EVENTS: Waterville Rotary Club launches annual charity auction

The 59th annual Waterville Rotary Auction with hundreds of gifts, services and unique items will once again be held on-line through BiddingOwl.com. If you would like more information about the online auction November 27 through December 3, 2022, please see our webpage for details: https://watervillerotary.com/. You may also actively bid and participate in the auction simply by visiting: www.biddingowl.com/auctions.cfmon. Bidding opens at 6 p.m. on November 27.

The Waterville Rotary Club hosts the auction each year in late November to benefit what Rotarians determine to be among the worthiest causes of the region. Every year, for more than half a century, this important community event has supported Rotary’s efforts to make a difference in our community.
Proceeds from our 2022 Rotary Online Auction will again go to support community programs and initiatives. Early childhood development and education help to ensure a bright future for our community’s most vulnerable and valuable asset, our children.

The goal is to support the construction of the new Children’s Discovery Museum and the development of a second natural play area at Educare Central Maine. Together, we can make a difference for the children served by both amazing organizations located in Waterville.

Rotary Club of Waterville thanks the business community for its support and contribution to the local community.

For more information about the Rotary, visit the website at watervillerotary.com.

Happy birthday to a dear friend

Rena Harding, center

Rena Harding, of Albion, spent her 100th birthday on October 29, 2022, at home with family and friends.

Rena is the daughter of the late Lesley and Gertrude Bailey, of Palermo. Rena’s last sister, Natalie Coro, of Waterville, attended her party.

She has four children, Eugene, Athene, Sheldon and Neil as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Karen Noyes Moody made a beautiful birthday cake.

I have spent many good times at Rena’s home and I was treated so nicely; she calls me her “little girl”. She worked very hard through the years and I am so happy that she had a nice birthday. She deserves it.

I love you and wish you more birthdays.

Ruth Fuller
China Village

Skowhegan wins another field hockey state title

Photo courtesy of Knightvision Photography

by Mark Huard

On Saturday, November 5, Skowhegan Area High School won its 20th field hockey state championship, defeating Cheverus High School, of Portland, at Messalonskee High School field, in Oakland.

It was a beautiful day with a great turnout for both schools. Each team went into the game undefeated with a 17-0 record. Cheverus had scored 138 goals and had five against and Skowhegan had scored 104 goals with four against. It was a matchup the state was eager to see. In 2021 Cheverus had defeated Skowhegan and a follow up game would certainly be exciting for the field hockey community.

Skowhegan scored early in the first quarter with a goal by Layla Conway assisted by Laney Leblanc. After Cheverus took the lead with two quick goals by sophomore standout Lucy Johnson. Skowhegan tied the score in the fourth quarter, and later took the lead, 3-2, also scoring two quick goals by Layla Conway, and assisted by Samantha Thebarge and Kate Kelso, respectively. Skowhegan held on to the lead for the remainder of the game.

Head Coach Paula Doughty attributed the win to solid training and commitment of her players and coaching staff. The assistant coaches Tammie Veinotte, Kim Leo, Fawn Haynie, Lizzie York and Megan Smith were instrumental in the team’s success. The summer and fall were spent readying for this tournaments and the hard work paid off.

Skowhegan entered this game by winning its 21st Northern Maine final in a row and 27 regional finals in the team’s history which is an accomplishment not matched in Maine. The team had battled a strong Oxford Hills team in the Northern Maine final to secure the spot in the final. This was Skowhegan’s 27th trip to the state game since 1991 and has a record of 20 state wins and 7 state losses.

The team believed in a quote by one of the team captains, Norie Tibbetts: “I know we lost last year, and I guess some could say we’re underdogs, but we’re still Skowhegan Field Hockey.”

Volunteers still needed for Festival of Trees

Additional volunteers are still needed as the Alfond Youth & Community Center presents Family Festival of Trees again this holiday season, continuing a proud tradition begun by the Sukeforth family in 2015.

When you participate in this event, you are creating or continuing a fabulous holiday tradition. At the same time, the money you help raise supports our families in the community experiencing food insecurity through the services of Alfond Youth & Community Center and reinforces workforce development projects in the region.

Who doesn’t love a beautiful holiday tree? Imagine over fifty trees and the beauty and creativity represented. This wonderful family tradition will be held at The Elm, 21 College Ave., Waterville from November 18-20 and November 25-27. Hours on Fridays and Saturdays will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 20 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 27 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drawings for tree winners will begin on Sunday, November 27 at 5 p.m.

A daily 50/50 drawing will be held each day of the event, with the final 50/50 drawing held at 4 p.m. at the close of the event. You do not need to be present to win – winners will be contacted by phone each day.

The Family Festival of Trees will provide a magical experience the whole family can enjoy. Admission for ages 12 and over is just $2 per person, with children under 12 admitted free. Free children’s books will also be distributed, while supplies last. Purchase and drop your individual tree tickets (just .50 each) into the container of your favorite tree and you could go home at the end of the event with a beautifully decorated tree complete with all the gift cards and merchandise displayed. Only cash payments are accepted for the admission, tree tickets and 50/50 entries; however, an ATM is available on site.

Please join in this magical experience. Whether you visit to view the trees on display or are willing to volunteer some time to help staff the event, it will be time well-spent – and you will be helping support your community through your participation.

For more information about the festival, or to volunteer, go online to www.festivaloftreesmaine.com. If you would like to volunteer as a group, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Bonnie McBreairty, bmcbreairty@clubaycc.org.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Opossums showing up more often on our highways

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Recently, in my travels throughout central Maine, I have seen an unusual number of opossums dead on our highways. There seems to be more and more of them present these days.

