Contributed photo
Southern Maine Association of Shakespearean Homeschoolers (SMASH) presents The Tempest by William Shakespeare. It will be performed in historic Cumston Hall at Monmouth Theater on Thursday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m., and a matinee Saturday, March 30, at 2 p.m. For tickets and information, please visit smashmaine.jimdo.com.
Ray Poulin
On Friday, March 22, from 7 – 11 p.m., the band RIF RAFF will be amping up the music at The Mill, 934 Main St., in Vassalboro, to benefit the Gift of Hearing for Ray Poulin.
Ray lost his hearing from an incident in his youth and has searched for a solution in the decades that have past. He has traveled through life in silence never letting his hearing issues get in the way, according to friends. Technology has improved, and he recently found hearing devices that for the first time in a long time allowed him to hear sounds he was missing, even the whirl of the fan in the hearing clinic’s office. Unfortunately, Ray could not afford the expensive equipment. He is hoping to raise the $8,000 needed so he can hear again.
Tickets are $15 for singles and $20 for couples. Call 509-0569 or 509-0004 for tickets. All proceeds go to purchase hearing devices for Ray. The event is sponsored by Raymond J. Breton and The Save the Mill organization.
By ryan griffis – originally posted to Flickr as Vidalia Onions, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
The spring peepers aren’t out yet, but Vidalia onions are ripening in the Georgia sunshine. Celebrate the end of winter by ordering sweet, juicy Vidalia onions from the Living Communities Foundation. The foundation supports the Palermo Community Center, which, in turn, hosts the Palermo Food Pantry. Proceeds from onion sales go to support the Community Foundation and repair the roof of the Community Center. As a bonus, fresh, mild Vidalia onions make their way to Maine to be roasted, caramelized, sauteed, and put into everything from sandwiches to gourmet soups and quiches. These are larger than “grocery store” onions, and they will keep for over six months.
A 25 lb. box of these beauties costs only $27. Or, go in with friends and relatives and get four boxes for $100. To order, e-mail Connie at pwhitehawk@fairpoint.net or call her at 993-2294 and leave your phone number for confirmation. The onions are due to arrive just before Mothers Day, on Friday, May 10. Pick them up at the Palermo Community Center on Turner Ridge, across from the ball field from about 5 p.m. on May 10 through 5 p.m. on May 11. You will be called when the onions come in. Please pay at the time of placing your order. Checks may be made out to LCF and sent to P.O. Box 151, Palermo, ME 04354. Your support is greatly appreciated, and will enhance the many services the Community Center provides.
Dr. Pamela MacRae,the Dean of Biodiversity Conservation and Associate Professor of Sustainable Fisheries Management at Unity College, speaks on March 10 at the China Village library. (Contributed photo)
On March 10, the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library hosted Dr. Pamela MacRae, who is the Dean of Biodiversity Conservation and Associate Professor of Sustainable Fisheries Management at Unity College. She made a very interesting and informative presentation on marine biology, local and global fisheries, and the impact of human activity on the health of the world’s marine life. Elements of her own research and that of students from Unity College were highlighted. In the photo, Dr. MacRae explaining different methods used in commercial fishing and the impact of climate change on local and global fisheries.
In Burlington, Vermont, Kaitlyn Sutter, of Palermo, along with 40 teams and over 700 participants, has helped the University of Vermont’s annual student-led fundraising event RALLYTHON raise a record-breaking $117,520.29 for the UVM Children’s Hospital.
Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village.
The Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, on Main Street in China Village, has a number of new books – and many older ones – to lend to area residents. The library is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. There is no charge for a borrower’s card.
Several authors of series popular with our patrons had new books published late in 2018 and early in 2019, just in time for our first 2019 book order. Among them: The New Iberia Blues, by James Lee Burke ( number 22 in the Dave Robicheaux series); A Gathering Of Secrets, by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder, number 10); Past Tense, by Lee Child (Jack Reacher, number 23); Tundra Kill and The Big Empty, by Stan Jones (Nathan Active, numbers 5 and 6); Residue, by Michael McGarrity (Kevin Kerney, number 13); Bury the Lead, by Archer Mayor (Joe Gunther, number 21); Kingdom of the Blind, by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache, number 14); Tear It Down by Nick Petrie (Peter Ash, number 4); Careless Love, by Peter Robinson (DCI Alan Banks, number 25); and Holy Ghost, by John Sandford (Virgil Flowers, number 11).
