Purnell Wrigley Field dedicated in Waterville

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by Mark Huard

Major League Baseball Chicago Cubs All Star pitcher and former Boston Red Sox, Lee Smith, was on hand at the renovation site on Wednesday, September 7, for a ground breaking ceremony and celebration dinner. Lee Smith reflected on his all-star career and how Waterville’s completely accessible replica of Wrigley will positively impact the youth of Waterville, statewide and beyond!

This ceremony also honored and recognized Hall of Fame college baseball coach, Dr. John Winkin and Maine native Clyde Sukeforth, a former MLB alumni who was instrumental in signing Jackie Robinson to the Major Leagues.

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Lee Smith

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Lee Smith, left, who pitched for both the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, was on hand on September 7 for the dedication of the new Purnell Wrigley Field Little League complex, named in honor of long-time director Fran Purnell, right. More photos on available here. Photo by Central Maine Photography staff

A special tribute was given to Fran Purnell who coached, managed, and developed baseball in Waterville at this very field for over 45 years. Fran still coaches the “Challenger Program” for kids with disabilities, a program that will be the cornerstone of the new $1.4 million Purnell Wrigley Field sponsored by Major League Baseball Tomorrow Fund, The Harold Alfond

Foundation, North East Turf, Inc., the city of Waterville and numerous other benefactors.
Purnell Wrigley Field joins the Harold Alfond Fenway Park, in Oakland, as the only two licensed replica turfed fields in the country – located right here in Central Maine. CEO, Ken Walsh of the Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA at the Alfond Youth Center said, “These fields give kids the opportunity to feel like real Major League players! The turf not only gives everyone the chance to play but extends the baseball season here in Maine, giving kids more time to develop their skills and learn sportsmanship while playing the game they love. The Purnell Wrigley Field is truly a grass roots community project built on the support of many and varied contributors of monetary and in-kind gifts. It’s a wonderful project honoring the legacy of some terrific ‘home town’ heroes.”

For more information, contact Ken Walsh, CEO Alfond Youth Center 207-649-1824 or kwalsh@alfondyouthcenter.org. www.clubayc.org; www.mainesfenway.org; www.newenglandsportscamps.org.

Unity College students trek to newest U.S. national monument

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Several dozen Unity College students and staff visited Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument on September 10, in advance of a Unity College talk later this week by Lucas St. Clair, the successful advocate for creation of the national monument.

The goal of Saturday’s outing was to get to know Maine’s newest destination and to scout recreational, curricular, and other opportunities afforded by the new designation. Members of Unity College Student Activities led 33 Unity College students – clad in hunters orange Katahdin Woods and Waters T-shirts – and other members of the Unity College community on hikes, a visit to the ranger station in Millinocket, and other local attractions as part of the trip.

Students and staff who trekked to Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument. Contributed photo

Students and staff who trekked to Katahdin Woods and Water National Monument.
Contributed photo

“We had been following developments on the formation of the national monument quite closely,” Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said. “When we heard this exciting news, we wanted to be among the first to bring our students there to check out the possibilities.”

Khoury called the monument designation “a powerful act of philanthropy, of private and public entities working together to share the awesome responsibility of stewarding our natural resources for future generations.”

On August 24, President Barack Obama signed an executive order under the Antiquities Act creating the 87,500-acre Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. The move capped a multi-year campaign that balanced values of conservation and industry in an area riven by the collapse of numerous paper mills.

Obama’s order praised the land as rich in culture, natural beauty, and “significant biodiversity,” designated the area a national monument, and directed the National Park Service to manage it for a diverse range of public use.

The monument encompasses the Katahdin region, already a popular destination for outdoor recreation and home to a wide diversity of wildlife, spectacular mountains (including Mount Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak), important historical resources, and areas of great cultural significance. The monument contains opportunities for hiking, camping, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling; those uses are fully protected and enhanced under the president’s order.

“Not every place in the country has an environment where a new national monument is formed. Our students have a bird’s-eye view of it,” Unity College Associate Professor of Parks and Forest Resources Tom Mullin said. “This is really a perfect live example of conservation in action – a chance to see how preservation works, both at a policy level and on the ground, only two hours from campus.”

The field trip came in advance of a talk on the Unity campus this week by the person who spearheaded the drive to create the national monument.

