Sophia Labbe named to Lasell University Fall 2024 dean’s list
Sophia Labbe, a Lasell University student, from Vassalboro, was named to the dean’s list for their academic performance in the Fall 2024 semester, in Newton, Massachusetts.
LETTERS: Rebuttal to dad’s letter
To the editor:
This was my dad’s letter…advice to seniors. Readers deserve to know the truth. Please publish this as it is not fair to allow my dad to slander me and not let me tell my side:
I opened my home up to my dad..he sold his place in Maine (his own decision). I did not take his money or open a joint account. He offered to open the joint account and told the BofA banker “we only have each other…we are all we have”. He offered to purchase the Mercedes car for me (a 2009) which I traded my car in to help with the cost. I was NOT taking his money or using him in anyway. I was not looking for a horse farm…my dad mentioned that he wanted to live in the country and we drove by a 5-acre place that was for sale…he wanted to see it!
I was not upset at my dad…in fact, he told me he wanted to move back to Maine and I asked him to really consider it first and to give things time. I have a 3/2 home in Dunnellon, Florida, and I gave him my master bedroom and bath and I did not put any restrictions on him. I paid for all the utilities, he only had to pay for his groceries and gas.
He agreed to stay but after a few weeks decided he was leaving. He told me on a Monday morning (while I am getting ready for work) that he is driving back to Maine on Friday, He failed to tell me that a neighbor (that lives down the street named Gary) would be accompanying him on the trip. (which my dad had to pay him for and ended up costing over $1,000 between eating out, hotel and paying him $250 to ride with him, as well as paying for Gary’s flight back to Florida).
Here I am worried that my dad is on the road alone. Friday morning when my dad left (at 8 a.m.) I hugged him good bye and told him “this is your decision, you don’t have to go”, but he told me he was leaving. I asked him how far he was driving and he said “to Jacksonville” which I thought was odd as that is not far away. All this time my dad knew that I did not know Gary was going to be with him. This was hurtful. I thought for my dad to hide this fact.
As far as my cats…they eat and sleep and did not bother my dad in anyway. In fact, he would talk to them and petted them and seemed to enjoy their company.
I tried calling my dad only for him to hang up on me and then he wrote me and asked to only contact him by mail. So let me advise those children that have aging parents and they want to move in…have a long conversation first. My dad had a choice but his choice was to leave without providing any closure for me (as to why).
It is not right to let my dad write lies and lead people to believe his story…please publish this so that (maybe my dad) will be able to know how I feel…since he will not even speak to me.
Holly Slason
Dunnellon, Florida
Judson Smith adjusting well at Maine School of Science & Mathematics
Judson Smith, center, flanked by his mother Lisa Libby, left, and his father Zachary Smith. (contributed photo)
by Mary Grow
Vassalboro resident Judson Smith, 14, has no regrets about choosing the Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM), in Limestone, as his high school.
Home for Christmas break after his first semester, Smith said adjustment wasn’t easy, but now, “I’m happy with it. I really like the school.”
His parents, Zachary Smith and Lisa Libby, are also pleased with their son’s choice. They appreciate the education, and the frequent contact with the school – the one day their son was ill, they had a conversation with the school nurse who attended him in his dormitory room.
Courses are hard, advanced enough that students can arrange to get college credit at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Smith is satisfied with his A’s and B’s.
MSSM students take at least four core courses a semester; Smith’s were math, science, English and French. Next semester, maybe six, he said.
Students live on campus. Their dormitory, close to the academic building that also houses Limestone Community High School, has two wings for boys and two for girls, plus common areas: a lounge, a kitchenette, a room with pool tables, a fitness room and a gym. In the academic building is an Olympic-size swimming pool that MSSM and LCHS share, Smith said.
In some ways, Smith makes MSSM sound almost overprotective. Students need a phone app to check out of their dormitories. There are mandatory study hours from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, with students who have shown a need for supervision expected to report to the library and the rest to study in their rooms or other appropriate places (including picnic tables in mild weather). Students’ bicycles were locked in a storage shed before the first snowfall.
