Enjoying homecoming
Members of the Dixon’s Market PAL football team ride on a float during the Lawrence High School homecoming parade.
Photo by Mark Huard, owner of Central Maine Photography
Local strongman competitors do well in Connecticut meet
It was a successful trip to the Battle of the Belles, Strongman Competition, in Norwalk Connecticut, for five members of Gevolution Fitness of Augusta. Lori Rioux, Alysia Farrington, Helania Lake, Nancy Danforth and Caitlin McGouldrick all were successful in competing and hitting personal highs during the day. Official results have not been announced yet. In photo at right, from left to right, Casey d’Alfonso, Gina LoMonaco, Lori Rioux, Nancy Danforth, Helania Lake, Alysia Farrington and Caitlin McGouldrick. Contributed photo
China Middle School JMG aids in hurricane relief for China, Texas
China Middle School Jobs for Maine Graduates who participated in the spare change relief fund are, front, from left to right, Alonzo Michaud and Justin Littlefield. Back, Lodin Chavarie, Brayden Wilson, Lorenzo Michaud, Calvin Mason, Libby Crockett, Rebecca Morton, Katie Burgess. Contributed photo
by Cailee Elsasser, 8th grade, China Middle School, JMG Council Officer
How are we helping people recover from Hurricane Harvey? When we realized there was a China, Texas, which unfortunately was in the path of the storm, we felt it was a natural connection to help. The China Middle School JMG organized a spare change drive to help support the students and teachers in China, Texas, as their middle school was destroyed by the flooding. The China Middle and Primary schools stepped up big time, collecting over $500 in change and monetary donations.
A combination of concession proceeds and staff jeans day money was also contributed. And then on the final day of change collection Calvin Mason, an eighth grader in JMG, was sorting and counting box tops. He proposed adding the $150 in box tops that his group had just processed to the change drive. Principal Ms. Bowden graciously accepted the proposal, which brought the grand total to $900. We always want to get involved with community projects whenever we can, whether that’s China, Texas, or China, Maine. We look forward to hearing more inspiring stories in our district and communities!
Area Students Enroll at Colby College Class of 2021
Students from the Class of 2021 have enrolled at Colby College, in Waterville, this fall. Before classes began Sept. 6, they took part in a weeklong orientation that included a civic engagement component in downtown Waterville, an introduction to academic and intellectual life at Colby, and an address by the Dr. Frank and Theodora Miselis Professor of Chemistry D. Whitney King at Colby’s 200th Convocation.
Hanna Bouchard, of Waterville. She is a graduate of Waterville Senior High School and is the daughter of Michael and Colette Bouchard, of Waterville.
Delaney Keithley, of Chelsea. She is a graduate of Cony High School, in Augusta, and is the daughter of Jason and Julie Keithley, of Chelsea.
James Leblanc, of Fairfield. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School, in Fairfield, and is the son of Steven and Sarah LeBlanc, of Fairfield.
Kyle McGadney, of Waterville. He is a graduate of Waterville Senior High School and is the son of Clifford and Camille McGadney, of Waterville.
Ethan Pullen, of Oakland. He is a graduate of Messalonskee High School, in Oakland, and is the son of Charles and Tammy Pullen, of Oakland.
Benjamin Smith, of Winslow. He is a graduate of Winslow High School and is the son of Scott and Kristen Smith, of Winslow.
Eleanor Theriault, of Vassalboro. She is a graduate of Erskine Academy, in South China, and is the daughter of David and Linda Theriault, of Vassalboro.
Katherine Thompson, of Waterville. She is a high school graduate and is the daughter of Mark and Karen Thompson, of Waterville.
John Violette, of Waterville. He is a graduate of Waterville Senior High School and is the son of James and Mary Violette, of Waterville.
Erskine Academy to Host Trunk or Treat
Erskine Academy will host its annual Trunk or Treat event on Tuesday, October 31st from 5:30 – 7:00 pm in the front parking lot. Representatives from Erskine’s various athletic teams, clubs, and departments will hand out candy from the trunks of vehicles parked around the front parking lot. Children aged twelve and under who are accompanied by an adult are invited to participate in this safe and fun way to celebrate Halloween. Families planning to attend should park in the back parking lot located off the Arnold Road. Please contact the school at 445-2962 with any questions.
Tisdale thanked for service
China Town Manager Dan L’Heureux and the board of selectmen recently thanked Mary Tisdale, above, for her service at the China Transfer Station, and wished her good fortune in her next endeavor.
Contributed photo
Window inserts offer available for residents
by Mary Grow
Vassalboro and area residents tired of drafty windows or interested in lower fuel bills – or both – are invited to sign up for energy-saving, draft-blocking window inserts provided through a Vassalboro organization.
Leaders of FAVOR (Friends Advocating for Vassalboro Older Residents) decided at an Oct. 11 meeting they will enroll with Window Dressers, a Rockland-based non-profit organization. The organization helps local residents build and install custom-fitted window inserts, clear plastic with wooden frames, to add a layer of insulation.
