DOE commissioner: “Results are very encouraging.” by Mary Grow he Maine Department of Education (DOE) recently released results of Maine Education Assessment (MEA) tests for the 2016-17 school year. The state tests students in three areas, English language arts/literacy, math and science, with science tests beginning with fifth-graders. According to DOE information, scores went up […]
by Mary Grow China voters have three contests and four vacancies on the Nov. 7 local election ballot. There are a total of eight candidates for three seats on the Board of Selectmen. For the two-year terms currently held by Irene Belanger and Ronald Breton, Belanger and Breton are running for re-election and Frederick Glidden […]
by Mary Grow The possibility of another school reorganization that will affect Vassalboro was again a major topic of discussion at the Sept. 19 school board meeting. Years ago Vassalboro was a separate school entity. Then it became part of School Union #52 with China and Winslow. School Union #52 dissolved after a state-wide reorganization […]
by Mary Grow Vassalboro selectmen dealt with a miscellany of business at their Sept. 21 meeting, most of it presented by Town Manager Mary Sabins. Sabins reported on various upcoming events, including tentative plans for FAVOR (Friends Advocating for Vassalboro Older Residents) to provide help with drafty windows through a nonprofit organization called Window Dressers. […]
by Mary Grow China Planning Board members have unanimously approved the first steps in the South China Library’s plan to open a new building in a new location. Jean Dempster, president of the library Board of Trustees, explained the project at the board’s Sept. 12 meeting. The library, currently located on a very small lot […]
by Mary Grow China selectmen cut the Nov. 7 local ballot from four questions to three at their Sept. 18 meeting, postponing the proposed Local Food Safety Ordinance to the March 2018 town business meet-ing. Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux expects the state legislature will amend the state law on which the local ordinance is to […]
by Mary Grow China Board of Appeals members delved into a complex 58th Fire Road neighborhood dispute at their Sept. 7 meeting, ultimately denying Kevin Meader’s appeal of Codes Officer Paul Mitnik’s decision not to require permitting or removal of a controversial dock. The final motion, approved 6-0 with Board Chairman Spencer Aitel abstaining, was […]
by Mary Grow China selectmen are moving toward asking voters to act on at least four business items at the polls Nov. 7, in addition to local elections and state questions. The potential questions ask if voters will approve: A tentatively-titled “Local Food and Community Self-Government Ordinance,” as authorized under the 2017 state food sovereignty […]
by Mary Grow China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee voted unanimously at a Sept. 11 meeting to recommend that selectmen award a contract for preliminary engineering work for a new causeway bridge to Wright-Pierce Engineering, an East coast firm with Maine offices in Topsham and Portland. Replacing the current bridge at the head of China […]
by Mary Grow At their Sept. 5 meeting, Vassalboro Planning Board members used their revised shoreland zoning ordinance for the second time since the June town meeting, approving an application to enlarge a camp at 138 Park Lane on Three Mile Pond. Donald and Linda Lathrop got approval at the board’s August meeting to put […]