ERIC’S TECH TALK: The new misinformation landscape

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by Eric W. Austin

In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, the problem of misinformation looms larger than ever before. The information landscape has changed drastically over recent decades, and many of us have not developed the tools to discern good information from bad quickly enough to keep pace with these changes. Let’s explore how things were in the past, how they have evolved, and what we can do to navigate this new terrain.

In the past, our information was filtered through a series of gatekeepers, such as teachers, librarians, publishers, newspapers, and the major news broadcasters. These gatekeepers, equipped with the skills to discern reliable information, ensured that the public received mostly accurate news and information. This system fostered a relatively unified understanding of the world, which was particularly valuable in times of crisis. However, it also meant that a small group decided which narratives were worthy of dissemination, limiting the diversity of perspectives.

The landscape began to shift in the late 1980s with the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine, a policy that required broadcasters to present contrasting viewpoints on controversial issues. Whether one views this as a positive change or not, its repeal allowed for the rise of ideologically driven news stations catering to specific segments of the population, leading to the ideological drift and “information bubbles” we see today.

The advent of the internet further transformed the information landscape. Traditional gatekeepers were bypassed, and information became ubiquitous and accessible to all. This democratization of information had its benefits, allowing for a greater diversity of viewpoints and giving voice to previously suppressed perspectives. However, it also meant that anyone, regardless of their expertise or intentions, could disseminate information widely. This led to a reliance on emotional responses and confirmation bias to determine the value of information rather than its truthfulness or societal benefit.

Social media platforms, particularly with the introduction of Facebook’s “Like” button in 2009, exacerbated the problem. These platforms reward content that generates engagement, often prioritizing sensational or misleading information. The lack of accountability for false or harmful content has allowed misinformation to flourish, with creators incentivized by the prospect of financial gain through ad revenue sharing on platforms like YouTube and Twitter (now X).

The influence of social media influencers has further complicated the landscape. Individuals can amass millions of followers based on content like pranks or lifestyle posts, and then leverage that influence to spread conspiracies or misinformation. This unchecked power can be exploited by political, criminal, or foreign entities for nefarious purposes.

New Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have made the situation even more perilous. AI can create photorealistic images, simulate voices, and generate realistic videos, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between real and fake content. This technological advancement, combined with the breakdown of traditional gatekeeping, has created a breeding ground for misinformation.

So, what can we do about it? First, we must recognize the need to develop new skills for discerning good information from bad. Many of us overestimate our ability to identify reliable information. To counter this, we should seek out media literacy classes, read books on detecting fake information, and educate ourselves about common biases and fallacies. Media literacy education should also be integrated into school curriculums to prepare future generations for this new information environment.

Here are a few practical tips to navigate the current landscape:

• Find Trusted Sources: Identify credible sources from across the political spectrum. Research them thoroughly and use them as a benchmark to evaluate new information.
• Be Aware of Bias: Acknowledge your own biases and be cautious of information that confirms your preconceptions.
• Verify Information: Be skeptical of information from unknown sources, especially screenshots of articles or headlines shared on social media.
• Research Your Sources Thoroughly: Check the credibility of new sources using tools like AllSides, MediaBiasFactCheck, and Ground News. Scan a source’s Wikipedia page and do a Google search to identify any red flags. Also, look for funding transparency from websites and news organizations.

Ultimately, we must remain vigilant and humble. Overconfidence in our ability to discern truth from falsehood makes us more susceptible to deception. By staying informed and critically evaluating the information we consume, we can better navigate this complex information landscape and make informed decisions, especially as we approach the crucial 2024 elections.

MY POINT OF VIEW: A day to honor all fathers

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by Gary Kennedy

In the year 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first Presidential Proclamation honoring Fathers Day and designated the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day. The Bible gives us an intimate view of the relationship between Christ, the Son, and God the father. (Yahweh, Jehovah) Jesus, by example, showed the relationship between himself and his father. We all know what that relationship was/is. The love and respect was like no other. However, this example gave us something to strive for. Although we could never achieve the love and respect that emanated from this relationship but the example was easy to see and to reach for. It’s an example that will live in our hearts forever.

Father’s Day goes back to the middle ages. It actually began as a Catholic holiday, which was a celebration of fatherhood. This celebration goes back to the Catholic churches celebration of the feast of St. Joseph. Father’s Day has been observed for hundreds of years but was not celebrated in the USA until the 20th century and that was most likely because of Mothers Day.

