Women’s Equal Pay Day to be held March 24, 2021

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by Mary Grow
External Communications, Waterville Branch, American Association of University Women

The Waterville Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will observe Equal Pay Day 2021 on Wednesday, March 24.

Equal Pay Day is the date each spring that women catch up to men in terms of how much they earned in 2020. In other words, because women, on average, earn less for comparable work than men do, they must work longer for the same amount of pay.

Traditionally, Waterville AAUW branch members have observed the day with a bake sale at the Waterville Shaw’s supermarket, selling cookies to men for $1 and to women for 80 cents.

Because of the pandemic, this year they plan two substitute activities, for AAUW members and non-members. First, they ask people to write to their U. S. Senators and Representatives asking them to support the Paycheck Fairness Act. Second, they urge people to wear red on March 24, to signify that women are “in the red” in terms of pay.

The Paycheck Fairness Act is intended to update, clarify and close loopholes in the 1963 Equal Pay Act. In the 116th Congress (January 2019-January 2021), the House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act; the Senate did not act.

Equal Pay Day was first observed in 1996, to illustrate the pay gap between men and women. On average in 2021, women working full-time are paid 83 percent of what men working full-time in comparable jobs are paid.

The average gap is greater for mothers, who earn 70 cents for each dollar a man earns and for whom Equal Pay Day in 2021 is June 4, and for women of color. Latina women are worse off, earning on average 55 cents for each dollar comparably employed men receive; Latina women’s 2021 Equal Pay Day is not until Oct. 21.

Mailing addresses for Maine’s four Congressional members follow. Each has a website with information on sending him or her an email or telephone message.
Representative Chellie Pingree:

U. S. House of Representatives
2162 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515.

Representative Jared Golden:
U. S. House of Representatives
1223 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515.

Senator Angus King:
U. S. Senate
133 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510.

Senator Susan Collins:
U. S. Senate
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510.

Hope’s Place meetings to be held online on Wednesdays

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The next session of Hope’s Place will be held Wednesday nights online starting April 7, 2021. Groups begin at 6 p.m., and end by 7 p.m.

The mission of Hope’s Place is to provide a safe, supportive environment for grieving children, teens and families through peer support groups. This program serves youth ages 3 – 18 and their parents or caregivers. Families who have experienced the death of a loved one are encouraged to contact Jillian Roy at 873-3615, ext. 19, or email jroy@hvwa.org for more information, or to arrange a pre-group interview. Hope’s Place group sessions will be held virtually.

Pruning apple trees: hands-on workshop in Rockland

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Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District is offering a hands-on workshop to teach pruning apple trees on Friday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to noon, and Saturday, March 20, from 9 a.m. – noon, at MacDougal Park, in Rockland. The same information will be covered on both days; you only need to attend one workshop.

Cheryl Denz, owner and operator of Terra Optima Farm and Landscaping, in Appleton, will teach pruning techniques needed to keep your trees productive. Whether you have a small home orchard or one old tree that feeds the deer, this workshop will teach you the basic pruning techniques needed to keep your trees alive – and bearing fruit.

Prior registration is required by Wed., March 17, for this class as space is limited. Dress appropriately for the weather and please bring any pruning tools you may have (pruners, loppers, handsaw). A limited number of additional tools will be available. In the event of cancellation for really bad weather, they will get in touch by email by 8 a.m., the day of the workshop. There is a fee: $15/individual; $25/2 members of one household (plus $1 online payment processing fee).

To register, go to Knox-Lincoln SWCD’s website: https://www.knox-lincoln.org/events-workshops. For more information, please call 596-2040 or email julie@knox-lincoln.org.

Gibbs Library to host local ecologist

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Gibbs Library in Washington, ME. (photo from: librarything.com)

Gibbs Library will be hosting local ecologist Shri Verrill for a presentation and discussion about the new Maine Climate Plan. The Maine Climate Council submitted their final plans to the legislature and Gov­ernor Janet Mills in December. The program will introduce audience members to climate change in Maine, the goals and solutions recommended in the Maine Climate Plan, and what’s needed to put the plan in motion to benefit people and the environment. There will be time for questions following the presentation.

