Group holds celebrity dinner to benefit crisis center

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The Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center hosted its 17th annual Celebrity Dinner on September 17. The event was attended by more than 250 community members and raised over $53,600, an event record. One hundred percent of the proceeds from this event will assist the SAC&SC in providing services to individuals impacted by sexual violence. A fully-staffed and highly-trained Sexual Assault Support line available 24 hours a day, support groups, advocacy, school-based prevention education and Children’s Advocacy Center are all provided free of charge to the Kennebec and Somerset counties’ communities.

The Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center is in its 29th year of providing services. Thanks to donors, supporters and community partners, SAC&SC added a multi-disciplinary program to provide services to the youngest victims of sexual violence. The Children’s Advocacy Center has served over 1,080 children to date.

The Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center’s mission is to lessen the trauma-related suffering of sexual assault and promote healing by guiding those affected by sexual violence toward survival through support, advocacy, education and community collaboration.page8pict1

Above, celebrity waiters, front row, left to right, Wes Huckey, Jay Hanson, Karen Kearney, Dr. Pamela Boivin, Maeghan Maloney, Donnie Whitten, Julie Buffington, Kris McCabe, Joy McKenna, Shon Theriault, Adrienne Bennett and Kevin Ostowski. Back, Mike Gilbert, Ryan Reardon, Randall Keaten, Jason Madore, Ross Cunningham, Jennifer Seekins, Tina Chapman, Jennifer Day, William Harwood, Sarah Fuller, Michelle Galego, Russ Murley, Hannah Longley and Kristen Murray-James.

Below, the staff, left to right, Deanna Walker, Sean Landry, Kathleen Paradis, Susan MacMaster Beaulieu, Jenna McCarty Mayhew, Samantha Marquis, Kathleen Auclair, Sara Bangs and Donna Strickler.

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SOLON & BEYOND, Week of October 13, 2016

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Solon and Beyondby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy!

Historian Steve Pinkham will discuss the naming of the Carrabassett at the Stewart Public Library in North Anson on October 17, at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend this well-researched topic.
Received an e-mail from the Somerset Woods Trustees…I don’t know about you, but every time I go to a store, I either have forgotten my reusable bags or I don’t have enough. Here’s your chance to stock up on a few extra to keep in your car so you will always have enough when needed and help Somerset Woods Trustees improve our preserves for you and our communities.

“Launch Day’ for the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program was the first day of October. They have the entire month of October, in which they will receive $1 from each blue Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag purchased at the Skowhegan Hannaford location.

Please show your support by purchasing these beautifully designed, blue reusable bags with the good karma messaging at Hannaford! They can be found at the reusable bag rack and various registers.

These bags are much stronger than most and hold more groceries!

The ‘modest’ goal is to sell 1,000 bags but they have only the month of October. Went up to Bingham one day recently to see if I could find out information about the wind tower project. It is just about completed and was told that the small trailers used for offices will be moved and the building on Rte. 201 which was used as head quarters will be vacant by November 1.

The project to erect 56 towers took around two years to complete, and 80 percent of the workers employed were from Maine.

You can see many of these approximately 330-foot tall towers as you travel up Route 16 from Moscow to Kingsbury. They held up traffic in some of Maine’s rural roads, especially on corners, getting to their final destination.

I told two of the ones I talked to about going for a ride and seeing the huge blades turning very, very slowly when there wasn’t even a breeze blowing. How they laughed, they said up where the towers were there definitely was wind blowing!

One of the guys that I talked with was Dominique Cyr, he is the project engineer, and his words were, “It’s nice to see them all running when they are done.”

Don’t know how many of you may have seen Dan Cassidy’s column INside the OUTside, when he wrote about this same project in The Town Line. He called it, Bingham, Mayfield and Kingsbury become wind power sites in his article back in July. It was very interesting and informative.

Percy’s memoir this week is… New Beginnings. How often we wish for another chance To make a fresh beginning, A chance to blot out our mistakes And change failure into winning – And it does not take a new year to make a brand new start, To try with all your heart To live a little better And to always be forgiving And to add a little “sunshine” To the world in which we’re living – So never give up in despair And think that you are through, For there’s always a tomorrow And a chance to start anew. (words by Helen Steiner Rice.)

