Anson woman celebrates 100th birthday

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Arlene Hoyt, of Anson (contributed photo)

On February 13, 2021, members of the American Legion Auxiliary, Madison Unit #39 celebrated the 100th birthday of member Arlene Hoyt, of Anson. The members, along with Anson Fire Department, AMS ambulance and members of the community, did a drive by parade. Arlene was presented a certificate for 32 years of continuous membership of the American Legion Auxiliary, a Legislative Sentiment, flowers and many, many cards. She was presented the Boston Post Cane back in March 2014 as being the oldest resident of Anson (then 93 years old) for which she still holds that title.

ICE OUT 2021? Take a guess. Win a prize!

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SEND US YOUR BEST ICE OUT GUESS FOR 2021

Write down your best guess (one per person) and send it to The Town Line, PO Box 89, South China, ME 04358, or email us at townline@townline.org with the subject “ICE OUT 2021“. If more than one person guesses the correct date, a drawing will be held to determine the winner. Get your guess to The Town Line office by noon, Friday, March 19, 2021.

Email: townline@townline.org. Or use our Contact Us page!

PRIZE: To be determined

The records below, of ice out dates on China Lake, were provided by China residents Bill Foster, Captain James Allen and Theresa Plaisted.

Bill Foster brought in the ice out dates from 1874 to 1883. They came from a 215-page log/diary. In the log/diary are recorded the comings and goings from 1870 to 1883 of the F. O. Brainard Store, as well as personal notations of special and everyday events.

Captain James Allen brought in the ice out dates from 1901 to 1948. They had been recorded on the outhouse wall of the old Farnsworth house, also located in China Village.

Theresa Plaisted brought in the ice out dates from 1949 to 1991. She explained to us that a friend and neighbor, Ben Dillenbeck, had kept the record on his cellarway wall until his death on December 12, 1987.

Theresa transcribed Mr. Dillenbeck’s record and has kept the record up to date ever since.

This year, we will be checking China Lake to determine the official date for “Ice Out” in 2020. We will not be looking in hard-to-access areas for that very last crystal to melt, so the definition of “Ice Out,” for the purpose of this contest, is: “When, to the best judgment of the assigned viewer, the surface of the lake appears to be free of ice.” The judge’s decision is final.

Can you guess the day The Town Line declares China Lake free of ice?

Ice Out dates for the last 147 years!

1874 – April 22
1875 – May 6
1876 – April 30
1877 – April 16
1878 – April 12
1879 – May 3
1880 – April 21
1881 – April 19
1883 – April 29
1901 – March 27
1921 – March 28
1932 – April 27
1933 – April 20
1934 – April 19
1935 – April 25
1936 – April 4
1937 – April 20
1938 – April 20
1939 – May 4
1941 – April 16
1945 – April 2
1947 – April 12
1948 – April 8
1949 – April 6
1950 – April 14
1951 – April 9
1952 – April 19
1953 – March 19
1954 – April 19
1955 – April 13
1956 – April 27
1957 – April 10
1958 – April 16
1959 – April 22
1960 – April 21
1961 – April 30
1962 – April 20
1963 – April 22
1964 – April 21
1965 – April 18
1966 – April 18
1967 – April 29
1968 – April 13
1969 – April 23
1970 – April 23
1971 – April 30
1972 – May 1
1973 – April 8
1974 – April 2
1975 – April 23
1976 – April 11
1977 – April 18
1978 – April 21
1979 – April 12
1980 – April 10
1981 – March 18
1982 – April 22
1983 – April 1
1984 – April 17
1985 – April 6
1986 – April 8
1987 – April 6
1988 – April 6
1989 – April 22
1990 – April 11
1991 – April 8
1992 – April 15
1993 – April 21
1994 – April 20
1995 – April 9
1996 – April 5
1997 – April 23
1998 – April 9
1999 – April 2
2000 – April 4
2001 – April 27
2002 – April 6
2003 – April 21
2004 – April 14
2005 – April 16
2006 – March 26
2007 – April 23
2008 – April 17
2009 – April 11
2010 – March 19
2011 – April 17
2012 – March 21
2013 – April 6
2014 – April 19
2015 – April 22
2016 – March 15
2017 – April 17
2018 – April 23
2019 – April 12
2020 – March 27
2021 – ??????

