Erskine presents Renaissance awards for second trimester

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Seniors of the Trimester, from left to right: Lilly Fredette, Sophie Steeves, Damon Wilson, Grace Hutchins, Kassidy Barrett, and Malachi Lowery. (contributed photo)

On Friday, April 7, 2023, Erskine Academy, in South China, held a Renaissance assembly to recognize second trimester award recipients.

Recognition awards were presented to Elijah Pelkey, Hannah Ratcliff, Kyle Scott, Abigail McDonough, Hailey Estes, and Jeremy Parker.

Eight seniors received Senior of the Trimester Awards: Sophie Steeves, daughter of Theresa and Gerald Steeves, of China; Kassidy Barrett, daughter of Peggy and Jason Barrett, of Windsor; Malachi Lowery, son of Hollie Hilton, of Vassalboro, and John Lowery, of Ellsworth; Lilly Fredette, daughter of Jessica and Jason Fredette, of China; Grace Hutchins, daughter of Teresa and Randy Hutchin,s of Litchfield; Damon Wilson, son of Aimee and Jeffrey Wilson, of Windsor; and Zuriah Smith, son of Charyl Malik, of China. Seniors of the Trimester are recognized as individuals who have gone above and beyond in all aspects of their high school careers.

In appreciation of their dedication and service to Erskine Academy, Faculty of the Trimester awards were also presented to Ethan Rettew, Social Studies Instructor; Marguerite Cullivan, Physical Education Instructor; and Betsy Benner, Guidance Counselor.

Faculty of the Trimester, from left to right: Betsy Benner, Ethan Rettew, and Marguerite Cullivan. (contributed photo)

Issue for April 6, 2023

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Issue for April 6, 2023

Celebrating 35 years of local news

Vassalboro couple connects people to detox

There is a brief window of opportunity during which a person in active addiction reaches out for help to get sober, and Ryan Paige, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of AccessDirect Recovery Network, knows from lived experience how quickly this window closes… by Jeanne Marquis

Town News

Select board gets legal advice on marijuana business ordinance amendments

VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members got lots of legal advice at their March 30 meeting from attorney Stephen E. F. Langsdorf, of the Augusta law firm Preti Flaherty…

School officials explain budget proposal to school board

VASSALBORO – Vassalboro school officials – primarily Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer, Principal Ira Michaud, and Special Education Director Tanya Thibeau – led school board members through the proposed 2023-24 budget at a March 29 workshop meeting…

Planners approve one application; postpone all others

CHINA – China Planning Board members approved one application on their March 28 agenda and postponed everything else, instead making their recommendation on the amended Board of Appeals ordinance that will be on the June 13 town business meeting warrant…

Budget committee endorses 2023-24 spending articles

CHINA – At a short April 3 meeting, China Budget Committee members reviewed and endorsed proposed 2023-24 spending articles in the warrant for China’s June 13 town business meeting…

41st Battle of Maine another success

WATERVILLE – The 41st Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships took place on Saturday, March 25 at Champions Fitness Club in Waterville. $1 of each spectator ticket went to help support the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. There were competitions is forms, fighting and weapons throughout the day…

Scouts hold merit badge college

AUGUSTA – Taking place at the Augusta First Church of the Nazarene, a merit badge college for the Boy Scouts was held by volunteer Scouting leaders of the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting. The event was held on two days, spanning across two months…

PHOTO: China Village Volunteer Fire Department

CHINA – On March 21, the China Village Volunteer Fire Department held its annual Appreciation Dinner, honoring the volunteers and their spouses…

Hosts needed for international high school students throughout Maine area

CENTRAL ME – In an age when international relations are often tenuous, AFS-USA, a leader in international high school student exchange for 75 years, is focused on providing opportunities for intercultural exchange that can help lead to a more just and peaceful world…

Legislative Report as of Thursday, March 30, 2023

CENTRAL ME – List of legislative bills sponsored by local senators and representatives…

LETTERS: Stop dark money interference

from Kelly Merrill – Last year, I was part of a team that successfully collected over 80,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot to protect Maine elections from big, dark money interference from corporate and foreign government entities…