TIF meeting rescheduled

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China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee canceled the meeting scheduled for Oct. 10. The committee’s next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening, Nov. 9, in the town office. Updated plans for improved boating and fishing access at the head of China Lake’s east basin will be a major agenda agenda item. A question on China’s Nov. 8 local ballot asks voters to appropriate funds to buy a parcel of land as part of the project.

Effort underway to improve cottontail habitat

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

I was encouraged to hear recently of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s renewed effort to create more habitat for the New England Cottontail.

New England cottontails, Sylvilagus transitionalis, were once a common sight along the coast, but as old fields turned to forest, and farmland became developed, habitat for this distinctively New England species diminished and their numbers declined. New England cottontails need shrub lands and young forests to thrive.

At one time, the New England cottontail was the only rabbit east of the Hudson River, until the Eastern cottontail was introduced in the late 1800s.

Until the 1950s, the New England cottontail was considered the more abundant species in New England. By the 1960s, biologists noticed that the Eastern cottontail was replacing the New England cottontail throughout New England.

New England cottontail

New England Cottontail

Today, the Eastern cottontail is far more abundant, except in Maine, where the New England cottontail remains the only rabbit. But, it is confined to southern Maine. It is still found in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York, however, the species range had been reduced by more than 80 percent by 1960. Today, the New England cottontail’s range is 86 percent less. The numbers are going in the wrong direction.

Because of this decline in numbers, the New England cottontail is a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Cottontail hunting has been restricted in some areas where the Eastern and New England cottontails coexist in order to protect the New England cottontail populations.

According to at least one study the cottontails’ historic range also included a small part of southern Québec, from which it is extirpated.

In order to merely survive, a single New England cottontail requires at least two-and-a-half acres of suitable habitat. For long-term security and persistence, 10 rabbits need at least 25 acres. Over the last 100 years, forests throughout New England have aged. As shade from the canopy of mature trees increases, understory vegetation thins and no longer provides sufficient New England cottontail habitat.

Eastern Top, New England below

Eastern Top, New England below

It’s not easy to distinguish the difference between Eastern and New England cottontails. The New England cottontail has shorter ears, slightly smaller body size, a black line on the anterior edge of the ears, a black spot between the ears and no white spot on the forehead. The skulls of the two species are also quite different and are a reliable means of distinguishing the two.

The major factor in the decline of the New England cottontails is habitat destruction from the reduced thicket habitat. Before Europeans settled, the New England cottontails were likely found along river valleys, where disturbances in the forest, such as beaver activity, ice storms, hurricanes and wildfires promoted thicket growth. Development has eliminated a large portion of that habitat.

However, there are other factors in the equation:

  • The introduction of more than 200,000 Eastern cottontails, mostly by hunting clubs, greatly harmed the New England cottontail because the Eastern cottontails are more diverse in their diet.  They also have a slightly better ability to avoid predators. Known predators of the New England cottontail include birds of prey, coyotes, Canadian lynx and bobcats. To avoid predators, New England cottontails run for cover, “freeze” and rely on their cryptic coloration; or, when running, follow a zig-zag pattern to confuse the predator. Because New England cottontail habitat is small and has less vegetative cover, they must forage more often in the open, leaving them vulnerable.
  • The introduction of invasive plant species such as multiflora rose, honeysuckle bush anbd autumn olive in the 20th century may have displaced many native species that provided food for the New England cottontails.
  • An increase in population and density of white-tailed deer in the same range as the New England cottontails also damaged populations, because deer eat many of the same plants and damage the density of understory plants providing vital thicket habitat.

That’s why the plan to create more habitat for the New England cottontail in the Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area is a step in the right direction to restore the species to its historic numbers.

Selectmen take no action on potential senior services

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by Mary Grow

China selectmen continued to talk about potential services for senior citizens at their Oct. 3 meeting, while agreeing they could take no action until they see whether voters support their Nov. 8 request for $3,800 to fund a survey of senior residents’ needs. Board members Joann Austin and Neil Farrington reported briefly on a Maine Council on Aging conference they attended, sparking a discussion of possible senior housing or medical amenities China might develop.

Austin doubts a town as small as China would appeal to a commercial developer of elderly housing. However, she said, a representative of Volunteers of America, an organization that has two assisted living facilities in northern Massachusetts (but according to its website, none in Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont) expressed interest in talking with China selectmen and looking at the Fairpoint building on Route 3. Farrington has suggested the Fairpoint building could house a medical center, a day care for children and the elderly or both.