Every student has a campus job, Smith said, though nothing that takes a lot of time away from education.
Students also enjoy a multitude of activities, sports and clubs. The seniors who serve as dorm residents organize activities. Every other weekend offers a shopping trip to Presque Isle, a city half an hour away that’s almost six times the size of Limestone.
The lettuce club intrigues Smith’s mother. Smith explained that the club meets annually: a head of lettuce is put before each student, and whoever eats his or hers fastest becomes club president.
When a student has a birthday, the food service staff bakes him or her a cake.
Most important, Smith said, is the constant support, from teachers, other staff and fellow students. When he found himself ill-prepared for one of his courses, he was able to get almost daily help from his teacher and from other students. By next year, he sees himself helping first-year students.
“It’s definitely a difficult school. They try their best to make it fun, but a challenge at the same time,” he summarized.
Leader of Main Street Skowhegan recognized at White House event
Kristina Cannon
USDA Rural Development State Director Rhiannon Hampson joined U.S. Under Secretary for Rural Development Dr. Basil Gooden, in Washington, D.C. Together they recognized Kristina Cannon, President and CEO of Main Street Skowhegan, as a Rural Innovator. Cannon was one of 14 Rural Innovators honored at a special White House event commemorating the positive impact these leaders have in their communities. Public nominations for the awards began in May and were announced this fall.
Maine Rural Development State Director Hampson nominated Cannon for the award. Recently she wrote, “Kristina Cannon is a trailblazer who has revolutionized the way Skowhegan approaches revitalization—through asset-based, community-led initiatives—leveraging outdoor recreation, local agriculture, and entrepreneurship as powerful tools for economic development.” She went on, “Kristina has built trust locally, regionally, and nationally by partnering and collaborating with dozens of organizations, state and federal government agencies, and businesses. Rural Development is proud to be a partner in this work.”
Following the White House gathering, Cannon reflected on her experience in Washington and her work in Maine. “It’s humbling to be honored alongside highly accomplished colleagues from across the nation,” she said. “In rural communities, it’s never just one person doing the work; this recognition belongs to our steadfast partners, supporters, volunteers, and my amazing team who are working tirelessly every day to ensure Skowhegan and Central Maine realize their ultimate potential as a thriving and resilient rural region.”
Under Secretary Gooden helped celebrate the honorees at the event. Recently he traveled to Maine, attending the GrowSmart Maine Annual Summit, in Waterville, on October 21, 2024. In delivering a keynote speech at the summit, he recognized the power of innovative collaborations between federal, state, and local partners in rural communities. “Don’t ever underestimate the power you have when you collaborate,” he urged the audience.
The community leaders recognized as Rural Innovators this week collaborate at all levels. Many have leveraged federal resources to create good-paying jobs, spur economic growth, and improve rural quality of life. At Main Street Skowhegan, for example, Cannon has led an effort to raise more than $10 million for revitalization initiatives. Under her leadership, the organization has become a major player in regional economic development, spearheading a comprehensive approach to community transformation through outdoor recreation. The organization also provides business planning support and programming as part of a regional hub-and-spoke entrepreneurial ecosystem partnership.
Supporting rural-led economic development, investing in rural American infrastructure, and strengthening local and regional food systems were a few of the priorities of the Rural Innovators Initiative. The work of the nonprofit Skowhegan Main Street and partnering organizations exemplify these goals.
Pursuing federal funding can be a labor-intensive but impactful way to advance community projects, and the collaborating groups in Skowhegan have been successful in this regard. For example, this week USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced an award for Maine Grains in Skowhegan to increase grain processing capacity. Previous USDA awards to area nonprofits include a Rural Business Development Grant (Main Street Skowhegan) and a Healthy Food Financing Initiative grant (Land and Furrow).