My first encounter with an opossum was in 1967 while living on Long Island, in New York. There was a stockade fence between the property where I was renting and the neighbor, and I found it laying, playing “possum,” along the fence.

I never really gave them much thought. Then I first started hearing about them in our area, then I began seeing them.

The opossum, Didelphis virginiana, is a marsupial endemic to the Americas. The largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, it comprises 103 or more species in 19 genera. Opossums originated in South America and entered North America in the Great American Interchange following the connection of the two continents. Their unspecialized biology, flexible diet, and reproductive habits make them successful colonizers and survivors in diverse locations and conditions.

In the United States and Canada, the only species found is the Virginia opossum, and it is generally referred to as a “possum.

The word “opossum” is borrowed from the Powhatan language and was first recorded between 1607 and 1611 by John Smith (as opassom) and William Strachey (as aposoum). Both men encountered the language at the British settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, which Smith helped to found and where Strachey later served as its first secretary. Strachey’s notes describe the opossum as a “beast in bigness of a pig and in taste alike,” while Smith recorded it “hath an head like a swine … tail like a rat … of the bigness of a cat.” The Powhatan word ultimately derives from a Proto-Algonquian word meaning “white dog or dog-like beast.”

Opossums are usually solitary and nomadic, staying in one area as long as food and water are easily available. Some families will group together in ready-made burrows or even under houses. Though they will temporarily occupy abandoned burrows, they do not dig or put much effort into building their own. As nocturnal animals, they favor dark, secure areas. These areas may be below ground or above.

When threatened or harmed, they will “play possum,” mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. This physiological response is involuntary (like fainting), rather than a conscious act. In the case of baby opossums, however, the brain does not always react this way at the appropriate moment, and therefore they often fail to “play dead” when threatened. When an opossum is “playing possum,” the animal’s lips are drawn back, the teeth are bared, saliva foams around the mouth, the eyes close or half-close, and a foul-smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands. The stiff, curled body can be poked at, turned over, and even carried away without reaction. The animal will typically regain consciousness after a period of a few minutes to four hours, a process that begins with slight twitching of the ears.

Threatened opossums (especially males) will growl deeply, raising their pitch as the threat becomes more urgent. Males make a clicking “smack” noise out of the side of their mouths as they wander in search of a mate, and females will sometimes repeat the sound in return. When separated or distressed, baby opossums will make a sneezing noise to signal their mother. The mother in return makes the clicking sound and waits for the baby to find her. If threatened, the baby will open its mouth and quietly hiss until the threat is gone.

Opossums eat dead animals, insects, rodents and birds. They also feed on eggs, frogs, plants, fruits and grain. One source notes their need for high amounts of calcium. Thus possums eat the skeletal remains of rodents and roadkill animals. Opossums also eat dog food, cat food and human food waste. Opossums are also notable for their ability to clean themselves of ticks, which they then eat. Some estimates suggest they can eliminate up to 5,000 ticks in a season.

With this in mind, if I do have opossum living under my steps, it would be nice if I could capture them and relocate them at camp where they would be very useful in controlling the tick population.

The Virginia opossum lives in regions as far north as Canada and as far south as Central America. The Virginia opossum can often be found in wooded areas, though its habitat may vary widely. Opossums have been moving north in recent years.

The Virginia opossum was once widely hunted and consumed in the United States. Opossum farms have been operated in the United States in the past. Sweet potatoes were eaten together with the possum in America’s southern area. South Carolina cuisine includes opossum, and President Jimmy Carter hunted opossums in addition to other small game. Raccoon, opossum, partridges, prairie hen, and frogs were among the fare Mark Twain recorded as part of American cuisine. “Granny” on the TV show Beverly Hillbillies was famous for her possum pie.

Opossum oil (possum grease) is high in essential fatty acids and has been used as a chest rub and a carrier for arthritis remedies given as topical salves.

Opossum pelts have long been part of the fur trade.

So, now you can add opossum to the list of dead critters to be looking for on the side of the road.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

What NBA Hall of Famer and 16-year veteran holds the Boston Celtics franchise record for most points scored?

Answer can be found here.

Roland’s Trivia Question for Thursday, November 17, 2022

Trivia QuestionsWhat NBA Hall of Famer and 16-year veteran holds the Boston Celtics franchise record for most points scored?

Answer:

John Havlicek with 26,395 points.

OBITUARIES for Thursday, November 17, 2022

STANLEY P. TYKS

OAKLAND – Stanley “Stash” P. Tyks, 70, passed away Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. He was born in Skowhegan on June 27, 1952, and graduated from Skowhegan High School.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in December 1971, serving in Virginia and Okinawa, receiving Letters of Appreciation for his “untiring efforts, outstanding knowledge and technical skill, and professionalism” with Battery C 1st Battalion 7th ADA, at Ft. Bliss, Texas. He completed his service in January 1975 with an honorable discharge as an E-5, Section Chief of Engineer Section. He received a National Defense Service Medal and qualified as a Sharpshooter Rifle, continuing his interest in firearms throughout his life. He loved science fiction and history and had a life-long passion for learning about technology and tinkering with gadgets (especially his ham radios), as well as boating and fishing. His curiosity about things and people of all sorts, paired with his candid congeniality, endeared him to folks wherever he went.

In 1976, he graduated from Control Data Institute, in Burlington, Massachusetts, with a diploma in computer technology and began a long career as a computer field service engineer and technician. He earned many certifications and letters of commendation during his employment with Data General, Digital Equipment, Hewlett-Packard, and Alternative Resources Corporation. He had his own business, Custom Computer Solutions, for several years during the mid 1990s.