China officials are also discussing with Vassalboro officials provision of bus transportation for residents of both towns.

In other business Oct. 3, board members appointed two Palermo representatives, Cheryl York and Dwain McKenney, to the Transfer Station Committee. Palermo will begin using China’s transfer station in January 2017.

Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux said the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee has already spent “a few thousand” dollars of the up-to-$50,000 authorized at the March town meeting on planning and engineering costs associated with planned recreational development at the head of China Lake’s east basin.

He asked for and got from the selectmen approval to approve continued spending as engineer Mark McCluskey of A. E. Hodson organizes a meeting with state Department of Environ­mental Protection staff to discuss issues involved in applying for a permit for the work.

China voters are asked to express their views on this issue on Nov. 8, too. One ballot question asks voters to approve an expenditure of up to $12,000 to acquire a parcel of land for parking, as part of the plan; and proposed amendments to the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance include a change that would clear the way for the proposed fishing platforms over China Lake. Representatives of the State Police and Kennebec County Sheriff’s department attended the meeting to suggest additional ways to deal with mischief and nuisances on China’s back roads.

The next regular China selectmen’s meeting is the evening of Oct. 17. It will be held at China Middle School and will be preceded by a 6 p.m. public hearing on the Nov. 8 local ballot questions.

Obituaries, Week of October 13, 2016

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RICHARD BLACK

WHITEFIELD––Richard F. Black, 77, of Whitefield, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2016, at the Country Manor Nursing Home, in Coopers Mills. Born on April 15, 1939, in Waldoboro, he was the son of Raymond and Eleanor (Marshell) Black.

Richard was a super person and a wonderful big brother. He loved working carnivals, fishing, watching western movies, and listening to country music.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Judy (Leathers) Black; brothers, Eddie and Andy Black; and sisters, Gloria Norton and Judith Greene.

He is survived by daughter, Debbie (Black) Smith, of Eugene, Oregon; sister, Priscilla M. Sumabat; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.

CARL J. SCHROEDER

SOUTH CHINA – Carl J. Schroeder, 68, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2016, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta following a 7 ½-month battle with lung cancer. The first child of Donald Richard (“Popper”) and Dorothy Viola Konitz (“Grammy”) Schroeder, he was born on December 17, 1947, in New Haven, Connecticut.

He enjoyed an adventure-filled childhood and graduated from Hamden High School, Hamden, Connecticut, in 1965, then went on to Southern Connecticut State College and received a B.S. degree in 1969, having majored in industrial arts with a concentration in graphic arts. From 1962 through 1969, he was also a member of the Order of DeMolay.

Despite his aversion to studies he became a well-regarded teacher, beginning with a stint at Joseph A. DePaolo Middle School, in Southington, Connecticut. He also worked for Radio Shack prior to moving to Maine. He and his young family settled in Dresden close to his parents, allowing him to partner with his father in the electronics business. During the 1980s, he taught industrial arts at Hodgkins School, in Augusta, marketing for vocational technical students, and computer operation for adults.

Carl was an independent sort and went into business for himself in the 1990s as a cabinet-maker/contractor/carpenter and never looked back. His great love was to make sawdust and hope something good would fall out of it. That happened 99 percent of the time. He could make or do nearly anything he set his mind to. His mother-in-law once called him the curly-haired genius.

Other interests included collecting and using guns; photography and working on classic cars. Carl enjoyed showing off his 1969 Camaro convertible, fully restored, and his 1966 Avanti II. He was a member of the Maine Obsolete Automobile League, Inc. (MOALS) and the Avanti Owners Association International, Inc.

He was an advocate for Compassion International, and had sponsored several children in foreign countries.

In recent years, he began an online music ministry, sharing his Christian music and songs from other artists. He produced CDs as well, and was working on a Christmas album with dear and talented friends at the time of his death.

One of his favorite places was Swan’s Island, right off Bass Harbor, and he managed to get there one last time for a short visit. He will be missed by his island friends.

Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Emily; son Don and wife Sue, of Dresden, granddaughter Eva; daughter Carla Thomas and her husband Andrew, of Farmingdale; mother Dorothy, of Hallowell; sister Dot Jespersen and her husband Ron, of Pittston; nieces Lori Decker, of Ocala, Florida, and Kris Prindle and her husband Adrian, of Windsor; grandnieces and cousins; former wife, Gail, of Gardiner.

Friends are encouraged to donate to the charity of their choice in Carl’s memory or to any of the following:

South China Community Church, P.O. Box 335, South China, ME 04358; American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123, www.cancer.org; Compassion International,
12290 Voyager Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921-3668, www.compassion.com.
Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at www.plummerfh.com.

Arrangements were under the direction of Plummer Funeral Home, 983 Ridge Rd., Windsor.

ROBERT M. LEVESQUE

WINSLOW – Robert M. Levesque, 74, passed away on Saturday, October 1, 2016, at Inland Hospital, in Waterville. He was born on September 18, 1942, in Bangor, son of Robert and Sophie (Prszybilski) Levesque.

He was a resident of Orrington and a 1960 graduate of Brewer High School.ROBERT M. LEVESQUE

Robert was a jet engine mechanic in the Air National Guard at the former Dow AFB, in Bangor, a truck driver, and bus mechanic for Waterville School Department.

A loving father and grandfather Robert enjoyed spending time with family, watching his grandchildren’s sports and other recreational events. He built his own home, and enjoyed woodworking.

Robert is survived by his wife Dianne; sons, Michael and wife Sibel, Monte and wife Jessica, Matthew and wife Joan, and Benjamin and wife Tomi; grandchildren, Michael Jr., Melanie, Angela, Nicole, Laura, Colby, Emily, Brenden, Jackson, and Madison; great-grandchildren, Chloe, Isabella, Colin, and Alexander; brothers, Richard and companion Earlene, and Steve and wife Sara; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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

ALBERTA N. CRAIG

SOUTH CHINA – Alberta ‘Bunny” Nowland Craig, 99, passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2016. She was born on October 11, 1916 in Windsor, the third child of the late Arthur V. & Ethel (Cummings) Nowland.

ALBERTA N. CRAIGBunny started her education at Windsor Grammar School and continued on with many long walks to Erskine Academy with her siblings to graduate in the class of 1936. She was last surviving member of her class.

Nearing her 100th birthday, the last of her family of eight, she was predeceased by her first-born at birth, Sandra Lee in 1941; her parents, sisters Virginia Nowland (1971); Phyllis Cunningham (2008); sisters-in-law Violet Nowland (2008) and Barbara Nowland (2012); brothers, Dean Nowland (1983); C. Frederick Nowland (2006); Everett (2009); Cecil (2009); Maland (2013); brother-in-law Al Cunningham (1994) and nephews, Gary Cunningham and Steven Nowland.

Bunny became a single mom at an early age and, as they say, it takes a village to raise a child. In our case, it took the Nowland family to provide care in her place, thus enabling her to better herself for her daughter. She went to work at Keene’s Grocery Store (later known as Bernard’s Foodland) in order to support the two of them and go on to college to get a more profitable job. She was soon able to begin working at Depositors Trust Bank at several different branches in Augusta, continuing on many years after it became Key Bank.

Retiring in the late 70s after a fall on the ice while walking to work, breaking vertebrae in her back, making it difficult for her to continue, she decided to retire. It was a hard decision as she enjoyed her co-workers and many customers, a special one being Bill Forbes from Augusta Police Department, friends to this day.

After recovering with her daughter and family, she returned home to help her brothers care for their aging mom. She also enjoyed being near her daughters family including her grandchildren. Soon, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren came to know her as Nana or great-nana.

Survivors include her daughter, Gloria E. Strout and her husband, Arthur, of South China; her five grandchildren: Dennis Strout and wife, Susan; Lenwood Strout and wife, Tammy; Kenneth Strout, Sr. and wife, Tina; Kevin Strout and wife, Cindy and Keri Strout. She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren, Trevor Strout, Tricia Strout, Heather St. Amand and husband, Mark; Kenneth Strout, Jr. and wife Kayla; Zach Strout and wife, Sarah, Cody Strout, Colby Strout and Hannah Strout. In addition, Nana leaves four great-great grandchildren, Bryan, Liam, Ainsley and Josiah; several nieces and nephews as well as great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., 2600 Network Blvd., Suite 300, Frisco, Texas 75034, and/or, if you are able, lend a hand to someone in need which would warm her heart and put a smile on her face.

