Barbershop chorus elects officers

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Maine-ly Harmony officers, from left to right, Cathy Anderson, of Jefferson, president; BJ Pellett, of Winthrop, vice president; Janet Dunham, of Belgrade, treasurer; Candace Pepin, of Augusta, secretary; Betty Avery, of Augusta, and LouAnn Mossler, of South China, members-at-large. Contributed photo

Mainely-Harmony women’s barbershop chorus held its election of officers for the 2017-18 season. The new board includes President Cathy Anderson, of Jefferson, Vice President BJ Pellett, of Winthrop, Treasurer Janet Dunham, of Belgrade, Secretary Candace Pepin, of Augusta, and members at large Betty Avery, of Augusta, and LouAnn Mossler, of South China. Officiating the ceremony was Dotti Meyer, of Jefferson, and representing the membership was Kathy Joyce, of Bowdoinham. The chorus, directed by Kathy Greason, of Brunswick, meets every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Salvation Army Church, 36 Eastern Ave., Augusta.

All women are invited to attend. For more information, contact Nancie at 293-4779 or email hugabook4@yahoo.com.

David Mejia appointed Director of Education

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David Mejia

David Mejia became an Emergency Medical Technician in 1998 in Brooksville, Florida. He attended Pasco Hernando Community College graduating in 1999 with an associate’s degree in EMS. During his education, he worked for Med­Fleet Ambulance, as a technician at Bayonet Point’s Emergency Department and for Polk County EMS, a busy 911-provider.

In 2003 David joined Nature Coast EMS where he could combine his dual passions of Emergency Medical Services and educating others. His desire to share his knowledge and experience with others led him to become one of the busiest instructors at Nature Coast.

David was involved in the creation of the Nature Coast EMS Explorer Post 605 where he was the lead advisor and mentored 14-20 year old coeds.

David was as an adjunct instructor for Nature Coast EMS in their EMT and Paramedic Program and also taught at Keiser Career College

In his 19-year career, he has been the recipient of various awards, including the National American Ambulance Association Star of Life, Explorer Advisor of the year and VFW Citrus County, and Florida EMT/Paramedic of the Year. While working for Keiser Career College, David received the Instructor of Distinction award.

David moved to Maine in 2012 and found a home at Delta Ambulance. He is excited to fulfill his new role as Director of Education and continue his passion of EMS and education.

Legion Auxiliary supports local youth

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Pictured, front row, from left to right Maxine Dube, Merrilyn Vieira, Betty Dow and Kathy Cousineau. Back, Pat Santoni, Marie Wing, Lauraine Mercier, Harriet Bryant and Robin Turek, with her service dog, Colonel. Contributed photo

The American Legion Auxiliary supports community programs such as children and youth. Each year they fill backpacks for children entering the DHHS system. Most of these children enter with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. They like to provide them with the backpacks filled with items they can call their own in hopes that it makes the transition a little easier for them. This year was no different as they donated 25 backpacks for this program.

American Legion Auxiliary members have dedicated themselves for nearly a century to meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military and their families both here and abroad. They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value of nearly $2 billion. As part of the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization, Auxiliary volunteers across the country also step up to honor veterans and military through annual scholarships and with ALA Girls State programs, teaching high school juniors to be leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. To learn more about the Auxiliary’s mission or to volunteer, donate or join, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org or http://www.mainelegionpost39.org/. Or contact: Robin Turek, President – American Legion Auxiliary Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39, PO Box 325, Madison, ME – robinturek@gmail.com – 696-8289.

TECH TALK: Firewalls and VPNs, Oh my!

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ERIC’S TECH TALK

by Eric Austin
Computer Technical Advisor

This week I’ll talk about two networking related topics that every modern computer user should know about.

You’ve likely heard the term “firewall” thrown around in the dialog of movies or television shows during a computer hacking scene — as in, “They’re breaching the firewall, Jack!”

