Isaiah Vear, 14, right, attends the Waterville Alternative School. He recently constructed seven cat houses to help the Humane Society Waterville Area, where they will be placed in areas so cats can go to keep warm during the winter. With Isaiah is his teacher, Jessica Jones, at the Waterville Alternative School. (Photo courtesy of Central Maine Photography)
by Sandra IsaacThe China Four Seasons Club and the China Village Fire Department will be holding the 2nd annual China Lake Ice Fishing Derby on Sunday, February 14. This year’s event will feature catches from China Lake only, a change from last year where it was opened to all state waters.
“We are hoping that by 2022, we can make this a weekend festival event similar to China Days in the summer,” said China Four Seasons Club President Tom Rumpf. “Weigh-in time is the same as last year, 4 p.m. Entries must be in the Fire Station Building [on Causeway Road] by that time to qualify for a prize.” Last year’s biggest catch of the day was a largemouth bass weighing over five pounds. “This year we added a prize for the largest fish of the day. The Lunker of the Day will win $200 for top prize.”
Prizes will be awarded in the following fish categories: large and smallmouth bass, brown trout, brook trout, and pickerel. The children’s category will be perch. Kids prizes will be awarded to the top five winners with the most perch caught.
Each child who participates in the derby will receive special takeaway gifts courtesy of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, in South China. These items will be given out at the fire station starting at 7 a.m. on the day of the derby. In addition, Central Church will be set up in front of the Landing Restaurant on Causeway Road to work with kids who are new to fishing and will supply those kids with traps and bait.
“We will also be giving away over 15 door prizes including a new auger from Buckshot Powersports, 100 gallons of heating fuel from AFC, plus many gift certificates from local businesses,” said Rumpf.
Rumpf continued, “The China Lake Ice Fishing Derby is a great way for individuals and families to come out and enjoy the outdoors and be part of a China area tradition. Plus, this is also Maine’s free fishing weekend. We will be following all state-mandated guidelines, including social distancing and we will be requiring all participants to wear a face-covering when inside a building or if social distancing is not possible.”
Tickets are available for $5 a piece or three for $10 at many local stores including KC Auto, in Vassalboro, Tobey’s Grocery, Greg’s Place, Buckshot Powersports, China Variety & Redemption, Lakeview Lumber, Joseph’s Market, in Waterville, and Harvest Time Baits, in Winslow. You can also purchase tickets from members of the China Four Seasons Club and the China Village Fire Department.
The organizers have set up a Facebook page to share information on door prizes, sponsors, ticket information, and for sharing photos. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/China-Lake-Ice-Fishing-Derby.
Photo from Amazon
Newly-published author, Deb Brown, of Norridgewock, recently had her book, Moving To A Higher Zip-Code, a memoir about her accidental spiritual journey published and it is now available on Amazon or at Balboa Press.
There is perhaps no greater gift one person can give another than to share his or her story. This book is one of those gifts.
Moving to a Higher Zip-Code is a heartfelt and honest snapshot of one woman’s life. It is the no-holds-barred account of how Deb reached her “higher zip code” — and how you can use what she learned along the way to reach your own.
Deb Brown
Deb vulnerably shares details of a dysfunctional childhood, addictive relationships and behaviors, dark nights of the soul, family tragedy and betrayal, and more in a voice that is relatable and highly authentic. Like all of us, she stumbles and falls — but she also picks herself up in a way that is both instructional and inspirational.
Deb’s “accidental journey” is synchronistic at every turn.
Over the years she developed a passion for writing and sharing her stories. She faced her husband’s cancer in her own way while questioning the existence of God and her reason for being here. Through her challenges she kept fighting for and believing in something greater.
When she had reached perhaps the lowest points in her life she found a Unity church in the right place — at the right time. Life is like that when you are open to it.
In Moving to a Higher Zip-Code, Deb shares the wisdom and experience that opened her to self-love and self-care; learning to believe and trust in synchronicity and the universe; finding her soul mate; and ultimately discovering inner peace.
