EVENTS: 16 Counties for Courage: Neighbors for Common Ground

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People in Maine’s 16 counties are rallying to find common ground and push back on the actions of the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE, Saturday, March 1, 2:30 – 4 p.m., starting with a march from the Margaret Chase Smith Memorial Bridge, in Skowhegan, and ending at the Miller’s table parking lot.

Come march and gather to hear unifying speakers talk about how proposed laws, like the Save Act, might impact you and your neighbors. They welcome Mainers of all political persuasions to demand that our representatives and government officials restore, checks and balances, the established rule of law, equity for all under the law, and privacy and security of our information.

EVENTS: Lincoln County Democrats to hear labor union experts

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The Lincoln County Democratic Committee (LCDC) hosts two experts on the labor movement at its monthly meeting on Thursday, February 27, at 7 p.m.

The meeting will be in a hybrid format. Participants can join in person at the Newcastle Fire Station, 86 River Road, and can be attended on Zoom as well.

Guest speakers are Giovanna Gray Lockhart, executive director of the Frances Perkins Center (an organization dedicated to workers’ rights advocate Frances Perkins), and Cynthia Phinney, president of the Maine AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations).

Lockhart will present an overview of Frances Perkins (the first woman to serve in a U.S. presidential cabinet), who was Secretary of Labor for the entire tenure of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency.

Perkins was the driving force behind the groundbreaking New Deal programs on which Americans still rely—Social Security, unemployment insurance, the 40-hour work week, and the minimum wage. She spent summers throughout her life at her ancestral family homestead in Newcastle, now the nonprofit, nonpartisan Frances Perkins Center.

Lockhart will address Perkins’ historical work and the recent designation of the Center as a National Historic Landmark in December

Phinney will discuss the importance of the AFL-CIO’s policy work to protect workers and maintain the social safety net that Perkins championed.

All Lincoln County Democrats and unenrolled progressives are welcome to attend the meeting. LCDC voting members will automatically receive the Zoom log on information and reminders by email. Those interested in becoming a voting member must be a registered Democrat in Lincoln County and may make their interest known by indicating so at the in-person meeting, on the meeting registration form at lincolncountydemocrats.com/meet, or by emailing info@lincolncountydemocrats.com.

Pre-registration for the meeting is required for non-voting members who want to receive Zoom log on and/or phone-in details. Register before noon the day of the meeting to ensure access. However, LCDC will do its best to accommodate last-minute registrations.

More information about LCDC, its meetings, and other activities can be found at https://lincolncountydemocrats.com. Questions can be emailed to info@lincolncountydemocrats.com.

Vassalboro voters approve two of three local referendum questions

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by Mary Grow

Vassalboro voters approved two of three local referendum questions at the polls on Nov. 5, according to Town Clerk Cathy Coyne. All three decisions were by narrow margins.

Question 1 asked voters’ approval to spend up to $360,000 from existing funds as matching money for a grant to cover the cost of replacing the Dunlap Bridge on Mill Hill Road. The vote was 1,383 yes to 1,169 no.

Question 2 asked voters to amend Vassalboro’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) document to add environmental improvement projects to authorized uses of TIF money. Voters said no, by a vote to 1,200 in favor to 1,338 opposed.

Question 3 asked approval of amendments to the Vassalboro Sanitary District’s charter. Voters accepted the amendments by a vote to 1,283 yes to 1,092 no.

For president of the United States, Vassalboro voters gave Donald Trump 1,496 votes and Kamala Harris 1,110 votes.

For United States Senator, incumbent Independent Angus King got 1,294 votes, Republican Demi Kouzounas 1,109, David Allen Costello 185 and Jason Cherry 69.

For United States Representative from District One, Republican Ronald Russell outpolled incumbent Democrat Chellie Pingree, 1,387 to 1,133.

In the only contested Kennebec County race on the ballot, for register of probate, Democrat Abigail Elizabeth St. Valle, of Augusta, got 1,075 Vassalboro votes to 1,437 for Republican Ronda C. Snyder, of Sidney. Results in uncontested races were as follows: for judge of probate, Elizabeth Mitchell, 2,042; for sheriff, L. Kenneth Mason, III, 2,217; and for county commissioner, Patsy Crockett, 1,958.

In elections for state legislators, Vassalboro votes were as follows:

— For state Senate District #15, Republican Richard Bradstreet, of Vassalboro, 1,575; Democrat Raegan LaRochelle, of Augusta, 1,026.
— For state House District #61, Republican Alicia Collins, of Sidney, 1,339; Democrat Laura Jones, of Vassalboro, 1,230.

Vassalboro voters approved two of five state-wide questions – a citizen initiative, three bond issues and a referendum. Vote totals were as follows:

— #1 (citizen initiative to limit political contributions) yes, 1,840; no, 770.
— #2 (bond issue for technology), yes, 1,218; no, 1,388.
— #3 (bond issue for historic preservation), yes, 1,199; no, 1,428.
— #4 (bond issue for trails), yes, 1,371; no, 1,243.
— #5 (changing the state flag), yes, 817; no, 1,819.

