Whitefield Lions recognized local students

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The Whitefield Lions Club is recognizing five local students. These students will receive a $1,000 scholarship towards furthering their education. Each year the Whitefield Lions Club Scholarship Committee chooses among deserving applicants based on hard work, perseverance, leadership, community service and career goals.

This year the club is proud to recognize five outstanding individuals. Carson Appel, from Erskine Academy, in South China, and lives in Windsor, will be studying applied mathematics in the Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University; Ruth Bois, from Coastal Christian Academy, who lives in Jefferson, will be studying to be an elementary school teacher at University of Maine; Abigail St. Cyr, from Lincoln Academy, who lives in Jefferson, will be studying Early Childhood at Southern Maine Community College; Candence Rau, from Erskine Academy, who lives in Jefferson, will be studying physical fitness at Central Maine Community College; and Ava White, from Lincoln Academy, who lives in Jefferson, will be studying neuroscience at Mount Holyoke College.

China and Vassalboro voting results from June 13, 2023

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Vassalboro balloting

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro Town Clerk Cathy Coyne reported the following results from the polls on June 13:

  • Vassalboro’s amended Site Review Ordinance, adding a chapter on commercial solar development and making other changes, was approved by a vote of 137 in favor to 44 opposed.
  • The 2023-24 school budget approved at the June 5 open town meeting was ratified by a vote of 158 in favor to 28 opposed.
  • Michael C. Poulin, the only declared write-in candidate for the select board, received 58 votes. Poulin will succeed Barbara Redmond, who is retiring from the board.
  • Running unopposed for re-election to the school board, Zachary Smith received 151 votes and Erin L. “Libby” Loiko received 136 votes.

China’s annual town business meeting voting

by Mary Grow

Voters participating in China’s June 13 annual town business meeting, conducted by written ballot, approved all 32 warrant articles, according to Town Clerk Angela Nelson.

Their votes funded municipal and related activities for the 2023-24 fiscal year, authorized select board members to take actions on their behalf and approved two revised town ordinances.

On a separate ballot, they approved the Regional School Unit #18 budget for 2023-24, by a vote of 230 in favor and 77 opposed.

The issue most discussed at public meetings in the first half of the year was proposed changes in the Board of Appeals section of China’s Land Development Code. Voters approved the amended ordinance by a vote of 185 in favor to 120 opposed, the closest vote of the day.

The amended Solid Waste Ordinance got 234 “yes” votes and 70 “no” votes.

The most popular expenditure was the appropriation of state snowmobile registration money to the Four Seasons Club (Art. 15), approved 285-24.

Nelson said 313 voters cast ballots.

Results were posted by mid-evening Tuesday on the town website, china.govoffice.com, under the Elections tab on the left side of the home page.

More discussion on use – and misuse — of China transfer station

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by Mary Grow

China transfer station committee members held another long and lively discussion at their June 6 meeting about the best way to make sure only people entitled to use the town’s transfer station do so.

The eligible people are residents of China and Palermo. China taxpayers support the facility; Palermo, by contract, sends an annual payment, in addition to money residents pay for the blue bags they need for their trash.

Current admission is by an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag hung from a vehicle’s rearview mirror. The problem is that some tag-holders lend their tags to unauthorized users, or keep them when they move out of town.

In the past, China used stickers attached to the vehicle. Committee members have said repeatedly that some people do not want stickers on their vehicles.

By the end of the discussion, committee members agreed they will recommend a new system. To enter the transfer station, a vehicle must have an RFID tag; and the tag must have a current-year sticker with the vehicle’s license number.

Transfer station manager Thomas Maraggio likes the RFID tags because the reader at the station makes an audible beep when a tag passes its camera. If a vehicle comes in and there is no beep, someone checks to see why not.

Adding the sticker with license number links the RFID tag to a specific vehicle.