Elliottsville Plantation Inc. President Lucas St. Clair, who led the successful campaign to have his family’s land declared a national monument, will speak at the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts, 42 Depot St., Unity, as part of the annual Maine Woods Forever roundtable, 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 16. The event – a partnership between Unity College and Maine Woods Forever – is free and open to the public and the media.

“America’s Environmental College continues to help convene conversations that matter deeply to the people of Maine,” Khoury said of St. Clair’s talk. “With academic programs ranging from Wildlife Biology to Adventure Therapy and Parks and Forest Resources, Unity students and faculty are in the perfect position to help evaluate and experience the economic, environmental, and social impact of a major initiative like the new national monument.”

“Because Maine is our classroom, I’m looking forward to talking with Mr. St. Clair about the educational opportunities that could accompany formation of the national monument,” Khoury said. “This is truly a significant development for anyone who loves Maine, appreciates our natural resources, and understands their importance to Maine’s economic and social health.”

“As an educator, I’m excited to hear more about the process that led to this historic decision,” Mullin said. “Our students will benefit greatly hearing from Lucas how a major national monument came to be, and how it will be implemented going forward.”

Historical society members visit marine museum

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Several members of the Pslermo Historical Society visited the Penobscot Msrine Museum on August 31 during the museum’s free admission for Waldo County residents.

page6pict1Contributed photo

 

Local referendum and election of officials on November 8 ballot

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by Mary Grow

Vassalboro voters will have two local referendum questions and one local election on a Nov. 8 ballot, in addition to state and national decisions.

The referenda ask if voters will approve amendments to the town’s shoreland zoning ordinance and will appropriate up to $58,600 from surplus toward a $293,000 project to build sidewalks in East Vassalboro, with a federal grant covering the bulk of the cost. If the audience at the Sept. 8 public hearings on the two questions was representative of the town, the second question will be the more controversial.

The election is for Vassalboro’s representative on the Kennebec Water District, for three years. Gary Coull currently holds the position. Nomination papers are available at the town office; signed papers must be returned to the town clerk by Monday, Sept. 26, for candidates’ names to appear on the ballot.

Copies of the proposed shoreland zoning ordinance amendments are available on the Vassalboro website. Major changes involve rules for enlarging shorefront camps and houses that are too close to the water to meet current requirements.

Vassalboro now limits expansion to 15 percent of the existing structure, defined by floor area or volume. The proposed ordinance would allow up to 30 percent expansion, defined by floor area only. Depending on and varying with the distance between the building and the water, there are other size and height restrictions conforming to state standards.

At a Sept. 8 public hearing, Codes Officer Richard Dolby and planning board members emphasized that the changes, most of which copy recent changes in state guidelines, would make it easier for many waterfront property owners to enlarge their homes or camps.

“The [planning] board has gone a long way to utilize the allowances that the state thinks are reasonable,” Dolby said.

Veteran board member Douglas Phillips called the proposed ordinance “far less restrictive” than the current one and “a welcome change for people who have shoreland property.”

If voters reject the changes on Nov. 8, the current ordinance will remain as it is.

A second public hearing, on the request for funds for East Vassalboro sidewalks, found the audience of about 30 people divided into three groups. Some people want the sidewalks; some cannot see where they would fit in the built-up area; a few object to spending town money on a project that would benefit only a small section of Vassalboro.

To the last group, sidewalk proponent Holly Weidner replied that more than 2,500 vehicles go through East Vassalboro daily, bringing people from all parts of town and outside to the boat landing, library, Grange Hall and other public buildings. Sidewalks would make the area safer not only for residents but for drivers and cyclists.

Patrick Adams, manager of bicycle and pedestrian programs for the state Department of Transportation, emphasized repeatedly that no decisions have been made about finding space for a sidewalk. His role, he said, is to balance needs of motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to maximize safety for everyone.

The state will rebuild Route 32 in the next few years (the original 2018 date might be pushed back to 2019) and will add five-foot shoulders on each side, creating a wider vehicle pathway that will encourage drivers to go faster, he said.

Residents said drivers already routinely ignore the 25-mile-an-hour limit, leading to a discussion of enforcing speed limits as a complementary or alternative way to increase safety. Enforcement, too, costs money; it is not a permanent solution and would be paid for entirely by the town, Weidner said.

