Entries by Mary Grow

China Broadband Committee (CBC) reviews report to refine costs

by Mary Grow At their Oct. 21 meeting, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members reviewed a report from Hawkeye Connections, the company whose employees surveyed existing power poles and related infrastructure to refine the cost of improving and expanding internet service in China. The report gives an estimated cost of $5.25 million for main construction only. […]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville Liberal Institute

by Mary Grow In Waterville, in addition to the private and public schools already described, there was Waterville Liberal Institute. An on-line list of Universalists’ “higher institutions of learning” says Waterville Liberal Institute opened in 1835. It was the second such school in Maine; Westbrook Seminary opened in 1831 and ran until 1925, when the […]

China TIF committee proposes revision to grant form

by Mary Grow China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members used their Oct. 18 meeting to propose revisions to the three-year-old application form for a grant from TIF funds. TIF money comes from taxes paid on the Central Maine Power line that runs north-south through China and on CMP’s substation in South China. The funds […]

CHINA: Medical marijuana retail store approved

by Mary Grow China Planning Board members have approved Miguel Rivera’s application to open a medical marijuana retail store in the former Knowles Mechanical Building, at 1097 Route 3. They have scheduled a Nov. 9 public hearing on Jayson Mortimer’s application to open an automobile repair garage, at 86 Vassalboro Road. Board members began their […]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: More high schools (Vassalboro)

by Mary Grow Vassalboro In Vassalboro, which until 1792 included Sidney on the west side of the Kennebec River, voters first discussed schools in 1771, the year the town was incorporated. According to Alma Pierce Robbins’ Vassalboro history, voters at a September town meeting approved “Thirty Pounds Lawful money” to support a minister – and […]

China candidates forum canceled

by Mary Grow The annual China candidates’ forum, intended to introduce candidates for local offices to voters and scheduled for Oct. 17 on Zoom only, will not be held. Louisa Barnhart, Chairman of the Trustees of the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library that sponsors the event, announced, “Due to general lack of interest, the candidates’ […]

Vassalboro planning board: two applicants are approved

by Mary Grow Vassalboro Planning Board members found that two applicants for Webber Pond shoreland permits met all town standards and unanimously approved their permits. Receiving approval were Alecia Saucier, to replace a mobile home on Saucier Lane with a larger mobile home on a cement slab; and Mike Fisher, to enlarge a deck and […]

Transfer station: Proposed fee increase postponed to November meeting

by Mary Grow China Transfer Station Committee members made progress on their Oct. 12 agenda items, while postponing decisions to their Nov. 9 meeting, mostly to give them time to collect more information. They approved by consensus Palermo representative Robert Kurek’s methodology for calculating a new fee for the disposal bags Palermo residents use. They […]