A young lady by the name of Anne Jarvis began lobbying in the very early 1900s. She did this primarily because she felt it was unfair to have a Mothers Day while overlooking ones father who was an important parent as well. He played an extremely important role in the family.

A point of interest would be that both of these holidays had their official celebrations in West Virginia. Mothers Day was first celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, and the first Father’s Day took place in Fairmont, West Virginia, on the 5th of July 1908. An important point brought father’s to the front by a mining disaster. The “Mononagh Mining Disaster”, which inspired Father’s Day, took the lives of 361 miners of which 250 were fathers. A woman named Grace Golden Clayton lost her father that day. It was taken very hard by this young lady. She spoke with her minister and asked if a special service could be held to honor all the fathers that lost their lives that day. Unfortunately, the first Father’s Day ceremony didn’t lead to the Father’s Day holiday. The reasons were the town was celebrating its Independence Day festival and the event was not advertised outside of the town. Communication in these times was very limited.

Three years later (1911), after the Fairmont tragedy, a Chicago social activist, Jane Addams sought recognition of Father’s Day but her attempt at this holiday failed as well.

The reality of Father’s Day eventually was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. Sonora Dodd’s father was William Jackson Smart who raised six children and also fought in the Civil War. He was a single parent.

In 1972 President Richard Nixon signed into law a permanent recognition of Father’s Day. From this point on Father’s Day was a holiday which showed reverence to the father of the family. He would now be held at an even level with his significant other. It became as it should be, love and respect for one’s father. According to Hallmark, the premier in card production, the Father’s Day card sending even reached 72 million. In 2020 card sales exceeded $17 billion. That is one super sales event.

Long story short is Father’s Day, as with Mother’s Day, is about love and respect for ones parents. Parents spend their lives working and saving to afford us a better life. It seems with the birth of a child the purpose in life is no longer that new gun, fishing pole, vacation, cottage on the lake and other fanciful things that dreams are made of. With the advent of a new addition to the home the entire outlook gets turned off and a new game plan begins.

The new game plan is centered on the baby. Now father will take on more work, become very frugal and buy that life insurance policy, begin the educational plan for the entity he knows will be a genius. This takes many years, and loving sacrifices. Before he knows it, time has left him with gray hair and a wrinkled face. However, he probably has accomplished his goal. The child has reaped the benefit of a father’s hard work and love. All this was done with a loving heart. So this is a father that deserved to be celebrated at least once a year, don’t you agree? Happy Father’s Day Dad and God bless you.

Sheepscot Lake Association newsletter (June 2024)

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PALERMO SUNRISE: Ashley Wills, of Palermo, photographed this sunrise over Sheepscot Lake, in Palermo.

by Maria O’Rourke, President
Sheepscot Lake Association

Happy Summer 2024! Sheepscot Lake is shimmering and calling out for many adventures ahead, and the Lake Association looks forward to enjoying the season to its fullest with you all, with the health of the lake in mind. This newsletter will update you on our programs and events planned for 2024!

Again this year, two Courtesy Boat Inspectors will be stationed at the Fish and Game boat launch each weekend throughout the summer. They will be inspecting boats and trailers for invasive species and plants. Inspectors are eager to show boaters how to conduct their own inspections for when inspectors are not on duty. Please remove all plants from boats, motors, fishing gear, and trailers to avoid invasives from entering the lake. Let’s keep our healthy lake free from these devastating species that have affected surrounding lakes in the area!

Our Annual 4th of July Boat Parade will be held on July 4, leaving the Fish and Game at 11 a.m. The rain date will be the same time on July 5. This year the Grand Marshall will be Eileen Kirby, of Bald Head Island, the former treasurer of SLA. Last year, despite the intermittent raindrops, 26 boats participated. Let’s aim for more this year, and better weather as well! If you’re enjoying the parade from the shore, please cheer us on and wave to us from your docks and decks!