Because houses are close to Main Street on both sides, people were concerned that a sidewalk would come almost to homeowners’ front doors, would eliminate parking space for their vehicles in their driveways and would limit parking at the post office (if the sidewalk were on the east side of the street).

Adams said if Vassalboro voters approve the sidewalk project on Nov. 8, the first expenditures will be for planning. Only then will engineers decide which side of Main Street can better accommodate a sidewalk and how to adjust it to existing conditions. He believes most of the work can be done within the existing road right-of-way.

Vassalboro will participate in design work, and if the result is not satisfactory, “the town” could opt out of the project and the remaining expenditures, Adams said. He declined to define “the town,” saying that deciding if the selectmen, voters or some other body should approve or reject the design was a local decision.

A new issue in the sidewalk debate is maintenance. Vassalboro has not maintained existing sidewalks in North Vassalboro, which long-time local residents concluded date from the 1960s. However, earlier in the day Adams told selectmen the town would be required to plow and sand and as necessary repair East Vassalboro sidewalks.

He explained that because federal money will help with the project and because the federal government is becoming fussier about maintaining projects, the state will also become stricter.

Because selectmen just learned of the maintenance requirement, they had not discussed potential methods or costs, Selectman Lauchlin Titus said. Board members plan to collect information in time to provide estimates before the Nov. 8 decision. According to a fact sheet prepared for the hearing, Vassalboro received a Federal Transportation Enhancement grant in 2013 for safety improvements in East Vassalboro, including sidewalks. The current plan calls for sidewalks on Main Street from the boat landing to the Grange Hall and on Bog Road to the library. (ep)

Federal funds require a 20 percent match from Vassalboro. By piggybacking on the state’s Route 32 reconstruction, the state will pay for the shoulders that would otherwise have been part of the sidewalk costs. Titus said the Vassalboro Budget Committee endorsed the $58,600 appropriation on a 7 to 3 vote at an Aug. 25 meeting. The project has also divided the selectmen; Titus and board Chairman Philip Haines support it, Robert Browne thinks it is a costly non-solution to traffic problems in East Vassalboro.

Completion of the state project will be followed by five-year moratorium on any additional construction, including town projects.

The two public hearings were followed by a short Vassalboro selectmen’s meeting at which the board approved the ballot questions for Nov. 8. Board Chairman Philip Haines thanked planning board members for their work on the shoreland ordinance.

The next regular Vassalboro selectmen’s meeting will be Thursday evening, Sept. 22.

Local students graduate from Bates College

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The following students graduated from Bates College at the school’s 150th commencement ceremony on May 29.

Shaun Carroll, son of Mr. and Mrs. Shaun N. Carroll, of Clinton, graduated after majoring in history at Bates. He is a 2012 graduate of Lawrence High School, in Fairfield.

Lindsey Prelgovisk, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Prelgovisk, of Oakland, graduated after majoring in art and visual culture at Bates. She is a 2012 graduate of Messalonskee High School, in Oakland.

Nicolas Margitza, son of Joyce A. Galea, of Winslow, graduated after majoring in philosophy at Bates. He is a 2012 graduate of Waterville Senior High School.

Bates College graduated 462 students from 32 states and 43 countries. Cumulatively, the Class of 2016 performed 17,500 hours of community service, exemplifying Bates’ commitment to community learning and civic action.

U.S. Rep. John Lewis, often called “one of the most courageous persons the civil rights movement ever produced,” delivered the address at Bates’ 150th commencement ceremony on May 29. In his speech, recounting his first meeting with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Lewis said that the great civil rights leader “inspired me to stand up, to speak up and speak out.” Lewis told the graduates, “You must find a way to get in the way and get in good trouble, necessary trouble. You have a moral obligation, a mission and a mandate, when you leave here, to go out and seek justice for all.”

Letters to the editor, Week of September 15, 2016

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Don’t take the bait

To the editor:

An open letter to the 90-plus military generals who signed a letter of support for Donald Trump. All are retired as required by military law.

Most are my age or younger and shouldn’t have taken the bait when Trump said, “I will listen to my generals when president.”

