Dancers from Stage Presence For Dancers, in Winslow, under the direction of Heather Vigue-Beaster, performed in the school’s 17th annual spring production entitled “Movement Speaks,” on April 28-29-30, at the Messalonskee Performing Arts Center, in Oakland. Graduating seniors Amica Jolicoeur, Shelby Stanley, Juliana Vanegas, Madison Grass and Jordan Jabar perform in a special piece with instructors Heather Vigue-Beaster and Ashley Roberge.
Stephen Csengery
On February 22, Stephen J Csengery, 17, from Troop #410, in Vassalboro, passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review. On May 7 Stephen received his Eagle badge at his Eagle Court of Honor. The COH took place at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church in Vassalboro. VUMC is the Charter Organization for Troop #410.
Rep. Dick Bradstreet, of Maine House District #80, attended and presented Stephen with a congratulatory letter from the Maine State Senate and House Of Representative.
Stephen is the son of Joseph and Cheryl Csengery, in Vassalboro. He is a junior at Erskine Academy, in South China. Stephen started scouts in 2006 as a Tiger Scout in Vassalboro Pack #410. He was an active scout attending all the meetings, field trips and camping trips. They made trips to Maine Criminal Academy, in Vassalboro, Fort Western, in Augusta, and Camp Hinds, in Raymond. His favorite trips were to Massachusetts to Battleship Cove as a Bear and to two trips to Coos Canyon, in Byron, as a Webelos 1 and 2.
On April 7, 2011, he achieved the highest rank in Cub Scouts, Arrow of Light and crossed over to Boy Scouts.
He belonged to the Flaming Outhouse Patrol and enjoyed every part of Boy Scouts. He attended Boy Scout camp, merit badge colleges and many other trips. His favorite was two trips to the U.S Army Academy, at West Point, in New York. They also hiked to the 1963 B-52 crash site on Elephant Mountain, in Maine.
Even though he was busy with scouts he also attended Maine Isshunryu Karate Academy where he achieved his black belt at the age of 15. He still is training with MIKA under Renshi Glen Fitzmaurice, in Randolph, and he also works there as a instructor.
His eagle project, to benefit the Kennebec Land Trust, was clearing and cleaning up the Seaward Mills Conservation Trail, on Seaward Mills Road, in Vassalboro. He also build two benches which he put on the trail and also made signs identifying trees. Plus there was an area that was washed out from the drainage from the fields, where he rip-rapped the ditch to prevent more erosion.
Stephens goals for the future is go to college for electrical technology to become an electrician.
He wants to continue with Scouts as an assistant Scoutmaster or a Scoutmaster. He also wants to continue training in karate and becoming an instructor.
Stephen and his parents thank the following people who supported Stephen and mentored him throughout his scouting adventure: Rick Lees who mentored him throughout his Eagle Project. Rick went above and beyond and it was much appreciated; Kevin Reed who was his scoutmaster though out his Boy Scout years; Rick Denico was there for Stephen thorughout his Cub Scout years as his Cub master.
Also to the following people who donated to his eagle project: Dana Suga for a huge donation of rip-rap rocks, Ross Trainor for the use of the sawmill and to John Tracy for being the official photographer.
Also to all those that help with the project from clearing, placing the benches and rip-rapping the ditch.
Inland Hospital, in Waterville, is gearing up to fight hunger in local communities! Partnering with United Way of Mid-Maine, Inland will collect non-perishable food items and essential products for local food pantries until May 30.
The hospital is asking for healthy choice food donations; low-sodium, low-fat, whole wheat or whole grain items such as pasta and cereal, canned vegetables, and fruit canned in fruit juice are suggested.
Personal and household essential items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, toilet paper, diapers, paper towels, trash bags and household cleaning products are also welcome.
Donations can be dropped off at Inland Hospital’s cafeteria, located at 200 Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville, during regular business hours through May 30. All items collected will be delivered to local food banks. For more information call 861-6047 or email inlandcr@emhs.org.
Jessica Laliberte
Photo courtesy of Elm City Photo
Jessica L. Laliberte, of Waterville, has joined the Central Maine Photography staff as a reporter/writer. Jessica has a long media background having worked in radio, TV and print press. She was the first Central Maine Bureau Chief for WABI-TV 5 News. She is the president at The Liberte Consulting Group, LLC, a local media relations and lobby business. Jessica holds her undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Maine and her masters of business administration from Thomas College, in Waterville.