With his first wife, Barbara Mummey, he welcomed the birth of his daughter, Heather Susan Tyks, in May 1985. The family relocated from Massachusetts to Santa Cruz, California, in 1987. After their divorce, Stan later married Gailiene Egan and they relocated back to the east coast, purchasing a home in Skowhegan in 2017.

While in Santa Cruz, Stan served as head usher for the Saturday evening services at Santa Cruz Bible Church. He was baptized in July 1994, and cherished participating in Bible study with a group of fellow Christian men on Saturday mornings.

He is survived by his brother Stephen L. Tyks, D.C., of Skowhegan; daughter Heather Tyks, of Oakland (recently relocated from California); cousin Sonya Clothier and her daughter Monique Johnston and family; cousin Mark Merrill and family; stepdaughter and husband Charlene and Jason Miranda, and their children Jacob, Katelynn, and Mia Grace.

Stan was predeceased by his second wife Gailiene Egan, his parents Stanley T. Tyks and Madora Pomerleau Tyks, sister Carolyn Susan Tyks Davis.

A memorial service was held on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at Dan and Scott’s Cremation and Funeral Service (Adams Chapel), 445 Waterville Road in Skowhegan. There was a brief military honors service at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Road, in Augusta.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the non-profit Dialysis Clinic, Inc., PO Box 2231, Skowhegan, ME 04976.

STEPHEN F. BEAUREGARD

WINSLOW – Stephen Francis Beauregard, Jr. passed away, in Winslow, on Friday, October 28, 2022. Born in Waterville on January 5, 1942, he was affectionately nicknamed “The General” by his parents, Stephen F. Sr. and Louise Marie (Newbert) Beauregard.

He was raised on the family farm in Benton, graduating high school in 1960. In 1961, he married Arlene Beale, in Skowhegan. He continued living and working on the farm in addition to working full-time at The Eastern Packing Company, in Waterville.

He moved the family to Clinton in 1970 and in 1973, he began operating The Pine Tree Diner, on Main Street. He was known as a great short order cook, never turning away a customer that couldn’t pay.

In 1978, he moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he was employed for several years at the Norton Grindstone Factory. He later began working for Bob Courtney Antiques, where he honed his already extensive knowledge of all things collectible.

Around this time, he reconnected with Patricia (Richards) Drouin, whom he had known since high school. Upon their return to Maine, the couple was employed by PB Guide Service and spent many years together.

In 2002, he and Sally purchased a property in Hinckley which they named The Spider Web. He made hundreds of friends over his lengthy antiquing career, earning a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and fairest wholesalers in Maine.

General was a man of many talents. Always an avid sportsman, in his younger years he supplemented the family income by trapping. He was an adept storyteller, using his skills to entertain many a hunter at bear camp or at the shop. With his easy-going nature, he made friends wherever he went, accepting and treating all fairly. What’s more, Steve was a kind, loving and generous man, lending a hand to anyone who needed him.

Stephen is survived by his daughters, Sheri L. Dodge and Sally J. Gorman, both of Winslow; his siblings, Marie (Bob) Philbrook, of Clinton, Betty Spencer, of Benton, Thomas (Kathy) Beauregard, of Squires, Missouri, and Paul (Val) Beauregard, of Skowhegan; grandchildren, Matthew (Danielle) Gorman and son James, of Waterville, Heidi (Brandon) Harnish and children Wesley, Lilian and Adelyn, of Lafayette, Louisiana, and Joseph Gorman, also of Waterville.

He was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Arlene and his long-time companion, Pat.

A celebration of life will be held at VFW Post #6924, in Fairfield, on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 1- 4 p.m., with a short memorial service at 1:30 p.m.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan ME 04976.

PATRICK V. DEXTER

WATERVILLE – Patrick Vernon Dexter, 50, passed away unexpectedly Friday, October 28, 2022. Patrick was born in Waterville, on September 6, 1972, to Dianne (Barter) Christensen and Vernon Dexter.

Patrick graduated from Messalonskee High School, in Oakland, in 1990. He was the youngest of three children. Patrick had a love for the outdoors, hunting, fishing and ice fishing with family and friends. Patrick worked for Bisson/Bekins Van Lines for many years until he left to begin his own business, Dexter Construction.

The loves of his life were his children, in which he shared many memories of football, baseball, swimming, Wrestling and his construction business with his sons working by his side.

Patrick was predeceased by his father, Vernon Dexter; stepfather, James Christensen; Aunts, Uncles and many beloved friends.

Patrick is survived by his mother, Dianne Christensen; stepmother, Tena Dexter; children, Christopher Knowles (Tabitha), Zackery Dexter, Colby Dexter (Ashley Tinsman), Kristen Dexter (Ethan Matthews) and Gabrielle Dexter; grandchildren, Zaydin Knowles, Lauren and Logan Munson, Myles Matthews, and Owen Dexter; brothers, Ronnie (Lynn) and Andrew; stepsister, Maegan Coffin;many nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later time to his family and closest friends.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville, Maine.

An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com

ELIZABETH K. SERWIN

VASSALBORO – Elizabeth K. Serwin, 90, died Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at home, following a brief illness. She was born in Lebanon, South Dakota, on January 4, 1932, a daughter of the late Maurice and Elizabeth Kinsley.