Anyone recall the weapons of mass destruction? One general spoke against an Afghanistan invasion and ended up on involuntary retirement. The commander-in-chief makes the ultimate decision no matter if there is opposition from generals.

This is important and necessary, and my favorite general, Douglas MacArthur, learned the hard way who his boss was. Colin Powell, on the other hand, was dubbed by civilians.

Bottom line is that I’m a Trump supporter but talk is cheap and those 90 generals should have known better, or are they hungry for war?

Frank Slason
Somerville

China not destination place

To the editor:

This is in response to Dale Worster’s letter to the editor, “Ideas for Local Development.” It is very apparent to me that since you moved to our town you have not been happy. Since your arrival in town you have done nothing but try to change everything. You want to make our small, quiet town a “destination” place. The town of China should not be in the real estate business buying property to create retirement community centers with fancy stores, eateries and other attractions. With every new concept that you have suggested there will be increased resources needed by the town which will only increase our property taxes. You also state that “some people might just have to learn to live with progress.” You are dead wrong on that statement. We don’t have to learn to live with progress and we won’t. Have you forgotten that the citizens of the town overwhelmingly rejected the China Lake Park idea?

Laura Pierce
China

What is happening to our small town?

To the editor:

People come and people go all the time but for a lot of us who have been here our whole life – stay because we liked it here.

Those who come from away – well I would think before you buy something you must do a little research and must have liked what you saw or you would not have bought here, and done so in a different town that offered what you want this town to become.

Why do you want us to become a destination place with all these grand ideas?

I do not see why the town wants to be in the real estate business or the lending money business. I think buying land at the head of China Lake and filling it in is a huge mistake for the good of the lake, and all that is associated with the wetland area. I can see no need of fishing platforms or walkways. We have all fished on the bridge and had no need of a platform. We can walk along the side of the tar and respect that the roads are made for cars and not people, and step off the pavement while a car goes by. Can you, as a taxpaying property owner fill in your wetlands? I see buying more land by the town office is of no purpose. It all takes away tax dollars. We do not need to buy land and put in specialty shops and restaurants.

A Senior Center: I really doubt, if you took a poll of the seniors in the town of China, there would be very few who would go to a senior center on a regular basis.

Senior housing: Yes, I have felt for a long time that we needed a place for seniors who have been left alone or just are not able to keep their house anymore, but would like to stay in their hometown. My husband tried that with the grange hall in China Village, but ultimately the town shut that down.

So people, we all really need to take a good hard look at what we really want for our small town.

Do you want to become a destination town? I for one do not.

Susan White
China

Supports governor on drug issue

To the editor:

How much longer will the armchair critics dog the governor over “racism.” Criminal activity including illegal drugs most certainly has a disproportionate number of young black men involved. For someone who doubts this let him check prison populations nationwide or drive a taxi in Boston as I did for a number of years. The high crime rate there is in Roxbury. Most white drivers refuse to take fares there.

One night my cab broke down on Sinoma Street, a neighborhood in Roxbury known for drug activity. It was a black couple who picked me up to drive me to where I could get a cab out of there.

During the spring of the year, Gov. LePage gave a speech at Thomas College, in Waterville, which I attended. He spoke from knowledgeable sources of information. It was a well-organized speech. With a business education, he is well aware that funds for superficial drug treatment facilities and costs for law enforcement are limited. This reflects the increase in the drug epidemic and a decline in productivity. He stressed the need for jobs to hold young people in Maine.

A successful war against illegal drugs must strike at root causes. The overwhelming number of broken facilities, black and white; chemical residue in the environment and food chain. The culprit is agri-business; family neglect out of balance with a workforce flooded with women.
Nelson Mandella marks the coming of age of the black man. When elected president of South Africa, he said, “We will measure our success by the wellbeing and happiness of our children.”
Also to quote [Abraham] Lincoln: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time. But you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

Russell Vesecky
Harmony

Obituaries, Week of September 15, 2016

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LINDA M. MACKENZIE

VASSALBORO––Linda Mae (Crosby) Mackenzie, 70, following a courageous ten-year fight with ovarian cancer, passed away peacefully on Friday, Septem­ber 2, 2016, in her home. She was born on July 28, 1946, the second of three daughters born to the late Albert and Louise (White) Crosby.page4pict1

Linda was a beautiful, selfless woman with an infectious personality and a faithful servant’s heart, always caring and doing for others. She loved cooking, continuing to cook and serve at church suppers until she could no longer stand, tending to her many flower gardens, watching her birds, attending her favorite grandson Ethan’s lacrosse games and going on adventures with her sister and daughter (The Girls”) to fulfill her “wish list.” Most of all, she loved her family, her friends and her home.

