINUTE: As goes Maine…away goes hunger

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by Jac M. Arbour CFP®, ChFC®
President, J.M. Arbour Wealth Management

Hunger in Maine is much more prevalent than most people know, and it affects our state deeply. Community members of all ages, all throughout our state, lack access to adequate food. Hunger needs a much broader definition. So does food.

Last year, the Good Shepherd Food Bank was instrumental in serving over 30 million meals to Maine people. Thirty million. But don’t be fooled: this did not meet all the need that was there. It may be a hard figure to take in, but try for a moment: here in Maine, even 30 million meals does not fill the hunger gap.

Over the past few months, I have shared time with leaders of organizations such as the Good Shepherd Food Bank, smaller local food banks, AIO out of Rockland, Full Plates Full Potential (founded by Justin Alfond and John Woods), the Greater Boston Food Bank, Feeding America, and more. I love these people. I love their spirits, their vision, their drive, and their internal need to be impactful members of society. It is a beautiful thing to witness and experience the determination that is so firmly rooted within these leaders.

One thing all leaders I met with said, is that their goal is to work themselves out of a job—to end all hunger in Maine. Imagine.

Some people are especially cognizant of the deciding role that nutrition, or lack thereof, plays in the development of our youth. Right now, at least one in five Maine children are experiencing hunger. Due to COVID-19, the number may be higher. Further, if we as a state keep doing exactly what we are (and aren’t) doing now, food-insecurity (and the results of it) in Maine will only increase. So how do we approach this issue?

We need to feed kids in a way that lasts a lifetime. Let me explain.

There is an immediate need to feed kids food, as we have discussed. A child cannot be expected to leave school on Friday, go two and a half days without food, then show up at school on Monday to sit in a chair for hours, pay attention, retain information, and develop as does a child fueled by nutritious food. Therefore, organizations like the ones I just mentioned and the people who lead them, are silent heroes. They are doing everything in their power to make sure this doesn’t happen, and they are doing one heck of a great job.

Now, let’s think beyond the immediate need for a moment. What else feeds kids?

We need to feed kids positive ideas, books that take them to new places, keys to the libraries of the world, direct access to education and career opportunities that might seem untouchable, the crucial ability to identify opportunities, access to speakers who can share their stories about building a life of significance, and most of all, awareness of what’s possible.

At J.M. Arbour, we mange IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s and other investments. Only CFP® professionals and Chartered Financial Consultants® meet with the participants in retirement plans. We donate 50% of our net profits to meet the immediate need for food in Maine and further, to structure a network that will feed the hearts and minds of Maine’s tomorrow: our youth, for years to come.

Maine is well positioned to become the first state in the nation to literally end hunger among its people. Actually, when you step back and take a look at what that would require of us, it is quite simple.

We—the organizations and small companies fighting hunger—need teammates. We need you. Call J.M Arbour’s Chief Operating Officer, Devon Pcolar, and let us know if you want to help us end hunger in Maine.

See you all next month.

Jac Arbour CFP®, ChFC®

Jac Arbour is the President of J.M. Arbour Wealth Management. He can be reached at 207-248-6767.

Investment advisory services are offered through Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser.

LABOR DAY HISTORY: President Cleveland wanted Labor Day in May, but events forced a change

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by Gary Kennedy

When this holiday was considered, the President of the United States was Grover Cleveland. May was the month of choice. However, President Cleveland wisely shied away from May because of the Haymarket bombing. On May 4, 1886, a bomb went off in Haymarket square, Chicago, Illinois, during a labor rally, killing one policeman and wounding many others.

This event was initiated by Albert Parsons and Samuel Feldman. This was a peaceful four-day event seeking an eight hour work day. Parsons was an American socialist, anarchist newspaper editor, orator and a labor activist. In his teens he served in the Confederate army.

The Socialist Labor Party of America was formed at this time (1877). This utopian concept began with the Shakers of the time. Samuel Feldman was an American Methodist Minister, socialist, anarchist and a labor activist. The next day after the initial explosion the police reacted and killed one and injured several others. An unknown person threw a stick of dynamite at the police which resulted in gunfire. Seven police officers and four civilians were killed in the actions and dozens of others were injured.

Thus, the beginning of the movement was named the Haymarket Massacre Movement. So, as our readers can see, the Labor Day movement didn’t begin in a peaceful protest. History has taught us, for one reason or another, most don’t end well, to this very day.

