TNT Competitive Edge dance team is heading to national competition

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Hailey Benson age 13; Amelia Benson age 9; Annabelle Tasker age 10; Kirstin Clawson age 10; Sophia Santiago age 13; Jaylenn Cugno age 18; Stella Patterson age 13 and Jayla Jandreau age 13.

by Mark Huard

Competitive Edge Dance Team is a group of young dancers based out of TNT Dance Studio, on the Center Road, in Fairfield. The Studio began as Terri’s School of Dance and was founded by Theresa “Terri” Glidden 50 years ago. It is now owned and operated by Terri’s daughter, Tiffany Glidden, and Jesse Klein. They started competitive dancing 30 years ago when Tiffany was a young child and they have continued to build a strong team of competitive dancers ever since. This year is not any different, as they are setting out to take the stage at Dance Ovations Nationals, on Cape Cod, for the week of June 26 – 30. The team has traveled all over New England this year and qualified for this national competition by competing in the regional event in Stratham, New Hampshire, in early May. They have worked all year and engaged in multiple fundraising events to be able to compete at this level.

Currently eight members strong, the team is comprised of athletes from the age of to 10 to 18. Dance Competitions are broken up by age, skill level and genre. They can compete in solo divisions, small group, large group and duo/trios. The main choreographers for TNT’s Competitive Edge team are Tiffany Glidden, Kali Vashon, and Terri Glidden. The team meets at least weekly as a team to practice their routines, listen to critiques from previous competitions and attempt to perfect technique and gain stamina. To compete on a national stage requires a commitment to excellence, discipline, sacrifice, and perseverance by the coaches and their athletes. Based on the results of the Dance Ovations Regional event, the following dances qualified for a special “Dance On” competition during Nationals, due to their high scoring placements:

Mechanical Dolls (a ballet routine choreographed by Tiffany Glidden for Annabelle Tasker age 10 and Kirstin Clawson age 10); Stepsisters Lament (a musical theater routine choreographed by Kali Vashon for Jayla Jandreau, Hailey Benson, and Stella Patterson, all 13 years old); All Aboard (choreographed by Terri Glidden for Sophia Santiago, Jayla Jandreau, Hailey Benson and Stella Patterson, all age 13) and finally The Letter (choreographed by Kali Vashon for Jaylenn Cugno, age 18, Sophia Santiago, Jayla Jandreau, Hailey Benson, and Stella Patterson, all age 13).

In addition to the qualifying routines, TNT has two dancers that qualified to compete in the Titleist Competition. These dancers – Sophia Santiago, age 13, and Jaylenn Cugno, age 18 – qualified by scoring in the top three of their respective solo divisions. Sophia is a seventh grader at Lawrence Jr. High School, in Fairfield, and is performing an acro/lyrical routine called Butterfly Fly Away that is choreographed by Kali Vashon. Jaylenn is a senior at Skowhegan Area High School, and is performing a contemporary routine called I am What I am, that is choreographed by Terri Glidden. Both dancers will engage in different events throughout the week such as interviews and opening number rehearsals with a large group of top soloists from all over the country.

In addition to an incredible amount of hard work, these dancers can attend these events due to their generous sponsors including: National Level Sponsor: Heavy Machines LLC; Competition Level Sponsors: S&K Heating, RDA Automotive and Zimba Corp; Convention Level Sponsors: Sackett & Brake Survey, Inc., Cappzas Pizza and Mattingly Products Co; Donors: Stan’s Fries, Key Appliance, Freihoffers, Cervesas, Pour House Pub, The Apple Farm, Harvest Moon Deli, Computer Improvements, Rebecca Cayford, ESQ, Rita’s Pizza, Johnny’s Seeds, Emery’s Meats, China Way, Pizza Hut, Autozone, Tin Knocker Signworks, and The Magic of Conjuring Carroll.

Former China Dine-ah to become daycare

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China Dine-ah on Lakeview Drive in China.

by Mary Grow

The former China Dine-ah, on Lakeview Drive (Route 202), which was closed by the pandemic in the spring of 2020, is moving toward becoming a daycare called Grace’s Busy Bees, directed by Grace McIntyre.

McIntyre, building owner Norman Elvin and architect David Landmann described plans to the China Planning Board at its June 25 meeting and received prompt and unanimous approval.