Stormwater solution highlights power of collaboration for China Lake
stormwater runoff before
Submitted by Jennifer Syer
A serious runoff problem that was dumping phosphorus-laden water into China Lake has been resolved, thanks to teamwork that saw private landowners, nonprofits, and government agencies joining forces with the goal of protecting the lake’s water quality.
The issue originated with a culvert that drained runoff under Lakeview Drive from 40 acres of woodland east of the road. In 2015, new owners of what would become The Cottages at China Lake installed an additional culvert to direct runoff from the roadside into a plunge pool near the shoreline. Over time, the pool filled with sediment and vegetation. “The water would rush straight into the lake, untreated and uncontrolled,” said John Perron, a Cottages owner and member of the property’s buildings and grounds committee.
stormwater runoff after
Recognizing the problem, Perron and Cottages’ association president Mike Stillman contacted Scott Pierz – then head of the China Region Lakes Alliance (CRLA), and former president of China Lake Association – who they knew had previously been involved in shoreline protection at the property. “It was really time to take up the task,” Pierz said.
He brought in CLA, which then reached out to the state Department of Environmental Protection and Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District for additional help.
“This was a highly collaborative effort,” said CLA President Stephen Greene. “Everyone had the lake’s best interest in mind.”
Eventually, Boyd Snowden, of Snowden Consulting Engineers, was brought into the fold to design a site plan, which was developed over a year’s worth of visits, planning and permit approvals. The final design included a plunge pool, catch basin and vegetated buffer to trap sediment and slow runoff before it reached the lake.
“We didn’t just stop at the basics,” said Snowden, who has been designing storm-water containment systems for more than 30 years. “We added a meadow buffer to provide the best treatment possible.”
Funding came from multiple sources. Maine DEP authorized KCSWCD to allocate $14,000 through a federal grant* aimed at reducing phosphorus in China Lake. CLA contributed $9,321, matched by the Cottages’ 20 owners, while CRLA provided $5,000.
Construction began in October 2024 after permits were secured. Over the course of a week, W.D. Chadwick Construction installed the multi-tiered system, which now filters the runoff, trapping sediment from running into the lake – and fueling algae growth and harming water quality. Fieldstone Gardens, of Vassalboro, supplied plants for the buffer area.
Pierz expressed confidence that the Cottages’ association will maintain the system and continue improving shoreline protections. Greene praised the project as a model for collaboration between private owners, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and contractors.
“This project shows how teamwork and a shared goal can solve complex problems,” Greene said. “The China Lake Association is proud to have been a part of a solution that will benefit the lake for decades to come.”
* Funding for this project, in part, was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The funding is administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with EPA. EPA does not endorse any commercial products or services mentioned.
Issue for January 2, 2025
Issue for January 2, 2025
Albion dairy farmer honored for 60th straight Christmas milking
The Noyes Family Dairy farm, in Albion, is a true family farm. Three generations live on one dead-end road with their family’s surname. Cornfields and barns that store equipment and house animals surround the milk parlor, which is a stone’s throw away from a farmhouse where generations of members from the Noyes Family have been born, lived, and died. Each Christmas Chuck Noyes’ four children and their kids await their grandfather’s return from the cowbarn. There are no days off in dairy farming. Daily the bovines must be fed, milked, and have their spaces cleaned…
Town News
Select board approves junkyard permits; names Lajoie public works chief
