The following local students were named to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s dean’s honor list for the Spring 2016 semester, in Troy, New York.
Victoria Butler, of Jefferson, studies applied physics.
Jena Nawfel, of Waterville, studies biomedical engineering.
Busy weekend in Albion. All of the pageantry leading up to field day with the selection of the queen/princess of field day, the parade, auction, chicken barbeque, other food sales, lawn sale items and games for kids filled much of the week.
It is my understanding there will be more available about the winners, etc., next week so I will hold off on it and give you all more then with pictures hopefully.
It has been a hot sultry summer, wells are drying, gardens are dying and I have never seen such lawns as brown as this. Even those nice lawns in the past are brown. I think we need to pray for rain or get a rainmaker to come to town. I have watched storms go both sides of the ridge and never deliver us a drop. That also happened when we first moved here around 30 years ago. Let’s hope for a long slow ground soaking rain.
Have a great week, stay cool and hydrated.
According to experts, within the next few years, a majority of jobs in Maine will require post-secondary education. Yet, little more than half of the students who enroll in college end up staying long enough to earn a degree. Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG) and Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) are excited about a new program aimed at trying to change that. KVCC is one of seven colleges in Maine to offer the new JMG College Success Program; a program that provides students with the one-on-one academic and personal support needed to avoid dropping out of school.
“Having the JMG College Success Program here is great for the students”, says Karen Normandin, Vice President of KVCC. She says the school has had a TRIO program on campus since 1993, which serves students who are low-income, first-generation college students, or those with disabilities. She says, “JMG is a wonderful complement to TRIO.
What I love about these programs is that both understand the importance of connections and relationships. This is where trust is fostered!”
JMG works with 5,500 young people, primarily middle schools and high school students, across the state, keeping them in school and providing them with the skills and guidance needed to be ready for college and careers. Two years ago, JMG leveraged its success with these students and launched the College Success Program; a comprehensive college preparation, bridging and retention program. The program serves students who were in a JMG program in middle school or high school, foster care youth, and those who dropped out of high school and eventually earned their GED.
“These students are full of potential and they need us,” says Jessica Rodrigue, JMG’s College Success Specialist at KVCC.
“One of the most important and exciting elements of the program is getting into the high school classrooms as a way to connect with students and encourage them to further their education. Once they are enrolled here at KVCC, I’m here to guide them and to offer support and encouragement every step of the way, so they can stay in school, get a degree, and go on to do the amazing things they are capable of.”
Rodrigue works closely with the school’s TRIO director, collaborating on students they have in common to make sure the students’ needs are being met, but without duplicating services.
“From freshman year in high school straight through to college graduation, JMG’s College Success Program is there for these students”, says Craig Larrabee, President & CEO of JMG. “And, by partnering with great programs like TRIO, we are confident we can make a difference.”
Following months of development, The Town Line is ready to unveil its new web portal, www.townline.org.
Though The Town Line has offered .pdf downloads of the print edition at its website for several years, it has long been a goal of the board of directors to offer a true online version of the popular local newspaper in addition to the print edition.
The initiative was made possible by the generous support of local residents Doug and Rita Sukeforth, which also allowed The Town Line to upgrade a severely outdated computer system and the software suite it uses to produce the weekly paper.
Experienced technical consultant, Eric Austin, eldest son of longtime China residents Ann and Lee Austin, has led the development of The Town Line’s new web portal.
Technical consultant Eric Austin, left, and The Town Line’s managing editor Roland D. Hallee, put the finishing touches on the newspaper’s new website which was launched on August 4.
“The goal was always to leverage the awesome content that The Town Line already generates on a weekly basis, while also taking advantage of the unique flexibility and power of the web,” Austin explained. “Readers who wanted to read The Town Line on their phones or tablets or PCs, didn’t have that option. Now they do.”
The new site has been developed using the popular web platform, WordPress, used by many news sites on the web, including the Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal website, www.centralmaine.com. This technology offers a responsive web design that adjusts automatically to provide a comfortable reading experience on a variety of devices and screens.
“The website is something we’ve been wanting to do for a while,” says Roland Hallee, managing editor of The Town Line. “Thanks to the Sukeforth’s generous grant, we’ve been able to modernize The Town Line by upgrading equipment and expanding into the web space. We’re positioning The Town Line to continue meeting the needs of our communities in the 21st century.”
Eric Austin will continue to support the web site going forward. “We’re just getting started,” says Austin. “The web offers us so much potential, and so many opportunities for The Town Line to grow in new directions. We want to add a discussion board to the site, and bring classified advertising online as well.”