Webber’s Pond

Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…

Local happenings

EVENTS: Award winning Maine reporter at Lithgow Public Library

AUGUSTA – Amy Calder, author of Comfort is an Old Barn, will be at Lithgow Library to discuss her book on Saturday, May 6, at 10 a.m. in the Community Meeting Room…

EVENTS: Free public COVID-19 booster clinics at HealthReach locations

CENTRAL ME – HealthReach is pleased to announce free public COVID-19 booster shots available at locations across Central and Western Maine. The Belgrade Regional Health Center clinic will open to everyone – patients and the public – from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 15, April 29, and May 6, 2023. No appointment is necessary during these time periods…

EVENTS: Waterville Creates announces The Great State of Illustration in Maine exhibition

WATERVILLE – As an art form, illustration has an ancestral home in Maine, with a legacy of attracting acclaimed authors and illustrators like E.B. White, Robert McCloskey, Melissa Sweet, and Chris Van Dusen. In recognition of this incredible history, Waterville Creates is excited to announce The Great State of Illustration in Maine exhibition at Ticonic Gallery, on view April 17­–July 16…

EVENTS: Sew for a Cause plans Mothers-to-be Tea in Vassalboro

VASSALBORO – A special Mothers-to-be Tea is planned for Saturday, May 6, by the Sew for a Cause ladies, at St. Bridget Center, in Vassalboro. The event is free and open to all new mothers or soon-to-be mothers in central Maine, but because space is limited, attendees are encouraged to register by April 15. Owner of St. Bridget Center, Rachel Kilbride, says they are expecting about 50 new mothers to attend along with a guest…

Listing of local town meetings

CENTRAL ME — Listing of 2023 local town meetings in central Maine. To have your town listed, please email us at townline@townline.org…

2022-’23 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Real estate tax due dates for the towns of Albion, China, Fairfield, Oakland, Palermo, Sidney, Vassalboro, Waterville, Windsor and Winslow…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Community pancake breakfast at the Vassalboro Grange

VASSALBORO — This weekend, April 8, the Vassalboro Grange will celebrate spring by opening its doors for the season with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast… and many other local events!

Obituaries

SOUTH CHINA – Christa B. Pauley, 87, passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at her home, following a brief illness. She was born in Portland, on April 26, 1935, the daughter of the late Dr. Charles D. and Margret Vesta (Wood) Brown.. and remembering 11 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, April 13, 2023

Identify the people in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common. You could win a $10 gift certificate to Hannaford Supermarket! Email your answer to townline@townline.org or through our Contact page. Include your name and address with your answer. Use “Common Ground” in the subject!

Previous winner: Angel Hall-Stuart

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | Groundhog day was a little over two months ago. However, this is the time of year when they usually start to make their appearance, emerging from their dens following a long winter of hibernation…

SMALL SPACE GARDENING

by Melinda Myers | Deer are common visitors to landscapes even in urban and suburban areas. Fencing is the most effective way to protect your plants but is not always practical or desirable. Your community may have restrictions on fencing, your budget may not support this option, or you prefer not to hide your plantings behind a fence…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | The consistently intriguing Maine Speaks anthology contains a short story, Scobie, by Elisabeth Ogilvie (1917-2006), which was first published in the August, 1951, issue of Woman’s Day magazine…

THE BEST VIEW

by Norma Best Boucher | I just spent one of the best mornings I could want. I didn’t set out to do that. I don’t think that life works that way. I do try to start every day with a positive attitude, but this morning God just pointed me in a direction and said, “Enjoy!”…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) — Brushing and flossing are the main tricks of the trade for maintaining a healthy smile, but if you want to expand your dental health from the inside out, you may want to consider nutritional supplements…

THE BEST VIEW: “And then –”

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by Norma Best Boucher

I just spent one of the best mornings I could want. I didn’t set out to do that. I don’t think that life works that way. I do try to start every day with a positive attitude, but this morning God just pointed me in a direction and said, “Enjoy!”

The weather was cool for Florida, a beautiful winter morning, when I took my early morning walk just as the sun came up. I usually walk with my neighbor’s Yorkie, Scooter, but today I was especially early and just took off alone. I didn’t realize that I usually look down or at eye level when Scooter is with me. I have to be careful that he doesn’t step on fire ant hills or disturb any snakes. Today I looked everywhere and discovered a leafless deciduous tree silhouetted against the morning sky. Suddenly, my mind was back home in Waterville, Maine, walking on Elm Court and School Street on a beautiful cool day.