Tear back the cover of this precious gift and get lost in its pages. With each twist and turn of Deb’s “accidental journey,” as you face your own shadow and light along the way. Hopefully, you will find your own place in the world. We all deserve a higher zip code of our own.
Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village (photo courtesy of library Facebook page)
To help ward off the wintertime blues, the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village announces some programs to bring a little laughter and cheer to the community in January and February. The nostalgic themes include little known and unusual facts about Maine, reminiscing over yesterday’s sitcoms, Valentine’s Day cards for shut-ins, and an upcoming President’s Day trivia contest.
Now until February 11, the library encourages people of all ages to make or purchase Valentine’s Day Cards to help bring smiles to the hearts of elderly shut-ins in our community. To participate, please drop your card off at the library. You may bring it inside or place it in the book drop box. Donate as many as you wish and they will be distributed in time for Valentine’s Day. If you know someone who you would like to receive a card, please email the library with your request at chinalibraryacb.org.
Two lighthearted online events are coming your way from the convenience of your own device, via ZOOM. Log in on Sunday, January 30, at 2 p.m. to hear author Tim Caverly’s program, “So You Think You Know Maine!” Discover the birthplace of Bambi, ice caves, ghost railroads, pictographs, oceanic whirlpools, and tales which can only be described as classic Maine. On February 21, at 2 p.m., author Martin Gitlin brings you “A Funny Program About Funny Programs: The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time.” He will show funny snippets from beloved sitcoms, challenge patrons with sitcom trivia, and more. To attend these ZOOM events please visit chinalibrary.org for login information or email for details. Be sure to download ZOOM at https://zoom.us in advance of the program date.
The Presidents Day Trivia Contest will run from February 1 – 15. You may stop in at the library, email, or visit the website to participate. To learn more about our services and programs, please stop in, visit us at chinalibrary.org, email chinalibraracb@gmail.com, or call (207) 968-2926.
The library is open on Tuesday and Thursday, from 2 – 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sharon Hood displaying her new children’s book, Who Stole the Snowman’s Nose? (photo by Mark Huard)
Sharon Hood, local musician and radio personality of Cruisin’ Country 93.5, recently published her second children’s book Who Stole the Snowman’s Nose? this past November and it has been very well received. The book, a fictitious story about her son Anderson, tells the tale of him and his dog, Dallas, and the mystery dealing with who or what stole the carrot nose off of the snowman they had made while on February vacation from school.
Sharon says she has received many messages and emails from customers who gave the book to their children or grandchildren for a Christmas gift telling her the kids love to read it. It is geared to toward children ages 3 to 8. Elementary school teachers say it’s a perfect fit for their classroom.
“I’ve always wanted to write for children and especially read to them,” said Sharon. “When you’re reading a book to a child and you emphasize certain things – that’s when they are drawn into the story. I really hope, after the pandemic is over, that I can bring my books to libraries and classrooms and read them aloud. I want to see their faces when they discover who stole the carrot nose!” The book along with her previous, Anderson Gets a Puppy, is available on Amazon. You can also contact her on Facebook or her website for an autographed copy. She will gladly deliver those personally while also practicing social distancing.
(photo credit: Erskine Academy)
High Honors: Brooke Allen, Philip Allen, Isabella Bishop, Abbygail Blair, Everett Blair, Jane Blanchard, Christopher Bourdon, Nomi Bouwens, Samantha Box, Trevor Brockway, Ethan Cates, Anthony Chessa, Ashley Clavette, Joleigh Crockett, Cody Devaney, Jacob Devaney, Amelia Evans, Addison Gamage, Margaret Gamage, Avril Goodman, Avery Henningsen, Nathan Howell, Emma Hutchinson, Delaney Ireland, Madyx Kennedy, Kaylah Kronillis, Sierra LaCroix, Isabela Libby, Colby Lloyd, Emily Lowther, Chiara Mahoney, Jonathan Martinez, Michael Nicholas III, Ian Oliphant, Brian Ouellette Jr, Olive Padgett, Courtney Paine, Annaliese Patterson, Aiden Pettengill, Anna Pfleging, Sydni Plummer, Harry Rabideau, Kristin Ray, Allison Roddy, Joshua Tobey, Mollie Wilson, and Dylan Wing.
