Issue for September 5, 2024

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Issue for September 5, 2024

Celebrating 36 years of local news

Window Dressers create affordable window inserts

Our nights becoming chilly is a reminder to begin preparing for winter. One of the first places to focus on is your windows. While replacement energy efficient windows might not fit into your budget, insulating window inserts are affordable and assembling them with others can be enjoyable…. by Roberta Barnes

Town News

Vassalboro stanchions a state experiment

VASSALBORO – Until Nov. 1, East Vassalboro Village will be the site of an experiment aimed at slowing traffic. Aware that it could also make roads impassable for large farm equipment, town officials have provided what they hope will be a remedy…

Lengthy discussion on police presence in town

WINDSOR – One of the major topics at the August 13 meeting of the Windsor Select Board was the presence, or lack thereof, of state police in town…

LETTERS: Let’s send Mike Ray to the Maine House

from Bart Carhart (Lincolnville)– With the summer vacation season coming to a close and schools about to start, voters will begin to focus on the November 5th general election…

LETTERS: Urge support of Brown

from Evelyn deFrees & Brad LaRoche (Searsmont) – We urge residents of Waldo County to support Elise Brown for County Commissioner in November. We have known Elise for many years, counting her as a friend as we all raised our children sharing hand-me-downs, garden produce and school information…

Vassalboro school supplies drive another success

VASSALBORO – The 6th annual School Supplies Drive By Drop Off, held on August 24, to support the children who attend the Vassalboro Community School, was another huge success…

LCHA’s preservation party to celebrate local heritage

DRESDEN – Lincoln County can be justly proud of the people who have contributed to the rich and colorful history of this region. Evidence of this pride can be found in local historical societies like Lincoln County Historical Association (LCHA), whose members are passionate about maintaining important buildings and educating the public about our unique heritage…

National Night Out Festival draws large turnout to South End

WATERVILLE – On August 6, 2024, The South End Neighborhood Association (SENA) held its 18th Annual South End National Night Out Festival…

Whatever happened to Linda, Gloria, George or Peter?

WATERVILLE – Olivia and Liam are once again America’s most popular baby names, with 2023 being the fifth consecutive year that parents have chosen the monikers for their little ones. Also for the fifth consecutive year, Noah took the second slot for boys, and Emma for girls…

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: “Be the ball, Danny.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is September 5, 2024.

Webber’s Pond comic

Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by a local central Maine resident (click on the thumbnail to enlarge)…

Palermo Consolidated School receives American Heart Association grant for health resources

PALERMO — For the second year in a row, the American Heart Association’s school-based youth programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, has awarded Palermo Consolidated School a grant to support health resources…

Chelsea student earns degree from Cedarville Univ.

CHELSEA — Rebecca Riley, from Chelsea, earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Cedarville University, in Cedarville, Ohio.

Jessica Fisher named to Hartwick College’s dean’s list

CHINA — Jessica Fisher, of China, was named to Hartwick College’s Spring 2024 dean’s list, in Oneonta, New York. Fisher, is pursuing a major in psychology and sociology, with a minor in social work.

Samantha Barrett set to enter Kutztown University

OAKLAND — Samantha Barret, of Oakland, will enter Kutztown University, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in the fall as the newest member of the Golden Bear family. The fall semester began Monday, August 26, 2024.

Local happenings

EVENTS: Vassalboro Days: Weekend Event Happenings

VASSALBORO – Here’s an up-to-date schedule of events for Vassalboro Days celebrations!…

EVENTS: Vassalboro Days Sunday at the Methodist Church

VASSALBORO – The Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC) is holding a special worship service during Vassalboro Days, on Sunday, September 8, at 10 a.m. when the history of their church will be shared…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Public supper in Freedom

FREEDOM – There will be a public supper on Saturday, September 7, from 4:30 – 6 p.m., at the Freedom Congregational Church. The menu includes ham, mashed potato, gravy, baked beans, vegetable, dinner rolls, punch, coffee and assorted homemade desserts… and many other local events!

Obituaries

SOUTH CHINA – John Clifford Gardner, 77, of South China, peacefully passed away on Thursday, August 29, 2024. He was born in Rockland, to Clifford and Blanche Gardner…

Celebrating Maine history

Click here for all of our recent stories about the local history of Maine!