Shri Verrill

Shri Verrill is a wetland scientist and field botanist with a master of science degree in biology from the University of Maine. Her thesis research focused on coastal salt marsh, estuarine ecology, and tidal restoration as a model for sea-level-rise. Shri has worked with communities in southern, Downeast, and currently, midcoast Maine to implement fish passage, salt marsh, tidal, and estuarine restoration.

Join her on Sunday, March 7, from 3 – 4 p.m., for the online event.

The event is free and meant for a general audience. Registration is required, and you can register for the online event at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApfuqsqj4iGtbPdqU9OC0PiT7wNndgqnGa.

 

 

Polar Bear Dip challenge takes new twist

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A photo from last year’s 2020 Polar Bear challenge: AYCC Childcare leadership team, Chrissy Johnson, Bobbi Pelletier and DJ Adams, take the dip. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography staff)

As top earner for the Annual Polar Bear Dip for the past six years in a row, Tony Tuell and his team of Silver Streen Tavern heroes have raised over $35,000
to help the AYCC provide meals to kids and families experiencing food insecurity.

This year’s virtual event, Shiver yer Shamrocks, requires Dippers to create a challenge, film and post it, then raise funds.

Anthony Tuell is Colby College’s Supervisor of Mechanical & Electrical Services and Polar Bear Dipper Extraordinaire!

The Shiver yer Shamrocks event will be held Saturday, March 20, at noon.

China Four Seasons Club ice fishing derby enjoyed by many

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Jeremy Ross shows his prize winning 6 lbs., 6 oz. largemouth bass, as the Lunker of the Day.

by Sandra Isaac

The China Four Seasons Club and The China Village Fire Department held their 2nd annual China Lake Ice Fishing Derby on Sunday, February 14. The event was well attended with the entire group spread out over China Lake, where the fishing for the derby was limited. “It was great to see so many families and children involved with this year’s derby,” said Tom Rumpf, President of the China Four Seasons Club. The largest fish was caught by Jeremy Ross. The largemouth bass weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces, winning both the largemouth fishing division and the “Lunker of the Day” award. The derby concluded with a fireworks display set off by Central Maine Pyrotechnics at the north end of the lake.

Olivia Hutchinson displays her third place winning largemouth bass.

Maryanna Dregier took first prize in the children 15 and under category, catching 34 perch.

Drive thru sock hop in Madison

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Madison American Legion Auxiliary is sponsoring a Drive Thru Sock Hop, at Madison American Legion at the back entrance facing Reny’s, on Saturday, February 27, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Donate new socks for homeless veterans, homeless shelters and others in need. Men’s, women’s, teenagers, children – warm socks and every day socks.

Members of the auxiliary will be outside waiting for donations with ‘50-’60s music.
If you can’t make the Sock Hop, there are drop off boxes at Reny’s and Family Dollar, in Madison, as well as at Sun Rayz Tanning & Hair Salon, at 171 Waterville Road, in Skowhegan.

If you are unable to get to the drop off locations or the Sock Hop, monetary donations are accepted and they will purchase the socks. Make checks payable to Madison American Legion Auxiliary, earmark Sock Hop, and mail to Madison ALA, P.O. Box 325, Madison, ME 04950. For more information, contact Harriet at 635-2051.

Mid-Maine Chamber to offer Takeout Challenge again

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The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce will once again be holding their Takeout Challenge Contest to help out restaurants, cafés and eateries at a time when they need us the most.

We all enjoyed eating outside on decks and patios, or frequenting our favorite places while the weather was nice. Now that the temperatures have cooled off, our restaurants and eateries are hurting – many have had to curtail hours, or staff to align with the amount of business coming through the doors. So, it is not as easy to find places to eat outside our homes.

