Don Cote recognized for work at wildlife center

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Donald Cote, right, director of the Wildlife Care Center, in Vassalboro, and Beth Comeau, left, of NRCM. (Photo by Jayne Winters)

Photo and text by Jayne Winters

Donald Cote, director of the Wildlife Care Center, in Vassalboro, received a well-deserved recognition as a finalist (one of five, from over 40 nominations) in the 2019 Natural Resources Council of Maine’s People’s Choice Award. Beth Comeau, of NRCM, presented Don with his certificate last week for his many years of dedicated wildlife rehab care. Although the Center is a nonprofit, federally-permitted rescue and care facility, it receives no federal dollars and is supported solely on donations and personal resources. The Cotes’ decades-long commitment has truly been life-saving for hundreds of animals.

Jazz artist to perform benefit concert

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Waterville native, Jake Hickey

The “Great Jazz for a Great Cause” benefit concert/open house will be held on Sunday, December 1, from 2 to 5 p.m., at Grand Central Café, 10 Railroad Square, Waterville, to raise funds for Waterville resident Jen Hickey, who is experiencing financial hardship due to treatment for breast cancer. Live jazz will be performed from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. by Jen’s son, Jake Hickey, a Waterville High graduate and up-and-coming artist on the New Orleans jazz scene.

The open house will also feature an Art Show & Sale featuring Jen Hickey’s wonderful photographs, along with free soups, breads, deserts, tea, and coffee.

Suggested donation is $10 per person. Mailed or walked-in donations payable to “Jen Hickey” also are being accepted at Kennebec Savings Bank, 226 Main Street, Waterville, Maine 04901.

November is national caregivers month

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by Dr. Erica Magnus
AARP Maine Communications Volunteer

While November 11 is widely recognized as Veterans Day, many people may not know that the entire month of November is both National Veterans and National Family Caregivers Month. Both of my parents were veterans. My father served in the Army in World War II and my mother later on served in the US Coast Guard. I encourage everyone to honor and pay respect to those who served our country in uniform and the caregivers supporting our valiant veterans.

There are 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers in the U.S. providing care to approximately 15 million veterans. These hidden heroes support their veteran loved ones with their daily needs—ranging from bathing and dressing to paying bills and transportation and assisting with medical tasks, providing an estimated $14 billion annually in unpaid care.

Numerous organizations have dedicated time and resources to address the challenges veterans face today, including their care needs.

AARP supports our veterans and their family caregivers through both the RAISE Family Caregivers Act and a partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to create a Military Caregiving Guide. I encourage everyone to visit AARP.org/Veterans to learn more about how AARP is working for veterans. Here in Maine, AARP pushed for November to be designated as Maine Family Caregivers Month – a perfect opportunity to celebrate our veterans and the unsung heroes who care for them right here at home.

Joy to the Ville

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On Saturday, December 7, the city of Waterville will once again embrace the holiday spirit with the third annual “Joy to the Ville” event – an all-day community celebration meant to highlight the magic of the holiday season on the Kennebec River. Waterville Creates! and their friends at the Waterville Public Library, the Colby College Museum of Art, Snow Pond Center for the Arts, the KVCAP Family Enrichment Council, and the Children’s Discovery Museum are joining forces with local business sponsor Bangor Savings Bank and media sponsor News Center Maine to organize this day of free, family-friendly holiday programming throughout Waterville! For a complete listing of activities visit: https://www.watervillecreates.org/event/joytotheville/.

Buy an extra turkey for the China Food Pantry

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You can help assure that all families in China will enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving. This coming weekend, November 21 – 22, Thanksgiving dinner boxes will be passed out. Drop off your extra turkey on the pantry’s front porch at 1320 Lakeview Drive.

Whitefield Lions announce peace poster contest winners

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First place posters that will move on to the state competition, from left to right, Addison Turner (Palermo), Jade McCollette (Chelsea), Donovan Thompson (Whitefield), and Barry Tibbetts on behalf of Lillian Brooks (Jefferson). (Contributed photo)

The Whitefield Lions club took part in judging Peace Posters from four different schools – Jefferson, Whitefield, Chelsea, Palermo. The contest asked the students to draw the Journey to Peace. At the Thursday meeting, the winners from the contest came to the Whitefield Lions club to receive recognition and awards. The first place winners will move on to the next round of competition. the Lions are an international service group and this competition will eventually display the final winning posters at the United Nations Lions Day.

Winners from Palermo Elementary School, from left to right, Brody Worth, Lion Kim Haskell, Addison Turner and Mara Mangin. (Contributed photo)

Winners from Whitefield Elementary School, from left to right, Lion Kim Haskell on behalf of Katie Shaw, Ory Winchenbach and Donavon Thompson. (Contributed photo)

Winners from Jefferson Elementary, from left to right, David Winchenbach and Kaylee Lappen. Absent from photo, Lillian Brooks. (Contributed photo)

Winners from Chelsea Elementary, from left to right, Trinity DeGrenier, Lion Kim Haskell and Alyssa Pullen. Absent from photo, Jade McCollette. (Contributed photo)

Erskine Leos raise money for Camp Sunshine

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Erskine Leos outside of Camp Sunshine, from left to right, Advisor Roxanne Malley, Ashley Clavette, Chiara Mahoney, Abby Blair, Xavian Marable, Andrew Robinson, Ricky Win, Autumn Boody, Acadia Senkbeil, Hannah Spitzer, and Sierra LeCroix.

