Vassalboro planning board meeting rescheduled

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by Mary Grow

The Vassalboro Planning Board meeting scheduled for Dec. 1 has been rescheduled for Dec. 8 due to power outages causing a lack of internet and telephone connections at the town office on Dec. 1.

The Dec. 1 meeting was to have been via YouTube. The two agenda items were Andrew Barnett’s application for three buildings at 67 Sherwood Lane, two for medical marijuana growing facilities plus a storage building; and Jeremy Soucy’s application for a used car sales business in an existing facility at 24 Webber Pond Road, at the intersection with Riverside Drive.

For more information, see the Town of Vassalboro website.

CHINA: Decision on trailer-based marijuana dispensary postponed

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by Mary Grow

After a 20-minute Nov. 24 public hearing during which one person testified remotely, China Planning Board members postponed a decision on Giovanni DelVecchio’s application to set up a trailer-based medical marijuana dispensary on Route 3.

DelVecchio, doing business as Weed on Wheels (WOW) Maine, has applied to use a travel trailer parked in front of the former restaurant, at 857 Route 3, as a dispensary. Board members inspected the trailer at its temporary location in Augusta on Nov. 21.

Abutter Russell Varin told board members and DelVecchio he is concerned about the impact on the neighborhood, and especially on his young grandchildren, if patients start taking their medication on the grounds. DelVecchio said no smoking will be allowed on the grounds, and that people don’t take medication as soon as they buy it. Varin countered that he often sees people medicating themselves in pharmacy parking lots.

DelVecchio added that a trailer is appropriate in a small-town setting, that offering the service in China means people need not risk coronavirus exposure in a city and that the small size of the trailer is another factor minimizing contact with other people.

Board members focused on a different issue after Chairman Randall Downer closed the hearing and opened discussion. Retiring Codes Officer Bill Butler, who did not take part in the Nov. 24 virtual meeting, had sent board members an email saying under state law, a travel trailer is not a legal base for such a business.

The information from Mark Desjardin, a Field Investigator for the state’s Office of Marijuana Policy, said by law a retail caregiver store must have “a fixed location” and a mobile unit like a travel trailer does not count as a fixed location, even if the owner does not plan to move it.

DelVecchio said he had contrary information by email from Desjardin. Planning board members voted unanimously that they would continue discussion of DelVecchio’s application only after he submitted a certified letter from Desjardin saying state officials consider the trailer to be compliant with state law.

In the only other business Nov. 24, Downer reported that new codes officer Jaime Hanson will take over Nov. 30, and board members unanimously expressed appreciation to Butler for all his help and guidance – “fabulously helpful,” Downer said – and wished him a happy retirement

The next regular China Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, Dec. 8, and is expected again to be a zoom meeting.

China selectmen say public water supply is not possible

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by Mary Grow

After several discussions earlier this fall, China selectmen decided at their Nov. 23 meeting they cannot grant a resident’s request to establish a public water supply for people whose well water is undrinkable.

Until last summer, a spring on private property on Route 3 was open for public use. It is no longer. As a result, South China resident Carrie Gay, speaking for her family and others, asked selectmen to provide an alternative. Board members discussed setting up a public supply, and at one point another resident explored providing private service.

As of Nov. 23, the private offer was withdrawn, board Chairman Ronald Breton said. Board members said a public supply would require licensing and repeated and expensive testing, and might expose the town to liability. Breton asked Town Manager Becky Hapgood to notify Gay that town officials will not pursue a public water source.

Board members unanimously approved the appointment of a new codes officer, Jaime Hanson. He will also be China’s plumbing inspector, building inspector and health officer.

Retiring Codes Officer Bill Butler told planning board members in an email that Hanson was Augusta’s codes officer until the pandemic led to his being laid off; he is now part-time codes officer for Wayne. His China job begins Nov. 30.

Selectmen also added two members to China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee, Jamie Pitney and Michael “Mickey” Wing.

The next China selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7.

Holiday hours announced for town office, transfer station

For the Christmas holiday, the town office and transfer station will close at noon Thursday, Dec. 24, and be closed all day Friday, Dec. 25. The transfer station will be open regular hours, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 26.

For the New Year’s holiday, the town office and transfer station will close at noon Thursday, Dec. 31, and be closed all day Friday, Jan. 1. The transfer station will be open regular hours Saturday, Jan. 2, and because Jan. 2 is the first Saturday of the month, the town office will be open from 8 to 11 a.m.

Carrabec High School first quarter honor roll

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Carrabec High School

GRADE 12

High honors: Natalynn Deuble, Ethan Johnson, Chantelle LaCroix, Adam Lawrence, Dakota Libby, Autumn Morrill, Mikayla Oliver, Sarah Olson, Courtney Peabody and Anastasia Quimby. Honors:  Jasmyne Coombs, Andrew Davis, Elizabeth Manzer and Gavin Tsoukalas.

GRADE 11

High honors:  Emma Baker, Cheyenne Cahill, Alexander Cloutier and Shyanne Holmes. Honors: Lilly Augustine, Julia Baker, Abigayle Ballard, Erin Clark, Xavier Cloutier, Thomas Courtney, Charlee Davis, Tyler Edwards, Kiera Goodale, Aliyah Grunder, Brianna Kimball, Jacob Lawrence, Abigail Luce, Sean Olson, Logan Reichert, Courtney Rollins, Cassidy Smith, Devon Spencer, Drake Whittemore and Garrett Wilson.

