CRITTER CHATTER: Time to release the raccoons

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Contributed photo

by Jayne Winters

As a follow-up to the September article, I’m submitting another written by the late Carleen Cote, published in the fall 1999. As we prepare for colder weather, it seems like a good time to share some of her fond memories.

“Over the years, hundreds of raccoons have called our Center ‘home.’ When they start arriving in mid-April, our leisure time comes to an end for at least six months. From 6 a.m. to midnight, the hours are spent mixing formulas, feeding, keeping bedding clean and doing six to seven loads of laundry a day. Probably the most frustrating part of caring for the young coons is weaning them. Raccoons love to suckle and reluctantly give up their bottle. The milk is eventually replaced with a mixture of dog food, rice and boiled eggs blended into a consistency thin enough to be fed from a bottle. As they become older, this mixture is made thicker and attempts are made to encourage them to eat from a dish.

As the weather gets warmer, the raccoons are moved to outside pens. They are taken on walks so they can start exploring the feel of the ground and grass and do some climbing on fences and trees. Their diet will then include dry puppy food, bread, eggs and fruit. The daily routine then becomes keeping these outside pens clean; the feedings are reduced to twice a day.

There are lasting memories of some of the raccoons. The raccoon we called ‘Fatso’ for instance, that adopted a young fawn as his playmate. Fatso refused to be displaced from the deer house where he had lived alone before the arrival of an injured young deer. The deer and raccoon spent the winter playing together and became fast friends to the point that, when we moved Fatso to an outside pen in preparation for release, he became despondent and refused to eat. He was reunited with his friend until the time of release.

One raccoon is remembered for his coloration. He was a pure platinum color, except for his tail. Another of the raccoons, raised alone in the house, brought concern about what would happen to her when release time came. Would she adjust to being in the wild? Not to worry! When she emerged from the dog carrier, I attempted to give her one last stroke on her back. She immediately assumed a defensive posture, refusing to let me touch her and left with the other raccoons to explore their new world.

After our usual summer of long hours and little time for ourselves, the approaching fall finds us planning the release of raccoons back to the wild. This is when we experience the beauty and quiet of nature away from the noise and other disturbances we experience in our lives. To walk in the forests, hearing the chirping of crickets, the sound of the water in streams and brooks as it bubbles over rocks, flowing along twists and turns in the past to its next destination – these are welcomed times. Then there are the years when heavy rains occur as we near release time. When this happens, the once gentle flowing waters become rushing waters, restricting vehicle access to our favorite release spots. The muddy roads, streams and brooks overflowing their banks mean that our trek into the selected sites will have to be done on foot, pushing the wheelbarrow, with the coons secure in dog kennels, to their new home out in these beautiful Maine woodlands and forests.

After such treks, we return home, clean and sanitize all the pens and other paraphernalia used in caring for the raccoons, store it for the winter and wait to see what the next spring will bring.”

Donald Cote operates the Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center on Rte. 3 in Vassalboro. It is a nonprofit federal and state permitted rehab facility which is supported by his own resources and outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. EMAIL CORRECTION: thewildlifecarecenter@gmail.com.

China manager, selectmen discuss continuing newsletters

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by Mary Grow

The Covid-19 grant that is paying for the weekly newsletters from the China Town Office has run out, but Town Manager Becky Hapgood and a majority of the selectmen would like the newsletters to continue.

Hapgood told selectmen at their Oct. 26 all-zoom meeting that mailing the newsletters costs about $520 a week. She proposed cutting back from weekly to bi-monthly mailings for November and December; paying the approximately $2,100 from the $55,000 contingency fund voters gave selectmen at town meeting (it has a balance of about $54,966 to last until June 30, 2021, Hapgood said); and reviewing the situation in January.

She said residents tell her they read and appreciate the newsletters, which report on town business, including things like town office and transfer station hours and upcoming events, pandemic updates and other useful information. Selectman Irene Belanger thought it “a nice touch” to remind people shut in their houses that town office staff have not forgotten them.

