Relief fund set up for Ann and Peter Bako

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Following the devastating house fire early the morning of January 5, the Palermo Community Foundation set up a special account to receive donations for Ann and Peter Bako. The Bakos were not at home when the fire started, so they lost everything, with no insurance. They were left with the clothes on their backs, their vehicles, their dog, and each other.

The Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 Charitable Foundation (EIN 01-0510937), is giving 100 percent of all donations to the Bakos, tax free for both donors and recipients. To help Ann and Peter, please send your tax-deductible check to: Palermo Community Foundation. P.O. Box 151, Palermo, ME 04354. on the “notes” line of your check, please write “Bako23.” All checks for $250 or more will receive a written receipt for your tax records.

There will also be a donation can set up at the Community Benefit Dinner which will take place at Erskine Academy, in South China, on Saturday, January 28, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., with a snow date on Sunday, January 29th. It will be a spaghetti dinner with beverages, salads, and desserts. A pie and cheesecake auction will be held at 6 p.m. The dinner costs $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10. To donate pies, please contact Mary Haskell or Cheryl Parkman at cparkman@fairpoint.net. For additional information, please contact Connie Bellet at 993-2294.

Thank you for helping the Bakos, who have donated countless hours of community service helping others.

Gofundme organized by Jeanna Verney: https://www.gofundme.com/f/peter-and-ann-bako-weeks-mills-maine

CORRECTION: This article has been updated to reflect the dinner will be on Saturday, with a snow date of Sunday. See comment below.

Vassalboro town manager retires: Makes major “career” change

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(photo by Karen Hatch)

by Mary Grow

Maine State Representative Richard Bradstreet, right, presents a Legislative Proclamation to Vassalboro retiring town manager, Mary Sabins. (photo by Karen Hatch)

Mary Sabins is making a major career change, from managing a town of about 4,500 people to managing flowers.

Vassalboro’s just-retired town manager has started classes in the Maine State Florists and Growers Association Professional Certified Florists Program. She has enjoyed flower-arranging in her spare time for many years; once certified, she plans to work part-time in a flower shop, for fun and post-retirement income.

Appropriately, there were colorful flowers on each table at her Jan. 11 retirement party, and the cake was decorated with succulents. Guests included former and current town employees, officials and organization leaders and two officials from the Maine Municipal Association, of which Sabins is a past president.

Donald Breton, Robert Browne and Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell, the former select board members who hired Sabins in the spring of 2008, were among those present.

State Representative Richard Bradstreet, of Vassalboro, presented a framed copy of a legislative proclamation recognizing Sabins’ 33 years of public service, including 14 years as Vassalboro town manager.

Daniel Mayotte, chief of Vassalboro’s First Responder unit, gave Sabins a framed letter thanking her for supporting the unit.

Barbara Redmond, current chairman of the select board, thanked Sabins for her help with select board responsibilities and as a friend.

Former select board member Lauchlin Titus began his short speech with condolences to Scot (Sabins’ husband). In a serious vein, he thanked Sabins for achievements during her tenure, like written personnel and financial policies and creation of a Tax Increment Financing plan.

Road foreman Eugene Field said working with Sabins had been a pleasure. She reciprocated, calling him “my right-hand guy.”

In her reply, Sabins praised Vassalboro as the warmest and kindest of the five municipalities in which she worked, thanked town employees, select board members and others and expressed her pride in “the work we’ve accomplished together.”

Redmond said monetary gifts were used for gift certificates to Fieldstone Gardens, in Vassalboro, and to Amazon, recognizing Sabins’ interests in plants and handicrafts. Other gifts and a basket full of cards awaited Sabins’ attention.

The party, held at Browne’s Natanis Golf Course, was organized with his help by Redmond, Town Clerk Cathy Coyne and Community Program Director Karen Hatch.

