Start seeds at the Palermo Community Center

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Photo courtesy of Emily Cates

Whether you are a patio container gardener or have a vast vegetable garden, getting those seeds going indoors is a fun and productive way to kickstart your growing season. Grab some seeds and growing trays on Friday, February 23, and we’ll get down and dirty with a hands-on sowing session following a delicious Pot Luck Supper at 6 p.m.

Master Gardener Connie Bellet and friends will help you choose what to plant, when to plant it, where to locate plants and their friends, how long you can keep seeds, needs of specific plants, how and what to feed your plants, and how much to water. Hint: the focus will be on cold-weather crops like parsley, kale, onions, and cabbage. If you have other areas of interest or specific gardening questions, Bellet can either answer them or direct you to appropriate experts in the field.

The supper is free, but a donation of $5 or more is requested to cover the expense of planting supplies, sample mediums, and organic plant foods and fertilizers. Bring a winter dish to share, or donate to the Food Pantry. For information or directions, please contact Connie Bellet at 993-2294 or pwhitehawk@fairpoint.net.

Palermo Food Pantry to reschedule when schools close

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For safety’s sake, the Good Shepherd Food Bank, which contracts with local food pantries, has issued a policy that when schools are closed due to weather and road conditions, many of the area food pantries will also close. The Palermo Food Pantry, which is open every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon, will try to reschedule to Wednesday at the same time, at the Palermo Community Center. School closings are shown on the “crawler” at the bottom of the TV screen on the morning news on channels 5 and 8. If in doubt, please call Connie at 993-2294 or June at 993-2225 before 10 a.m.

The winter months are very hard on all of us, particularly when hungry children are involved. All of the food pantries are extremely grateful for donations of food and money, and appreciate your support of our friends and neighbors. The Palermo Food Pantry accepts donations of food on Tuesday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m., and monetary donations may be made out to the Living Communities Foundation, P.O. Box 151, Palermo 04354. Thank you so very much!

Big Brothers/Big Sisters receives grant from local bank

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine (BBBS MM) was recently awarded a $3,000 grant from Skowhegan Savings Charitable Contributions Foundation in support of school-based mentoring programs in Somerset County.

The donation will help fund matches at BBBS programs that link student mentors from Skowhegan High School (Bigs) with elementary students (Littles) at Margaret Chase Smith School and Bloomfield Elementary School. Funds will also purchase items for the program’s activity bins used by matches at both locations.

BBBS MM Executive Director Gwendolyn Hudson said partnership with Skowhegan Savings is especially vital in the agency’s work to help more kids succeed in Somerset County. “When local businesses like Skowhegan Savings continue to support the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters, they are making a long-term commitment to children in their community; to help change more lives for the better,” Hudson said.

Skowhegan Savings Assistant Vice President and Community Banker Karen Hart and Fawn Wentworth, Marketing Officer recently met with Big and Little matches to see first-hand how the Skowhegan Savings Foundation gift is helping local youth at Bloomfield Elementary School in Skowhegan.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine changes the lives of more than 700 youth in Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset and Waldo Counties facing adversity for the better, forever by providing strong and enduring, professionally-supported, one-to-one relationships. By partnering with parents, volunteers and organizations, children in Big Brother Big Sister programs have higher aspirations, greater confidence, better relationships, avoid risky behaviors and achieve educational success. For more information on volunteering or donating please call 236-BBBS (2227) or visit www.bbbsmidmaine.org.

Skowhegan Area High School student mentors (Bigs) meet with their Littles at Bloomfield Elementary School in Skowhegan as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine youth mentoring programs. The Bloomfield matches, as well as Bigs and Littles who meet weekly at Margaret Chase Smith School, will benefit from a recent generous gift of $3,000 from Skowhegan Savings Charitable Contributions Foundation.

Erskine Academy to host 8th grade open house

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All eighth grade students and their parents from the surrounding communities are invited to attend the Erskine Academy Eighth Grade Open House on Wednesday, February 28, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym. The administration strongly encourages all incoming freshmen and their parents to attend this event as registration materials will be available and information about the course selection process will be provided. In the case of inclement weather, a snow date of Thursday, March 1, has been set.

Parents who are unable to attend this event are asked to contact the Guidance Office at 445-2964 to request registration materials.

Erskine class of 2018 to hold 5K in April

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The Erskine Academy Class of 2018 will host the 9th annual Fly Like an Eagle 5K Race/Walk on Sunday, April 29, at 9 a.m. The race will feature free performance race T-shirts (if registered by deadline), snacks for all race participants, and awards for race winners. The non-refundable registration fee is $20 for adults, $10 for Erskine students, and $15 for all other students if registered by April 22. Registrations received after that date or on race day will be at the rate of $25 and race day T-shirts are not guaranteed. Online registration is available (for an additional fee) at https://www.RunReg.com/fly-like-an-eagle-5k or participants may register by mail by contacting Betsy Benner at bbenner@erskine247.com. All proceeds benefit the Class of 2018.