She graduated from Henager Business School, in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she met her future husband, Edward Serwin. They were married on September 8, 1951, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

She was a mother and homemaker, supporting the family as they made their way to Charlotte, Memphis, Houston, Kansas City, Chicago, and then back to Charlotte, North Carolina. Upon Ed’s departure from Libby, McNeil and Libby, she helped him operate his next venture, K.E.S. Inventory Services, Inc., until they sold the business and retired. After several years, they relocated to Vassalboro to be closer to their youngest daughter MaryAnn.

Mrs. Serwin was a communicant of St. Mary of the Assumption, in Augusta.

She was predeceased by her husband, Edward Serwin; a daughter, Linda Armstrong; a grandson, Andrew Armstrong; three brothers: Ronald, Donald and Maurice Kinsley and two sisters: Clara Bolte and Evelyn Heki.

Mrs. Serwin is survived by four of her children, Loran Serwin and his wife Christy Zieres, of Merritt Island, Florida, Theresa Broomhead and her husband Alan, of Roxborough Park, Colorado, Stephen Serwin and his wife Kecia, of Cary, North Carolina, and MaryAnn Carter and her husband Dean, of Vassalboro; 12 grandchildren: Kimberly, Diana and Brian Serwin, Christopher, Timothy and Collin Broomhead, Hannah Serwin, Luke, Jonathan, Patrick, Michael and Nathanael Carter; 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

At her request, there will be no public visiting hours.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, November 14, at St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church, 3 Appleton St., Waterville. Following cremation, Elizabeth will be reunited with her husband, daughter, and grandson in Charlotte, North Carolina, at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta.

Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Elizabeth’s memory may be made to: Beacon Hospice, 45 Commerce Dr., Augusta, ME, 04330.

RICK JANDREAU

OAKLAND – Rick Jandreau, 62, passed away on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. Rick was born on New Year’s Eve 1959, in Fort Kent. The son of Donald R. and Pauline Oullette Jandreau.

He lived in “The County” (Aroostook County) until he was four and his family moved to Waterville in the ‘60s. He grew up in a large family of eight children, he had amazing memories at Jandreau’s family camp on Messalonskee Lake where many great family times were spent and many wonderful memories of listening to bluegrass. He attended Waterville High School.

Rick worked numerous jobs throughout his life, and always took great pride in his work. He always spoke of working at Diamond Match, in Oakland. He spent many years at Marden’s, in Waterville, and owned his own business, Jandreau’s Jacking. To Rick, no one was a stranger – people gravitated to him as he had a kind and compassionate heart.

His joys were simple and abundant. He enjoyed working around his East Pond camp and his home in Belgrade, spending time at camp on Great Pond, fishing, hunting, painting, reading, cooking, gardening (of which he shared with all our neighbors), throwing wood in the cellar, taking a cruise on his motorcycle, and snowmobiling with his buds. He regularly spoke of one of his favorite trips, which he took to Alaska, and wanted to return someday.

He was predeceased by his parents, sister Nancy Jandreau Johnson, and my brother Ricky Damren.

He is survived by fiancée Judy Hallowell, of Belgrade; daughter Britney Jandreau, of Waterville; sister Judee Jandreau, of Kennebunk, Peter (Carol), of Soldier Pond, Donald Jr., of Waterville, Kevin (Janice), of Benton, David (Kristy), of Winslow, Brian, of Norridgewock, and Jimmy Johnson, of Sidney; nephews and nieces, Christopher Jandreau, Nicole King, Jared Jandreau, Brent Jandreau, Kenny Jandreau, Sabrina Jandreau, and Nathan Jandreau; his aunts and uncles; a great-niece and nephews; he also leaves behind my sister Susan Damren, niece Desiree Damren (Jeremy), nephews Jeremy (Thomas), Scott (Kate), and Conrad.

Rick wishes for no funeral, there will be a graveside service to be determined at a later date.

Arrangements are in the care of Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church Street, Oakland, where condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at http://www.lawrybrothers.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Waterville Humane Society, 100 Webb Rd, Waterville, ME 04901. It is where we got our fur baby, Willow, who he loved so much; or to the charity of your choice.

TODD H. FLETCHER

SIDNEY – Todd H. Fletcher, 63, passed away Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at the Alfond Center for Health, in Augusta. He was born Jan­uary 4, 1959, in Water­ville, the son of William A. and Minnie L. (Morrill) Fletcher.

He was a graduate of Lawrence High School, in Fairfield, class of 1977. On July 13, 1984, he married Cynthia Dufour, at Notre Dame Church, in Waterville. He was employed by a number of companies over the years including New Balance 2004-2019, Unity College 2003-2004, Newark Paperboard 1998-2003, Scott Paper, in Winslow 1986-1998, and Dufour’s Construction 1984-1986. Todd enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, 4-wheeling and spending time with family and friends.

Todd is survived by his wife of 38 years, Cynthia (Dufour) Fletcher, of Sidney; siblings, Nancy Fletcher and husband Robert, of Albion, Margaret Lehay, of Skowhegan, William Fletcher and wife Elizabeth, of Thorndike, Marion Ewen, of Windsor, Penny Fletcher and husband Michael, Mike Fletcher, and Mark Fletcher and wife Melissa, all of Albion.

He was predeceased by sisters, Betty Fletcher, Janet Davis and Elaine Dionne.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, November 25, 2022, from 2 to 4:00 p.m., at MacCrillis-Rousseau VFW Post #8835, in Winslow.

In lieu of flowers friends wishing may make donations in Todd’s memory to the Kidney Foundation of Maine, 470 Forest Avenue, Portland ME 04101.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan ME 04976.

LOUISE M. A. STAPLES

SIDNEY – Louise Marie Allarie Staples, 70, passed away peacefully in Sidney, on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. Louise was born in Augusta, on April 25, 1952, daughter of Albert and Rita Allarie.