St. Patrick was quite colorful and full of drama

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by Gary Kennedy

The humble beginnings of Saint Patrick were actually not as humble as some would have us believe, and was actually quite colorful and full of drama. While I was researching the person, I couldn’t help but imagine that what we do and do not know for sure is stuff from which movies are made. St. Patrick’s family was considered wealthy. Historical writers show much confusion and inconsistency in their research of St. Patrick.

It is believed that our saint was born sometime in the late fourth century. We do have fact-based material that shows him doing missionary work in the early fifth century, in Ireland. Of all of the Saints I have looked at, St. Patrick’s life has more ambiguity than any other. There are so many voids. His name at birth was Maewyn Succot. It seems I have a lot more Irish in me than our Saint could compare. That’s a bad example as I am almost totally Irish. St. Patrick’s parents were citizens of Rome living in Britain where St. Patrick was born. There is even some ambiguity over his parent’s nationalities. It seems pretty conclusive that St. Patrick’s father was Italian but there is some evidence that his mother came from France. So, if this is all true that would make St. Patrick and his sister, Darerca, British citizens, of Italian-French decent having been born in Great Britain. Also, you might find it interesting to know that Darerca also became a saint. So, if this is all true, we have two saints that we have believed were Irish who were in all probability part Italian and part French. There was also a child born from Darerca which became a saint bestowed by St. Patrick. This all sounds very strange and even researchers disagree with bits and pieces including the spelling of St. Patrick’s last name (Succot or Sukkot). There may have been another female sibling who mothered the child mentioned, not Darerca.

The religious pathway is believable as St. Patrick’s father was a clergyman and his grandfather was a priest. Because St. Patrick’s adult life began at age 16, his educational life was not really exceptional. We know he spoke the British language and it is reported he eventually was able to speak Gaelic. Beyond that we have no knowledge. He could have acquired his father’s and/or his mother’s native tongue but we have nothing that tells us this. Also, at this point in time in Ireland, the Isles, you had the Gauls, Celts and several other tribal entities speaking different languages. Not having an extended education most likely made it a little difficult for Saint Patrick. Somehow he was able to communicate.

It was a violent time in the British Isles during these times and wide open for God. Christianity was a hard sell but it came to pass because of the St. Patrick’s of the time. Saint Patrick became Ireland’s patron saint. Saint Patrick didn’t leave much behind in writing for us to fill in the gaps. A couple of things you could research are the Confession which is a spiritual autobiography and his letter to Coroticus, a letter denouncing the British mistreatment of Irish Christians. As we know, this lasted for centuries and to this day still has left a bad taste in the mouths of many of Irish and Irish/English blood. We have a North and South Ireland today. Religious and territorial possessions were the key players here.

American immigrants were largely responsible for the secular transformation of St. Patrick’s Day and its being disregarded as religious. (Secular transformation to all things Irish). Boston was first; it held its Saint Patrick’s Day parade in 1737; next came New York City in 1762. The color blue was the original color of St. Patrick’s Day. That changed with Chicago dying its river green in 1962. I actually remember that. That color stuck to this day. St. Patrick was responsible for the “three leaf clover,” which became Ireland’s national flower. As explained to me, the clover usually has three leafs and the stalk as its foundation. Eventually, someone discovered that there was an occasional four leaf clover and dubbed it a lucky clover. This erased the religion from the original clover (Trinity). Luck and religion are not compatible.

There are so many versions of St. Patrick’s Day and the addendums that are attached. It is fun reading and researching all the different possibilities surrounding this saintly family as well. Enough has been either lost or not documented to allow this saint and holiday to be a part of a great mystery. Well, there are some things that I know, such as Saint Patrick’s Day involves eating, some of my favorite foods such as corned beef with cabbage, potatoes, carrots and boiled onions. It’s also Irish and smeared with Boston.

Saint Patrick and some of his companions would have starved to death on one of his adventures had it not been for a bunch of wild pigs crossing their path. So, I will assume that ham came into the picture from that occurrence. We also have a finishing touch of bread pudding with cow’s cream, very popular in this beautiful country. Of course, most of us don’t make those sorts of things anymore. I still do a little. I guess you just have to be old to appreciate those things.

So, in conclusion, I will mention that St. Patrick was given credit for driving all the snakes out of Ireland. There really are none there. He brought light to the three-leaf clover and its relationship to the Trinity. He receives the credit for bringing Christianity to Ireland and taught and appointed many clergy. He also gets notable credit for separating the men and ladies (Priest / Nuns).

