SNHU announces summer ‘22 president’s list

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Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in Manchester, New Hampshire, congratulates the following students on being named to the Summer 2022 President’s List. The summer terms run from May to August.

Kate Murphy and Justin Drescher, both of Augusta, Matthew Bandyk, of Jefferson, Merval Porter, of Palermo, Lisa Johnson, of South China, Lacey York, of China, Lilly Reardon, of Benton, Jeffery Wheeler and Brendon Peace, both of Waterville, Talon Mosher, of Winslow, Jacob Colson, of Albion, Carrie Stackpole, of Clinton, Stormy Wentworth, of Fairfield, Glenn Rich and Mariah Rich, both of Madison, and Kassandra Grant, of Vassalboro.

Endicott College announces local dean’s list students

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Endicott College, in Beverly, Massachusetts, the first college in the U.S. to require internships of its students, has announced its Fall 2022 dean’s list students.

The following students have met these requirements: Emily Clark, of China, daughter of Stacy Clark and Christopher Clark, is majoring in nursing; and Hunter Scholz, of Augusta, son of Kimberly Scholz and Stephen Scholz, is majoring in history.

China 2023 Ice Fishing Derby winners

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AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Lunker of the Day – Large Mouth Bass – Randall Glidden – 5.48 lb

Brook Trout:

1st and 2nd place – David Hamilton – 1.06 lb and .70 lb
There was no 3rd place in this category

Brown Trout:

1st place: Jaden Callahan – 3.40 lb
2nd place: Emmet Ambrose – 3.34 lb
3rd place: Dan Horning – 2.80 lb

Large Mouth Bass:

1st place: Randall Glidden – 5.48 lb
2nd place: Kolby Glidden – 4.86 lb
3rd place: Christine Casmer – 4.84 lb

Small Mouth Bass:

1st place: Terry Couture – 3.02 lb
2nd place: Mile Michaud – 2.76 lb
3rd place: Tom Monroe – 2.32 lb

Pickerel:

1st place: Isabelle Pelotte – 4.2 lb
2nd place: Damien Lee Theriault – 3.88 lb
3rd place: Brad Wing – 3.70 lb

Kids Perch by Count:

1st place: Max Collins – 24
2nd place: Nicole – 22
3rd place: Blake Owens – 17 (first in at fire house)
4th place: Griffin Smith – 17
5th place: Alexis Wentworth – 14

China planning board holds workshop on land use ordinance

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by Mary Grow

After the China select board held a Feb. 13 public hearing on proposed amendments to the Board of Appeals Ordinance (Chapter 9 of China’s Land Use Ordinance) and invited members of the planning and appeals boards to participate, planning board members devoted their Feb. 14 meeting to a workshop on the ordinance. They were joined by select board and appeals board members and others interested.

Initial discussion on Feb. 13 was a rehash of arguments over which board should have started the amendment process, plus criticism of the late availability of the draft being discussed and the difficulty in telling which comments came from whom.

Participants in the Feb. 14 workshop debated at length the content of the ordinance. In the week after the workshop, planning board co-chairman Toni Wall changed the two-color draft available Feb. 13 to a three-color draft.

The new version shows the original document, the changes proposed by select board member Brent Chesley and the changes proposed by town attorney Amanda Meader. Wall intends this version to be the basis for a Feb. 28 planning board discussion.

The three-color draft was to be on the China website, china.govoffice.com, as soon as possible (the Presidents’ Day holiday caused a delay).

The appeals board has two functions under the ordinance:

  • “to hear appeals from any decision or failure to act by the Codes Enforcement Officer, Plumbing Inspector, or Planning Board with regard to this Land Development Code and
  • “to review and act on variances.”

A variance is an exception to an ordinance provision.

Chesley’s proposed amendments, which select board members forwarded to the planning board after the Jan. 3 select board meeting, are in two categories, administrative changes and substantive changes. The latter deal with variances.

Planning board members generally agree with most of the administrative recommendations. They disagree with most of the proposed substantive changes.

Examples of administrative changes, according to the latest draft, include appointing appeals board members for staggered three-year terms instead of the current five-year terms, and setting time limits for filing a variance request and for board review.

Substantive changes Chesley suggested deal mostly with loosening restrictions on expanding use of a substandard, grandfathered lot, which discussants defined as a lot of less than 20,000 square feet with an existing dwelling (built before land use ordinances defined 20,000 square feet as too small to build on).

For example, Chesley recommends allowing larger variances from some limits, like letting an owner extend a structure closer to a lot line with written consent from the affected abutting landowner.

