Gibbs Library to host local ecologist

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Gibbs Library in Washington, ME. (photo from: librarything.com)

Gibbs Library will be hosting local ecologist Shri Verrill for a presentation and discussion about the new Maine Climate Plan. The Maine Climate Council submitted their final plans to the legislature and Gov­ernor Janet Mills in December. The program will introduce audience members to climate change in Maine, the goals and solutions recommended in the Maine Climate Plan, and what’s needed to put the plan in motion to benefit people and the environment. There will be time for questions following the presentation.

Shri Verrill

Shri Verrill is a wetland scientist and field botanist with a master of science degree in biology from the University of Maine. Her thesis research focused on coastal salt marsh, estuarine ecology, and tidal restoration as a model for sea-level-rise. Shri has worked with communities in southern, Downeast, and currently, midcoast Maine to implement fish passage, salt marsh, tidal, and estuarine restoration.

Join her on Sunday, March 7, from 3 – 4 p.m., for the online event.

The event is free and meant for a general audience. Registration is required, and you can register for the online event at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApfuqsqj4iGtbPdqU9OC0PiT7wNndgqnGa.

 

 

Rep. Cathy Nadeau announces local projects in Maine DOT work plan

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Rep. Cathy Nadeau (photo from legislature.maine.gov)

State Representative Cathy Nadeau (R-Winslow) has announced that the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Work Plan for Calendar Years 2021, 2022 and 2023 is available. The estimated value of work in the plan totals more than 2,180 individual work items with a total value of $2.71 billion.

The MDOT Work Plan for House District 78 includes projects totaling $3,250,000 for the towns of Winslow and Benton.

The work includes two large, local projects, a Municipal Partnership Initiative on Benton Avenue ($1.1 million) and replacement of the bridge just before the Benton town line on Garland Road ($1.9 million). The Work Plan also includes improvements to Route 137 and Route 100A in Winslow, Northbound and Southbound bridges on Interstate 95 in Benton and other state roads in the area.

“Everyone recognizes the importance of properly maintained roads and how important they are to everyday life,” said Rep. Nadeau. “I am pleased to see several scheduled MDOT projects in our area, including replacement of a bridge that is over 100 years old. These and other projects to be undertaken during the next three years, will make our roads safer and benefit our local economy.”

The full work plan, searchable by municipality, is available at the Maine Department of Transportation’s website: https://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/workplan/search/.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Ah, March! In like a lamb, or in like a lion?

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

As we say “goodbye” to February and welcome March with open arms, a thought comes to mind of an old weather lore, “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” In this case, it could be vice versa, considering the mild weather we have had as we usher in the third month of the year. So, it’s more like, “In like a lamb, out like a lion.”

In that case, we could be in for a rough March. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will get to that later in the column.

Much like regular folklore, weather lore is passed down through speech and writing from normal people without the use of external measuring instruments. The origin of weather lore can be dated back to primieval men and their usage of star studying in navigation. However, more recently during the late Middle Ages, the works of two Greek philosopher-poets, Theophrastus of Eresus on Lesbos and Aratus of Macedonia, are known greater for shaping the prediction of weather. The­ophrastus and Aratus collated their works in two main collections for weather lore: On Weather Signs and On Winds. These were used for helping farmers with harvest, merchants for trade and determining the weather the next day.

Weather lore is the body of informal folklore related to the prediction of the weather and its greater meaning.

Astrology and weather lore have been closely interlinked for many years – with each planet often being associated with a weather state. For example, Mars is red and must therefore be hot and dry. Prevalent in ancient Roman thought, astrologists used weather lore to teach commoners of the star and cloud formations and how they can be used to see the future.

Before the invention of temperature measuring devices, such as the mercury thermometer, it was difficult to gather predictive, numerical data. Therefore, communities used their surroundings to predict and explain the weather in upcoming days.

Weather folklore, therefore, refers to this mid-latitude region of daily variability. Other common proverbs are:

When clouds look like black smoke,

A wise man will put on his cloak.

(Thick, moisture-laden storm clouds absorb sunlight. It gives them an appearance that somewhat resembles black smoke.)

Red sky at night:

A red sunset probably means dry weather the next day.

Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight.

Red sky in the morning, shepherd’s warning.