VASSALBORO – The Dec. 26 Vassalboro select board meeting began with a public hearing on five applications to renew junkyard licenses. Unusually, the hearing drew comments from the audience…
Conservation committee focuses on town parks
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Conservation Commission members devoted most of their Dec. 18 meeting to updates on two town parks, Monument Park, at the outlet of China Lake in East Vassalboro, and Eagle Park, on Outlet Stream, a short distance north…
Transfer station task force continues talks at Lombard Road facility
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Transfer Station Taskforce members met Dec. 12 to continue discussion of options for changes at the facility on Lombard Dam Road…
Concerns about proposed Pine Tree subdivision in Palermo
PALERMO — James Boyle, former Maine State House Representative, presented preliminary plans at the Palermo Planning Board November 13 meeting for a 27-acre subdivision on Hostile Valley Road (Tax Map R11, lot 27C) in a sparsely developed Sheepcot River watershed area in Palermo. The Pine Hill subdivision would include 15 buildable lots of varying sizes with each lot required to have separate wells and septic systems… by Jeanne Marquis
Thurston Park, emergency medical services select board topics
CHINA – At their Dec. 20 meeting, China select board members unanimously approved Jeanette Smith’s proposal to have the Thurston Park Committee she chairs reach out to the park’s southern neighbors about opening an access road from that end…
Seeking second access to Thurston Park main topic at committee meeting
CHINA – According to the minutes of the Dec. 19, 2024, meeting of China’s Thurston Park Committee, seeking a second access to the park from the south was a main topic of discussion…
Four Seasons of Giving: local event brings joy to families in need
CHINA — The China Four Seasons Club recently held its annual “Four Seasons of Trees” event. The event, held over three weekends in late November and early December, showcased more than 13 beautifully decorated trees with unique themes – including all four seasons, which inspired the event’s name – and over 23 gift baskets, all generously donated by local businesses and community members… by Sandra Isaac
LETTERS: Where is the town of Somerville heading?
from Joe LaMacchia (Somerville) — The township is floundering and there is no clear direction or leadership for Somerville residents. The captain was tossed overboard during a mutiny election. The executive officer resigned and the staff petty officers abandoned ship, save for one remaining in a lifeboat doing her best to keep the ship off the rocks awaiting new recruits…
LETTERS: Mainers at higher risk of social isolation
from André Chassé (AARP Maine) — In Maine, approximately 135,000 people 50 and older live alone and are at higher risk of social isolation and loneliness. If there is one thing the pandemic made clear, it is that personal connections are vital to our mental and physical well-being…
Name that film!
Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to The Maine Film Center, in Waterville: “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is January 9, 2025.
Local happenings
EVENTS: Waterville Area Soup Kitchen to hold fundraiser
WATERVILLE – The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen will be holding its first fundraiser on Thursday, March 20, at the Elks Club, on Industrial Street, in Waterville. The event is a tropical themed winter getaway. The doors will open at 5 p.m…
EVENTS: Norridgewock select board meetings rescheduled
NORRIDGEWOCK – Due to scheduling conflicts, the Norridgewock Select Board’s regular meetings for January 2025 will be Wednesday, January 8 and 22, 2025, 6 p.m., at the Norridgewock Town Office. The regular meeting schedule of the first and third Wednesdays of each month will resume in February. Meeting agenda are posted at the Town Office and online at www.norridgewock.gov…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Mother’s Circle in Vassalboro
VASSALBORO – Weekly on Mondays from December 16, 2024 to March 31, 2025, 2:30 p.m. 12 Priest Hill Rd., Vassalboro. Bottom floor of Maine Family Natural Health. FMI please contact Hattie : hattie.welch.ot@gmail.com… and many other local events!
Give Us Your Best Shot!