We have other new fiction, including Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg, billed as a follow-up to The Story of Arthur Trulove, a well-received novel; John Grisham’s The Reckoning; and Barbara Kingsolver’s Unsheltered. Recent experiments with new (to the library) authors like Jon Cohen (Harry’s Trees) and Esi Edugyan (Washington Black) were well-received; others new to our patrons include Elizabeth Brooks (The Orphan of Salt Winds) and Delia Owens (Where the Crawdads Sing, a novel one reviewer compared to Kingsolver’s work).
In the Maine Room upstairs we’ve added Bimini Twist, the fourth in Linda Greenlaw’s Jane Bunker mystery series (we have the first three, and several of the non-fiction books, starting with The Hungry Ocean, that first brought her to readers’ attention) and Elevation, an unusually short novel by Stephen King. A patron recently donated a copy of May Sarton’s The Small Room; we have many other Sarton works, novels, poetry and essays. Recently people have been rereading Susan Kenney’s mysteries and Kenneth Roberts’ historical novels.
New books for children and young adults include Thanks to the Animals, a picture book by the late Passamaquoddy storyteller Allen Sockabasin; Saving Winslow, by Sharon Creech, who won Newbery awards for two earlier books, Walk Two Moons and The Wanderer (our library has both); Pay Attention, Carter Jones, by Gary D. Schmidt, whose other works for young people include Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, set on the real Maine island called Malaga; and Holly Black’s young-adult fantasy The Wicked King, a sequel to The Cruel Prince.
On Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m., the library will host one of China town officials’ planned introductions to the 2019-2020 budget. Another presentation is scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 27, in the town office meeting room. Voters will act on the budget at the annual town business meeting, which will be Saturday morning, April 6, starting at 9 a.m. if a quorum is present by then.
Tim Theriault, Chief, China Village FDTo the residents of the town of China, ME, from the volunteer fire departments.
First and foremost we thank you for your annual support both in the money allocated in our budgets, the stipend funds you have approved, and donations during our various fundraising efforts.
It is the collective opinion of the three volunteer fire departments that there are issues with the present selectboard that need to be addressed.
Recent events have brought to light, what in our opinion, appears an effort to control and dictate to the fire departments how to do business. In a recent “Special Meeting,” as it was titled on the town’s website, there was considerable discussion about the fire departments and action taken to reduce the stipend amount to be provided for firefighters in the proposed 2019/2020 budget. This move was done in one afternoon. A midday request was given to the town manager by the selectboard, he in turn provided an alternate to the existing system in place. That evening it was presented, a motion made to use the alternative, and approved unanimously by all members present. This was accomplished in less than one day. There was no discussion held or notice given to any of the fire departments. The only way we became aware of the matter was an after the fact email from the town manager, stating the selectboard approved an alternate to the stipends and the details of how it will work. This recommendation to cut the stipend of firefighters was proposed, ironically, as the selectboard has proposed to increase their own stipend.
In that same meeting, a selectboard member made the statement that a fire department has had the same budget figure for several years (this was proven to be incorrect at the next budget committee meeting). However, this brings to light the same pattern of distrust. This assumption was stated without any communication, not once did anyone reach out to that chief for clarification or an explanation, not to mention the past budgets were available for review had anyone bothered to check.
Here are some things to consider:
China’s firefighters have a history of long-term commitment to the town. Some members serve as much as 50 years in one capacity or another. That type of dedication deserves to be commended, not shunned, at the very least a chance to participate in the decision-making process.
Additionally, there have been comments made by some selectmen stating we need to have only one department and a centralized fire station, again no discussion with the department heads as to why. This will not best serve the town. The geographic location of the existing stations works well and all departments respond seamlessly. It is our opinion that what we have now works well and effectively, so we are at a loss as to why so much effort has been given to fixing something that is, in our opinion, not broken.
Here are our questions: Do they have problems with the way we prevent, manage and control emergencies in this town? Do they think we are not doing our jobs? Do they question our motives? Do they think they can run the VFDs better than the current Chiefs? Do they think they have the knowledge, training and experience to do so? Do they think that change to a municipal, paid fire department would be better? If so, in what ways? Do they have personal problems with any of the Chiefs or members?