She lived in Vassalboro her entire life and had strong ties to its history and community. She attended Carl B. Lord Grammar School in North Vassalboro and then graduated from Winslow High School in 1965. She married her childhood friend and high school sweetheart, Michael J. MacKenzie, on December 16, 1966. Together they had son Michael and daughter Michelle (“Mickey”). They would have celebrated their 50th anniversary this winter.

Linda worked at the C. F. Hathaway Shirt Company, in Waterville, cooked with her mother at the Carl B. Lord School, waitressed and landscaped, but the job she loved best was that of a wife and mother. She was blessed to have lifelong friends and remained close to several of her classmates.

For those who knew her well, it will come as no surprise that she remained stubborn and say, she never gave up, she fought with tremendous strength, courage and grace, and even during her darkest hours, she had a grateful heart and sense of humor. She began and ended her journey her way.

She was predeceased by her older sister Arlene (Crosby) Heighton.

She leaves behind her devoted husband Mike; son Michael; daughter Michelle and her husband Jeffrey Furlong and their son Ethan; her sister Helen Lindberg and her husband Erek; sister-in-law Susan MacKenzie; five nieces; one nephew; several great-nieces and nephews; her only living aunt, Barbara (White) Letourneau and her husband Norman; and several cousins in both Maine and Connecticut.

Linda touched the lives of so many and made the world a kinder, more beautiful place.

There will be a celebration of Linda’s life on Saturday October 1, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Olde Mill Place, in North Vassalboro. Please visit www.redingtonfuneralhome.com to share condolences, memories and tributes with her family.

HAROLD M. PLUMLEY

UNITY––Harold M. Plumley, 87, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2016, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. Harold was born on March 7, 1929, to the late

Harold R. and Lillian (Hunter) Plumley.

He moved to Maine from Massachusetts when he was seven and had lived there ever since. Harold was an entrepreneur, with skills and traits. His flooring business that he ran with his wife, Una, for 17 years is what people will remember the most of all his endeavors.

Harold was predeceased by his parents; brother; and a sister.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Una; daughter Lori and husband Larry Buchanan; adopted daughter Dianne and husband David Grivois; sisters, Freda Plumley and Ora Rand; grandchildren, Lee, Jack, and Mary; and two great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Quaker Hill Cemetery, in Unity.

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

STEPHEN A. HALE

SPRING HILL, FLORIDA––Stephen Alfred Hale, 83, of Spring Hill, Florida, passed away on Friday, September 9, 2016. Stephen was born in Wellsville, New York, on September 10, 1933. His parents were Lucille and Frederick Hale.

Stephen was married to Edna Hines Hale on May 26, 1953, in England; they were married 63 years. Stephen served in the United States Air Force and later for the United States Post Office. He was a member of Siloam Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Maine, in Fairfield, a member of Kora Temple, of Lewiston, and also was a past Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, Fireside Chapter #103, Clinton.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Edna; his children, Susan Hale Frost and Kenneth, of Winslow, Patricia Hale Moriarty and Michael, of Tolland, Connecticut, Stephen A. Hale and Nancy, of Fairfield, and Kathryn Hale and Matthew, of Coventry, Connecticut. Grandchildren include Beth, Jennifer, Stephen, Sara, Hannah, and Zachary. Great-grandchildren include Benjamin, Kali, Jay Cee, Jordan, Brooke, Emerson and Andrew. Stephen also is survived by his sister, Sylvia Hale Weber and Robert, of Spring Hill, Florida; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Stephen always enjoyed traveling with his wife and family and made many lasting friendships in the Order of the Eastern Star. He will be deeply missed his family and friends.

Remembrances may be given in his name to the Shriners Hospital for Children, c/o Kora Temple, 11 Sabattus Street, Lewiston ME 04240.