Board members considered the minimal external changes, the lack of impacts on neighbors and the local publicity the change has received and decided no public hearing was needed. They found the plan meets all ordinance requirements.

Board chairman Toni Wall issued the usual reminder that the decision is subject to appeal within 30 days.

The daycare will add a playground behind the building, away from Route 202. Elvin intends to build a six-foot cedar fence between the playground and the neighboring house.

Another change he plans is clearing brush along the road to improve visibility from the driveway.

Landmann said the fire alarm system has been upgraded and additional exits provided. He pointed out that state requirements the building met for a restaurant – like the septic system, which Elvin said had been thoroughly checked recently – were even more strict than requirements for a daycare.

The commercial kitchen in the building will be removed as part of a comprehensive interior renovation. Elvin said before the China Dine-ah opened, the building had been gutted, removing anything that might contain asbestos or lead.

The business needs approval from the state Department of Human Services and the state Fire Marshal. Landmann said both applications are pending.

McIntyre hopes to open Grace’s Busy Bees when school starts in the fall. She has applied for a maximum of 65 children to start, tentatively planning for up to 100 children in the future. Hours will be 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The June 25 planning board agenda included review of two existing ordinances and proposals for three new ones. Board members postponed continued discussion of China’s Land Use Ordinance and an update of the town’s marijuana ordinance.

Also scheduled for future discussion, as Wall and others collect more information and samples from other Maine towns, are:

— A Condemning Places ordinance that would allow town officials to determine a building unfit for human habitation;
— A Mass Gathering ordinance to define and regulate temporary events that draw large crowds; and
— On town attorney Amanda Meader’s recommendation, a Site Plan Review ordinance.

The next China Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 9.

KICK FOR CASS (2024): Annual 11-Hour continuous soccer game planned for July 13

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Cassidy Charette, right, with then-teammate Katie Mercier. (contributed photo)

Over 500 players, including 17 high school soccer teams from around the state, will join the 11-hour, continuous soccer game “Kick For Cass” on Saturday, July 13, at Thomas College, in Waterville. The annual event is held in memory of Cassidy Charette, former midfielder for Messalonskee High School Girls Soccer who wore the #11 jersey before her passing in a tragic hayride accident on October 11, 2014.

Cassidy Charette

Kick For Cass will welcome back high school soccer teams, playing from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., in a round-robin play day. From 3 to 7 p.m., community teams of club soccer, adult leagues, local organizations, Cassidy’s friends and neighbors, and her former soccer teammates will round out the final hours.

Kick for Cass is presented by Golden Pond Wealth Management, Central Maine Motors Auto Group, Kennebec Savings Bank, Hammond Lumber, Surette Real Estate, Central Maine United Soccer, and host, Thomas College. The event is also supported by Field Sponsors Camden National Bank and Darci and Dana Michaud. Proceeds from the event will support the CMU ShineOnCass Soccer Scholarship.

The final hour of Kick for Cass will have a walk-out ceremony and a friendly competition between Cassidy’s former soccer teammates from Messalonskee High School vs. her Central Maine United Premiere Soccer team, from 6 to 7 p.m.

Spectators are welcome all day. Hero’s On Wheels Food Truck will sell food from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Messalonskee Robotics Club will provide concessions throughout the event. Inclement weather date is Sunday, July 14. For more information visit shineoncass.org, or email shineoncass@gmail.com.

China Lake alewife restoration initiative receives international award

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From left to right, Landis Hudson, Nate Gray, and Matt Streeter display the award presented to the China Lake Alewife Restoration Initiative. (contributed photo)

Submitted by Landis Hudson

The China Lake Alewife Restoration Initiative, a complex, ambitious and highly collaborative project, has shown remarkable success since its completion. The effort has now received international recognition and was awarded the 2024 “Distinguished Project Award” at the recent 15th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics and Fish Passage held in Quebec City, Canada. Dating back to 2011, the annual Fish Passage Conference has brought together experts, managers, stakeholders and companies from around the world with concurrent sessions in engineering, biology, and management and social issues. One goal of the Distinguisted Projects Award is to inspire greater application of fish passage restoration, there was no cash awarded.

