Senior Services Fair first event at renovated church

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Photo courtesy of Pearley Lachance

Many local people attended the Vassalboro Senior Services Fair on May 23, the first event held at the newly-renovated St. Bridget’s Community Center, formerly the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, on Main St., in North Vassalboro. An open house will be held Sunday, June 10 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Pearley Lachance

CORRECTION: This story previously stated the community center’s open house was on June 20. It is on Sunday, June 10. We apologize for the error.

JMG students visit MCS library

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China Middle School Jobs for Maine Graduates students stand with David Richards, director of the Margaret Chase Smith Library, and a life-like portrait of Margaret Chase Smith as a young lady. (Contributed photo)

The Jobs for Maine Graduates program at China Middle School recently visited the Margaret Chase Smith Library, in Skowhegan, as the JMG program was being recognized for a community service project that they had done earlier in the school year. They did a Spare Change Drive to help with Hurricane Harvey relief in China, Texas. They were invited to attend by Director David Richards, who spotted the article months earlier in The Town Line, newspaper. As they got the tour, they were expecting the building to be more like a library, but it was actually more like a museum. It was really interesting that the museum was added on to her house.

A few interesting facts they learned were Margaret was the first woman in congress to break the sound barrier. She earned 94 Honorary Doctorate degrees from colleges around the country. Family meant a great deal as she had many pictures of her family in the house, especially in the entry area of the house. And her mother seemed very important as she had a picture of her above her bed. She didn’t have any children of her own so she was very close with her nieces and nephews. Some of her family came from Canada and changed their surname because people that were French were discriminated against. One of her missions was to make sure all people were treated with equality and respect.

Margaret wanted all students, especially Maine students, to serve their community and aspire to be a leader. In the entryway was the book The Little Engine That Could because her feeling was if you tried as hard as you can you can succeed and that when someone needs help, you help. You don’t sit by the sidelines and watch. It was a great visit.

Fishy photo: Hunter scores!

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Hunter Hallee, 12, with his first trout.

Hunter Hallee, 12, of Rome, who is normally the goalie for his youth hockey team, had a big score on a recent fishing trip with his father and grandfather, at Tea Pond, in Eustis, on May 18-20. Hunter caught this 15-inch brook trout on Sunday morning, the first brook trout he’s ever caught. Hunter is the son of Ryan and Rachel Hallee, of Rome, and the grandson of Roland and Joan Hallee, of Waterville, Barbara Saxton, of Rome, and Terry Greenleaf, of Oakland.

China Post Office food drive a success

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Pictured are, from left, food pantry director Ann Austin, and two food pantry volunteers. (Contributed photo)

The volunteers at the China Food Pantry express their appreciation for all those in the community who gave non-perishable food items during the annual Post Office Food Drive. The shelves are currently well-stocked thanks to the many residents who gave so generously.

Dubois, Grass and Veilleux on Dean College dean’s list

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Dean College, in Franklin, Massachusetts, has named the students that have earned a place on the dean’s list for the Fall 2017 semester.

Cami Dubois, of Winslow; Madison Grass, of Vassalboro; and Joshua Veilleux, of Winslow.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Jefferson Food Pantry thanks community

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To the editor:

On behalf of the pantry board, the volunteers and all those who receive we thank the many residents who participated in the US Postal Service food drive last Saturday.

More than 600 pounds of food was collected by our wonderful postal folks. Many thanks to them. Donations surpassed last year by over 200 pounds.

If you or anyone you know are in need of help providing food for you or your family we are open for distribution the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, 4 – 5:30 p.m., at St Giles Episcopal Church, 72 Gardiner Road, Jefferson. For more information, call 315-1134.

Barbara O’Halloran
Jefferson Food Pantry

China for a Lifetime Committee official 2017 survey results

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Please click here to download the China for a Lifetime committee’s official assessment for the 2017 survey.