(In a common variation, “shepherd” is replaced by “sailor”.)

A red sky – in the morning or evening – is a result of high pressure air in the atmosphere trapping particles of dust or soot. Air molecules scatter the shorter blue
wavelengths of sunlight, but particles of dust, soot and other aerosols scatter the longer red wave length of sunlight in a process called Rayleigh scattering. At sunrise and sunset, the sun is lower in the sky causing the sunlight to travel through more of the atmosphere so scattering more light. This effect is further enhanced when there are at least some high level clouds to reflect this light back to the ground.

When weather systems predominantly move from west to east, a red sky at night indicates that the high pressure air (and better weather) is westwards. In the morning the light is eastwards, and so a red sky then indicates the high pressure (and better weather) has already passed, and an area of low pressure is following behind. That is a scientific fact.

So, what does that have to do with March coming in like a lion or a lamb? Whether you believe in the myth or not is up to you but it sure is fun to think about.

As mentioned in the beginning, the month of March came in relatively mild. So what’s in store? The Farmers Almanac says we could see a significant snow event around March 9 – 12, but things improve from there with mostly rain and temperatures above normal, and, thus, go out like a lamb with sunny, mild weather heading into April. Came in like a lamb and will go out like one.

Does a phrase that originated in England and Wales centuries ago even have relevance in a state in our northern part of the country?

Sandi Duncan, managing editor of that old standby, the Farmers’ Almanac, once said the lion/lamb saying is probably more wishful thinking than fact.

They do a lot of articles on weather sayings, but sometimes they are awfully true because they’ve been handed down by people who observe the weather, according to Duncan, from her office, in Lewiston.

“The ‘in like a lion’ one is based on the idea if it comes in bad it will go out nicely. People really do hope March is at the end of winter.”

The phrase is based on the beginning of the month being in winter and the end being close to spring.

But a weather phrase like ‘red sky at night, sailors’ delight’ is much more accurate. With that, there is scientific backing, but not with the lion saying.

In the last 16 years, March has come in with a roar eight times and gone out with a “baah” 10 times.

But March has also roared once at both ends of the month while braying four times at the beginning and end of the month during those years.

If you’re worried about amounts of snow and spring floods, March is the type of month where snow can come at any time. It doesn’t really matter how the month goes out or comes in, but what happens in between.

March is a very variable month. It can be winter-like and cold with snow, while other times it can be mild and lots of snow melt like last year.

Alas, the interpretation is up to you. Snow and cold early next week, then heading to the first day of spring on March 20.

There is one thing for certain. Only 16 days ‘til official spring.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who is the highest scoring defenseman in NHL history (goals and assists)?

Answer can be found here.

Roland’s Trivia Question for Thursday, March 4, 2021

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Trivia QuestionsWho is the highest scoring defenseman in NHL history (goals and assists)?

Answer:

Ray Bourque, 410 goals, 1,169 assists, for 1,579 points.

SOLON & BEYOND: Forty is the old age of youth…

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

I’m going to lighten up this morning after putting in so much about all the heartache and sadness of the flooding of Flagstaff. I’ll start with this little saying I found; “Forty is the old age of youth; Fifty is the youth of old age. As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.”

I am taking it from a yellowed old age clipping I found. It doesn’t have a year when it was printed, and it doesn’t tell what paper I was writing for at the time (but it certainly wasn’t The Town Line.) It starts out with these words: “I am going back in time again but only 62 years this time. Mary has been cleaning in her nursery school getting ready to open it again and when she took up an old linoleum in a closet, underneath was an old Independent Reporter, dated July 21, 1921. On the front page was the headline, “Old French Farm had Bridal Party. Earle Spaulding Wedding to Miss Esther French, Great-Granddaughter of Pioneer.” Couldn’t find any other Solon news, the closest being South Bingham and vicinity. Under the heading it said, Mr. and Mrs. Harry French are parents of a baby son, Carlton, born July 8. Albert Gehrker Sr, and family are enjoying a nice overland car. Albert Gehrke Jr. has bought the place where Harold York formerly lived and has moved his family there.