This year we are happy to co-sponsor some live music on the lake on July 6 from 2 – 5 p.m. Stealing Sunday will be performing on shore for boaters to enjoy from the lake at Bald Head Island East across from Bear Island. Last year the band played in the cove of Iron Ore Point on Labor Day Weekend, and it was so well received that we wanted to help sponsor a repeat performance! So, mark your calendars and anchor your boats off Bald Head Island East for some music and fun on the lake! Thank you to the BHI sponsors (Gary & Tanya Parshley, Kristin and Jack Forbush, Anna and Eric Miller, and Carolyn and Erik Viens) for coordinating, and co-sponsoring the concert!

The annual Loon Count, sponsored by the Maine Audubon Society, will be held on July 20. It is conducted on the same day throughout the state and helps keep track of the health of the population. A healthy loon population is an indication of a healthy lake! Please safely discard any old lead-based fishing gear, keep used fishing line from falling into the lake, and remain a safe distance from both loons and their nests when boating. If you are interested in helping us count loons on July 20, please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com

Please mark your calendars for the annual general membership meeting on Thursday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m., location to be determined. Since it was such a success last year, the meeting will be a “dessert potluck” again, so please bring something sweet to share. Last year the speaker gave information about Palermo’s new mooring ordinance, which went into effect this spring, as well as background on the Harbormaster program. This year we will have yet another informative speaker, as well as information on our programs, samples of our merchandise to view, a chance to meet your neighbors and sample some yummy treats! Please join us and look to your email and our Facebook page for specifics closer to the date.

The Sheepscot Lake Association LakeSmart Team is looking for anyone interested in joining us. LakeSmart is an educational outreach program run by the Maine Lakes Society. The program helps waterfront property owners create “lake-friendly” spaces that are free from erosion. LakeSmart gives homeowners advice on how to avoid erosion, which over time does damage to the lake by increasing phosphorous levels. Learn how to combat erosion by scheduling an evaluation with us or join our team of evaluators. For more information, please email us at sheepscotlakeassoc@gmail.com

The online merchandise store has been doing brisk business, even during the off season! Please visit the site and view the various styles of short and long sleeved tees, sweatshirts, a tote bag and more. It’s never too late to order for the season, shipping is quite speedy! Wear your Sheepscot Lake garb with pride out there in the world.

You can keep up with all that SLA is up to by visiting our web page at sheepscotlakeassociation.com. Here you can find out about our programs, find the links to our merchandise store and our Facebook page, and renew your membership for 2024. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining us. We would not be able to provide what we do without your support! Our dues have not increased since our inception, which can’t be said of much else these days! Individual – $20, Family – $30, Patron – $50. Keep an eye out for a flyer the lake association will be sending out, with lots of great advice for protecting the health of Sheepscot lake.

OBITUARIES for Thursday, June 13, 2024

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JOSHUA T. NELSON

SIDNEY – Joshua Thomas Nelson, “Big Country”, 35, of Sidney, passed away on June 5, 2024, as a result of an automobile accident.

Josh was a hard­working, fun loving family guy. He spent most of his time working on building his business. He was the one you could count on! He had strong beliefs and enjoyed discussions whether you agreed with him or was on the opposing side. His love of ribbing and joking had no bounds. Josh had a tough exterior, but he was a selfless teddy bear.

Josh was a graduate of St. Augustine Catholic School, in Augusta, and graduated in 2008 from Messalonskee High School, in Oakland. Josh was a communicant of St. Augustine Church.

Joshua obtained his CDL license then began work for Pat Jackson and Dube Environmental before venturing out to establish his own successful business, JT Nelson Sewer & Drain LLC.

Josh “Big Country” enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, and riding his Harley. He took pride in his country, talking history and politics. He loved spending time in Jackman. Josh had a big heart, was always willing to help others and was fiercely loyal. His love of family was evident at Sunday dinners at his parents’ home in Sidney and he never missed a family event.

The world was a better place having had Josh in it, he will be missed greatly by all who knew him.

Joshua is survived by his parents, John and Donna Nelson; his sister, Renee Nelson; and niece, Arianna Dube; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Josh was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Jude and Dora Brunelle; great-grandmother, Ida Toussaint; as well as his paternal grandparents, great-grammy Doris Knight, and grandmother, Beatrice Sproul.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 1 p.m., at the Augusta Civic Center, North room.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, ME 04330. Condolences, stories and photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

ALISON MIZNER

WATERVILLE – Alison “Mickey” Mizner, 88, died peacefully at her home, in Waterville on January 14, 2024. The cause was cancer. Born on Staten Island, New York, in 1935, Mickey was the daughter of Henry Bamford Parkes, a historian, and Mollie Brown, a psychologist.

