China candidates forum canceled

Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village (photo courtesy of library Facebook page)

by Mary Grow

The annual China candidates’ forum, intended to introduce candidates for local offices to voters and scheduled for Oct. 17 on Zoom only, will not be held.

Louisa Barnhart, Chairman of the Trustees of the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library that sponsors the event, announced, “Due to general lack of interest, the candidates’ forum will be canceled this year.”

LakeSmart presentation from state director slated

Image Credit: chinalakeassociation.org

The China Region Lakes Alliance (CRLA) will sponsor a presentation by State LakeSmart Director Mary Wicklund on Maine’s LakeSmart Program, designed to help improve the health of Maine’s lake resources.

The meeting will be held Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 6 p.m. (EST) at the portable classroom at the China Town Office Complex, and by Zoom.

All interested parties are invited to attend. For more information about LakeSmart, or to obtain the Zoom link, please contact (207) 200-8361.

Blessing of the Animals set for October 2-4

Animal lovers from around Maine are invited to flock to have their animal companions blessed outdoors in celebration of Saint Francis of Assisi’s Feast Day (October 4). All pets are welcome to attend any of the Blessing of the Animals events. As prayers are offered, the pets will be gently sprinkled with holy water.

Saint Francis of Assisi was known for his love of all of God’s creatures. The Blessing of the Animals remembers Francis’ love by invoking God’s blessing on the animals and thanking God for letting us share the earth. Here are the confirmed events in chronological order (new events will be added as scheduled at www.portlanddiocese.org/Blessing-of-Animals-2021):

Monday, October 4

Grotto of St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street, Winslow, at 6 p.m.

China Broadband Committee had a busy September

by Mary Grow

China Broadband Committee (CBC) members had a busy late September schedule, holding a committee meeting Sept. 23; participating in a public informational session by zoom Sept. 26 (see related story); attending the selectmen’s Sept. 27 public hearing on the Nov. 2 warrant article asking for funding for expanded broadband in China; and later discussing their proposed informational flyer with selectmen.

Selectmen did not approve printing and mailing the Sept. 27 version of the flyer with town funds.

CBC members therefore confirmed the committee meeting they had tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30. They intend to redraft the flyer.

Ronald Breton, chairman of the selectboard, said if they work fast, he will call a special selectmen’s meeting to consider a new version, rather than delaying distribution until after the Oct. 12 selectboard meeting.

On Nov. 2, China voters will be asked to authorize – but not require – selectmen to obtain a $5.8 million bond, to be supplemented by grants, to build broadband infrastructure throughout the town.

The Sept. 23 CBC meeting was devoted to plans to publicize the Nov. 2 vote. CBC members reviewed a two-sided legal-sized flyer that presented information supporting the broadband expansion and specifically urged a “yes” vote on the ballot question.

Selectman Wayne Chadwick, from the audience, expressed his personal opinion that the committee should not use town funds to influence voters.

CBC members pointed out that on the ballot, voters will see recommendations from the selectboard and the budget committee (both oppose the question, the selectboard by 3-2 and the budget committee by 4-1), but no recommendation from the CBC, which supports the question.

[See all our stories about the broadband project here.]

By Sept. 27, they had revised the flyer to eliminate exhortations to approve the bond issue. Selectmen nonetheless objected that it was one-sidedly in favor of the bond issue – “all pro and no con,” as Chadwick put it.

Breton remembered an earlier meeting when he had urged CBC members to promote their project with funds selectmen appropriated for the committee. “You got your money, go out and sell it,” he quoted himself, from memory.

More recently, however, Breton asked Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood to consult town attorney Amanda Meader about the situation. Hapgood reported that Meader said a flyer that was “persuasive” rather than “informational” did not benefit voters and should not be funded by the town.

Breton therefore joined his fellow board members in suggesting the flyer provide additional factual information, for example on costs, that they thought would be helpful to voters.