Board Chairman Ronald Breton and member Wayne Chadwick were concerned the contingency fund might be needed more urgently for other things. Breton commented that the situation was not unusual: grant funding starts a project and then drops it. He recommended if the newsletter were to continue beyond December it be discussed as part of the 2021 municipal budget, a suggestion Hapgood agreed with.

Ultimately, the board voted 3-1 for four more newsletter issues. Breton, Belanger and Janet Preston were in favor, Chadwick opposed and Donna Mills-Stevens not present.

China’s town office and transfer station will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans’ Day, and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26 and 27, for Thanksgiving. On Saturday, Nov. 28, the transfer station will be open as usual, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The other main issue discussed Oct. 26 was Codes Officer Bill Butler’s report on three dangerous buildings, on Fire Road 9, Fire Road 58 and Lakeview Drive. As legally required, he had notified the owners that he had determined the buildings to be dangerous and requested action.

No owner had replied, he said. Under the law, the next step is to refer the matter to the selectmen, who should consult with the town attorney. After that, the property owners and the codes officer would testify at a public hearing and the selectmen would decide whether to order the structures repaired or demolished – “not a fun thing,” in Butler’s opinion.

If an owner still takes no action, the law allows the town to remedy the dangerous situation and bill the owner. The bill, if unpaid, could become a tax lien; the lien, if unpaid, could result in the town owning the property.

“They’re not safe, so we have to address them,” Breton said of the three buildings. He asked Hapgood to consult with town attorney Amanda Meader.

In response to Breton’s inquiry at a previous meeting, Butler explained China’s penalty assessment guidelines for violations of town ordinances. He said they are based on state Department of Environmental Protection guidelines and therefore deal mostly with environmental issues.

With fines of up to $1,000 a day authorized, Butler considers the guidelines adequate to deter would-be violators.

The main use of the guidelines is not to impose huge fines, but to suggest appropriate figures for negotiating consent agreements between town officials and violators of town ordinances, in Butler’s view. If selectmen want to amend them, he suggested expanding them to include the building code and other not-strictly-environmental ordinances.

In other business Oct. 26, resident Tom Michaud, speaking for the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Committee, said work is starting on installing shoreline protection and a walkway and improving the boat landing at the head of China Lake’s east basin. He is optimistic that the project will be done by the end of November as scheduled.

Selectmen unanimously approved Hapgood’s suggestion they use another approximately $800 from the contingency fund to hire a consultant to review the town’s personnel policy. Covid-related operational changes have outdated parts of it, the manager said.

After an executive session with Meader, Hapgood reported selectmen voted to authorize Meader to sign a settlement agreement with Brent Chesley. Chesley’s permit application for a retaining wall to control erosion along his China Lake waterfront was denied by Butler in May, leading to a split Board of Appeals vote upholding the codes officer and legal discussions.

The consent order resulting from the Oct. 26 discussion, approved in Kennebec Superior Court, allows Chesley to build the wall as approved by an Oct. 2019 state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permit, without additional town permits. The court decision says the DEP permit specifies that the retaining wall is “to be constructed upland from the existing normal high water mark of China Lake.”

The next two China selectmen’s meetings are scheduled for Monday evening, Nov. 9, and Monday evening, Nov. 23.

Sheepscot Lake Association completes another year

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by Slater Claudel
President, Sheepscot Lake Association

I hope this finds you and your family safe and well! 2020 has already proven to be a year like no other. By the time you receive this, it would be great if we were on a path to something more normal! The COVID-19 outbreak and related social distancing orders have caused many unexpected changes for us all, however, the Sheepscot Lake Association was still very active.

Although we were unable to have our annual meeting in person we were able to connect with one another by letter, emails, Facebook, and the ever so popular Zoom program that allowed us to have interactive meetings in a virtual setting. We had several people interested in serving on the board of directors for the SLA and were able to hold our elections thanks to your responses over social media and mail. We were also able to continue with our courtesy boat inspection team at the boat landing, and had an amazing boat parade on the Sheepscot over the 4th of July. There were also many great days to enjoy some fishing, swimming, campfires and breathtaking sunsets.

