Vidalia onions returning as Palermo community center fundraiser

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by ryan griffis – originally posted to Flickr as Vidalia Onions, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link

Covid may have cancelled last year’s fundraiser, but the Palermo Community Center is back in action, selling 25-pound boxes of fresh, sweet Vidalia onions from Georgia. They are still ripening, but are expected to arrive in Maine the week of May 10. The boxes cost $27 each, even though shipping costs have gone up, so this is the last time they will be offered at this price.

To order, please call Connie at 993-2294 or email pwhitehawk@fairpoint.net. Please be sure to leave your contact phone number, so you may be contacted for confirmation or a call when the onions are unloaded at the Palermo Community Center. Payment is needed at the time of the order, so please make the check out to “LCF” and address your envelope to: Living Communities Foundation, P.O. Box 151, Palermo, ME 04354. Orders and payment must be received by April 25.

Proceeds from the sale pay ongoing utilities and maintenance costs for the Community Center, which also hosts the Palermo Food Pantry. Your support is truly appreciated.

Winslow Public Library re-opening to public April 1, 2021

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Winslow Public Library

The Winslow Public Library will reopen to public entry on Thursday, April 1, 2021. Controlled admittance to the library will be allowed on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Curbside pick-up services are provided on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. The library is closed on the weekends.

A capacity limit has been set to five patrons in the building at one time.

Patrons must wear masks to be admitted to the building.

  • Anyone entering the library must be wearing CDC approved Face coverings.
  • No bandanas or half-shields and the nose and mouth must be covered by the mask.
  • Masks must keep it on all times while a patron is in the library.
  • Materials must be returned via the drop-box before entering the building.
  • Patrons are limited to 45-minutes in the library to reduce exposure.
  • Public computers are available for 35-minutes per person.

The below COVID health screening questions will be asked before entry is permitted; an answer of “Yes “to any of the questions will result in denial of entry to the building.

Have you exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days?

Have you been exposed to a person exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 10 days?

No entry will be permitted without a CDC approved face covering (bandanas and chin shields are not approved coverings). If the customer does not have a mask one will be provided.

Social distancing measures remain in effect.

All patrons will enter and exit the building using the entrance door on their left. Customers are asked not to allow anyone to enter as they exit, and to make sure the door closes behind them.

For more information, please contact Winslow Public Library at 207-872-1978.

Unity VFD to host bake sale

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The Unity Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a bake sale on Saturday, April 3, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Cone’z on Depot Street, in Unity. This fundraiser will feature homemade pies, cakes, cookies, bars, breads, rolls and dog biscuits. Stop by and pick out your Easter treats.

Central Church to host free egg hunt kits give-away

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The Central Church is hosting a free egg hunt kit giveaway in the China Town Office parking lot. This event is hosted via drive-thru. Please enter through the Alder Park Road entrance.

These kits will have eggs, candy, and some goodies for you to host your own egg hunt for your family. Boxes can be picked up Saturday, March 27, between 10 a.m. and noon. For more information visit www.centralchurch.me/events.

The town office will remain open for normal business hours that day.

China youth baseball, softball, T-ball registrations being taken

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Internet photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brendan-c/5722220187

The China T-ball and coach pitch baseball, for children ages eight and under has returned. For more information contact chinarecsports@gmail.com.

Also, through the Dirigo Softball League, they are able to offer softball for youths in first grade and up. For more information, email dirigosoftballleague@gmail.com.

Little League baseball will be offered through the Augusta Little League, for ages eight years old and up. For more information, visit the Augusta Little League webpage. Deadline is March 31.

T-Mobile has a grant program available to help with registration costs. The T-Mobile Little League Call Up Grant Program is dedicated to helping families in need by covering registration fees associated with their local Little League programs.

Dates to remember: March 31, registration closes; April 7, last payment receipt date; April 6, coaches meeting and selection; April 17, field clean up; May 1, bottle drive; May 15, picture day and pitch, hit and run.

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.