What exactly are they talking about? Simply put, a firewall is a set of computer programs that work together to monitor and control network connections coming and going on your PC. Typically, this is the Internet traffic that happens as you browse, send emails and watch videos online.

Certain other applications will also transfer data between the Internet and your computer, like games being played online, programs downloading updates, or certain programs that have specific network functions such as FTP programs for updating websites, or P2P (Peer-to-Peer) file-sharing applications for downloading large files.

All these different activities are happening constantly as you use your computer. A firewall program sits and watches this traffic to make sure it’s all legit.

Malicious hackers, or malware your computer could be infected with, might also attempt to communicate across your network and you want to stop that from happening.

A computer without a firewall is like a border crossing without an armed checkpoint.

Fortunately, beginning with XP, Windows comes with a built-in Firewall app included and turned on by default. So, most likely you are already protected!

Apple has also built a firewall into Mac OSX with version 10.6 (Snow Leopard) onwards.

There are a number of 3rd party security suites on the market if you feel you need something more robust, but the firewall protections already built into modern operating systems should be sufficient for most users.

However, you should never turn off your firewall! If you experience problems allowing certain network traffic because of a Windows/Mac firewall, it’s worth learning how to set incoming and outgoing “rules” correctly rather than turning it off completely. Email me if you’re having problems and I can direct you to some web pages that show how to do this.

So, let’s move on to our second topic today: VPNs. “VPN” stands for Virtual Private Network. As the name implies, it refers to a virtual network within another network, and the word “private” should tip you off that security has something to do with it.

The term, Virtual Private Network, in the technical world, can apply to a number of different networking situations, but for us, we will think of it in its most typical usage. That is, a method of obscuring the source of network traffic by funneling that traffic through another “virtual” server.

If that sounds confusing, its because you lack a little background. Stay with me and I’ll fill you in!

Normally, network traffic originates from your home PC, identified by your computer’s IP Address (Internet Protocol #). Whenever you do anything online, you’re sending information tagged with your identity (your IP#) through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and out to the wider Internet. Everything you do is associated with that IP Address and can be linked directly back to you!

Sometimes this is not what you want.

A VPN service accepts your network communications, and then sends them back out to the Internet using its own IP Address in place of yours. In this way, none of your activities can be linked back to your personal computer. Instead, they would link back no further than your VPN server, which millions of other people also use.

Another reason to use a VPN is to by-pass geographical blocking. Some websites will block access based on the geographical location of the user. If you are trying to access the Japanese version of Hulu, for example, you could connect to a VPN server in Japan and trick Hulu into thinking you are actually Japanese!

Also, in countries that heavily restrict Internet content, like China or Saudi Arabia, VPNs help people to get around these restrictions to communicate with the wider world.

In the movies, when the heroes are tracking the hacker and they show the “link” hopping across a map of the world, this is an example of VPNs in action. Each of the points on the map is a different virtual server the hacker has used to mask his own identity. You’ll only need a single VPN yourself, but experienced hackers layer VPN upon VPN in order to further obscure the real source of the intrusion. (Although it’s never as easy to trace such a person as they make it seem on TV!)

You won’t be doing anything so nefarious, so for our purposes it’s much simpler. To use a personal VPN, all you’ll need is a subscription with an appropriate vendor, who will give you a small software program to run on your computer. This program redirects all your Internet traffic through the vendor’s servers and substitutes your IP Address for theirs. Simple as that!

Choosing a VPN can be difficult because services vary wildly, as do prices which range from $40 a year to $40 a month, depending on several factors, including: number of available servers, allowed simultaneous connections, P2P support, and guaranteed download speeds, among other bells and whistles most people won’t care about.

Personally, I can only recommend a service called Private Internet Access (https://www.privateinternetaccess.com), since it’s the one that I use. It costs $39.95/year and although bare bones, is very reliable and easy to use.

