Conor Andrew Mccarthy, of Vassalboro, earned an associate of arts from University of Maryland Global Campus, in Adelphia, Maryland, in spring 2023.
On May 20, 2023, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in Troy, New York, awarded a bachelor of science degree in business and management to Drake Zimba, of Benton.
Catherine Gibbs, of Winslow, received a bachelor of arts degree in communications and information sciences from the University of Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The Lawrence Bulldogs Junior football camp was held July 17-19 (grades 2-4) with players from Central Maine. (photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)
Ava Frost, 8, and her best friend Sophia Barnaby, 8, both of Waterville, having a fun time at the KIDZ BOP Never Stop Tour, at the Maine Savings Amphitheater, in Bangor, on Saturday, July 22. They enjoyed everything but loved the confetti that shot out at the end and the beach balls that were thrown into the crowd during the whole concert. (photo by Mark Huard/ Central Maine Photography)
Griffin Smith, 8, Winslow, and Charlie Smith, at the KIDZ BOP Never Stop Tour, at the Maine Savings Amphitheater, in Bangor, on Saturday, July 22. (photo by Mark Huard/ Central Maine Photography)
Floating row cover
by Melinda MyersBoost your fall garden harvest with some midsummer plantings. Fill vacant spaces left in the vegetable garden after harvesting lettuce, spinach, and other early maturing crops. Expand your edible plantings to other vacant spots in flowerbeds, mixed borders, and containers.
Sow seeds of beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, and other vegetables that will have time to reach maturity before the end of your growing season. Simply count the number of days from planting to the average first fall frost in your area. You’ll find frost dates for your location on the internet, extension publications and other gardening resources. Next, check the back of the seed packet for the number of days needed from planting until harvest. As long as you have enough time for the seeds to sprout, grow and produce before the first frost, they can be added to the garden.
Some plants like collards, kale and broccoli tolerate, and even taste better, after a light freeze. This makes them great choices for a fall-harvested garden. Some garden centers sell transplants of these and other vegetables suitable for summer planting. Check the plant tags for the number of days needed for transplants to grow and start producing.
Extend the harvest season by providing frost protection in the fall. Cold frames and cloches that act like mini greenhouses for individual plants protect the plants from frost. Vent them on warm sunny days and close the lids when frost is in the forecast.
Use floating row cover fabrics for an even lower maintenance option. They are designed to let air, light, and water through to the plants while protecting them from frost. You will find row covers available in various weights that provide different levels of cold weather protection. Select the one best suited to your climate and the vegetables you are growing.
Loosely cover the plants with the fabric and anchor the edges with stones, boards, or landscape pins. Just lift the row cover to harvest, recover, and leave it in place until the harvest is complete, or the temperatures drop below what the row cover and plants can handle.
Wait for the soil to cool before planting lettuce, spinach, and other vegetable seeds that require cooler temperatures to germinate. Increase germination success by planting the seeds as directed, watering them in, and covering the row with a wooden lath to keep the soil cooler. Remove the lath as soon as the seeds sprout. Or start the plants indoors and move them into the garden as transplants. Then help keep the soil cool throughout the remainder of summer by mulching with leaves, evergreen needles, or other organic mulch.
Increase the health and productivity of your second planting by preparing the soil before planting seeds and transplants. Mix an inch of quality compost into the top six inches of soil or fertilize with organically rich low-nitrogen fertilizer.
Once your seeds and transplants are in the ground, be sure to water them properly. Keep the seedbed and roots of transplants moist for the first few weeks. Gradually reduce the watering frequency as seedlings sprout and grow, and transplants become established. Most plants need about an inch of water each week. Water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly and slightly moist. Adjust your watering schedule based on your weekly rainfall, soil type, and air temperatures.