Honors: Mara Adams, Nicholas Barber, Paris Bedsaul, Rylee Bellemare, Johnathan Blair, David Bourgoin, Hailey Brooks, Eleanor Brown, Zoe Butler, Joshua Cowing, Nolan Cowing, Abigail Dumas, Phillips Gidney, Hailey Haskell, Braydon Hinds, Paeshance-Rae Horan, Bryan Joslyn Jr, Keith Knowles, Marina Lavadinho, Logan Lee, Joanna Linscott, Eva Malcolm, Hailey Mayo, Isaiah Michaud, Gavin Mills, Daniel Page, Isabella Parlin, Hayden Rowe, Hailey Sanborn, Paul Slimm, Hunter St. Jarre, Aarick Staples, Riley Sullivan, Logan Tenney, Jackson Tirrell, and Samuel York.
High Honors: Isaac Baker, Julia Barber, Maylien Beermann, Jacob Bentley, Autumn Boody, Lilian Bray, Emily Clark, Liberty Crockett, Gugliemi De, Isabella DeRose, Kaden Doughty, Abigail Dutton, Emma Fortin, Josette Gilman, Samantha Golden, Grace Hodgkin, Emma Jefferson, Grace Kelso, Tanner Klasson, Mallory Landry, Aidan Larrabee, Shawn Libby, David Martinez-Gosselin, Calvin Mason, Abigail Peaslee, Devon Polley, Sarah Praul, Letizia Rasch, Paige Reed, Riley Reitchel, Parker Reynolds, Mackenzie Roderick, Abbey Searles, Andrew Shaw, Hannah Soule, Hannah Strout-Gordon, and Lily Vinci.
Honors: Elliott Atwood, Alana Beggs, Gabriella Berto-Blagdon, Jack Blais, Evan Butler, Jasmine Crommett, Colby Cunningham, Luke Desmond, Alexander Drolet, Chase Folsom, Wyatt French, Ciera Hamar, Trace Harris, Larissa Haskell, Isaac Hayden, Timothy Hinckley, Hannah Huff, Rachel Huntoon, Taidhgin Kimball, Lili Lefebvre, Madison Lully, Hunter Marr, Wes McGlew, Kaden McIntyre, Christian Moon, Rebecca Morton, Adam Ochs, Brady O’Connor, Kaden Plourde, Lilly Potter, Julian Reight, Ely Rideout, Kadince Rideout, Shawn Searles, Natalie Spearin, Lily Thompson, and Emily York.
High Honors: Carson Appel, Andrew Bentley, Abigail Beyor, Eve Boatright, Angel Bonilla, Katherine Bourdon, Breckon Davidson, Nicole DeMerchant, Lillian Dorval, MaKayla Gagnon, Loralei Gilley, Alivia Gower, Cooper Grondin, Elizabeth Hardy, Grady Hotham, Grace Hutchins, Olivia Hutchinson, Hallie Jackson, Beck Jorgensen, Kaiden Kelley, Meadow Laflamme, Dale Lapointe, Dinah Lemelin, Brenden Levesque, Malachi Lowery, Lily Matthews, River Meader, Nabila Meity, Angelina Ochoa, Timber Parlin, Kayla Peaslee, Jonathan Peil, Gabriel Pelletier, Casey Petty, Kathleen Pfleging, Sophia Pilotte, Kaden Porter, Ingrid Ramberg, Alexis Rancourt, Cadence Rau, Samantha Reynolds, Ally Rodrigue, Noah Rushing, Emmalee Sanborn, Aidan Tirrell, Mackenzie Toner, Emma Tyler, Lauren Tyler, Katherine Williams, and Damon Wilson.
