KHS to hear about life on a remote Maine farm

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John H. Twomey will speak about his recent book, Retiring To, Not From — From Massachusetts Professor to Maine Farmer. The discussion will encompass many aspects of life on his farm and his comments will be accompanied by a slide presentation. John and his partner Leigh Norcott live off grid in a 19th century Maine farmhouse. They raise vegetables, fruits, chickens and brook trout, and enjoy hiking and cross-country skiing on the many trails on the farm. Indeed, their lives include many aspects of life from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. John and Leigh live quietly and very much in touch with the natural world that surrounds them. Since 1978 John has worked on maintaining and improving wildlife habitat on the farm’s 125 acres. He will discuss these efforts, focusing attention on his work in the fields, brushy areas, and woodlands.

After 37 years as a professor at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, John retired in 2009 and moved, with his partner Leigh Norcott, to Montville, Maine. There they live simply and deliberately on the farm that John has owned since 1978. The farm operates on solar power, completely off grid, and John and Leigh work together as they produce almost all of their own food, and all of their own firewood. An avid naturalist, John has for years worked to maintain and improve the wildlife habitat on the farm. He does so by carefully scheduling the mowing of his fields and brushy areas, by planting, transplanting, grafting, and pruning hundreds of apple trees, and by planting thousands of white and chestnut oaks. Having seen farms sold and developed in his hometowns in Connecticut and Massachusetts, John long ago set his sights on owning and nurturing an old New England farm, a traditional home place. He has accomplished that and intends to permanently protect his Montville farm.

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 6:30 p.m., at the Maine State Library, 230 State St., Augusta. A potluck supper will precede the program at 4:30 p.m.
Edit: Added time and location of presentation.

Delta Ambulance launches free citizens academy

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Delta Ambulance Citizens Academy is a hands-on opportunity for residents of the community to learn many different aspects of the skills utilized by Delta Ambulance Paramedics and EMTs.

This Academy is designed for people, who are interested in learning more about emergency medical services (EMS).

The academy provides hands-on training, one evening per week, from 6-8 p.m., for eight weeks. Instructors will demonstrate the skills of EMS crews. Participants will, with guidance, attempt a variety of EMT skills using mannequins for the purpose of understanding the role of the EMS professional

Participants will use the training they have received in the final session where they will treat a simulated patient in a mock patient-care scenario.

After CPR and AED training, academy participants will have the opportunity to ride along with a Delta Ambulance crew. A variety of daytime shifts are available.

Introduction to Delta Ambulance; ambulance equipment; Airway, respiratory emergencies; Medical Emergencies, Pharmacology, IV’s; Cardiology, Defibrillation, Reading Heart Rhythms; Traumatic Emergencies, Emergency Childbirth; Disaster Preparedness; CPR & AED (automatic external defibrillator) Training; Putting Everything Together, Code Drills, Academy ride-time.

Graduates will receive CPR/AED training and a greater understanding of emergency medical services.

There is no cost to attend Delta’s Citizens Academy. If one is interested, would like to register for the next academy or have questions please visit DeltaAmbulance.org, telephone our Director of Education: 207-861-4246 or mail to: Delta Ambulance Citizens Academy, 29 Chase Avenue, Waterville, Maine 04901

The first session will be October 2, at the Waterville Delta Headquarters (Chase Avenue) and class size is limited.

This academy does not offer or provide certification for participants to work as EMTs or respond to EMS calls.

Bolyns receive LakeSmart designation

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The China Lake Association has announced that Tony and Nancy Bolyn, of China, received the LakeSmart Award for their lake front property. They have trees, shrubs and ground cover near the water front that act as a buffer to protect the lake from phosphorous entering during rain events. There are shrubs and mulch around the perimeter of their house to help absorb any rain coming off the roof. LakeSmart volunteers are able to visit property owners to give ideas of how they can protect the lake on their property. A volunteer can be reached at chinalakesmart@gmail.com or by calling Marie Michaud at 207-242-0240.

Local square dancers enjoy summer magic weekend in Canada

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From left to right, Larry and Kathleen Hillman, Cindy Fairfield, Bob Brown, Bruce and Margaret Carter, and Nancy and Fred Temple. Contributed photo

On August 24, four local couples traveled to Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, for the annual Summer Magic Square & Round Dance weekend. The eight dancers were Larry and Kathleen Hillman, of Fairfield, Cindy Fairfield and Bob Brown, of Newport, (both couples are members of the Central Maine Square Dance Club of Waterville), Bruce and Margaret Carter, of Ellsworth, and Nancy and Fred Temple, of Richmond.

They enjoyed an early welcoming dance on Friday with 25 squares of dancers already there. That’s 200 individual dancers. The festival started with round dancing and at 8:45 p.m., the square dancing began with an additional 25 squares joining those already there. Saturday’s dancing started after breakfast, and except for lunch and dinner, went until 11:30 p.m. Sunday, dancing continued until 11:30 a.m.