Condolences, stories and photos may be shared through the funeral home website at: www.plummerfh.com.

GLENNIS J. HOLT

BENTON – Glennis J. Holt, 79, passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2016, at Inland Hospital, in Waterville, following a year-long battle with heart disease. Glennis was born in Unity to Charles Dinsmore and Charlotte M. Good. She resided there until 1957, when she married her husband, Gerald Willie Holt in Muldraugh, Kentucky, while he served in the military. In the fall of 1964, they moved to Benton where she lived for the remainder of her life.GLENNIS J. HOLT

Glennis had various part time jobs throughout the years, but her primary job was mother to her three children and caretaker of the home. Glennis was an avid Red Sox fan, even as a child she enjoyed listening to them on the radio. She also loved to cook, to travel and most importantly, loved spending time with her grandchildren. Glennis was a charter member of the East Benton Christian Church and her faith gave her strength and remained strong until the end.

Glennis is survived by her husband of 59 years, Gerald Holt, of Benton; sons, Jeff Holt, of Benton, and Andy Holt and wife Wendy Wood-Holt, of Gray, Tennessee, daughter Debra Holt-Kelley and husband Keith, of Dixmont; grandchildren, Alex Holt and Kaylee Holt-Hunter; great grandchildren Ava and Aiden Hunter; sisters, Shirley Chadwick and Beverly Fowler, brother Stanley Dinsmore and wife Donna, brother-in-law Joe Eeva, predeceased by his wife and her sister Gertrude Eeva; and many nieces and nephews.

An online guestbook may be signed and thoughts expressed at www.lawrybrothers.com.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. June Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105.

DANA R. HARRIS

FAIRFIELD – DanDANA R. HARRISa Richard Harris, 57, of Fairfield passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, at his home on Tues­day, Oct­ober 4, 2016. He was the son of Richard and Marlene (Ham) Harris and was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on November 11, 1958. He grew up in Winslow and graduated from Winslow High School in 1977.

Following graduation, Dana worked for Levine’s in sales and apartment maintenance. He went on to become a talented certified welder, licensed plumber and long-distance truck driver. Dana worked in construction much of his life, including for Reed & Reed and Cianbro Corp., where he earned the nickname “Doc.” He was especially proud of his part in the construction of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, and he set the observation deck canopy when it was complete. For the past two years, he very much enjoyed working with the staff at L.N. Violette and with the customers he served in the area.

Dana loved antique automobiles and motorcycles, had a deep appreciation for history and items from the past, and could fix anything. He knew many interesting people across the state and had lots of stories to tell. He was happiest working in the woods or in his barn.

Dana is survived by his mother and father of Winslow; his sister, Allison Watson and her husband Michael, of Fairfield; and will be especially missed by his brother, Marty Harris and Rhonda Kennedy, of Oakland; his aunt and uncle, Wayne and Peggy Ham, of Winslow, an uncle, Harold Stevens, of Florida; his great-aunt Evelyn Phair, of Brunswick; and cousins, a niece and nephews.
An online guestbook may be signed and thoughts expressed at www.lawrybrothers.com.

VIVIAN S. DANIELS

WHITEFIELD – Vivian S Daniels, 90, of Whitefield, passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at home from congestive heart failure. Vivian was born in New Jersey on December 13, 1925.

She lived and worked in Florida for 15 years before moving to Whitefield in 1977 where she has lived for the last 39 years.

She worked at the Winthrop Mineral Shop for several years before retiring in 1990.

Vivian was a long time member of the Young at Heart Senior Citizens Club, of Whitefield. She was an avid Bingo player playing twice a week in Wiscasset and Gardiner. She enjoyed doing word search and picture puzzles.

She was predeceased by her parents, Frederick N. Scott and Maybele Winford Garnier.

Vivian leaves behind two sons, Dale G. Daniels and wife Jalaine Bryant, of Whitefield, and Frederick A. Daniels and wife Debbie Daniels ,of Patalaska, Ohio, one daughter Grace Daniels, of Whitefield; grandson John, Matthew and wife Melissa Daniels, of Whitefield; three great- grandkids Reece, Mary, and Marc; several step grandchildren Steven, Nicole, Chris, Shane, Julia; step great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Keema, Reynatio, Laney, Carl, McKenzie, and Rhyder.

