by Mary Grow

China Planning Board members have approved Nathan White’s application to grow marijuana for medical purposes in a former store at 306 Route 3, after a short Dec. 13 public hearing that allowed interested residents to ask questions and comment on the proposal.

In response to questions, White said he is allowed only one employee, who will be hired later. He plans no changes to the exterior of the building; there will be no public access or traffic and no odors, noise, waste or other potentially harmful or annoying effects. Security measures will include the watchfulness of the neighbor in the adjacent house, cameras and door sensors.

Planning Board Chairman James Wilkens said board members have reviewed state regulations for licensed medical marijuana caregivers, which govern White’s project. White’s father, Carrol White, said a few years ago he would not have favored his son growing medical marijuana, but having seen how its use helps patients get off other medication, he is now a supporter. One of Nathan White’s patients agreed and praised White specifically for researching individual needs and providing the types of marijuana most helpful in improving his clients’ lives.

The four planning board members at the Dec. 13 meeting voted unanimously that the project met all criteria in China’s ordinance and granted the permit.

After the application review, board members talked about how to improve their process. They decided to reinstate the visioning sessions they used to hold every year or so, at which they reviewed members’ interests and areas of expertise, board goals and procedures and the need – or not – to recommend changes in town ordinances.

A visioning session is likely to be scheduled in January 2017. The next board meeting is set for Tuesday evening, Dec. 27.

by Roland D. Hallee, managing editor

On November 9, the South China, Boynton-Webber American Legion Post #179 and Auxiliary hosted the 10th annual veterans dinner, sponsored by Fieldstone Quick Stop, Erskine Academy students and the Maine Veterans Home, at Togus.

Neil Farrington, commander of the South China post, was instrumental in getting the most veterans that have ever attended the event. Over 130 local veterans, and many that were bused from the veterans home, were guests at the annual dinner.

Thadius Barber, owner of Fieldstone Quickstop, in South China, provided all the food, with the legion auxiliary providing coffee and many different, delicious desserts.

Also, 15 students from Erskine Academy’s Jobs for Maine Graduates program assisted at the dinner, waiting on tables, serving the coffee and dessert, and then assisted the veterans to their buses and cars.

The dinner, to honor local veterans, was the brain child of the late Martha Brann, who approached Barber 10 years ago when he owned Tobey’s Grocery, in South China. “Martha approached me to ask if I would support veterans at the South China Legion,” Barber recalls. “I didn’t need any time to think about it. I said yes.”

Brann followed through and continued with the annual project. “She had spunk,” Barber added, “You’d never know she was in her 80s. She loved to help people.”

Erskine Academy Jobs for Maine Graduates students and members of the Boynton-Webber American Legion Auxiliary assisted during the 10th annual veterans dinner held on November 9.
Contributed photos

Hitting it off immediately, Barber arranged a dinner date for Martha with his widower grandfather, Lee Babb, a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Spadefish submarine, at Pearl Harbor. Babb attended all the dinners until his passing seven years ago.

When Brann passed away this year, her daughter Dawn Spoden and her daughter stepped up to continue the traditional dinner. The dinner is held annually the day following election day in November.