Honors: Hailey Acedo-Worthing, John Allen, Molly Anderson, Zane Boulet, Samuel Boynton, Alexis Buotte, Emma Charest, Nicholas Choate, Courtney Cowing, Kayleen Crandall, Elijah Crockett II, Tianna Cunningham, Grace Ellis, Jacob Evans, Myra Evans, Hailey Farrar, Alyssa Gagne, Brianna Gardner, Reiana Gonzalez, Carson Grass, Ronald Haskell Jr, Kassidy Hopper, Acadia Kelley, Casey Kirkpatrick, Matthew Knowles, Emmet Lani-Caputo, Zephyr Lani-Caputo, Joseph Lemelin, Gwen Lockhart, Emily Majewski, Brady Mayberry, Brooklyn McCue, Gage Moody, Ethan Ouellette, Ezra Padgett, Maddison Paquet, Angelyn Paradis, Hannah Patterson, Michael Perez, Karen Potter, Sarah Robinson, Jarell Sandoval, Sophie Steeves, Daniel Stillman, Emma Stred, Jacob Sullivan, Paige Sutter, Hannah Toner, Colby Willey, and Joseph Wing.
High Honors: Abigail Adams, Isabella Boudreau, Robin Boynton, Elizabeth Brown, Kaleb Brown, Nolan Burgess, Eva Carlezon, Makayla Chabot, Elise Choate, Brielle Crommett, Noah Crummett, Hailey Estes, Ciara Fickett, Kaylee Fyfe, Caleb Gay, Nathan Hall, Tara Hanley, Stephanie Kumnick, Mackenzie Kutniewski, Sydney Laird, Kiley Lee, Aidan Maguire, Richard Mahoney III, Alexia McDonald, Holden McKenney, Austin Nicholas, Jazel Nichols, Jeremy Parker, Nathan Polley, Keith Radonis, Shae Rodrigue, Giacomo Smith, Kinsey Stevens, Lara Stinchfield, and Reese Sullivan.
Honors: Tristan Anderson, Austin Armstrong, Duncan Bailey, Lyla Bailey, Leah Bonner, Heather Bourgoin, Nathalia Carrasco, Timothy Christiansen, Simon Clark, Connor Coull, Thomas Crawford, Caleigh Crocker, Gavin Cunningham, Keira Deschamps, Hunter Foard, Cole Fortin, Brayden Garland, Aleigha Gooding, Bo Gray, Natalie Henderson, Bella Homstead, Hallee Huff, Kameron Kronillis, Carol Labbe, Logan Lanphier, Sophie Leclerc, Brody Loiko, Jack Lyons, David McCaig, Madison McCausland, Carlos Michaud, Cami Monroe, Royce Nelson, Hannah Oakes, Alejandro Ochoa, Alyssa Ouellette, Remy Pettengill, Evelyn Rousseau, Ryan Tyler, Baruch Wilson, and Brandon Wood.
Maine Crisp Co. new expanded production facility on Lithgow St., in Winslow.
Karen Getz, founder of Maine Crisp Co.
Specialty food manufacturer Maine Crisp Company has expanded its production capacity tenfold by relocating to a Winslow facility. Expected to be fully operational by May 2021, the facility’s extensive capacity is necessary to fulfill demand generated by Maine Crisp’s recent New England-wide distribution deal with Whole Foods Market.
Maine Crisp launched in 2014 in a licensed home kitchen. Three years later, it transitioned to a 2,500 square foot manufacturing facility at 10 Railroad Square in Waterville, leasing 3,500 square feet of additional warehousing space in Benton as product demand grew. By relocating to the 17,500 square foot facility at 20 Lithgow Street, in Winslow, the award-winning producer of gluten-free and plant-based crisps will consolidate and grow its manufacturing, packaging, and warehousing operations.