Our Loon Count program, headed up by Joe Burke, was a huge success this year as well. It started out as a heavy fog that morning but the persistence of the team of volunteers paid off as they identified a number of loons on the pond.

With Fall now quickly settling in over the lake, we see many are preparing for the change of the seasons. Docks are being pulled out and boats put away for the winter but if you are like me… I just had to keep my boat in a little longer to enjoy the water and take in all the beautiful colors of the trees around the lakes and on the distant hills. Just can’t get enough of what our lake offers us and yes, I, too, will be looking forward to old man winter and the fun of ice fishing, snowshoeing, skating, and the many fires we will cozy up to and keep warm.

The annual dues from our membership help to fund the critical programs summarized above. We also rely on and appreciate the contribution from the town of Palermo each year supported by the taxpayers of Palermo. If you would like to become a member of the Sheepscot Lake Association, or to renew your membership this year, you can send a check payable to Sheepscot Lake Association to:

Sheepscot Lake Association
P.O. Box 300
Palermo, ME 04354

or via PayPal at our website: https://sheepscotlakeassociation.webs.com. The dues are $20/person, $30/household, or $50/patron. Please share this email with any neighbors or friends who would like to join and support the lake. We need to grow our membership! You can also follow us on Facebook.

Thank you everyone for your continued support and if I do not see you on the lake this winter, I look forward to seeing you upon your return to Sheepscot.

Free Thanksgiving dinners offered

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The Alfond Youth and Community Center, North St., Waterville, will host a Drive Thru Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday, November 21, from 1 – 3 p.m. in the AYCC parking lot.

The dinner is open to everyone in the community. Simply drive up and tell one of the happy volunteers how many meals you want – then enjoy!

There will be 800 individually-packaged meals handed out.

Feast Fixings to Go will be held on Thursday and Friday, November 19-20. These will be available at the Alfond Youth and Community Center’s after school program youth in Waterville, at the Fairfield Community Center and RSU #18 Williams and Atkins.

Thanks to the generous support of Central Maine Motors, youth will be taking home the ingredients for their respective families to cook a full Thanksgiving dinner, including the frozen turkey!

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Talk always turns to the weather; what is an Indian Summer?

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Isn’t it amazing how when you begin a conversation with someone, inevitably, it always leads to the weather. What would we do if we didn’t have the weather to talk about. Maybe some of us would never speak.

Whether you’re at the supermarket, church, or just bumping into a friend on the street, the conversation always goes something like, “What a nice day?” or “boy it sure is hot enough.” Get the idea?

Well, the other day, a colleague and I started talking about whether this recent stretch of weather constituted an “Indian Summer.” Which prompted me to think, “what really is an Indian summer and what determines whether we have one or not?”

An Indian summer is unseasonably warm, dry and calm weather, usually following a period of colder weather or frost in the late autumn, in September, October or early November. The Old Farmers Almanac describes it as taking place between November 11 and 20. It states, “During true Indian summer, the atmosphere looks hazy or smokey, and the weather is calm and dry.”

Modern ideas on what an Indian summer constitutes vary, but the most widely accepted value for determining whether an Indian summer is occurring is that the weather must be above 70 degrees for seven days after the autumnal equinox. The term Indian summer has been used for more than two centuries. The origin of other “Indian” phrases are well-known as referring to North American Indians, who prefer to be called Native Americans, or, in Canada, First Nations. The term Indian summer reached England in the 19th century, during the heyday of the British Raj in India. This led to the mistaken belief that the term referred to the Indian subcontinent. In fact, the Indians in question were the Native Americans, and the term began use there in the late 18th century.

Indian summer is first recorded in Letters From an American Farmer, a 1778 work by the French-American soldier-turned-farmer J. H. St. John de Crevecoeur: “Then a severe frost succeeds which prepares it to receive the voluminous coat of snow which is soon to follow; though it is often preceded by a short interval of smoke and mildness, called the Indian Summer.”