Banner advertising is already available on the new website, and those interested are encouraged to call Kathy Duhnoski at 691-2332 to discuss pricing.
Web content will be updated on the site by end of the day on the Friday following the release of the print edition of The Town Line. Please come visit us at townline.org, the new web portal for Central Maine communities!
Although I am a Baltimore native, Maine’s mosquitos have dined on my blood since I was born, and the cove of Fire Road 51 has always been my donation center. Those pesky insects have infected me with the “itch” for doing things out-of-the-ordinary, usually with others doubting my success, and thus was the theme while building this boat.
Andrew Eppig gives the thumbs up as his duct tape boat floats in China Lake. Photo courtesy of Andrew Eppig.
While Maine is home to concrete canoe and cardboard boat building competitions, and many have seen Mythbusters use truck loads of duct tape to create many things including a two-passenger boat, it seems my scaled down, one-person creation brought much skepticism from everyone around me. To my surprise, I received the likes of “you won’t last 20 seconds,” and “it will sink as soon as you get in,” as if I was building a five-foot long lead weight. This made my “itch” flare to a rash, and I began my build.
I started by laying out two aluminum tubes from an adult-sized crutch, with a few other shorter tubes to create a frame. A thick aluminum strip from the button panel of a flat screen TV, combined with a piece of steel all-thread became the keel. I then added various sized plastic panels to create the basic hull shape, and attached two Macintosh G5 desktop computer side panels for floor boards.
It took the next three days to get it all taped together with multiple layers for rigidity and a good water-tight seal.
I then turned to mounting the “FisherPrice” style kids boat motor to it. I taped a small two-prong coat hook to the shaft of the motor, allowing it to hang from the boat, while still being able to steer.
Andrew Eppig during the construction phase of the duct tape boat. Photo courtesy of Andrew Eppig.
After six days and multiple trips to the Rte.3 Family Dollar Store, Hussey’s General Store, and the Augusta Walmart, for the 17 rolls of duct tape, a coat hook, and a small wood paddle, I was ready and eager to finally scratch my “itch,” and put the boat into the water.
The next morning I slowly lowered my creation into a calm clear China Lake, as the rash of criticisms and doubts echoed in my head, almost making me believe that it would indeed just sink to the bottom. However, as I released my grasp, it floated. I put the motor on, it floated. Then, slowly and carefully, I stepped off the dock, gradually allowing the boat to take my weight. It floated!
My success was then truly measured as I was off to the China town office, where, after some explaining, a very nice lady was eager to help me get it legally registered, and even came out to the parking lot to take pictures with me holding the boat!
Although it will certainly never make it to the Head of the Lake for ice cream, if you happen to be on the lake near the narrows, you may just see my “Lucky Duct” floating by! Andrew is the grandson of Irma W. Simon, of China.
Gabrielle Perkins is a petite 20-year-old ballerina from Oakland, who is headed to New York City to work with the American Ballet Theater Studio Company. The position will be with either American Ballet Theater main company, or other companies around the world. Perkins attended Messalonskee High School in her freshman year. She also studied at Maine Central Institute, in Pittsfield, during her sophomore year, so she could train in ballet. She returned to Messalonskee, to get in more classes and earned her high school diploma in three years.[…]
Worth the wait! Joan Hallee, of Waterville, landed this bass on July 15, while fishing on Webber Pond, near her camp. It was the first fishing outing of the summer for Joan and her husband, but was worth the wait. The bass measured 21 inches and weighed 5 pounds. She caught it on a 7-inch plastic red shad lure.
Isaiah Vear, 10, of Waterville, is pictured with WWE superstar Gold Dust at the WWE show recently held in Augusta. At the age of 10, he has met 24 present and past stars of the WWE, including Bushwhacker Luke, Kevin Nash, Enzo Amoré and Kane.
Photo by Central Maine Photography
The drive from work in South China to my summer camp in Vassalboro is short – 4.7 miles, 10 minutes. But, along the way, I have made some observations that kind of make me think.
For instance, I came across a flock of turkeys in a field on the Nelson Road the other day and thought nothing of it. Then, it hit me.
There was a time, not too long ago, when the sight of a wild turkey was eye opening, generally causing me to stop the truck, get out and create a Kodak moment. Nowadays, I see turkeys and it’s just another sighting. Turkeys have become so common place that we don’t react like we used to.
As a matter of fact, in the last three days alone, I have almost collided with two that jumped out of the brush on the side of the road, and decided they had the right of way.
I guess you could apply the old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” What used to be novel, is now irritating.