Chesley thinks China’s ordinances are too strict. Planning board members, and in earlier discussions other residents, disagreed, some citing the need to protect water quality in China Lake. Planning board co-chairman James Wilkens said repeatedly the present ordinance works, so there is no need to change it.

Chesley said his waterfront lot has 25,700 square feet; he will not be affected, whether his proposals are accepted or rejected, but other shorefront property-owners could be.

The ordinance is to be considered again by the select board at its Feb. 27 meeting, as well as by planning board members on Feb. 28.

The Feb. 27 select board meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., to allow time to discuss the 2023-24 town budget. Planning board meetings usually begin at 6:30 p.m. Both boards meet in the town office meeting room.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said there will be another public hearing before a final version of the ordinance goes to voters at the annual town business meeting in June.

China select board holds two public hearings on two draft ordinances

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by Mary Grow

Note: this report does not cover the Feb. 13 select board public hearing on the draft Board of Appeals ordinance (Chapter 9 of China’s Land Use Ordinance), to which select board members invited members of the board of appeals and the planning board. The same topic is the main agenda item for the Feb. 14 planning board meeting, to which the planning board has invited select board and board of appeals members. A report is planned for the Feb. 23 issue of The Town Line.

China select board members started their Feb. 13 meeting with more than an hour of consecutive public hearings on two draft ordinances.

The first hearing, on the amended board of appeals ordinance that has been previously discussed at select board and planning board meetings (see the Jan. 12, Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 issues of The Town Line) lasted a full hour. No action was planned or taken; the topic was to be re-discussed at the Feb. 14 planning board meeting.

The second, shorter hearing was on a draft solid waste ordinance that Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood explained was a melding of two existing ordinances, the Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Solid Waste Flow Control Ordinance. Revisions included updates and elimination of duplicate language.

Residents Toni Wall and James Wilkens suggested minor changes. If select board members approve a final draft, the ordinance will be submitted to voters at the annual town business meeting in June.

The major decision at the select board meeting that followed the hearings was to deny a request to seek to increase the 25-mile-an-hour speed limit on Cross Road, which runs from Lakeview Drive to Hanson Road.

Hapgood said to her knowledge, the limit had been in place since the road was a narrow, curvy, hilly dirt road; it is now paved, and curves and hills have been modified, she said.

Maine’s Department of Transportation (MDOT) sets speed limits, the manager said. Select board members could ask the department to study the road and recommend an appropriate limit. She did not know whether local officials had any say on what change, if any, to make.

Audience members agreed that few drivers obey the speed limit on Cross Road, or anywhere else. Speakers disagreed over whether the average driver would continue at his or her usual pace if the limit were raised, or if a higher limit would increase speeding.

Select board member Blane Casey called 25 “a little slow.” Brent Chesley admitted he finds 35 or 40 a “comfortable” speed when he drives Cross Road; but, he said, residents’ opinions were his main concern.

A Cross Road resident in the audience said she likes the road slow; it is safer for children, wildlife and pedestrians.

A Hanson Road resident was willing to support a 35-mile-an-hour limit like the one on Hanson Road. The two roads are similar, she said; and she researched MDOT records and found no reports of accidents on Cross Road.

Hapgood shared two emailed comments from Cross Road residents opposing an increase. One said her family moved to the road seeking a safe place for children, pets and pedestrians; she called it “a freaking drag strip,” to the delight of those at the meeting.

The writer of a more detailed email pointed out that Cross Road has no shoulders, no lines and no lights; that it serves a residential area with many pedestrians; that some of the driveways have very short sight distances; and that slow-moving tractors and other farm equipment use Cross Road.

Both emails mentioned the lack of policing to enforce the speed limit.

Casey commented as testimony ended that he had heard “a lot of opposition to doing anything with” the speed limit. The decision to reject the requested increase was unanimous.

Other Feb. 13 business included:

  • A reminder that the China town office will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, for the Presidents’ Day holiday.
  • A reminder that the second half payment of 2022-23 local taxes is due at the town office by the close of business Friday, March 31.
  • Notice that China will host a regional household hazardous waste collection day at the transfer station on Saturday, April 15.
  • Approval of quitclaim deeds to return foreclosed properties to two people who paid back taxes, and acceptance of a third payment that was two days past deadline. Hapgood said a quitclaim deed for that property would be prepared for the next meeting.

As the time reached 8:15 p.m., board chairman Wayne Chadwick proposed postponing the initial review of the 2023-24 budget that was next on the agenda. After discussion of board members’ schedules, there was agreement to begin the Feb. 27 select board meeting at 5 p.m., rather than the usual 6:30, with the budget again a topic.