Florida is filled with beautiful full-leaf and flowered trees that thrive in the winter, but at that Maine memory moment the leafless branches on that tree were more beautiful than all of the other trees combined. Right next to it was a smaller palm tree. The two trees together seemed to epitomize my own life – the majority of my years spent in Maine and the last of my years spent in Florida. The larger tree had the deepest and best root system just like my own life in Maine.

And then – My cat Olivia and I were sitting on the screened-in porch when a beautiful hawk landed a few feet from us. She saw him first. I saw her body stiffen and followed her gaze. The hawk was perched on the roof in a majestic pose. As his head turned, I saw the downward curve of his sharp beak and his proverbial “hawk eyes” sizing up the backyard. Olivia did not move. Neither did I. He was even more beautiful when he took flight and flew past us.

And then – I went for my daily ride along Indian River. The morning was still young. There was a very light rain that appeared on my windshield but was too light to disturb the mirror surface of the river. Hundreds of seagulls were perched on the long river docks, much, I imagine, to the chagrin of the owners. One lady was taking pictures of them. I stopped my car and saw several files of “ducks in a row” at varying distances in the river. All were paddling north.

And then – I saw them, three dolphins. Indian River is quite shallow, so I could see them intermittently breaking the water. They, too, were going north. I don’t know whether they were feeding or just playing, but I never tire of watching them just living their lives for all of us to enjoy.

The first time I saw mammals swimming in a river was when I was seven years old in 1954. My father drove my mother and me from Waterville to Bangor, their hometown, to see the two white whales that had swum to Bangor up the Penobscot River. We drove in my father’s 1948 Studebaker. There was no Interstate 95 highway then, so the trip took two hours up and two hours back. We could go no faster than 45 miles an hour because the car shook at faster speeds. Seeing the whales was quite a thrill. Seeing the dolphins brought back to me another cherished Maine memory.

As I left the River Road area, I stopped at a stop sign and saw perched on a tree limb a different but still beautiful lighter colored hawk. He was watching me as intently as Olivia and I had watched the earlier hawk.

And then – I left the serenity of the scenic river ride to go to a gas station to pump gas into my vehicle. The prices had dropped. Another Maine memory came to mind. Again, my father had driven my mother and me to Bangor to see the gas war.

“Norma,” I remember him saying. “Remember this day. Gas is 18 cents a gallon.” I watched as a man filled the gas tank. We turned around and left Bangor for the long two-hour ride home.

Today, I paid more for my gas than 18 cents a gallon, but who cares? I enjoyed a million-dollar morning and Maine memories.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Elisabeth Ogilvie

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Elisabeth Ogilvie

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Elisabeth Ogilvie

The consistently intriguing Maine Speaks anthology contains a short story, Scobie, by Elisabeth Ogilvie (1917-2006), which was first published in the August, 1951, issue of Woman’s Day magazine.

The story is set in a fishing village along the Maine coast and is recounted from the point of view of a first person unnamed narrator who is living presently in the early 1950s and, in visiting with a childhood friend, Rhoda, is recalling memories of those 1920s or ’30s yesteryears when the village only had “a general store, a filling station, a sardine factory, a fish-and-lobster buyer, and a fifteen-room hotel that catered for three summer months to artists and elderly people….” and in particular of an eccentric named Scobie who lived for a year on the very edge of the village in a “pinkie” or discarded boat with his well-trained pet baby pig, Barnaby.

The story has a very commendably achieved sense of time and place in its details of local color but the main plot in its depiction of the girls interactions with Scobie when they visited him a few times (and without their parents’ permission) was unfortunately a bit wooden and desultory.

Still, one paragraph stood out in its vividness, when the narrator is describing her father’s job as a warden of the village “fisheries”:

“At the far curve of the harbor, away from the sardine factory and the big wharves, there was a regular settlement of lobstermen, who preferred to live in sight of the harbor and the moorings rather than in the town. Their houses, with neat white clapboards or silvery shingles, were sheltered by the spruce woods behind; the grassy ground sloped down to the shore, where their boats were hauled up for painting; and their traps were stacked against wildrose bushes and blackberry vines. My father spent a lot of time over there.”