Harvest vegetables when they are at their peak of ripeness and early in the morning after the dew dries whenever possible. Regular picking avoids waste and results in a bigger harvest of flavorful and nutritious vegetables to enjoy throughout the fall.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition, and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
by Roland D. HalleeWhile sitting around a campfire a couple of evenings ago, someone asked the question: Where have all the bugs gone?
We began to discuss how few black flies, mosquitoes, June bugs, etc., we have seen so far this spring and summer.
Bugs are an interesting subject.
If a dollar value was put on the services insects provide, this would equal roughly $70 billion in the U.S. alone.
With an estimated 5.5 million species, insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. More than one million have been named by scientists — and many more have yet to be discovered. In fact, insects account for 80 percent of animal life on Earth.
But, both the number and diversity of insects are declining around the globe due to habitat loss, pollution and climate change. Without widespread action, many of these important creatures face extinction within the next few decades.
For instance, worldwide declines in insect populations have sparked considerable concern. To date, however, significant research gaps exist, and many insect threats remain under-investigated and poorly understood. Example, despite their charismatic bioluminescent displays and cultural and economic importance, the 2,000-plus species of firefly beetles have yet to be the subject of a comprehensive threat analysis.
Writing in BioScience, Sara M. Lewis, of Tufts University, and her colleagues aim to fill the gap with a broad overview of the threats facing these diverse and charismatic species – as well as potential solutions that may lead to their preservation into the future. Lewis and colleagues catalog numerous threats, foremost among them habitat loss, followed closely by artificial light and pesticide use. The future is not bleak, however, and the authors describe considerable opportunities to improve the prospects of bioluminescent insects, including through the preservation of habitat, reduction of light pollution, lowered insecticide use, and more-sustainable tourism.
By making a few small changes in your life, you can help curb this worldwide problem. Insects are crucial to life on Earth and what you can do to help save these amazing creatures.
The question that is always raised is why should I protect insects?
While many insects can seem like pests, they provide a wide range of services to other plants and animals in our environment. In fact, a diverse range of insect species is critical to the survival of most life on Earth, including bats, birds, freshwater fishes and even humans! Along with plants, insects are at the foundation of the food web, and most of the plants and animals we eat rely on insects for pollination or food. For example, 96 percent of songbirds feed insects to their young.
According to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, roughly 35 percent of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. That means you can thank a pollinator for about one of every three bites of food you eat. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 100,000 different animal species play roles in pollinating the 250,000 kinds of flowering plants on Earth, with insects like bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, flies and beetles being the most common. Additionally, some insects are natural predators to pests that may harm food crops.
Some insects are known as decomposers, meaning they break down dead materials like fallen leaves and animal carcasses and turn them into simpler materials, making nutrients available to primary producers like plants and algae. In other words, decomposers are nature’s own recycling system.
Only a very small fraction of insects in the world are considered by humans to be pests, meaning they cause harm to people, plants, animals and buildings. While insect pest control costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars annually, this number would be much higher if it weren’t for the countless beneficial insects that serve as natural predators to pest species, like fire ants and mosquitoes. Additionally, some parasitic insects like small wasps lay their eggs inside pest species, driving their population down. To adequately control pests, we need beneficial insects.
Insects are the primary menu item for many reptiles, birds and amphibians. If insect populations continue to decline, some food webs might collapse entirely.
We also depend on insects for silk, dyes, honey and medical and genetic research. But, aside from the services insects provide, they are simply fascinating animals that spark curiosity in humans, especially children. These incredible creatures exhibit many extraordinary behaviors that are unthinkable in other forms of life and have inspired technology that we use today, like drones! Take some time to really observe the insects in your backyard, what behaviors do you see that captivate you?
Since many insects have yet to even be discovered, there may be benefits we don’t even know about yet!
So, the next time you think about swatting, spraying or crushing, maybe, just maybe, that creature can serve more benefits to you alive than dead.
A large brown bear named Blades is the mascot of what Boston professional sports team?