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Early Sidney Settlers

SIDNEY HISTORY — Researching former Sidney residents on line, your writer has repeatedly come across a colorful small book entitled Early Sidney, by Chloe B., with a photo of the historic Levi Powers house on the front… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Lovejoys & Marshes

SIDNEY HISTORY — Previous articles in this series have mentioned two other early Sidney families who intermarried with Bacons and Faughts, the Lovejoys and Marshes. This article will provide more information about both… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Sidney early settlers: the Faught family

SIDNEY HISTORY — The Faughts were another early Sidney family. The first Faught your writer came across was Marlborough Packard Faught, a name that sounded refreshingly unusual; but she soon found that the Faughts, like the Bacons, enjoyed repeating more common names – Frederick, Jacob, Samuel – through generations… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley – Bacon families: Sidney early settlers

SIDNEY HISTORY — Among early settlers in Sidney against whose lives your writer brushed while trying unsuccessfully to learn why someone chose to name the town after a long-dead Englishman were the Bacon, Faught, Lovejoy, Marsh and Snow families… by Mary Grow

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, September 12, 2024

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: Tracie Kelley, Palmyra

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | Recently, at camp, a friend showed me photos of a mushroom – an unusual mushroom – she had seen on the grounds. The mushroom had a blue hue and was seen in a wet area. So, it was research time…

THE BEST VIEW

by Norma Best Boucher | “Shhh! Can you keep a secret?” I look first to my left and then to my right. “Well, can you?” Here goes. I read other people’s mail. That’s right. I read other people’s mail…

SMALL SPACE GARDENING

by Melinda Myers | No matter where you garden there never seems to be enough time to grow and enjoy all your favorite vegetables. Start preparing now to extend your growing season and continue enjoying garden fresh vegetables even after the first frost…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Bizet’s opera Carmen was considered one worthy of meticulous study for aspiring conductors by the perfectionist Maestro George Szell (1897-1970) who held dictatorial Music Directorship of the Cleve­land Or­chestra from 1946 until his death from bone cancer…

VETERANS CORNER

by Gary Kennedy | There are approximately 18.5 million veterans and only six percent have received V.A. Disability benefits. There are millions of benefits waiting to be spoken for. Every week that I write this column I should be heading for a conclusion but suredly such is not the case. Just this week I met three veterans who didn’t know the true story behind the existence of the Veterans Administration…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

HEALTH | For more than half of her life, 43-year-old Megan Bettor dealt with bouts of excruciating low back pain. She doesn’t remember a specific accident or injury that caused the initial pain – all she knows is that it was a constant part of her life…

LETTERS: Urge support of Brown

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To the editor:

We urge residents of Waldo County to support Elise Brown for County Commissioner in November. We have known Elise for many years, counting her as a friend as we all raised our children sharing hand-me-downs, garden produce and school information.

We admire her experience as a first responder in the local community, an organizational administrator helping Maine’s girls and women, an innovator who co-founded business focused on energy efficiency, a hard-working farmer and all-around great
neighbor.

Elise’s clear communication style helps break down complexities for problem-solving. Her planning skills, collaborative style, and positive approach will be invaluable assets for this post. We’ll be lucky to have her at the County level, helping our towns work together on current needs and future challenges to benefit everyone. All this and she has a great sense of humor too!

Join us in voting for Elise for County Commissioner! Thank you.

Evelyn deFrees & Brad LaRoche
Searsmont

REVIEW POTPOURRI – Conductor: George Szell

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

George Szell

George Szell

Bizet’s opera Carmen was considered one worthy of meticulous study for aspiring conductors by the perfectionist Maestro George Szell (1897-1970) who held dictatorial Music Directorship of the Cleve­land Or­chestra from 1946 until his death from bone cancer.

I own a shelf of different sets of Carmen as sung by such grand prima donnas as Rise Stevens, Maria Callas, Marilyn Horne, Tatiana Troyanos and Angela Gheorghiu, etc. When Miss Horne did Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera, her co-star James McCracken as Don Jose wanted to use a real dagger instead of a rubber one for authenticity and was the kind of singer/actor who’d become totally consumed in the character.

She stated that no way in H___ was she getting on stage with him.

Another set for recent listening is an early ‘60s London Records album of three LPs and a libretto conducted by the late Thomas Schippers with Geneva’s Suisse Romande Orchestra, soprano Regina Resnik in the title role, tenor Mario del Monaco as Don Jose, soprano Joan Sutherland as Micaela and baritone Tom Krause as the bullfighter Escamillo, his own Toreador Song frequently used in TV commercials. It is a very good recording.