The plan as of June 6 was to require stickers be renewed annually. The initial RFID tag would cost China residents $10, to cover the expense of buying them; Palermo residents’ tags would be free, as provided in the two-town contract. Stickers would be free for residents of both towns.

Exceptions to the policy will be developed for renters; people whose work means they regularly drive more than one vehicle (law enforcement personnel and car dealers were examples); and others who need an accommodation.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood intends to write up the policy for a final committee review before committee members forward it to the China select board.

Committee member J. Christopher Baumann commented a new policy will mean retraining facility users. There was consensus some people would be unhappy.

There was further consensus that some people – a minority – are already unhappy and express their displeasure by harassing staff members as they try to enforce regulations.

In other business, committee members began discussion of a request from Albion town officials to bring to the China transfer station items excluded from Albion’s curbside pick-up program, including white goods, electronics and light bulbs. The discussion will continue.

Maraggio gave committee members a progress report: the grant application for lighting in the free for the taking building was unsuccessful; the new shipping container for mattress storage is reportedly on its way; the recently installed heat pumps are working well; and the experts who recalibrated the scales predict another 10 years’ life for them.

Committee members scheduled their next meeting for 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 11.

China select board discusses how other town board members should be chosen

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by Mary Grow

China select board members’ main discussion topics at their June 5 meeting were how members of other major town boards should be chosen and how two sections of town road should be repaved.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood raised the first topic as an offshoot of board members’ review of proposed changes to China’s Planning Board Ordinance. She pointed out that currently China select board members are elected from anywhere in town, but four members of the planning board and four members of the budget committee are each elected from one of four districts.

Since all voters vote for all candidates, so that no board member “represents” a specific district, Hapgood questioned the value of districts.

Furthermore, she wondered whether the simpler appointment process would encourage more people to volunteer to serve on these boards. An appointed board member would not go through the signature-gathering process required for election.

Residents invited to fill out community resilience survey

China residents are invited to fill out the community resilience survey that was listed in the June 2 issue of China Connected, with an incorrect link. The correct link, https://forms.office.com/r/fSuy5raffD, is on the town website, china.gov.office.com, almost at the top of the center column.

The QR code on China Connected is correct. Copies of the survey will be available at the polls on June 13. Deadline for returning completed surveys is June 20.

Information on residents’ preferences is part of the town’s application for a community resilience grant through the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments.

The districts, select board members agreed, were initially created to promote varied views by spreading representation throughout the town. But, board chairman Wayne Chadwick said, diversity is personal, not geographic.

No action was intended or taken; the next step is consultation with budget committee and planning board members. Generally, the idea of abolishing the districts was favorably received.

Appointing budget committee and/or planning board members was less popular. Chadwick and resident (and former codes officer) Scott Pierz both said planning board members should be elected, because they have decision-making authority.

The roads discussed for repaving were Branch Mills Road and the part of the Pleasant View Ridge Road not done last year. The issue was whether the process called chip seal should be used.

First used on China’s South Road several years ago, chip seal involves a thin layer of asphalt topped with crushed rock. It is less expensive than a thicker layer of asphalt, but controversial. Motorists, and especially motorcyclists, object to the loose rock left for the first weeks after the work, and some residents have questioned how long chip seal lasts.

At their May 22 meeting, China select board members awarded the bid for summer road paving to the low bidder, Maine-ly Paving Services, LLC, of Canaan. Hapgood explained the two-step process chip sealing requires, and said if Maine-ly Paving did not have time, a second company, All States Construction, Inc., of Richmond, could fill in (at a slightly higher cost, but still less expensive than asphalt paving).

After review of alternatives, board members agreed unanimously to leave the decisions to the town manager.

In other business June 5:

  • Hapgood reported for Director of Public Services Shawn Reed that the portable traffic lights for use at road-work sites have arrived; and that an excavator had been used to removed a beaver dam causing flooding near Dutton Road.
  • The manager said more volunteers are needed to help plan and lead the annual China Community Days celebration, scheduled for Aug. 4 through 6.
  • Codes officer Nicholas French announced his resignation, effective the end of July. He and Hapgood hope a replacement will be chosen by the beginning of July for a month of training on local issues.