A mouse at work
On the morning of July 4, during my vacation, I was sitting on my deck with a cup of coffee, with a strong case of the thousand yard stare. I noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye, and saw a field mouse sitting on the barbecue pit. From there it ran into the wood pile that is located nearby, and disappeared into its center. A few minutes later, it emerged, jumped onto the pit and proceeded to the hole of one of the cement blocks. It gazed around as if to make sure nothing was observing its movements, dropped its cargo of leaves and bark, and proceeded down the hole. It then popped its head back out of the hole, grabbed what was obviously nest-building material, and hauled them down the hole.
It then came out of the hole, ran back into the wood pile, and repeated the steps. I sat and watched it for approximately 10 minutes, and it must have made at least a dozen trips in that time frame. The appearance of the black lab on the scene caused the mouse to retreat to the wood pile for cover.
I went over to the barbecue pit and peered into the hole, and sure enough, the mouse was in the process of building a nest.
Fat cat
While sitting in my screen house one evening we heard some scrurrying around the fireplace. At first we summized that it was probably either a raccoon or skunk. Upon closer examination, we saw what is perhaps the fattest house cat I have ever seen. Apparently, during its nocturnal travels, the cat visits many camps and gobbles up whatever grub it can find.
Circle of Life
I was sitting on my couch one day, catching up on the some reading when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw an extremely quick movement outside through the glass, sliding doors. I put the reading material down just in time to see a cat haul a chipmunk out of the fire pit, and 
proudly pranced off with it in its mouth. Initially I was a little irritated that the cat couldn’t leave that little guy alone. My wife and I always get some pleasure watching the chipmunks go about their business, whether scrounging under the bird feeders for some discarded seeds, or playfully chasing each other around. Then I realized I had just witnessed nature’s circle of life in its purest form. It was the second time I witnessed something like that this summer.
Whether it’s turkeys, mice, or a common house cat, it’s simply amazing to watch Mother Nature’s creatures, large and small, go about their chores, foraging for their next meal, the hunter vs. the hunted, or preparing for winter, even in July.
STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
Court St., Skowhegan, ME
Somerset, SS
Location of Court
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
18-A MRSA sec. 3-801
The following Personal Representatives have been appointed in the estates noted. The first publication date of this notice is July 28, 2016
If you are a creditor of an estate listed below, you must present your claim within four months of the first publication date of this Notice to Creditors by filing a written statement of your claim on a proper form with the Register of Probate of this Court or by delivering or mailing to the Personal Representative listed below at the address published by his name, a written statement of the claim indicating the basis therefore, the name and address of the claimant and the amount claimed or in such other manner as the law may provide. See 18-A MRSA 3-804.
2013-315 – Estate of SHEILA McKENNA, late of Hartland, Me deceased. North Country Associates, Inc., c/o Glen Cry, PO Box 1408, Lewiston, Me 04243-1408 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-131- Estate of MARILYN F. CLARK, late of Canaan, Me deceased. Linda Holt, 807 Hartland Road, Canaan, Me 04924 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-165 – Estate of EMMA F. BURRILL, late of Canaan, Me deceased. Deborah B. Johnson, 34 Deacon Lane Hollis NH 03049 and Tammie R. Bradley, 61 Term Terrace, Tewksbury, MA 01876 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.
2016-020 – Estate of ROBERT O. GUILBAULT, late of Moscow, Me deceased. Richard L. Guilbault, 390 Buccaneer Drive, Largo, FL 33770 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-169 – Estate of WAYNE M. GOODELL, late of Leesburg, FL deceased. Sara L. Skinner, PO Box 151, Woolwich, Me 04579 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-171 – Estate of GUSTAVE G. DOYON, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Michael r. Doyon, 711 Norridgewock Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 and Gerard G. Doyon, 65 Davis Road, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.
2016-172 – Estate of ROBERT S. McMANN, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Paul L. Dube, 280 Palmyra Road, St. Albans, Me 04971 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-173 – Estate of MICHAEL W. ROBBINS, late of Pittsfield, Me deceased. Cody R. Robbins, 145 Berry Road, Pittsfield, Me 04967 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-174 – Estate of BARBARA H. GARLAND, late of Solon, Me deceased. Chester R. Garland, 21 Falls Road, Solon, Me 04979 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-175 – Estate of GLORIA CARPENTER, late of Norridgewock, Me deceased. Charles J. Carpenter, Jr., 443 Nassau Court, Marco Island, FL 34145 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-176 – Estate of RICHARD M. SCHLENKER, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Karl R. Schlenker, 170 Notch Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-086 – Estate of RALPH B. MARTIN, late of Hartland, Me deceased. Rachel Martin, 444 Ledge Hill Road, Corinth, Maine 04427 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-179 – Estate of TAISTO MANUEL MAKI, late of Embden, Me deceased. William Seeley, 796 Fahi Pond Road, Embden, Me 04958 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-180 – Estate of KEVIN DUANE NEWTON, late of St. Albans, Me deceased. Kevin Ray Newton, 60 Jenness Road, Epping, NH 03042 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-182 – Estate of ELLEN MARY HOLT, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Sally H. Knight 385 East Ridge Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 and Susan Smith, 5 Rose Avenue, Marblehead, MA 01945 appointed Co-Personal Representatives.
