Irene Belanger, seated left, recently retired from the select board after 22 years of service. Pictured with her are her husband, “Val”. right, and her immediate family standing behind her. (photo courtesy of Kelly Grotton)
Mary Wicklund, Maine’s LakeSmart Program Manager, right, presented information on the state’s LakeSmart Program to about two dozen people in the region via a “hybrid” in-person & Zoom meeting held October 20. With her, displaying a LakeSmart Award Sign, is the China Region Lakes Alliance Executive Director, Scott Pierz, who sponsored the event. (photo by Susan Gallo, Executive Director of Maine Lakes)
by Mary GrowAt their Oct. 21 meeting, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members reviewed a report from Hawkeye Connections, the company whose employees surveyed existing power poles and related infrastructure to refine the cost of improving and expanding internet service in China.
The report gives an estimated cost of $5.25 million for main construction only. It further describes six areas lacking power poles, serving a total of more than 100 homes; and notes some homes on Three Mile Pond that are in China, but accessible only through Windsor, plus one island house.
Hawkeye engineers suggested solutions for most problem areas, including adding utility poles, doing underground connections and, for the island, wireless communication. They offered $135,000 as a partial additional cost estimate, varying with the chosen solution.
They offered no cost estimate for reaching the houses on the other side of a piece of Windsor. They said the location “would create some significant engineering challenges to get them service.”
Mark Ouellette, President of Axiom Technologies (the company CBC members plan to have set up and operate China’s new system, if it is approved and funded) called the Hawkeye figures “generally in line with what we were thinking” when making the preliminary estimate.
The six road sections needing extra work to provide connections are:
Committee members discussed the possibility that some or all of the neighborhoods where new poles are needed might be eligible for state and/or federal grants designated for areas currently lacking internet service. Ouellette will investigate grant requirements.
Committee members also considered cooperation with neighboring towns, since two areas are close to Palermo and one is close to Windsor.
Ouellette said Palermo is part of the Southwestern Waldo County Broadband Coalition, with Freedom, Liberty, Montville and Searsmont.
Another nearby coalition is the Western Kennebec Lakes Community Broadband Association, with Fayette, Leeds, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Vienna and Wayne as members. Ouellette said he has talked with interested parties in two of those towns.
Voters in Readfield will have three local questions related to broadband on their Nov. 2 ballots, according to a recent article in the Central Maine newspapers.
CBC members scheduled their next meeting for 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4.
[See also: Various broadband initiatives across Maine to provide improved access]
“Yes” vote you approve; “No” vote you oppose
The Oct 21 China Broadband Committee (CBC) meeting was members’ last before the Nov. 2 local election, at which voters will approve or reject authorization for a $5.1 million bond issue to cover most of the estimated $6.5 million cost of improved and expanded internet service in China.
If voters approve the question, China Select Board members are authorized, but not required, to apply for the bond. Assuming they go through the Maine Bond Bank, the next application period will be in the spring of 2022.
The ballot question is long and complicated. CBC members have attempted to explain it on their website, chinabroadband.net; at public meetings; and through a mailed-out information sheet.
In the Sept. 24 issue of the town office news sheet, China Connected, Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said that despite the complex wording, yes and no votes “mean what they say.”
She wrote: “A ‘yes’ vote would mean you support moving forward with broadband and the projected costs and a ‘no’ vote means you do not support moving forward with the broadband project.”
Thursday, Oct. 28, is the final day to request an absentee ballot in China. On Tuesday, Nov. 2, China polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., in the portable building behind the town office on Lakeview Drive.
Read all of The Town Line’s coverage of the China Broadband Committee here.
Photo credit: Barta IV, https://www.flickr.com/photos/98640399@N08/9287370881
Communities through the Central Maine and Coastal regions are creating initiatives to improve their internet services to existing users and provide connection to underserved areas. Each community or coalition of communities is in a different stage of their progress, yet all have similar goals of future proofing their internet connections, providing reliable service to underserved residents and more affordable service to those who are currently served.