The best recent photos from our readers…
Obituaries
BELGRADE – Robert “Pete” Peter Pelletier, 70, passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Pete was born in Waterville on November 4, 1954, son to Lomer and Joyce (Palmer) Pelletier…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Clinton and Benton School (new)
CLINTON/BENTON HISTORY — This subseries on education is organized by the dates the central Kennebec Valley towns were incorporated, and Clinton, in 1795, was next after Fairfield, in 1788. Therefore the history of education in Clinton, on the east side of the Kennebec River, opposite the northern part of Fairfield, follows the December 2024 articles on Fairfield… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Fairfield high schools
FAIRFIELD HISTORY — This article continues the history of schooling in Fairfield with information on the town’s high schools. It begins with conflicting information about where the first high school classes were held… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Education in Fairfield
FAIRFIELD HISTORY — After multiple postponements, this article really is about the history of education – elementary education; high schools next week – in Fairfield, the town next upstream from Waterville on the west bank of the Kennebec River. Your writer thanks the Fairfield Historical Society for generously sharing material on the topic… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: William Mathews of Waterville
WATERVILLE HISTORY — As noted last week, this biographical sketch of Professor William Mathews, LL.D. (Doctor of Laws), is another follow-up to an earlier account, the Nov. 21 article on Waterville residents Jeremiah Chaplin and James Hobbs Hanson. Mathews was mentioned as a critic of Rev. Chaplin’s preaching… by Mary Grow
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | It’s a new year! Boy, that was a news flash. Anyway, we’ve turned the calendar to a new year, the holidays have passed, and we are now settling into the reality of at least three months of winter….
THE BEST VIEW
by Norma Best Boucher | 1987 – According to Shirley MacLaine, with crystals at each corner of my shower and with the fingertips of both of my hands touching in pyramidic fashion, if I chant three times, I will find an inner peace. Here goes…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | Many people don’t know it but diabetes is a leading cause of vision loss. Fortunately, early detection could save your vision. Unfortunately, most people with diabetes do not get a yearly comprehensive eye exam as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology…
EVENTS: Norridgewock select board meetings rescheduled
Due to scheduling conflicts, the Norridgewock Select Board’s regular meetings for January 2025 will be Wednesday, January 8 and 22, 2025, 6 p.m., at the Norridgewock Town Office. The regular meeting schedule of the first and third Wednesdays of each month will resume in February. Meeting agenda are posted at the Town Office and online at www.norridgewock.gov.
Four Seasons of Giving: Local event brings joy to families in need
On Monday, December 16, China Four Seasons Club President Tom Rumpf, left, presented the Town of China with a check for $1,400, proceeds from the Four Season of Trees event. Accepting the check was Sydney Laird, Deputy Clerk for the Town of China. (photo courtesy of Tom Rumpf)
by Sandra Isaac
The China Four Seasons Club recently held its annual “Four Seasons of Trees” event. The event, held over three weekends in late November and early December, showcased more than 13 beautifully decorated trees with unique themes – including all four seasons, which inspired the event’s name – and over 23 gift baskets, all generously donated by local businesses and community members. The community came out in full force, purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win these festive items. Winners were announced during a live Facebook event, adding an exciting twist to the proceedings.
What many people may not know is the remarkable impact this event had on the local community. Thanks to the overwhelming support and participation, the China Four Seasons Club raised enough funds to donate $1,400 to the Town of China’s Christmas Assistance Program. This program, managed by town employees, plays a vital role in brightening the holidays for local children whose families may be facing financial difficulties, ensuring that every child has something special to open during the holiday season.
The China Four Seasons Club extends heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to this year’s success. From those who donated trees and baskets to the volunteers who worked tirelessly to organize the event, and of course, to the community members who purchased raffle tickets – your support made a difference. These collective efforts will undoubtedly bring joy to local children and their families this holiday season.
PUBLIC NOTICES for Thursday, January 2, 2025
Notice of Public Hearing
A Public Hearing is scheduled during the Planning Board meeting January 14th at 6:30PM at the Town Office on a Proposed Retail Building at 363 Route 3 (Map 17 Lot 047-D) by Calito Development Group. You are hereby invited to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom (link posted in the Calendar of Events at chinamaine.org). Written comments may also be submitted by email to ceo@chinamaine.org or to Attn: CEO Town Office 571 Lakeview Drive China, ME 04358
PROBATE NOTICES
STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
COURT ST.,
SKOWHEGAN, ME
SOMERSET, ss
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
18-A MRSA sec. 3-801
The following Personal Representatives have been appointed in the Estates noted. The first publication date of this notice December 19, 2024. If you are a creditor of an Estate listed below, you must present your claim within four months of the first publication date of this Notice to Creditors or be forever barred.