Well, my friends and neighbors, I would like to wish you all a very happy St. Patrick’s Day, and I know that those of us that write for your enjoyment here at The Town Line wish you and yours a wonderful Saint Patrick Day.

Take care, stay safe and God Bless.

Waterville Creates to receive 2021 Excellence in Arts Advocacy award

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Waterville Creates (WC) will receive the 2021 Excellence in Arts Advocacy Award from the Maine Art Education Association. A formal, state-wide recognition ceremony will take place virtually on Saturday, March 13, 2021, and will be hosted by the Portland Museum of Art. The Maine Art Education Association is a statewide professional organization whose members are committed to excellence in visual arts education.

“This is a testament to your exemplary contributions to support visual arts education. We applaud your leadership, commitment and service to the support of arts education,” says Lynda Leonas, president of the Maine Art Education Association of Portland.

Waterville Creates develops and delivers a wide array of arts education and outreach programs that serve Waterville area residents and their families. WC works with a host of organizational partners to maximize its reach and ensure access for a broad array of community members. “Waterville Creates envisions a community where everyone has access to – and takes part in – high quality and lifelong learning experiences in the arts. This recognition from the Maine Art Education Association is a tremendous acknowledgment of our programmatic efforts,” says Shannon Haines, President + CEO of Waterville Creates.

Led by Education + Outreach Coordinator, Serena Sanborn, WC reimagined existing programs and developed new initiatives to keep the community connected and engaged in the arts through the pandemic. Sanborn virtually hosted numerous art classes and camps through WC’s Facebook page, spearheaded the collaborative Art Kits for All program, which has distributed over 3,500 art kits to area families, and hosted WC’s video series, On the Road.

Mia Dawbin Pine Tree Council’s first female Eagle Scout

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Mia Dawbin, of Sidney Boys Scout Troop #1776, became the first female Eagle Scout in Maine. (contributed photo)

Member of Sidney’s Boy Scout Troop #1776

by Chuck Mahaleris

Mia Dawbin, of Troop #1776, in Sidney, is the first female Eagle Scout from the Pine Tree Council which covers half of the state of Maine.

Dawbin, daughter of Karinna and George “Butch” Dawbin, of West Gardiner, had her Eagle Scout Board of Review on February 8 where she met with Scouting volunteers who reviewed her Scouting career including her leadership positions within the troop, merit badges earned, challenges along the way and her Eagle Scout Service Project during which she found a need, led a team of volunteers and performed 265 hours while putting together care packages for those staying in local shelters. Her Eagle Scout application has since been approved both locally and nationally and she is part of the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts.

“Mia is a trailblazer, role model, and mentor to the girls in our troop,” Scoutmaster of Troop #1776 Danielle Hileman said. “She has shown in her daily life and community involvement what it truly means to be an Eagle Scout. We are so proud of her and her accomplishments.”

Mia spoke about her Eagle Scout project: “Each volunteer was wearing a mask and gloves to help make sure there was no risk of spreading Covid-19. Buying shampoo, conditioner, and sanitizer by the gallon was far less expensive than buying individual bottles, so I had lots of help from volunteers to divide them into four-ounce bottles. Menstrual products are among the most expensive hygiene products, so each bag for teen girls/adult women included a month or more supply of pads and/or tampons.”

“We may take a warm place to stay and toys/other fun items for granted, but not every child gets that kind of experience. Due to some really generous contributions from community members, we were able to include toys, games, puzzles, play dough, teddy bears, hats, and gloves in every child’s care package,” Dawbin said. “Each of the adult/teen masks were handmade and donated. We put a total of 370 reusable masks into 200 care packages, meaning everyone was able to receive one – two masks. The color coded bags were then sorted into deliveries for eight separate shelters based on the number of people/demographics of each. I wanted to help support the shelters since I know that the CDC guidelines make things difficult for them. So I decided to put together care packages that included reusable masks, hand sanitizer, hygiene products for one month, and a couple of other necessities to each person currently staying at each of eight area shelters including three teen shelters and two domestic violence shelters.” Her project included fundraising, public awareness, collecting items and then distributing the bags to shelters and was completed last Fall during the pandemic.

Mia’s life ambitions include attending college to study psychology, education and wilderness therapy. “As a career I am most interested in becoming a child/school psychologist or working in the wilderness therapy field.”

“For the past few years I’ve really enjoyed working in the Nechemis Program (new Scouts) at Camp Bomazeen, which I intend to continue in the near future. I’ve also liked being a part of National Youth Leadership Training staff for the 2019 course which was held at Camp Bomazeen.” At Maine Connections Academy, she has served as President of the National Honor Society.

