B2B Showcase canceled for 2020

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Board member Emily Cates and Editor Roland Hallee sit at The Town Line’s booth at the Business-to-Business Showcase in 2019. (photo by Eric Austin)

Due to the closing of the Colby campus through the end of the year and the large gathering restrictions currently in place, it became necessary for the Mid-Maine Chamber to postpone the Business-to-Business Showcase to 2021.

According to Cindy Stevens, program director at the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, the showcase will be rescheduled, most likely to the usual late March date, assuming gathering restrictions are lifted by that time. In the event that Colby’s fieldhouse is not available an alternate venue is under consideration.

While no exact date has been announced at this time, all booth reservations will be honored, and all pre-paid deposits or payments applied to that event.

Once a date has been determined, the chamber will re-communicate to all participants with additional details.

Stevens concluded, “while we regret having to cancel this event for 2020, it is out of an abundance of concern for the health and well-being of everyone.”

Skowhegan tailgate gathering rescheduled

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The Skowhegan High School Class of 1963 Tail Gate Gathering is being canceled due to rain on Saturday, August 29. The event will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at noon on Hilton Hill. Bring your lunches, chairs and masks, drinks and chips provided, and a comfort station will be in place. If any questions call Cindy @ 207-858-0946.

Anderson Buck earns scouting second class rank

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Anderson Buck

by Mark Huard

Anderson Buck, of Pittsfield, passed his review and earned his Second Class Rank with Boy Scout Troop #63, in Newport.

Some of the requirements were two hours community service, being able to start a fire by himself, staying physically fit for 30 days and coming up with a plan to earn money in order to buy something he wanted. In his case it was a metal detector. He did a month of chores and odd jobs to successfully earn the money.

In the First Class Rank he will need to pass the BSA swimming test (100 meters without touching the bottom of a pool/pond), do 4 hours of community service and learn different types of knots and how to use them along with many others things. He would also like to organize a fundraiser for the local food pantry.

Anderson Buck lives in Pittsfield with his mom, Sharon Hood, stepdad, Chad Hood, and stepsister, Jayden.

Area scouts receive recognition for patch design

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Scott Adams, left, head of the Bomazeen Old Timers, of China, presenting check to Zachary LeHay, of Troop #401, from Sidney. (contributed photo)

New design to celebrate 75 years of Camp Bomazeen

Patch is the design from Dalton Curtis that will be used by the Bomazeen Old Timers to fundraise for their efforts to provide ongoing support for Camp Bomazeen.

Scouts Dalton Curtis, of Skowhegan Troop #485, and Zachary LeHay, of Sidney Troop #401, both received $75 prizes from the Bomazeen Old Timers on August 12 during a special presentation at Camp Bomazeen. The Scouts had drawn the two winning patch designs during the camp’s 75th anniversary season celebration.

Initially, they were to receive $75 camperships to attend Camp Bomazeen but when the camp did not open due to Covid-19, Scott Adams, of China, head of the Bomazeen Old Timers, opted to present both Curtis and LeHay with their prize during the annual Kennebec Valley District Scout Leader Re­cog­nition Dinner/ Program Kick-Off.

Curtis had planned to work at Camp Bomazeen’s kitchen this summer and LeHay was planning to attend with his troop. Adams said the patches will be used to help raise money for the Bomazeen Old Timers, which is a group of camp alumni dedicated to help the camp.

Submitted by Chuck Mahaleris

Scott Adams, left, head of the Bomazeen Old Timers, of China, presenting check to Dalton Curtis, of Troop #485, from Skowhegan. (contributed photo)

Parochial vicar named to Corpus Christi Parish

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Fr. André-Joseph LaCasse

Bishop Robert Deeley has announced a new priest assignment for Corpus Christi Parish, in Waterville and Winslow.

Effective September 1, 2020, Fr. André-Joseph LaCasse, O.P., has been appointed a parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Parish (Notre Dame Church, Waterville; St. John the Baptist Church, Winslow; St. Helena Church, Belgrade Lakes).