Most importantly, whichever VPN service you choose, you want to make sure they do not log network traffic. By default, servers will log any connections they receive, but since the objective of a VPN is to stay anonymous, recording your connection to it would defeat the purpose! Because of this, most VPN services purge their logs on a regular basis, but it’s worth checking before you sign up.

As they say in those after-school programs, abstinence is the best policy. But if you’re going to be a bad boy (or girl) on the Internet, make sure to use protection: always keep your firewall turned on and install a VPN for those times when you want full anonymity!

Eric W. Austin is a technical and marketing consultant specializing in helping small businesses succeed. When not writing for The Town Line, he exchanges advice for money and can be reached at ericwaustin@gmail.com.

PALERMO: Order Vidalia Onions Now

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The deadline for ordering Vidalia onions, fresh from the farm in Georgia, is fast approaching. April 27 is the last day to call Connie at 993-2294 or e-mail pwhitehawk@fairpoint.net. These fresh, sweet beauties will be ready for pick up at the Palermo Community Center on Turner Ridge Road as of 8:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 6, as well as Sunday, May 7.

The onions are carefully packed into 25# boxes to prevent bruising on their express trip to Maine. The price is $27.00 per box. These onions keep up to 6 months, if they are kept in a cool place and not allowed to touch one another. Half boxes can be ordered for $16.00 a box (We have to buy boxes.). However, if you get together with friends and order four or more boxes, you get a discount of $2 per box. Recipes are available!

Racing Extinction in Palermo on April 28

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PALERMO — As Earth Day approaches, now is the time to consider all of the lifeforms that share our planet with us. Native Americans consider these beings as relatives, and that is really a good way to value them. However, humanity has not been treating these relatives very well.

Academy Award-winning filmmakers expose the forces that are leading our planet to what could be the next mass extinction, potentially resulting in the loss of half of all species. Two forces, the shadowy international wildlife trade, and the gas and oil industry, are uncloaked for what they ultimately do to life on our Earth. This may sound depressing, but the film is actually an inspiring affirmation to preserve life as we know it, and know that we can get off what Native Americans term The Death Path.

Racing Extinction will be shown on Friday, April 28, following a delicious free potluck meal at 6 p.m. at the Palermo Community Center on Turner Ridge Road in Palermo. Bring a dish to share or a donation to the Food Pantry and prepare for spirited discussion following the movie. Contact Connie Bellet at 993-2294 for further info.

 

Obituaries, Week of April 20, 2017

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JANE A. CORMIER

FAIRFIELD––Jane Arlene (Cunha) Cormier, 56, of Fairfield, died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 1, 2017. Jane was born on September 21, 1960, in Lynn, Massachusetts. She was the youngest of four.
Jane had a strong personality and a bright smile that could light up a room. She was an avid reader and a formidable triva opponent, an engaging teller of jokes and stories.

Jane loved all animals, even bats, and she was loved by them in return (except the bat––it bit her). She fell in love with the Maine wilderness and spent much of her time hiking, camping, and foraging. She considered herself fortunate to have escaped the city and was always grateful for the wild beauty of Maine that she was able to experience.

She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Ruth (Martin) Cunha.

She leaves behind Bill Annis, her partner of 20 years, and his family, Bill and Jane Annis, who were like parents to Jane, and Lisa (Annis) Hood, whom Jane considered a sister. Jane is also survived by her daughter, Angela Agganis; her brother Joseph Cunha; sisters Sandy (Cunha) Chadwick and Diane (Cunha) Agganis; and three stepsons, David, Jason and Matthew Annis.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Legion of Fairfield.

JEANNETTE CARON

WINSLOW––Jeannette “Junn” Caron, 86, of Winslow, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2017, following a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Junn was born on March 23, 1931, in Madison, the youngest of three daughters, to Marcien and Melina Cormier.

She attended and graduated from Mount Merci Academy in Waterville, along with her sisters Bernadette and Yvonne. She went on to attend Thomas College and Colby College, both in Waterville.

On January 2, 1954, she married Richard “Duke” Caron, of Waterville. They were married 55 years before Duke passed away from cancer in 2009.