The Southwestern Waldo Broadband Coalition (SWBC) is one of these initiatives. Their goal is to connect Freedom, Liberty, Montville, Palermo, and Searsmont with affordable, accessible broadband coverage. In a survey conducted from April to September of 2021, fifty-five percent of respondents stated that no company was able to provide internet service to their homes. The survey results are further supported by a Geographical Information System (GIS) Mapping of the area showing most of Southwestern Waldo is in an internet desert devoid of connection.
Bob Kurek, Palermo selectman, explains why he works actively to advocate for SWBC,
“This is my second term as a selectman. I would like to leave the town doing something good for the town and I think this is probably the one thing that will benefit most of our residents.
“My next reason is funding. I would call myself a pragmatic conservative. I wouldn’t normally have gone after the government put in a lot of money. But as long as the government has decided they’ve got money that’s available [for broadband coverage], I want to be ready, willing and able to accept it and put it to use to solve a problem for our residents.”
The SWBC is fueled by volunteers from the five towns that comprise the coalition. Kurek explains, “If you realize the resources that it takes to pull together the information that you need to work on these grants? Small towns, like the R5 towns, don’t have enough resources to do it but when we combine we have the resources – I’m just thrilled by the people who work with us. We’ve got engineers, we’ve got educators, we’ve got accountants, we’ve got a good group of people who understand what it is that we’re wanting to do. They’re all working to solve the problem. They realize that our area is so unserved and underserved by broadband service. We could enhance our economic development, we can enhance education, and we can make it easier for people who need to communicate with doctors.”
The SWBC completed an extensive survey to ascertain the level of interest and need in their five town area. Key members of the coalition presented the results this September in informational sessions at town meetings. The SWBC earned the approval of all five select boards to use funds from the first distribution of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for a feasibility study. The SWBC is now soliciting bids from eight consulting firms.
Another broadband initiative in the Central Maine region is the Western Kennebec Lakes Community Broadband Association, which combines the towns of Fayette, Leeds, Mount Vernon, Readfield, Vienna and Wayne. A statement on the association’s website expresses that their towns need improved access to the internet to help their students get an education, promote remote work opportunities, access information and reduce isolation by connecting family and friends. The association also views internet access as vital to the future financial wellbeing of their communities by encouraging new residents to settle and their current families’ youth to stay or return.
The WKLCBA is currently gathering survey information from residents from their six communities. Video testimonials are posted on their website expressing the need for improved internet service from a variety of sectors: health, education and business.
Ellsworth is an example of a community with a newly-installed fiber network serving three miles of their downtown area. The city is currently offering leases to connect to the network to both residential and business customers. The goal of the fiber network project is to position Ellsworth as a technology-friendly city to attract remote workers and companies for whom broadband is a vital component of their business.
The Ellsworth city website says the city may expand the network overtime as the interest grows and update the technology at either end of the cable as needed.
The Town of China appointed a broadband committee to research options for better internet service and this committee has been meeting since early 2017. The China Broadband Committee (CBC) found that the major internet provider services only 70 percent of the town, the rest are serviced by a lower quality DSL or have no service. The committee’s solution to provide more reliable, more affordable internet service to every resident and business in China is similar to the fiber network plans of the broadband initiatives in progress across our state. The CBC plan is highly detailed and analyzed in an October 14, 2021, article by The Town Line technical advisor Eric Austin found at https://townline.org/category/sections/columns/tech-talk/ and on the CBC website at https://chinabroadband.net/.
HALLOWEEN EVENTSErskine Academy will host Trunk or Treat from 6 – 8 p.m., this Friday, October 29, at the school.
There will also be a haunted house inside, around the gymnasium.
Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, will be welcoming trick or treaters from 5 – 7 p.m., on Sunday, October 31.
Due to the impending inclement weather, the Fairfield Trunk or Treat has been rescheduled to Sunday, October 31, 2 – 5 p.m., on Eskelund Drive.