Retiring Vassalboro Town Manager Mary Sabins, second from left, with the select board members who hired her in 2008, from left to right, Elizabeth “Libby” Mitchell, Robert Browne, and Don Breton. (photo by Karen Hatch)

(photo by Karen Hatch)

PHOTO: New tractor

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The China Four Seasons Club, along with Jon Fortier, manager of China Hannaford, donated a John Deere battery tractor to Wesley Chamberlain. He had gone to their festival of trees with his grandmother, and stood out to them as he was so excited to see the trees and one particular tree that had a smaller tractor under it, in which he put all his tickets. They called to say he had not won the tree, but they wanted to donate a tractor to him. (contributed photo)

Local scouting district selects officers for 2023

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Clockwise from top left: Eric Handley, Chuck Mahaleris, Joseph Poulin, and Charlie Matthews

by Chuck Mahaleris

The Kennebec Valley District of the Scouting program held its annual meeting and selected a slate of officers to lead them in 2023.

Chuck Mahaleris, of Augusta, was elected District Chairman joining District Commissioner Eric Handley, of Sidney, and District Executive Michael Perry, of Jay, as the Key Three for the Scouting District. Joseph Poulin, of Oakland, and Charlie Matthews, of Fairfield, were elected Vice Chairmen.

The annual meeting was held on January 4 at the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church, in Waterville. Kennebec Valley District, one of four such districts in Pine Tree Council, delivers the programs of Scouting to youth in Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln and Somerset counties. The District Committee members provide such services as Membership Development, Fundraising, District Activities, Camping Programs, Leader Training, and the administration of Youth Advancement.

The officers and the slate of members at large were introduced for approval by the nominating committee which included Scouting leaders from all five counties under the leadership of Rick Denico, of Vassalboro. Denico is a member of the Pine Tree Council Executive Board and former District Chairman. All were elected unanimously and took office immediately.

“The Covid Pandemic and the national lawsuit were hard on Scouting,” Mahaleris said. “Our Packs and Troops weren’t allowed to meet for quite some time and it was almost impossible to recruit new Scouts when schools and churches were under tight restrictions. But things are starting to change. By the end of December, it was announced that nationally Scouting was serving 1,042,000 youth.

Locally a new Law Enforcement Explorer Post was started in Rangeley with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and later this month they will be starting a new Cub Scout Pack in Winthrop with the help of the American Legion Post #40.”

Mahaleris has been a registered member of Scouting for more than 40 years since first joining as a Cub Scout and earned Eagle in 1985. He works as a staff assistant for U.S. Senator Susan Collins, and before that spent a decade as a Professional Scout in Massachusetts and Rhode Island where he ran two different Scout camps.

Poulin is the President/Owner of Alpine Consulting & Metal Works LLC. He has been involved in local scouting since 1990, starting as a Webelos and earned Eagle Scout rank in 1997. Joe is the Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop #454 for 20-plus years and is the Pine Tree Council Training Chairman. He has served as Day Camp Program Director at both Camp Hinds and Bomazeen and is scheduled to be the 2023 WoodBadge Course Director in September.

Matthews, who is retired, is a former district chairman and has more than 55 years of scouting experience including many years as the Scoutmaster of Troop #460, in Fairfield. Matthews was a youth member of Troop #470, in Fairfield, from 1953 to 1955 and then from 1967 through 2019 he served as Scoutmaster of Fairfield Troop #460.

“I have enjoyed working with young people and see them go from a new scout who wasn’t sure of himself to become a leader with confidence in himself.”

Eric Handley works for Aubuchon Hardware as their POS manager where he manages a team that installs and supports the IT equipment and training for all Aubuchon stores. Eric joined scouting at age seven in 1974 as a Wolf Cub scout and climbed to Life Scout before his family moved in 1982. He became active again in 2006 when his son became a Tiger Cub with Pack #401, in Sidney. Currently he is also serving as the Scoutmaster of Troop #401, in Sidney. This is the beginning of his second year as District Commissioner. In this role, he oversees the Unit Commissioner staff who provide direct support to the Packs, Troops, Venture Crews and Explorer Posts of the District. The District Commissioner also oversees the delivery of the monthly Roundtable Scout Leader programs. The District Commissioner is recommended by the Nominating Committee for approval by the Pine Tree Council Executive Board.