Junn stayed home to raise their three children, Lynn, Ray and Cathy, and once they were in school she started teaching at Notre Dame Catholic School, in Waterville, and taught for many years. She was a member of Notre Dame Catholic Church, in Waterville, for many years.

In 1971, the family moved to Winslow, where she began working at Laverdiere’s Drug Store office in Winslow, and became members of the St. John Catholic Church family, in Winslow.

She is warmly remembered for her volunteer work for the St. John Parish Christmas Fairs where she made wreaths and many delicious baked goods and her famous tourtiere pies. For many years she also baby sat children during some of the masses and loved reading to them.

She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Heather; and her sisters, Yvonne Packard and Bernadette “Bunny” Jutras. Junn is survived by her three children, Lynn Caron and her husband, John Scofield, of Orono, Ray Caron and his wife Holly, of Winslow, and Catherine Nadeau and her husband Bob, of Winslow; grandchildren, Marci and Connor Scofield, Katelyn Caron Wheeler, James Nadeau, and Vicki Nadeau.

A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Winslow.

An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.lawrybrothers.com.

PAULA P. GRAY

EAST VASSALBORO––Paula Paoletti Gray, 64, of East Vassalboro, passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on Saturday, April 8, 2017. She was born in Bangor, on September 17, 1952, to Martha (Pelkey) and Raymond Paoletti, of East Millinocket.

She was a longtime employee of both L.L. Bean and North Country Rivers, but most people in East Vassalboro will remember her from her many years working at the town’s corner store and local post office.

She always enjoyed engaging with her customers, learning a little about their lives, and bringing a little extra joy to their days.

She was predeceased by her husband of 34 years, Gary. Together they had three children: Jeremy, of East Vassalboro, Joshua, of Oakland, California, and Erin, of East Vassalboro, who survive her. She is also survived by her four siblings, Stephen and his wife Ann, of Costa Mesa, California, Karen and husband Mickey, of Hudson, New Hampshire, Thomas and wife Ellen, of Gilford, Connecticut, and Frankie and his husband Jim, of Phoenix, Arizona; her mother-in-law Prudence; sister-in-law Lynne; brother-in-law Doug; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grand nephews.

To view a collage of Paula’s life and share condolences, memories and tributes with her family, please visit: www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com.

The family asks that you consider contributing monetarily to help with medical expenses.

JEFFREY T. MCCORMICK

WHITEFIELD––Jeffrey T. McCormick, 43, passed away on April 8, 2017.

Jeff was an honest, quiet, kind, sincere, and private man. His incredible sense of humor made many people smile and laugh which he was always quick to do himself. It was the sparkle in his eyes and the sound of his voice that will never be forgotten. He was never one in a million, but one of a kind.

Jeff was recently predeceased by his mother, Lillian.

He is survived by his father, Richard; Bobbi, his girlfriend of 15 years; sisters Kelly and Becky; and nieces and nephews Gavin, Ava, Ellie, and Tucker.

Jeff gave the world 43 years and leaves it changed for the better through everyone he came in contact with. Please remember the sparkle in his eyes.

JOHN J. SHAW

FAIRFIELD––John J. Shaw died on Saturday, April 8, 2017, from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). John was born in Anaconda, Montana, to Dorothy and Conde Shaw; but he found his true home when his father bought The Big Chief Motel, in Missoula, Montana. He spent most of his younger years there.

John became a journeyman sheetmetal worker in 1970 as a member of Local Union No. 103. After years of perfecting his craft, he became an installation supervisor for paper machine air systems, first for Midland Ross and then for Enerquin Air. His profession took him to many parts of the United States, Canada, and Australia.

After retirement, he pursued the things he enjoyed most. He was a talented craftsman who could do anything he put his mind to. He spent his time remodeling, grilling, working with stained glass, feeding the birds, and becoming a first class househusband.

John was predeceased by his mother and father and his sister Connie Morasch.