“The new facility in Winslow offers the scaffolding to sustain our growth trajectory and ambitious distribution targets,” explains Steve Getz, Maine Crisp co-founder and VP of Marketing. “We are thrilled to have found a space that allows us to continue growing in central Maine, a region that has supported us from the beginning, when we graduated from home kitchen to industrial facility.”
The expansion of Maine Crisp’s manufacturing capacity is expected to triple employment within the next three years. Currently, new employees earn a minimum of $15 per hour and are offered health insurance and paid time off, including their birthday. The Winslow headquarters will support a diverse mix of jobs, from receipt and inventory of bulk ingredients, manufacturing, packaging, and finished goods inventory to marketing, logistics, and management.
With all operations unified under one roof, Maine Crisp is working with the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) to design a layout that optimizes current production flow while accommodating projected future demand. In addition, as a specialty food producer, Maine Crisp requires an FDA-approved, dedicated gluten-free environment that meets regulatory guidelines to maintain the company’s non-GMO, allergen, and Kosher certifications. The 20 Lithgow St. facility also provides three-phase power, multiple loading docks, ample storage space, office space, and a front lobby for visitors and on-site retail.
“Working with MEP has been a fantastic experience – we are building a production flow that is flexible enough to support us for years,” states Claire Getz, manager of product quality control at Maine Crisp. “The MEP consultants’ deep, multi-faceted expertise makes them invaluable partners as we face the exciting challenges of scaling up while maintaining our artisanal quality.”
As a family-operated business committed to Maine, Maine Crisp utilized local service providers to finance and design the Winslow headquarters, including Kennebec Savings Bank and local architect Jim Shipsky. Maine Crisp sources its crisps’ primary ingredient, buckwheat, from Aroostook County and works with Lewiston-based branding and marketing firm Anchour. Maine Crisp products are available in Maine Hannaford stores, Whole Foods Markets throughout England, specialty shops along the East Coast, and online at mainecrisp.com.
When searching for reasons to smile during the pandemic, a common source of comfort has been the sacrifices made by many Mainers as they have looked past their own needs in hopes that those in greater danger might be helped.
Look no further than St. Denis Church in Whitefield and St. Francis Xavier Church in Winthrop. The churches, part of St. Michael Parish, not only found ways to safely hold blood drives in 2020 during the pandemic, they shattered records while they were at it.
“We had a remarkably strong year at both St. Francis and St. Denis in 2020,” said David Stires, of American Red Cross Blood Services, in Portland. “We collected more last year at St. Francis than we have in at least ten years and more at St. Denis than we have in six years. Since each unit of whole blood can be separated into three products—red cells, platelets and plasma—the amount we collected at the two churches potentially saved the lives of more than 1,000 people.”
Between the parishes, nearly 400 people gave blood, tripling the amount collected in 2019.
“The patients that will benefit are victims of car accidents, mothers with at-risk pregnancies, babies born prematurely, and people battling cancer,” said Stires. “The support is greatly appreciated now because it has helped us maintain a strong blood supply for patients during an unprecedented public health crisis.”
The commitment of St. Michael Parish to continue holding the blood drives during the pandemic through social distancing and other safety protocols turned out to be crucial as many venues that traditionally host blood drives stopped as a result of the crisis.
“When so many schools, businesses, and churches closed due to the pandemic, the parish made the courageous decision to keep its doors open to help others during this time of need,” said Stires. “It has helped us maintain a strong blood supply for the patients who are counting on us. We are incredibly grateful for the support of St. Michael Parish.”
The response was so great that additional blood drives are being added to the 2021 schedule, including once a month at St. Francis Xavier.
“It is very impressive how responsive parishioners and others in town are to the blood drives,” said Fr. John Skehan, pastor of St. Michael. “Even in a pandemic, people are thinking beyond themselves and helping care for people they don’t even know! And they do so without looking for anything in return. They just want to help someone in need. It’s wonderful.”