The potential for further reader interest in the lives of these inhabitants in a separate universe from the other villagers may have been a lost opportunity.

Ogilvie was a Massachusetts native but, in 1944, she moved into a 33-acre farm, on Gay’s Island, in Cushing, where she died from a stroke in 2006. She published more than 40 novels, mostly based on life in the islands along the Maine coast; along with an autobiography.

Rachmaninoff

Rachmaninoff

April 1 was the 150th birthday anniversary of composer Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). YouTube contains a highly recommended recording of his ever justly popular 2nd Piano Concerto, which he composed in 1901, after recovering from a deep depression through the help of hypnosis from a Doctor Dahl. The performance is a 1960 Columbia Masterworks collaboration between pianist Philippe Entremont and the late Leonard Bernstein, with the New York Philharmonic.

It was the first LP I ever owned of the work and its power and poetry had a uniquely gripping eloquence of its own. The second movement was slowly paced and milked for maximum sentiment while the concluding 3rd movement was paced with lightning speed until the magnificent concluding three minutes when, with slower tempos, the music exploded with beauty.

 

 

LETTERS: Stop dark money interference

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To the editor:

Last year, I was part of a team that successfully collected over 80,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot to protect Maine elections from big, dark money interference from corporate and foreign government entities.

Countries like Qatar, Canada, China and Russia contribute freely to our politics to curry favor, flood the airwaves, get an edge, and profit. They have unlimited resources to tie up cases in court and pass policies that benefit their bottom line. They have the audacity to pose as magnanimous entities packaging pretty lies under the guise of free speech. They have unlimited resources to thwart the will of the people, and keep pushing their agendas until they achieve their intended outcome. Nothing they do centers Maine or the people who live here. Their motives are purely profit and power over people, and their money shouldn’t be purchasing policies.

We don’t have time to lose on this issue, and we shouldn’t be waiting for the ballot. Those of us who volunteer for political causes have seen people’s confidence in our political system plummet in direct correlation to the outrageous amounts entities spend to manipulate and deceive the people. The Legislature has a chance right now to pass this widely supported, bi-partisan bill outright, and get big money out of politics. I urge them to do so. Getting monied influences out of politics is fundamental to achieving the changes that myself or any of us seek, and we’d like to get to work.

Kelly Merrill

LEGISLATIVE REPORT as of Thursday, March 30, 2023

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(photo by Eric W. Austin)

Legislative bills submitted by area senators & representatives as of Thursday, March 30, 2023.

L.D. 1139, S.P. 466

An Act to Improve Ferry Service Reliability by Providing Scholarships at the Maine Maritime Academy. (Presented by Senator CURRY of Waldo)

L.D. 1149, S.P. 476

RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Strengthen the Due Process Rights of Persons Accused by Requiring Notification of Those Rights. (Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec)

L.D. 1150, S.P. 477

Resolve, Requiring the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to Document, Disclose and Publish All Best Management Practices Regarding the Use of Noise Devices to Control Birds at Orchards. (EMERGENCY) (Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec)

L.D. 1157, H.P. 729

An Act to Stabilize Licensing Fees. (Presented by Representative RUDNICKI of Fairfield)

L.D. 1158, H.P. 730

An Act to Recognize the Critical Nature of Workforce Development Through Career and Technical Education by Establishing an Adjustment for Career and Technical Education Centers in the School Funding Formula. (Presented by Representative WHITE of Waterville)

L.D. 1173, H.P. 745

An Act Directing the Bureau of General Services to Ensure Adequate Air Quality in All State-owned and State-leased Buildings. (Presented by Representative MONTELL of Gardiner)

L.D. 1178, H.P. 750

Resolve, to Reduce Barriers to Recovery from Addiction by Expanding Eligibility for Targeted Case Management Services. (Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville)

L.D. 1186, S.P. 482

Resolve, Directing the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to Develop a Hunting and Fishing Software Application. (Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec)

L.D. 1210, H.P. 770

An Act to Establish a Maine Highway Capital Fund to Provide Consistent Funding for the Construction and Repair of Maine’s Roads and Bridges. (Presented by Representative DUCHARME of Madison)