He leaves behind his wife of 37 years, Debra Knese; his brother Michael Shaw and wife Joni Harder; sister Mary Hyde and husband Terry; his sisters and brothers-in-law Shirley and Bruce Weis and Karen and David Schoenberg, and sister-in-law Mary Pramann; along with many nieces and nephews.

NORMAN B. QUIRION

WINSLOW––Norman B. Quirion, 85, died Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Lakewood Manor, in Waterville. He was born in Winslow, on November 1, 1931, the son of Josephat and Hanna (Veilleux) Quirion.
Norman was a Winslow High School graduate and attended classes at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. He was a former police officer and detective working for the ßWaterville Police Department for over 18 years, and also worked briefly as an officer for the Winslow Police Department.

He was a 3rd Degree member of Holy Spirit Council #13486 Knights of Columbus, of Waterville.

Norman was predeceased by his first wife, Geraldine (Dionne) Quirion, in 2004; his son, Stephen P. Quirion, in 2010; two brothers, Robert and Gerard Quirion; a sister, Viola Quirion; and his two mothers-in-law, Adele Dionne and Harriet Morris.

He is survived by his second wife, Mary Louise (Morris) Tremblay, of Winslow; two sons, Daniel Quirion and wife Lynda, of Winslow, and Timothy Quirion and wife Cheryl, of Randolph; two daughters, Terry Ann Hebert and husband Richard, of Fairfield, and Patricia Young and husband Michael, of Presque Isle; stepdaughter, Elizabeth Tremblay, of Virginia; his grandchildren, Amy and Matthew Alaimo, Matthew and Racheal Ceban, Bradley and Kaitland, of Canada, Allison Young, of Massachusetts, Justin Quirion, of Winslow, Jared Quirion and companion Mallorrie Nadeau, and Trevor Quirion and Marisa Quirion, both of Randolph; four great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; one brother, Raymond Quirion, of Virginia; and one sister, Collette Lachance, of Winslow.

There will be no public visiting hours. A Mass o f Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Notre Dame Church in Waterville. Committal prayers and burial will be in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, in Waterville, with a luncheon to follow at Notre Dame church hall.

Condolences may be expressed and guest book signed at: www.gallantfh.com.

Donations in his memory can be sent to the American Heart Association, 51 U.S. Route 1, Suite M, Scarborough ME 04074.

DOROTHY A. BURNS

SOUTH CHINA––Dorothy A. Burns, 81, died Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at her home following a long illness. She was born in Augusta on January 30, 1936, the daughter of the late Noble and Mabel G. (Grier) Rodgers.

Mrs. Burns attended Augusta schools, and attended St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church for many years.

She had been employed by Statler Tissue for 17 years and later she was a self-employed house cleaner. Previously, she worked at Yale Motor Inn in Connecticut.

Dot enjoyed riding motorcycles, country music, custom automobile shows and was a regular at Denny’s where she could be found in booth 24.

Mrs. Burns was predeceased by three brothers, Kenny and Bobby Rodgers and Raymond Watts; and two sisters Gladys Libby and Marie Provencal.

She is survived by her husband of 41 years, John S. Burns, of South China; a son, Dave E. Hunt Sr., of Wallingford, Connecticut; a daughter, Cheryl E. Hunt, of Goffstown, New Hampshire; five grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Condolences, photos and stories may be shared at: www.plummerfh.com.

Those who desire may make donations in Dorothy’s memory to: Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pet Haven Lane, Augusta ME 04330.

OTHERS DEPARTED

RICHARD E. FREEMAN SR., 91, of Augusta, passed away on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at the Maine Veterans Home, in Augusta. Locally, he is survived by a son, Richard E. Freeman Jr. and partner Martha Seligman, of South China.

GORDON R. SHERMAN, 67, of Richmond, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017. Locally, he is survived by grandchildren Aurora and Connor Sherman, of Albion.