A native of Lewiston, Fr. LaCasse is a member of the Dominican Order, formerly known as the Order of Preachers (O.P.). For over 800 years, the mission of the order has been “to proclaim the Gospel to every corner of the world” so that every soul may come to know and love Jesus Christ.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Maine at Orono. In 1986, he entered the novitiate of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, attending the Dominican House of Studies and receiving his S.T.B./M.Div. degree in 1992, when he was ordained to the priesthood. Since his ordination, Fr. LaCasse has served as a parochial vicar at St. Dominic Church, in Youngstown, Ohio; pastor of St. Patrick Church, in Columbus, Ohio; and, for the last ten years, pastor of St. Gertrude Church, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fr. LaCasse also holds a master’s degree in spirituality from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas (Angelicum), in Rome, Italy.

 

 

 

 

Vassalboro Public Library announces upcoming programs

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The Vassalboro Public Library, with support from the Maine Humanities Council, is sponsoring a Chalk Fest. Registration is now open at the library, 930 Bog Road, East Vassalboro, to receive a free pack of chalk. Create designs on your own property effective immediately. Surrounding town members are encouraged to register and participate in this event. Social distancing and mask wearing is always encouraged when you are outside creating your art.

Chalk sites will be open September 5 to 13 at various locations around Vassalboro. These include Vassalboro Library, Historical Society, Town Office, Fire Station (Rte. 32), the old Town Office (next to Ferris’s), Maine Savings FCU, and St. Bridget Center. Spaces at these sites are limited so register by visiting the library, calling 923-3233, or email vplibrary@gmail.org. Please send pictures of your designs to our email. We would love to see your work!

On Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Vassalboro Public Library will be hosting a book sale at $2 a bag! Everything must go! A great selection of books for sale: fiction, non-fiction, craft and hobby, children’s books, puzzles and much more! Weather permitting, books will be available for viewing and purchase outdoors. Due to spacing guidelines from the state we will be enforcing spacing restrictions for those who view books inside the library. Be prepared for a wait time if things get busy inside the library because we will take time to sanitize. Remember to social distance. Mask wearing is required.

Vassalboro Library now hosts an ongoing year round book sale during the library’s regular operating hours: Monday and Friday noon – 6 p.m., and Wednesday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Hundreds of new pieces of original artwork by the late Father Paul Plante now available

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Fr. Plante’s most famous work focuses on the eyes of songbirds.

Last week, hundreds of never before available pieces of artwork by the late Fr. Paul Plante have been posted for sale on a tribute website that serves as both a canvas of his immense talent and a tribute to his indelible legacy.

The work of Fr. Plante, who died in June 2016, has been featured in art galleries around the country. His most famous work focuses on the eyes of songbirds, hawks, ducks, and other birds in 4 ½” x 4 ½” oil pastel paintings. The paintings reflect his fascination with birds, their spirit and their furtive nature. His portfolio also includes fish, plums, apples, and more. The work is searchable by collection and category on the website which can be found at www.paulplante.com.

Visitors to the site will also have the chance to explore a few of the many other contributions Fr. Plante made during his life. One section features his homilies, while another is dedicated to his professional experiences and even includes the words of the artist himself.

“I look at my artwork with the same awe that makes me wonder who I am as a person,” reads part of Fr. Plante’s writings. “In many ways, I’m discovering myself in my art. I also sometimes feel as though the depths of my being are exposed through my art. When the result in another person is joy or awe and wonder, it makes it all worthwhile.”

A Sanford native, Fr. Plante attended St. Ignatius Elementary and Junior High School taught by the Ursuline Nuns and the Brothers of Christian Instruction. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 8, 1971, by Archbishop Peter L. Gerety at St. Ignatius Church, in Sanford. After his ordination, he served as chaplain of the Portland hospitals (1971); parochial vicar at St. Louis Church, in Auburn (1971-1975), St. Joseph Church, in Biddeford (1975-1976), and Holy Cross Church, in Lewiston (1976-1985); parochial vicar as well as rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Portland (1985-1993); and pastor of St. John Church, in Winslow (1993-2004) and Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, in Oquossoc (2004-2016). In 2009, he was assigned as Vicar for Priests while remaining pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes.