L.D. 1228, H.P. 776

An Act to Prohibit Certain Higher Education Institutions from Requiring Vaccines Approved Under Emergency Use Authorization for Admission or Attendance. (EMERGENCY) (Presented by Representative SMITH of Palermo)

L.D. 1236, H.P. 784

An Act to Increase the Provision of Children’s Behavioral Health Services in Rural Areas and to Provide Support for Families of Children Receiving Services. (Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville)

L.D. 1267, H.P. 815

An Act to Provide Alternative Methods of Payment to Health Care Providers. (Presented by Representative NUTTING of Oakland)

L.D. 1274, S.P. 511

An Act to Increase Land Access for Historically Disadvantaged Populations. (Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec)

L.D. 1280, S.P. 517

An Act to Invest in Maine’s Fire Service Training Facilities. (Presented by Senator CURRY of Waldo)

L.D. 1289, S.P. 526

An Act to Facilitate Property Redevelopment and Encourage Affordable Housing by Allowing the Conveyance of Unfinished Commercial Condominium Units. (Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec)

L.D. 1291, S.P. 528

An Act to Establish a Grant Program to Provide for Statewide and Equitable Access to Experiential Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education. (Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec)

L.D. 1315, S.P. 533

An Act to Require Instruction in Schools on Substance Abuse Prevention and Administration of Naloxone Hydrochloride. (Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec)

L.D. 1323, H.P. 838

An Act to Amend the Opioid Education Requirements. (Presented by Representative NUTTING of Oakland)

L.D. 1341, H.P. 855

An Act to Modernize the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ Mobile Services. (Presented by Representative WHITE of Waterville)

L.D. 1374, H.P. 888

An Act to Improve Driver Safety by Requiring the Completion of a Defensive Driving Course for Certain Violations. (Presented by Representative MONTELL of Gardiner)

L.D. 1375, H.P. 889

An Act to Provide Funding for a Chapel at the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. (Presented by Representative LEMELIN of Chelsea)

L.D. 1386, S.P. 551

An Act to Require That a Completed Form for the Homestead Property Tax Exemption Be Provided to a Person Purchasing a Home. (Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec)

L.D. 1390, S.P. 557

An Act to Provide Self-service Motor Vehicle Services in Rural and Other Areas. (Presented by Senator CURRY of Waldo)

L.D. 1393, S.P. 560

Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Examine Programs and Policies Regarding Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. (Presented by Senator RENY of Lincoln)

L.D. 1410, H.P. 906

An Act to Hold School Employees Civilly Liable for Failure to Notify Parents Regarding Medical Issues of Students Under 18 Years of Age. (Presented by Representative HYMES of Waldo)

L.D. 1428, H.P. 924

An Act to Ensure Treatment for MaineCare Recipients with Serious Mental Illness by Prohibiting the Requirements for Prior Authorization and Step Therapy for Medications. (EMERGENCY) (Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville)

L.D. 1439, H.P. 935

An Act to Promote Family-centered Interventions for Substance Use Disorder Treatment. (Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville)

L.D. 1440, H.P. 936

Resolve, to Increase the Availability of Community Children’s Behavioral Health Services by Providing Training and Career Opportunities for Behavioral Health Professionals. (Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville)

L.D. 1442, H.P. 938

An Act to Recognize an Association of Early Childhood Educators as an Educational Advisory Organization. (Presented by Representative COLLAMORE of Pittsfield)

L.D. 1455, S.P. 573

An Act to Establish the Weighing Point Preclearance Program. (Presented by Senator FARRIN of Somerset)

L.D. 1460, S.P. 578

An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Certificates of Deposit. (Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec)

L.D. 1462, S.P. 580

An Act to Provide Financial Incentives for Attorneys to Provide Indigent Legal Services. (Presented by Senator POULIOT of Kennebec)

(Copies of the Bills may be obtained from the Document Room, First Floor, State House, Augusta, Maine 04333-0002 – Ph: 207-287-1408. Bill text, bill status and roll call information are available on the Internet at http://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/search.asp. The Weekly Legislative Report is also available on the Internet at the House home page at http://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/ under the “Documents” tab.)

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Supplement Your Dental Care Routine

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You can help keep your smile shining, even when your diet isn’t adequate, by taking vitamin and mineral supplements as you need them.