Mickey moved to Waterville with her husband, John Mizner, in 1963 after he got a job teaching English at Colby College, in Waterville, and they lived on West Court with their children Sarah and David. She had an older sister, Nancy, who she would stay close to throughout her life. When Mickey was three, the family moved to Yorktown on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Her parents pulled her out of public school and enrolled her in Walden, a private school on the Upper West Side. Most of the students there came from wealthy families, and Mickey felt out of step with her classmates.

Mickey lived at home while attending New York University and graduated as an English major. For her first salaried job, she worked as a case manager with the Bureau of Child Welfare. The experience was formative for Mickey, who would later write that the people she visited never had a real chance in life due to “racism, poverty, and bureaucratic intransigence.”

On a blind date, she met John, who was working toward a PhD in English at the University of Pennsylvania. They were an ideal match. John, having endured a traumatic childhood as a Holocaust refugee, needed a caretaker, a role that came naturally to Mickey. John, meanwhile, was the dependable, stabilizing force that Mickey needed.

John took a job at Colby, which was in a state neither he nor Mickey had visited. In 1967, shortly before Sarah was born, they moved to West Court. David was born two years later.

Mickey and John took enormous pleasure in food, travel, day trips to Great Pond and the coast, movies at Railroad Square Cinema, and the many friends they made through Colby.

In the late ‘70s, Mickey earned a degree in speech therapy at the University of Maine Orono and started working in the elementary schools, helping students overcome stutters and other impediments.

Mickey enjoyed watching her children play sports and might have even felt a bit of “Panther Pride” when David’s basketball team won the state championship in 1985. She and John loved to travel. They took many trips to Europe, first with the children then without. Perhaps their favorite destination was the French Riviera, where John’s father lived. The family often went to New York City, because both grandmothers lived there, and in later years John and Mickey continued to visit, eventually buying an apartment in the city with the idea they would spend time there after John retired.

But it was not to be. In 1998, shortly before his retirement, John was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Mickey immersed herself in the task of caring for him. The cancer progressed rapidly in the fall, and he died at home in December at the age of 66.

It was after John’s death that Mickey, trying to process her enormous grief, began to write, first about his sickness, then about her childhood and her family. Having read thousands of books in her life, Mickey discovered that she herself was a writer.

She read for hours every day, doted on her cats, did yoga, researched and supported animal welfare efforts, kept up on both local and national politics, volunteered in a senior companion program, and met friends for movies and meals.

Friends cared for Mickey throughout her seven-year sickness. They took her to medical appointments, brought her dinner, slept over, shopped for her, sat with her, and ultimately enabled her to die as she wanted, at home.

Mickey lived mindfully, taking little for granted. Even during chemo cycles, she took joy in her many pleasures, whether it was her daily phone call with Nancy, an episode of All Creatures Great and Small, or one of the mini-Butterfingers she kept in the fridge.

Mickey is survived by her children, Sarah, her husband Josh, David, his wife Miri; her grandchildren Anna, Sophie, Nate, Milo, Gideon and Izzy; her sister Nancy; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 22, at 10 a.m., at Lorimer Chapel, at Colby, with a luncheon reception to follow at 2 West Court, in Waterville.

Services

BARBARA W. PINKHAM

OAKLAND – A Celebration of LIfe will be held for Barbara Wilson Pinkham, at the Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church, School Street, Oakland, on Saturday June 15, 2024, at 11 a.m. Lunch will follow in the Social Hall.

Those who wish are invited to visit The Lexington Center Cemetery, in Lexington, and join a tour of the Lexington/Highland History House, a museum project initiated by Barbara Pinkham.

DAVID S, CAMPBELL

 

 

AUGUSTA – David S. Campbell passed away September 1, 2023.

A grave­­side service will be held on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at 11 a.m., at the Resthaven Cemetery, Route 32, Windsor. with military honors for his 20 years of service in the United States Air Force. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #2, the Elks Lodge #964, both in Augusta, a Mason and had nine years of voluntary service to the Maine State Credit Union.

There will be no gathering after the services. Please bring memories and stories to share.