The Palermo Consolidated School eighth graders will hold a haunted trail on Saturday, October 30, from 3 – 8 p.m. The scariest experience will take place from 6 – 8 p.m. Admission is $5 per person and will include games, pineapple juice. You will not be touched. All proceeds to benefit the eighth grade heritage tour. The school is located at 501 ME-Route 3, Palermo.
The Alfond Youth and Community Center will be hosting a trunk or treat open house, family fun Halloween event for all ages and abilitites on Sunday, October 31, from 3 – 5 p.m., in the parking lot and facility, 126 North St., in Waterville.
This year we will be having our Trunk n Treat on Friday, October 29, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the field across from the fair grounds. This will be a walk through event, you will park in the field and we will have the trunks in a line for the kids to walk through. We will be selling glow sticks for a $1.00 at the front of the line. All monies will go help the kids at Windsor school this year. Parking will be in the big fields where the camping is.
Trick or Treat at the Winslow Public Library on Friday, October 29, 2 – 6 p.m. Ring the library doorbell for a trick or treat surprise. This will include candy, a snack, a craft, a bookmark and more. Let us know if you need an allergy friendly option. Feel free to wear a costume. Open to youth of all ages.
South China Community Church new musical director Ian Maxwell. Inset. (contributed photo)
The South China Community Church has chosen Ian Maxwell, a local South China resident and recent graduate of Eastern University, to be their new director of music. Maxwell will be replacing Chris Faris, who previously held the position for the last 29 years.
“The choir is very excited to be working with Ian, who is challenging them with some difficult pieces that require more than just one rehearsal to learn,” said Janet Preston, an elder in charge of worship music at the church and part of the team that selected Maxwell for the position. “Ian was the obvious choice to succeed our previous ‘Minister of Music,’ Chris Faris. He and his family have been active members of South China Community Church since Ian was very young. Ian started playing piano as a child and quickly impressed his teacher (Muriel Desrosier of Winslow) with his talent and potential.”
Among the responsibilities of the church music director is to choose, along with the worship chair and pastor, the hymns used during church services and by the choir, and to accompany them on piano, as well as directing rehearsals for the choir during the week.
“South China Community Church is the church I grew up in,” said Ian Maxwell, “so it’s an honor to be able to take a leadership position there. I intend to use the talents I was given to assist the church in worship, and to tackle fulfilling and beautiful music with our choir. I’m very excited about what the future will bring.”
Maxwell graduated from Eastern University, in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 2021 with a degree in General Music and a concentration in Piano, his primary instrument.
Outgoing director Chris Faris. (contributed photo)
The previous director, Chris Faris, was a prolific composer and has written more than 100 songs to be used during church services. Preston was worried those songs would be lost with the appointment of a new music director. “Not so,” she said. “One of Ian’s first choices was one of Chris’ pieces. The choir was thrilled and even sent a recording of themselves singing it to Chris, who was delighted as well.”
Faris often wrote pieces about themes that were important to individual members of the congregation. “He wrote a beautiful song about fairness for my daughter, Beth,” Preston said. She hopes to help publish a book of Faris’ compositions in the near future.
Besides serving as music director for the church and writing original songs, Faris was also a chef and created elaborate soup suppers for the congregation that were held before church events. “He was much more than simply our pianist, earning the title of ‘Minister of Music,’” said Preston. “We so appreciate his many years of service to South China Community Church.”
Not long after returning to China after graduation, Maxwell approached Faris and Preston about creating a second choir. “Chris saw this as an opportunity to retire and leave the choir in good hands,” said Preston. “Things fell into place very quickly. It was a win-win situation. We were very fortunate that Ian was eager and willing!”
Preston hopes that Maxwell’s youth and energy will attract new people to join the church choir. “He is a young, dynamic, and creative director with a great sense of humor and a hugely positive attitude,” she said. “It is so much fun to sing with/for him! All are welcome to stop in Wednesday evenings at 7:30 (for choir rehearsal) at South China Community Church on Village Street (across from the South China Library).”