You may present your claim by filing a written statement of your claim on a proper form with the Register of Probate of this Court or by delivering or mailing to the Personal Representative listed below at the address published by the Personal Representative’s name a written statement of the claim indicating the basis therefore, the name and address of the claimant and the amount claimed or in such other manner as the law may provide. See 18-C M.R.S. §3-804.
2024-331 – MATTHEW J. SITES, late of Athens, Maine deceased. Dawn M. Sites, 21 N. Independence Dr., Montross, Virginia 22520 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-374 – EVANGELINE L. RICHARDSON, late of Anson, Maine deceased. David A. Richardson, 11 Campbell Road, Anson, Maine 04911 and Donna L. Poulin, 41 Campbell Shore Road, Gray, Maine 04039 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.
This notice is especially directed to Dale Richardson, heir of EVANGELINE L. RICHARDSON, address unknown.
2024-376 – JEANETTE A. JACQUES, late of Bingham, Maine deceased. Robert A. Jacques, P.O. Box 136, Bingham, Maine 04920 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-377 – RICHARD L. JAZOWSKI, late of Madison, Maine deceased. Linda L. Jazowski, 259 White School House Road, Madison, Maine 04950 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-378 – JAMES A. DOYLE, JR., late of Mercer, Maine deceased. Vivian M. Doyle, 310 Elm Street, Mercer, Maine 04957 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-380 – DOUGLAS C. ANNETT, late of Skowhegan, Maine deceased. Linda M. Annett, P.O. Box 751, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-383 – JAMES E. WADE, late of Norridgewock, Maine deceased. Diana L. Wade, P.O. Box 116, Norridgewock, Maine 04957 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-384 – BARBARA T. QUALEY, late of North Anson, Maine deceased. Christopher G. Qualey, 12 Winterberry St., South Portland, Maine 04106 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-385 – MARILYN D. GORMAN, late of New Portland, Maine deceased. Robert W. Gorman, 47 Edgemont Ave., Waterville, Maine 04901 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-386 – ELAINE C. BARRY, late of Fairfield, Maine deceased. Tammy Barry, 561 Daiquiri Place, Daytona Beach, Florida 32124 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-387 – THOMAS E. QUINT, late of Pittsfield, Maine deceased. Nancy A. Quint, 75 Beach St., South Portland, Maine 04106 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-389 – JOSEPH H. MANZO, late of Fairfield, Maine deceased. Kathleen E. Hill, 445 Ridge Road, Fairfield, Maine 04937 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-391 – BETTY J. CODY, late of Madison, Maine deceased. Bernadette M. Christen, 723 Ward Hill Road, Norridgewock, Maine 04957 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-392 – CORRILLA D. HASTINGS, late of Skowhegan, Maine deceased. John D. Hastings, 180 Harts Neck Road, St. George, Maine 04860 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-393 – BARBARA A. MCGOWAN, late of Skowhegan, Maine deceased. Karyn L. Sylvain, 144 Beech Hill Rd., Norridgewock, Maine 04957 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-395 – LAWRENCE A. TILTON, JR., late of Skowhegan, Maine deceased. Suzanne C. Tilton, 102 Oak Pond Road, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-398 – NORMAN F. VOELKEL, late of North Anson, Maine deceased. Lady Patricia Voelkel, 412 River Road, North Anson, Maine 04958 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-399 – DIANNE MCCOLLOR, late of Madison, Maine deceased. Christopher S. McCollor, 152 Raintree Blvd. Niceville, Florida 32578 appointed Personal Representative.
2024-400 – JULI E. HUNT, late of New Portland, Maine deceased. Silver W. Hunt, 42 Old Dead River Road, Stratton, Maine 04982 appointed Personal Representative.