TRAINING YOUR PERFORMANCE DOGSince its introduction in 2005, Rally has grown in popularity. Rally is a course set up consisting of signs indicating skills in a numerical order which the dog and handler must perform.
You are allowed to talk to your dog and praise your dog throughout the entire course. There are currently three levels – Novice, which is performed on leash; Advanced and Excellent (which are off leash). Each class contains progressively more difficult obedience skills and the advanced and excellent classes require the dog to jump. You can earn a title in each class: Rally Novice, RN; Rally Advanced, RA; Rally Excellent, RE. There is an RAE title that can be earned by passing an advanced and excellent course on the same day on 10 different days.
Beginning in November, 2017 there will be two new classes introduced as well as a rally championship title, or RACH (sounds like rock).
The Rally Intermediate class (RI) has been created to provide another on-leash class that requires advanced skills, which will help teams prepare for the off leash performance required in the advanced class. This class will mirror the advanced class but will not contain a jump. After you have completed a Rally Novice title you may choose to enter Rally Intermediate or Rally Advanced. A Rally Intermediate (RI) title is not required to go into Rally Advanced.
There will also be a new master class and associated title RM with 22 NEW exercises, some of which ae very challenging.
Several new exercises have been added to the existing Rally classes and handlers should be aware of these as they may be included in classes after November 1. Novice has 6 new signs and Advanced and Excellent class each have 5 new signs. The wording on some of the signs has also changed.
To earn a RACH – Rally Championship title – teams are required to earn 20 triple qualifying scores; qualifying in the Advanced B, Excellent B and Master classes at the same trial at 20 separate events, plus earn 300 RACH points from the Excellent B and Master classes. Points are determined by a dog’s score. For example: a 91-96 would earn 1 point; a 97 would earn 2 points; 98 would earn 3 points; 99 would earn 4 points and a score of 100 would earn 5 points.
There will be much to learn to be successful in Rally after November 1. If you are looking for help, check out Mid Coast Kennel Club of Maine and North Star Dog Training School. They will be working together to present a series of Spring and Summer workshops to prepare handlers and dogs for all the new skills that will be required to enjoy showing in Rally Obedience with your dog.
Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 90 AKC titles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker titles. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 25 years. You can contact her with questions, suggestions and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.
GARDEN WORKSWho does not love a beautiful day in Springtime? The floral-laden scent of a spring breeze uplifts and awakens the senses, while the singing birds and buzzing bees provide a beguiling resonance. Who would not enjoy these wonders of nature at such a glorious time of year? Many of us, still weary from a long winter, do appreciate it wholeheartedly. In addition to the promise of a fresh new gardening season, there is also a harvest to be had. “What? A harvest? Why, the peas have barely started growing!” “We just planted our potatoes. How could anything be ready? ”
A few familiar garden veggies, such as carrots and parsnips, can be overwintered and dug up now. Asparagus, the perennial whose crisp, succulent spears are enjoyed as they appear and grow to harvestable heights, is most likely ready to be cut at the present. In this article, though, we’ll look at lesser-known offerings that can be found in the garden or nearby, this time of year. These beloved wild edibles such as, dandelions, fiddleheads, groundnut, Jerusalem artichokes, nettles, and ramps are provided by nature and have been enjoyed by many folks for millennia. They are likely encountered as weeds in the garden or discovered as wild plants while hiking. It’s these “others” that are often overlooked, rather unjustly, as they are some of the most nutritious additions to a springtime diet.
Let’s get ready to explore! Because there is a lot of information in this article, lets do it in two parts. This time, we will look at what I’ll call “The Forager’s 10 Commandments.” Next time, we’ll go over the wild edibles mentioned above and noteworthy qualities and cooking suggestions. Be ready to be curious and maybe try something new and exciting!
