Girl Scouts give back for Thanksgiving
Girl Scout Troop #1651, in China, recently donated two Thanksgiving baskets to the China Town Office to be given to families in the China sarea. Contributed photo
Meeting to be held on proposed Ladd Dam and Box Mill fishways
Left photo, Ladd Dam, and Box Mill. Contributed photos
The Alewife Restoration Initiative and project partner US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will hold an informational meeting regarding plans to build fishways at Ladd Dam and Box Mill, in North Vassalboro. The goal of the fishways, in conjunction with projects at four other dams on Outlet Stream, is to allow alewives to migrate to China Lake to spawn. With the construction of fishways at Box Mill and Ladd (the first and second barriers to returning alewives), access will be established to the spawning habitat of the 40-acre Ladd Mill Pond. The eventual removal or construction of fish passage at the remaining dams on Outlet Stream will allow up to a million returning alewives to spawn in China Lake. A variety of other sea-run and resident species of fish and other organisms will also benefit from the improved connectivity of Outlet Stream and China Lake.
They welcome all to participate in this informational meeting, and to provide your feedback, ideas and comments. Your comments and suggestions can play a significant role on how this project develops. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 29, at 6 p.m., at the Grange Hall, in East Vassalboro. Following is a list of speakers and topics:
- Landis Hudson and Matt Streeter, of Maine Rivers, will discuss how the Ladd and Box Mill projects will fit into the overall goals and schedule of the Alewife Restoration Initiative.
- Nate Gray, of Maine Department of Marine Resources, will discuss how this project fits into Sebasticook River watershed and statewide efforts to restore alewives and improve connectivity for many other species.
- Peter Abello and Ben Naumann, of NRCS, will discuss the planning and project implementation process, timeline and structure options.
- Questions, feedback, ideas and comments are welcome from the public.
For more information, email or call Matt Streeter, mstreeter212@gmail.com, 207-337-2611.
Local Dean College students perform in NFL pre-game show at Gillette Stadium
Students from Dean College, in Franklin, Massachusetts, participated as on-field performers in the 2017 NFL opening pregame celebration on September 7 at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Cami Dubois and Joshua Veilleux, both of Winslow, and Madison Grass, of Vassalboro, participated in the performance.
Guadalupi named to the Assumption College women’s cross country team
The Assumption College Department of Athletics, in Worcester, Massachusetts, has announced that Anne Guadalupi, of Augusta, has earned a coveted spot on the 2017 Assumption College Women’s Cross Country team. Guadalupi, Class of 2021, is competing during the Greyhounds’ fall season, which began with the Shacklette Invitational at Saint Anselm College, on September 2.
Veterans honored at Messalonskee High School
by Tina Richard
On November 9, at the Messalonskee High School, the students from seventh and eight grade honored the veterans that were invited to the tribute. This was the fifth year of doing the event.There was a light breakfast and the students marched the veterans into the auditorium for the program.
They recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and Governor Paul LePage, who was the guest speaker, delivered a great message. The “Marches of the Armed Forces” was played by the high school band and the veterans from each branch of service stood and faced the crowd. The students had samplings of writings and movies in honor of the veterans. There was an announcement of the winner of the Waterville Forrest J. Pare, V.F.W. Post #1285, Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest by Commander Daniel Parker and Nancy Smith, of Camden National Bank. There was a moment of silence, taps were played and the seventh and eighth grade chorus sang “God Bless the USA.” It ended with parting words and the students marched the veterans out to the entrance of the auditorium to “Stars and Stripes Forever.” All the students and adults shook the hand of a veteran thanking them for their service. All the students did an amazing job and I was honored to be a part of it.
Season ski passes available for Quarry Road Trails
CJ Gaunce, of Waterville, left, in orange jacket, loads one of the first chair lifts at Sugarloaf Mountain. He and several others were in line at 4:30 a.m. for opening day. Photo courtesy of Sugarloaf Mountain
Waterville Parks and Recreation has announced that discounted season ski trail passes are now available for the upcoming winter season at Quarry Road Trails, located at 300 Quarry Road in Waterville.
During the winter months, a state-of-the-art snowmaking system and daily grooming all but guarantees the trails will be covered for cross-country skiing. The area offers 12 km (7.5 mi) of trails for all levels of ability with lighting on 2 km of trail for night skiing. Other opportunities for winter outdoor recreation on the Quarry Road Trails include snowshoeing and, when conditions permit, winter fat biking. A full slate of events is already planned for the upcoming busy winter season. Over the past 10 years, the Quarry Road Trails have grown into a multi-use, four-season recreation destination.