RICHARD STAPLES

Please join the family as they come together to honor and celebrate the life of Richard Staples on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 3 p.m., at the home of Forrest Staples, 930 Colby Road, Palermo, Maine.

Unofficial results of contested races in China, Vassalboro, Fairfield & Waterville (June 2024)

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by Mary Grow

CHINA

At the polls on June 11, China voters approved all articles on the warrant for the annual town business meeting. A few more than 500 votes were cast; the majority of the articles received more than 350 affirmative votes.

The three least popular articles were the request for $1,184,525 for town administration, which was approved by a vote of 349 to 162; the revised sections of the Land Development Code incorporating new state laws, approved 346 to 145; and the much-discussed new Solar Energy Systems Ordinance, approved 331 to 163.

The revised Planning Board Ordinance got 396 favorable votes, with 106 voters opposed.

On a separate ballot, the RSU #18 school budget validation referendum, supporting the 2024-25 budget that RSU voters approved in May, received 328 votes, to 181 opposed (with seven blank ballots).

China’s local elections will be held Nov. 5.

VASSALBORO

Vassalboro voters voted on June 11 in local elections; on two proposed ordinance amendments; and to validate the 2024-25 school budget they had approved at their open town meeting on June 3. Town Clerk Cathy Coyne reported results as follows.

In uncontested local elections, Christopher French was re-elected to the select board with 289 votes, and Jolene Gamage was re-elected to the school board with 257 votes.

The revised solid waste ordinance was approved by a vote of 202 in favor to 88 opposed.

The revised Marijuana Business Ordinance was approved by a vote of 193 in favor to 100 opposed.

The school budget was re-approved by a vote of 217 yes to 79 no.

In the only contest on the three state primary ballots, between First District Republicans Andrew Piantidosi and Ronald Russell, Piantidosi got 104 votes and Russell 167 votes.

Coyne said 296 of Vassalboro’s more than 3,100 registered voters participated in the June 11 voting.

FAIRFIELD

by Roland D. Hallee

U.S. House of Representatives – Republican

Austin Theriualt, 189
Michael Soboleski, 96

Maine Senate District #16 – Republican

Scott Cyrway, 188
Michael D. Perkins, 115

M.S.A.D. #49 School Budget

Yes – 291
No – 199

M.S.A.D #49 School Board (2)

Maxwell N. Kenney, 370
Ryan T. Warren, 327

WATERVILLE

by Roland D. Hallee

Representative to Legislature District #64 – Democrat

Flavia M. DeBrito, 185
Andrew S. Dent, 92

Representative to Legislature District #65 – Democrat

Cassie L. Julia, 490
Bruce A.White, 280

State Senate District #16 – Republican

Scott W. Cyrway, 178
Michael D. Perkins, 136

Representative to Congress, Distcit #1 – Republican

Ronald C. Russell, 166
Andrew Piantidosi, 101

China town building issues dominate select board agenda

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by Mary Grow

The China select board’s June 3 meeting was mostly spent on building-related issues. Board members totally redesigned the plan for their long-discussed storage vault at the town office, and awarded bids for other town projects.

Over the past several years, board members, building committee chairman Sheldon Goodine and others have talked about adding a fireproof vault in a small building attached to the south side of the present office on Lakeview Drive.

At their March 25 meeting, board members awarded a bid to build the addition to the lower bidder, Ralph McNaughton Construction, of Corinna, for $267,489.20.

At the board’s May 6 meeting (see the May 23 issue of The Town Line, p. 3), Goodine and select board member Blane Casey proposed a different plan: convert part of the large garage behind the old town office into dry storage; move some of the papers from the back storage area in the town office building to the garage; and move miscellaneous items from the present fireproof storage area off the town office’s meeting room to make more space there.

Goodine prepared a draft plan for the garage before the May 20 board meeting, but wasn’t able to be there to discuss it.

At the June 3 meeting, he pointed out how much money the town is likely to save if this plan works. After inspecting the garage, board members voted to ask McNaughton and engineer Keith Whittaker, of B. R. Smith Associates, of Presque Isle, to make their own inspections.

Goodine was honored with a Spirit of America award on May 20, “for leadership in China’s Golden Agers senior program and service to the South China church, library, Masons and American Legion.” On June 3, Casey added Goodine’s 65 years with the South China Volunteer Fire Department.