The result was a vote to ask CBC members to prepare a revised flyer with more information and less persuasion, and to seek approval to have it printed and distributed with town funds. Breton, Chadwick, Blane Casey and Irene Belanger voted in favor; Janet Preston, who is the selectboard’s ex-officio representative on the committee, abstained.

Preston explained that she thinks the improved broadband service is a benefit to the town and supports the bond issue, but she also understands the objections to the Sept. 27 version of the flyer.

Public hearing well attended

The half-hour public hearing on the Nov. 2 bond issue that preceded the Sept. 27 selectmen’s meeting was one of the best attended in recent memory, with audience members participating from the meeting room and over the town’s Live Stream.

Audience members’ questions about the China Broadband Committee’s (CBC) plans if the $5.8 million bond issue is approved were answered by Ronald Breton, chairman of the selectmen; Mark Ouellette, President of Axiom Technologies, attending his second China meeting in two days; and CBC members.

Ouellette and CBC Chairman Robert O’Connor explained some of the technical issues about connecting directly from the world-wide web via a southern Maine point and a China central office to each subscriber’s house.

Because of the direct connection, Ouellette said, each subscriber will get the speed of downloaded and uploaded information paid for, every hour of every day all year, without the variability characteristic of current services.

The proposed bond issue is for 25 years.

Residents satisfied with their current service may keep it. O’Connor said currently about 70 percent of China residents have cable service; another about 25 percent have DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) service; and the remaining about five percent have no internet access.

Selectman and ex-officio CBC member Janet Preston said Regional School Unit #18 had provided a map showing where students had no access, providing locations for some of the unserved areas.

Ouellette said employees of Hawkeye Fiber Optics (also called Hawkeye Connections) have finished the survey of existing utility poles in China and are scheduled to report immediately. Survey results will provide a more accurate estimate of the cost of building the proposed new network.

CBC member Tod Detre asked for and received permission to post the results on the committee’s website, chinabroadband.net.

Video of the hearing can be viewed here.

Fall events hosted by the China Village Library

Stories and Scarecrows at the China School’s Forest. This family and children’s event will be held on Saturday, October 2, at 1 p.m. Join the story walk and meet up at the reading tree with our librarians for more stories and a fall craft. The self-guided story walk will be available through the end of October.

Join Folksinger, Bill Berlinghoff for an outdoor concert on Sunday afternoon, October 2, at 2 p.m. Bring your own chair and refreshments.

A 2021 Community Candidates Forum will be held on ZOOM on Sunday, October 17, at 2 p.m., hosted by the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library. Meet Town of China candidates for the November 2 town election. To Register go to: tinyurl.com/04926elect21 or email chinavilllageacb@gmail.com.

Halloween: Children may stop by the library on Sunday, October 31, from 5 – 7 p.m., for a treat!

WASHINGTON: Appleton Rug Hookers exhibit at Gibbs Library

Gibbs rug hookers

At the Gibbs Library now through the end of October is a delightful show: the art and handwork of the Appleton Rug Hookers. The rugs are a colorful reflection of rural life, blending traditional and updated subjects and techniques. The show includes three Blue Ribbon winners from the Union Fair. Stop by and be charmed.

The Artists’ Statement:

Appleton Rug Hookers (Originated in 2004)

The first group consisted of three people, now there are 12. As some folks leave, other folks join.

Many rugs have been created and finished in the 17 years they have been active. They even found a way around COVID, by hooking at the town park, in Warren, with masks and social distancing.

Some of the rugs have been used in the homes of the creators. Many more were given as gifts.

The group used all wool in rugs in the beginning. Now, other material is being used to create interesting effects. Some of them are wool-yarn, ribbons, silk, roving, nylon stockings, and cotton.

Wool hooked rugs can be washed in cold water if they are hooked with colorfast material. They are made with much stronger backing than the old burlap formerly used, making them very durable and practical.