There are many references to the term in American literature in the following hundred years or so. In the 1830s Indian summer began to be used figuratively, to refer to any late flowering following a period of decline. It was well enough established as a phrase by 1834 for John Greenleaf Whittier to use the term that way, when in his poem “Memories,” he wrote of “The Indian Summer of the heart!”

Or, Thomas DeQuincey, in a republishing of Bentley’s Works of Thomas DeQuincey, 1855, wrote: “An Indian summer crept stealthily over his closing days.”

Also, in his story The Guardian Angel, Oliver Wendell Holmes mentions “an Indian summer of serene widowhood.”

As a climatic event it is known throughout the world and is most frequently associated with the eastern and central states of the U.S., which have a suitable climate to generate the weather pattern. For example, a wide variation of temperature and wind strength from summer to winter.

Why Indian? Well, no one knows but, as is commonplace when no one knows, many people have guessed.

Some say it was from the prairie fires deliberately set by Indian tribes; from raids on European settlements by Indian war parties, which usually ended in autumn; or, in parallel with other Indian terms, it implied a belief in Indian falsity and untrustworthiness and that an Indian summer was a substitute copy of the real thing.

But my grandfather, who could spin a yarn with the best of them, had the most creative I’ve ever heard.

It seems an Indian chief was concerned about a hunting party that was delayed in returning from a late summer gathering of meat for the winter. The year had been an extremely difficult one and the tribe needed the buffalo, deer and turkey meat for their winter consumption, and the hides for clothing and shelters. Fearing the crops in the fields would go to waste before the braves returned to harvest, the chief sat at his campfire and began to feverishly smoke a pipe, and did so for days, until the air was filled with smokey, hot air.

Once the hunting party made its return, the air was still warm enough to gather the crops that had not been damaged by frost, that the chief feared would be destroyed by the impending cold weather. By warming the air with the smoke from his pipe, the chief, essentially, saved the crops.

Makes sense to me.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Rob Gronkowski is second on the all-time total receiving yards for the New England Patriots with 7,861 yards. Who is first?

Answer can be found here.

Roland’s Trivia Question for Thursday, October 29, 2020

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Trivia QuestionsRob Gronkowski is second on the all-time total receiving yards for the New England Patriots with 7,861 yards. Who is first?

Answer:

Stanley Morgan with 10,352 yards.

SOLON & BEYOND: Last of how to tear down a barn

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Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Now for the last of Jeff McAllister’s words on How to Dismantle a Barn.

Check all beams to see if the pinyons and wooden hard wood pegs are solid for they alone hold the barn together. All barns have many rafters. Either all rafters, or perlins and rafters, or perlins and rafters, have a short upright or bigger support for snow load. I have to prep these, cut half way then you can pull them. Never be in the barn. Always on any pull be out of harms way. Any discarded boards with nails sticking out should be placed anywhere with nails down; even the littlest placed anywhere with nail down, the littlest things can be dangerous. Many barns have shingles on them. As I tear them off I have to move my ladder over for another arm risking. When down to do this I always tread all broken shingles down. This alone could possibly save my life because should I accidently fall on any unright shingle, they could become a knife. SAFETY FIRST.

In working alone I am responsible for myself. I’ve witnessed others tearing down barns where they scare me. First thing they do! Have a radio blasting, no warning could be heard. No one is watching what the other does, the discarded lumber is sticking up with nails every where. It’s in my mind an accident is in the making!

Hope many of you have liked Jeff’s sharing how he (with SAFETY FIRST) has told you the safe way to dismantle a barn. His phone number is 672-4071 and it might be wise to call him before you try it because I might have made some mistakes in copying it! Thanks, Jeff for sharing!

Lief and I spent a week in Rangeley recently, and had a wonderful time! The only problem we had was trying to get home safely on Saturday, Oct. 17, in the most awful snowstorm I have ever ridden in. We packed up early when we saw how big and threatening the huge snow flakes were coming down, it was a totally white world, never saw it like that before! Lief is a really good driver, and he started out going very, very slow, but even so, we were slip, sliding all over the ice covered road. We never did meet a truck to do any sanding! What made me sit on the edge of the seat was that the cars coming toward us were going their usual fast speed! It wasn’t long before we came upon two cars that were in the ditch! But, thank God, we made it home safely, with no problems, and my hair was already white enough!