The arguably most famous Aria is Carmen’s own Habanera, which soprano Emma Calve (1858-1935) recorded on an acoustic 12-inch one-sided Victor Red Seal shellac and one well worth hearing via YouTube, despite the primitive fidelity of 120 years ago because of Calve’s own hypnotically sultry delivery and beautiful voice. Resnik was similarly splendid, as was Rise Stevens, Callas, Horne, Troyanos and others previously mentioned.

In the story, Carmen is employed in a Spanish cigar factory and deliberately attracts a number of men with her flirtatious ways, two of them being Don Jose with his own deadly posessive jealousy and Escamillo. Meanwhile, a wonderfully loyal girlfriend of Don Jose from back home, Micaela, arrives to plead with Don Jose to renew their commitment but he is too idiotically smitten with Carmen. Two exquisite Arias in the opera are sung by Micaela.

A popular one from Don Jose is the Flower Song.

An addendum – because of George Szell’s sarcastic personality, he was often referred to as his own worst enemy, to which former Met Opera manager Rudolf Bing retorted, “Not while I’m alive.”

While on the subject of Szell, he recorded Gustav Mahler’s 4th Symphony in 1964 with the Cleveland Orchestra . I have worn out a few copies of the record since purchasing the first one during the summer of 1966. It is a record I have played for several friends over the decades who were not fans of classical music previously. The experience had them changing their minds.

The Symphony is that beautiful and has been recorded with distinction a number of times but Szell, who was very selective with Mahler’s music had a high regard for the 4th Symphony and gave of himself totally to realizing every expressive detail. The 4th Symphony movement is sung by a soprano and ends on a quiet heavenly note. Szell had the phenomenal Judith Raskin as his soloist. It can also be heard via YouTube.

THE BEST VIEW: Shhh! Can you keep a secret?

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by Norma Best Boucher

“Shhh! Can you keep a secret?”

I look first to my left and then to my right.

“Well, can you?”

Here goes. I read other people’s mail.

That’s right. I read other people’s mail.

Okay, before you get all bent out of shape, I don’t steal and steam open envelopes as snoopy neighbors do in the old-time movies. I read published books of famous writers’ letters edited by biographers and relatives.

These letters are very personal, and the authors most likely never expected their personal thoughts to be revealed to the world. That is probably why most of these publications appear after the death of the famous people.

I first got hooked on reading famous authors’ mail when a friend of mine gave me a book called “The Letters of Ernest Hemingway 1907—1922.” This Volume One of letters begins with his short letters with misspellings to his Papa when Hemingway was eight years old to his letters upon his arrival in Paris when he was age 23.

I had decided to read just a few letters each day, but as this young man experienced life and matured into the man who became the famous Ernest Hemingway, I just read right through to the end. Footnotes by the editor fill in the information educating the reader as to whom the letters are addressed and the relationships between them and Hemingway.

Knowing the ultimate famous life and death of Hemingway allows the letter reader to recognize the “dramatic foreshadowing” of Hemingway’s experiences.

Recently, I have been reading the letters of the author John le Carre’ (real name David Cornwell) “A Private Spy,” edited by his son Tim Cornwell.

Whether someone enjoys the le Carre’ books, which are mostly about spies and espionage, is entirely irrelevant. These letters show the real thoughts and emotions of this man with his wives, his lovers, his family, his friends, his enemies and with the other famous writers and actors who are involved in his many successes and failures.

Again, knowing about this author’s books and his death lets me enjoy reading the letter writer’s intimate thoughts.

I am only 300 pages into this 600 plus page tome, and I haven’t even gotten into his own life as an MI5 and MI6 British spy. Call me crazy, but this is a page turner for me.

I think I know why I enjoy reading letters. I was a letter writer in the day of letter writing. When I was of upper elementary and junior high school age, I had pen pals. I had a subscription to a magazine called “American Girl.” This magazine was not affiliated with the modern “American Girl” magazine and dolls.

Girls wrote short letters to the editor, and other girls could respond and become pen pals. I got a couple of pen pals that way, but the pen pal I remember most was a missionary’s daughter. We corresponded for a couple of years. She was a British girl who lived in India.

Back then mail to and from different countries took a very long time, so there weren’t that many letters exchanged. We wrote mostly about school and after school activities. Still, it was a thrill to receive a letter from India. I wonder what the postman thought when he saw those foreign air mail stamps?

My favorite pen pal was a girl who went to summer camp with me. Our letters were not really very interesting, but we wrote backwards and had to put the letters up to a mirror in order to read them. We wrote every week just because of the novelty of writing backwards.

One of my girlfriends was a pen pal to Annette Funicello, one of Disney’s first Mouseketeers. I wanted to be a pen pal with Annette, also, but I figured Annette wouldn’t want to be a pen pal to two people living in Waterville, Maine, so I didn’t try.