Her mom, Karinna Dawbin, said, “I am so excited for the first female Eagle Scout in K-Valley, and as far as I know, the first one in Maine! This girl works so hard to do her best in everything she does. She’s been handed so many obstacles, but she doesn’t let anything stop her from achieving her dreams.”

Luanne Chesley, Advancement Chairman for Kennebec Valley District, organized Mia’s Board of Review. “Becoming an Eagle Scout is the highest honor in Scouting and it’s not just given to you. Mia never looked at challenges while working on her achievement as obstacles. She kept following her dream to be a part of her family’s long line of Eagle Scouts and everything it stands for. Mia is a true role model for others to look up to and admire. Mia is now a marked woman. An Eagle Scout.”

211 Maine Management moves to 50 Elm Street, in Waterville

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211 Maine, a statewide initiative providing access to health and human services, has announced the relocation of its management office to 50 Elm Street, in Waterville, after the sale of the United Way building at 150 Kennedy Memorial Drive. The new office is co-located with the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, Central Maine Growth Council, Maine Technology Institute (MTI), and Coastal Enterprise Institute’s (CEI) Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Trout stocking sale underway; Pre-order deadline is May 19

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Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District (KLSWCD) is once again sponsoring an annual trout stocking sale for your home or farm pond. They offer two sizes, 4 – 6-inch rainbow trout and 7 – 9-inch brook trout, as well as oxygen bags that hold up to 50 fish. Minimum order is $50.

To order, you must have a current stocking permit from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W). Permit applications must be on file with KLSWCD before May 19. Please allow two weeks for IF&W to process your application. Permit applications and trout order forms are available on the KLSWCD website at http://www.knox-lincoln.org/trout-sale or contact them to receive one by mail.

Trout sale pre-order deadline is May 19 with pick-up at noon on Wednesday, May 26, at the District Office, located at 893 West St. (Rt 90), in Rockport.

For more information, visit: https://www.knox-lincoln.org/trout-sale, call 596-2040, or email rebecca@knox-lincoln.org.

Gibbs Library to host local ecologist

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Gibbs Library in Washington, ME. (photo from: librarything.com)

Gibbs Library will be hosting local ecologist Shri Verrill for a presentation and discussion about the new Maine Climate Plan. The Maine Climate Council submitted their final plans to the legislature and Gov­ernor Janet Mills in December. The program will introduce audience members to climate change in Maine, the goals and solutions recommended in the Maine Climate Plan, and what’s needed to put the plan in motion to benefit people and the environment. There will be time for questions following the presentation.

Shri Verrill

Shri Verrill is a wetland scientist and field botanist with a master of science degree in biology from the University of Maine. Her thesis research focused on coastal salt marsh, estuarine ecology, and tidal restoration as a model for sea-level-rise. Shri has worked with communities in southern, Downeast, and currently, midcoast Maine to implement fish passage, salt marsh, tidal, and estuarine restoration.

Join her on Sunday, March 7, from 3 – 4 p.m., for the online event.

The event is free and meant for a general audience. Registration is required, and you can register for the online event at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApfuqsqj4iGtbPdqU9OC0PiT7wNndgqnGa.

 

 

Benton resident celebrates 102nd birthday

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Charlie Kent, of Benton, at his 102nd birthday. (contributed photo)

Born during a pandemic, Charlie Kent has witnessed the evolution of modern America

Submitted by daughter Ellie Peavey

“Fifteen two, fifteen four, fifteen six, a double run for sixteen and right jack for seventeen.” What is this you ask? It’s how Charles Kent, of Benton, celebrated his 102nd birthday—winning many cribbage games against various family members.

According to Ellie, his eldest daughter from Syracuse, New York, he’s a master at pegging points throughout every game he plays. Charlie, as he is fondly known by his friends, has passed along his love of cribbage, not only to his children, but his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, several who were honored to play with him over his recent birthday weekend.

Charlie enjoying a dance with his beloved Nina, who shared 65 years of marriage. (contributed photo)

Another talent he has shared with his children is his love of dancing. He met Nina Bailey, the love of his life, on a dance floor and they danced throughout their 65-plus years of marriage. They could really “cut up the rug” dancing the Charleston, a popular dance during the roaring ‘20s. As master and Ceres, respectively, of Benton Grange for years, Charlie and Nina ran public Saturday night dances. Line dances like the Boston Fancy and Haymakers Gig were favorites, but none could take front and center when Charlie and Nina floated across the floor dancing the elegant Viennese waltz.