TO BE PUBLISHED December 19, 2024 & January 2, 2025
Dated: December 19, 2024
/s/Victoria M. Hatch,
Register of Probate
(1/2)
STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
41 COURT ST.
SOMERSET, ss
SKOWHEGAN, ME
PROBATE NOTICES
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE ESTATES LISTED BELOW
Notice is hereby given by the respective petitioners that they have filed petitions for appointment of personal representatives in the following estates or change of name. These matters will be heard at 10 a.m. or as soon thereafter as they may be on January 8, 2025. The requested appointments or name changes may be made on or after the hearing date if no sufficient objection be heard. This notice complies with the requirements of 18-C MRSA §3-403 and Probate Rule 4.
2024-390 – DEBORAH ANN MOODY. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Deborah A. Moody, 1284 East Ridge Road, Cornville, Maine 04976 requesting name to be changed to Debra Ann Moody for reasons set forth therein.
Dated: December 19, 2024
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(1/2)
THE BEST VIEW: THE Birthday
by Norma Best Boucher
1987 – According to Shirley MacLaine, with crystals at each corner of my shower and with the fingertips of both of my hands touching in pyramidic fashion, if I chant three times, I will find an inner peace. Here goes:
“My fortieth birthday will not be a traumatic experience.”
“My fortieth birthday will not be a traumatic experience.”
“My fortieth birthday will not be a traumatic experience.”
Nothing personal, Shirl, but I’m sure you’ll understand if I don’t put all of my eggs into one soap dish.
In reflection I remember that whenever my friends lamented, “I hit the big Four-0 today,” I had expressed sympathy and encouragement but never any real understanding.
After all, I had never prayed for perpetual youth, only to look like perpetual youth. Was my dream going to shatter just as everyone else’s had?
I decided to take the challenge, so on my 39th birthday I began to take stock.
I had begun to notice a slight giggle when I walked past the bathroom scales. When I actually got up enough nerve to weight myself, I heard down right hysterical laughter. Scratch one.
I had noticed crow’s feet near the corner of my eyes, but I decided years ago that if I didn’t smile, these lines wouldn’t show. Upon closer inspection I noticed that these few crow’s feet now map out a coast to coast round trip voyage across the United States. This includes alternate routes using federal, state, and local highways. Scratch two.
I had begun innocently enough pulling out my gray hairs as they appeared. On this day, using my multi-lighted cosmetic mirror, I had a decision to make: remain gray or continue pulling out the gray hair and go bald. Scratch three.
That was the last straw or should I say the last gray hair. This was no longer a challenge – this was WAR.
I could either lie down and be 40, or I could fight and be 39 one more time.
There was no stopping me. I became a driven woman. I lost 13 pounds. I bought a new wardrobe. I permed my hair. I got contact lenses. I had color analysis, and I pierced my ears.
In the grocery store I saw two people who had been my neighbors for nine years. Neither one of them recognized me. One woman even suggested that I change my name.
“Why not?” she said. “You’ve changed everything else.”
I gave that idea considerable thought but decided to save that decision and possible cosmetic surgery for birthday Five-0.
I became desperate. I began scratching out my birth date on calendars. I jogged. I did aerobics. I took vitamins. Nothing worked.
Time ravaged on, and so did I.
Inevitably, I have accepted the fact that the big Four-0 will arrive no matter what I do.
This is mind over body or whatever is left of it.
In these last days I realize that my major battle will be on the morning of my birthday.
My strategy is set. This will be my last hurrah. Here goes:
I will chant in my crystalized shower and meditate facing my “I’d rather be 40 than pregnant” poster taped to the inside of the bathroom door.
When no one is looking, I’ll remove half of the light bulbs from my cosmetic mirror, and I’ll apply my makeup before I put in my contact lenses.
One major question remains, Shirley, “What if even all of this should fail?”
Just in case, I have one more alternate plan.
With shoulders back and head held high, I’ll toss back my hair and say, “Dye it.”