The South China Community Church holds rehearsals for the choir at 7:30 p.m., on Wednesdays, and worship services at 10 a.m., on Sundays.
To the editor:I feel compelled to write this letter to both the selectmen, the selectmen candidates and the residents of the Town of China. I am concerned that Peter Foote, a former selectman, may be a candidate for re-election as a selectman for the Town of China. My reason for concern is under the former town manager, when Mr. Foote was also serving as a selectman, he was asked to write a job description for a new position as public works director. He not only wrote the job description but he applied for the very same job. I feel persons involved, as the town manager as well as Mr. Foote, would have been aware that this was inappropriate and perhaps illegal. Many China residents attended a board of selectmen meeting to express their concern. To the very best of my memory, the town manager apologized and said he didn’t realize it, and it was an error. That particular job as director of public works has never been filled although they did hire a public works manager with a small monetary increase above fellow public works employees to compensate for the extra workload as well as the current job.
I believe the selectman that we vote in to serve the town of China should be there to serve all the residents as well as the residents who are employed by the Town of China. They should listen to the people they serve and be sure the people that work for the Town of China are treated and recognized as a valuable asset to our town.
It is important that they seek to lower taxes but not as their sole goal. We are all in hard times with the price of gas and groceries, etc. but sometimes the means of cutting taxes may be hurting the town’s future. I am referring to the sale of the town’s property, thinking they could earn money on taxes especially if it was subdivided into housing lots. I ask was this relatively small amount of money worth it in the long run when a group was trying to improve the town by adding a park for all residents and perhaps someday a community center that would be a safe place for teens to gather to play cards, chess, pool, ping pong, etc., and for residents to have a time to gather to do the same thing, especially senior citizens who need a place to socialize.
Summarizing I do not have faith in Mr. Foote as a candidate for such a trusted position. I also thank the selectmen who do put the Town of China residents and employees’ interests and well-being as the most important part of their service.
Thank you.
Marilyn Reed
China
To the editor:Please consider all the advantages of good internet service and how continued poor service could keep our town years behind the rest of the country. Internet is important in so many ways. Three come to mind immediately: education, business and personal.
The Town Line has been a helpful source of information on this subject and I specifically point to their October 14 issue.
The Broadband Committee has researched and proposed a solution of which we the citizens should favorably consider and vote for on November 2.
In person, or absentee ballot, please join me to vote, Yes, on China Town Question #1.
Fred Wiand
China
To the editor:I would like to thank the Town of China for the many years of continuous support during my terms of office. After 22 years serving on the selectboard, I have decided it is time to hand over the baton to someone else. Jeanne Marquis has the same spirit for volunteerism and the deep connection to China as I have had over the years. She and I worked side by side picking up trash on Earth Day on the lakefront. Many people may recognize Jeanie for her articles in The Town Line newspaper, but you may not know she also spends many hours each month volunteering for the China For a Lifetime Committee.
When COVID first broke out, Jeanne organized a team of drivers to deliver groceries to the elderly so they could stay home. She gathered volunteers who like to sew to make and deliver masks before masks were readily available, and she helped to create outdoor classroom spaces in our China School Forest. Jeanne has and always will be there to help our town, so I feel strongly about supporting her to carry on in my place on the selectboard. Please vote for Jeanne Marquis on November 2.
In appreciation and love of the China community,
Irene Belanger
China
To the editor:Good government in our community requires the election of outstanding candidates.
The best candidates offer personal qualities such as independence, non-partisanship, positivity, knowledge, balance and modesty. They also possess a demonstrated record of community achievement and action.
Jeanne Marquis is a superb candidate who meets that test; she is running in the November 2 election for a position on the China Select Board.
As a resident and registered voter in China, I will support Jeanne.
I respectfully ask you to consider casting your vote on November 2 for Jeanne Marquis; please also ask other residents you know to carefully review her background in order to make the best choice for the Town of China.
Thank you.
Stephen Greene
China