I understand now that those letters were probably fan letters sent to all, and I could have been another pen pal after all.

Of course, with letter writing, one had to have the prettiest stationery with matching envelopes. For 25 cents I bought a note pad or a box of uniquely designed writing paper. I also received stationery for birthdays and Christmases and even bought some out of my allowance, which was 50 cents per week.

Then there were the sealing wax sticks in multiple color choices. I melted the wax on the “V” of the envelope closure and pushed down a sealing wax seal stamp to ensure that no one but the intended recipient would read the letter.

I had different designs of stamps, but my favorite was my initial “N.” Somehow this stamp made the letter more personal AND mysterious, at least to my young mind.

I am sure that the authors whose published books of letters I read now did not use pretty stationery and sealing wax stamps.

I am also very sure that no one has saved any of my letters to be published in a 600-page tome after my death for all to read.

In 1965 during the first week in my first college journalism class, the professor told us never to write anything down on paper for anyone to read that we did not want to haunt us later in life.

I believed him.

He also told us in that class that in the future we would be reading our newspapers not on paper but through the use of a machine.

I DID NOT believe that.

Yet, look at me now – I read The Town Line newspaper on my home computer.

Palermo Consolidated School receives American Heart Association grant for health resources

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For the second year in a row, the American Heart Association’s school-based youth programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, has awarded Palermo Consolidated School a grant to support health resources. This year, the school received $2,199 for a Hands-on Healthy Kitchen/Cooking Mobile Unit. Over the past two years, the Association has provided the school with $4,699 in grants to help enrich the lives of their students and staff. The annual grant program supports schools by funding resources to extend school wellness programs.

“PE/health teacher Lisa Sturgis and the whole Palermo School community came out for a really fun after-school Kids Heart Challenge event with students, staff, and parents to raise awareness of heart disease, learn Hands-Only CPR, and have a good time. The fact they were awarded an American Heart Association grant was icing on the cake,” said Gary Urey, the Association’s Director of School Engagement, Maine.

The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, is helping educators make whole-body wellness a priority by bringing more resources to school campuses. Grant recipients are now able to expand their schools’ wellness offerings with additions such as physical activity equipment, water bottle filling stations and educator training opportunities on their campuses. The application process was open to all schools who participated in the school-based programs in the 2023-2024 school year.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, only 20 percent of kids get enough activity to meet physical activity recommendations.

Both the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are rooted in proven science, which has shown that kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood.

In addition to physical health, the benefits of physical activity for children include improved grades, school attendance and classroom behavior. Physical activity can also help kids feel better, improve mental health, build self-esteem and decrease and prevent conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Funds raised by Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge participants support the American Heart Association’s scientific research and outreach programs, paving the way for improved health outcomes for healthier communities.

Schools are encouraged to register now for 2024-2025 school year. The program provides grant funding twice a year, mid-school year and year end, to provide resources in real time to students. The application for the next round of grants is December 15th if the school completes the Kids Heart Challenge by December. If not, they can apply for the second round of grants by May 31st if their school is participating in the program during the second half of the school year.

To learn more about the American Heart Association’s kid’s initiatives, or to make a donation, please visit www.heart.org/kids. To find out how to get your school involved, contact Gary Urey, the Association’s School Engagement Director for Maine, at Gary.Urey@heart.org.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Discover a Minimally Invasive Procedure Transforming the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain

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An innovative procedure can help people with back pain get back to feeling better.

(NAPSI)—For more than half of her life, 43-year-old Megan Bettor dealt with bouts of excruciating low back pain. She doesn’t remember a specific accident or injury that caused the initial pain – all she knows is that it was a constant part of her life.

Megan knew something had to change and began exploring surgical options, including a disc replacement, an invasive and expensive treatment that may or may not address her pain. That’s when she met Ramana Naidu, M.D., director of pain management, MarinHealth Medical Center and interventional pain physician and anesthesiologist.

This type of pain is a relatively new discovery and caused by vertebral endplates that get damaged due to age, wear, tear and everyday living. While approximately 5.3 million people in the U.S. are living with vertebrogenic pain, this condition did not have an official diagnosis until recently, let alone a treatment.

Dr. Naidu thought Megan would be an ideal candidate for a procedure utilizing Boston Scientific’s Intracept™ Intraosseous Nerve Ablation System, which provides a minimally invasive, same-day treatment specifically designed to address vertebrogenic pain.