Before we begin our exciting excursion into the wild world of foraged foods, I would like to share with you The Forager’s 10 Commandments. Number One, it’s important to be certain of the identification of what we’re harvesting. Bring a field guide and a Smartphone to look things up. Two, we want to forage only in areas we have permission to be in. Three, we should make sure the soil it is growing in is un-polluted (at least 30 feet away from the road or buildings that might have lead paint or any other chemical concerns). Four, let’s guarantee the continuity of what we intend to harvest and take only what we actually need, leaving enough for the plant to regenerate itself. (Of course, exceptions would be weeds like dandelion and nettles.) Five, try unfamiliar foods in small amounts for the first and second times to rule out allergies. Six, watch out for ticks and be sure to wear a hat and light-colored, long-sleeved clothing tucked into tall boots if possible. Natural bug-repellant might be on the list as well, be sure to follow directions on the container. (Do tick checks when you get home!) Seven, don’t get lost. Eight, bring something for hydration and a snack if it’s a hike. Nine, bring a friend for company if at all possible. Ten, share a meal with someone less fortunate who would appreciate what you have harvested. The unwritten rule is to have fun and enjoy nature to the fullest!
To the editor:
Raising other people’s kids for the past 35 years, I want to send a token of my appreciation to our teachers. As parenting seems to become more of a choice than a responsibility, our teachers are taking on more than just educating our children.
They are extended parents, counselors, mentors and sometimes the only stable person in a child’s life.
Please join me in voting yes on June 13 for this year’s school budget.
Neil Farrington
China
To the editor:
As we celebrate this Memorial Day, let’s all not forget the significance of this holiday. To people of my generation, of course, World War II, Korea and Vietnam are all replayed in our minds and hearts, not everyday, but on this day, as I once again visit the graves of my old comrades, it awakens in me all those gone before me and, of course, all those who came after us, spilling their blood for wars that they don’t understand any more than we did serving our country. But serve we did and with the exception of how our Vietnam veterans were treated upon coming home — that will always remain, in my opinion, one of America’s lowest points, morality wise. Yes, it did have a benefit, and that was to change America’s opinion of our men and women now serving. [I will] close by saying it is my fervent hope and prayer that some day America will not have to spill its young treasure on fruitless colonizations.
Frank Slason
Somerville
FAIRFIELD––Kathleen Anne Grant Comer, of Fairfield, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. Kathy was born on June 29, 1949, to Linwood Grant and Eunice Grant Scott.
She grew up in Oakland where she graduated from Williams High School. Kathy had a variety of careers during her life including working as a certified Nursing Assistant at Thayer Hospital, in Waterville, seamstress at C.F. Hathaway Co., in Waterville, and a monitor for Maine Security and Survellance.
Kathy moved to San Mateo, California, with her husband, William E. Comer, in 1978, where they lived for seven years. There she worked in the central headquarters of Baskin Robbins and as a claim adjustor for New York Life Insurance Co. She also worked for New Hampshire Life Insurance Co. when she returned to Maine.
Kathy was a member of the Red Hat Society and MacCrillis-Rousseau VFW Post #8835 in Winslow. She loved to cook and watched Food Network daily. Kathy had a kind and loving heart and her greatest joy was found by spending time with family and friends. She formed a special bond with her great-niece Asiah Wilmot, of Jefferson, and her niece Sara McCaslin and her son Caleb, of Winslow.
Kathy was predeceased by her parents; and younger brother Kevin W. Scott Sr.
She is survived by her brother David Grand and his wife Wanda, of Oakland; sisters Linda Libby, of Sidney, Betsy Doyon, of Oakland, Rebecca Klaiber, of Otisfield, Lisa Scott, of Jefferson; several nieces,; nephews; cousins; and her stepfather, Walter Scott, of Winslow.
At Kathy’s request there will be no service.
Memorial contributions can be made to: The Thayer dialysis unit: Dialysis Clinic Inc., 149 North St., Waterville ME 04901.
VASSALBORO––Howard R. Wilson, 81, of Vassalboro, passed away Thursday May ll, 2017, at the Togus VA Pallative Care Unit, in Augusta. Howard was born on August 10, 1935, in Augusta, to his parents Lew A. Wilson and Rena (Barrows) Wilson.
He attended Cony High School for a while and then joined the Air Force where he earned his GED and graduated courses for jet bomber mechanic. He received the National Defense Medal and Good Conduct Medal as well as earning the rank of First Class Airman A/C 1.
While serving in the Air Force he met and married Dorothy A. (Holm) Wilson and they had eight children together.
During the course of his life he worked various positions––a heat treat operator at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, in Middletown, Connecticut, jet mechanic, and multiple laboring positions over the years and then retired after many years of service at Cives Steel, Augusta.
He loved fishing, boating, hunting and gardening (he had quite a green thumb). He loved to lawn sale, pick fiddleheads, and putter with his tractor and various projects. He enjoyed feeding his wild animals––birds, squirrels, and racoons.