The town office will be closed Monday, June 19, for the Juneteenth holiday; will close at noon Friday, June 30, for end-of-year work, with a brief select board meeting that afternoon, mostly to pay final FY 2022-23 bills; and will be closed Tuesday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday.

The next regular select board meeting will be Tuesday evening, June 20, instead of the usual Monday because of the holiday. Board members tentatively scheduled a Monday, July 3, meeting, and talked about holding it in the afternoon instead of evening.

Golden Agers seniors enjoy Wednesday gatherings in China

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by Roberta R. Barnes

Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, parking spaces are limited at the China town office even though the town office is closed on Wednesdays. Once used basically for voting, now on Wednesday mornings the accessible portable building behind the town office is where some people go for fun.

Once COVID was under control and most people stopped wearing masks, China’s Town Manager, Rebecca Hapgood, began focusing on the section of the community that had been stuck at home for far too long.

Pre-school to college/university students were back to interacting with other people. Many employees switched from working at home to interacting with other people in their workplace. Nevertheless, many of those people in the chapter of their life that fit into the retirement slot were still cooped up at home. We might expect chickens to be cooped up, but not people. People can have amazing stories to tell and exciting things to share with other people.

To help get this part of the community interacting with others the voting booths in the accessible portable building were moved into the town garage. Tables and chairs were set up to form the senior citizens’ club that would meet each Wednesday. As more people joined the club by contacting the China town office at 207-445-2014 opt 3, club members changed the name to Golden Agers. One of the officials at the China town office even designed the image for the Golden Agers T-shirt.

Books can even be read by candlelight, and with all of today’s technology there are dozens of ways to entertain yourself. On the other hand, there is this little zing that happens when you tell others about that part of a book or a movie that made you laugh or jump out of your seat.

Pets and wildlife can be fun to watch, and they are the perfect listeners for life’s secrets. Nevertheless, they do not communicate in the same way as people. If you want a reaction that mirrors the amazement you experienced when you saw that huge horned owl outside your bedroom window, it’s best to communicate with a person.

Joining the China Golden Agers is easy, and it gives you the opportunity to interact with others in various ways. Once you call the town office to join, your name is put on the Golden Agers list. Being on that list enables you to play bingo, cribbage, other card games, talk, and eat snacks on Wednesday mornings. Public officials also drop by and make themselves available to listen to any questions, comments, or concerns anyone might have about the community.

Last Wednesday Deputy Poulin of the Kennebec Sheriff’s Office gladly took time to step away from the bingo tables and talk to me. While I did not see anyone else asking him questions, deputies regularly drop in to listen and show their support for the community.

I also spoke with town officials who dropped by to show their support, as well as a handsome service therapy dog. All officials were/are open to listening, and responding if needed, to questions, comments, or concerns about the community.

When you call the China town office and join the Golden Agers club you will not be limited to Wednesday morning’s games, fun and talking. The Golden Agers travel as a group to enjoy such things as train rides and being part of Cyr NorthStar bus tours. Beyond all the pluses of being part of a group such as the Golden Agers, the cost per person is usually less than for an individual.

As I talked with members of the club, I heard they had already enjoyed events such as Unity Train Ride and the Fryeburg Fair. You can do all these things by yourself, but sharing in a group can create those extra good feelings that are beneficial to your mind and your body, or simply the whole of you.

One of the events the Golden Agers has planned is, as a group, to join in a cruise on Moosehead lake out of Greenville. As with most events early registration is required. If you have not already joined the Golden Agers it is best if you contact China Town Office today, join, and ask about registering for this cruise or the Cabbage Island clam bake, in Boothbay harbor.

When you call and join the Golden Agers you can discover the fun in being part of a group, chatting, laughing, and pointing out interesting things that you might otherwise have missed.