The Intracept system targets a specific nerve in the lower back – the basivertebral nerve or BVN – that transmits pain signals from the damaged vertebral endplates to the brain. The Intracept system uses a radiofrequency probe to heat the BVN and prevent it from sending these signals. The procedure is proven to be safe and effective, with patients reporting significant pain and functional improvements at five years after a single treatment.

“Historically, the disc was presumed to be the source of most chronic low back pain, but recent research demonstrates that the vertebral endplates play a significant role in causing pain,” said Ray Baker, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer, Neuromodulation, Boston Scientific. “By targeting the BVN, patients can achieve durable relief through a minimally invasive procedure.”

After receiving insurance approval, Megan underwent her procedure with the Intracept system in November 2023. Her pain relief was immediate and, as time went on, Megan ramped up her physical activities without the accompanying low back pain.

If you have suffered from chronic low back pain for at least six months and find it gets worse with physical activity, you may have vertebrogenic pain.

Physicians across the U.S. are trained to make this specific diagnosis and to determine if treating your low back pain with the Intracept system may be an option for you. You can also use the Intracept Physician Finder to locate a physician near you to make an appointment and learn more about this diagnosis and proven treatment.

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

PUBLIC NOTICES for Thursday, September 5, 2024

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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 August 29, 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 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 his 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.A. §3-80.

2023-290 – Estate of JOAMY I. ROLDAN, late of Fairfield, Maine deceased. Amy Singh, 34 Burns Street, Fairfield, Maine 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-181 – Estate of LISA W. GULLIFER, late of Canaan, Maine deceased. Edward A. Archer, 49 Bush Rd., Canaan, Maine 04924 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-191 – Estate of CONSTANCE J. DORE, late of Skowhegan, Maine deceased. Jennifer L. Dionne, 96 Blue Heron Lane, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative

2024-229 – Estate of BIRDENA E. PADHAM, late of Madison, Maine deceased. Ellen Levay, 378 Ward Hill Rd., Madison, Maine 04950 and Jane Ouderkirk, PO Box 101, Solon, Maine 04979 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2024-230 – Estate of RICHARD STEWART EATON, late of Fairfield, Maine deceased. Tyrone Stewart Eaton, 693 Webber Hill Rd., Kennebunk, Maine 04043 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-231 – Estate of VERNA G. PARLIN, late of Mercer, Maine deceased. Ricky Parlin, 1348 Beech Hill Rd., Mercer, Maine 04957, Terry Parlin, 19 Cottle Rd., Oakland, Maine 04963 and Debra Welch, 1102 Beech Hill Rd., Mercer, Maine 04957 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2024-233 – Estate of JANET RAISTRICK, late of Canaan, Maine deceased. Colleen Cyr, PO Box 471, North Anson, Maine 04958 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-238 – Estate of JOSEPH D. PAKULSKI, late of Anson, Maine deceased. David A. Pakulski, 432 Beech Hill Road, Norridgewock, Maine 04957 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-239 – Estate of RAYMOND PANAGGIO, late of Skowhegan, Maine deceased. Carole Tuttle, 435 Canaan Road, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-241 – Estate of DEREK OLIVER, late of Anson, Maine deceased. Gary J. Lancaster, 169 Oak Pond Road, Skowhegan, Maine 04976 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-243 – Estate of MARCELLE M. TAYLOR, late of Pittsfield, Maine deceased. Jillianne Valeriani, 188 Center Street, Gary, Maine 04039 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-245 – Estate of CAROL R. LEONARD, late of Skowhegan, Maine deceased. Elizabeth Doty and Mark Doty, 1236 East Madison Rd., Madison, Maine 04950 named Co-Personal Representatives.