Born and raised in Maine, Louise lived in Augusta and graduated from Cony High School. After high school, she married her first husband, Jerry Reynolds and together they were blessed with four children. Louise worked for many years as a certified nurse’s assistant at Graybirch Nursing Home and kitchen manager at the Augusta Civic Center. Louise had a passion for caregiving and healing others and attended school for nursing.

She demonstrated the utmost love, compassion and commitment when she took on her healing spiritual work instead in order to be a fulltime caregiver for her mother for several years. In the mid-’90s, Louise married the love of her life, Bruce. Together, they had many adventures, but they both loved the peace and serenity of their home where they lived happily in Sidney, for 26 years.

Louise was a spiritual life coach to many near and far. She was well known and loved for her generosity and kindness toward everyone. She was small but mighty and had an enormous capacity to love. She was a woman of many talents, an herbalist, a gardener, and seamstress. She loved spending time with her family, teaching her children and grandchildren to cook and preserve food, crochet, paint, and above all else, to love and accept others with open arms. Louise was a kind soul and had a great sense of humor. She had an amazing gift and used it to help many find courage and self-love. She was our earth angel.

She was predeceased by her parents Albert P. Allarie and Rita M. Allarie.

She is survived by her husband, Bruce Staples; son Jason Reynolds and his wife Kelly, of Vienna; daughters Sarah Merrow, of Sidney, Christina Carter and her husband Jeremy, of Winthrop, Sherie Knowlan and her husband Troy, of Winthrop; stepdaughter Lacey Studholme and her husband Shawn, of South China; and stepson Nick Staples and his fiancée Megan, of Lewiston; 12 grandchildren, Kahleb, Dakota, Cheyenne, Zachary, Jacob, Aiden, Jason Jr., Gabriel, Madison, Owen, Sophia, Dayton; and one great-grandchild Lila; two sisters, Lucille Gosselin and her husband Paul, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Suzanne Dowling and her husband Steve, of Augusta; and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to join on Saturday, November 19, from noon – 3 p.m., at Le Club Calumet, 334 W. River Road, Augusta, Maine 04334, to share memories and celebrate Louise’s life. She loved her beautiful scarves, if so inclined, please join in wearing a scarf to remind everyone of the beauty she saw in all.

Arrangements are in the care of Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta, Maine, 04330.

Condolences stories and photos may be shared by visiting http://www.plummerfh.com.

LINDA BRESLIN

WINSLOW – Linda Breslin, 80, died Thursday, November 3, 2022. She was born on April 26, 1942, in Steubenville, Ohio, to Helen Lang and Charles Barr.

Her mother and father met while Charles was stationed in Brooklyn with the U.S. Army. They moved shortly after to Ohio where Linda was born. Her sister Gail was born after that in Brooklyn, New York. Charles and Helen were divorced and Helen moved back to New York. Helen remarried William O’Sullivan.

Linda graduated from New Dorp High School and went to Hunter College from which she graduated with a BA in political science. Linda subsequently obtained a master’s degree from Fordham University. After working as a social worker for several years she left the field to study painting full-time at the Brooklyn Museum Art School and studied with Reuben Tam.

Linda was persuaded to return to social work and subsequently began a career in mental health administration. She served as an associate commissioner for the New York Department of Mental Health before moving to Maine to become superintendent of Augusta Mental Health. James and Linda had vacationed for several years prior to this at their camp in Liberty. James and Linda had one son, JB, who died from a seizure at age 30. Linda left AMHI and became director of Glenridge Nursing Home, in Augusta, and eventually retired.

Mrs. Breslin also served as president of the Liberty Lakes Lake Association for 20 years from which she recently retired. She had a deep interest in ecology and lake preservation. Her hobbies were reading and working with stained glass. She loved dogs, especially her Standard Poodle, Annie.

Linda is survived by her husband James; her sister Gail Judson and her husband Roger; two nephews Jon and Chris; and a great-nephew, JJ.

She elected to be cremated with no funeral but a memorial service will be planned in the spring.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at directcremationofmaine.com

In lieu of flowers, Linda would have wanted donations to be sent her memory to Goodwill Industries of New England at https://goodwillnne.org/donate/.

DENISE D. BOURQUE

WATERVILLE – Denise (Davis) Bourque, 65, of Waterville, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 4, 2022, at her home, in Waterville, following a brief, but valiant battle with cancer.

Denise was born in Millinocket on April 26, 1957, the daughter of Chester H. and Jeannette (Forand) Davis. Denise attended schools in Old Town and graduated from Old Town High School in 1975. Denise attended Beal College, in Bangor, and graduated in 1978 with an associate’s degree in business management.

Denise spent most of her career working in retail and retired from Hallmark as supervisor in 2019. She spent her spare time working on various crafts like crocheting, cross stitch and plastic canvas. She also loved researching her family’s genealogy and traced her family’s ancestry all the way back to the Mayflower.

Denise is survived by her husband of 14 years, Fern; stepchildren, William Bourque and his wife Rhonda, Lynn Berry and her husband Mitchell; brothers Chester Davis, and Jeffrey Davis and his wife Karen; brothers-in-law Stephen Bourque and his wife Lois, and Terry Anthony; nieces Natasha, Rose, Frannie and Celeste; and many great- nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at directcremationofmaine.com.

A committal service will be held at Morses Corner Cemetery in Corinna on Saturday, November 12, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society Waterville Area, at http://www.hswa.org.