China Four Seasons Club, Thurston Park to split TIF money 60/40

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by Mary Grow

Five members of China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee met Feb. 8 and reviewed most of the requests for TIF funds for the 2023-24 fiscal year that begins July 1.

China’s TIF money comes from taxes Central Maine Power Company pays on its north-south transmission line through the town. By state law, TIF expenditures are to focus on promoting economic development. On the town website, china.govoffice.com, under the TIF Committee, the Second Amended TIF Program approved in 2021 lays out details of permissible expenditures.

Committee chairman Brent Chesley, who is also a member of the China select board, said he intended to participate in discussions, but would not vote, because the TIF Committee reports to the select board and he votes there. “One man, one vote,” he summarized.

A major topic at the Feb. 8 meeting was requested expenditures from Project C.7, titled Trails. The Thurston Park Committee asked for $44,000 from that category for trail work in the park in northeastern China; the Four Seasons Club asked for $60,000 from the same category for work on the snowmobile and four-wheeler trails its members maintain throughout the town.

The total annual expenditure for Project C.7 is capped at $65,000.

Four Seasons Club President Thomas Rumpf and Thurston Park Committee Chairman Jeanette Smith each said they could spend a great deal more than the requested amounts. Smith talked about repairing damage from the Dec. 23 storm, fallen trees and washouts, as well as normal trail maintenance and mowing some trails and the picnic area. Rumpf said meeting new state requirements requires major trail improvements; miles have been done, but more work is needed, especially south of Route 3.

Smith also requested funds to buy a side-by-side off-road vehicle to tow the bush-hog. Committee members talked about whether TIF money can be used for equipment, whether using volunteers’ equipment and labor for park work is appropriate and what alternatives there might be.

Smith said she is waiting for a reply to an application for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds to repair the entrance road to Thurston Park, which was badly damaged in the December storm. Only after the road is reopened, she explained, can she hope to get cement poured for the planned storage building in the park. Money for the cement pad was included in the current year’s budget and appears as an unspent balance.

Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said FEMA’s response to town requests might come in days, weeks or months.

TIF Committee members suggested Rumpf and Smith move to the far end of the room and talk out their differences. They did, and reported an agreement to split the $65,000, $32,500 apiece.

After further discussion, committee members overruled them and voted 3-1 (Danny Boivin, James “JJ” Wentworth and Michael “Mickey” Wing in the majority, Jamie Pitney opposed and Chesley abstaining) to give $25,000 to the Thurston Park Committee and the remaining $40,000 to the Four Seasons Club.

The majority’s rationale was that people bringing in snowmobiles and four-wheelers from out of town spend more at local stores and thus contribute more to the town’s economy than do Thurston Park visitors.

The Four Seasons Club’s request for a separate $5,000 from Project C.2 (Economic Development Events) for next year’s annual Ice Days celebration was tabled, as was the China Lake Association’s request for $1,000 from the same account.

Committee members unanimously endorsed the China Lake Association’s request for $10,000 and the China Region Lakes Alliance’s request for $20,000 for environmental improvements.

They also approved a total of $40,000 for the China Broadband Committee, with Pitney abstaining because he is a member of that committee.

Votes on requests from the Town of China were postponed to the next TIF Committee meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8.

TIF Committee recommendations go to the select board. The select board will ask voters to approve total TIF expenditures at the annual town business meeting in June. At the June 14, 2022, meeting, voters approved spending a total of $265,000 in TIF funds (Art. 15 of the meeting warrant).

CHINA: Wings denied variance by board of appeals to build garage

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by Mary Grow

Four of the six members of China’s Board of Appeals met Feb. 8 to hear a variance request from Charles and Julie Wing for their property on Fire Road 12, off Neck Road.

Stephen Greene, Lisa Kane and Alan Pelletier promptly re-elected Spencer Aitel board chairman. Aitel explained the variance procedure, which is mandated by state law as well as by China’s Land Use Ordinance.

A variance is an exception to a land use rule, in this case a rule about setbacks from protected areas. The Board of Appeals can grant a variance only if strict application of the ordinance would “result in undue hardship to the applicant.”

To make the case for “undue hardship,” Aitel said, the applicant must prove four things:

  • “That the land in question cannot yield a reasonable return unless a variance is granted;
  • “That the need for a variance is due to the unique circumstances of the property and not to the general conditions in the neighborhood;
  • “That the granting of a variance will not alter the essential character of the locality; and
  • “That the hardship is not the result of action taken by the applicant or a prior owner.”