2024-246 – Estate of EARLINE G. MCGOFF, late of Fairfield (Shawmut), Maine deceased. Julie Ann Bourgoin, 82 Hanscom Rd., Benton, Maine 04901 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-247 – Estate of TERRY M. LIBBY, late of Madison, Maine deceased. Scott T. Libby, PO Box 201, Solon, Maine 04979 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-248 – Estate of SANDRA L. MOORE, late of Madison, Maine deceased. Thomas A. Moore Sr., 371 River Road, Madison, Maine 04950 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-249 – Estate of HERBERT STERBENZ, late of Rockwood, Maine deceased. Lanier A. Sterbenz, 20 Hampton Ct., Middletown, NY 10941 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-254 – Estate of MARY M. MCLEAN, late of Pittsfield, Maine deceased. Paige Corning, PO Box 622, North Berwick, Maine 03906 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-256 – Estate of MARGARET M. DAIGLE, late of Madison, Maine deceased. Stephanie LeBlanc, 249 Preble Ave., Madison, Maine 04950 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-257 – Estate of MYLON PAUL LAKE, late of Hartland, Maine deceased. Loretta Morse, 272 Wellington Road, Harmony, Maine 04942 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-259 – Estate of KENNEDY JOHNAE HUMPHREY, late of Bingham, Maine deceased. Michelle Lyn Humphrey, 3553 Middle Road, Sidney, Maine 04330 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-262 – Estate of JUDITH ANN TRACY, late of Mercer, Maine deceased. Rebecca L. M. Nelson, 1205 Beech Hill Rd., Mercer, Maine 04957 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-263 – Estate of ROBIN R. KURRO, late of Palmyra, Maine deceased. Eian A. Kurro, 5172 Velasko Road., Syracuse, NY 13215 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-265 – Estate of EARLE H. COOPER, late of Fairfield, Maine deceased. Kevin P. Cooper, 18 Curtis Farm Rd., Buxton, Maine 04093 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-266 – Estate of DOROTHY MARIE RICH, late of Madison, Maine deceased. Dwayn Rich, 38 Eames Hill Road, Madison, Maine 04950 and Bruce Rich, 1277 Lakewood Road, Madison, Maine 04950 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.

2024-270 – Estate of PAUL J. MUSHERO, late of Fairfield, Maine deceased. Dianne Mushero, 6 Oakland Road, Fairfield, Maine 04937 appointed Personal Representative.

2024-272 – Estate of RICHARD E. CARLSON, late of Rockwood, Maine deceased. Linnea J. Mello, PO Box 235, Rockwood, Maine 04478 appointed Personal Representative.

TO BE PUBLISHED August 29, 2024 & September 5, 2024.

Dated August 29, 2024
/s/Victoria M. Hatch,
Register of Probate
(9/5)

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 September 11, 2024. 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.

2024-234 – CRYSTAL MARIE O’MALLEY. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Crystal O’Malley, 2 Blackberry Lane, Fairfield, Maine 04937 requesting name to be changed to Lilith Hesperax Kritz for reasons set forth therein.

2024-244 – NATHAN LOWELL RICHARDSON. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Nathan Lowell Richardson, 37 High St., Apt. #3, Fairfield, Maine 04937 requesting name to be changed to Lyric Lowell Vaughn for reasons set forth therein.

2024-250 – JILLIAN A. MARTIN. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Jillian A. Martin, 180 Central St., Pittsfield, Maine 04967 requesting name to be changed to Juliette Angeline Martin for reasons set forth therein.

2024-251 – CAYDEN WILDER BRACKETT McMAFFERTY. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by David J. Brackett Sr., 25 Mechanic St., Norridgewock, Maine 04957 requesting name to be changed to Cayden Lee Bracket for reasons set forth therein.

2024-252 – SECHA MACMICHAEL RICH. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Secha MacMichael Rich, 18 Coburn Street, Skowhegan, Maine 04976, requesting name to be changed to Secha Alice MacMichael for reasons set forth therein.

Dated: August 29, 2024

/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(9/5)

EVENTS: Vassalboro Days 2024: Weekend Event Happenings

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Vassalboro Days : Weekend Event Happenings

Friday, September 6

8 am – 6 pm – Lemieux’s Orchard Apple picking, corn maze, sunflower fields, donuts & hayrides
10 am – 6 pm – Vassalboro Public Library bake & book sale
10 am – 5 pm – Old Mill Place Gift Shop
2 pm – 6 pm – Oak Grove Chapel & Caretaker’s Cottage tours
5 pm – 6 pm – Oak Grove Chapel Art Exhibit. Meet the Artist Jackson Gregory. Snacks & Cider, paintings for sale.
6 pm – 9 pm – The Mill 934 Main St. Outside dance & music by DJ Dustin from Root Notes Production

Saturday, September 7

8 am – 6 pm – Lemieux’s Orchard Apple picking, corn maze, sunflower fields, donuts & hayrides
9 am – 2 pm – Freddie’s 9th Annual Cruise-In TOwn Office at 682 Main St (rain date Sunday)
9 am – 3 pm – HIstorical Society Museum & Blacksmith Shop open
9 am – 3 pm – Vassalboro Recreation Field opening day of soccer games & field day
9 am – 5 pm – Old Mill Place Gift Shop
10 am – 11 am – Professor Smarty Pants show at the Vassalboro Grange. Pies for sale on Grange Porch
10 am – 4 pm – VPL Book & Bake Sale
10 am – 4 pm – Vassalboro Masonic Lodge Fried Chicken Baskets & burgers. You may order your baskets that day by calling 208-441-0378 from 9 am – 3:30 pm that day! Proceeds benefit Bikes for Books at The Mill.
1 pm – 3 pm – St. Bridget Center Cribbage
2 pm – 6 pm – Oak Grove Chapel & tours of the Caretaker’s Cottage. Art Exhibit by Artist Jackson Gregory. Paintings for sale.
3:15 pm – Double Dam Duck Cerby tickets $3 each or $10 for 5 tickets. Purchase at the Mill or by contacting Ray Breton at 207-877-2005