TAMMIE V. STROUT

WINDSOR – Tammie V. Strout, 58, of Windsor, died peacefully at her home Saturday November 5, 2022. She was born March 11, 1964, in Alma, Georgia, the daughter of Claude Earl Smith Jr. and Martha Brann.

At age 9, Tammie and her family moved to Chelsea, where she would go on to meet her future husband and have two children, Brett and Natasha.

Tammie had a passion for life. She loved scrapbooking, knitting and sewing. She also had a love for the outdoors, flowers and long walks. She loved to make people laugh and was always the center of attention with her jokes, contagious laugh and smile.

Tammie had a heart of gold and will be missed by many.

She was pre deceased by her father Claude Earl Smith Jr.

Tammie is survived by her mother Martha Brann; her son Brett Strout and daughter-in- law Tamra Strout; daughter Natasha Strout; granddaughters Briana and Makenzi Strout and Alisha Wilson; her brothers Earl Smith and Jerold Smith; nephew Jared Smith; and niece Jessica Smith.

Celebration of life will be held at a later date.

VIVIAN F. BROCHU

WINSLOW – Vivian F. Brochu, 77, of Winslow, formerly of Bingham, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Eastern Maine Medical Center, in Bangor, following a brief illness.

Vivian was born in Passaic, New Jersey, on April 20, 1945, the oldest daughter of Weldon and Edith Caldwell. She graduated from Madison Memorial High School with the class of 1963, and attended Una’s Academy where she received her cosmetology degree. She owned and operated Vivian Hair Fashions from her home for 50 years, retiring in 2014. Vivian married George Brochu on April 27, 1968, and they were married for 53 wonderful years. Following George’s passing, she relocated to Winslow to be closer to her daughters.

Vivian enjoyed spending her summers with her beloved husband George at their camp on Embden Pond where they would enjoy boating, fishing, campfires, playing cards and listening to country music. She loved to watch the races on TV and visiting with friends and family. She was an avid viewer of the Hallmark Channel especially during the holiday season. Christmas was her favorite time of year. Vivian loved to decorate her home for Christmas with her vast collection of Christmas Carolers and her beautiful Christmas village. She also loved to read in her spare time and had several favorite authors.

She was predeceased by her parents, as well as her husband George, who passed on March 21, 2021.

Vivian is survived by her daughters, Tonya Smith and her husband Rick, of Winslow, and Donna Lewis and her husband Chad, of Fairfield; five grandchildren, Kristopher Smith and his wife Jillian, Kaitlyn Smith, Trevor Lewis, Tyler Lewis, and Alexis Lewis; her sister Joyce Gagne and her husband Robert, of Florida. Her brothers-in-law Dick Brochu and his wife Patricia, of Montana, and John Brochu and his partner Judy Daviau, of Florida; her aunts, Esther Bell, of Delaware, and Barbara Vivian, of Greene; as well as several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A graveside service will be held in Robinson Memorial Cemetery, in Moscow, on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 11 a.m. Family and friends are invited to join at St. Peter’s Catholic Church for light refreshments immediately following her service.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Giberson Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

To leave a condolence for the family and to view the online obituary, please visit http://www.gibersonfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Peter’s Food Pantry, c/o Alieta Belanger, P.O. Box 391, Bingham ME 04901.

DANIEL GORGONE

WINDSOR – Daniel Gorgone, 91, passed away on Monday, November 7, 2022, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta, following a brief illness. He was born in Queens, New York, on June 19, 1931, to Juiseppe and Sambastiana Gorgone.

He was raised in New York with his seven brothers and sisters. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, which brought him to Maine, where he met his soon-to-be wife, Mary Shinay, in 1951. They raised their family and eventually built their dream home in Windsor.

Dan worked as a mechanic while serving in the Air Force, then went on to be employed at Togus VA hospital, in
Augusta, for over 20 years, before retiring. Throughout his life, he participated in harness racing. He owned, trained, and drove horses in the sport for over 50 years; he loved his horses, especially Homeboy Van, and valued the lifelong friendships he developed because of the sport.

When he wasn’t at the track, there was no telling where he could be. Dan loved to live life and experience everything it had to offer. Whether it was searching for an authentic Italian restaurant, attending a seasonal festival, or just exploring. He always looked forward to breakfast with his granddaughter Corey and outings with his grandson Garret joining in on his plans. Dan always loved when his family and friends were all together, whether for a holiday or the decades spent together at the Windsor fair.

After losing his wife, Mary, he was fortunate to meet and spend 22 years with his companion Anita Reynolds. Regardless of what life gave him, he took every day as a gift and every hardship as a challenge to overcome.

Dan was pre-deceased by his parents, five brothers and sisters, and two grandchildren.

Dan is survived by his his daughters Ann Marie Ulrich, of Wiscasset, Bette Barajas, of Windsor; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brother Salvatore Gorgone; sister Theresa Reimer; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, November 15, at St. Denis Catholic Church, 298 Grand Army Road, Whitefield. Burial will be in the spring in Rest Haven Cemetery, Windsor Road, Windsor.

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

GUY J. BROCHU

WINDSOR – Guy J. Brochu, 82, of Brochu Lane, died Friday, November 11, 2022, following a brief illness. He was born in Thet­ford Mines, Province of Québec, Canada, on April 3, 1940, the son of Romeo and Leah Brochu.

Guy was self-employed as the owner of Brochu Foundations for many years before starting Techno Metal Post. After retiring from Techno Metal Post, he always made time for hunting and fishing, it was his idea of the perfect retirement. When he wasn’t fishing, you would find him working in his garage to repair and repurpose anything with a motor. Guy was always lending a helping hand to his children and grandchildren, as his way of taking care of them in any way he could. He was also a member of the Maine Harness Horseman Association and enjoyed horse racing for many years with his wife Louiselle. Guy was a devout member of St. Michael Parish at St. Augustine Catholic Church.