Golf Fore Kids’ Sake raises over $48,000 for BBBS

First place gross, Bank of New Hampshire

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine’s 2021 Kennebec Valley Golf Fore Kids’ Sake, presented by Kennebec Savings Bank, raised $48,300 to benefit school and community-based mentoring services for children in Kennebec and Somerset counties. Twenty teams competed in the annual golf tournament, held September 3, at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club.

2021 Kennebec Valley Golf Fore Kids’ Sake Tournament Winners:

First Place Gross: Travis Frautten, Paul Collins, Matt Worthen and Sean Rankin (Bank of New Hampshire)

Second Place Gross: Scott MacCheyne, Todd Beacham, Mike Frautten and Mike Wilson (Great Falls Holdings)

First Place Net: Andy Dionne, Tim Borelli, John Smith and Jason Brown (MaineGeneral Health)

Second Place Net: Jake Coan, Ngoni Ditma, Randall Anderson and Lucas Worell (Cornerstone Insurance)

Contest Winners: Longest Drive (Men): David Chayer.

Longest Drive (Women):  Jessica Smart.

Closest to Pin (Men): Matt Loubier.

Closest to Pin (Women): Nicole Labbe.

Putting Contest: Bob Gatof.

Chipping Contest: Shad West.

Kennebec Valley Golf Fore Kids’ Sake is generously sponsored by: Kennebec Savings Bank (Presenting Sponsor); G&E Roofing, Cives Steel Company and Skowhegan Savings (Major Sponsors); Darlings, Central Maine Motors Auto Group, Sprague & Curtis, Lajoie Bros., New Hampshire Bank and Great Falls Holdings (Scoreboard Sponsors); SAPPI, InterMed and Mr. Bob Gatof (Lunch Sponsors)

First place net, MaineGeneral Health

Second place gross, Great Falls Holdings

Second place net, Cornerstone Insurance

Northern Light Inland Hospital to reopen Waterville COVID-19 drive-up testing facility

Northern Light Inland Hospital vaccinated 1,024 people on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at its first mass vaccination clinic at Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) in Fairfield. (contributed photo)

With COVID-19 testing needs increasing, Northern Light Inland Hospital is planning to reopen its Drive-Up COVID-19 testing site in Waterville. The site is located behind Inland Hospital at 200 Kennedy Memorial Drive.

The facility opened on September 13, 2021, by appointment through their Testing website and phone line which will offer appointments starting September 13. The testing site will serve the community Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. – noon. Symptomatic, asymptomatic (no symptoms), and pre-procedure medical tests (known as AGPs-aerosol generating procedures) will be available, as well as state testing for COVID-19 exposures. Testing for travel is not available through Northern Light Inland Hospital at this time.

Community testing has been occurring at the Northern Light Walk-In Care office, at 174 Kennedy Memorial Drive, but due to the current surge in demand, they are moving all testing to the Drive-Up facility as of September 13. The Walk-In Care office will continue to offer non-emergency care, including caring for those with COVID, flu, and cold symptoms.

The Drive-Up facility will offer a self-swab test and accompanying adults should be prepared to swab children under age 12 with guidance. Patients will remain in their vehicle.

To schedule a test, call 1.844.489.1822 (long-distance charges may apply) or visit Northernlighthealth.org/Testing. Appointments are now available.

If you have a pre-procedure (AGP) test order from your provider, you will need to register online or call 1.844.489.1822 and follow the prompts to register.

If you have an AGP test order from a provider outside of Northern Light Health, you will need to register online or call 1.844.489.1822. (It is recommended you bring the order with you.)

If you are booking your appointment through the website and completing the registration online, the test order will be generated by the website after completion of the online booking and registration.

Other Northern Light Drive-Up Testing facilities will be reopening shortly. For more information about testing at all Northern Light locations in Maine, please visit Northernlighthealth.org/Testing or call 1.844.489.1822.