There was quite a bit of Stratton news and items from such places as Mainstream, Larone and Quinnebasset and with over 30 towns having columns. There was one article entitled, “We All Have It ” (this was 62 years ago!) Wish I could print it all but it is rather lengthy, written by an editor who took a drive of 180 miles to observe the speed mania on the highways. It starts out like this

“We all have it! We mean, of course, the public highways without being impressed that every man and woman and many of the children are afflicted with speed mania. It is a dire and dangerous disease. It is just as sure to lead to death as a cannon ball. This speeding is a disease just as truly as small pox is an affliction.” It ends with: “What’s the remedy? There is but one! That is for a law prohibiting the manufacture of cars beyond a medium speed limit. The ordinary car one meets on a highway has a speed limit of 30 to 40 miles and many of them can tear along at the death-inviting rate of 60-70 miles per hour! We hold life so cheaply that unless these high speed cars are prohibited by law, not only hundreds but thousands of our people will die upon the public highways. And what an awful death! Mangled and bleeding amidst the sand an dirt of the earth without an oportunity to arrange one’s business or say goodbye!”

There was a headline that said “Officers Capture Alleged Moonshiners I. Woods, South of Madison.” The paper then was the size of the daily paper now but with much smaller print. This issue had 14 pages and on the front it claims to be Maine’s Best County Weekly, Cost was 5 cents per copy or $1.50 a year. The correspondents didn’t get their names put in under their towns except Athens, and it said Bunker Hill-Athens. Does anyone know if that was a person’s name or a place there? Guess I’ll go put last week’s The Town Line under a linoleum someplace and in 50 or 60 years someone will find it and they’ll say, “Who was the nut writing Solon news way back then?

Hope all of you in Solon received 2020 Annual Report last week telling about the annual Solon Town Meeting, on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at Solon Elementary School. Election of town officials; 8 a.m. to noon. Town meeting is at 1:30 p.m.

Perhaps I’ve been back in the dark ages too long with what I’ve been writing about lately, because I haven’t had very much recent news sent to me, what do you think? Anyway, I came across a poem I had written back in 1943. On the outside it says Marilyn Houston English 1, Oct 4, 1943. The name of it was Saving Gas:

Some people go to the movies in cars, and that is luck,
But we have to go in a breezy old truck.
What do we care, if we only get there,
With many a song, our singing is rare.
We don’t have much style, But we have lots of fun,
The people of Stratton always know when we’ve come.

I got an A- for the above poem. But I can’t begin to tell you about all the fun we had going to the movies in my Uncle Perley’s BIG Old Truck; on cold winter times or the hottest of summer days! Flagstaff truly was a wonderful place to grow up, and to have lived in for a few years after I was married.

And now for Percy’s memoir in these difficult days: When things seem hopeless, trust God and do what’s right. First think: God is on my side! He wants to help me. Second say: I will rejoice and be patient through this hopeless situation. Next pray: ask God to help you trust in him. Finally obey patiently, wait, for God always keeps his promise, so you can depend on him to help you.

China assessors decline property assessment appeal

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by Mary Grow

The three members of China’s Board of Assessment Review, meeting Feb. 24, unanimously denied William and Susan Flanders’ appeal of their property valuation, with alternate member Dwaine Drummond (who votes only if a regular member is absent) indicating that he agreed.

The Flanders own a seasonal dwelling (in assessor William Van Tuinen’s words) or a camp (in the Flanders’ description) at 313 61st Fire Road, on the southwest side of China Lake. Van Tuinen valued it at $188,400. The Flanders asked for an assessment of $170,000, a difference of $18, 400, or 9.77 percent by Van Tuinen’s calculation.

Van Tuinen explained at the meeting and in documents sent to board members in advance that there are two requirements to get a valuation lowered, according to state law and court rulings.

1) The burden of proof is on the taxpayer, who must demonstrate that the assessor was “manifestly wrong” in setting the valuation and must provide proof of a “just” valuation. “Manifestly wrong” means unreasonable or irrational; discriminatory; or fraudulent, dishonest or illegal.

2) Because assessors are fallible human beings, the law provides that an assessment must be “accurate within reasonable limits of practicality.” Specifically, the law allows 10 percent leeway.

The Flanders initially asked selectmen, in their capacity as assessors, to reduce the assessment. After selectmen denied the request on Dec. 7, 2020, they filed an appeal to the Board of Assessment Review on Jan. 12, 2021.