Guy was pre-deceased by his wife Louiselle Brochu, and his brother Claude Brochu.

He is survived by his only daughter, Linda N. Pepin and her husband Jerry, of Windsor; two sons, Michael J. Brochu and his wife Wendy, of Manchester, and Gocelyn (Joey) Brochu and his significant other, Laurie Tondreau, of Augusta. Although Guy had two sons, Jerry is thought of as a third son; grandchildren, Chelsea Moore and her husband Shawn Moore, of Clayton, North Carolina, Lucas Brochu and his wife Ashley, of Sidney, Lyndsey Lee and her husband Dalton, of Windsor, Cameron Brochu and his significant other, Courtney King, of Oakland; great-grandchildren, Louiselle (LJ) Marshall, Landon Marshall and Joey Brochu; his sister, Yolande Brochu (Mike Roy), of Ste. Valerien Québec, Canada; his brothers, Jean Denis Brochu (Georgette) Augusta, Robert Brochu (Marielle ), René Brochu (Joanne), all of Beloeil, Québec, Canada, Gatean Brochu (Marie), of Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada, and Aurelle Poulin (Denise-deceased), of Yalesville, Connecticut; nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, November 19, at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant Street, Augusta.

A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m., at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 75 Northern Ave., Augusta, followed by a gathering at the Manchester Lions Club. Following cremation, a private burial will be held at Holy Family Cemetery, Augusta. Condolences, photos and memories may be shared at http://www.plummerfh.com.

OTHERS DEPARTED

LISA M. GAGNE

BRUNSWICK – Lisa Marie Gagne, 61, of Brunswick formerly of Oakland, died on Thurs­day, November 3, 2022, following an almost three-year courageous battle with cancer. Lisa was born in Waterville on March 25, 1961, to Normand and Jeannine Bard, of Winslow. Lisa, along with her siblings, Peter Bard, Linda Bourque and Andrew Bard grew up and attended Winslow public school.

Lisa was a Junior in High School when she met her true love Randall Lee Gagne after talking on a CB radio. Upon graduation from Winslow High School, Lisa moved to Huntsville, Alabama, for six months to attend cosmetology school studying under the prestigious instructor, Ann Bray.

Lisa is survived by her husband of 41 years, Randall Gagne, of Brunswick; her son Eric Gagne, his wife Laura and their son Aidan, of Wellesley, Massachusetts; her daughter Ashley Obptande, her husband Jeremy and their sons, Bryce and Burke, of Brunswick; her father and mother, Normand and Jeannine Bard, of Winslow; her brother Peter Bard, his wife Joanne, of Milford, Massachusetts; her sister Linda Bourque, her husband George, of Burnham; her brother, Andrew Bard, of Winslow.

She was predeceased by her twin brother and sister Michael and Michelle Bard, her maternal grandparents Vital and Ernestine Albert, her paternal grandparents Henry and Modeste Bard as well as several aunts and uncles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 18, at 10 a.m., at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville. Interment will follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (www.give.ovarian.org) or to your local animal shelter in Lisa’s name.

DEATH NOTICES

WENDY A. PERKINS

JEFFERSON – Wendy A. Perkins passed away Sunday, November 13, 2022, at her home, in Jefferson. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, November 18, 2022, from 5 – 7 p.m., at Hall’s of Waldoboro, 949 Main Street, in Waldoboro.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 19, at 1 p.m., at the West Washington Cemetery, Highway 206, in Washington. Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.

Final results from November 8 election (2022)

by Mary Grow

Because of several write-in candidates for local elected positions and a technical glitch with the town website, results of China’s Nov. 8 local votes were incompletely reported in the Nov. 10 issue of The Town Line (see p. 3).

For three positions on the planning board, James Wilkens was re-elected with 1,442 votes; Toni Wall was re-elected to the District 2 seat with 18 write-in votes; and the District 4 seat remains vacant. Town Clerk Angela Nelson explained that the qualified write-in for District 4, incumbent Scott Rollins, has declined to accept re-election.

For three positions on the budget committee, Trishea Story was re-elected secretary with 23 write-in votes; in District 2, after two of the three people with the same number of write-in votes declined to serve, Nelson reported that Taryn Hotham was sworn in as a new member on Nov. 14; and, as reported Nov. 10, District 4 member Timothy Basham and at-large member Elizabeth Curtis were re-elected, unopposed.

The count in the three-person contest for one position on the Regional School Unit #18 board of directors was as follows: incumbent Dawn Castner, re-elected with 851 votes; Darrell Stevens, 403 votes; and Wallace Pooler III, 371 votes.

Votes on the local referendum questions, all of which were approved, were as follows.

  • To appropriate no more than $70,000 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money for expanded broadband service: yes, 1,492; no, 672.
  • To appropriate no more than $21,590 in ARPA money to reimburse China Rescue for a defibrillator: yes, 1,925; no, 252.
  • To appropriate no more than $7,000 in ARPA money for improvements to the town’s radio tower: yes, 1,831; no, 332.
  • To appropriate no more than $22,000 in ARPA money for three heat pumps for town buildings: yes, 1,548; no, 612.
  • To appropriate no more than $75,000 in ARPA money for the town’s senior fuel assistance fund: yes, 1,903; no, 261.
  • To appropriate no more than $30,000 in ARPA money for repair of cemetery fences: yes, 1,506; no, 641.
  • To amend the town’s quorum ordinance to say that 100 registered voters is the minimum needed to start a town meeting: yes, 1,015; no, 965.
  • To amend two sections of the Land Use Ordinance, as recommended by the planning board: yes, 1,356; no, 650.

