Have you requested your LakeSmart visit yet?

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From left to right, Elaine Philbrook, Bunny Caldwell, Ginger Davis, Marie Michaud and Margo Green. (Contributed photo)

The LakeSmart program is one of the most effective lake protections programs available today! The China Lakes Alliance hosts this program in the China community. Did you know that there are already 68 lakes in Maine actively participating in this lake protection program?

China’s LakeSmart volunteers have been visiting lake front property owners since 2009. Trained LakeSmart volunteers visit homeowners in a joint effort to protect China Lake from the effects of storm water runoff. During a LakeSmart visit, volunteers will walk the property with the homeowner and provide suggestions to make the property more lake friendly. If the homeowner is interested in getting some of the suggestions completed, they can offer assistance through the Youth Conservation Corp. The YCC is hosted by the China Region Lakes Alliance (CRLA).

Last year, 22 visits were completed at various locations around the lake.

Currently, trained volunteers are Margo Greene, Bunny Caldwell, Ginger Davis, Elaine Philbrook and Marie Michaud.

Nineteen remediations were completed last summer around China Lake by the Youth Conservation Corps. Reducing the phosphorous from entering the lake helps to keep our lake a healthy lake.

In 2019, they plan to start a new position. They are calling it a China Lake Fire Road Ambassador. This position will help find homeowners who would like to have a LakeSmart visit on their road. If you are interested in being one, contact the LakeSmart group. It will involve getting a LakeSmart informational pamphlet out to your road neighbors and asking if they would be interested in a LakeSmart visit. Not too time consuming but very important for this program’s continuation and success.

Also new for 2019; Elaine Philbrook will join Marie Michaud as a China LakeSmart Coordinator.

Contact the group for your LakeSmart visit or to be a road ambassador at ChinaLakeSmart@gmail.com or by calling Marie Michaud at 207-242-2040.

Oak Grove Foundation grant enables work at China School’s Forest

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China Primary School students displaying some of the bird cutouts they painted for the China School Forest Park. (Photo courtesy of Anita Smith)

by Anita Smith

There’s been a lot happening at the China School’s Forest this spring! Mrs. Maroon’s fifth grade class completed a year-long project to create a Maine Wildlife Trail and to enhance the Bird Watching Outdoor Classroom. Students researched different Maine animals and wrote reports about them. Parent volunteer, Andrew Seigars, cut out about 45 different life-sized animals from plywood for the project. Students then painted and applied polyurethane to the cut-outs. Some were painted all black and others were painted to look like many of the birds which frequent central Maine. During the week of June 11, the cut-outs were installed in the forest. A WELCOME sign and trail guide will soon be installed at the trailhead starting near the SEED TREE area in the forest and at the Bird Watching Station.

Plywood cutouts that were painted by students at the China Primary School. Photo courtesy of Anita Smith

This project was funded by a grant from the Oak Grove Foundation. Anita Smith led several China Primary School classes out on the trail to see the completed project. The kids were so excited to find the different cut-outs and it kept them very engaged in learning during the last few days before summer break.

The trails are open for the community to enjoy. Maps are available at each forest trailhead. One trailhead is located by the China Middle School soccer field and the other trailhead is off the China Primary School bus circle. A community forest walk, featuring the new project will be offered during China Community Days on August 3 at 11 a.m.

Visit this link for a complete listing of China School’s Forest Day Camps and Family Forest Activities (Summer 2019).

Second Saturdays Litter Clean-Up begins July 13

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Tom Lefferts (left) and Richard Dillenbeck (right) pick up litter along Lakeview Drive in 2018.

You’ve probably seen Richard Dillenbeck, longtime summer resident of China, Maine; diligently picking up litter along Route 202. He’s been doing this for years on his daily hikes. His passionate crusade against roadside trash inspired a group of citizens to devise an organized campaign to combat the litter problem on the roadsides surrounding China Lake — simply called Second Saturdays.

The first Second Saturday Litter Clean-Up event will be July 13. The committee has divided up the roadways into manageable sections and now seeks volunteers to pick up trash on the second Saturday of each month until the snow flies. We are also seeking the involvement of local businesses, organizations, church groups to commit to a section of roadway on our Second Saturdays as part of their civic outreach activities. Avid dogwalkers or hikers could easily maintain the sections of the roads they frequent during their normal routines. Please call for more information or to volunteer to keep China, Maine litter free. Richard Dillenbeck, 207-445-8074 or Jeanne Marquis, 207-649-3836.

Retired principal honored at Vassalboro town meeting

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Kevin Levasseur, chairman of the Vassalboro School Board, left, Jolene Gamage, right, and retired Vassalboro Community School principal Dianna Gram, center. (Contributed photo)

Kevin Levasseur, chairman of the Vassalboro School Board, and Jolene Gamage, a board member, present a recognition to retired Vassalboro Community School principal Dianna Gram for her 24 years of service to the school. The plaque was placed at the base of a tree commissioned and planted on the front lawn near the flagpole.

How The Town Line nurtures a healthy community

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The Town Line office in South China, ME.