He was predeceased by his wife Donna M. (Tweedie) Wilson; his parents; and first wife Dorothy.
He is survived by his eight children, Julie White and husband Keith, Gerald Wilson and wife Brenda, Robert Wilson, Guy Wilson, Suzanne Dudley, Clay Wilson, Stacey Wilson and wife Renee, Lisa Emery and husband Don; two sisters, Judith Ashby, and Jane Johnson; brother Stanley Wilson; multiple stepchildren; and numerous grandchildren.
WHITEFIELD––Paul L. Leask, 69, of Whitefield, passed away at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta, on Saturday, May 13, 2017. He was born in Dresden on October 20, 1947, to parents Glendon and Althena (Lilly) Leask.
Paul was a pipe fitter at Bath Iron Works and also worked at Gardiner Feed for many years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and tinkering with anything mechanical. He liked spending time with his family telling stories and sharing his famous mince meat pie.
Paul was predeceased by his parents; and three sisters, Emily, Marylou, and Penny.
Paul is survived by Alice (Butler) Leask, his wife of 36 years; son Paul Leask; daughter Bonnie Ouellette; and son-in-law, Rob Ouellette, all of Auburn. He is also survived by three stepchildren, Taffy, Kim, and Bill; brothers, Warren Leask and wife Sally, of Patten, and Merle Leask and wife Marcia, of Dresden; granddaughters, Heather, Natasha, and Kayla; and one great-granddaughter, Aria.
OAKLAND––Lenora B. Tuttle, 86, died Sunday, May 14, 2017, at Oak Grove Living Center, in Waterville. She was born in Oakland on March 5, 1931, the daughter of Harry and Velma (Thomas) Bickford.
Lenora worked in a Connecticut shoe shop, Hathaway Shirt Factory, Clinton Canning Factory and for the Messalonskee High School as a baker.
Lenora lived many years in Clinton where she was a member of the Clinton Grange. She was a former member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She was predeceased by her husband Mervin Sr.; daughter Cheryl Tuttle; brothers, Blynn, Thomas, and Kenneth Bickford; sisters Berlene Bickford, Arminta Williams and Annie Bickford.
Surviving are a son Mervin Tuttle Jr. and wife Sally, of Clinton; grandson Mervin Tuttle III and wife Jeanne, of Fairfield, California; great-grandchildren Aiden and Andrew Tuttle; brothers Gary and John Bickford, both of Oakland, and Lawrence Bickford, of Belgrade; sisters Thelma O’Neal and Leatrice Grevois, both of Oakland, and Charlene Houle, of Belgrade; many nieces and nephews.
An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.lawrybrothers.com.
OAKLAND––Rev. John D. Fenlason, 78, passed away on Monday, May 15, 2017, at Inland Hospital, in Waterville. Rev. John was born on April 20, 1939, in Waterville, to Ralph and Madeline Fenlason.
He lived in Oakland most of his life and graduated from Williams High School in 1957 with honors.
Rev. John marred the former Esther R. DePeter, of Portland in 1958. He had many jobs as he worked at an auto body shop for seven years, Scott Paper Company, he drove a school bus for 15 years, he was a substitute teacher at the Mid-Maine Vocational Center, in Waterville, for 10 years, but what he was most proud of was the two churches that he started in the area.
Rev. John was the founder of the Pentecostal Church of Faith along with his wife and children in 1979. He had resigned from Scott Paper Co. to spend more time working for the church and the young people within the church. He continued to pastor the church until fall of 2004 when the church was turned over to Vineyard Ministries.
He was predeceased by his parents.
Rev. John is survived by his wife Esther; daughter Doreen Demarest and husband Michael, of Lisbon; son Kevin and wife Dianne, of Winthrop; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at: www.lawrybrothers.com.
Memorial donations may be made to MaineGeneral Hospice, or to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.
NORTH VASSALBORO – William James Egold, age 5, of Main Street, died Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, as the result of a boating accident in Vassalboro. He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on March 2, 2012, to Mollie K. Egold.
William was a member of Church Hill Baptist Church of Augusta.
Survivors include his mother, Mollie K. Egold, of North Vassalboro; his maternal grandmother Frances Egold, of Knoxville, Tennessee; his Mamaw and Papaw Martha and Robert Collins, of Augusta; and several aunts and uncles, of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Arrangements were entrusted to Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta.
Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.
VIOLETTE M. MEADER, 88, of Waterville, passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2017, at her home. Locally, she is survived by sisters Gloria Lewis, of Benton, and Lorette Claire, of Winslow; brothers Harold “Pete” Michaud and Van Michaud, both of Winslow.
PENELOPE M. RAFUSE, 71, of Waterville, passed away on Friday, May 12, 2017, of natural causes. Locally, she is survived by a son, Bill Rafuse and wife Emily Mitchell, of Vassalboro.
EUGENE L. BILODEAU, 66, of Augusta, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2017, at MaineGeneral Long Term Care-Graybirch, in Augusta. Locally, he is survived by a son, Lee Bilodeau, of Oakland.
FRED E. DUDLEY, 89, of Sidney, passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, following a short illness. Locally, she is survived by daughters Carol Brann and husband Dennis, of Vassalboro, and Linda Graham and Esther Dudley, both of Waterville.
RAYMOND E. WARD, 92, of Alexandria, Virginia, passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. He was born in North Vassalboro on October 8, 1924, the son of Willis and Lizzie Ward. He graduated from Erskine Academy, in South China. He would spend his summer with his families in his home in China. Following his retirement, he spent longer periods of time.
CONSTANCE PAUL, 93, of Augusta, formerly of Vassalboro, passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Central Maine Medical Center, in Lewiston, following a short illness. She formerly worked at Deschaine’s Market, in North Vassalboro. Locally, she is survived by a son, Timothy Paul and wife Diane, of Palermo, and daughter Hope Souther, of Whitefield.
The following local residents named to the university’s dean’s list, in Worcester, Massachusetts, for academic excellence for the spring 2017 semester.
McKenzie Brunelle, of Sidney, is a member of the class of 2018 majoring in biomedical engineering.
Brady Snowden, of Sidney, is a member of the class of 2018 majoring in computer science.
Vassalboro’s two-part town meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 5, at Vassalboro Community School, with voters discussing and acting on 66 of the 68 warrant articles. The final two articles will be decided by written ballot on Tuesday, June 13, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office.
On June 13, voters will ratify or reject the school budget approved on June 5 and elect members of the Board of Selectmen, School Board and Sanitary District Board of Trustees.
The June 5 agenda includes election of five budget committee members; the 2017-18 municipal and school budgets; enactment of two revised town ordinances; annual requests for permission to sell alewives (river herring) and to put tax revenue from the natural gas pipeline through town into the Program Development Fund, also called the TIF fund; and requests for small donations to a number of in-town and out-of-town nonprofit organizations and social service agencies, including a new request for $1,000 for FAVOR (Friends Advocating for Vassalboro Older Residents).
Also in the warrant are requests for authorizations to:
During long discussions of the 2017-18 school budget, Town Manager Mary Sabins calculated that if state school funding currently planned for next year does not increase, if Vassalboro’s property valuation goes up less than usual and if voters approve all town meeting requests, the property tax rate will increase by 88 cents for each $1,000 of valuation, from this year’s 14.05 mils ($14.05 per $1,000) to 14.93 mils.
However, everyone involved in budget negotiations expects the state legislature will increase education funding before the session ends, and Sabins expects a valuation increase similar to previous years’. By the time selectmen set the tax rate in August, they will have firm information, and most town officials expect they will be able to avoid a major tax increase.
To deal with possible state school funding changes, the June 5 warrant includes an unusual final school budget article. It asks voters to require that if state funding exceeds the current figure, the School Board will use part of the additional money to decrease the share of the education budget to be taken from local property taxes.
The two ordinances voters will act on are a revised Shoreland Zoning Ordinance (Art. 24) and a revised Vassalboro Sanitary District Charter (Art. 25). Selectmen held public hearings on both documents at their May 4 meeting.
No one had questions or comments about the Sanitary District charter, which district trustees have said updates their governing document, approved in 1972, to match current conditions and policies.
The Shoreland zoning amendments are the ones that Vassalboro voters rejected in November 2016. Planning Board Chairman Virginia Brackett said many are intended to make Vassalboro’s regulations match the state’s.
The town meeting warrant and copies of the ordinances and of a two-page summary of the differences between current and proposed shoreland zoning rules are available at the town office and on the town web site.