PAWLEYS ISLAND, South Carolina – Roger Lionel Poulin, 91, of Pawleys Island, S.C., passed away on Friday, June 23, 2023, at NHC, of Garden City, South Carolina. He was born January 26, 1932, in Winslow, son of the late Joseph Napoleon Poulin and Marie Zelie Boucher Poulin.
Roger was a member of Precious Blood of Christ, in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, as well as the Elks Club and the Alumni Association of Maine Maritime Academy. He proudly served in the Merchant Marines and the United States Coast Guard. Roger retired from International Paper Co., after more than 30 years of dedicated work.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his wife, Esther M. “Tess” Poulin; four sisters, Yvette Sandberg (Ernest), Germaine Maigret (Paul), Lucienne Flannery (Jim), and Theresa Casavant (Don) and a brother, Gerry Poulin (Mary).
Survivors include three sons, Michael G. Poulin and his wife, Melissa, and Mark R. Poulin and his wife, Lore, of all Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, and Stephen J. Poulin and his wife, Robin, of Pawleys Island, South Caarolina; and grandchildren, Aimée, Karlee (Joseph Michael), and Benjamin.
A graveside service with military honors will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, August 4, at St. Francis Cemetery, 78 Grove St., Waterville, ME 04901.
Condolences may be made at http://www.burroughsfh.com. Burroughs Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Murrells Inlet, S.C. (843-651-1440) is in charge of arrangements.
The family has requested that memorial donations be made in Roger’s name to one of the following Mount Merici Academy, 18 Mt. Merici Ave., Waterville, ME 04901, or Maine Maritime Academy, 1 Pleasant St., Castine, ME 04420; or The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, https://neurosurgery.duke.edu/about/donate.
OAKLAND – James Orion Kerschner, 76, passed away on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, following a period of declining health. Born September 19, 1946, in Rockland, Jim was the son of Robert and Ida (Olson) Kerschner.
He was the grandson of Sam and Mary Olson, of Cushing. He had a special relationship with his grandparents.
After living in Rockland for several years, the family, which included his brother Bob, moved to Barre, Vermont. In Barre, his love of sports emerged. Jim spent countless hours on the baseball field or in the gym. This passion for sports continued to Oakland (Williams High School), Kents Hill, and the University of New Hampshire. He was an integral part of several championship teams, however, his proudest moments were coaching his sons.
In 1968, Jim married Lynne (Rideout) Kerschner. He was quickly embraced by his new family. Known for his generosity, he hosted countless celebrations and team parties. The annual family Christmas party was a highlight each year.
Jim received his MBA from UMaine and started working in accounting in Boston, Massachusetts, then Portland and Boothbay Harbor. In 1976 Jim returned to Oakland to work in the family business, which included chip mills, trucking, and land development. Later, he taught and coached at Messalonskee High School. For 13 years he was an assistant basketball coach with Coach Dick Meader at the University of Maine at Farmington. He loved working with the students and athletes.
Retiring in 2004 allowed time to travel. This included many trips to Scotland and Ireland with special lifelong friends. He also enjoyed river cruises and trips to Western Canada and the Atlantic provinces. Jim was a longtime member of Waterville Country Club. He had a passion for golf and anything golf related. In 2012, a home in North Fort Myers, Florida, on a golf course, became his primary vacation spot. During the summer months he returned to Messalonskee Lake.
Jim was predeceased by his parents; and his brother, Robert.
He is survived by his wife, Lynne; and their two sons, Craig (Stacie) of Havelock, North Carolina, and David (Eliza), of Old Town; grandchildren Sierra, Caden, and a new granddaughter expected in September; sister-in-law, Pam Rideout Evans and brother-in-law, Scott Beckerman; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date.
Arrangements are in the care of Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Oakland, where memories may be shared, and an online register book signed by visiting http://www.lawrybrothers.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Friends of Messalonskee Lake, P.O. Box 532, Oakland, ME 04963.
WINSLOW – Jeannine (LaPointe) Breton, 90, of Winslow, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Sedgewood Commons Memory Care, in Falmouth.