MARY C. BRADBURY, 87, of Buxton, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017, following a long illness. Locally, she is survived by son, Richard Bradbury of Weeks Mills.

BOB RAYMOND, 72, of Old Orchard Beach, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2017, following a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer. Locally, he is survived by a son, Daniel Raymond, of Windsor.

LEAH M. COLEMAN, 94, of Bath, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2017, at her home. Locally, she is survived by a daughter, Arlene M. Strahan and husband Roy, of Winslow.

SCOTT W. BALLARD, 75, of Augusta, passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. Locally, he is survived by a son, William Ballard and wife Carrie, of Liberty.

MARIE DESCHAINE, 75, of Waterville, passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2017, at MaineGeneral Medidcal Center, in Augusta. Locally, she is survived by a son, Stephen Deschaine and wife Kerri, of Winslow, and a sister, Charlene Turgeon and husband Wilfred, of Winslow.

CAROLE A. CLEMENTS, 74, of Mount Vernon, passed away on Monday, April 10, 2017, at her home. Locally, she is survived by a granddaughter, Angela Pietroski and husband Andrew, of Windsor.

PAULINE A. THOMPSON, 82, of Chelsea, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. Locally, she is survived by sons Durward E. Thompson Jr. and companion Debbie, of Windsor, and Peter Thompson and companion Susie, of Vassalboro.

FORMER RESIDENTS

MARJORIE E. FREEMAN, 96, of Rockland, passed away at the Woodland Center, in Rockland. She was born in Jefferson on December 3, 1920, the daughter of Elmer and Hazel (Black) Orff. She grew up in Jeffereson, attended Jefferson Grade School, and graduated from Waldoboro High School. Locally, she is survived by three brothers, Lincoln Orff, Robert Orff and Rodney Orff, all of Jefferson.

LOCAL TIES

MAURICE G. FORTIN, 73, of Scarborough, passed away on Friday, April 7, 2017, following a two-year battle with cancer. Maurice served as director of pharmacy at Waterville Osteopathic Hospital, in Waterville, until 1985. While residing in the area, he performed with the Kennebec Valley Chordsmen, a barbershop chorus.

UNITY NEWS: Bird Walk planned

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The birds are back!  Break out the binoculars and enjoy the outdoors and our feathered friends at the Rines Wetland and Wildlife Preserve.  Tom Aversa, the co-author of several bird guides and an adjunct instructor at Unity College, will be the guide of this short, SRLT-sponsored bird walk, on Saturday, May 20, at 7:30 a.m.  Meet on the south side of Rt. 139 – 2.5 miles west of Unity near the SRLT kiosk.  Bring binoculars and waterproof footwear.  All ages welcome but please leave pets at home.

For more information or to register, please call Doug 948-3766.

Waterville News: LaLiberty named to Waterville Creates! board

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Jim LaLiberty

Waterville Creates!, one of Maine’s leading arts and cultural organizations and a key driver in making the city a vibrant destination in central Maine, has elected Jim LaLiberty to the role of vice president of the Waterville Creates! board of directors effective February 28. Jim also serves as chair of the Waterville Opera House board.

Jim is currently an attorney at Jabar, LaLiberty & Dubord LLC and has practiced law in Waterville for 36 years. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Maine School of Law. His practice is concentrated in the areas of business and commercial law. In addition to his role on the Waterville Opera House board, Jim is also a member of the board of directors of MaineGeneral Health.

He lives in Waterville with his wife, Julie, a seventh grade teacher at Waterville Junior High.

“I am proud to serve the arts in Waterville through my dual roles on both the Waterville Creates! and the Waterville Opera House boards,” stated LaLiberty upon being voted in as vice president. “Working in tandem with my fellow board members as well as our communities’ collaborative partners in the arts, including the Harold Alfond Foundation and Colby College.”

CHINA NEWS: Two local questions on China ballot in June

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by Mary Grow

China voters will have at least two local ballot questions on June 13.