And now for Percy’s memoir: You never know until you try. And you never try unless you REALLY try. You give it your best shot; you do the best you can. And if you’ve done everything in your power, and still “fail” – the truth of the matter is that you haven’t failed at all. When you reach for your dreams, no matter what they may be, you grow from the reaching; you learn from the trying; you win from the doing. (Words from Laine Parsons.)

Local scout leaders complete course

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Kennebec Valley Scouting District Training Chair Joe Poulin of Oakland announced that several volunteer Scouting leaders in our area had successfully completed the Youth Protection Training during two recent training sessions. “True youth protection can be achieved only through the focused commitment of everyone in Scouting,” Poulin said. “Nationally, Scouting requires that all those involved in our programs take Youth Protection Training every other year. Here in Pine Tree Council, it is an annual requirement.”

The training includes a review of Scouting’s barriers to abuse, what to do if you witness abuse, how to respond if you suspect abuse, reporting requirements, and how to educate Scouting parents and youth members about child safety. “Every Scout also takes the Cyber-Chip Training to help Scouts be safe while online. They earn the patch for completing that program.”

The following volunteer leaders completed the Youth Protection Training at a Covid-19-compliant in-person event hosted by Augusta Cub Scout Pack 603 at the end of September: Jeffrey Mortron of Augusta, Angeline and Zachary Truman of Farmingdale, Cynthia Davis of Oakland, Luanne Chelsey of Vassalboro and Douglas S Mason Sr of Augusta. These leaders completed the training at a similar in-person training hosted by China Troop 479 in October: Kern Kelley of China, Christian Hunter of Unituy, Timothy D Dow Sr of Albion, Stephanie Choate of Winslow, Ronald A Emery of China, Scott and Priscilla Adams of China, Brian Wedge of China and Bert Audette of China.

Along with inperson courses, the Youth Protection Training is available online at: https://my.scouting.org/.

Drive thru Halloween planned in Palermo

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A trunk or treat drive through sights and sounds spectacular will be held at the China Regional Church of the Nazarene, at 898 Rte. 3, in South China, on Saturday, October 31, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Come and safely enjoy a drive through adventure featuring lots of sights, candy, and an early visit from Santa. Candy is being packed with gloves and masks on. This is not a school-sponsored event.

OBITUARIES for Thursday, October 29, 2020

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BARBARA BRAGDON

VASSALBORO – Barbara Bragdon, 88, of Vassalboro, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at her home. Barbara was born at home in Plymouth, on February 14, 1932, (Valentine’s Day), the daughter of Robert and Francis Carll.

True to the spirit of the holiday. She brought much love into this world. After graduating from Waterville High School, she then married the love of her life Carroll Bragdon on July 1, 1950.

Barbara’s first job was at C.F. Hathaway Shirt Co., in Waterville. Later worked at J.B. Friel Ins. Co, also in Waterville, Hussey’s Bean Factory, in Vassalboro, and then became Vassalboro Town Clerk.

She also sold Polaris snowmobiles and helped her husband with his construction business. She went on to fulfill her own dream and became a hairstylist. She loved doing hair. She would laugh about being the oldest student in her class. She felt honored to have one of her client’s hairstyle published in a national magazine, she was so proud. She then was blessed to work with her daughter 30-plus years at Sandy’s Magic Scissors. She was so happy she could give her great-granddaughter, Maddison, her last perm at the age of 88.

She loved life and enjoyed cooking for everyone. She was devoted to her family and was always a peacemaker. She looked forward to all family gatherings and was the life of all parties. She even laughed at her own laugh. She enjoyed playing games and cards with friends and family. She was always excited to go with her close friend Mickey no matter where they went.

She felt very honored and loved by all who attended her Celebration of Life surprise party, given by her daughter Sandy, in October 2019.