CAMPAIGN 2024: Candidates address issues concerning Maine voters (Part 4)

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LETTERS: Laura Jones is a positive go-getter

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To the editor:

When Laura returned to her home town she returned with a mission to help. She reached out to the community and jumped in to help many of us improve our communication and technology skills. She worked to get some of the town’s meetings online, which helps many of us be able to stay informed. She spent time and her own money to get things done! When we had questions she patiently explained and then created how-to manuals. She provided flyers for community events and posted them. She is a thoughtful, positive go-getter who makes things happen.

She has volunteered, shared, supported, and encouraged many of the residents and organizations in town. Using the skills she learned in the military she has already improved the Town of Vassalboro, let’s help her to improve our state by electing Laura as our House Representative #61! She’s the best person for the job!

Janice Clowes
Vassalboro

Five referendum questions on China ballot (2024)

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by Mary Grow

China voters have a two-sided local ballot on Nov. 5, local elections on one side and five referendum questions on the other.

For elections, there is one contest on the ballot: five men are running for three seats on the select board, incumbents Blane Casey and Brent Chesley and Edwin Bailey, Tod Detre and Thomas Rumpf. For more information, see the recording of the Oct. 9 candidates’ forum, available on Youtube; or the summary in the Oct. 17 issue of The Town Line, p. 2.

There is one other name on the ballot, Timothy Basham for re-election to the budget committee, unopposed.

There are three declared write-in candidates for China local offices, as of Oct. 21. Melissa Cowing and John Soifer are write ins for the Regional School Unit #18 board of directors, and Jo Orlando is a write-in candidate for one of three budget committee vacancies.

The referendum questions are as follows:

The first question asks if voters want to amend the town’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing District) Ordinance. Proposed changes would eliminate some originally-listed uses for TIF money that have been appropriated once or never; add funding for an extension of the causeway work at the head of China Lake’s east basin, the first local TIF project to be finished; and rearrange other allocations.

The second question proposes amendments to China’s Budget Committee Ordinance. The main substantive change would eliminate the districts from which four of the seven committee members are now elected, and eliminate elections in favor of appointment by the select board.

The third question asks voters to add a Development District map to the land use map. Wording describing the district is in Appendix A of the Land Development Code; if voters approve, the map will be added.

The fourth question asks approval of amendments to sections of the Land Development Code prepared primarily by planning board members. A copy of the ordinance, with changes in red, is on the town website, chinamaine.org, under Planning Board, under Officials, Boards and Committees.

Board chairman Toni Wall and codes officer Nicholas French have described almost all the changes as non-substantive, aimed at updating and clarifying the ordinance language, including incorporating revised state requirements.

One change shortens the ordinance, by eliminating a section on regulating timber harvesting in shoreland, resource protection and stream protection districts. With voter approval, regulatory authority will be transferred from town officials to the Maine Forest Service.

The final question, presented by citizens’ petition, asks approval of a 180-day moratorium on any new power lines through China. A response to the proposed north-south line to bring power from Aroostook County windmills to this area, the moratorium is intended to give local officials time to develop appropriate ordinances to regulate such development.

China’s Nov. 5 voting will be in the former portable building behind the town office, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vehicle access will be from Alder Park Road, south of the town office complex; the driveway off Lakeview Drive will be closed for the day.

The China town office will be closed all day Nov. 5.

CAMPAIGN 2024: Candidates address issues concerning Maine voters (Part 3)

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CAMPAIGN 2024: Candidates address issues concerning Maine voters (Part 1)

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Laura Jones announces campaign for State House Representative

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Laura Jones

Laura Jones, retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, and Vassalboro native, has announced her election campaign for House District #61, Vassalboro, and part of Sidney.

“Vassalboro has always been where my heart is and where I was happy to return to. I served my country for 25 years and now I am happy to serve my community. I will continue to work as hard as I can in Augusta for the people of Vassalboro and Sidney,” said Jones.

Jones, 52, a fourth generation Vassalboro resident, was born in Waterville and raised in Vassalboro. Jones served 25 years in the military, with deployments and assignments to Haiti, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Japan. She currently works at her family’s business, Fieldstone Gardens, in Vassalboro, She has been very active in the community helping organize and promote community events for the Vassalboro Historical Society, Grange, Mill and Vassalboro Business Association. She currently serves on the board of the Vassalboro Historical Society and is its treasurer.

“Laura’s contributions to the community since retiring from military service are commendable and her life experiences will serve her well in Augusta,” said Barbara Redmond, former Vassalboro select board member. “Laura is an excellent candidate and will do a great job representing the residents of Vassalboro and part of Sidney in the legislature.”