OTHERS DEPARTED

BRANT R. PERRY, 63, of Chelsea, passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at his home. Locally, he is survived by a brother, Robert Perry, of Windsor.

Planners approve indoor licensed marijuana growing facility

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by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Planning Board members unanimously approved the town’s second locally-licensed indoor marijuana-growing facility at their Oct. 4 meeting.

Applicant Mike Kelley represented half a dozen licensed caregivers who intend to grow marijuana in the former craft shop on Route 3, on property more recently the site of the MacKenzie Landscaping satellite business.

Kelley plans no changes to the exterior of the building. There will be no retail traffic; only licensed caregivers are allowed inside the growing area, he said. Primary access will be from Whitehoue Road rather than from busier Route 3.

Kelley said someone will be on the property at all times for security. The odor control plan involves fans and filters, which will not create significant noise outside the building.

Neighbors had been notified, as required by town ordinance. None attended the Oct. 4 meeting.
Planning Board members found the project meets all Vassalboro ordinance requirements.

Codes Officer Richard Dolby said there have been no complaints about Vassalboro’s other town-licensed marijuana-growing business on Cushnoc Road.

Selectmen appoint new police chief

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by Mary Grow

Vassalboro selectmen have appointed Mark Brown of Vassalboro to succeed Richard Phippen as town police chief.

At the selectmen’s Oct. 6 meeting, board members Lauchlin Titus and Robert Browne accepted Town Manager Mary Sabins’ recommendation to hire Brown. Titus said board Chairman Philip Haines, who was unable to attend the meeting, had interviewed Brown.

Sabins said Brown will be deputy chief for two or three weeks, until his certification is renewed. Phippen announced his planned retirement in August.

In other business, Sabins read a letter from planning board alternate member Paul Breton resigning his position, effective immediately. Residents interested in serving on the planning board are invited to contact the town office.

The alternate member participates in planning oard discussions, but votes only when a full member is absent. In the past, if a full member resigned or retired the alternate was usually offered his or her seat.

Selectmen reviewed Sabins’ draft of a three-page survey on transportation needs and approved distributing it at the polls on Nov. 8. Residents will be asked to take the survey home to fill out, rather than spending extra time in the town office Nov.

The board approved a consent agreement with resident Bernard Welch resolving Welch’s violations of town ordinance, in return for payment of a fine and reimbursement for town legal fees.

The next regular Vassalboro selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.

Letters to the editor, Week of October 13, 2016

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Rebutts two letters

To the editor:

I want to thank Messrs. Pauley and White for their letters to the editor regarding the campaign for House District #79 and for providing me this opportunity to set the record straight.

With regard to Mr. Pauley’s letter, I have been a wildlife advocate in Maine for more than 20 years. I am also a sportsman. During that time I have seen how broken and corrupt Maine’s system of fish and wildlife management is. The special interest group that he identified as targeting me for defeat is benefiting from this corruption. They have tried multiple times to take away all of our rights to petition the government for citizens referendums on fish and wildlife issues. I believe in government of, by, and for the people and I believe that we need to identify corruption in government and get rid of it. No wonder they want to keep me out of the legislature. The people of Maine deserve a government that represents all of us, not just the special interests.

Regarding wolves, I am an advocate for a healthy ecosystem. Wolves are native to Maine and are essential for a healthy, complete ecosystem. I have never advocated bringing wolves into Maine. Mr. Pauley’s comment that, “I suspect that if wolves wanted to be in Maine, they would be in Maine” is an interesting one. In fact, wolves are attempting to naturally return to Maine but are being killed in the process. Unfortunately, neither our state nor federal governments are giving these animals the legal protection they are entitled to. I encourage folks to go to www.mainewolfcoalition.org for factual information on the status of wolves in the northeast. Because of their close proximity to Maine and our abundance of natural prey (beaver, moose, deer) and habitat, wolves will recolonize Maine and it is up to us to be educated and informed about them. Because the state of Maine refuses to do so, it is up to us to educate ourselves.