Their appeal included comparisons with other China Lake properties. Van Tuinen explained how an assessor makes comparisons, a more thorough analysis than the Flanders made, in his view.

The property owners also disagreed with Van Tuinen’s finding that the building is in satisfactory condition; on a rating scale from A to D, he gave it a C. Van Tuinen said he had not been inside.

The assessed value is supposed to correlate with the sales price. Van Tuinen said by 2019 figures, China’s average was 92 percent, well above Maine’s acceptable minimum of 80 percent.

Board member Harold Charles, a retired realtor, pointed out that since 2019, prices of Maine real estate have risen. Kelly Grotton, China’s assistant to the assessor, agreed, and after the meeting gave examples of China properties that were recently sold for well over their assessed values.

Discussion ended with board members agreeing unanimously that the assessment was not too low and that even if it were, the requested change was within the 10 percent limit.

Van Tuinen reminded board members they needed to inform the Flanders of the decision and of their right to appeal to Superior Court within 30 days.

OBITUARIES for Thursday, March 4, 2021

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ANNE S. FORTIN

SOUTH CHINA ­– Anne (Sawyer) Fortin, 87, passed away on the afternoon of Thursday, February 11, 2021. Anne was born on October 8 or 9, 1933, in Fort Fairfield, to Lewis S. and Beryl (Staples) Sawyer.

She met her future husband, Gerard (Jerry) Fortin, in Bristol, Connecticut, while both were working at the McLellan’s Dept. store. She from Ft. Fairfield and he from Augusta! This past October they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Anne was 21 when they married, Jerry was only 20, and could not wait the two days until his birthday to marry! He had to get his parents permission to marry; 56 years of their married life has been in So. China.

Anne grew up in Ft. Fairfield amongst the potato fields. She often told us how she used to pick potatoes alongside the German POWs.

She was a country girl who loved gardening and putting up her own canned goods. She made the best relish! She also loved reading, photography, flowers, sewing – from doll clothes to her children’s clothes. Knitting was also one of her talents. She enjoyed sitting on the shore with a good book while Jerry and the kids fished.

Anne is survived by her husband of 65 years, Jerry; three children, Joan (Tim) Chaffee of Clinton, Audrey Fortin of So. China, Neal (Stacy) Fortin of Riverside, Calif., also, Norman Black of Weeks Mills, whom she thought of as a second son.

She is also suvived by grandchildren, Cheslie (Eric) Kaherl, of Winthrop, and Elizabeth (Xavier) Fonseca, of Ontario, California; great-grandchildren, Katie, Jessica and Michael Kaherl, and Anne Fonseca; sister, Lillian Denison of South Paris; several nieces and nephews; great-great nephew William Sawyer Dowell, of Kentucky; cousin-in-law Jeanette Michaud, of Augusta; cousin Kermit Staples of Connor Twp.; special and long time friends, Julia Marois, of South China, and Alice Baxter, of Weeks Mills.

She was predeceased by brothers Bill and Paul Sawyer, of Ft. Fairfield, sister, Louise Hill, of Magnolia, Kentucky, cousin Angela (Marie) Staples, of Caribou, nephew Earl Hill, and sister-in-law, Cecile Chaisson.

Burial will be in the spring with family and friends.

KEVIN WIDELL

VASSALBORO – Kevin F Widell, 66, of Vassalboro, formally of Palermo, passed away on Thursday February 11, 2021, from a heart attack, at his home, in Vassalboro. Kevin was born October 15, 1954, in Melrose, Massachusetts, to the late M. Doris Doyle and John M. Widell. He grew up in Danvers, Massachusetts.

He married Margaret (Maggie) Jolly on April 21, 1995, in their home in Swampscott, Massachusetts. In April 2021 they would have been married 26 years.

In 1995 Kevin and Maggie, along with their son Ben Jolly, moved to Maine to run Christy’s store at the head of China Lake.

He and his family operated the Central Maine Siberian Husky Rescue out of thier home, in Palermo.

In retirement Kevin loved being surrounded by electronics and albums, and his music, especially Frank Zappa.

Kevin was a kind and caring soul and will be sadly missed by all who were blessed to know him.