At the request of Fr. Plante, all proceeds from the website will be given to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland to be used for diocesan needs.

American Legion collecting school supplies

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American Legion Auxiliary Unit #39, Madison is once again collecting school supplies for children in our local schools (Madison MSAD #59 and Carrabec RSU #74). With all the uncertainties ahead this year, the need is even greater. Here is a list of the items needed: rulers, erasers, pencils, colored pencils, ink pens (blue, black & red), crayons, glue sticks, backpacks, pouches for binders, 1″ binders, 1 subject notebooks and college ruled filler paper.

Items can be dropped off in the collection box at the Madison American Legion Hall, 20 South Maple Street, on Wednesdays and Fridays, after 3 p.m., and on Sundays noon to 4 p.m. If you would like to send a monetary donation, make checks payable to Madison ALA, PO Box 325, Madison, ME 04950 with School Supplies in the Memo.

Founded in 1919, the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) helps to advance the mission of The American Legion. With more than 600,000 members, the ALA is one of the nation’s most prominent supporters of veterans, military, and their families. ALA members volunteer millions of hours annually, with a value averaging $1.1 billion each year. From helping to draft the GI Bill in 1944 to advocating for veterans on Capitol Hill. The American Legion Family has been instrumental in advancing legislation that improves the quality of life for our nation’s veterans. If you would like to become a member contact Robin Turek, president, at 696-8289.

A quiet summer afternoon at an outdoor concert

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Enjoying a warm, sunny August afternoon, about 30 people attended a concert at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, on August 16. (photo by Carla Gade)

by Mary Grow

A concert presented by Bill Berlinghoff at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, on August 16. (photo by Carla Gade)

Over two dozen area residents listened appreciatively to folksinger Bill Berlinghoff as the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, held its first public event since March.

Berlinghoff sang and played guitar and banjo on the library’s south lawn. His repertoire includes songs composed and/or made famous by such Maine people as Jud Strunk, Dave Mallett (Mallett’s The Garden Song, also known as Inch by Inch, had audience members singing along) and Gordon Bok, as well as several songs by Berlinghoff.

Berlinghoff’s songs are listed on his website, www.billberlinghoff.com, for people who would like to hear some of them and read the lyrics.

Another well-received number was Jan Harmon’s The Lobster License Plate Song,”composed in 1988 to recognize Maine’s addition of a red lobster to its license plates. The song is copyrighted, so it can’t be reproduced here; again, interested readers can find it on the web by looking up the title.

Carla Gade and Miranda Perkins, the new librarians at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, are planning other public events this fall as long as the weather allows continued outdoor gatherings. Watch for notices on the library’s signboard, in this newspaper and elsewhere.

 

 

 

Palermo Community Library celebrates phase 2 of reopening with purchase of park pass

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(Photo courtesy of Palermo Community Library)

The Palermo Community Library began Phase 2 of re-opening during the Covid-19 pandemic by opening to the public while continuing Curbside Pickup. The Board of Trustees worked hard behind the scenes to make the library as safe as possible by installing Plexiglas hygiene barriers, providing a deep thorough cleaning of the library’s interior, and creating policies following the guidelines of the Maine State Library and Maine CDC that will protect the health of our staff and patrons.

The library has purchased a Maine State Park Pass to ensure all of our community members have access to the great outdoors during this pandemic. The park pass may be borrowed by library patrons, age 18 and over, to visit state parks. It admits occupants of up to a 17-passenger vehicle to day-use facilities of select Maine State Parks and Historic Sites. The Park Pass may be borrowed for a 3-day checkout limit; it cannot be renewed nor reserved. For more information: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/park_passes_fees_rules/park_day_use_fees.shtml

Library hours are Monday 10 a.m. – noon Thursday 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – noon.

The library is located at 2789 Route 3. For more information call 993-6088 or email palermo@palermo.lib.me.us or visit www.palermo.lib.me.us.