Good Will-Hinckley’s L.C. Bates Natural History Museum to offer free admission

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Good Will-Hinckley’s L.C. Bates Natural History Museum (photo credit: https://www.gwh.org/)

Good Will-Hinckley’s L.C. Bates Natural History Museum is pleased to announce free admission on Saturday, September 30, 2023, thanks to the generosity of Skowhegan Savings Bank.

The L.C. Bates Museum located at 14 Easler Road on the GWH Campus, in Hinckley, is an early 20th century museum full of unique cabinets of curiosities and Maine wildlife dioramas. Thanks to its eclectic collection of exhibits, it is often called a “Museum of a Museum”. Here you can discover the wonders of nature. Explore exhibits of art, Maine Native American baskets, minerals, and Maine history and archaeology.

Trip Advisor calls the museum, “An Unexpected Treasure Trove!” and Atlas Obscura says, “this eclectic natural history collection holds everything from a bit of the transatlantic cable to Hemingway’s marlin.”

Editors at Yankee Magazine, pose the question whether, “The L.C. Bates Museum | The most interesting museum in Maine?”

As part of Good Will-Hinckley’s Annual Fall Festival, on September 30, children and adults will be able to enjoy fun family activities from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (rain or shine) including free admission to the museum.

Other activities as part of Good-Will Hinckley’s Fall Festival include a climbing wall, lawn games, pumpkin painting, obstacle course, food trucks, craft and art fair, petting zoo, reptile tent, firetrucks, a passport adventure and more!

For more information or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Barbara Gourley at Good Will-Hinckley (207-238-4000) or visit our website at gwh.org for more information.

EVENTS: 5th Annual Nosh & Knock Off set

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The Waterville Public Library is planning to get away with criminal mischief again this October as it hosts Nosh & Knock Off: An Interactive Mystery Event – an evening of mystery and magic at the Waterville Public Library, on Saturday, October 28, 2023! This 5th annual fundraiser will be a live-acted, not-to-be-missed once-in-a-lifetime event! Nosh & Knock Off 2023 will feature an original script, Murder at the Epilogue Club, written and directed by a local playwright and beloved friend of the library, Emilienne Ouellette. The mystery will be live-acted and feature some of our region’s most illustrious and remarkable theatrical talent! Nosh & Knock Off is a sure bet for an evening full of delight and frivolity. All proceeds go to a fantastic cause: supporting Waterville Public Library programs and services. Be a part of the “welcome back, better than ever year!”

The cost to attend is $50 per person and includes a wide array of delightful libations and refreshments throughout the evening. Tickets are limited and go quickly! Buy tickets at https://wplnk23.eventbrite.com. For more information, call the Waterville Public Library at 207.872.5433 or email librarian@watervillelibrary.org. This is a 21+ event, and tickets will likely not be available at the door as they’ll be sold out. Yes, it’s that good!

Murder at the Epilogue Club:

The time, the roaring 1920s. The place, The Epilogue Club, an after-hours speakeasy at the Waterville Public Library teeming with flappers, gangsters, and ladies of the night. Nearly everyone becomes a suspect when scandalously sexy nightclub singer, Trixie Harridan, dies onstage mid-performance. Work with your teammates to discover whodunnit as the story unfolds around you at this interactive comedic murder mystery. Featuring local acting talent and an original script by Emilienne Ouellette.

Cast of Characters: Trixie Harridan – Bee Tyler; Thomas Gunn – Art Meneses; Scott – Paul Herard; Fitzgerald – Erik Hyatt ;Zelda Harridan – Sarah Johnson; Mort Pestle – Tim Croce; Jade Chatelaine – Lisa St. Hilaire; Lily LaFleur – Serena Sanborn; Norwood Helm – Nathan Sylvester; Taffeta Slick – Samantha Delorie; Clara Copper – Lauren Ouellette; Amethyst – Dawn Wiers; Diamond – Jennifer Day; Emerald – Phoebe Sanborn; Ruby – Dana Bushee; Sapphire – Hana Valle; The Johns – John Buys, Richard Meng, Matt Stanford, Stevie Webb, Greg Wiers.

Donor opportunities are still available! Email office@watervillelibrary.org for more information! This interactive mystery theater production, starring esteemed members of our community and cast members on loan from the Waterville Opera House, is the Waterville Public Library’s largest annual fundraiser, with all proceeds from the event going directly to support library programming.