2016-189 – Estate of RODNEY RAY BICKFORD, late of Fairfield, Me deceased. Rose-Marie Bickford, 47 Savage Street, Fairfield, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-191 – Estate of LESTER E. McKENNEY, late of Madison, Me deceased. Angel L. Brewer, 244 Burrill Hill Road, Norridgewock, Me 04937 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-192 – Estate of JOSEPH EUGENE WATROUS, late of Palmyra, Me deceased. Jan M. Watrous, PO Box 52, Palmyra, Me 04965 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-194 – Estate of ABBIE G. RADLEY-BERG, late of Cambridge, Me deceased. Donald R. Berg, 839 Dexter Road, Cambridge, Me 04923 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-196 – Estate of WILLIAM F. RICE, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Judith M. Rice, 351 West Front Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-197 – Estate of NORRIS H. PADHAM, late of Madison, Me deceased. Birdena E. Padham, 10 Ward Hill Road, Madison, Me 04950 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-198 – Estate of FRANK GRAY, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Irislea Clark, 637 Madison Road, Norridgewock, Me 04957 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-200 – Estate of ADELE POMELOW, late of Madison, Me deceased. Douglas J. Pomelow, 239 Between the Mills, Exeter, Me 04435 appointed Personal Representative.
2016-201 – Estate of SCOTT F. O’BRIEN, late of Skowhegan, Me deceased. Erica M. Gregoire, 87 Shady Ln., Canaan, Me 04924 appointed Personal Representatiave.
To be published on July 28 & August 4, 2016
Dated: July 25, 2016
/s/ Victoria Hatch,
Register of Probate
(8/4)
STATE OF MAINE
PROBATE COURT
41 COURT ST.
SOMERSET, SS.
SKOWHEGAN, ME
PROBATE NOTICES
TO ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE ESTATES LISTED BELOW
Notice is hereby given by the respective petitioners that they have filed petitions for appointment of personal representatives in the following estates. These matters will be heard at 9 a.m. or as soon thereafter as they may be, on August 10, 2016. The requested appointments may be made on or after the hearing date if no sufficient objection be heard. This notice complies with the requirements of 18-A MRSA §3-403 and Probate Rule 4.
2016-166 – Estate of TAMMY L. DELONG, Adult of St. Albans, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Tammy Lynn DeLong, 55 Main Street, St. Albans, Me 04971 requesting her name be changed to Tammy Lynn Varricchio for reasons set forth therein.
2016-181 – Estate of JASON HILLGROVE LOMBARDO, Adult of Skowhegan, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Adult) filed by Jason Hillgrove Lombardo, 4 North School Street, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting his name be changed to Samantha Freedom Lombardo for reasons set forth therein.
2016-186 – Estate of GAGE ROBERT LOREIRO, minor of Skowhegan, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Sonya Fox, 271 Parkman Hill Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 and Scott Loureiro, Jr., 148 Chadbourne Road, Harmony, Me 04942 requesting minor’s name be changed to Gage Robert Loureiro Fox for reasons set forth therein.
2016-187 – Estate of SHIRLIE JEAN LANDRY-MUSHERO, minor of Skowhegan, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Laurey and Ralph Mushero, 430 Canaan Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting minor’s name be changed to Shirlie Jean Mushero for reasons set forth therein.
2016-188 – Estate of BREANNA MICHELLE LANDRY-MUSHERO, minor of Skowhegan, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Laurey and Ralph Mushero, 430 Canaan Road, Skowhegan, Me 04976 requesting minor’s name be changed to Breanna Ann Mushero for
reasons set forth therein.
2016-195 – Estate of SARA R. DeROSA, minor of Madison, Me. Petition for Change of Name (Minor) filed by Kimberly Babnaw, 49 Trolley Line Drive, Madison, Me 04950 requesting minor’s name be changed to Sara Rose Babnaw for reasons set forth therein.
Dated: July 25, 2016
/s/ Victoria M. Hatch
Register of Probate
(8/4)