In addition to his wife he leaves his step-son, Benjamin Jolly, his two grandsons James and Jackson Jolly; his sister Diane Gallagher of Massachusetts; and a brother David, of New Hampshire. He also leaves his dear friend Keith Boucher, of Massachusetts.

There is no service planned at this time, but a celebration of life will be held at the Augusta Spiritualist Church in the spring/summer of this year.

EARLENE V. BOWEN

OAKLAND – Earlene V. Bowen, 85, of Oakland, passed unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at Northern Lights Eastern Maine Medical Center, in Bangor. She was born in Waterville on April 6, 1935, the daughter of Merle and Lilian (McCarthy) Bickford.

Earlene left great sadness in her wake, that is not how she would of wanted it, she was a spit fire to the end.

She will be jitterbugging in heaven with her husband Kenneth Bowen, her parents Merle and Lillian Bickford, two brothers Franklin and Merle Bickford, and a sister Katherine Bickford.

Earlene leaves behind her daughter Sylvia Bowen; granddaughter Kacey Winingar; grandson Kenneth Sprague; four nephews, Timmy, Michael, Harvey, and Corey; two nieces, Cheryl and Cindy; many great-great nieces and nephews.

A spring graveside service will be held at the Oak Grove Cemetery, in Waterville.

Arrangements are in the care of Wheeler Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 26 Church Street, Oakland, Maine.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Wheeler Funeral Home website: http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

DOROTHY GREENE

CHINA – Dorothy “Dottie” Greene, 83, died Saturday, February 20, 2021, following a brief illness. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 26, 1937, the daughter of the late J. George and Sophie (Michalski) Cook.

Dottie graduated from Brooklyn’s Sacred Heart Academy High School in 1956 and worked as a dental assistant until she met and married a vibrant, red-headed former Navy frogman, Fred Greene, in 1960, and the two were married in 1961. In 1968, the couple and their three children packed up and moved from New York to Maine. Dottie was a city girl plunked down in the country where she learned how to plant and harvest a one-acre garden, raise 100 chickens and manage a variety of crazy cows and pigs. Dottie was an avid gardener and loved the four seasons from her chair in the kitchen in the 1790s farmhouse she and Fred renovated, sharing wonderful holidays with her kids and grandkids.

Dot was a Brownie troop leader, a member of the China Diners, and a long-time member of the Tole ‘n ME tole painting organization. Her talents as a tole painter were extraordinary. She loved to crochet, fish, and read mysteries. She also managed the business side of Fred’s business, Fred J. Greene Waterproofing.

She was predeceased by her husband, Fred Greene, in 2007.

She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Rountree (Larry), of Leesburg, Virginia, and Jill Bernier, of Brunswick; son Tim Greene, of China; four grandchildren, Natalie Greene-Dumont, Scott Bernier, Lexie Bernier and Lilly Rountree; and one great-granddaughter, Arya Dumont; as well as several nephews.

There are no planned visiting hours. Spring burial will be at the China Village Cemetery Extension, China, to be announced at a later time.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, Windsor Chapel, 983 Ridge Rd., Rt. 32, Windsor.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

JEAN A. COSTON

CHINA – Jean A. Coston, 74, died unexpectedly on Saturday, February 20, 2021, at her home. She was born in Brunswick on December 26, 1946, a daughter of the late Louis Violette and Sylvia J. (Kennedy) and Richard Warren.

Mrs. Coston had been employed for over 20 years at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center at Gray Birch.

She was predeceased by two brothers, Louis “Peter” and James Violette.

Mrs. Coston is survived by her husband of 37 years, Chester M. Coston, Jr., of China; two sons, Stuart L. Rogers, of Topsham, and Adam L. Jipson, of Stafford, Virginia; three daughters, Sharon L. MacKeigan, of Bowdoin, Carol J. Harrington, of Phoenix, Arizona, and April J. Jipson, of Ogden, Utah; three stepchildren, Gloria Cascio, of Albion, Chester M. Coston III, of South China, and Wayne H. Coston, of Monmouth; a brother, Daniel Violette, of Webster, Massachusetts; two sisters, Carol Eichmuller, of Holland, Massachusetts, and Sherry L. Chute, of Carlton, Massachusetts; 12 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

There will be no public visiting hours. A graveside service will be held at a later date in the new Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Rd., Augusta.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, Windsor Chapel, 983 Ridge Rd., Windsor, Maine.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

THERESA O. LaPLANTE

AUGUSTA – Theresa O. LaPlante, 94, died Saturday, February 20, 2021, at the Augusta Center for Health and Rehabilitation, in Augusta, following a long illness. She was born in Waterville on October 17, 1926, a daughter of the late Herbert and Leanna (Daigle) Oakes.