The goal of all China Lake Alewife Restoration Initiative was to restore fish passage to China Lake for alewives, a native migratory species. Over seven years, three dams were removed and three technical fishways were installed along the China Lake Outlet Stream. Known as the “fish that feed all” alewives are a keystone species, critical in freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, valuable throughout the land and waters of the Gulf of Maine. Alewives and blueback herring are collectively known as river herring. They feed many species of birds, including eagles and osprey, numerous other fish species, bear, raccoons, foxes, whales, haddock and cod. When the run is fully approved as being sustainable, a harvest can take place to benefit the Town.

In 2022, for the first time since the colonial era, native migratory alewives were able to make their way freely from the ocean to China Lake to spawn and they did so in large numbers—837,964 adults were counted as they entered the lake. Their offspring, young alewives, then made their way safely downstream and out to the ocean where they will live for four years before returning to freshwater to spawn. The results were remarkable in 2023 when a total of 1,943,733 adult alewives were counted entering the lake, even more remarkable in 2024 when 3,282,720 fish we tallied coming into the lake. In a letter confirming the size of the 2023 run, Nate Gray, key project partner and scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, noted:

“The re-establishment of a river herring run of this magnitude is a rare bird after a 239-year absence. A hearty congratulations is in order for Maine Rivers and all the partners involved in this ambitious project!”

Landis Hudson, Maine Rivers Executive Director, and Matt Streeter, Alewife Restoration Initiative Project Manager. were in Quebec City to accept the award on behalf of the many partners who came together over the course of the undertaking. Partners and project supporters included: Natural Resource Conservation Service, Town of Vassalboro, Town of China, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Maine Natural Resources Conservation Program, Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, Kennebec Savings Bank, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Sebasticook Regional Land Trust, China Region Lakes Alliance, China Lake Association and its members, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Community Foundation, The Nature Conservancy in Maine, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an Anonymous Foundation, and many generous individuals.

PHOTOS: Dirigo Lodge #104 gives away Bikes for Books

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Members of Dirigo Lodge #104, from left to right, Tom Squires, Sheldon Goodine, Len Goodine, Jason DeMerchant and Michael Falla. (photo courtesy of Sheldon Goodine)

Dirigo Lodge #104, of Weeks Mills, recently presented 20 bicycles to students at the Windsor Elementary School in their sponsored Bikes for Books program. Every student is awarded a ticket for each book they read to be entered into a drawing for the bicycle give-away. This marked the 12th year the Dirigo Lodge sponsored the program.

(photo courtesy of Sheldon Goodine)

Vassalboro Methodist Church receives community building grant

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Vassalboro United Methodist Church at 614 Main Street/Route 32. (contributed photo)

The Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC) has received a $10,000 grant from the Community Building 2024 fund of the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF). VUMC welcomes and offers services and support to all people. This grant will help improve accessibility to VUMC programs and services throughout the building and community.

In 1988 VUMC was constructed on Route 32, in Vassalboro, when the old and outdated Methodist churches in North and East Vassalboro villages were discontinued. The new church created a community center for people of Vassalboro and surrounding towns who come to attend Sunday services, special programs, concerts, public suppers and more. In addition VUMC members provide outreach through participation in the Vassalboro fuel fund, food pantry, senior programs, Scouting, kids’ scholarships to Camp Mechuwana, in Winthrop, and by delivering welcome baskets to new residents. VUMC also organizes and publishes a community calendar each year, and delivers them door to door throughout town.

VUMC is working towards broadening accessibility to all their programs and services by adding a lift/elevator between the sanctuary and fellowship hall; installing audio-visual equipment and internet capability for remote access to services; and updating other safety features throughout the building. Donations to assist VUMC in those efforts are greatly appreciated and can be mailed to 614 Main Street with a notation “for accessibility project.”

“The Methodist Church seeks, welcomes and nurtures all people,” said Harvey Boatman, project coordinator. “With so many churches having closed their doors, or in danger of it, including here in our own town, we recognize more than ever the importance of VUMC remaining a vital presence for those who wish to worship on Sundays or be a part of a faith community in some way or another. This project will help VUMC maintain that presence while building a stronger foundation for accessibility and future growth.”

All are welcome to VUMC, 10:00 a.m., Sunday services, at 614 Main Street/route 32. Public suppers take place in the church fellowship hall every third Saturday 4:30 – 6 p.m. Senior public luncheons for 55+ year olds are held in collaboration with the Vassalboro Recreation Department every second Wednesday 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m.