GRADE 10

High honors:  Jessica Benedict, Zebadiah Burnham, Luke Carey and Hunter Sousa. Honors: Lindsay Hamilton, Garrett Karwanski, Robert Lindblom, Jr., Gabriella Manzer, Caitlyn Oliver, Connor Peabody and William Price II.

GRADE 9

Honors:  Dakota Cahill, Kolby Carpenter, Jayden Cates, Riley Crocker, Devyn DeLeonardis, Cooper Dellerma, Kayliy Folco, Nevaeh Holmes, Emma Junkins, William Lawrence and Isaiah Longley.

Gov. Mills launches $40M economic recovery grant program

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photo: Janet Mills, Facebook

Governor Janet Mills has announced an economic recovery grant program to support Maine’s tourism, hospitality, and retail small businesses. Backed by $40 million in Federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF), the Tourism, Hospitality & Retail Recovery Grant Program is focused specifically on supporting Maine’s service sector small businesses, such as restaurants, bars, tasting rooms, lodging and retail shops, which have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and now face additional challenges with the coming winter months.

“Maine’s hospitality, tourism, and retail industries are a vital part of Maine’s economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the state,” said Governor Mills. “In the face of this unrelenting pandemic, many of these businesses have adapted with classic Maine grit and resilience but still face historic and unprecedented challenges. I hope this program will help provide at least a small amount of financial support to sustain them through these difficult times. I continue to urge Congress to pass additional, robust relief for Maine people and businesses.”

Covid-19 memorial at Pleasant Street church

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Rev. Barbara Sagat-Stover, Congregational Coordinator at Pleasant Street United Methodist Church (PSUMC), in Waterville, created a COVID-19 memorial after reading about a Madison, Wisconsin, congregation that created a fabric ribbon tribute on the church outdoor railings. Each of those ribbons represented one of over 1,200 individuals who had died from the virus. Barbara says, “PSUMC memorial started as an extension of our desire to have a special memorial for members of PSUMC that have died in the last year.” These people are recognized by name via the blue ribbons in the center of the display. The remaining ribbons each represent an individual who has died in Maine due to the virus.

There are currently 159 ribbons displayed on the memorial, but this number increases with every COVID-19 death in Maine. The ribbons are all colors and patterns representing the unique gifts and talents of all the people we have lost. Currently the ribbons for the Maine people lost are anonymous, but they would like to personalize them if family or friends supply the names of those lost to the virus.

The church will continue to display a ribbon for every Maine person who dies from COVID-19. To personalize a ribbon, please call PSUMC (872-7564) and leave the name of the person who died from this virus. With permission, the name will be written on a ribbon. The church will continue to add ribbons for every Maine life lost until this pandemic has ended.

Community members are encouraged to visit the COVID 19 Memorial.

Vassalboro recovers lost piece of its history

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A similar statue in Winslow with the rifle in hand (left), and the statue in Vassalboro missing the rifle (right). (The Town Line file photos by Isabelle Markley)

by Eric W. Austin

The two pieces of the missing rifle found by Nate Gray. (photo courtesy of Vassalboro Historical Society)

Looking up at the Civil War memorial statue standing guard over Monument Park on Route 32, in Vassalboro, you may notice something missing. Although the proud Union soldier stands tall, gripping the muzzle of a 19th century rifle, the bottom portion of the chiseled gun he holds is gone. Where it disappeared to has been a source of continuing mystery and speculation in the town of Vassalboro. But now, after more than 50 years, a part of this lost history has been found.

The commemorative statue was commissioned in 1905 by the town of Vassalboro from Hallowell sculptor William Tregembo for a cost of $1,075, according to a copy of the contract kept by the Vassalboro Historical Society.

The bottom half of the rifle was broken off and lost “in the late ‘60s or ‘70s,” said Janice Clowes, president of the Vassalboro Historical Society. It is unknown whether the incident was an act of vandalism or an act of God.

Nate Gray

Nate Gray

Nate Gray, an employee for the Maine Department of Marine Resources, stumbled upon several broken sections of the missing relic last week while investigating a blockage at the Outlet Dam, courtesy of a couple of nature’s impulsive dam builders.

“Beavers had plugged the gates at Outlet Dam,” he said. “I went to observe the beaver activity [and] while watching for the beavers, I happened upon the rifle pieces. I scooped them up and delivered [them] to the town office for safe keeping.”

According to Gray, “Local legend has it that some pieces [of the rifle] had been found in the past and kept in the former town office. Those pieces were lost or misplaced in the move to the new town office. True? Not true? We may never know. Time has a way of blurring past events.”

There has been some talk of restoring the statue to its former glory, especially considering Vassalboro will be celebrating its semiquincentennial anniversary next year.

“There have been a couple people looking into the possibility of finding grant money or fundraising to get the ball rolling,” said Vassalboro Historical Society president Clowes. “Vassalboro turns 250 in 2021, [and] I think it would be a great birthday present to the town.”

Contact the author at ericwaustin@gmail.com.

An alternative view of the rifle pieces found. (photo courtesy of Nate Gray)