Charlie was born during a pandemic, has lived through major agricultural, industrial and societal changes and is now enduring another pandemic. The pop-up toaster, short wave radios, and arc welders were invented in 1919 and Woodrow Wilson was his president. From tilling the land with horses to the use of GPS systems on tractors to plant and harvest huge crops, Charlie has witnessed how technology has changed the efficiency and economics of farming.

Charlie still enjoying his tractor. (contributed photos)

Charlie never really retired from 25 years of dairy farming 100 acres of land and milking 80 head of cattle, as he continued selling hay for another ten years and now assists his youngest son, Dennis, with his hay business by baling every summer, including last summer, and repairing machinery. This is all after working 14 years as a diesel locomotive mechanic in the piping department for the Central Maine Railroad (CMR). When laid off from the CMR in the 1940s he worked in the Fairfield Woolen Mill.

Early in his work career he was a butcher and ran a meat cart, drove a milk truck for $2/day, pumped 10 gallons gas/$1, worked in the woods and for a man with a portable saw mill, and sold wood for $6/cord, worked in a candy factory, picked potatoes and served as Benton Methodist Church janitor, among other odd jobs.

Few towns have had the good fortune of having such a dedicated servant as Charles is to his beloved town of Benton. One of his many contributions to the town include serving as its first selectman for 28 years (assuming the role of overseer of the poor and road commissioner many of these years). During this tenure he established and chaired the town planning board and was a member of the town budget committee.

Among his major accomplishments include initiating construction of the eight-room elementary school with gymnasium in 1957, for $95,000, including donations of land, time, equipment and money; replacing 14 wells in 1973 by hooking up a public water line from China Lake to the town with $28,000 of state funding; securing a $100,000 grant and a $100,000 FHA loan when needed to install secondary lines to the main sewer connector lines to complete secondary sewer lines enabling Benton to join the Kennebec Sanitary Treatment District; constructing a salt and sand shed; building a new town hall.

His representation on the Farm Bureau and Maine Municipal Association legislative committees while serving two years in the 101st Maine Legislature as the welfare committee chairman benefitted the townships of Albion, Benton, Clinton, Sidney and Unity greatly. He is proud to have received the Boston Post Gold Cane as the oldest resident in the town of Benton in 2011, and was presented an honorary Lawrence High School diploma in 2015. Other awards include 1995 Ethel Kelly Memorial Committee Award and the 1971 Maine State Grange Farm Family of the Year. Not bad for a young fella with an eighth grade education.

His civic involvement is extensive with memberships in the Fairfield Lodge of Odd Fellows; Benton and Clinton Methodist Churches; Waterville Elks B.P.O.E No. 905; Siloam Lodge No. 92; Scottish Rite Bodies, Augusta; Maine Consistory 32nd Degree, Portland; Shriners, Lewiston; Benton Grange, master for three years and conductor of the fourth degree; Kennebec Water District Water trustee, serving several times as its president.

Yeah, Charlie is still living quite the life with his youngest son, Dennis and daughter-in-law, JoAnna giving him top notch daily TLC, while enjoying the technology of occasional FaceTime with his four children, ten grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren from Maine to California.

If anyone has a little time on their hands, stop by and challenge Charlie in a friendly game of cribbage. Hint, hint — better check your counting skills before you come. :-) If cribbage is not your game, he’ll challenge you to a game of horseshoes or shuffleboard. (Don’t plan on winning those, either. Ha! Ha!)

Charlie’s extended family on the occasion of his 100th birthday. (contributed photos)

New signs at China School’s Forest

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Susan Cottle, Maine Master Naturalist (contributed photo)

Susan Cottle, Maine Master Naturalist graduate 2020, recently installed interpretive signs at the China School’s Forest. The Tree Trail ID signs were created as her capstone project for the year-long course that began in Waterville and moved on-line during the COVID-19 pandemic. Susan surveyed and identified a variety of trees along the trail and then researched the different species. Each sign features identification marks and fun “did you know?” facts. The metal signs were made by Leighton Signworks in Oakland, ME. Susan plans to add more signs to the Tree Trail this spring and hopes to offer some tree ID programming for the general public in the future. Information provided by Anita Smith, MMN 2014, and steward for the China School’s Forest.