LETTERS: Smiles, waves and happy birthday

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To the editor:

Smiles, waves and happy birthday was the reception I received as I was returning to my car after voting at the Palermo Town Office.

But wait – I am getting ahead of myself.

When I went to the end of the long line of masked people waiting to vote, the couple that just got in line told me to go in front of them. Soon a lady asked me to get in line in front of her, then another asked me to do the same. A man pointed to a place where I could sit down and said he would save a place before him for me.

I’m unsure if that was the man who found a larger cooler, brought it for me to use. When he asked to put the cooler in place, the person at the very front told him to put the cooler before him. All this time a lady from the line let me use her shoulder to help my balance.

This lady asked me what happened to my legs, and I replied that nothing happened to them, that it was just old age creeping in. Then I added that it was my birthday and I just turned 94. When I asked her name, she gave it to me. I recognized it immediately and told her we were neighbors. (Not really, but I pass her house when going to Route 3.)

I was treated with the same respect and kindness when inside and Dave, a man who was working inside, said he would help me to my car. That brings me back to the smiles, waves and greetings I received.

At one o’clock that afternoon, the Palermo Library opened its door for the monthly meeting of the Palermo Quilt Club. All state and local restrictions were obeyed. Unbeknownst to me, one member of the quilt club was in the voting line. She hurried home and made a large chocolate chip cookie (4 – 5 inches) and put a candle in the middle. She brought it to me, lit the candle and everyone sang happy birthday to me.

I thank everyone in that long line for helping me and also the members of the quilt club who made this day a wonderful memory. I also thank everyone in Palermo for the kindness they have shared with me and my family since I traded being a “Buckeye” from Ohio, to a “Mainiac” from Maine. Or, as my grandchildren say, “from a worthless nut to a Mainiac.”

Joan L. Robertson
Palermo

Windsor fire truck repairs OK’d by selectmen, new insurance plan

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by The Town Line staff

At the October 13 selectmen’s meeting, they learned of many trees down in the town that need to be cleaned up, said Public Works director Keith Hall. The selectmen instructed Hall to take care of the worse ones first.

Also, a town truck that was brought in to be undercoated had to be put back into service without the work being done after a three week wait. The windshield needed to be repaired in order to pass inspection.

Town manager Theresa Haskell reported the town received a bill from the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department regarding the Top Kick water tank that needed to be repaired. The cost for the repairs was $13,309.82, and the WVFD asked that the funds be taken from the Fire Safety Capital Reserve Fund savings account. The request was unanimously approved.

Also concerning the fire department. Haskell asked to have a meeting with the WVFD and selectmen regarding the on road diesel tank they are looking to have installed on the town’s property at the fire station, which will benefit the town and fire department for the diesel fuel for town and fire department trucks. Discussion, plan and cost will need to be in place for next year’s budget.

Haskell also said she would like to have one consistent waiting period for the Maine Municipal Health Trust Plans the town offers. Currently, they have 30-, 60-, and 90-day waiting periods. The town also has the opportunity to participate in a new Dependent Life Insurance Benefit Plan. If they are interested in doing any changes or want to participate in the new plan, a letter will need to be written.

The new plan would be paid for by the employee and not the employer. Selectmen agreed to have all benefit plans to be a 60-day waiting period, and to participate in the new plan. This would not change the current probationary period for new employees. These changes would be reflected in the updated employee manual.

Haskell asked to schedule a special board of selectmen’s meeting for Tuesday, November 17, concerning the employee manual update.

The next regular meeting of the selectmen took place on October 27.

Vassalboro selectmen tour two town fire stations

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From left to right, Vassalboro selectmen John Melrose, Barbara Redmond and Rob Browne listen as fire department member Mike Vashon, right, describes the functions of one of the town’s fire trucks during a recent tour of the town’s two fire stations. (photo courtesy of Mary Sabins)

China election results updated

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Two of the three write-in positions on China’s Nov. 3 local ballot have been filled, Town Clerk Angela Nelson reported. Trishea Story has accepted the secretaryship of the budget committee, and Elizabeth Curtis will fill the at-large budget committee seat. Each received the most write-in votes for the respective position.

Incumbent Thomas Miragliuolo had the most votes for the District 4 Planning Board position, but has declined re-election. As of Nov. 9, no one had volunteered for the position.

The District 3 Planning Board seat is also vacant.

The planning board map on the China website shows the boundaries of the two districts. District 3 is in southeastern China, District 4 in southwestern China. Residents of either district interested in being considered for board membership are invited to call the town office.

Fairfield election results from November 3, 2020

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Looking south down Main St., in Fairfield. (Internet photo)

The following are the unofficial election results from the town of Fairfield, as submitted by Fairfield Town Clerk Christine Keller.

President: Trump/Pence, 1,845; Biden/Harris, 1,428; Jorgensen/Cohen, 71; Hawkins/Walker, 36; DeLaFuente/Richardson, 9.

U.S. Senator: Susan Collins, 2,001; Sara Gideon, 1,110; Lisa Savage, 207; Max Linn, 70.