Mrs. LaPlante was a Waterville High School graduate, graduating on D-day (June 6, 1944), attended the Sisters Nursing Program under the Cadet Nurses Program and was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, in Augusta.

Theresa ventured off to New York City, where she was a nurse at the Brooklyn VA Center for several years. After marrying her husband, Charlie, they moved back to Maine to raise a family.

She had been employed at Williams Nursing Home, in Augusta, for 25 years.

After her retirement, Theresa enjoyed traveling with her many friends, both across the country and a trip to Italy. She enjoyed time with her family, especially her grandchildren and all her dogs.

Mrs. LaPlante was a member of the Red Hat Society – Cardinal Chapter.

She was predeceased by her husband, Charles A. LaPlante and her brother, Roger Oakes.

Mrs. LaPlante is survived by her two sons, Tony LaPlante and his fiancée Lisa Newell, of Augusta, and John O. LaPlante and his wife Karen, of Augusta; a sister, Joanne Villella, of Phoenix, Arizona; three grandchildren, Kate Greaton and her husband Tali, Abigail and Erica; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Burial will be held in the spring in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Waterville.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

The family requests that donations in Theresa’s memory be made to Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pet Haven Lane, Augusta, ME 04330.

KENNETH L. RIDEOUT SR.

SIDNEY – Kenneth L. Rideout Sr. passed away at his home, in Sidney, on Sunday, February 21, 2021.

Ken grew up in Richmond and attended school in Gardiner. He started working in the woods with his father at a very young age and grew to love horses and the logging industry.

He eventually built his own business, working for many years in logging and excavation. During his years in the logging industry, his most valued memories were the times he worked with his sons, building a family tradition.

His interest included spending time with friends and family stock car racing, camping, hunting, and pony and draft horse pulling. For 50 years he enjoyed pulling ponies and horses, and he was an active member of the Maine Draft Horse & Ox Association. During that time he was lucky enough to be a three-time representative of the United States at the International Horse Pull, in Nova Scotia. He enjoyed sharing his love for horses by participating in parades, sleigh rides and horse pulls across New England and Canada.

His most precious time was time spent with family, his kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He greatly enjoyed road trips with his wife across the country loved exploring new places and scouting out prospective horses.

Ken was predeceased by his son Lauren, “Chubby” Rideout, his father, Lauren N. Rideout, his mother, Annie Clark Rideout, his three sisters, Evelyn French, Annie Trask, Barbara Sproul; and great-grandson Jesse Tillson.

Ken is survived by his wife, Priscilla “Pat” Rideout, of Sidney; son Kenneth “Petey” Rideout Jr., of Chelsea; daughter-in-law, Diane (Rideout) Benner, of Warren, and her son Lauren “CJ” Rideout Jr., and his siblings Chad and Travis Benner; daughter Sherry and husband Edwin Tillson, of Sidney, and their three children Jeremy, Joshua, and Justin; son Everett Rideout and wife Tina, of Warren, and their children Nicole and Zachary; son John Rideout and his wife Tammy, of Washington, and their children Kayla and Krista; daughter Tina and her husband Tim Ross, of Jefferson, and their son Ely; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home 949 Main St., Waldoboro, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Ken Rideout to Shriners Hospital for Children, donate.love-totherescue.org, or St. Jude’s Research Hospital, stjude.org.

HARVEY A. QUIMBY

ALBION – Harvey A. Quimby, 84, of Redlands, California, passed away Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at his home. Harvey was born on December 3, 1936, the son of Erving and Lucy (Glidden) Quimby.

He graduated from Bessey High School, in Albion. Harvey moved to California right after graduation where he met and married Carmen Chavez. The couple had two sons Rene’s and Hector.

He worked for American Medical Response stocking the ambulances and later drove a medical van transporting people to and from medical appointments which was something he truly enjoyed..