She was born on November 4, 1932, the daughter of Albert and Marie (Jacques) LaPointe.
Jeannine was the wife of Donald Breton, who died July 21, 2019; together they raised four children.
Jeannine grew up in Winslow where she went to school only able to speak French. She was exceptionally smart with numbers and helped her husband Don run his service station business in Waterville/Winslow for many years. After she and Don married, they were stationed with the U.S. Navy, in Orange, Texas, where Laurie was born. They moved back to Winslow upon his discharge to raise their family.
Jeannine was a devout Catholic and enjoyed going to church at St. John Catholic Church, in Winslow. She loved roller-skating as a teenager; which was how she met her husband and later dancing with her husband and friends.
Jeannine loved her family and raising her children. She enjoyed taking them to their many activities and was proud of their achievements. She loved sewing her daughter’s clothes and helping her sons enjoy their hobbies as well. Her grandchildren remember swinging with her for hours laughing at silly stories, and making maple sugar taffy in the snow. She loved long walks on cool summer evenings, driving to the coast on Sundays (always stopping along the way for ice cream), and picking berries for her delicious homemade pies. Her favorite time was when all of her children and family were together for the holidays and summer vacations making lasting memories.
Jeannine was a homemaker, but she also loved her jobs at Butler’s Department Store, and Hallmark Card Shop, both in Waterville, so she could meet new people. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and wished that they all lived closer so she could spoil them more. She was loved by so many and will be missed dearly.
Jeannine was predeceased by her husband, Donald; her daughter, Laurie Vigue who passed away in 2017; and her brothers Joseph and Donald LaPointe.
She is survived by her children, John Breton (Margaret) of Freedom, New Hampshire, Nancy Haskell (Kirk), of Palm Coast, Florida, and Joey Breton (Heather), of Cape Elizabeth; her sisters Rose Traynor (Ronald), of Tolland, Connecticut, and Cecile LaPointe, of Waterville; her grandchildren, Melissa Coates, Samantha Breton, Johnny Wood (Autumn), Henrik and Daphne Nelson, Jasper Breton, Lelah Main (Chris), and Sierra Haskell; and her great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Shawn Coates, Summer Wood, Andrew and Athelstan Main and Lamar White; and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, July 24, at St. John the Baptist Church, in Winslow, followed by a burial at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Grove Street in Waterville.
Please visit http://www.VeilleuxFuneralHome.com to share your condolences with the Breton family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Corpus Christi Parish, 17 South Garand St., Winslow, ME 04901, in memory of Jeannine.
PORTLAND – David Lee Palmer, 85, passed away at his home on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. He was born in Waterville on May 29, 1938, the son of Calvin and Laura Palmer, of Waterville.
He graduated from Waterville High School in 1956. He graduated from the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in chemical engineering.
David began his working career in the mid-1960s at Keyes Fibre Company (now Huhtamaki), in Waterville, in its quality control department. In July 1979, he moved to Portland to work for Plasmine Corporation as its Vice President of Manufacturing, retiring in May 2003.
David’s lifelong curiosity about all kinds of things and his sense of adventure were satisfied by his pursuit of a variety of many hobbies and interests, such as drawing art, photography, home aquariums and house plants, snorkeling and scuba diving, hiking and camping, canoeing and kayaking, geocaching, and owning a speed boat and flying his own single engine prop plane.
He absolutely loved traveling with his sister, Shirley, to seashore destinations, which included many trips to Florida’s Gulf coast during the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, which were later superseded by even more trips to the Hawaiian Islands during the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. He also had an extra special connection with and fondness for the family camps on East Pond, in Oakland, which he was passionate about preserving for the family to enjoy for generations to come.
David was predeceased by his parents, Laura and Calvin Palmer; and his sister, Shirley Ann Palmer Johnson.