(NAPSI)—Brushing and flossing are the main tricks of the trade for maintaining a healthy smile, but if you want to expand your dental health from the inside out, you may want to consider nutritional supplements. 

“Most people can obtain all the necessary vitamins and minerals from a balanced diet, but for some, supplements can be helpful as nutrition deficiencies can lead to conditions such as inflammation and tooth loss if left untreated for too long,” said Kiran Malhi, DMD, a dental consultant for Delta Dental of Washington. 

Six Suggestions For A Stronger Smile

In tandem with brushing, flossing and consistent trips to the dentist, these six supplements can jump start an even healthier smile:

Calcium: Calcium helps more than just your bones—it can help your teeth too. While calcium is found in dairy products, fish, vegetables and nuts, you can also take calcium as a supplement if you have roadblocks to accessing calcium-rich foods. 

Phosphorus: Phosphorus aids in calcium absorption into the body, helping to strengthen teeth by protecting and rebuilding tooth enamel. Many people get enough phosphorus in their diets through meat, fish, milk and whole grains, but it is available in supplement form for those with dietary restrictions.

Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps in saliva production, which is beneficial to your overall oral health. Saliva functions in breaking down foods and cleans bacteria between teeth. The vitamin is found in orange-colored fruits and vegetables, fish and eggs. Vitamin A tablets and gummies are widely available and also keep eyes and skin healthy. 

Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps your gums as well as your teeth, keeping connective tissues in the gums strong to hold teeth in place while deficiencies in vitamin C can be the cause of bleeding gums and gum disease. Chewable or liquid forms of vitamin C are erosive, however, and can cause the loss of enamel if taken in excess, though they’re safe at the recommended dosage. Vitamin C is present in many fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D protects against oral health conditions such as gingival inflammation, cavities and gum disease, as it plays a significant role in tooth mineralization. Like calcium, vitamin D can be found in fish or vitamin D-fortified foods like milk and cereal, but for convenience, it is available in supplement form. 

Zinc: Zinc can eliminate cavity-causing bacteria and control demineralization. The vitamin can also help with gum diseases such as gingivitis and other common periodontal problems. A bonus is that zinc helps fight bad breath. 

Learn More

For additional information about how to get and maintain a healthy smile, visit www.deltadentalwa.com/blog.

Scouts hold merit badge college

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Scouts in the Genealogy Merit Badge with guest speaker Emily Schroeder who is an archivist with the Kennebec Historical Society. From left to right: Anthony Fortin, of Augusta Troop #603, Ricky Phillips, of Winthrop Troop #604, Manny Stevenson, of Augusta Troop #603, Devyn Deleomardis, and Nicholas Gower, both of Anson Troop #481, and Emily Schroeder, of the Kennebec Historical Society. (contributed photo)

The following release was written by Scouts Anthony Fortin, of Augusta Troop #603, and Stasha Wells, of Winslow Troop #433G. This was one of the requirements for their Journalism Merit Badge they took during the Merit Badge College.

Taking place at the Augusta First Church of the Nazarene, a merit badge college for the Boy Scouts was held by volunteer Scouting leaders of the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting. The event was held on two days, spanning across two months.

The first half of the merit badge college was held on February 25, and the second, on March 25. To make it all possible, adult Scout leaders volunteered their time into teaching classes, and regulating behavior. Julie Mc­Kenney, of Bel­grade, Kennebec Valley Dis­trict of Scouting Program Director, took the lead to get the event up and running again with Theresa Poirier, of Augusta.

McKenney gave out multiple ideas for merit badges and the ones that gained the most interest were Art, Aviation, Cooking, Journalism, Personal Fitness, Reading, Weather, Basketry, Law, Genealogy, American Heritage, and Scholarship along with some additional training being offered for adults. Overall, there are 138 Merit Badges available to Scouts. Nearly 50 scouts attended the various classes, with some coming from as far away as Falmouth, Anson and Gorham.

McKenny, when asked how she thought the event was going, replied, “I think the event is going well.” She added her thoughts after Covid-19, “It has taken us a year to get the event running.” The college had been offered annually before Covid-19 but had not been offered since until this year. She added, “We are getting back after Covid. It is a good turnout.”

Adult Cub Leaders were given the opportunity to take Cub Leader training led by District Training Chairman Walter Fails, of Farmington.