The exact wording remains to be decided, but at the April 17 selectmen’s meeting board members voted to present two questions, asking voters if they want to:

  • Prohibit growing marijuana for retail sale, selling marijuana for non-medical purposes or running a marijuana social club – the three main items state voters, but not a majority of China voters, approved in November 2016 – within town boundaries;
  • Appropriate money from the Undesignated Fund Balance (surplus) to install a septic system and a well to serve the portable classroom behind the town office, with the well to supply the office also. Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux will suggest an amount, after some research, and will call a meeting of the Budget Committee to get its recommendation on the proposed expenditure.

Selectmen scheduled a short special meeting for 8 a.m. Thursday, April 27, to review and approve final wording of the ballot questions.

The decision to put the first question to voters was made on a 3-2 vote, with Joann Austin and Jeffrey LaVerdiere opposed. Austin sees a local marijuana industry as economic development and a source of new tax revenue. LaVerdiere, while opposing large out-of-state operations, said, “We’re an agricultural town. I don’t see why we should outlaw growing anything.”

Austin also argued that before asking China voters to act, selectmen should see what regulations the state develops. Board member Irene Belanger said other town managers have expressed similar opinions. But, Belanger said before she voted to put the question on the ballot, “We’re a family-oriented community” and should not send a message that drug use is okay.

Ronald Breton proposed both questions and voted in favor of putting both to voters. Board Chairman Neil Farrington considered it appropriate to “give voters an opportunity to decide whether they want marijuana in their neighborhood.”

Board members were unanimous in presenting the proposed appropriation. Adding running water is a step toward readying the building for potential use as an emergency shelter. It is already used for voting and occasional meetings.

The other major topic at the April 17 meeting was a presentation by retired teachers Anita Smith and Elaine Philbrook on the China School Forest. Using about 50 acres of the 75-acre property the town bought in 1984 for the new primary school, ball fields and other education-related purposes, forest supporters are celebrating the 20th year after its 1997 designation as a Maine Outstanding Tree Farm.

The forest belongs to the town, not the school department, and is open to residents of all ages for walking, bird-watching and similar activities. It also serves as a classroom and a source of natural resources, Philbrook and Smith said.

Forest Field Day will be held Friday, May 26, rain or shine, with a variety of activities for China elementary students and the public. On Saturday, Oct. 14, Maine Project Learning Tree, the state division of the international environmental educational organization, will hold its 40th anniversary celebration in China’s forest.

Selectmen commended Philbrook and Smith for their many hours of volunteer work in and for the school forest.

In other business April 17, Four Seasons Club President Frank Soares described the club’s changed plan to use its $50,000 appropriation from China’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing) program. Some of the proposed trail work was done at no charge by Coutts Brothers, Inc., so the club plans to improve additional trail mileage and to divert $5,000 to replace the dock at its swimming beach, Soares said.

Selectman Breton questioned the legality of adding dock replacement to a TIF project authorized by town voters. L’Heureux will check out the issue.

Club contractors and volunteers use state guidelines for multi-use trails, Soares said; trails are available for walking and horseback riding as well as use by four-wheelers and snowmobiles. He said the club has state approval to take out a beaver dam on Hunter Brook that has flooded a trail section.

China fire and rescue chiefs submitted a preliminary proposal for distributing the $44,000 voters approved at the March town meeting for stipends for volunteer firefighters and rescue personnel. More discussion is scheduled for May, after each department has discussed the plan.

Breton and Farrington, who received the proposal the morning of April 17, said there was also agreement that at least one selectman will attend each quarterly joint meeting of the emergency services, as a liaison between the selectboard and the services.

Selectmen appointed the following committee members:

  • Christopher Hahn to the China for a Lifetime Committee;
  • Lindsey Harwath to the Thurston Park II Committee;
  • Belanger and Breton as China’s representatives on the Regional School Unit #18 cost-sharing committee; and
  • Farrington, Tod Detre, Robert O’Connor and Raymond Robert to the Broadband Committee.