Skowhegan scout given award for patch design

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Roundtable Commissioner Christopher Bernier, left, of Winslow, presented Taylor Hayden, of Skowhegan, with the display plaque that features his original artwork and the first patch from the run of patches made based on the art. (contributed photo)

Taylor Hayden, of Skowhegan, is a Star Scout in Troop #485. He is 15 years old and attends Skowhegan Area High School. On Wednesday, September 13, Taylor stood before Scouting leaders from all over Kennebec Valley District to receive a plaque for his contributions to Scouting by designing the patch for the Spring Camporee which was held in May, at Camp Bomazeen, in Belgrade.

Taylor was pleasantly surprised when he learned that his had been selected: “It’s outdoorsy and very artistic in my way of drawing things,” Taylor said. He plans to hang the plaque in his living room where his other Scouting awards are displayed.

Taylor Hayden, of Skowhegan. (contributed photo)

PHOTO: Sheepscot Lake Courtesy Boat Inspectors

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Sheepscot Lake’s Courtesy Boat Inspection (CBI) program was very successful again this year. The 2023 Courtesy Boat Inspectors, Addison Turner, Olivia Childs, Alex Reitchel. Sheepscot Lake remains healthy and free from invasive plants. (contributed photo)

KVCOG schedules household hazardous waste pickup dates

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The Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, based in Fairfield, plans to host Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days in October in Kennebec and Somerset counties.

Skowhegan, Anson, Bingham, Canaan and Madison will collect from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Skowhegan Transfer Station, 29 Transfer Station Drive. This is open to residents of those towns, who must call their own town office to schedule a time slot (Skowhegan, 207-474-6902; Anson, 207-696-3979; Bingham, 207-672-5519; Canaan, 207-474-8682; Madison, 207-696-3971).

Winslow, Belgrade, Clinton, Fairfield, Oakland and Waterville will collect from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 21, at Winslow Public Works, 135 Halifax St. Residents must call their municipal office to schedule a slot (Winslow, 207-872-2776; Belgrade, 207-495-2258; Clinton, 207-426-8322; Fairfield, 207- 453-7911; Oakland, 207-465-7357; Waterville, 207-680-4200).

Those who don’t have an appointment slot made with their town will not be able to drop off that day.

Many chemicals commonly used around the home are hazardous, either alone or when combined with other chemicals, and need to be disposed of by professionals trained to handle hazardous materials, according to a KVCOG news release.

Improper disposal of these materials can disrupt the function of sewage treatment plants or private septic systems, contaminate ground water, and harm animals and residents. Items that are difficult to recycle or dispose of — such as electronic waste, batteries, paint, anti-freeze, chemical cleaners, yard chemicals, old fuels, oils and mercury thermostats — many of which can also become harmful if left unmonitored.

The council will have local law enforcement officials on hand in Winslow and Skowhegan to collect and properly dispose of any pharmaceuticals that residents want to bring in.

Eagle Scout completes LifeFlight helipad

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Kaleb Brown, the Senior Patrol Leader of Palermo Boy Scout Troop #222, recently finished his Eagle Scout project by installing a helicopter pad for LifeFlight. This is the only permanent, concrete pad between Augusta, Waterville and Belfast. This is a multi-community asset as the First Responders of Palermo, China, Somerville, and Liberty will have access to the pad.

Kaleb noted, “There is a need and I can help. People shouldn’t worry about access to higher care if they or someone they know is critically injured in a remote area. Having a designated, permanent helicopter pad for LifeFlight (not just a field or a road that is shut down) saves precious minutes. Those minutes are critical to a patient’s survival.”

They are holding a public ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, September 23. The pad is located at the ball fields, at 645 Turner Ridge Rd., in Palermo. There will be guest speakers, emergency vehicles, the media, and LifeFlight will be on the pad!

This project was a huge undertaking and required a myriad of volunteers, materials, and funds to be a success. With generous donations by local businesses all $20K was covered!

Auburn Concrete, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, Bob Bruso, Darryl Heroux. Don Salvatore, Hancock Lumber, Haskell & Sons Dusty Haskell, McGee Construction
Modern Woodman of America, Nathan O. Northrup Forest Products and Earthworks, Palermo Youth Athletics, Paul Keller State Farm, and Wooly & Grunts Farm.

Urgent funding needed by Winslow Community Cupboard Food Pantry

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Winslow Community ­ Cup­board food pantry – which has served more than 20,087 food-insecure households in Central Maine so far in 2023 – is urgently seeking new one-time and recurring monetary donations to meet surging demand. According to Operations Manager Bruce Bottiglierie, the food pantry, which also operates a Mobile Food Pantry that directly serves locations in Waterville, Skowhegan, Fairfield, and more than a dozen other local towns, experienced a 39 percent increase in the number of households needing food-pantry service just from March through August of this year.