After retiring Harvey loved vacationing back in Maine, staying with his brother Erving (Duke) and his wife Lillian. Always planning his visit to be here for “Alumni Night,” in Albion. He enjoyed visiting with family and friends. There were many great memories of day trips to the coast, trips up north in hopes of spotting a moose, visits with cousin Bob at the farm, in Albion, relaxing under the shade tree with Duke and enjoying a movie, or listening to church music with Lillian.

Harvey was a kind, gentle, loving man who will be missed by many.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Cecile, Donald and Erving Jr. (Duke) and sisters Evelyn Howell and Barbara Bickford.

Harvey is survived by his two sons Rene’s and Hector; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of California; his sister-in-law and Lillian Quimby, of Winslow; sister-in-law Shirley Quimby-Tibbetts, of Benton, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will take place at #4 cemetery, in Albion, at a later date.

China broadband committee makes no recommendations to board of selectmen

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Committee has been reviewing “very different and very complicated proposals”

by Mary Grow

After their two-hour discussion Feb. 18 (see The Town Line, Feb. 25, p. 3), China Broadband Committee (CBC) members spent more than four hours interviewing representatives of three broadband program vendors, with brief intervals of committee reaction, on Feb. 22; and talked another three-quarters of an hour in a time-limited (to allow another committee to meet) Feb. 24 meeting.

They hoped the result would be a recommendation to China selectmen to choose one of the three vendors with whom to negotiate about expanding and improving broadband service.

Instead, the document they approved unanimously for submission to the selectboard’s March 1 meeting contains information about each vendor’s proposal, with no recommendation to prefer one over another. The three vendors are Axiom Technologies, of Machias, Maine; Sertex Broadband Solutions, of Plainfield, Connecticut; and Spectrum Community Solutions, of Augusta, Maine.

A second document, at committee member Jamie Pitney’s insistence, was a request that selectmen include $25,000 in the 2021-22 budget as a first payment on a broadband development fund that will eventually begin to cover a town share of costs.

One factor contributing to CBC members’ difficulty in getting to a recommendation is that the committee has been reviewing “very different and very complicated proposals,” as committee member Tod Detre said during the Feb. 24 discussion. Axiom and Sertex offer similar programs, building networks from scratch with the town ultimately to own the system. Spectrum’s proposal, until Feb. 24, was to extend its existing system in China and to retain ownership under contract with the town.

Its original plan included China borrowing via a bond, and Pitney, who is an attorney specializing in public finance, doubted the legality of bonding for a contract that would not give the town ownership.

A second reason for delaying a recommendation came up just before the Feb. 24 meeting: committee members received notice from Spectrum that a revised proposal that would result in town ownership was in the works.

Detre asked if the revised proposal was the equivalent of a new or late submission and would therefore justify accepting proposals from other vendors who missed, or requested an extension of, the Dec. 31 deadline that Axiom, Sertex and Spectrum met. The committee majority was willing to see Spectrum’s fleshed-out proposal before answering the question.

Consequently, they concluded they could not recommend either Spectrum nor one of the other vendors until they had Spectrum’s updated proposal.

Some of the information from the Feb. 22 interviews:

  • Mark Ouellette, President of Axiom Technologies, said municipal ownership of the system has a big advantage: if townspeople are dissatisfied, they can kick out the service provider and contract with someone else. However, he was confident that if Axiom were chosen, their “world-class service” would attract significant numbers of customers, new ones and Spectrum’s.

Axiom offers tiered service, with monthly charges of $60, $70 or $100. Committee members saw no additional costs. Once the bond proposed to fund the project is paid off, presumably in 20 years, town voters could use the freed-up money for other town purposes or projects or to reduce users’ monthly fees.

  • Mike Solitro, President of Sertex Broadband Solutions, said his company provides prompt service in case, for example, a tree falls on a broadband line, by hiring local linemen and technicians to be on call. In post-interview discussion, Detre said Sertex’s monthly fee for users would be around $70, comparable to Axiom’s.
  • Ben Topor, Spectrum Community Solutions’ Vice-President in charge of the northeast division, said Spectrum is the second-largest cable provider in the United States. Spectrum, like the other two, would provide service to an estimated 120 unserved households, extending its current system. It offers a $29.95 monthly fee that would increase by 4% a year.