Also see our March 2018 article about the committee and results of the survey: Making China a place to last a lifetime.

Square dancers engage in workshops

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Included in the picture are couples from New Sharon (Friendship Square Dance Club, of Farmington), Newport and Fairfield (Central Maine Square Dance Club, of Waterville), Monmouth (Squire Town Squares, of Winthrop), Oxford (Swinging Bears Square Dance Club, of South Paris), Richmond and Ellsworth. (Contributed photo)

Local square dancers were able to participate in two separate weekends of square dancing in the month of March. The weekend of March 2 – 3, saw the dancers heading to South Burlington, Vermont, for the annual Maple Sugar Dance Festival. There were many workshops for the various levels of square dancing along with different workshops for Round Dancing. They had a hall for class/mainstream, plus, A-1, A-2, and C, with round dancing in the plus hall. There were approximately 200 dancers in attendance.

On the weekend of March 16 – 18, they had the opportunity to attend the St. Patrick’s Day festival put on by the Sage Square Dance Club, of Brunswick. This event was held in Old Orchard Beach in an area called Ocean Park. With workshops Saturday morning and afternoon and a full dance Saturday night, it was a full day of dancing pleasure. Then on Sunday morning they got together for two more hours of fun dancing before leaving for home. They had almost 100 dancers gathered for this annual event.

CHINA: Thurston Park committee to sponsor photo contest

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Hikers in Thurston Park (Photo courtesy: Town of China)

by Mary Grow

China’s Thurston Park Committee is sponsoring a photo contest, with winning pictures to be turned into a 2019 calendar featuring “photos that best illustrate the beauty, history, and character of China’s amazing recreational destination.”

All pictures entered must be taken in the park in northeastern China. Photographers are welcome to submit pictures of flowers, trees, seasonal phenomena, historic artifacts and other natural and man-made features, wildlife and people engaged in recreational activities. Photos cannot be touched up or have filters added. They must be horizontally oriented.

Photos should be in the form of high-resolution images digitally sent to thurstonpark@gmail.com or on a CD that can be left at the China town office on Lakeview Drive. Accompanying each entry should be the photographer’s name, address and phone number; the date the picture was taken; what category it is entered in (landscapes, flora/fauna, people/pets, activities); and the names of any people shown with proof they have given permission for use of the photo.

The deadline for submissions is May 31. Photos will not be returned. By submitting his or her photo(s), the photographer gives the Thurston Park Committee “full and exclusive rights to print the photo in Thurston Park literature and electronic media and without further obligation to the photographer or those people who have their persons, property or items pictured.”

In addition to a calendar appearance, the committee offers a grand prize for the best photo, which becomes the cover picture, and prizes for the best photo in each of the four categories.

Winners will be announced, prizes awarded and calendars on sale at the 2018 China Community Days celebration.

People who need more information about the contest are invited to call Thurston Park Committee Chairman Jeanette Smith at 968-5016 or email thurstonpark@gmail.com.

Maine-ly Harmony elects officers

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Left to right: LouAnn Mossler, Candace Pepin, Cathy Anderson and BJ Sylvester-Pellett. Janet Dunham and Barbara Combs are absent from photo. (Contributed photo)

Maine-ly Harmony women’s barbershop chorus recently installed its officers. Serving the chorus are president Cathy Anderson, of Jefferson; vice president BJ Sylvester-Pellett, of Winthrop; secretary Candace Pepin, of Augusta; treasurer Janet Dunham, of Belgrade; and members at large, Barbara Combs, of Topsham, and LouAnn Mossler, of South China. Directed by Kathy Greason of Brunswick, the chorus member welcome singers to their Wednesday 6:30 p.m. rehearsals at the Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church, 209 Eastern Ave in Augusta. Anyone interested in visiting a rehearsal or scheduling the chorus to sing for their event should contact Nancie Hugenbruch at 293-4779 or email hugabook4@yahoo.com.