China to hold business meeting by written ballot

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by Mary Grow

China voters will conduct their 2023 annual town business meeting by written ballot on Tuesday, June 13, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., in the former portable classroom behind the town office on Lakeview Drive.

The local warrant has 32 articles. On a separate Regional School Unit #18 ballot, voters will accept or reject the 2023-24 school budget approved May 18 by voters from the five member towns (Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome and Sidney).

Absentee ballots are available at the town office until June 8, according to the town website, china.govoffice.com.

Voters present before the polls open will deal with Art. 1, electing a moderator. Art. 2 asks those casting ballots to appropriate expected non-tax revenues, and Art. 3 asks them to appropriate money from both assigned and unassigned fund balances for 2023-24 expenses. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood explained that assigned funds, in the amount of $166,607, are state revenue sharing money.

Under state law, revenue sharing is to be used to fund municipal services and “stabilize the municipal property tax burden” – in other words, to shift some expenditures from local property taxes to “the broad-based taxes of State Government.” State officials distribute revenue sharing money according to a formula that takes into account each municipality’s state valuation, tax assessment and population (according to the Maine State Treasurer’s website).

Hapgood said that expenditures from unassigned funds are incorporated in Art. 3 (up to $144,500 “to meet expenses”); Art. 4 ($20,000 for a legal reserve account); Art. 8 ($20,000 for the compactor reserve account); Art. 9 ($64,000 for the public works capital reserve account, intended to be used to buy portable traffic lights); and Art. 11 ($190,500 for contingency expenses).

Art. 7 requests $340,645 for public safety, an account that includes local fire departments and China Rescue, animal control, police services from the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office and a new emergency dispatching service, now that Somerset County has stopped serving China (and other towns).

At an April 3 meeting, budget committee member Elizabeth Curtis pointed out that the amount is much higher than the comparable request a year ago. But she wondered whether it will cover unknown costs of a different emergency service answering system.

Hapgood could give her no answer. She reminded committee members that during the first discussion of the issue back in January, Kennebec County Emergency Management Agency Director Art True promised emergency calls will always be answered, somehow.

Curtis was further concerned that voters might reject the higher amount. According to Art. 13, if they deny any rejected appropriation, funding automatically reverts to the current year’s amount.

Curtis asked Hapgood if Art. 13 is a good idea, or whether a failed appropriation should trigger discussion. Hapgood said depending on the article, lack of funds might shut down some town services on July 1. Short funding, however, could indeed trigger discussion and a follow-up vote in November.

Except for emergency dispatching, most of the proposed expenditures in the warrant represent normal increases over the current fiscal year. Another exception is Art. 29, which asks voters to appropriate $43,000 from unassigned fund balance toward the town office addition, the planned fireproof vault to be in a small building attached to the south side of the existing building.

This expenditure, like most others on the warrant, is recommended unanimously by select board and budget committee members. On some articles, a committee member abstained to avoid a possible conflict of interest.

Exceptions, with split votes, are:

  • Art. 4, municipal services, including town office functions, legal expenses and Maine Municipal Association dues. At the April 3 budget committee meeting, Curtis voted not to recommend the expenditure.
  • Art. 5, boards’ and committees’ expenses, this year including no recompense for select board members. Curtis again dissented.
  • Art. 27, a request for ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to codify municipal ordinances; select board chairman Wayne Chadwick and member Brent Chesley and budget committee chairman Thomas Rumpf do not recommend this expenditure.

Art. 32, which asks if voters want to approve amendments to Chapter 9, Appeals, of China’s Land Development Code, has divided recommendations from the planning board (co-chairman James Wilkens objects) and the select board (Jeanne Marquis objects). During lengthy discussions by both boards, other members were unenthusiastic; by time for final decisions, all but Wilkens and Marquis endorsed the amendments rather than waste the time invested.