FMI visit Vassalboro United Methodist Church on Facebook or contact Pastor Karen Merrill at (207) 873-5564.

Bridge construction update

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Please find below the anticipated traffic impacts and bridge closures for the week of June 24.

Note: the info published has been provided to the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and is accurate to the best of our knowledge. It is subject to sudden change based on staffing, weather, supply chain, etc.

Cianbro, of Pittsfield, the contractor, anticipates continuing eastbound left lane closures on the Ticonic Bridge project on various Monday-Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. depending on conditions.

Drivers are encouraged to drive cautiously, observe signage in the work zone, and reduce speed inside the work zone. Westbound travelers should continue to utilize the posted westbound detour.

Cianbro also reminds the traveling public of the following:

– ALL sidewalks on the Ticonic Bridge are closed for the safety of the public.
– Pedestrians should continue to use the pedestrian detour across the Two Cent Bridge. Pedestrians should not be walking around barricades, down the active lanes, in lane closures, or inside the work zone.
– Portable message boards and construction signing will continue to be used to provide advance warning and directions for the westbound detour route.

URGENT SAFETY REMINDER:

It is unlawful and unsafe to traverse the river via the rail bridge. Pedestrians have been observed doing so and are reminded of the dangers of such activity. Pedestrians must utilize the Two Cent Bridge for foot traffic.

Information provided by Mike Rocque – Consolidated Communications.

Area boy scouts do training in the woods

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Course Director Christopher Santiago, left, of Vassalboro, and Gearry Judkins, of Farmington, review the ITOLS syllabus during a break between sessions. Bryan Vick, of Waterville, not pictured, also helped with the program. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Area adult leaders in Scouting, and some from as far away as Rangeley, Kittery and Melrose, Massachusetts, took part in a weekend training course held at Camp Bomazeen on May 17 and 18 designed to make them better leaders by giving them confidence with their outdoor skills.

Outdoor adventure is the promise made to a child when they join Scouting. The Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (ITOLS) is a fun-filled program of hands-on skills training in the outdoors, designed to help leaders in Scout Troops master basic camp skills required for Tenderfoot to First Class.

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) is the equivalent training for those working with Cub Scout-aged youth. The courses teach such things as outdoor cooking, map and compass, rope use, conducting safe campfires, hiking and backpacking, First Aid and Outdoor Ethics. The goal is to provide first-hand experiences so Scouting leaders can teach these skills to their Scouts. Course Director Chris Santiago of Vassalboro said, “It is important to teach these types of courses because Scouting is about being outdoors. Both ITOLS and BALOO help Scouters understand and guide them to the best practices of the BSA, and help Scouters become the best outdoor skilled version of themselves so they can share and deliver a quality program to our Scouts.”

Camp Bomazeen, located on Great Pond, in Belgrade, is the ideal outdoor setting for adults or youth to develop such skills that will serve them well through life. Gearry Judkins, Scoutmaster of Troop #546, in Farmington, would agree as he has spent three weekends in a row at Bomazeen for various Scouting events and was one of the ITOLS instructors.

Nathaniel Bacon is an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop #111, in Auburn, and was another instructor. “There is so much value in these programs,” Bacon said.

Dan Gacki, of Dallas Plantation, is not even registered in Scouting yet but felt it was important to take the course. “I am looking to start a Troop in Rangeley and I love the outdoors,” Gacki said. He traveled more than an hour to attend. Dale Leonard and Aaorn Whitman are Den Leaders in Kittery Pack #316 and also had long drives to attend. “I joined Scouts so I could find any excuse to get me and my family outside,” Leonard said. “The thing I love about Scouting,” Whitman added, “is being out in nature and being active.” Jeremy Seeley is a Den Leader of Cub Scout Pack #202, Topsham and agreed, “I really enjoy being outdoors and that is what Scouting is all about.”

Nick MacDonald spent nearly three hours on the road to get to Bomazeen. He is a Den Leader in Cub Scout Pack #615 out of Melrose, Massachusetts. He saw the event advertised on Facebook and came to complete the BALOO course.