Season ski passes are available at discounted pre-season rates through November 30 and can be purchased online at quarryroad.org, the Finance Department at Waterville’s City Hall, or the Alfond Youth Center. Season passes and day passes will also be available 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily at the Welcome Center yurt beginning on the area’s projected opening day, Saturday, December 2.
Volunteers are needed to help this winter in the following areas: staffing the Welcome Center, youth ski program, events, and trail maintenance. If interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, call (207) 446-7356 or email volunteer@quarryroad.org.
For more information about the area, programs, and events, call Waterville Parks and Recreation at (207) 680-4744 or visit quarryroad.org.
First in line on opening day at Sugarloaf Mountain
CJ Gaunce, of Waterville, left, in orange jacket, loads one of the first chair lifts at Sugarloaf Mountain. He and several others were in line at 4:30 a.m. for opening day.
Photo courtesy of Sugarloaf Mountain
Annual Warming up for Christmas to benefit local ShineOnCass foundation
Steve Fotter performs his self-written and produced song “Cass is Everywhere” at last year’s Warming Up for Christmas Concert. Proceeds from the concert will again support the ShineOnCass Foundation. Contributed photo
The 16th Annual “Warming Up for Christmas” Benefit Guitar Concert will be held Saturday, December 2, beginning at 5 p.m., at Williamson Auditorium, Lawrence High School, in Fairfield. The concert, presented by Benton musician Steve Fotter, has raised over $100,000 for local charities. This year’s concert will again benefit the ShineOnCass Foundation, in honor and memory of Cassidy Charette, of Oakland, who died October 11, 2014, in a hayride accident. Last year’s concert raised over $12,000 for ShineOnCass community programs.
The three-hour concert will include a variety of Christmas music, including rock, blues, jazz and folk, and features performances by Fotter’s 85 guitar students and musical friends. Concert tickets are $20, and can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com (search Steve Fotter). Tickets are also sold at Down Home Music Shop, in Fairfield, and Animal Hospital of Waterville. Limited concert tickets will be available at the door for $25.
In Cassidy’s honor, the Foundation is helping fill Christmas boxes of clothing and gifts for more than 1,700 financially disadvantaged children in Maine through the Maine Children’s Home for Little Wanderer’s Christmas Program. Attendees are asked to please bring new, unwrapped items to the concert or drop off gifts at Animal Hospital of Waterville located at 20 Washington St. in Waterville.
There will also be a raffle for an electric guitar, donated by Down Home Music Shop, and a handcrafted blue afghan “Cassidy” blanket. Raffle tickets are 3 for $5 or 7 for $10 and can be purchased at Down Home Music, at the concert, or by calling 207-314-6996. Winners do not need to be present to win.
Cassidy Charette. Contributed photo
The ShineOnCass Foundation was created by the Charette family to educate, inspire and empower youth to continue Cassidy’s passion for caring for others through volunteer charitable activities. Some of the programs created in Cassidy’s honor and supported by the Foundation include: “Cassidy’s Kitchen,” an outdoor kitchen built at Hart to Hart Farm & Education Center, in Albion; a student-led service program called “Cassidy’s Kids” at Mount Merici Academy, in Waterville; ShineOnCass mentoring programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine; girls youth soccer mentoring programs and annual $3,000 ShineOnCass Scholarships and Service Awards at Messalonskee High School.
For more information about the ShineOnCassidy Foundation, email shineoncass@gmail.com.
Two new members inducted into Whitefield Lions Club
From left to right, Whitefield Lions Club membership chairman Steve Hatch, with new members, Rebecca Jones, Kyle Jones, and their sponsor, Lion Carol Jones. Contributed photo
Peace poster contest winners announced
Winners of the Peace Poster Contest with their respective arts teachers, from left to right, Holly Hilton and Jenna Perkins, Whitefield; Rachel Richmond and Abby St. Cyr, Jefferson; Sandy Dunn and Liberty Kimball, Chelsea; Damon Wilson and Jenny Keller, Windsor; and Lion Barry Tibbetts. Contributed photo
Winners of the Peace Poster Contest were honored with their art teachers by the Whitefield Lions Club on October 26.
For the past 30 years Lions clubs around the world have sponsored the Lions International Peace Poster Contest.
The theme of the 2017-2018 contest is “The Future of Peace”
Winners listed by school:
Whitefield: Art teacher Holly Hilton, first Jenna Perkins, second Hannah Jackson, third Acadia Kelley.
Jefferson: Art teacher Rachel Richmond, first Abby St. Cyr, second Victoria Ingram, third Seung Nam Montaro.
Chelsea: Art teacher Sandy Dunn; first Liberty Kimball, second Malaika Igbal, third Camyrin Thompson.
Windsor: Art teacher Jenny Keller, first Damon Wilson, second Mallary Hanke, third Anna Labbe.