Vassalboro Fishing derby results

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2018 Vassalboro Fishing Derby Results

Large Mouth Bass

  • $25 to Dan Roderique—3.85 # and winner of Largest Fish Trophy and $100!
  • $15 to Jenny Rodrigue—2.4#
  • $10 to Jacoby Bragdon—2.3#

Small Mouth Bass

  • $25 to Noah Cummings 3.2#

White Perch

  • $25 to Garrett Baragas–.95#
  • $15 to Jarod Bradgon–.55#
  • $10 to Jacoby Bragdon–.40#

Brown Trout

  • $25 to Chris Cates—1.8#
  • $15 to Sue McMullen—1#

Brook Trout

  • $25 to Emily McLean–.85#
  • $15 to Mike Field–.80#
  • $10 to Noah Cummings–.75#

Pike

  • $25 to Craig Maxim—13.05#
  • $15 to Nick Cummings—12.5#
  • $10 to Nick Cummings—10.1#

Pickerel

  • $25 to Joel Strasnick—3.75#
  • $15 to Sue McMullen—2.35#
  • $10 to Craig Maxim—1.8#

Children 12 and Under

  • $25 to Jaden Berube—2.5#
  • $15 to Jali Kao—2.5#
  • $10 to Peyton Berube—2.3#
  • $10 to Jacoby Bragdon—2.3#

Maine’s native wildflowers come to Vassalboro School

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Matt Streeter, standing, assists students, from left to right, Ayden Michaud, Ava Picard and Kaoline Gladden. Contributed photo

The class started with students passing a package of shrink-wrapped alewives around the room, drawing comments like, “Gross,” “Cool,” “I know what those are.” It ended with 80 pots of native plant seeds, ready to be moved outdoors to a cold frame behind the school.

On February 8, students in Lorraine Kingsbury’s science classes at Vassalboro Community School learned about the importance of Maine’s native wildflowers. Karen Simpson, a Maine Master Gardener and Maine Master Naturalist, delivered a lesson on the differences between native plants, non-native plants and invasive plants. Students learned the vital role native plants play in nature’s food web. They discussed how plants help with erosion control along shorelines and learned the differences between planting wild seeds vs. garden seeds normally planted in the spring.

Maine master naturalist Anita Smith, and teacher Karen Simpson flank Kayden Painchaud, while they work with wildflower seeds. Contributed photo

After the lesson, each student planted two pots of native seeds, some no bigger than a speck of dust. Each student will keep a journal recording plant growth, weather conditions and other observations they feel are important in their plants growth and development. The planted seeds will spend the remainder of the winter in a safe secluded area at the Vassalboro Community School.

During the summer, students from the school will care for the plants. At the end of summer the plants will be moved to the Masse Dam site where they will be cared for until the fall. In September or October of 2018, students will plant their native wild plants at the Masse Dam site.

Karen’s presentation was preceded by two other presenters: Nate Gray, from Maine Department of Marine Resources, and Matt Streeter, Project Manager with Maine Rivers. Nate led an engaging discussion about the importance of alewives and how they fit into the food web. Matt shared information about the Alewife Restoration Project. Both took time to answer question from students about alewives and the project. When asked what other questions they might have, one student wisely said, “I think you summed it all up.”

The presenters and students are looking forward to meeting in the fall of 2018 to plant the native plants along the shore of the outlet stream. There may be an opportunity this spring for the students involved with this project to visit the Masse Dam site. The purpose of the trip would be to share history of the site, and engage in other educational activities with the students.

Others who helped with the wild seed project at Vassalboro Community School but not mentioned in the above article were Victor Esposito, JMG Master Specialist, Anita Smith, Maine Master Naturalist, and Elaine Philbrook, with the China Lake Association. The material costs for this project where covered by the China Lake Association. Longfellows Garden Center, of Manchester, provided pots and planting supplies.

Vassalboro Community School students begin planting wildflower seeds. Front table, left to right, Michael Dellinger, Sofia Derosby and Alexia Tardiff. Back table, Echo Hawk, Carson Cote, Savannah Powell and Camden Burdick. Contributed photo

Central Maine Town Meetings for 2018

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This page has moved. Please visit the updated page at: Schedule of Town Meetings 2018

Town Meetings 2018

ALBION
Sat., March 17, 10 a.m.
Besse Building

UNITY
Fri. & Sat., March 23 – 24
Voting: March 23, noon – 8 p.m.
Unity Town Ofice
Meeting resumes 10 a.m., Unity Gym, 84 School St.

CHINA
Sat., March 24, 9 a.m.
China Primary School
Quorum: 120 voters needed

FAIRFIELD
Mon., May 14, 7 p.m.
Fairfield Community Center

VASSALBORO
Mon., June 4, 6:30 p.m.
Vassalboro Community School
Election: Tues., June 12, 8 – 8
Vassalboro Town Office

MADISON
Mon., June 11, 7 p.m.
Madison Junior High School
Voting: Tues., June 12, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Fire Station, 26 Weston Ave.

WINDSOR
Town meeting: Wed., June 13, 6 p.m.
Windsor town hall (upstairs)
Voting: Tues., June 12, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Nomination papers available March 5, with April 13, 5 p.m. deadline.
Absentee ballots available May 12, last day available June 7.

CHELSEA
Town meeting, Thurs., June 14
6:30 p.m., Chelsea Elmentary School
Voting: Tues., June 12, at school
Nomination papers available March 2.

For your town to be included in this section,
contact The Town Line at 445-2234
townline@fairpoint.net or visit our Contact page!

Misty Waters Completes Internship Requirement

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Misty Waters completed Colby-Sawyer College’s internship requirement with Colby-Sawyer’s Windy Hill Laboratory Schoool, in New London, New Hampshire. Waters, of Starks, is a member of the class of 2018 majoring in child development.

Three area students on URI dean’s list

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The University of Rhode Island, in Kingston, Rhode Island, has announced that three local undergraduates have qualified for the fall 2017 dean’s list.

The following students from the area have been named to URI’s fall 2017 dean’s list:

Devan Globensky, of Augusta; Alexandria Jarvais, of Madison; and Rachel Pratt, of Cornville.