FAVOR’s primary target is Vassalboro residents, but people in nearby towns are welcome to join. The program offers financial assistance to low-income homeowners and tenants, but is not a welfare program — any homeowner, any renter who pays his or her own fuel bills or any landlord who pays tenants’ fuel bills is welcome.
Churches and businesses are also eligible for the program, Window Dressers representative Laura Seaton said at the Oct. 11 meeting.
Those interested need to get in touch with Town Manager Mary Sabins, who volunteered to be the local program coordinator, by Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the latest. The date was chosen to give people one more chance to learn about Window Dressers at the polls on Nov. 7.
The other volunteers needed are a volunteer coordinator to work on scheduling and related issues; two two-person measuring teams who will go to houses and apartments and measure windows, starting with initial sign-ups and continuing through mid-November; and many more people to put the inserts together at in-town workshops scheduled to start Friday, Dec. 15, and continue through the weekend and if necessary into the next week.
Seaton said people from Window Dressers will train the Vassalboro measuring teams, who will use laser measuring tools (borrowed from Window Dressers) and enter results into a computer. Once Rockland headquarters people get Vassalboro’s list of windows, they cut the wooden frames to size and may, depending on the size of the order, put them together.
Just before Dec. 15 someone from Vassalboro brings the pre-cut wood and other materials to Vassalboro for a community build, the name given to the assembly process. Seaton said usually the transporter rents a U-Haul van, for which Window Dressers pays. Volunteers, including but not limited to people getting inserts, put the frames together if necessary, stretch the plastic tightly over them and add an outside foam gasket that makes them fit snugly.
The place for the December community build is not firm. Sabins said possibilities include a room in Ray Breton’s mill in North Vassalboro, the East Vassalboro Grange Hall or the town office meeting room.
The volunteer assemblers usually work four-hour shifts with a meal break. The not-yet-named volunteer coordinator is responsible for scheduling and for soliciting donated food.
Seaton said residents usually prioritize windows, doing north and west ones, for example. The inserts are removable and reusable. Vassalboro resident Holly Weidner, who participated in a build some years ago, said the inserts are so clear that she leaves some in year-round.
The price of a window insert varies with the choice of finish, pine or white-painted, and with the size of each window. Seaton estimated eight feet as the maximum length or width available.
She said this year Window Dressers has led 27 community builds and provided between 5,000 and 6,000 inserts.
In addition to making houses more comfortable, Seaton said a study by University of Maine at Orono economists and customer feedback find an average 20 percent reduction in fuel use.
Mary Follet recognized for 30 years of service
Mary Follett, left, accepts 30-year service award from District Governor Norman Hart as Whitefield Lions Club President Cindy Haskell Lincoln looks on. Contributed photo
Mary Follett, a local member of the Whitefield Lions Club, was honored at a meeting in Whitefield recently, celebrating 30 years of service to her community. District Governor Norman Hart and past District Governor Paula Beach were on hand for the event.
For more information on the Whitefield Lions Club go to www.WhitefieldLionsClub.com or call President Cindy Haskell Lincoln at 242-2477.
Erskine Academy inducts 22 Leo Club members
New members of Erskine Academy’s Leo Club. Contributed photo
Twenty-two Erskine Academy students were inducted into the Erskine Academy Leo Club at the Whitefield Lions Club, on October 12.
The new members joined an original 25, making the Erskine Academy Leo Club the largest in the state.
Leo Club members were presented with a banner supplied by the Whitefield Lions Club.
During the induction ceremony performed by District Governor Norman Hart, and past District Governor Paula Beach, members were awarded Leo pins by Whitefield Lions Club President Cindy Lincoln and Club Director and Leo Club organizer, Barry Tibbetts.
The Leo Club was formed last Spring in conjunction with the Whitefield Lions Club and Erskine Advisor Roxanne Malley.
Whitefield Lions Barry Tibbetts, Ron Kenoyer and Calvin Prescott have been instrumental in the formation and support of this club, which helps students conduct local civic duties and develop leadership skills.
Erskine Leos have attended Whitefield Lions Club meetings and helped with their local fundraisers including a golf tournament, fishing derby and working at the Windsor Fair.
The Erskine Leos plan a pumpkin painting and visitation day at the Country Manor Nursing Home, 132 Main Street, in Coopers Mills, on October 26, at 2:30 p.m. They are also looking for donations of pumpkins.
For more information about the Leo club or to make a donation, please contact Roxanne Malley at 314-9859/rmalley@erskine247.com or Barry Tibbetts 549-3109. To learn more about the Whitefield Lions Club and upcoming events www.WhitefieldLionsClub.com.
Week of October 12, 2017
Week of October 12, 2017
China to conduct survey for a Lifetime Committee
China community friends, we, the members of the China for a Lifetime Committee, want you to know that The Town Line next week will include a survey that we have developed. We hope you will take and return the survey. In the survey, we have asked a number of questions, the answers to which we think will assist us, with your support and participation, to facilitate China becoming even more a community that allows all of our citizens to have more of their needs met and to develop a greater feeling of community and acceptance. Our goal is to really live up to our name and transform our town so that you want to live in China “for a Lifetime”… [read more…]