One thing we do know. The current situation is not sustainable and should not continue. Beyond the obvious need for communication, we feel the solution is to trust us with what we’re trained to do, take comfort that we know what we are doing, and let us continue the excellent emergency services we have provided to China since 1947.
We hope this information sheds some light on our situation and we hope to hear from you at the public hearings for the proposed budget and the town meeting.
P.S. For more information about how the selectboard and budget committee conduct their business, we recommend that you visit the Town’s website and look at the live stream of their recent meetings.
Read the Selectboard’s response here.
A spectacular evening of ballet, contemporary dance, tap, and jazz, “Moving Stories” showcased exciting new dance works November 8-10, 2018 at Muhlenberg College’s Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance, in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The works featured more than 60 students from the department’s dance program, among the most highly regarded programs of its kind. Kathleen McCowan, of Winslow, was one of the dancers in the program.
Whitefield Lions David Hayden, center, and Charlotte Hayes, right, were honored on February 28 for 10 years of service in the Whitefield Lions Club. At left is Whitefield Lions club president, Kim Haskell. (Contributed photo)
Contestants prepare for the duct tape sled competition. (Photo by Bob Bennett)
We don’t often have the option or opportunity of opening our property to neighbors, and sometimes that feels un-neighborly. It is a consequence of the litigious world in which we live, and sometimes it can’t be avoided. We feel that there need to be times set aside for intentionally welcoming and visiting with our community… as family, as friends, and as neighbors.
Living in the northeast, we usually think of summer as the best time for community gatherings like block parties, backyard picnics, parades, and outdoor celebrations. Some of our neighbors realized that there was a need for winter community also, and that is why they approached us four years ago about being the host site for a China Community family sledding party.
We had some reservations, but decided to pray about the opportunity and then accepted the challenge. What began as a small, localized sledding event has steadily grown into an event that attracts hundreds of people looking for a day to celebrate winter fun in Maine with family and friends and neighbors. This year, February 16 was the day for the Family Fun Day… and what a day it turned out to be! Despite concerns due to lack of snow, icy conditions, unpredictable weather, etc., prayers were answered and all the pieces landed in place for a memorable outdoor event on a pleasantly mild winter day.
After months of reviewing last year’s event, brainstorming and planning for this year’s event, and reaching out to sponsors new and old, it was time for the 2019 Family Fun Day to begin. Volunteers arrived throughout the morning, ready to serve their neighbors in the kitchen, dining hall, and sledding areas. That included some Jobs for Maine Graduates and other students from China Middle School as well as several adults. Final adjustments were made to the sledding hill and the delicious food that was very generously provided by Big G’s, in Winslow, was warmed.
Banners, provided by Central Church of China, were hung around to direct families to the festivities while Fletcher’s Lawn and Yard Care spread sand on the icy areas. Bar Harbor Bank and Trust set up a table from which they offered Gatorade, cocoa, and sunglasses near where Bob’s Glass and More set up a S’more station so that people could warm by the fire and make their own S’mores with ingredients donated by Gene at Lakeview Lumber. Delta Ambulance and China Village Fire and Rescue were both represented, making sure that any sledding injuries were quickly and skillfully handled.
The China Four Seasons Club brought their new trail groomer and sleigh to offer rides through the field by the lake. The cardboard (and duct tape) sled race capped off the day as imaginatively designed, homemade sleds sped down the hill, racing for gift card prizes purchased with donations by LaVerdiere’s General Store, Branch Mills Heating Solutions, Lakeview Lumber and others.
Other ingredients for the day were donated by local churches and individuals, and everyone was so blessed by them! Because of such generous donations of time and resources, there was absolutely no charge to enter, participate, eat, and enjoy the fellowship with neighbors. Family is foundational in this community, and the local definitions of neighbor and family are often one and the same.
We appreciate the generosity of our sponsors, those who brought gifts of food which were donated to the China Food Pantry to help keep our neighbors fed this winter, and those who donated their time to come serve their community and neighbors.
Planning for a 2020 Family Fun Day has already begun and we expect to make a few improvements for next year. We hope to see you then!
The Hansens are Camp Directors at China Lake Camp.