Barbara is survived by her two daughters, Sandra Reynolds and husband Everett, and Donna Donahue and significant other Dave from Phoenix, Arizona; three grandchildren, Scott and Jen Reynolds, Shelly and husband Pat Ferron, Danielle Marcoux and significant other Leroy; four great- grandchildren, Brittny, Briana, Maddison, Tasha; three great-great-grandchildren, Charlie, Olivia, and Emma.

She was predeceased by her parents Robert and Francis Carll; and husband Carroll.

A graveside service was held, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, at the Vassalboro Village Cemetery, Cemetery Street, Vassalboro.

Memories may be shared and an online register book may be signed by visiting http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements were in the care of the Lawry Brothers Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 107 Main St., Fairfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the: Vassalboro Fire Department.

EILEEN F. DUGAL

WINSLOW – Eileen (Nellie) F. Dugal, 84, of Winslow, passed away peacefully on Friday October 16, 2020, at Oak Grove Nursing Home, in Waterville. She was born on July 11, 1936, in Ireland, in the County of Clare.

Nellie sang in her brother’s band in her early years in Ireland. She immigrated to America in 1957 and worked at several jobs as a waitress and one particular job as a nanny for famed movie producer Jud Kinberg and his wife Monica.

After marrying her loving husband Norman J. Dugal, on August 17,1963, she settled in Stamford, Connecticut, and lived as a housewife to start a family. She and Norman relocated several times then settling in Maine in 1975 to finish raising their four boys. After losing her husband in 1981 she went back to New York in 1986 and then returned to Maine in 2018 where she spent her remaining days with her children and grandchildren.

Nellie was a kind and caring soul, willing and able to lend assistance or help all who needed it, often putting others before herself. She had a strong faith in the Lord and it showed through her actions. She was known as “mama” to many people in her community in New York. She enjoyed watching game shows, nature shows and to have a good laugh while watching Ridiculousness on MTV especially, America’s Funniest Home Videos.

She was predeceased by her husband, Norman J. Dugal; son, Richard Gilbert Dugal; father William Donnellan, mother, Catherine (McNamara) Donnellan; siblings, Thomas Donnellan, Gerald Donnellan and William (Billy) Donnellan.

Eileen is survived by her three sons, William Gerard Dugal and wife Lisa, of Winslow, Robert Joseph Dugal, of Fairfield, and Kevin Michael Dugal and wife Nikki, of Fairfield; siblings Susan Galvin, of Windsor, England, and MaryAnne Dolan, of Ardsley, New York; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews in the U.S. and abroad.

A service was held on Friday, October 23, at the funeral home. Burial will be next to her husband at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta

JAMES GIROUX

FAIRFIELD – Jamesd “Red” Giroux, 87, passed away on Friday, October 16, 2020, at Oak Grove Rehab­ilitation Cen­ter, in Water­ville. He was born August 3, 1933, to Leland and Lula (Bragg) Giroux.

He graduated from Cony High School, in Augusta, in 1951, then served in the Army until 1955.

Red started racing in 1952 and retired from the sport in 1964, the year before Unity Raceway was paved. His love of racing won him a couple of championships in the early 1950s that made him become one of the biggest stars of his time. In 2013 he became a member of the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Red was a heavy equipment operator for various construction companies and retired from the town of Fairfield.

In 1998 he met his soulmate, Marjorie Hachey, who predeceased him in 2018.

He is survived by his daughter Donna Beaulieu and husband Steve; son Rudy Wing; granddaughters Binica Beaulieu and partner Todd Carter, Arica Burwood and husband Shawn; grandchildren MaKayla, Maddison, Zackery, Mason, Colton, Piper and a grandson Cooper James who shares his love of racing; sister Cora Dixon and husband Alton; brother Albert Giroux and wife Kathi; and several nieces and nephews.

A sister, Clara Otis, predeceased him in 2016

At Red’s request there will be no funeral service. He will be buried at the Maine Veterans Cemetery, in Augusta.