“Between the two programs, we have provided more than 1.3 million pounds of food this year to our neighbors in need – and demand just keeps shooting up and up.”

Bottiglierie said he was especially hopeful that area businesses and individuals might choose to donate on a regular basis. Automatic monthly or one-time donations may be set up via PayPal at WCCPantry.com by clicking on the “Donate Now” button on the homepage, which also accepts credit card donations. Donations via check are also enormously appreciated, and may be made by mailing a check payable to “Winslow Community Cupboard” to: Winslow Community Cupboard / 12 Lithgow St. / Winslow, ME 04901. For more information, please contact Bruce Bottiglierie, Winslow Community Cupboard, at 207-616-0076 or Winslow Cupboard@Gmail.com.

Local political coalition receives grant submitted

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photo credit: United Valley Democrats Facebook page

submitted by Megan Marquis

Representatives from the local United Valley Democratic Committee (formerly China Dems) are diligently working alongside Kennebec County Democratic Committee on the Contest Every Race grant. Kennebec County is one of two counties in Maine, where groups are set to receive a $3,000 grant from Movement Labs via their Contest Every Race project. Contest Every Race (CER) is awarding grants to more than 300 political groups nationwide. This is the first year they have included Maine in the grant winners.

CER focuses on strengthening existing local rural organizations on Democratic electoral efforts. It provides an additional layer of resources, technical support, and training for rural and underserved community organizers. The grant program supports rural Democrats to connect with one another, build more power, and support the mission of not leaving any race uncontested.

Nationwide, nearly 100,000 elections go uncontested every year. These positions include municipality, county, and election officials; school board candidates; judges; attorneys; and law enforcement officials such as sheriffs and deputies.

CER to date has helped 5,563 new candidates. 44 percent of the candidates have won their races. Fifty-eight percent of the new candidates have been women of color.

To show your support, join the United Valley Democratic Committee’s End-of-Summer Celebration on Saturday, September 16, from 2 – 8 p.m., at the 327 Stevens Shore Rd., Palermo, ME.

PHOTO: Multiple winner

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Club Naha student Matthew Christen, 12, of Benton, captured two first place wins and second place in the grand championship at the Amerikick International Martial Arts Championships, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (photo by Mark Huard, Central Maine Photography)

Alfond Center knocks it out of the park pairing MLB legends with local law enforcement

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Alfond Center Baseball clinic 2023 (photo by Central Maine Photography)

by Mark Huard

The Badges for Baseball Clinic took place on Thursday, July 27, at Maine’s Fenway Park, in Oakland. The clinic paired Major League Baseball (MLB) player alumni with officers from the Waterville Police Department to teach youth enrolled in the AYCC’s Maine’s Fenway Premier Baseball Camp about baseball and life lessons. Badges for Baseball is a program of the Cal Ripken, Jr. Foundation that uses team sports to connect youth with local law enforcement mentors. The following MLB alumni players participated in the clinic:

  • Kevin Buckley, formerly of the Texas Rangers. The University of Maine alum posted a lifetime .286 batting average in the Big Leagues.
  • Tom Burgmeier, who played primarily for the Boston Red Sox. A reliable bullpen ace, he finished his career with 102 saves. An All-Star in 1980, he posted a career high in saves for Boston while winning 5 games and carrying a 2.00 ERA.
  • Steve Crawford, who played with the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals. A 6’5”, 225-pound reliever with a hard fastball, he won Game Five of the 1986 ALCS and won Game Two of the 1986 World Series in relief of Roger Clemens.
  • Matt Kinney, who played primarily for the Minnesota Twins and the Milwaukee Brewers. Born in Bangor, he posted 10 wins for Minnesota in 2003, while striking out 152 batters.
  • Pete Ladd, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 25th round of the 1977 amateur draft. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros from 1979-1986. He won an American League Pennant with the Brewers in 1982.
  • Jerry Martin, who played more than 1,000 games, primarily with the Philadelphia Phillies and had a career .251 batting average with 85 home runs. He spent 20 years coaching in the minor leagues with the Phillies and the Detroit Tigers after his time on the field.
  • Ryan Reid, who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates. A Portland native, he finished his Big League career with a 1.64 ERA.
  • Mike Torrez, who played primarily with the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. He won more than 15 games during six consecutive seasons. He helped the 1977 Yankees win the pennant with his seven straight wins in July and August. He pitched two complete game victories in the 1977 World Series.

During the clinic, each group of the youth ball players was paired with an MLB legend and an officer from the Waterville Police Department to learn the finer points of baseball.
AYCC chief executive officer Ken Walsh, worked with the MLB alumni and Chief Bonney, to make the day happen.