Towns seek Spirit of America nominations (2024)

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by Mary Grow

Several area towns, including China and Vassalboro, are seeking nominations for 2024 Spirit of America awards.

According to its website, the nonprofit Spirit of American Foundation was established in Augusta in 1990 to honor volunteerism. Initially, municipalities presented awards “to local individuals, organizations and projects for commendable community service.”

Since 2022, the program has included a Spirit of America Foundation School Award.

In a Dec. 11 email to municipal officials, Bruce Flaherty, President of Maine Spirit of America, invited them to seek nominations.

At the Jan. 2 and 16 China select board meetings, Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood encouraged China residents to recommend outstanding volunteers. The town has an on-line nomination form, found twice on the website, china.govoffice.com, under Town Clerk and Town Manager. These pages are under Administration, which is under Town Departments on the main page.

Deadline for nominations to be submitted to the China town office is Friday, March 1.

Vassalboro Town Manager Aaron Miller is also soliciting nominations from his town’s residents. Vassalboro has no form, he said; people wanting to nominate someone should call the town office at 872-2826 or email amiller@vassalboro.net.

Both China and Vassalboro have in the past presented annual Spirit of America awards at their June town meetings.

Flaherty explained that municipalities submit their awardees’ names to the state organization by June 1, and the names are forwarded to county officials for county-wide ceremonies in the fall.

PHOTOS: Looking back to a month ago

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Even though it happened a month ago, above, the flooding of Halifax Park, in Winslow, at the confluence of the Kennebec and Sebasticook rivers, and below, the water up to the decking of the bridges on Bay Street. (photos by Galen Neal)

 

Dawson White achieves Eagle Scout rank

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Darrin and Sarah White, proud parents, stand on either side of their Eagle Scout, son Dawson, following the presentation of the Eagle Scout rank to him during a ceremony at the Augusta Lodge of Elks on January 6. (Photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Dawson James White, 18, of Sidney, was presented with Scouting’s highest rank, the Eagle Scout, during a ceremony at the Augusta Elks, on January 6, 2024, which capped off an eleven-year Scouting career. “I learned so much in Scouting,” White said. “I learned survival skills, people skills and how to be a decent person in Scouting.”

“This is an occasion for pride and joy, as well as a time for serious reflection,” said former Troop #401 Scoutmaster Ryan Poulin, who served as Master of Ceremonies.

“The Eagle Scout rank is the highest recognition Scouting offers a Scout. It is earned through the advancement program, and only a small percentage of youth who begin in Scouting are recognized with this honor. In full awareness of the challenge of these times, the parents and leaders of this Eagle Scout have labored long and faithfully to develop him to be alert and to participate in citizenship through the Scouting program. His efforts culminate today in the presentation of the Eagle Scout Badge. The success of these efforts will become evident in the way this Eagle Scout will set his social pattern for all the lives he may touch. Democracy is a fresh conquest for each generation.”

Dawson, who lives in Sidney, is now a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop #401 and will become an Assistant Scoutmaster after he turns 21. He graduated from the Maine Virtual Academy and is working full time at Rainbow Valley Dairy Farm. He said he had many great experiences in Scouting.

He enjoyed the Troop’s trip to Gettysburg, camping at Camp Bomazeen, the West Point Camporee, and overnights aboard the USS Massachusetts (BB-59) in Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts. “I built a bunker gear dryer for the Sidney fire department’s turnout gear so it will take a day instead of a week to dry and built shelving for above their new extractor which is an industrial washing machine. They also had a six inch ledge that had no safety marker on it so we did that,” Dawson said of his Eagle Scout project that benefited the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department. Overall, 80 hours of volunteer work were spent on the project. “I know several people who are firemen and was really happy to help out.”

Troop #401 Committee Chairman Andy Steinberger said, “To a Scout, bravery means not only the courage to face physical danger, but the determination to stand up for what is right. While trusting in God with faith in his fellow citizens, he looks forward to each day, seeking his share of the world’s work.”

The Eagle Scout medal was pinned to his uniform by his mother and Dawson in turn presented pins to his parents Darin and Sarah White.