“This is going to be an exciting scouting year,” Mahaleris said. “The Klondike Derby is coming right up followed by the Pinewood Derby. The Merit Badge College is returning in February for the first time since Covid hit and this Spring we will be having a camporee at the Skowhegan Drive-In. This summer will see dynamic programs at both Camp Hinds and Bomazeen and before you know it we will be looking at the Haunted Woods and Fall Camporee programs.

“Youth have fun in scouting programs and while that is happening they are developing character, learning to become better citizens, and training to be tomorrow’s leaders while working on their personal fitness. All of this is only possible because of the great work of our scouting volunteers.”

Those interested in joining scouting can contact District Executive Michael Perry at (207) 517-4378 or Michael.Perry218@scouting.org to find the nearest scouting program to them. Scouting is open to boys and girls from kindergarten to age 18.

Local residents earn award from WGU

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The following local residents have earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The award is given to students who perform at a superior level in their coursework.

Jen Paradis, of Augusta, has earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University College of Business.

Abigayle Laverdiere, of Fairfield, has earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University School of Education.

Crystal Perry, of South China, has earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University Leavitt School of Health.

Olivia Nicks, of Unity, has earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University College of Information Technology.

Local residents named to Simmons Univ. dean’s list

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The following local students were named to the 2022 spring semester dean’s list at Simmons University, in Boston, Massachusetts:

Kaili Shorey, of Vassalboro, Abigail Bloom and Amanda Farrington, both of Waterville, and Maddie Beckwith, of Winslow.

SNHU announces summer 2022 dean’s list

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Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in Manchester, New Hampshire, congratulates the following students on being named to the summer 2022 dean’s list. The summer terms run from May to August.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Elizabeth Kearney, of Augusta; Lizsandra Lopez, of Winslow; Patric Moore, of Waterville; and Sasha Hanscom, of Skowhegan.

FISHY PHOTO: Netting a good one

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Leighann Mazoki took this photo of her dad, Gary Mazoki, netting a bass on Sheepscot Lake, in Palermo. Leighann’s son, Manny, stayed with his grandparents for two weeks last summer. (photo courtesy of Leighann Mazoki)

CENTRAL ME: Report shows 37% of Maine homes with high Radon levels

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During Radon Action Month in January, the American Lung Association urges everyone to test their home for radon.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and the “State of Lung Cancer” report reveals that it is detected at high levels in about 37% of homes in Maine. During January for Radon Action Month, the American Lung Association in Maine is urging everyone to test their home for radon.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted from the ground. Radon can enter a home through cracks in floors, basement walls, foundations and other openings. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked.

Here in Maine, about 37% of radon test results equal or exceed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level of 4 pCi/L, according to the Lung Association’s “State of Lung Cancer” report.

“Radon is responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year and is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. Since radon is odorless, tasteless and colorless, the only way to detect radon in your home is to test the air. This is why it is critical for everyone to test their home,” said Lance Boucher, Director of Advocacy for the Lung Association. “Radon Action Month is the perfect time to learn more about this dangerous gas and take action to protect yourself and your loved ones.”

Do-it-yourself radon test kits are simple to use and inexpensive. EPA urges anyone with radon levels at or above 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) to take action to install a mitigation system in their homes. Both the EPA and the American Lung Association recommend that mitigation be considered if levels are greater than 2 pCi/L. After high levels are detected, a radon mitigation system should be installed by a radon professional.

A typical radon mitigation system consists of a vent pipe, fan, and properly sealing cracks and other openings. This system collects radon gas from underneath the foundation and vents it to the outside of your home. If you need to have a radon mitigation system installed, contact your state radon program for a list of certified radon mitigation professionals.

Learn more about radon testing and mitigation at www.Lung.org/Radon.

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit:? Lung.org.

EVENTS: 6-week Grief Support Group to start January 30

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Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area is offering a six-week support group for people grieving the loss of a loved one. Meetings will be held Mondays from 4:30 – 6:00pm, beginning January 30th, at the Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area Community Center, 304 Main Street in Waterville. The group will be facilitated by trained bereavement volunteers and is free-of-charge. For more information or to join the group, contact Kayla Coffin, Program Manager at 873-3615 x 19 or email kcoffin@hvwa.org.