OTHERS DEPARTED

MARTHA O. CONARD, 77, of Augusta, passed away on Monday, August 22, 2016, in Augusta. Locally, she is survived by a daughter, Marilyn Winter (and Roger Glidden), of Palermo.

CONSTANCE D. COULOMBE, 84, of Sidney, passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2016, at her home. Locally, she is survived by sons, Peter Coulombe and wife Rayleen, of Sidney, Andrew Coulombe and wife Deborah, of Augusta, and Michael Coulombe and wife Cheryl, of Palermo; daughter Gabrielle Stanhope and husband Brett, of Sidney.

RACHEL B. DANFORTH, 58, of East Wilton, unexpectedly passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2016, at Maine Medical Center, in Portland. Locally, she is survived by her twin brother, Richard Danforth and wife Marly, of Unity.

BETTY A. DICKEY, 75, of North Anson, passed away on Friday, September 2, 2016 at Redington-Fairview General Hospital, in Skowhegan. Locally, she is survived by a daughter, Pamela Palmer, of Waterville.

MARY EVA SMALL, of Milford, passed away recently at the age of 67 years. Locally, she is survived by a sister, Martha Hunt and husband David, of Fairfield.

China candidates announced

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by Mary Grow

As of Sept. 12, China Town Clerk Rebecca Hapgood reported there was at least one potential candidate for every position on China’s Nov. 8 local election ballot, with possible contests for at least two positions. For three seats on the board of selectmen, seven people are circulating nomination petitions: Albert Althenn, Wayne Chadwick, James Dow, Raymond Robert and incumbents Joann Austin, Neil Farrington and Robert MacFarland. Chadwick had already returned his signed papers, Hapgood said. There are two people seeking signatures to run for the at-large planning board position, Ralph Howe and incumbent Frank Soares.

Also seeking re-election, without opposition so far, are District 2 planning board member Toni Wall; District 4 planning board member Thomas Miragliuolo; District 2 budget committee member Thomas Rumpf; and District 4 budget committee member Timothy Basham. Linda Howe is circulating papers for the position of budget committee secretary (now held by Althenn) and Valerie Baker for the at-large budget committee seat (now held by Jonathan Vogel).

Dawn Castner seeks nomination to the Regional School Unit #18 board of directors, succeeding Robert Bennett, who has declined to serve again.

For candidates’ names to appear on the Nov. 8 local ballot, signed papers must be returned to the town office by 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.

Committee-related issues top selectmen’s agenda

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by Mary Grow

China selectmen spent most of their Sept. 6 meeting on two committee-related topics, advice on transfer station affairs from the transfer station committee and a broader discussion of overlapping membership between the board of selectmen and town committees.

The latter topic generated heated argument between board Chairman Robert MacFarland and

Selectmen Joann Austin and Irene Belanger. MacFarland took the position that a selectman who serves on a committee should not vote in committee on monetary issues that will be presented to selectmen for their vote. Austin and Belanger saw no problem, as long as no personal benefit was involved.

The Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Committee, on which Austin and Belanger serve, has already recommended that selectmen endorse a $50,000 grant for China Four Seasons Club trail repairs and is likely to recommend future expenditures. Final decisions on TIF spending are made by China voters; the $50,000 request is among a long list that might appear on a November 8 local ballot (see below).

MacFarland said having two selectmen already on record biases the selectboard vote, a situation he considers unethical.

Ronald Breton sided with MacFarland, saying that as a matter of principle he believes selectmen should not serve on committees that report to the selectboard. Breton is a member of no town committee; he does serve on the Regional School Unit #18 subcommittee reviewing the district funding formula, a subcommittee that reports to the RSU #18 board.
Neil Farrington could see both sides of the question. However, he pointed out, the selectmen appoint the town committees, so the time to object to committee nominees was in June when appointments were renewed for the new fiscal year.

In response to a suggestion that the Maine Municipal Association be consulted, Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux said he did seek MMA advice after MacFarland requested the agenda item. MMA Director of Legal Services Susan Pilgrim replied that as long as the committees and the selectboard act in advisory capacities and voters make final decisions, there is no conflict or problem. MacFarland’s motion to prohibit selectmen from voting on monetary issues in town committees subordinate to the selectboard was then defeated with only MacFarland and Breton in favor.