For more information about the future blood drives at the churches, including how you can help, call the parish at (207) 623-8823.
Bags of clothes donated to the Madison American Legion. (contributed photo)
The American Legion Tardiff-Belanger Post #39, in Madison, recently donated boots and coats for 38 students in need in school districts RSU #74 and MSAD #59 from the generous donations from local businesses and members.
The American Legion’s Mission: The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.
Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation one community at a time. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs, educating young people about the importance of sportsmanship, citizenship and fitness. The Operation Comfort Warriors program supports recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing them with “comfort items” and the kind of support that makes a hospital feel a little bit more like home. The Legion also raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families during times of need and to provide college scholarship opportunities.
The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation’s veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.
The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.
To learn more about Madison American Legion or to join, visit http://www.mainelegionpost39.org or call 696-5848
Fairfield Town Manager Michelle Flewelling.
Fairfield’s Façade Improvement & Marketing Assistance Program (FIMAP), which launched in 2018, has continued to stimulate investment and enhance the visual aesthetics of the town’s districts and corridors. Entering its third year in operation, with similar programs previously utilizing Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), the FIMAP is supported by town Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues. The distribution of funding is spearheaded by the Fairfield Economic and Community Development Committee (FECDC) and has continued to increase in popularity.
The grant funding can be used towards a diverse array of project costs, including redevelopment initiatives and the renovation, restoration, and preservation of privately-owned business exteriors within Fairfield. FIMAP also provides marketing assistance to businesses via print media, radio advertising, social media platforms, website enhancements, and other options. Successful grantee applications can be reimbursed up to 50 percent of the cost of façade improvement and marketing projects.
“We are pleased to be in the midst of offering a third funding cycle for Fairfield businesses and property owners, and we are thrilled with the applications we have received in the past,” states Michelle Flewelling, Fairfield town manager. “Despite unprecedented difficulties faced by companies and property owners during the past year, local businesses have maintained an admirable commitment to the community, including moving forward on a focused range of restoration projects to launching e-commerce platforms that drive online sales. In turn, FIMAP projects are creating a strong foundation from which we can assist the local economy as we continue to invite growth and development.”
Fairfield has deployed seven grants totaling $67,591.50 since the program was originally conceived in late 2018. The FIMAP grants have stimulated more than $137,850 in direct investment into community businesses in less than three years.
With compact and asset rich commercial districts, Fairfield’s continued efforts of revitalization demonstrates a dedication to promoting growth, both from its current resident business owners and prospective entrepreneurs who are looking to expand operations. Recent recipients of grant funding have been Belanger’s Drive-In, IBEW 1253, Meridians Kitchen & Bar, Sunset Flowerland & Greenhouse, and Maine Avenue Auto Sales.
“The vitality of Fairfield’s downtown, commercial corridors, and residential neighborhoods has continued to catalyze positive growth and create tangible change,” states Garvan D. Donegan, Director of Planning, Innovation, and Economic Development at Central Maine Growth Council (CMGC). “Fairfield’s investments into the community and local businesses emphasizes the importance of stimulating local impact and creating conditions of economic resiliency.”
Eligible projects may apply for $3,000 to $25,000 in funding; FIMAP is funded by Fairfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues. Interested applicants may access a FIMAP application at http://wwwfairfieldme.com/town/pages/business-resources or by contacting CMGC at 207-680-7300 or gdonegan@centralmaine.org.
About Fairfield’s Economic and Community Development Advisory Committee:
The Economic and Community Development Advisory Committee is a “citizens” committee with open membership to all Fairfield residents, business owners, and educators who have a vested interest in community development. Meetings are open to the public, and the committee typically meets monthly at the Fairfield Community Center; go to Fairfield’s online calendar of events for a meeting schedule.