He is survived by his nephew, Andrew Johnson, of Auburn; nieces, Laurie Boulanger and husband Jeff, of Fairfield, Melanie Mayo and husband Stephen, of Fairfield, and Sherry Sierra, of Leeds; great-nieces, Krystal Blaisdell and husband Josh, of Fairfield, Krysten Bailey and husband Ryan, of Fairfield, Lindsay Corbett and wife Courtney, of Sidney, Katye Mayo-Chipman and wife Kati, of Canaan, and Brooke Lord and husband Pat, of Hampden; great-nephew, Shawn Sierra, of Fairfield, Valentin (LT) Sierra and wife Sarah, of Sidney, and Tatiana Litalien and husband Drew, of Turner; and many great-great-nieces and nephews.
A funeral was held at Lawry Brother’s Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield, ME 04937, on Fridasy, July 21, followed by a committal at Maplewood Cemetery, in Fairfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations in David’s memory will gratefully be accepted by the East Pond Association. Mail to David Jackson, Treasurer EPA, 83 Loon Lane, Smithfield, ME 04978, or online at https://www.eastpond.org/donate.
SMITHFIELD – Sandra Ann Cummings, 78, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at home, in Smithfield. Sandi was born on January 18, 1945, to Ernest and Louise Merrow, in Waterville.
She attended Waterville schools, graduating cum laude. She was a leader with the high school drill team. She began her working career with Aetna Finance and retired after many years with State Farm Insurance.
Sandi and Tom were high school sweethearts, remaining married for 58 years. They were married in Sacramento, California, where Tom was stationed in the United States Air Force. After living in many places, Sandi retired to Leesburg, Florida. She enjoyed traveling the country in their RV and returning to her summer home “Meadowview”, in Smithfield. Sandi enjoyed sewing, macramé, painting and ceramics. Sandi received many accolades for the design and quality of her quilts.
Sandi is survived by her husband, Thomas Cummings; children, Deborah Murray (spouse Randall), Denise Therriault (spouse Keith), Kirk Cummings; grandchildren, Troy Johnson (spouse Samantha), Dustin Cummings (spouse Kristina), Kayleigh Therriault and Chloe Therriault; four great-grandsons; and siblings Barbara Bickford, Geoff Merrow (spouse Gayle), and John Nichols (spouse Delores).
Sandi will be laid to rest at St Francis Cemetery, Waterville, on Saturday, August 26, at 10:30 a.m. A Celebration of Life will follow at the MacCrillis-Rousseau VFW Post #8835, in Winslow.
Arrangements are in the care of Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Oakland, where memories may be shared, and an online register book signed by visiting http://www.lawrybrothers.com.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a cause close to Sandi’s heart.
WATERVILLE – Mark Andrew Bourgoin, 40, passed away quietly on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at the Togus Springs VA hospice care facility, in Augusta, following a brief period of declining health. Mark was born on May 28, 1983, in Waterville, to Wayne and Carmen (Jacques) Bourgoin, of Winslow.
He grew up in Winslow, graduating from Winslow High School in 2002. Following high school, while attending Saint Joseph’s College, he enrolled in the U.S. Army ROTC program at the University of New Hampshire. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, in Georgia, and subsequently went on to also complete his Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Lewis, in Washington.
After graduating from Saint Joseph’s, Mark served his country including a deployment to Iraq out of Fort Stewart, in Georgia, as part of the 92nd Infantry Unit. After his time at Fort Stewart, he went for additional training in Richmond, Virginia, for six months before his final assignment at the Army/Navy Joint Expeditionary Base, in Norfolk, Virginia. While living in Norfolk, Mark and his wife Lacey (Thompson) Bourgoin welcomed their son Noah, who was the light of Mark’s life. He treasured their time together.