Board members awarded the 2024 roadside mowing contract to Pierce Works, LLC, of China, for $10,300 for two mowings, plus $4,280 for roadside brush-cutting. Mileage is listed as 47.29 miles. Hapgood said the company has had the contract in the past and the work has been satisfactory.

Construction bids were awarded as follows.

— To install a PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) water testing and water filtering system at Frank Soares’ near the China transfer station, EverClean Water & Radon Technologies, of Fairfield, $4,940, after a discussion of options with company owner Shane Reitze. State testing found Soares’ water contaminated, presumably from leachate from the closed landfill just north of the transfer station.
— To reroof the barn near the town office, Williams Construction Company, of Brewer, for $16,630.
— To reroof part of the town office building, again William Construction Company, for $23,560.

Williams’ figures are to be negotiated, since the company has two projects on the same site.

In other business, Hapgood read two letters. One was from someone having a new home built in China, praising the town office staff. The other was a letter of introduction from China’s new summer economic development intern, Gracie Stagnito.

The next regular China select board meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, June 17.

EVENTS: Vassalboro select board to hold public hearing

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by Mary Grow

The Vassalboro select board will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 13, in the town office meeting room, to discuss allocating Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to the Vassalboro Sanitary District.

For more information, contact Town Manager Aaron Miller at 872-2826 or email amiller@vassalboro.net.

The hearing will be followed by a regular select board meeting.

VASSALBORO: Sidereal Farm approved for expansion with conditions

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by Mary Grow

After a long discussion at their June 4 meeting, Vassalboro select board members unanimously approved all but one piece of an expansion plan for Sidereal Farm Brewery, at 772 Cross Hill Road. They added two conditions to the approval, based on neighbors’ concerns.

Brewery owner James D’Angelo presented a nine-item plan. The ninth part, his plan to apply for a state restaurant license, is probably not a planning board issue; the board did not act on it.

Planning Board chairman Virginia Brackett explained that Sidereal’s current state license allows preparing food outdoors only; a Department of Health and Human Services restaurant license would allow an indoor kitchen. DHS will want input from “municipal officers,” a term Brackett thinks means select board members.

D’Angelo said the first four parts of his plan involve the entrance road off Cross Hill Road. First, he said, he already has approval from the E911 emergency numbering agency to have the road named Sidereal Way, so customers will stop mistakenly turning into nearby Glidden Lane.

He asked to extend the road; to add a cul de sac to provide parking and space for recreational vehicles to turn around; and to install downward-facing LED lights.

One of the planning board conditions is that parking be prohibited along the road. Board members also proposed a traffic pattern at the end designed to minimize headlights shining toward neighbors’ houses. D’Angelo was receptive to the idea.

Board and audience members and D’Angelo had a long discussion about additional screening to block headlights. After much consultation over maps, they agreed on the second condition, a 100-foot-long, six-foot-high cedar fence in a specified place, with trees planted 10 feet apart on the inside.

Once the trees grow enough to provide screening, D’Angelo is allowed to remove the fence.

Discussion covered the exact location of the screening; whether noise and light studies D’Angelo had done were adequate; and what kinds of trees grow best in different soils and how soon they should be big enough to be a buffer.

At the brewery building, D’Angelo proposed relocating a fire pit and bocce court from the front to the rear; extending the outdoor cooking area and adding a roof and curtains so it can be used in the winter; and using one bay in a nearby garage to store equipment used in the business.

His request to extend operating hours generated another discussion. Currently, the brewery is open from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m., Sunday.

D’Angelo asked to stay open until 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday. Board member Marianne Stevens thought the extension “as little unfair to the neighbors.” When fellow board member Dan Bradstreet interpreted the new hours as taking effect after the restaurant opens, Stevens proposed delaying a decision until that happens.

Brackett replied that longer hours would be necessary for a restaurant to be commercially viable. She disagreed when neighbor Peter Soule suggested the restaurant was getting preferential treatment.

Since Vassalboro has no zoning, Brackett said, commercial establishments can be located anywhere, and the planning board must in each case balance abutters’ needs with the needs of the business.
Board members unanimously approved the extended hours. The 11 p.m. deadline to have Sidereal’s lights off will remain.