The proposed changes are on the Town of China website under the Elections tab. The version called mark-ups shows the changes; the Proposed Chapter 9 Appeals Ordinance is the version being voted on.

Generally there are two types of changes. There was little controversy over verbal, administrative and procedural changes (“chairman” becomes chair”; board members’ terms become three years instead of five; time limits for steps in appeal and variance processes are amended and/or added and procedures are spelled out).

Two issues are mainly responsible for opposition to the amendments. One is deletion of nine environmental requirements for granting a variance in Section 3A. The other is addition of a provision in Section 3B, also describing variances, allowing a reduced setback from a neighbor’s property with the neighbor’s written consent.

Art. 30 asks voter action on another amended ordinance, the Solid Waste Ordinance. Only briefly discussed at meetings and recommended by all five select board members, the final version of this document is also under the Elections tab on the town website.

Its main purpose is to combine and update two earlier local solid waste ordinances. There has been no controversy at public meetings or hearings over this document.

The 32-article warrant does not include two expenditures that voters used to consider (nor were they in the 2022 warrant): appropriations for the Kennebec County budget and for FirstPark, the Oakland business park supported by many area municipalities.

Hapgood told budget committee members at their April 3 meeting that these are mandatory, so there’s no point in asking voters to act. The proposed 2023-24 municipal budget, another document that is available on the website under the Elections tab, shows the town will spend $27,550 for FirstPark and $607,333 for Kennebec County.

The list of anticipated 2023-24 revenues in Art. 2 of the town meeting warrant includes $27,550 from FirstPark. Hapgood said this amount is expected, but not guaranteed.

In addition to the town business meeting, China voters will have a separate ballot asking if they approve or reject the 2023-24 Regional School Unit #18 budget adopted in May. At the May 22 select board meeting, RSU #18 Superintendent Carl Gartley said China’s share of the RSU budget will increase by $106,000, or slightly more than two percent.

China’s municipal elections are held in November. In 2023, election day will be on Nov. 8. For those who like to plan ahead, the following elected officials’ terms end in 2023 (according to the 2022 annual town report, now available at the town office):

  • On the select board, chairman Wayne Chadwick and Jeanne Marquis. All select board members are elected from anywhere in town, for two-year terms.
  • On the planning board, Michael Brown (District 1, northwest), Walter Bennett (District 3, southeast) and Natale Tripodi (alternate, elected from anywhere in town). The District 4 seat (southwest) is vacant.
  • On the budget committee, chairman Thomas Rumpf (elected from anywhere in town), Kevin Maroon (District 1) and Michael Sullivan (District 3). Secretary Trishea Story has resigned; the secretary, like the chairman, is elected from the town at large.

Nomination papers for local elective offices will be available in July.

Erskine Academy announces top 10 seniors (2023)

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Top row, right-to-left: Malachi Lowery, Damon Wilson, Lily Matthews, Grace Hutchins, Sophia Pilotte; Bottom row: Mackenzie Toner, Gabriel Pelletier, Nabila Harrington, Carson Appel, Noah Rushing.

Erskine Academy has announced the class of 2023 Top Ten Seniors.

Valedictorian is Malachi Lowery, son of Hollie Hilton, of Vassalboro, and John Lowery, of Ellsworth. Throughout his four years at Erskine, Malachi has participated in such activities as Student Council, National Honor Society, the EA Leadership Team, EA Theater, LEO Club, the International Outreach Coalition, Soccer, Indoor Track, Tennis, and he has completed over 100 hours of community service projects. Malachi is a four-year honor roll recipient and has received awards of distinction in Algebra, English, Physics, U.S. History, and Physical Education. Malachi has served as Vice-President of the Class of 2023, he has been a Renaissance Recognition and Senior of the Trimester award recipient, and is a Maine Principals’ Association Award recipient. Malachi plans to attend the University of Maine to study Electrical Engineering.