Upon separating from the Army with the rank of captain, Mark accepted a position at Dresser Rand, in Painted Post, New York, and lived in nearby Horseheads for several years. Eventually, he returned home to his roots in Maine where he enjoyed every opportunity that he had to go fishing, jet skiing, or boating at the family camp in North Belgrade. In addition, Mark was an animal lover who cherished his cat, Boomer, and dog Bailey until her passing. He then acquired his current dog, Luna, a rambunctious but loveable pet.
Mark is survived by his son, Noah Bourgoin, and former wife Lacey, both of Waterville; his parents, Wayne and Carmen; sister Aimee Bourgoin, of Waterville; brother Scott Bourgoin and sister-in-law Dawn Madore-Bourgoin, of Saco; aunt Annette Jacques, of Waterville; uncles John Bourgoin (Elaine), Lee Bourgoin (Cheryl) and Greg Deirig, of Wichita Falls, Texas; as well as his aunt Jan Jacques, of Harrisonburg, Virginia; several cousins and especially his dearest friend Emily Gibson (Daniel), of Clifton Park, New York.
Mark was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Arthur and Angelie Jacques, of Waterville, paternal grandparents Roland and Jeannette Bourgoin, of Winslow, his aunt, Jean (Bourgoin) Deirig, of Wichita Falls, Texas, and uncle, Gerard Jacques, of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 29, at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville, Maine. Burial with military honors will be at Saint Francis cemetery following the funeral celebration.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.
As a percussionist, Mark enjoyed and appreciated music, Noah shares that enjoyment and has been pursuing violin training. To that end, in lieu of flowers, contributions in Mark’s memory for Noah’s music study would be graciously accepted and can be given to an immediate family member.
BENTON – Erma W. Elwell, of Benton, 98, and formerly of Unity, passed away at Glenridge Nursing Home, in Augusta, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Born in Troy on January 13, 1925, she was the daughter of Gustave and Olive (Roberts) Ward.
She graduated from Unity High School as Salutatorian Class of 1943. On June 5, 1943, she married Robert Elwell and they started their Jersey dairy farming career together. In 1945, she and Bob purchased the Mussey Property, in Unity, and continued farming until 2011.
Erma was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed knitting, reading, watching the birds, all of her cats, dogs, and cows. She was a member of the Rebekahs, Waldo County and Maine Farm Bureaus, SnowDusters Snowmobile Club (logging 1,500 miles one winter!), and Unity Union Church. Each summer, she would have a large garden, from which she canned vegetables for the winter, would pick, and freeze strawberries for Bob’s beloved strawberry shortcake with homemade biscuits and Jersey whipped cream. She also raked hay, fed and raised the Jersey calves, and chased after parts for the broken farm equipment.
Erma was predeceased by her husband, Robert, her parents, her sister, Helen, and brother, Morris, her son-in-law, Wayne Lemieux, her step-granddaughter, Sarah Watson, and two step great-great granddaughters, Isabella Lemieux and Katherine White.
Erma is survived by her daughters, Ruth Lemieux, of Benton, and Rachel Garnett and her husband, Wayne, of Big Sandy, Texas; grandchildren are Jamie Whitcomb and his fiancée, Tammy Turner, and Amy Whitcomb Brown and her husband, Craig, all of Unity; step-grandchildren, Adam Lemieux and his wife, Tania, and James Lemieux and his partner, Stacy; great-grandchildren Dustin Whitcomb and Brooke Larrabee and her husband, Christopher, Jordan Brown, Caleb Brown, Makayla Brown, Julia White, and Nicholas Lemieux; great-great-grandchildren, Elaine and Atarah Larrabee, Lucas and Jacob Glidden; several nieces.
At Erma’s request, there will be no visitation or funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests contributions in Erma’s memory be made to Waldo County Humane Society, P. O. Box 479, Belfast, ME 04915-0479, or the Belfast Waldo County Humane Society, P.O. Box 479, Belfast, ME 04915
OAKLAND – Eugene “Gene” L. Vieta Sr., 87, of Oakland, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. He was born on February 11, 1936, in Oakland, to Louis J. Vieta and Violet Watson.