Mid-Maine Chamber, Alfond Youth & Community Center to continue festival of trees

Alfond Youth & Community Center and Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce combine efforts to present Festival of Trees this holiday season, continuing a proud tradition begun by the Sukeforth family in 2015. When the family determined it would no longer host the event, AYCC and the Chamber stepped up to preserve this coveted event.

Join us in continuing a fabulous holiday tradition! At the same time, money raised supports families in the community experiencing food insecurity through the services of Alfond Youth & Community Center and funds workforce development services and assistance through the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, meeting a need existing throughout our region.

Who doesn’t love a beautiful holiday tree? Imagine over 60 trees, each uniquely decked out in holiday cheer. This wonderful family tradition will be held at The Elm, 21 College Ave., Waterville, from November 19-21 and November 26-28. Hours on Fridays and Saturdays will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 21 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 28 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Festival of Trees will provide a magical experience that the whole family can enjoy. Admission for ages 12 and over is just $2 per person; children 12 and under are admitted for free. Purchase and drop your individual tree tickets (just 50 cents each) into the bucket of your favorite tree and you could go home with a beautifully decorated tree complete with all the gift cards and merchandise displayed.

For more information about your business sponsoring a tree as part of the festival, visit https://www.clubaycc.org/festival-of-trees. Businesses entering a tree in the past will be given preference to submit for this year, as space is limited. A substantial number of volunteers will be needed for this event – if you are interested in registering as an individual or a group, visit Volunteer Signup. At this time, masking will be required for all attendees and volunteers.

Ticonic Gallery and Railroad Square Cinema participate in Freedom & Captivity Project

by Mary Ellms

Ticonic Gallery and Railroad Square Cinema will participate in the Freedom & Captivity Project, a statewide, coalition-based public humanities project designed to consider a future without prisons and mass incarceration. The initiative runs from September through December 2021 and features over 50 participating organizations and institutions.

The project, which will include art exhibitions, workshops, webinars, a podcast series, and public education materials, is conceived with the participation of people in Maine directly impacted by incarceration. Freedom & Captivity re-examines the use of prisons and jails to manage social problems and asks how we might imagine approaching safety, security, and justice differently.

Ticonic Gallery will host the art exhibition “Art Inside” that will feature the work of Maine-based photographers Trent Bell, Séan Alonzo Harris, and Lesley MacVane. The photographs of “Art Inside” depict artwork within the walls of the Maine State Prison, Mountain View Correctional Facility, and Southern Maine Women’s Correctional Center facilities. The artwork, all created by incarcerated people, offers a humanizing portrait of their makers, and the works have served as a creative outlet for members of the prison population. The exhibit will be available to the public during Ticonic Gallery’s new hours: Monday through Friday, noon – 5 p.m.

In related programming, Waterville Creates will distribute art kits to support children with incarcerated parents. These kits will be available in visiting room areas and will incorporate themes, images, and words to describe the types of experiences they seek for their collective future.

“What we are seeing as participants in this project are the many ways in which image-making is a restorative, healthy means of expression that can help children and adults navigate the complexities of incarceration on the family dynamic. Art is powerful, it’s transformative, and it can make a difference,” says Patricia King, vice president of Waterville Creates.

Maine Film Center’s “Cinema in Conversation” series resumes in-person this fall at Railroad Square Cinema with a lineup of free screenings and discussions with filmmakers, film experts, and advocates on the themes of freedom, captivity, and human rights. Showtimes and event details are available at MaineFilmCenter.org. The Railroad Square Cinema lobby will also host the multidisciplinary exhibition “Stories of Incarceration: Portraits from the Penobscot County Jail Storytelling Project” from September 13 to October 18.

A full calendar of Freedom & Captivity events is available on the Freedom & Captivity website at freedomandcaptivity.org.

More information on participation by Waterville Creates can be found at watervillecreates.org/shows/art-inside/.