If you can still get food at your favorite hangout and feel a comfort level to do so – by all means, help them keep on keeping on. But for those who may not be comfortable eating inside for the next few weeks and would rather be in the comfort of your own home, please consider ordering takeout to continue helping those who kept you fed in the past.

We all must eat, even during the pandemic – the chamber would simply like to reward you for doing so.

For the next eight weeks, you can enter to win a $25 Damon’s Beverage gift card simply by sending in your takeout receipts for food ordered at any of the Chamber member eateries. It’s easy to enter, and win – just scan, email, snap a photo, mail or drop off a copy of your receipt.

Emails and scans may be sent to cindy@midmainechamber.com. Entries may also be mailed or dropped at the Chamber office – 50 Elm St., Waterville. Be sure to include a contact number, in the event you are a winner. Weekly winners will be drawn at random each Wednesday and notified by phone or email.

Check for Chamber member restaurant/eateries take-out hours and website information here: www.midmainechamber.com/takeoutchallenge.

(This list will expand as the chamber receives additional information as to eateries offering takeout.)

Join the Takeout Challenge 2021 – and eat your heart out – while you show some love to our local businesses!

Local Town Meetings Schedule 2021

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Town meetings 2021

VASSALBORO

Town Meeting
Mon., June 7
Vassalboro Community School
1116 Webber Pond Road
Municipal Election
Tues., June 8, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Location TBA

*   *   *

To be included in this list, visit our Contact Us page or send an email to The Town Line at townline@townline.org.

Second annual ice fishing derby set for China Lake on February 14

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by Sandra Isaac

The China Four Seasons Club and the China Village Fire Department will be holding the 2nd annual China Lake Ice Fishing Derby on Sunday, February 14. This year’s event will feature catches from China Lake only, a change from last year where it was opened to all state waters.

“We are hoping that by 2022, we can make this a weekend festival event similar to China Days in the summer,” said China Four Seasons Club President Tom Rumpf. “Weigh-in time is the same as last year, 4 p.m. Entries must be in the Fire Station Building [on Causeway Road] by that time to qualify for a prize.”  Last year’s biggest catch of the day was a largemouth bass weighing over five pounds. “This year we added a prize for the largest fish of the day. The Lunker of the Day will win $200 for top prize.”

Prizes will be awarded in the following fish categories: large and smallmouth bass, brown trout, brook trout, and pickerel. The children’s category will be perch. Kids prizes will be awarded to the top five winners with the most perch caught.

Each child who participates in the derby will receive special takeaway gifts courtesy of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, in South China. These items will be given out at the fire station starting at 7 a.m. on the day of the derby.  In addition, Central Church will be set up in front of the Landing Restaurant on Causeway Road to work with kids who are new to fishing and will supply those kids with traps and bait.

“We will also be giving away over 15 door prizes including a new auger from Buckshot Powersports, 100 gallons of heating fuel from AFC, plus many gift certificates from local businesses,” said Rumpf.

Rumpf continued, “The China Lake Ice Fishing Derby is a great way for individuals and families to come out and enjoy the outdoors and be part of a China area tradition. Plus, this is also Maine’s free fishing weekend. We will be following all state-mandated guidelines, including social distancing and we will be requiring all participants to wear a face-covering when inside a building or if social distancing is not possible.”

Tickets are available for $5 a piece or three for $10 at many local stores including KC Auto, in Vassalboro, Tobey’s Grocery, Greg’s Place, Buckshot Powersports, China Variety & Redemption, Lakeview Lumber, Joseph’s Market, in Waterville, and Harvest Time Baits, in Winslow. You can also purchase tickets from members of the China Four Seasons Club and the China Village Fire Department.

The organizers have set up a Facebook page to share information on door prizes, sponsors, ticket information, and for sharing photos. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/China-Lake-Ice-Fishing-Derby.