China building committee recommends looking ahead

by Mary Grow

At least two members of China’s Municipal Building Committee plan to join chairman Sheldon Goodine at the Nov. 21 China select board meeting, hoping to persuade select board members to see the future through their eyes.

The disagreement between the two boards, as described by several building committee members at their Nov. 10 meeting, is over how far ahead current officials should be planning for future town office space needs.

Also involved is the Presque Isle engineering firm of B. R. Smith Associates (BRSA). Goodine said engineer Keith Whittaker, who has been working with the China committee, plans to join the Nov. 21 meeting.

Building committee members have been meeting for more than a year. Their main focus has been on providing additional safe storage, climate-controlled and fireproof, for the paper records state law requires towns to keep forever.

The ordinary storage space in the office building is also overfull, with paper records, office supplies, voting machines, Christmas decorations and other necessities. Building committee members are not optimistic about the volume decreasing, though they and select board members talked about digitizing records to eliminate some of the paper. Foreseeing increasing needs, they have looked beyond the immediate issue and discussed additional storage and perhaps work space.

Select board members have not been receptive to these more expansive – and expensive – ideas. At the end of the Oct. 24 select board discussion (see The Town Line, Oct. 27, p. 3), board members authorized spending up to $11,000 to have BRSA design a storage vault plus prepare a concept plan for a later addition.

The storage vault, presently proposed as a 12-by-24-foot structure, is fine with building committee members as a first step. Goodine calls it a storage room; select board members referred to it as a building.

The $11,000, and about as much again, is available in the current budget, Goodine said; but there is not enough, without readjustments, to cover detailed plans for a larger addition.

However, building committee members believe that within two or three years town office staff will need more space. They think BRSA should be asked to prepare a comprehensive expansion plan, showing, for example, where another section could be connected and how heating and electrical systems could be extended.

Neither the cost of planning nor the cost of construction is likely to go down, they agreed. Therefore, they think it prudent to have detailed plans ready as soon as the need becomes urgent enough to justify an appropriation of town funds.

Vassalboro select board told weather cause of poor lake water quality

by Mary Grow

Webber Pond Association President John Reuthe brought Vassalboro select board members information and recommendations on the lake’s water quality, at their Nov. 10 meeting.

The water quality this past summer was very poor, he said, back to where it was in the 1970s and 1980s, with algae blooms and toxins that were a threat to children and pets.

Vassalboro resident and Department of Maine Resources staffer Nate Gray expanded on Reuthe’s report. The main causes of the problems in Webber Pond, and Three Mile Pond, and to a lesser extent China Lake, were weather-related, he said.

All three lakes have high background phosphorus levels, due to years of accumulation from run-off from surrounding lawns, fields and roads. A warm, sunny summer encouraged algae, which depend on phosphorus, warmth and light to grow.

Several years of low rainfall, less snow and earlier ice-out extended the warm season. Hot summer days evaporated surface water, increasing the concentration of algae close to the surface. Surface water temperatures reached 88 degrees in Webber Pond and Three Mile Pond and 84 degrees in China Lake, Gray said.

Reuthe cited the economic importance of the pond and its alewife fishery. His list of recommended actions started with a meeting of stakeholders, which would include area lake association members and town and state officials.

He asked for money to buy more complex equipment to test water quality; more attention to codes enforcement around water bodies (though he recognized Vassalboro’s problem with frequent changes of codes officers); and a building atop the Webber Pond dam, which is owned by the association, to shelter the gate controls.

One topic that might be discussed at a stakeholders’ meeting is whether the town wants to continue to own the dam.

Select board chairman Barbara Redmond asked Gray how much money the town might need to improve the situation.

“Oh, they don’t print it fast enough,” Gray replied.

Specifically, he said, the easy-to-use monitoring equipment Reuthe recommended would probably cost about $2,000, and would provide useful information.

Select board members are minimizing new commitments until they finish the process of hiring a town manager to succeed Mary Sabins, who is retiring at the end of the year.

They therefore postponed any action. Redmond suggested the stakeholders’ meeting might be scheduled in January, before area towns begin developing 2023-24 budgets.

In a related matter, select board members unanimously extended the contract with Ronald C. Weeks, Sr., to harvest alewives at the Webber Pond outlet for another five years.

The second proposal presented at the Nov. 10 meeting, for a Vassalboro dog park, was also postponed, mostly to give proponent Vivian Flamm time to gather more information.

Flamm was representing a number of residents – and a few people from China, she added – who would like to see Vassalboro develop a dog park. Her idea is that the town would buy land, fence it, provide benches and do whatever other development is needed. Three possible sites had been suggested, she said.

She expects interested local people would help create the park and would show their appreciation for it by keeping it clean.

Board members and Sabins suggested approaching the Vassalboro Sanitary District trustees about a possible site; asking the City of Augusta for guidelines; preparing a cost estimate; and other preliminary actions Flamm’s group could take before returning to the select board and the new town manager.

In other business, Sabins reported she had a request to ask the state Department of Transportation to lower the Quaker Lane speed limit from 45 to 25 miles an hour. Board members unanimously agreed to forward the request.

They agreed by consensus to cancel their second November meeting. It would have fallen on Thanksgiving Day, was tentatively rescheduled two days earlier and, they decided, could be eliminated. Their next regular meeting will be Thursday, Dec. 8.