Emily Catesby Emily Cates, board member and author of Garden Works

As Springtime wraps its fragrant, humming breeze around me as I’m out in the garden, I often think a lot about how my efforts and activities will sustain myself, my family, and my community throughout the year and beyond. Every seed planted, every shovelful of dirt, each load of compost is significant towards this goal.

It can be a whole lot of work, but with the help from family, friends, and neighbors, the jobs become less grueling and oftentimes pleasant as we work together side by side.

When I’m not busy in my garden, I enjoy writing about gardening and serving on the board of directors for The Town Line. Being a board member has given me a close up view of the inner workings of our community — and how our reader-supported, free, nonprofit, weekly newspaper informs and enhances our community.

Just as I am amazed at a garden that thrives in adversity, I am impressed with what The Town Line has been able to achieve and contribute for over 30 years on such small amounts of money, and despite the current economic reality facing newspapers because of falling advertising revenues.

Please take a moment to imagine our community without The Town Line. In my mind, it looks a bit like an abandoned, untended lot. Things would go on, but not to their vibrant potential.

If you, as a reader, value The Town Line, appreciate being informed, enjoy the articles and stories, and have in some way been touched by them, then our newspaper is important to you!

Please consider making a contribution and becoming a member. Not only will you personally benefit from The Town Line continuing as a part of a vibrant community, our whole community will continue to benefit.

Donate to become a member here.

China’s Lydia Gilman takes home a Young Stars of Maine award

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Lydia Gilman

Lydia Gilman, 16, and a junior at Erskine Academy, in South China, was one of only six students selected as $1,000 cash prize winners for the 2019 Young Stars of Maine competition, sponsored by the Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School, in Rockport.

Lydia, accompanied on the piano by Chiharu Naruse, performed two vocal pieces: L’Ultima Notte (in the style of Josh Groban) and If I Ain’t Got You in the style of Alicia Keys, for a panel of three highly-esteemed judges on Sunday, June 2, 2019. Lydia was chosen by the judges as this year’s Young Stars of Maine winner of the Nathan Corning Jazz Prize Award. The performance of all prize winners of the Young Stars of Maine will be held on Sunday, June 23, at 4 p.m., at the Rockport Opera House and is free and open to the public.

Lydia Gilman is the daughter of Lance and April Gilman, and granddaughter of Judi Gilman, all of China

Celebrating high school graduation

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Reagan C. Biediger

Reagan C. Biediger, granddaughter of James McGrath, of South China, and the daughter of Dwight and Eva Biediger (Mc­Grath), will graduate summa cum laude in the top six percent of her high school at Medina Valley High School, in Castro­ville, Texas. Reagan has studied piano privately for 10 years, was active in the high school band and color guard team, spending her senior year as a captain for the Medina Valley Color Guard, and studied martial arts at a local martial arts studio. Reagan will attend Texas A&M University, in College Station, Texas, in the fall as a visualization major through the college of architecture, joining her sister, Allison, who will be a senior at Texas A&M University this fall, who is majoring in biology and minoring in both bioinformatics and computer science.

 

 

BHBT donates to Junior Achievement program

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From left to right, Nichole Lee, BHBT China Branch Relationship Manager and JA volunteer, Bob Bennett, JA volunteer, Sarah Sachs VP Residential Lending BHBT, Lisa Veazie SVP Regional Market Manager BHBT, Jill Jamison – Director of Operations JA, Michelle Anderson – President JA, Lilly Fredette China Middle School eighth grade student. (contributed photo)

In early May, Bar Harbor Bank and Trust presented a gift of $4,500 to Junior Achievement of Maine as part of BHBT’s Casual for a Cause. BHBT employees selected JA based on the passion and dedication JA commits to inspiring Maine students to build strong financial futures through mentor led programming. JMG at China Middle School gets great benefit from partnerships with JA and BHBT. JA offers valuable programming that provides students the necessary foundation to plan for long term academic and financial success. Through activities and projects, facilitated by a community volunteer, students learn critical employability and financial skills. JMG students in grades 7/8 at China Middle School have experienced JA programs, “It’s My Future, Economics for Success and It’s My Business.”

Local athlete gathers more accolades

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Dylan Presby

After being presented with the prestigious male sportsmanship award at Newbury College, in Brookline, Massachusetts, Dylan Presby, of China, was recognized by being named to the Malloy All Sportsmanship team for the entire conference. The Nighthawks sophomore will transfer to LaSalle College, in Newton, Massachusetts, next season after Newbury closed at the end of the current school year. He is the son of David and Michelle Presby, of China.

2019 Winslow Boys and Girls State delegates

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Front row, from left to right, Katherine Stevens, Carrie Selwood and Grace Smith. Back, Jacob Huesers, Aaron Harmon, Caleb Mills. (contributed photo)

Winslow High School juniors will be attending the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State at Husson Uni­versity, in Bangor, and American Legion Boys State, at Thomas College, in Waterville, from June 16-26, 2019. This is the 72nd year of Dirigo Girls and Boys State. The students will be learning how local, state, and federal government operate.