With over 400 dancers from 20 states and most provinces of Canada dancing to international callers – Don Moger, of Quebec City, Quebec, Michael Kellogg and Charlie Robertson, of California, and Tony Oxendine, of South Carolina, and Round dancer cuer Steve Bradt, of Pennsylvania.

The Central Maine Square Dancers extend an invitation to anyone interested in learning to square dance to just show up on either Tuesday night September 16 or 26 at 6:30 p.m., for an informational evening of free beginner lessons. For more info call Bob 447-0094, Cindy 631-8816, or Jeff 416-6444.

McGinnis presented with LakeSmart award

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The China Lake Association has announced that Sherry McGinnis, on China Lake, has just won the coveted LakeSmart Award. Sherry has lived on the lake for 31 years. Her property has a strong buffer at the water front that still allows her to enjoy a great view of the lake. The Youth Conservation Corp added to the buffer several native plants and timbers in 2016. Thank you Sherry for protecting our lake! If you would like to schedule a visit from a LakeSmart Volunteer, please contact Marie Michaud at ChinaLakeSmart@gmail.com or call 207-242-2040.

What you should know about boundary surveys featured at SRLT monthly program

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The sight of land surveyors peering into tripod-mounted equipment by the roadside is common enough, but what are they actually doing? Frank Siviski, a professional land surveyor with more than 30 years of experience, will shed light on the seemingly mysterious world of boundary determinations.

Siviski has taught survey-related courses at Unity College, and is currently an instructor at Kennebec Valley Community College. His talk will help landowners understand how surveys are created, standards that are applied, and how landowners’ goals shape the outcome. If you have questions about boundary surveys, this is an opportunity to have those questions answered.

Siviski’s presentation is part of the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust’s monthly speaker series, “Restoring Connections to Place,” featuring a wide variety of conservation topics. The programs are held. on the second Wednesday of every month at the café, 93 Main Coffee Shop, located at 93 Main St., Unity. These monthly events are open to the public and a five dollar donation is suggested. For more information, please email info@sebasticookrlt.org or call 948-3766.

Bicentennial committee gears up for China’s 200th birthday

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The old Weeks Mills one-room schoolhouse, built in 1860 — newly upgraded with Wifi and electricity!

by Eric W. Austin

Funny how you can spend half your life in a place and still discover something new, I think, as I head down Old Weeks Mills Road to a meeting with China’s Bicentennial Committee.

The meeting is being held in the old Weeks Mills one-room schoolhouse.

Blue lights blink at me as I enter: a modem plugged into the wall just inside. It seems out of place in such an historic setting. The building was restored seven years ago and gleams with clean, whitewashed walls and dark, stained-wood floors.

Wifi and electricity are two modern conveniences that Neil Farrington, China selectman and local history enthusiast, hopes will encourage the next generation to use the building.

“It’s the perfect place for tutoring or to do homework,” he tells me as we wait for the other committee members to arrive.

He’s right. It sounds like a library in here. I feel compelled to use my inside voice.

We’re soon joined by Betty Glidden, who attended class in this very schoolhouse until the eighth grade, her husband Sherwood, and Bob Bennett, a retired history teacher who taught at Erskine Academy, in South China.

The committee has been tasked with planning celebrations for China’s 200th anniversary next year. The talk turns to the many unknown – and unnoticed – places of historical interest in China and the surrounding areas.

“We once had more than 20 schoolhouses just like this one in the areas of China, Weeks Mills and Branch Mills alone,” says Neil. “Imagine that!”

“And there are a ton of little cemeteries all over the place,” I say. “I bet they each have a story to tell.”

“Twenty-eight,” Neil supplies. “Maybe more.”

Neil is big on getting the community involved. Everybody agrees. Bob Bennett tells us how he encouraged his students to conduct interviews to add color to their term papers. Heads nod. China has a rich, deep history, but it’s locked away in the minds of its older citizens and hidden in quiet corners of the landscape.

I pipe up and offer to interview some of our senior residents and share their unique experiences with readers of The Town Line.

“Before they’re lost forever,” says Bob. The prospect is sobering for this little group of history buffs.

A reverence settles over us as we shuffle out of the little schoolhouse. There’s something about considering the vastness of history: you get the sense both of your own insignificance and yet also of our eternal connection to what has gone before.

Do you know someone with a story to tell? Contact The Town Line at townline@fairpoint.net or visit our contact page !

Fishy Photo: Striper Beauty

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Roger Files, 13, of Palermo, caught this 19-pound, 33-inch striped bass during a July 31 vacation at Cape Cod, in Massachusetts.

Petersen earns degree from University of Vermont

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Melissa Petersen of Augusta, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology during commencement ceremonies on May 21, 2017, at the University of Vermont, in Burlington, Vermont.

Students named to the U. of Vermont dean’s list

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The following local students have been named to the University of Vermont dean’s list, in Burlington, Vermont:

Delaney Curran; of Skowhegan; Kaitlyn Sutter, of Palermo; and Kayla Christopher, of Oakland.