Stacey Wells, an assistant scoutmaster from Troop #433G, in Winslow, said she heard from the “Famous social media outlet called Facebook”. Wells also said this would be an opportunity for both youth and adults to grow. At the end of the February 25 session, McKenney had a message board for scouts to make suggestions on what merit badges they would like to see offered at the next Kennebec Valley District Merit Badge College. Stay tuned for next year’s offerings.

Julie McKenney, of Belgrade, and Theresa Poirier, of Augusta, organized the program with their team of Scouting volunteers. It took several months to plan and recruit the Merit Badge Counsellors. (contributed photo)

41st Battle of Maine another success

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Matthew Christen performing his winning forms routine. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

Matthew Christen of Club Naha is Junior Grand Champion in forms and weapons

Huard’s Martial Arts student Jedidiah Keen, 12, of North Anson, captured first place in point fighting and fourth in chanbara at the Battle of Maine. (photo by Mark Huard)

The 41st Battle of Maine Martial Arts Championships took place on Saturday, March 25 at Champions Fitness Club in Waterville. $1 of each spectator ticket went to help support the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. There were competitions is forms, fighting and weapons throughout the day.

Club Naha student Matthew Christen, 12, of Benton, captured first place in forms, weapons, and point fighting. He also took the Junior Grand Championship Titles for forms and weapons.

Referee Kyoshi Andy Campbell holding up Matthew Christen after he won first place in point fighting. (photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography)

SMALL SPACE GARDENING: Design a deer-resistant garden without the fence

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A hungry deer grazing in a garden. (photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com)

by Melinda Myers

Deer are common visitors to landscapes even in urban and suburban areas. Fencing is the most effective way to protect your plants but is not always practical or desirable. Your community may have restrictions on fencing, your budget may not support this option, or you prefer not to hide your plantings behind a fence.

Growing a beautiful garden despite the deer is possible but takes planning, persistence, and flexibility. You must be willing to change strategies as needed to minimize deer damage.

Deer dining patterns can vary from one part of your neighborhood to another and from year to year. You have probably reviewed deer-resistant plant lists only to find a few of the plants frequently damaged in your yard included on the list.

No plant is immune from hungry deer, but some are a bit less palatable than others.

Look for plants with these characteristics next time you go plant shopping. Include plants with fuzzy or hairy leaves, those with prickly or thorny stems, thick and leathery leaves, and strong fragrances that deer tend to avoid. Even though this is not one hundred percent, plant selection should be part of your strategy for reducing the risk of damage. Make note of the plants selected and how the deer responded. It will help as you make future additions to the garden.

There are toxic plants that deer avoid, including daffodils, ferns, false blue indigo, poppies, euphorbias, and bleeding hearts to name a few. Some of these are also toxic to people and pets so do your research before adding them to the landscape.

Some gardeners find combining the less favored plants with those the deer love helps discourage feeding. Planting strongly scented lavender next to roses or surrounding a garden of deer favorites with thyme can help discourage deer browsing. Diversifying plantings is also a good strategy for reducing the risk of insects and diseases infecting and destroying gardens filled with just one type of plant.

Look for pathways frequented or used to enter your landscape. Find ways to disrupt their regular routes to keep them moving along past your landscape. A trellis or a few posts covered with vines may be enough to limit access. Points of access are great places to apply repellents like organic Plantskydd (plantskydd.com). The deer take a whiff and move along before taking a bite out of any plants. The same holds true for those key plants favored by deer. It’s rain and snow resistant so you don’t need to apply it as often as other repellent products.

Plant a deer-deterring hedge. Some gardeners use deer favorites, allowing the deer to munch on these plants as they continue past your yard. Other gardeners fill the hedge with prickly, smelly, and less desirable plants. Deer will take a bite and move along. Plant these close together to discourage deer from pushing through in search of better-tasting plants.

Design round or square beds with more space in the middle and less perimeter. Long narrow beds allow easy access to all the plants in the garden.

Keep in mind deer are focused on finding food while you have other priorities to consider. You need to be vigilant and persistent, adapting as the deer’s eating habits change to be successful. Your efforts will be rewarded as you grow an attractive garden without the help of a fence.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The 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 was commissioned by Tree World Plant Care for her expertise to write this article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.