So, this all began as a state of disorder due to the absence or non-recognition of authority. In retrospect we could say that from the ashes of adversity and dishevel good was acquired. I don’t condone this but I must recognize the ultimate result. I am personally not a proponent of socialism, Marxism, or communism. I am just stating a fact that although some things are born out of non peaceful means; time molds them into good.

In any case, President Cleveland decided because of the negative connotations that the month of May might impart on the Labor Day Movement, it might be wise to choose a different month. He decided that September would be a safer venue for this suggested federal holiday. So, the first Monday in September was chosen to be the date celebrated and honor the American Labor movement. This weekend is referred to as the Labor Day Weekend, because it is a long weekend with Monday as part of. This weekend celebrates the contributions of laborers in the development and achievements, in and for the U.S.A.

This officially became an American holiday on Monday, September 7, 1894. I might add however, the first unofficial Labor Day celebration was held on September 5, 1882, in New York City. The day was commemorated with a picnic, concert and a few speeches. There were 10,000 workers who marched in a parade from City Hall to Union Square. Now we have 50 states and several territories but we carry on the same traditions in most places. Labor Day is a long weekend with the unification of family at its core. The extra day gives us time to travel greater distances and have the involvement of more distant family, friends, and perhaps different venues. Although this Labor Day is wrought with unsolicited hardship (Covid-19) we hope that each and every one of you shares your love of country in a safe, cautious and considerate manner. Follow established rules and have a safe Labor Day Weekend.

To all, have a wonderful weekend and thank you to all that have to work so the rest of us may rest and enjoy family and friends. God be with you, stay safe and God Bless America.

I’M JUST CURIOUS: Little things matter (continued…)

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by Debbie Walker

Good afternoon! Grab a cup of your choice and relax. In this column I am sharing a few “memories” I received from our readers. It’s a follow up to “It’s the Little things That Matter” column from the August 6 issue. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Hopefully, these will bring more memories of your own.

One of my readers sent me a copy of a eulogy her daughter wrote and presented at the grandfather’s funeral. I wish I could share the entire writing because it was beautiful and yet more proof that the memories of the ‘little’ things are so important. In the eulogy I saw no mention of how much money he spent on his grandkids, just activities they enjoyed. It is particularly important to recognize that she is proud of his character over his life and her grandparents having been married for 61 years. Thank you for sharing, Peg.

Another woman remembered some simple words that made a difference in her life as a mom. “If you run now you will run for the rest of your life.” Those quite simple words came the first time the Mom had let her toddler play outside with her cousin, and her little one fell and puckered up to cry. The new grandmother stood with the new mother and watched the incident, guess what. That new grandmother knew what she was talking about. So far, this wisdom has traveled down to what certainly will be this new fourth generation. Thank you, Alice.

My mother told me once, “If you don’t make a big deal out of it, they won’t.” And, oh my goodness, how true it was to me over the years of motherhood and nanahood. What you don’t realize at first is how this will help to keep all involved calmer over the years. Thank goodness, you realize eventually this wisdom will help to keep the drama down. No matter how scared you are if you force yourself to react calmly you can make it easier for those involved.

Yet another lady told me a story about her adult nephew. He asked her to go out with him one night, just the two of them and she did. She learned how important the little things are. He reminded her of her bringing pool toys with her when they were on a family camping weekend. She took these toys for the nephews and little niece and she had toys for each. He realized somewhere along the line that while they were having fun they were also learning skills and endurance. There was nothing fancy about the toys, it was the time spent that he remembered. He said they always knew they could go to her for fun. They both remember that wonderful evening.

Hope you enjoy these comments and when you are ready to send me yours, I will be right here.

Before I finish, I have to tell you a story. Have you been getting calls from people wanting to sell you extended warrantees for your car or possibly threats from “IRS” and you owing money and will be arrested that afternoon? Well, Nana Dee got a different one. She got the call from a Medicare/Medicaid representative telling her about her son Ray calling them and requesting a back brace this afternoon. She asked when he had called and was told it was last week. She said she didn’t realize he had been having back pain, she didn’t think he needed a back brace. Ready to start his speech she stopped and informed him that Ray had died five years ago. That ole boy was tripping all over his tongue!

I am just curious what you will send me next!! Contact me at DebbieWalker@townline.org. Thank you so much for reading and have a great week.