The Wings said they bought a vacant four-acre lot near the lot on which their new house stands, intending to acquire space to build a garage. The lot has a flat area where they would like to put the garage, and a bank they estimate to be at least 20 feet high.

If the garage were built on the flat area, it would be 112 feet from a protected area that they said is a forested wetland. A state Department of Environmental Protection staffer, relying on state maps, told them a 75-foot setback would be adequate. But China’s town maps zone the wetland at a higher value, requiring a 250-foot setback.

The garage could be moved to be 250 feet from the wetland, the Wings said. But relocating would require digging out about 14 feet of the bank and building a retaining wall, costing an estimated $50,000 or more and increasing the risk of run-off that environmental ordinances are intended to control.

Board members’ discussion defined the main issue as whether the lot could “yield a reasonable return” without a variance.

Two of the four members, Greene and Kane, voted that it could, because it could still be used as the Wings intended; therefore the variance request should be denied. Pelletier dissented, and Aitel abstained, as he habitually does unless his vote is needed to break a tie.

Aitel then led board members through shorter reviews of the other three criteria. In a series of 2-1-1 votes, Greene and Kane found that the Wings met all three, Pelletier dissented and Aitel abstained.

In conclusion, the Wings’ variance was denied, again on a 2-1-1 vote, because they had not met all four criteria.

When they asked what to do next, Aitel advised trying to reconcile the different ratings on the town and state maps. He recommended asking the China select board how to seek an amendment to the town map.

China scouts provide morning worship on Boy Scout Sunday

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Front row, from left to right, Isaac Audette, Sam Quick, and Brady Newell. Second row, Chuck Mahaleris, Nathan Choate, Kameron Rossignol, Nicholas Choate, Sam Boynton, and Scoutmaster Christian Hunter. Back row, Sean Boynton, Bruce Rueger, Matt Bodine, Michael Choate, Derek Rossignol, and Ronald Emery. Absent from photo are Scott Adams, and Priscilla Adams. (photo courtesy of Ron Emery)

by Ron Emery

On February 5 – Boy Scout Sunday – the Boy Scouts from Troop #479, along with some of their leaders, provided the Morning Worship Service at the China Baptist Church. The scouts, under the leadership of Scoutmaster Christian Hunter, have taken part in Scout Sunday Worship service for 30 years (Missing 2019-2021 because of COVID restrictions). Very few Boy Scout troops in the Kennebec Valley District are provided this opportunity. The scouts from Troop #479 were invited to prepare some of the worship service by Rev. Ronald Morrell. Under Rev. Morrell’s direction and with assistance from the Committee Member Ronald Emery, the worship service gave each of the scouts a chance to participate in the Sunday Morning Worship, as follows:

Call to Worship, by Scout Nathan Choate;
Invocation and Lord’s Prayer by Scout Sam Quick;
Responsive Reading, The Scout Law by Scout Kameron Rossignol;
A Scout Remembrance and Tribute In memory of Scout Rémy Pettengill, by Chuck Mahaleris Kennebec Valley District Chairman;
Preparation for Prayer by Scout Nicholas Choate;
Pastoral Prayer by Scout Sam Boynton;
Children’s Message, The Five Finger Prayer by Scout Leader Derek Rossignol;
Scripture Reading, The Scout Beatitudes by Scout Isaac Audette;
Offering: Nicholas Choate, Nathan Choate, Sam Boynton, Kameron Rossignol;
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication, by Scout Isaac Audette;
Message ‘IF GOD COULD SPEAK’, by Scout Leaders Mike Choate and Ronald Emery;
Benediction by Scout Brady Newell;
Invitation and Prayer for Refreshments by Scout Leader Ronald Emery

The twelfth point of the Scout law, a Scout is Reverent, was exemplified by the scouts. A large congregation including boys and leaders in uniforms enjoyed the Sunday service. Fellowship hour was hosted by Troop #479 in the vestry.

LETTERS: A thank you note from our family

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To the editor:

Remy Pettengil

To our family, friends, neighbors, fellow Scouters, Masonic brothers, Erskine Academy family, China Middle School family, coworkers, & the greater China Community:

We started out making a list of those to thank during this past month but realized that the amazing amount of support came from an overwhelming amount of people both near and far – we feared forgetting someone.

To our family, there are no words to express how thankful we are for you. You kept our household going, you held our hands, you provided a shoulder to cry on, and you continue to provide us with unwavering support always.