Sarah White pins the Eagle Scout rank onto the uniform of her son Dawson. He started the Scouting path 11 years earlier as a Tiger Cub and has reached the highest level of Scouting. (Photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

AARP accepting community challenge grant applications

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AARP Maine invites local eligible non-profit organizations and governments across the country to apply for the 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through Wednesday, March 6, at 5 p.m. Eastern. AARP Community Challenge grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, and more. Now in its eighth year, the program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for all residents, especially those age 50 and older.

The AARP Community Challenge accepts applications across three different grant opportunities. All projects must be consistent with AARP’s mission to serve the needs of people 50 and older along with other eligibility criteria.

Capacity-building microgrants are paired with additional resources, such as one-on-one coaching, webinars, cohort learning opportunities and more for improving walkability, bikeability and implementing safe, accessible home modifications.

Demonstration grants focus on improving digital connections to prepare and respond to disasters; reconnecting communities divided by infrastructure; and housing choice design competitions.

Flagship grants support projects that improve public places; transportation; housing; diversity, equity and inclusion; civic engagement; community health and economic empowerment; and new this year community resilience; and digital connections.

“AARP is committed to meeting the needs of a rapidly aging population in communities across the country,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer.

The Community Challenge is open to eligible nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other types of organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to tens of thousands for larger projects.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. All projects must be completed by December 15, 2024. To submit an application and view past grantees, visit www.AARP.org/CommunityChallenge.

Windsor Cub Scouts Pack holds holiday party

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Cubmaster Shawn MacFarland passes out pinewood derby car kits to the Cubs. Over the next few weeks, the Cubs and their parent or grandparent will carve and cut these blocks of wood into sleek racers.

by Chuck Mahaleris

Corbin Burdeck is a Webelos in Pack #609 and lives in Whitefield. “I love everything about Cub Scouts!”

Cub Pack #609 held their holiday party on January 4, at Windsor Elementary School. The event was delayed due to the “Grinch” storm that left many in the area without power for days. Families brought food to share and Cubs learned a new song. The highlight of the evening came when each Scout received a new pinewood derby car kit.

“We have a busy January and February,” said Cubmaster Shawn McFarland. “We have the Klondike Derby at Camp Bomazeen later this month, perhaps the China Ice Fishing Derby next month and then the Pinewood Derby after that.” The pinewood derby is the wood car racing event of Scouting.

Julia Hartwell, of Windsor is, in fourth grade at Windsor Elementary. She has been in Cub Scouts for a year and is one of the six original members of Pack #609 after it restarted this past autumn. She enjoys hiking and is looking forward to the Pinewood Derby.

With the help of adults, Scouts build their own unpowered, unmanned miniature cars from wood, usually from kits containing a block of pine wood, plastic wheels, and metal axles. The Scouts use their imagination to come up with the design for their wooden car which ranges from Formula 1 racers to tanks to tractors to spaceships and even cartoon characters. Those cars are raced down the pack’s Pinewood Derby track and the fastest go on to race at the district level. “It is a lot of fun,” McFarland said. “One of the best parts is it is a great project for a kid to do with their parent or grandparent.”

Pack #609 had ceased operation before Covid-19 and only began this past autumn. “We started back up after the Windsor Fair,” McFarland said. Six youth and parents from Augusta Pack #684 who lived in Windsor were the nucleus but since then the pack has grown to 19 kids drawing from Jefferson and Whitefield. “I am glad to see it taking off. Scouting has a great opportunity to build character in these kids and it is a lot of fun,” McFarland said.

All photos by Chuck Mahaleris

Ivan Peaslee is a Lion Cub Scout and is in kindergarten, in Jefferson.

Pack 609

Another successful year at Kringleville

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Throughout December, Downtown Waterville welcomed over 2000 families who gathered to meet Santa in his Kringleville cabin. Over 700 cups of hot chocolate with cookies and other baked goods were served, and 1200 candy canes and over 1000 books were given to children. Kids also had the chance to see snowmobiles, tow trucks, Jeeps, Elves, and Elsa; They could decorate ornament crafts, listen to a DJ, learn from the Children’s Discovery Museum mobile exhibits, engage in coloring activities, or choose a bookmark for their new book. Santa’s sleigh even made an appearance to transport Santa to and from the North Pole. They also served as a collection site for the Maine Children’s Home’s Holiday Program and filled an SUV with donations.