Representative to Congress District 2: Jared Golden, 1,758; Dale Crafts, 1,605.

Maine Senate, District #16: Scott Cyrway, 2,137; Hilary Koch, 1,203.

Maine House of Representatives, District #108: Shelley Rudnicki, 1,727; Nathaniel White, 1,560.

Somerset County Judge of Probate: Robert M. Washburn, 2,965.

Somerset County Register of Probate: Victoria M. Hatch, 2,957.

Somerset County Commissioner: Robert Sezak, 2,999.

Fairfield Town Council, 3-year term: Mark Cooper, 1,487; Veronique Carrier, 914; Daniel Kissinger, 550.

MSAD #49 School Board, 3-year term (2 seats): Rachel Hachey, 2,920.

Kennebec Water District: Bruce Williams, 1,970; Caroline Toto-Lawrence, 1,007.

Winslow Fire Dept. receives new truck

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Members of the Winslow Fire Department pause from training to pose for a photo with their new engine. Front row, from left to right, DawnBrasil, Lisa Byers, Paige Ames, Kristian Joliat, Sarah Joliat, Capt. Scott Bolduc and John Moshier. Back row, Brandon Reny, Chief Rodriguez, Cormick Frizzell, Lt. Troy Bouchard, Lt. Jeff Reny, Jonathan Beringer, Capt. Waylon Capp, Ben Loubier, Lt. Adam Burgess,, Cam Aucoin, Sam Solmitz, Joel Cloutier and Conner Osborne. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff)

Hallowell Food Bank receives largest donation in its history

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Volunteers at the Hallowell Food Bank prepare boxes to be distributed to over 50 families in Hallowell. (contributed photo)

The donation made by Central Maine Power Company will be used to purchase a walk-in freezer and help support services provided by the food bank

The Hallowell Food Bank has announced a $5,000 donation from Central Maine Power Co. The donation is the largest monetary donation ever made to the food bank.

“This donation comes at a critical time for us,” said Mayor Mark Walker, who is also on the food bank’s board of directors. “The pandemic has impacted many small communities across the state and Hallowell is no exception. This extremely generous donation will help the families who we serve at a time when they need us the most.”

“We’re just so thrilled and honored to have CMP recognize us,” added Hallowell Food Bank Director Jeanne Langsdorf. “We’ve talked about what we’re going to do with the donation and the first thing we’d like to do is to get a walk-in freezer so we can better serve our clients.”

Prior to the pandemic, the Hallowell Food Bank served between 12-20 households each week. That number has risen to more than 50 during the past few months. In 2019, more than 100 individuals were served, 20 of whom were children.

“Through the recommendations and suggestions from our employees we were able to focus in on small town banks right in our own backyard,” said CMP Public Affairs Manager Amy Marston. “Hallowell Food Bank is one of those and we’re really proud to partner with them.”

The food bank is operated by more than 30 volunteers and is open to Hallowell residents every Friday between 1 and 2 p.m. It has been in the lower level of the Hallowell Fire Station on Second Street for more than 20 years. They urge anyone who would benefit from the services provided by the food bank to visit.

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, November 12, 2020

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

LATE BLOOMERS: Michael Bilinsky, of China Village, snapped this photo of fall daisies recently, with a bee enjoying the snack.

SHARING: A male cardinal, left, and an indigo bunting share the same feeder as Pat Clark, of Palermo, captured this photo.

Madison Legion Auxiliary donates school supplies to seven schools

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The Madison American Legion Auxiliary, Unit #39 supports community programs such as Children and Youth. Each year the members of the Auxiliary donate school backpacks filled with school supplies. This year, because of the unknown at the beginning of the school year, the unit reached out to the community. With the generosity of cash donations and school supplies from auxiliary members and community members, the American Legion Auxiliary of Madison was able to donate over $700 worth of school supplies and backpacks to seven schools in the Madison and Anson area.

American Legion Auxiliary members have dedicated themselves for over a century to meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military, and their families both here and abroad. They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value of nearly $2 billion. As part of the world’s largest patriotic service organization, auxiliary volunteers across the country also step up to honor veterans and military through annual scholarships and with ALA Girls State programs, teaching high school juniors to be leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. To learn more about the auxiliary’s mission or to volunteer, donate or join, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org or http://www.mainelegionpost39.org/. Or contact: Robin Turek, President – American Legion Auxiliary Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39, PO Box 325, Madison, ME – robinturek@gmail.com – 696-8289.

VBA sponsors Light Up the Season light contest in Vassalboro

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The Vassalboro Business Association is sponsoring a Light Up The Season in Vassalboro outdoor holiday display contest, for and in Vassalboro.

To enter simply call or text your name and the address of the display site to 631-3303 or email the information to lindatitus@hotmail.com, before December 15. It is free.

Prizes will be awarded in two categories, Best in Town, and Most Creative. The prizes will range from $50 – $150 and the winners will be announced on December 19.

The sites will be judged between December 16 and 18. It is asked to have your lights on from 5:30 – 9 p.m. Only addresses – no names – of the participants will be published online so the community may drive by to appreciate all your hard work.