Lou Garza is a parent volunteer with Scout Troop #805 in Windham. “I’m here to learn some stuff,” Garzia said. And experienced Scouting leaders like Kelly Deprez, Chartered Organization Representative for Cub Scout Pack #85, in Gorham, was happy to teach subjects such as knife skills and how to conduct an interfaith service for the BALOO course.

Chris Santiago is also Scoutmaster of Vassalboro Troop #410 and finds he learns from the students while teaching. “My favorite part of the course is meeting Scouters both new and experienced from across our district, across our council, and from outside of our council because you get to learn about them, their experiences, and most importantly become colleagues who may be a resource for you down the road.”

Some training courses are required in Scouting. Youth Protection training, for example, is required for all BSA registered volunteers and is a joining requirement that must be retaken every two years (annually for leaders in Maine’s Pine Tree Council which covers the Western and Southern half of state). Additionally, it is required in Pine Tree Council that all Cubmasters and Scoutmasters complete the Basic Leader Training and all assistant Scoutmasters and Assistant Cubmasters starting in 2025. Each pack or troop must have someone trained in BALOO or ITOLS and they must have at least two registered leaders who have completed Youth Protection Training in order to go camping.

Much of the emphasis in Scouting is as Baden Powell, founder of Scouting worldwide, intended. To challenge the youth in outdoor settings so as to help develop their character and train them to serve. As Powell said, “Teach Scouts not how to get a living, but how to live.”

Erskine Renaissance awards presented

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Seniors of the trimester, from left to right, Aaralyn Gagnon, Simon Clark, Noah Crummett, and Brody Loiko. (contributed photo)

On Friday, June 7, Erskine Academy students and staff, in South China, attended a Renaissance Assembly to honor their peers with Renaissance Awards.

Recognition awards were presented to the following students Katie Shaw, Connor Alcott, Lucas Berto, Lacey Arp, Tristan Anderson, and Stephanie Kumnick.

In addition to recognition awards, Senior of the Trimester Awards were also presented to four members of the senior class: Brody Loiko, son of Ben and Libby Loiko, of Vassalboro, and Mindy and Mike Mathieu, of Augusta; Noah Crummett, son of Monique and Justin Crummet, of Windsor; Simon Clark, son of Stacy and Christopher Clark, of China; and Aaralyn Gagnon, daughter of Todd and Lauren Gagnon, of Vassalboro. Seniors of the Trimester are recognized as individuals who have gone above and beyond in all aspects of their high school careers.

In appreciation of their dedication and service to Erskine Academy, Faculty of the Trimester awards were also presented to Dean McCaslin, bus driver; and Heather Shute, mathematics instructor.

Faculty of the trimester, Heather Shute, left, and Dean McCaslin. (contributed photo)

EVENTS: A China school reunion planned for July 18

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photo source: JMG.org

by Bob Bennett

As we all know, history cannot be changed and, sometimes unfortunately, it can be repeated in a negative sense. But most important of all, it must never be forgotten. This is one of the primary goals of our now, solidly in place, China Historical Society, and to follow that path we are going to coordinate an event with our annual meeting on Thursday, July 18. Since this is the 75th anniversary of the opening of the consolidated China School, we intend to hold our meeting at the present Middle School, on Lakeview Drive, and follow that event with a reunion of China students who attended the school from as far back as we can find them up to and including the present day.

While some of the fine points of this plan still need to be worked out, it is receiving strong support from RSU #18. While we realize that folks who switched to the school when it opened in 1949, from the numerous “neighborhood” facilities, are pretty well along in years, we hope there are a few who might be willing to share their memories of this change, which must have been dramatic to say the least.

Even though my personal ties to China only go back 42 years, I know several folks who started their education, as did most of us, at age 5 or 6, here in town in the early 1950s. Richard Dillenbeck, of the first class, is one of those and he has agreed to be the featured speaker for the discussion. If you readers have knowledge of other individuals who might be willing to share their memories and experiences in the new building, please inform them of our plan and have them reserve the date and a time frame of 6 to 6:30 p.m. We also would like to do a tour of the Middle School to allow those earlier “residents” who haven’t been inside for a while and all others to see the huge changes that have occurred in the five room original structure with a kitchen in the basement.

So, in conclusion, we will use The Town Line and social media sites related to China to keep everyone up to date and work to make this a memorable activity; stay tuned!