This amazing free event could not happen without Santa’s right-hand elf Jake. Jake the elf spends the rest of the year as Rick Bryant, a dedicated board member of the museum and Christmas-spirit keeper. He organizes all of the big man’s meetings, maintains the cozy cabin, secures financing and donations, and much much more. A huge thank you to him and all that he does for Kringleville!

Waterville Creates welcomes new employees

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Waterville Creates announces the arrival of five new fulltime staff members. Since moving into the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, on Main Street, in Waterville, in December 2022, Waterville Creates has consolidated the operations of the Waterville Opera House, Maine Film Center, and Ticonic Gallery + Studios.

Joining the team at the Waterville Opera House are Allison (Ally) Turlo and Juniper Purinton. Ally, coming on board as theatre technician, earned her BFA in Theater Design and Technology from Syracuse University and brings extensive design and technical skills and broad experience with scenic construction and scenic painting. Juniper, the new technical director, has more than 17 years of technical theatre experience and an extensive working knowledge of performing arts venues.

The Maine Film Center welcomes Raynor Ahlstrin-Muniec to the role of operations coordinator. A graduate of Tufts University, Raynor brings production and education-related programming experience for non- and for-profit organizations across New England.

Jackie Ferlito, who previously served Waterville Creates in an interim capacity since May 2023, joins as communications coordinator. Jackie will oversee social media channels, e-newsletters, and other communications. Waterville Creates also welcomes Chris Melville as the new director of marketing and communications. Chris will manage marketing, advertising, media and public relations, and internal and external communications.

After Six Years: Library move partially complete

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So. China library interior

by Bob Bennett

On Saturday morning, January 6, 2024, The South China Public Library opened its new building, at 27 Jones Road, to borrowers for the first time. While not the conclusion of this lengthy and often frustrating project, this occasion marked the the most significant event yet in the continuing attempt to bring this effort to fruition.

It has been at least six years since the library’s board of directors made the decision to seek a new location for the facility. This move was fueled by several requirements including more space, modern restroom facilities and easier building access among others. We wanted to remain close to our long-time location in South China village and after much searching and debating about varying properties, we were able to purchase land on the Jones Road. The site was laid out adjacent to the historic Jones House. We purchased a used portable classroom from the Town of China for one dollar with the intention of it being our children’s area and construction was begun.

Finances were a significant factor in all of this process and through fundraising projects, wonderful monetary gifts, and the dividing and sale of part the property we have finally reached the point where completion is in sight. Yes, there have been further issues. The portable had a mold problem but has been completely cleaned up and renovations are continuing. COVID and its aftermath created a huge barrier, and recent holiday fundraising has faced problems as well. But, we are committed to bringing this effort to fruition and we sincerely hope that those of you in our community who have generously supported us will continue to do so. We foresee a total opening to the public to take place later this year and look forward to welcoming everyone into our new home. For the time being, we will be open during our recent, regular hours- 10 a.m. to noon and 1- 3 p.m., on Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. These will hopefully expand as well. We have been a huge factor in our neighborhood, and the town of China as an entirety, for decades and that will continue.

In conclusion, as with many great human endeavors, the new South China Public Library has dealt with a number of ups and downs. We will soon be celebrating our final opening and that will ultimately be our completion!

So. China Library opens at new location

The South China Library re-opened on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at its new location, at 27 Jones Rd. For now, hours will remain as they have been: Saturday, 10 a.m. – noon; Wednesday, 10 a.m. – noon, and 1 – 3 p.m. Children and adults will share space in the newly-constructed section, as work continues on the portable classroom.

So. China library

PHOTO: Sunset at Monument Park

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Janice Clowes, president of the Vassalboro Historical Society, captured the silhouette of the monument in the park, next to the historical society building.

A Christmas tradition

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As a result of the devastating storm that swept through central Maine on December 18, 2023, which knocked out power and internet service, the following story could not be published at that time. Here is the annual Christmas tradition from an area family:

by Janet Cole

One mid-1980s Christmas we got our youngsters a Commodore 64. Wanting them to socialize with our dinner guests, this gift wasn’t put under the tree until everyone had left (and our kids had fallen asleep.)

The next morning, our three rush into our bedroom announcing a “mystery gift” under the tree. It was received with such delight that it became our tradition.

One gift, for the whole family, appears under the tree on December 26. It’s been as simple as a board game and as elaborate as a ping pong set with ribbons leading to a ping pong table in the basement.

Happy Holidays…however you celebrate!