MacFarland presented another, unrelated idea at the Aug. 22 selectmen’s meeting: to exempt local haulers bringing in household waste from the transfer station fee charged other commercial haulers. The suggestion was referred to the transfer station committee, which recommended against it with only Belanger opposed.

Belanger has long argued that since householders who use the haulers already support the transfer station with their taxes, charging the haulers a fee is double taxation. She said the other transfer station committee members had no specific reason for their refusal to support the change; they saw no reason to implement it.

After a discussion of ways to increase recycling among residents who use commercial haulers, MacFarland suggested scheduling a workshop with transfer station committee members and Palermo representatives (because beginning in January Palermo residents will use China’s transfer station). No action is likely until after the Nov. 8 local elections.

Transfer station committee member Linda O’Connor asked selectmen to act on a recommended change in the days the transfer station is open. Currently, the facility is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; so whenever it is closed for a

Monday holiday, residents have to wait from Saturday to Wednesday to dispose of trash.
However, there was disagreement over whether the recommended days were Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday or Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Selectmen postponed action until they get a definite answer from the committee, which was scheduled to meet Tuesday morning, Sept. 13.

In response to an earlier query from the selectmen, L’Heureux said Codes Officer Paul Mitnik said relocating and enlarging the free-for-the-taking building, aka the swap shop building, at the transfer station would not exceed allowable phosphorus run-off.

The manager announced two other trash-related issues, the annual household hazardous waste disposal day in Winslow Saturday, Oct. 15, and a drug take-back day at the China transfer station Saturday, Oct. 22. Selectmen unanimously authorized participation in the Winslow event, with a cap of $2,000 to cover charges for China waste. Pre-registration is required; more information will be available on the town web site. L’Heureux added potential Nov. 8 ballot questions to the list he presented Aug. 22 (see the Aug. 25 issue of The Town Line, p. 7). Possible issues include:

• A recommendation for – tentatively – up to $3,800 from TIF funds for a townwide needs assessment, focused on senior citizens, as a follow-up to the recently completed demographic survey.
• Conveying the former portable classroom the town just bought from RSU 18 to the South China Library Association, if the association wants it, probably at the town’s cost.
• Appropriating $100,000 from surplus to the capital reserve account.
Again, discussion was postponed.

The Sept. 6 selectmen’s meeting was preceded by an unattended public hearing on amendments to the appendices to the town’s General Assistance Ordinance. During the meeting, selectmen unanimously approved the changes.
The next regular China selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, Sept. 19.

Vassalboro’s Charlotte Eastman presented with Boston Post Cane

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by Jan Clowes, Vassalboro Historical Society President

On Sunday, September 11, the Vassalboro Historical Society resurrected the tradition of presenting the Boston Post Cane to the oldest resident of town. A cane created by Ray Breton and engraved with Vassalboro – Oldest Resident 2016 was presented to 98-year-old Charlotte Eastman, identifying her as Vassalboro’s oldest resident. Mrs. Eastman also received a certificate and a bouquet of flowers.

Vassalboro history did not record the name of the last recipient. The cane disappeared for years until an antique dealer in California purchased it and called to see if someone at the historical society would be interested in it. Betty Taylor purchased the cane from him for $500. Although the actual Boston Post Cane will reside at the museum, a display will be created showing Mrs. Eastman as the virtual owner.

Vassalboro Historical Society

From left to right, Jan Clowes, Vassalboro Historical Society president, and Charlotte Eastman, recipient of Vassalboro’s Boston Post Cane. Photo by George Eastman

Mrs. Eastman moved to Vassalboro shortly after marriage to Albert in 1950. She quickly became an active member of the community. She has been involved in town with the Riverside Study Club, Church Women United, Girl Scouts, and the Vassalboro Food Pantry. These are just a few of her connections. She enjoys camping (and went this summer), has served as church organist, played in the Hallowell Community Band, and is a shorthand pen pal.

Mr. and Mrs. Eastman raised three daughters in Vassalboro: Marie, Martha and Margaret. The family worked, worshipped and played here.

In 1998, Mrs. Eastman took on the role of caregiver, when Mr. Eastman was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She also became active in the Alzheimer’s Association. He passed away in 2003, and Mrs. Eastman entered a new chapter in her life, staying active, traveling, and continuing her service to the local community.