However, committee members pointed out in discussion, the $29.95 is misleading in two ways. It assumes every household, estimated at 2,300, sign up, to generate the income Spectrum expects; and it omits money the town would need to spend to hire a firm to do billing, estimated to be at least $20 per month per household.

The China Broadband Committee has scheduled its next meeting for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 4, by zoom. The main agenda item is review of the revised proposal from Spectrum Community Solutions, which committee members expect to receive on March 3.

China TIF committee puts document in near-final form

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by Mary Grow

China Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members put their proposed revised version of the town’s TIF document in near-final form at their Feb. 25 meeting.

The document, called the Second Amendment (China’s original TIF document dates from 2015, and the first amendment from 2017), still needs minor additions, like inserting the date of the public hearing that is required before voters act on it. Committee member Jamie Pitney proposed Town Manager Becky Hapgood prepare the final draft. Pitney is the main writer for the amendment, with help from Brent Chesley, particularly, and the rest of the committee.

Committee members sent the Second Amendment to China selectmen for review at their March 1 meeting. If selectmen approve, it will appear on the warrant for the June 8 town business meeting. It will also be posted on the town website, china.govoffice.com.

Hapgood said the public hearing is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, April 26, followed by a hearing on the rest of the town meeting warrant questions. Voters will be able to ask questions about the TIF document, but will not be able to change it.

Hapgood said April 26 will be the first time town officials have tried to hold a public hearing by zoom.

The June 8 town meeting will be entirely by written ballot. For an open meeting, China has a quorum ordinance that requires about 120 voters to attend in person, an impossibility both legally and practically in current circumstances.

After unanimously approving the Second Amendment for forwarding to the selectboard, committee members talked about their next steps as a committee. Suggestions included reviewing and if necessary revising committee documents, like their mission statement and the application form for TIF funds; clarifying procedures for reviewing applications; and strengthening provisions for making sure funds are used for the purposes for which they are granted.

The next TIF Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 24.

China planners say two solar ordinances will not be ready for town meeting

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by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members decided at their Feb. 23 meeting neither of two ordinances they are working on would be ready for a vote at the June 8 town business meeting.

They hope by November to have a new solar ordinance, and probably an addition to the Land Use Ordinance dealing with shoreland stabilization, ready for voters’ action.

The new solar ordinance is a fairly complete draft, but board members continue to tweak it. The basic wording is taken from a Maine Audubon Society document that board member Toni Wall converted to ordinance form and she and the rest of the board adapted to China’s needs.

For example, the Town of China has only four districts. All land not in a shoreland, stream protection or resource protection district is in the rural district. Board members had adjusted the Audubon district list at an earlier meeting; on Feb. 23, they also amended the permitting process for solar projects in the three protective districts.

In related decisions, they redefined the size of projects, enlarging those classified as small or medium for permitting purposes. The initial definition of a small ground-mounted project as less than 100 square feet was changed to allow up to 500 square feet, for example.

Board members talked about how tall solar panels should stand. Most in Maine have lower edges about three feet from the ground, but Codes Officer Jaime Hanson said in other states, panels stand five feet above the ground to allow crops to be grown underneath them.

They discussed whether any of the equipment in a large commercial solar project would make noise, and if so how to deal with it. Board Chairman Randy Downer said noise was a concern to neighbors as the board reviewed the previously-approved project on Route 3.

The second proposed change in town ordinances, regulation of shoreland stabilization projects, would require local provisions adding to state requirements, because China currently uses state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) standards. Hanson described them as a “functional product” that controls run-off into water bodies.

Board members are considering drafting provisions that would exceed the DEP regulation by considering aesthetics and special ecological protections. Their initial focus was on China Lake; they postponed answering Downer’s question about including China’s share of the Three Mile Pond shoreline.

Board member Scott Rollins referred them to the website of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC), which regulates land use in Maine’s unorganized territories. The other board members agreed they should read relevant parts.

Board members unanimously approved Downer’s suggestion that he ask a limnologist to offer advice. He has a person in mind, and if she is not available knows where to find others. (A limnologist is an expert on all scientific aspects of inland waters.)

As part of his report to the planning board, Hanson said he has completed the course of study required to become a certified local health officer.

The next China Planning Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 9.