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

In lieu of flowers, friends wishing may donate to Humane Society, Waterville Area, 100 Webb Rd., Waterville, ME 04901.

MARGARET A. DOUCETTE

WINDSOR – Margaret A. Doucette, 76, known to all as Peggy, passed away Saturday, October 17, 2020, following a battle with several health issues. Peggy was born in Waterville July 30, 1944, to the late Mina and Patrick Doucette.

She was employed by Chinet Manufacturing Co. (now Huhtamaki), in Waterville, for many years, eventually retiring from Huhtamaki leaving many friends behind who she missed greatly.

Peggy loved to laugh, sing and dance. She was an avid supporter of harness racing and a lover of all animals. Peggy wanted everyone to know she enjoyed her life and had a good time.

Peggy was predeceased by ten brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her brother, Ronald Doucette and wife Priscilla; her brother-in-law Gary Little; and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held on Monday, October 26, 2020, at St. Francis Cemetery, 78 Grove Street, Waterville, Maine 04901.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at directcremationofmaine.com.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to MSSPA, 279 River Rd., Windham, ME 04062.

JACQUELINE L. GIGUERE

WATERVILLE – Jacqueline L. Giguere, 88 of Waterville, died at the Alfond Center for Health, MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta, on Sunday, October 18, 2020. Jacqueline was born, in Eagle Lake, on October 22, 1931, the daughter of Leon and Alma (Bouchard) Lajoie.

She was educated in local schools. Jacqueline was married to the late Norman R. Giguere and resided in Waterville where she raised their children. She was a communicant of Notre Dame Catholic Church, Waterville. She was employed and retired from Sears and Robuck Company, in Waterville, where she worked for over 26 years at the Corner of Elm and Center streets, Waterville.

Jacqueline loved to crochet and she made hundreds of afghans for family and friends that have been taken all over the country. She also loved to play Yahtzee with her favorite daughter in law, Sue.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Norman; her daughter, Linda Boutin; brothers, James and John Lajoie; and sister, Patricia Pelletier.

Jacqueline is survived by her daughters, Glenna Veilleux and husband Raoul, of Fairfield, Rhonda Chasse and husband Richard, of Exeter; son, James Giguere and wife Susan, of Benton; son-in-law, Bruce Boutin, of Fairfield; brother, Jerry Lajoie and wife Dede, of Suffield, Connecticut and Florida; sister, Diane Brady and husband Bill, of Bristol, Connecticut; brother-in-law, Tony Pelletier, of Florida; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; four great-great- grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at Notre Dame Catholic Church, Waterville.

Burial will take place next to her husband at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville.

An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice

BETTE JO MARRINER

CLINTON – Bette Jo Marriner, 51, of Clinton, passed away on Monday, October 19, 2020. Bette was born September 10, 1969, the daughter of Robert J. and Marie E. (Beauregard) Philbrook.

Bette graduated from Lawrence High School, in Fairfield, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in human service and then a master’s of psychology degree from Springfield College.

She spent the following years working as a mental health and crisis intervention social worker, serving many within her community. She was not only an advocate for those she worked with but also for her family and friends. If ever you were told “no” Bette would get you a “yes”.

Bette had many friends, most of whom she grew up with and has shared very fond memories of over the years. In her spare time, Bette loved being with her family, especially spending time with her daughter, Shenee. Christmas was her favorite time of year when all of her loved ones would be under one roof. She also enjoyed going on shopping trips, taking family trips to Florida, girl’s trips to Las Vegas, and going on tropical cruises.

Bette is survived by her parents, Robert and Marie Philbrook, of Clinton; a daughter, Shenee Foster, of Clinton; a sister, Robyn Philbrook and her life partner Eric Fogg and their daughter Brandy Fogg, of Vassalboro; aunts, Lucille Damon, Marlene Foster, and Betty Spencer, whom she was named after.

The family has decided not to hold a service/ celebration of life due to the safety and well being of everyone during this pandemic.

For anyone who wishes to send a card or condolences it can be mailed to The Philbrook Family at P.O. Box 137, Clinton, ME 04927.