He attended school in Oakland, joined the U.S. Army in 1954, and served honorably in Korea. In 1958, he married the love of his life Iris (Snow) Vieta.
Gene was an accomplished truck driver and spent many years working at Dead River Company as an oil and propane delivery driver. He spent his retirement years camping with his friends at Cowan’s Cove, in Greenville, on Moosehead Lake.
Gene is survived by his five children, Penelope French, Robin Sweet and husband Randolph, Kim Goodwin and husband James, Eugene Jr. and wife Angela, and Jeff; his grandchildren, Tracy Swift, Randi and James Goodwin, Jamie Goodwin, Michael and Stacie Poulin, Raheem, Arianna, Alea and Jasmine Goodwin, Sara Gosselin, Jeremy and Emma Vieta, Jace Bouchard, Rachel Vieta and Julia Shores; great-grandchildren Kate, Lena, Cece, and River Swift, James and Elijah Goodwin, Gabriel Bernier, Laylani Goodwin, Ally Gosselin, Noah and Ashlyn Vieta, Alexander Austin, Hannah Spear, and Blake and Olivia Bouchard; sisters Kathleen Briggs and husband Bruce, and Earleen McDonald; and brother, Leon Norton and wife Debbie.
He was predeceased by his wife, Iris; his father, Louis, his mother, Violet; his sister, Patricia (Vieta) Kenney; and his son-in-law, Randall French. He also has many nieces, nephews and cousins, and many dear friends.
He was an amazing father, always putting his children first. Fun trips to the Skowhegan Fair each summer are family memories, or Sunday trips to Smiley’s Ice Cream, in Winslow, in the summer with all five kids pushing on the front seats of the car as he pretended he just couldn’t get the car up Clinton Avenue hill without their help. He was famous for his amazing smile; a smile that would melt your heart and have you smiling right back at him.
A military service will be held at the Maine Veterans Cemetery, in Augusta, on Friday, August 18, at noon.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To leave a condolence for the family and to view the online obituary, please visit http://www.gibersonfuneralhome.com.
PALERMO – Leo F. Smith, 81, died Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Alfond Center for Health, in Augusta, following a short illness. He was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, on September 16, 1941, a son of the late Leo F. Smith, Sr. and Margaret (Reardon) Smith.
Leo had been employed for many years at Bath Iron Works and was a member of the Masons. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. In retirement years, he enjoyed wood working and making thing for family and friends.
He was predeceased by daughter-in-law LeeAnn Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Priscilla A. (Leach) Smith, of Palermo; a son, Dustin L. Smith, of Palermo; a daughter, Melinda A. Smith, of Palermo , a grandson, Aaron R. Morse, of South China, nieces and newphews.
There will be no public visiting hours. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the care of Plummer Funeral Home, Windsor Chapel, 983 Ridge Rd., Rt. 32, Windsor, Maine, 04363.
Condolences, photos and stories may be shared through the funeral home website at: http://www.plummerfh.com.
Those who desire may make donations in Leo’s memory to: Alfond Center for Cancer Care, c/o MaineGeneral Office of Philanthropy, PO Box 828, Waterville, ME, 04901.
PALERMO – Lurena E. Hamel, 88, of Palermo, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2023, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, following a brief illness. Lurena was born on May 4, 1935, a daughter of Harry and Mabel Messenger, and graduated from Gardiner Area High School.
Following school, she went on to work for the telephone company, MSAD #11, and Reny’s Depasrtment Store.
Lurena loved the farm life and going for wagon rides. She enjoyed watching the birds and tending her flowers, but most of all she loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved watching them play sports and supporting them on their journeys. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Lurena was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Mable Messenger; her first husband, Robert Hathaway, and second husband, James Hamel; her siblings Burt Wheeler, Barbara Arbour, Marion Bailey, Hazel Bernice Willette, and Pauline Latlip; stepdaughter, Patricia “Ann” Lacasse; her great-granddaughter, Paitn; a nephew, Mark Bailey; and a special cousin, Bobby Newell.