In response to neighbors’ comments about a 24-hour light in the top of the building, D’Angelo said he will talk with employees about installing a timer that will darken the entire brewery at 11 p.m.

Neighbors Richard and Terry Dawson and Peter and MaryBeth Soule presented two main issues. First, they said, their peace and privacy have been lost, with traffic, noise, lights that shine into their houses and brewery customers who can, and do, watch them.

Second, D’Angelo failed to comply with buffering requirements on his original permit, granted in 2019. Soule said a town official, whom he did not further identify, agreed a year ago that what D’Angelo had done was inadequate.

Dawson and Soule asked what guarantee they have that this year’s buffer requirement will be met promptly and adequately.

D’Angelo offered two replies. He agreed to comply with “reasonable” planning board requirements, and did not object to any part of the board’s decision.

He defended Sidereal Farm Brewery as a valuable asset to Vassalboro. The business has a $280,000 payroll and five full-time and five part-time employees; it uses local food and local contractors and supports local charities, he said.

Before taking up the Sidereal Farm Brewery application, planning board members unanimously approved Robert and Clara Dyason’s application to add a covered porch to their existing building at 72 Branstrom Road, in the Three Mile Pond shoreland zone. The addition will be on the side away from the water, Robert Dyason said.

The next regular Vassalboro Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 2.

Albion gold cane presented to Donna Bessey

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Donna Bessey

On May 31, 2024, Donna Bessey received the Town of Albion’s Boston Post Cane, recognizing her as its oldest citizen at age 95. Albion Selectman Paul Flynn gave a brief history of the Boston Post Cane before presenting her with the cane and a plaque. Also representing the town were Selectmen Michael Gardner and Jason Dow, as well as State Senator Scott Cyrway and Town Clerk Jeannie Doore. Many friends were also present to celebrate the occasion.

Donna moved to Albion in 1949 when she married Leland Bessey. They met while attending Thomas College, in Waterville. Together, they had a successful dairy farm in Albion for many years. In addition to helping on the farm, Donna also worked in various secretarial/bookkeeping capacities in the area – for example, at North Wayne Tool Company, in Oakland, and for the District #3 Superintendent of Schools.

After selling the farm, Leland worked for the U .S. Postal Service, in Albion, and Donna continued to work in the school department. She eventually retired from H.L. Keay’s store, in Albion, in 1992. Donna and Leland enjoyed a wonderful retirement together, celebrating 74 years of marriage, until Leland’s passing in March 2024. As an avid animal lover with a great sense of humor, Donna expressed her secret to longevity as simply “Wag more, bark less”.

EVENTS: Rotary District Conference coming to Waterville June 21–23, 2024

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This year Rotary District #7790 will host the three-day district conference in Waterville. The conference will bring many first-time visitors to the city, all to support District Governor Tina Chapman. Waterville supports two Rotary clubs, the Waterville Sunrise Club and the Waterville Noon Club, which is Tina’s home club.

The conference will highlight many of the community projects that local Rotary clubs and Rotary International support while highlighting all Waterville and the surrounding area has to offer. The clubs that are a part of District #7790 range from Augusta to Presque Isle, and even reaches up into Québec. The district is one of the few in the country to be bi-lingual and covers area in more than one country.

Two cultures, two languages, two countries, one Rotary District. Highlights of the conference include interactive activities that highlight our local region, tastings of a few favorite restaurants, and speakers on multiple subjects focusing mostly on mental health. Other activities include a Summer Garden party, at Colby College, a House of Friendship to meet members of other clubs, and a featured film at the Maine Film Center. This year’s theme is Hope in Action.

The keynote speaker is filmmaker and motivational speaker, Kevin Hines. Hines is a bestselling author, global public speaker, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. In the year 2000, Kevin attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Many factors contributed to his miraculous survival including a sea lion which kept him afloat until the Coast Guard arrived. Kevin now travels the world sharing his story of hope, healing, and recovery while teaching people of all ages the art of wellness and the ability to survive pain with true resilience.

Kevin’s documentary Suicide: The Ripple Effect will be shown at the Maine Film Center, 93 Main Street, in Waterville, and is open to the public as well as his Keynote Presentation. Tickets for the film and presentation are available now on the district’s website at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50110/clubdirectory.

For more information on the Waterville Rotary clubs, the conference, or the keynote presentation visit watervillerotary.com.