To those of you that sent words of encouragement, prayed for Rémy and our family, and kept us in your thoughts – thank you! We read each and every card and message; the amount of love for Rémy gave us some comfort in this very trying time. We were humbled by all the wonderful stories of Rémy’s reach and quiet positive impact on others, which we now realize far pushed the bounds of what we knew.

To those of you who provided a meal for our family – thank you! Although it seems like such an everyday task, you allowed us to just be together as a family without the burden of a chore.

To those of you who gave a monetary gift or a gift card – thank you! We never realized until this tragedy, how helpful those could be. Please know we will continue to pay it forward.

To all the area sports teams who are rocking crazy socks or taking a moment of silence – thank you! That simple action to keep Rémy’s legacy and love of life alive means more to us than words can say.

To those of you who took Rémy’s legacy to heart and are going above and beyond to spread kindness and are encouraging others to do the same – thank you!

We can’t forget the socks; to those of you that donated a pair or more – thank you! Rémy loved his crazy socks. Thus far we have delivered 6,588 pairs of socks in his honor and have at least 399 more pairs to deliver – that’s 6,987 pairs! As a family, we have decided that we will start an annual tradition of getting socks to those in need each October (before the Maine winter sets in) – stay tuned.

To those of you who organized/took part in the candlelight vigil, assisted with Rémy’s celebration of life, or are working on other things to keep his memory alive – thank you! We are so touched by your actions.

To the neuro-ICU team at Maine Med – thank you for taking care of all of us! You are an amazing group of compassionate people. Fr. Kevin and Fr. Claude – thank you for supporting us spiritually! Plummer Funeral Home – thank you for your genuine care and concern for our family!

Each day Rémy walked this Earth, he greeted friends and strangers with a smile. He was a voice for those who could not find their own, he protected the weak, he championed the underdog, and he helped those in need. Please remember him with joy. Help Rémy continue his legacy – be kind to one another, hold the door open, smile, and care for those you know and even those you don’t. Love, laugh, live life to its fullest, and wear crazy socks!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Lee, Danielle, Aiden, & Bryson Pettengill

Samuel Boynton earns Eagle Scout status

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Sam Boynton, left, smiles as his mother, Jennifer Boynton, pins the Eagle Scout medal on his chest. (photo by Chuck Mahaleris)

by Chuck Mahaleris

Samuel K. Boynton, a senior at Erskine Academy, in South China, was presented with the highest award in Scouting during a ceremony Sunday, February 5 at the China Baptist Church with family, friends and fellow Troop #479 Scouts on hand for the presentation.

Troop #479 Scoutmaster Christian Hunter said during the ceremony, “The pathway to Eagle can be described as a steep trail leading up to three peaks, the highest being that of Eagle Scout. Officially, the trail starts with the Tenderfoot rank and continues through Second and First Class ranks. Then, the mountain climbing begins. The path is marked with merit badges, leadership responsibilities, service projects, and the practice of Scouting skills and ideals. The first peak reached is that of Star Scout, the second is Life Scout, and, finally, Eagle Scout.” Sam’s climb to Eagle began when he joined Cub Scouting in 2011. By September of 2016, he had joined Scout Troop #479. He completed all requirements for Eagle Scout rank on September 19, 2022, when he passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review – exactly six years after earning his Scout rank.

Hunter, who is an Eagle Scout himself, said, “The foremost responsibility of an Eagle Scout is to live with honor. To an Eagle Scout, honor is the foundation of all character.” Later he added, “Eagle Scout is not a patch, an award or certificate to hang on the wall. It is a way to live your life.” Samuel Boynton pledged to, “always obey the Scout law and help other people.” He promised those in attendance that he would work to “make my country and my community a better place.”

Boynton’s Eagle Scout project saw improvements to the Monument Trail, at Thurston Park. Sean’s parents were participants in the ceremony. Jennifer Boynton, Sam’s mom, pinned the Eagle Scout medal on her son’s uniform and Sean Boynton, Sam’s dad, replaced his troop neckerchief with one only worn by Eagle Scouts. Sam also received a Bronze Eagle Palm for earning five merit badges beyond the 21 required for Eagle Scout. Sam then presented his parents with Eagle Scout pins in recognition of the assistance and guidance they had given him through his Scouting career.

Samuel Boynton received a Legislative Sentiment from State Representative Katrin Smith, of Palermo, who attended the ceremony. He also received praise from members of the Congressional Delegation. U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree wrote in her congratulatory note, “Your hard work truly exemplifies the Eagle Scout spirit.” U.S. Senator Angus King stated in his letter, “You have set an excellent example for the members of Troop #479, and I hope your fellow Scouts will follow in your footsteps.”