With regard to Mr. White’s letter, it is true that I visited the property and I did respond to one question, “That is a no brainer.” Mr. White left out a few other aspects of my visit. When I arrived at the property as part of my door to door campaigning, a number of people were sitting around a campfire consuming alcohol. I was not “asked” to leave, I was ordered to “get off my property.” Of the many hundreds of homes I have visited during the campaign, this is the only one where I was told to leave and I promptly did so. During the five or ten minutes that I was there talking with folks, I was asked a number of questions by several different people regarding my stances on several issues including the North Woods National Monument. I truthfully answered all of their questions (some weren’t happy with my answers) and I stated that I support the National Monument and that it was a no-brainer. From an economic standpoint, the creation of the monument is a no-brainer. The 87,000 acre donation of public land has now been completed, the National Monument has been created, and the local economy is already benefiting from visitors.

Concerning his claim that I stated that I, “…drew a big salary and did nothing…” I worked for the people of Maine for nearly three decades, most of that time in the Department of Environmental Protection. As many people know, and as all DEP staff, past and present know, this governor ran for office on an anti-DEP, anti-environmental enforcement platform. My career happened to be working for the DEP in water enforcement. For the last 5-6 years with the DEP, I was given so little work that I had nothing to do some 90 percent of the time. I am not proud of this. I am disgusted that given the environmental problems and issues in our state, DEP staff are paid to sit in the office and do nothing because people in positions of power don’t want to rock the boat. This is a major reason why I am running for the legislature.

It is this kind of government waste and corruption that I intend to eliminate if I am elected. I would add that it is easy to throw stones and complain. It is not easy to put yourself out there, expose yourself to lies and half-truths, and actually work to make things better.

John M. Glowa, Sr.
South China

Christians need to get involved

To the editor:

In less than a month, American voters will go to the polls and select their choice of who will become the 45th President of the United States of America, the most powerful office in the world.
Our founders recognized early on that the perfect foundation for a good government could only come through the blessings of God.

But once again, it is quite obvious that we have allowed our Government, our Courts, our Churches and Ourselves to succumb to a cancerous deterioration of our Founding Christian principles.

We see it every day through the TV lens, the constant continual moral decay that will eventually bring us to a course that knows no redemption.

America, our complacency is destroying us. Why aren’t professing Christians speaking up?

Isn’t it time for the body of Christ to awaken from its apathy and act responsibly?

If we fail to express our opinions, others will be more than happy to make decisions for us.

Let us never forget that we are a government, “Of the People, by the People and for the People.”

It says in II Tim. 4:3: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Less than 60 percent of eligible Christians actually vote or are even registered to vote.

Christians, We need to Get Involved!

Gene V. Graves
Rockport

Vote No on Question 3

To the editor:

As a former member of the NRA and owner of a pistol and rifle, and also passed a background check, the following dawned on me.

Question 3 needs to be defeated because, too late for me and others who passed the, but in my opinion this law is a government “stealth” way to keep records on all us law abiding citizens. Why? Just like in Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the regime feared a possible uprising. How to be ahead of this possibility? Have all citizens register their weapons. By the late ‘30s, with all gun owners registered, the Gestapo quickly confiscated all the registered guns, claiming “national security.” Sound familiar? Vote “No” on Question 3, and remain free.

Frank Slason
Somerville

Waterville Art Society honors founders

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At an opening reception, Thursday, October 6, Waterville Area Art Society founders Patricia Binette, Fairfield, and Pauline Turner, a 40-year resident of China, were honored for their many years of teaching and inspiring other artists and for their continued dedication to the Art Society.

The 30th Anniversary Art Show, on view through October 28 at the Winslow Public Library, features work from the four founders including Marilyn Dwelley, of Florida, formerly of China, and the late Peggy Stowers. Forty-four members and former members are represented in the 90 pieces of art. An impressive range of styles and media are found in the exhibit, including pieces sent from as far away as Florida and Alabama.

Patricia Binette and Pauline Turner

Patricia Binette, left, and Pauline Turner stand in front of a display of their work at an opening reception honoring them at the 30th anniversary of the Waterville Area Art Society they co-founded with Marilyn Dwelley and the late Peggy Stowers. Contributed photo

Society president Amy Cyrway, co-owner of the Framemakers, in Waterville, gave a brief history of the organization and told the 50 to 60 people present about the four founders and their impact on arts in the Greater Waterville Area and beyond.

The art society holds two-member shows once a year and is co-sponsor of an annual juried art show that draws entrants from across Maine.