Salutatorian is Damon Wilson, son of Aimee and Jeffrey Wilson, of Windsor. Damon has participated in such activities as National Honor Society, Student Council, EA Theater, the EA Leadership Team, Prom Committee, and served as the Field Hockey Manager. Damon has also served as President of the Class of 2023 for three years and as one of two Class Marshals in 2022. A student who has received high honor roll distinction every trimester, Damon was the recipient of awards of excellence in Algebra, Geometry, PreCalculus, Statistics, US History, and Spanish. In addition, Damon has also been a recipient of the George Eastman Young Leaders Award and Renaissance Recognition and Senior of the Trimester awards. Damon plans to attend Kennebec Valley Community College in the General Studies program.

Third in academic standing is Lily Matthews, daughter of Kim and John Matthews, of China. Lily is a member of National Honor Society and she has participated in such activities as Student Council, EA Theater, Future Business Leaders of America, LEO Club, Math Team, Speech Team, the Girl Up Club, Soccer, and Lacrosse. In addition, Lily has completed nearly 100 hours of community service projects. Lily has received high honor roll distinction every trimester, has received awards of achievement in Biology and Calculus, and is a Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award recipient. Lily plans to attend Syracuse University to major in Mechanical Engineering.

Fourth in academic standing is Grace Hutchins, daughter of Teresa and Randy Hutchins, of Litchfield. Grace has participated in such activities as National Honor Society, Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, the EA Leadership Team, Math Team, Field Hockey, Basketball, and Lacrosse. Grace has received awards of distinction in Geometry, PreCalculus, Calculus, and Physical Education, and she has achieved four year honor roll status. In addition, Grace was the recipient of the Society of Women Engineers Award, served as one of two Class Marshals in 2022, and she is a Renaissance Senior of the Trimester award recipient. Grace plans to attend the University of Maine with a major in Civil Engineering.

Fifth in academic standing is Sophia Pilotte, daughter of Andrea Pilotte, of Palermo, and Aaron and Michelle Pilotte, of Warren. Sophia is a member of National Honor Society and has been a participant of the International Outreach Coalition, EA Theater, LEO Club, Student Council, and Soccer. Sophia has also completed over 150 hours of community service projects. Sophia has received the Phi Beta Kappa Award, and is a four year honor roll recipient. Sophia plans to attend the University of Maine with an undeclared major.

Sixth in academic standing is Mackenzie Toner, daughter of Thomas Toner, of Windsor, and Chrystal Toner, of Augusta. Mackenzie is a member of National Honor Society and she has participated in such activities as Future Business Leaders of America, Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball, and she has completed over 200 hours of community service activities. Mackenzie is a four-year honor roll recipient, has received a Renaissance Senior of the Trimester award, and received the Smith College Book Award. Mackenzie plans to attend Thomas College, in Waterville, with a major in Digital Marketing Management.

Seventh in academic standing is Gabriel Pelletier, son of Hilary and Ryan Pelletier, of China. Gabriel is a member of National Honor Society and he has participated in such activities as Future Business Leaders of America, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, and has completed nearly 100 hours of community service activities. Gabriel is also a four-year honor roll recipient. Gabriel plans to major in Biology at the University of Maine.

Eighth in academic standing is Nabila Harrington, daughter of Paul Harrington, of China, and Nita Harrington, of Waterville. Nabila has been a member of such activities as the Speech Team, LEO Club, the EA Leadership Team, HOPE (Helping Others Persevere at Erskine), Soccer, and Lacrosse. Nabila has received honor roll distinction every trimester, and she has received awards of excellence in Social Studies and French. Nabila plans to attend the University of New England with a major in Medical Biology.

Ninth in academic standing is Carson Appel, son of Suzanne and William Appel, of Windsor. Carson is a member of National Honor Society, and he has participated in such activities as Student Council, LEO Club, Math Team, the EA Leadership Team, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, and he has completed nearly 200 hours of community service projects. Carson has also received high honor roll distinction every trimester, and was selected as a 2022 Scholar in the National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program. Carson plans to major in Public Policy at Cornell University.