Sunday, September 8

8 am – 6 pm – Lemieux’s Orchard Apple picking, corn maze, sunflower fields, donuts & hayrides
9 am – 3 pm – The Mill Indoor Yard Sale
9 am – 3 pm – HIstorical Society Museum & Blacksmith Shop
9 am – 5 pm – The Mill indoor gift shop
10 am – 1 pm – Special Sunday worship service & Brunch at the Vassalboro methodist Church
11:30 am – 2 pm – Childrens activities & prizes with an Ice Cream ‘Sunday’ Sundae Bar
2 pm – 6 pm – Oak Grove Chapel & tours of the Caretaker’s Cottage. Art Exhibit by Artist Jackson Gregory. Paintings for sale.
3 pm – Oak Grove Chapel Jazz band preformance “All Together Now” trio playing with audience participation on bells & drums. Outdoor venue unless raining, then concert will be held inside the chapel.

Compiled by Gillian Lalime

SMALL SPACE GARDENING: Don’t let frost end your garden season

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by Melinda Myers

No matter where you garden there never seems to be enough time to grow and enjoy all your favorite vegetables. Start preparing now to extend your growing season and continue enjoying garden fresh vegetables even after the first frost.

Some vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts tolerate frost and even taste better after a slight chill. Most of these can tolerate temperatures as low as 24 to 28 ˚F.

Leeks are another vegetable that thrives in cooler temperature. Many tolerate temperatures as low as 20˚ F. Just mound some protective mulch around the plants and continue harvesting.

Take advantage of the chilly winter temperatures to store some of your carrots, turnips and parsnips in the ground for winter. Just cover the soil with straw or evergreen boughs after it lightly freezes. Dig as needed or during a winter thaw. You will enjoy their wonderfully sweet flavor.

Floating row covers protect plants from frost while allowing light, air and water through. (photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com)

Those first few fall frosts are often followed by a week or more of mild temperatures. Protecting frost sensitive plants from the first few fall frosts is one way of extending your season. Cover the plants with old bed sheets, mattress pads, or similar items in late afternoon and remove them as soon as the temperatures climb above freezing. Keep these handy and be ready to cover whenever frost is in the forecast.

Make it easier by using floating row covers. The spun material allows air, light and water through while protecting the plants from frost. You will find different weights of row covers that provide different levels of temperature protection. Just loosely cover the plants and anchor the edges with stones, boards or garden pins. You only need to remove the fabric to harvest ripe vegetables. Otherwise, it can stay in place until the vegetables stop producing or you decide it is time to end the season.

Create a high tunnel over garden beds filled with large plants. Use hoops and row cover to allow easy access for harvesting while protecting the plants.

Cloches have long been used to jump start the season or extend it beyond the first fall frost. You’ll find a variety of shapes and sizes available. Select one large enough to cover your plants and protect them as needed. Look for those with vents to prevent plants from overheating and those that allow water through while trapping in the heat.

Don’t let unripe tomatoes go to waste if you are unable or unwilling to protect them from frost. Harvest any that are starting to show color before the killing frost and finish ripening them indoors. The bottom of the tomato should be greenish white or starting to color up. Store your green tomatoes in a cool (60 to 65 degrees) location to extend their storage life.

Spread out the tomatoes on heavy paper or wrap them individually in newspaper so the fruit do not touch each other. They’ll ripen over the next few weeks. Speed up the process by moving a few tomatoes to a warm bright location a few days before they’re needed. Enjoy green tomatoes fried, in relish, salsa, pies or many other ways.

And when your season ends, begin planning for next year. Enlist some of these strategies to jump start the season for an earlier harvest.

Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including 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 radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: The discovery of a rare mushroom in central Maine

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Recently, at camp, a friend showed me photos of a mushroom – an unusual mushroom – she had seen on the grounds. The mushroom had a blue hue and was seen in a wet area. So, it was research time.