Erskine Leos have held several fundraisers this year to raise money for Camp Sunshine. In August, along with the Whitefield Lions, the Leos coordinated a Lions vs. Leos bowling tournament and in October they held a Crusin’ event during homecoming. Last week, they presented Camp Sunshine with a $2,000 check from their efforts. Lions have been supporting Camp Sunshine for 25 years.

Curtis Dalton achieves rank of Eagle Scout

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For his project, Dalton donated 50 Cancer Care Packages to Oncology patients at Redington-Fairview General Hospital, in Skowhegan. (Contributed photo)

Dalton James Curtis of Skowhegan, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout on October 19, 2019, at his Court of Honor Ceremony held at Centenary United Methodist Church.

Dalton is the son of Chad Curtis, of Athens, and Tammy James, of Skowhegan.

He is a member of Troop #485, of Skowhegan, and is also a member of the Order of the Arrow.

To earn the rank of Eagle, a Scout must earn at least 21 Merit Badges and demonstrate leadership and community service by organizing and carrying out an Eagle Scout project.

For his project, Dalton donated 50 Cancer Care Packages to Oncology patients at Redington-Fairview General Hospital, in Skowhegan.

Dalton is a freshman at Skowhegan Area High School.

Dalton plans on taking a basic cooking class this year, hoping to take a culinary arts program his junior year, and after graduation he plans to go on to college. His plans are to become a chef.

Renovations completed to Windsor Christian Fellowship

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The church as it looks upon completion of the project. (contributed photos)

by Brandon Dyer
Pastor-Teacher, Windsor Christian Fellowship

Severe damage to the roof had to be repaired by reconstructing the deck and shingles.

“Didn’t that church burn down?” This question was posed to me several years ago by a student at Windsor School on a day I was substitute teaching. The short answer to this well-meaning child’s question was, “no.” However, the sanctuary of Windsor Christian Fellowship did look as though it had burned down to some extent. Gaping holes in the front of the building, incomplete siding, and general disrepair—the work to be done on the sanctuary was great.

Over the past 200 years, the church has been known by several names: Windsor Methodist Episcopal Church, Windsor Memorial Baptist Church, and now, Windsor Christian Fellowship. Many pastors have served the church, and many Central Mainers have belonged to the church. One constant, however, throughout the almost 200 year history of the church has been the hand-hewn, post-and-beam sanctuary that sits atop a small hill on the Reed Road, in Windsor. Constant, that is, until 2006 when a much needed renovation began.

The steeple is being taken down to complete renovations to it and to make the necessary repairs to the roof.

Since that time, a radiant heat foundation was poured and many other updates were made, such as all new electrical, doors, windows, siding, drywall, trim, and paint. During the years it took to accomplish all of this work, the church had been worshiping in the Fellowship Hall. For most of that time, the smaller Fellowship Hall sufficed; however, the church recently began to outgrow the smaller space and began to look at the possibility of moving into the sanctuary. Although unfinished, the church met for worship in the sanctuary on October 20 for the first time in more than a decade. Despite the lack of carpet, platform, and using a borrowed sound system, it was a wonderful morning of worship.

The sanctuary no longer looks like it burned down. They anticipate using it for worship for many years to come, as well as weddings, funerals, and many other events in the coming years as they seek to serve the community in Windsor and many others throughout central Maine.

The interior of the church getting a complete facelight. Contributed photos

Kennebec Historical Society to hear about German POWs in Maine

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German prisoners of war picking potatoes in Houlton during World War II. (contributed photo)

In 1944, the U.S. Army Air Base, in Houlton, Maine, in Aroostook, County, became the site of a Prisoner of War (POW) internment camp for German soldiers captured in North Africa and France. The POWs could not be forced to work, but they could volunteer. Those who wanted to work helped the local farmers harvest peas and pick potatoes and cut wood in the forest after harvest time during the winter. In September 1945, Aroostook County farmers decided to take advantage of this opportunity. My dad requested some prisoners to help with our potato harvest. When harvest time rolled around, eight young Germans would arrive by truck each morning about 7 o’clock to help us harvest our crop…with ONE guard. As a 13-year old boy, the arrival of German soldiers, was fearsome. My young mind was not too sure it was a good idea to have the “enemy” right here on our farm.

The Kennebec Historical Society’s November speaker, Henry (Hank) D. Lunn has been a resident of Camden since 1958 and a student of Maine history since his birth on a potato farm in Aroostook County. He graduated from the University of Maine with a major in history and government and has a M.Ed. in Counseling and School Administration. Mr. Lunn retired from public education with over 40 years of experience as a teacher, counselor and educational consultant in the schools of Maine. For the past several years, he has been delivering his “Living History” presentations to schools, historical societies, libraries, and community organizations.

The Kennebec Historical Society November presentation is co-sponsored by the Maine State Library and is free to the public (donations gladly accepted). The presentation will be followed by some light refreshments and take place on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., at the Maine State Library, located at 230 State Street in Augusta.