Tenth in academic standing is Noah Rushing, son of Allyson and Jason Rushing, of China. Noah is a member of National Honor Society and has participated in such activities as Future Business Leaders of America, HOPE (Helping Others Persevere at Erskine), Soccer, Basketball, and has completed over 100 hours of community service projects. Noah is also a four-year honor roll award recipient. Noah plans to major in Computer Science at the University of Maine.

The Class of 2023 graduation ceremony will be held at the Augusta Civic Center, on Friday, June 9, at 6:30 pm.

Lake Life Today: While planning for the future, Part 2

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submitted by Elaine Philbrick

Lake Life Today is a series of articles that are hoped will inspire you to see how, by taking just a few steps, you can make a difference and help preserve the quality of water in our lakes for future generations.

These articles have been collected and organized by LakeSmart Director Elaine Philbrook, a member of China Region Lake Alliance (aka “the Alliance”) serving China Lake, Webber Pond, Three Mile Pond, and Three-Cornered Pond. The Alliance would like to thank our partners at Maine Lakes and Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) for information to support this article.

WHY IS YOUR LAKE AT RISK?

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a naturally occurring nutrient that creates lake algae. A rapid increase or accumulation of too much phosphorus can cause a lake to be out of balance, creating massive algae blooms that turn lake water green from the algae’s pigments, smells terrible, degrades wildlife habitat, and can potentially harm human and pet health.

Phosphorus comes from lots of sources – pet waste, fertilizers, household cleaners, motor oil – none of which should ever find their way into a lake. But the biggest source of phosphorus is soil and sediment that is washed into a lake after a severe rain event. We know, due to climate change, that the rain events we are now experiencing are more intense. Severe storms cause phosphorous loading during the first hour of such events. This is called the “first flush.” Watch out for the “brownish” stormwater because it is laden with the nutrients, especially phosphorus.

Signs of erosion on your property show you that phosphorus in stormwater can take a direct path to your lake. Look around for stormwater channeling, or even more intense “gullying” left behind after a big storm, especially near buildings and parking areas where stormwater “sheet flows” off impervious surfaces and cascades its way to the waterbody.

Added together, even small sources of pollutants – a little stormwater runoff, a little pet waste on the lawn, a minor application of fertilizer – can all add up to create a much bigger problem for your lake. A little pollution from you, your neighbor and others around the lake, year after year, can put your lake at huge risk!

What can you do? For a more complete list of those things you can do to help promote and protect your lake’s water quality, see information on Lake Friendly Yard Maintenance at Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation (Watershed Management Division).

If you have any questions about what you can do to ensure the integrity of your valued lake or if you would like a free LakeSmart evaluation you can reach Elaine Philbrook by email at chinalakesmart@gmail.com and follow-up to read the next issue of The Town Line newspaper.

China planners OK permit application for Branch Mills dam

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by Mary Grow

At their May 23 meeting, China Planning Board members unanimously approved a permit application related to the planned rebuilding of the dam in Branch Mills, on the West Branch of the Sheepscot River.

Codes Officer Nicholas French said the application is to move more than 100 cubic yards of earth, an activity that requires a planning board permit when located in the shoreland district.

The application was filed by the Brunswick-based Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF); it was presented to the China board by Melissa Cote, Sheepscot River watershed manager for the Midcoast Conservancy, headquartered in Edgecomb. Accompanying paperwork says the Branch Pond dam, aka Dinsmore dam, is owned by the Brewer-based Maine Council Atlantic Salmon Federation, which has authorized ASF to rebuild the dam.

ASF’s summary on the first page of the application to the planning board says the project is “To repair the Branch Pond Dam to comply with state dam safety standards and operate correctly to meet the water level order, construct a fishway for native migratory fish to access their historic habitat, replacement of the dry fire hydrant so that it functions, create a hand-carry boat ramp for recreation and emergencies, improvements to gravel parking area for public access, security fencing and plantings for stabilization.”