It turns out to be an Indigo milk cap, Lactarius indigo, a type of wild mushrooms that are found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. They typically grow in deciduous or mixed forests, and are often found in association with hardwood trees such as oak, beech, and maple.

Indigo Milk Cap is a widespread but uncommon, distinctively colored mushroom. In the summer and fall it can be found on the ground alone, scattered, or in groups, in oak and pine woodlands. It grows on the roots of hardwoods, including oak, ironwood, and blue beech; and pines.

These mushrooms look out of place in nature. Sure, mushrooms come in all kinds of different colors, but blue mushrooms are pretty rare.

Indigo milk cap mushrooms are a beautiful and intriguing species of fungi that grow in temperate forests around the world. While they are widely admired for their striking blue color and unique flavor, many people are unsure if they are safe to eat. In this article, we will explore the question, “are indigo milk cap mushrooms edible?”

First, it is important to note that not all mushrooms are safe to eat. Some species contain toxins that can cause serious illness or even death. It is therefore essential to correctly identify any mushroom before consuming it. Indigo milk cap mushrooms are generally considered safe to eat, but there are some important factors to consider.

One of the main concerns when it comes to eating indigo milk cap mushrooms is their latex, a milky substance that is exuded from the mushroom when it is cut or damaged. The latex of some Lactarius species can cause a burning sensation in the mouth or throat, while others can cause gastrointestinal distress. However, the latex of indigo milk cap mushrooms is generally considered non-toxic and is not known to cause any adverse effects.

Another factor to consider is the age and condition of the mushroom. Young, fresh mushrooms are generally safer to eat than older, more mature specimens. Look for mushrooms that are firm and have a fresh, fruity smell. Mushrooms that are slimy, discolored, or have a foul odor should be avoided.

It is also important to cook indigo milk cap mushrooms thoroughly before consuming them. Like many other mushrooms, they contain chitin, a tough, indigestible substance that can only be broken down by cooking. Raw or undercooked mushrooms can cause digestive upset or even be toxic.

When cooking indigo milk cap mushrooms, it is recommended to sauté or roast them to bring out their unique flavor. They pair well with garlic, butter, and herbs like thyme and rosemary. Some people also enjoy using them in soups and stews.

While indigo milk cap mushrooms are generally considered safe to eat, it is important to take precautions to ensure their safety. Here I will repeat what was written above. Make sure to correctly identify the mushroom, choose young and fresh specimens, and cook them thoroughly before consuming. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy the unique flavor and beauty of indigo milk cap mushrooms while staying safe and healthy.

When sliced with a knife, the mushroom stains an even darker blue. They’re truly one of the most interesting mushrooms I’ve ever seen, let alone eaten.

As an aside (and it’s funny I even have to say this) cooking or visually enjoying these mushrooms will be the only thing you do with them.

Just because a mushroom is blue, doesn’t mean it’s magic (hallucinogenic). The only trip you’ll be taking is probably to the grocery store to get some garlic and parsley.

The amount of truly blue foods in the world is pretty slim, and these have to rank among the most interesting.

Long story short, the key to finding indigo milkcaps is timing. These mushrooms need a lot of rain to produce a decent fruiting, so after you’ve found a place where one or have been spotted, make sure to go there after a good rainfall, and you might get lucky. Milkcap mushrooms love the same habitat.

When harvesting, the most important thing to look for is the stem. More often than not, milkcaps will probably have been visited by bugs before you get to them. This may mean you cut off and discard the stems, or you may just have to pass on them. Timing is tricky, and a day or two can be the difference between mushrooms for a meal and compost.

The color and shape of these mushrooms is really distinctive – -there really aren’t any other blue mushrooms that you could easily confuse with them. That being said, certain types of dangerous mushrooms can have slightly similar colors, but mostly they’re purple-ish-not nearly the same striking blue as indigo milkcaps.

The indigo can be cooked like any other mushroom, and you can substitute them just about anywhere mushrooms would be welcome. These are relatively clean since they grow in coniferous forests, but you’ll want to check for the occasional pine needle.

The big problem here is that bugs like these guys, and more than likely what you find may be past prime. You could make some stock out of the buggy ones, or dry them, but there’s many other nice mushrooms out there.

If you really want to eat these, make sure they are the right mushroom, and you can find recipes online.

As for me, I will stick with the ones you buy in the supermarket. You can’t make a mistake with those.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Catcher Doug Mirabelli formed a famous tandem with which Red Sox pitcher?

Answer
Tim Wakefield (whose primary pitch was the finicky knuckleball.)