Entries by Mary Grow

China awarded waste diversion grant for transfer station

by Mary Grow China has been awarded a $$14,440.57 state Waste Diversion Grant for improvements at the transfer station. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said the bulk of the money is to be used in the compost area, expanding the compost pad and adding bins. The rest will cover installation of solar lights in the free […]

China broadband group told why grant request denied

by Mary Grow Three members of China’s Broadband Committee met Dec. 7 to hear first-hand about failure to get a state grant this fall and future possibilities (see the Dec. 7 issue of The Town Line, p. 3). Jayne Sullivan, of local Direct Communications subsidiary UniTel, led the discussion. She explained that the Maine Connectivity […]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Dams and Mills

by Mary Grow The list of old dams on China Lake’s Outlet Stream started last week with dams in Vassalboro, as far downstream as the North Vassalboro dams described below. In following weeks, your writer plans to finish summarizing the usefulness of Outlet Stream with descriptions of dams and mills in Winslow, between the Vassalboro […]

VASSALBORO: Auto junkyard permits approved by select board

by Mary Grow The two Vassalboro select board members at the Nov. 30 meeting approved six 2024 auto junkyard permits, after a public hearing that drew no comments. Codes officer Jason Lorrain said he received renewal applications from six of seven residents listed as junkyard operators. He found no complaints on record; he inspected the […]

China broadband group looks into expanded access

by Mary Grow The China Broadband Committee (CBC) will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in the portable building behind the China town office to talk about next steps to expand internet access, after being denied a Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) grant. CBC members have been working with the Maine subsidiary of Idaho-based Direct […]

Planners approve Novel Energy Systems for solar development

by Mary Grow At their Nov. 28 meeting, China planning board members unanimously approved Novel Energy Systems’ application for a solar development, probably a community solar farm, on the section of Parmenter Hill Road known as Moe’s Mountain. The application was first discussed at the board’s Sept. 26 meeting (see the Oct. 5 issue of […]

China select board discusses land use in town

by Mary Grow China select board members’ Dec. 4 meeting included two discussions related, in different ways, to land use in town, with a lot of unanimous votes on other topics in between. Board members again considered proposed changes to the town’s Planning Board Ordinance, with planning board co-chairman Toni Wall joining from the audience. […]

CHINA: New logo approved for town

by Mary Grow At their Nov. 20 meeting, the majority of China’s select board members enthusiastically and unanimously approved a new town logo, designed by board member Jeanne Marquis. Marquis showed how the simple, symmetrical design can be used as a letterhead for town stationery, on town vehicles and on T-shirts and caps, in color […]