Lurena is survived by two sons, Scott Hathaway and wife Teresa, of Gardiner, and Stacy Hamel and wife Geraldine, of Palermo; stepchildren, James Hamel and wife Vera, of Jacksonville, Florida, Gregory Hamel and wife Judy, of Dunn Lorring, Virginia, Steve Hamel and wife Charlene, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Celeste Derosier, of Manchester, New Hampshire; three grandchildren, Ashley Hathaway, Steven Hamel and wife Heidi, and Ryan Hamel and fiancée Marissa Chamberlain; five great-grandchildren, Nyelle, Trewyn, Lincoln, Levi and Paislee; and a sister, Priscilla Bailey, of Augusta.
A graveside service will be held at noon, on Friday, August 4, 2023, at the Maine Veterans Cemetery, 143 Blue Star Ave., Augusta, ME 04330. A gathering will follow at the Sheepscot Fish and Game, Route 3, Palermo.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 983 Ridge Rd., Windsor, ME 04330. Condolences, stories or photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.
Donations in Lurena’s name may be made to the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care, c/o MaineGeneral Health Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903, and/or to St. Jude Childrens’ Hospital at stjude.org.
WATERVILLE – Angela (Aucoin) Rancourt, 65, recently passed away. Angie was born March 26, 1957, to Joan and Wilfred Aucoin. She was one of seven children and spent her formative years in Waterville and attended local schools.
She became a young wife and mother and experienced California life for a few years, returning to Maine when the marriage dissolved.
Angela was a dedicated single mom working at various jobs while raising her family. Once her children were grown she moved to Gray where she enjoyed her leisure time fishing, boating and snowmobiling in winter, always making time to go thrifting in any kind of weather.
When duty called Angela then devoted herself to caring for her aging parents, allowing them to remain in their home. Some say her true calling was as a caregiver.
After the death of her parents Angie held jobs at Walmart and Goodwill until health issues prevented her from continuing to work. Recent time was spent reading and watching movies but she was always up for an outing to the Goodwill store in search of the perfect bargain.
Angela was predeceased by her parents; and brothers Mark, Gary, and Bruce Aucoin.
She is survived by her two children, Chuck and Nicole Rancourt; her siblings, sister, Kathy DeRoche and her husband Bill, sister, Pam Aucoin and husband Bob Bouchard and brother, Greg Aucoin; as well as several nieces and nephews.
There are no services at this time. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Alison Applegate
Alison Applegate has joined Bar Harbor Bank & Trust as Assistant Vice President, Community Banking Relationship Manager. In this role, she helps entrepreneurs from Waterville to Rockland find the right financing and deposit solutions for their small businesses.
Alison has more than 15 years in lending and sales experience. Her career in banking began as a Commercial Banker at Machias Savings Bank, where she focused on preparing and submitting loan packages for underwriting and processing to establishing and maintaining customer relationships. For the last ten years, Alison has been at Bangor Savings Bank, where she took on tasks of increasing leadership responsibility, eventually working her way up to Consumer Relationship Manager.
Alison has completed course work from American Bankers Association on topics such as tax strategies and analyzing financial statements. She is registered with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS#1066013) and is also a State of Maine Notary Public.
Alison has been an active volunteer in the community. She is the treasurer for Girl Scout Troop #1867 and, throughout the year, volunteers at multiple animal rescue organizations.
Alison and her three daughters reside in Thorndike.
photo by jeffreyw: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreyww/
A fundraising event is being held by community organizations, on Saturday, August 5, at 5 p.m., for the family of Michael and Sheila McCarty to help with the final expenses incurred by the sudden passing of their daughter, Alia. It will be held at the American Legion, 33 Veterans Way, in Palermo. The cost will be $10 per plate, $5 for children under 10.