The application says the property is about half an acre around the dam on both sides of the Sheepscot. The dam is more than 200 years old, the application says, “and does not meet safety requirements and cannot operate to handle flood events nor meet water level order.”

The Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) classified the dam as a “significant hazard” in October 1981, and the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has reaffirmed the finding, while no “significant repairs” have been made.

The water level order was issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) in October 2014 at the request of Branch Pond residents. The dam controls the pond’s water level.

Kleinschmidt Associates, of Pittsfield, has been working on engineering plans for the last five years. Repair work includes new gates and fill along the shore.

An Alaska SteepPass Fishway (made by Sheepscot Machine Works, in Newcastle, according to the company’s website) will help alewives and perhaps other migratory fish species go upstream to historic spawning grounds. A “gated plunge pool” will facilitate autumn downstream migration.

The application says the dry fire hydrant doesn’t work; a 2022 inspection team that included Palermo and China fire chiefs found it “was never constructed properly decades ago and needed to be completely replaced.”

The project needs other approvals and permits besides China’s. The application references historic preservation, endangered species (Atlantic salmon and Northern Long-Eared Bats), and permit applications being reviewed by the MDEP and the ACE.

The written application, and Cote in her presentation, emphasized consultation with affected residents and groups, like the Branch Pond Association; with local officials; and with state and federal agencies. A recent example was the May 6 public meeting in the Grange Hall, in Branch Mills. Cote said about 35 people attended, and there was “no negative feedback.”

Planning board continues preparing new section of land development code

After their May 23 permit approval for the Branch Mills dam work, China Planning Board members returned to their ongoing project, preparing a new section of China’s Land Development Code that, if approved by voters, would regulate solar installations in town.

Working from a draft that currently has 13 sections, they got part way into section 6 at their May 9 meeting and into section 7 on May 23.

The first three sections are standard: title, authority and purpose. Following sections involve defining types of installations covered and developing standards, complex processes board members discussed in detail.

The good news is that Section 13, when they get to it, has a single sentence: “The Ordinance becomes effective on [insert date].”

Board members intend to develop a draft in the next couple months and ask China select board members to present it to town voters on Nov. 8.

The board’s first June meeting would have fallen on June 13, Election Day. The reschedule date, as of May 30, was Thursday, June 15.

Local author captures award

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Michelle Shores

Local Maine Author, Michelle E. Shores, of Waterville, whose recently published book The Gathering Room – A Tale of Nelly Butler, has been awarded a 2023 IPPY AWARD for Best Fiction in the Northeast Region, Bronze Medal.

The Independent Publisher Book Awards, commonly known as the IPPY Awards, are a prestigious set of awards that recognize excellence in independent publishing. They have been held annually since 1996 and aim to highlight the best independently published books in a variety of categories.

The Gathering Room – A Tale of Nelly Butler brings to life, in fiction, the dramatic account of the first documented ghost sighting in America which occurred in Maine in 1799. Based on a true story, Michelle’s work weaves an epic tale of what the lives of George and Nelly Butler might have been like as they faced the supernatural in the form of a young girl, Lydia Blaisdell. Set in Sullivan and Franklin in Downeast Maine this is a haunting story that captivates the reader from the start.

Since its release in September 2022, The Gathering Room – A Tale of Nelly Butler has been a top selling book for Maine Authors Publishing located, in Thomaston. The book has sold in every state in the U.S. as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. Highly rated on Amazon, it is available in paperback and Kindle. Until recently, Michelle was the advertising manager for the Maine Tourism Association but had to give up her full-time job to meet the demands of this best-selling book. Michelle is willing to discuss her book, her journey into self publishing and being a bronze medalist in the IPPY Awards for Best Fiction in the Northeast.

For more information, contact Michelle at writerinmaine@gmail.com or 207-944-8361 or check out her website https://www.mshoreswriter.com/ or on all social media @mshoreswriter.