Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, New York, celebrated its 131st Academic Convocation in May. Diplomas were distributed to graduates following the event at separate ceremonies held by each of RIT’s nine colleges and two academic centers.
Jennifer Smith, of Sidney, received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering.
We are excited about the Maine Department of Environmental Protection providing approvals to the Fiberight/Municipal Review Committee proposal to build a municipal solid waste processing facility in Hampden. Post 2018, China will be sending municipal solid waste to that plant. Organics will be a significant ingredient in processing at that plant. Those of you who like to compost are encouraged to continue doing more locally, either at home or at the China transfer station.
Please, please secure your trash loads on the way to the China transfer station. It is a State law that loads are to be secure and also a law not to litter roadsides. We have received complaints of full bags of trash having fallen off a truck and smaller items being blown around and not anyone returning to pick up the messes. Those who toss beverage containers and fast food packaging and napkins out the window are encouraged to re-think their habits and not use the roadsides as trash receptacles. Please be considerate and dispose of your trash in the proper place. Thank you!
We continue to work on making more efficient changes at the China transfer station, focusing on reducing, reusing and the recycling of more items, thus saving tax dollars. Please consider bringing clean items to our “free for taking” or “good stuff” area at the transfer station. If any of you would like to volunteer to help in the free for taking area, please call Irene at 445-2349, we need your help keeping things cleaned and arranged in good order.
We are now involved with the “Paint Care” initiative that provides residents with another disposal option for paints. Please see the transfer station attendants for instructions on how we will accept paint products. Some paints may be reusable, let us know.
Finally, we are very pleased to be working with Palermo residents and Palermo town officials to allow Palermo residents the full use the China transfer station facilities.
Reducing, reusing and recycling saves tax dollars. The transfer station budget this year is less than it was ten years ago, thanks to your efforts…thank you!
The public screening and awards ceremony of the 39th Maine Student Film Festival, held on Saturday, July 16, at the Waterville Opera House, proved once again that Maine kids are not only talented, but also gifted in their ability to tell stories through film.
Jordan Bell, from Colby College Career Center, judged films and presented awards – he is also a filmmaker. The three categories are narrative, documentary and creative films, with submissions from K-12.
Rebecca Conley, digital and visual producer for MPBN, was one of the judges. Photo by Bonnie N. Davis
Rebecca Conley, the digital and visual producer for MPBN, presented Nichole Knight, a 2016 graduate from Richmond High School, with the MPBN student film award for the animated film, “Spring and the Storm.” Conley and Bell both judges for the MPBN award.
“We loved the simplicity and beauty of this film. The art was hand drawn by Nichole – it was amazing,” Conley said. “It was a tough competition this year, but the simplicity of her message along with the music score were deciding factors. This is the first time an animation won this award. “Main Street” and “Vision” were the other films we considered.”
“I haven’t done anything as intensive before,” Knight said, sharing that her vision for this film came from the death of her father a few years earlier. Knight made her first film at age eleven and never took a film class. She credits her art teacher with purchasing an animation program that enabled her to create this masterpiece. Heading off to NYU this fall, she plans to study film and TV programming.
Waterville’s Mid-Maine Technical Center had two student films receive honorable mention, Caitie Collier and Robbie Moore, for their documentary, “A Journey to Guatemala,” and Nicholas Shenett for his creative film “Let Me Set the Scene.”
Robbie Moore, along with Caitie Collier, students at Mid-Maine Technical Center, in Waterville, took honorable mention for a documentary. Photo by Bonnie N. Davis
The Huey Award winner, Noah Anderson, came from the narrative category, in the middle school division, with “The Wish” – he is home schooled and produced a thought provoking film.
“First a Boy,” by Emily Kaye of Marshwood High School, was a documentary finalist, and this was her second year receiving honors at the festival. Her film about kids dealing with transgender transition was timely and poignant. However, Sam Marjerison of Yarmouth High School, won the documentary category with a delightful film, “Yarmouth Clam Bake.” He interviewed local elders from a youthful perspective that was both informative and engaging.
The narrative receiving honorable mention for collaboration of Wagner Middle School students was “Half Upon a Time.” Finalist Tyler Delargy of Bangor High School had an edited version of his film “Vision” in MIFF’s short program, “Maine Shorts 1.” The winner of this category was Connor Petros from Ellsworth High School, for a moving pay-it-forward film, “Main Street,” which brought tears to many in the audience.
In the creative category, Adam Wendell-Pearson of King Middle School received honorable mention for “Eternal Trash” with hard-hitting data about human consumption leading to disposal that is out of control. Yvonne DePerte of Fryeburg Academy, was a finalist with “The Silent World” – a post apocalypse film.
Jorgensen’s Café hosted a reception for these amazing artists.
Next year, make it a point to view these student films as part of the festival experience.
by Dan CassidyElectricity headed south
John Lamontagne, Senior Director of Communications for SunEdison, said there are three Massachusetts utilities that have contracted to receive the energy from the project, National Grid, Unitil and Eversource.
“The approximate cost of the project is about $420 million to develop and build the project,” he said. “There are a number of financial organizations who have financed the project.”
SunEdison conducts extensive environmental studies when citing a wind project, according to Lamontagne. “We conducted bird and bat studies to ensure the project is not in the migration path of any bird and bat species. We continue monitoring of the project after it is operational to ensure the impacts to wildlife are minimal. Certainly, there are some impacts to birds and bats, but we want to be sure they are kept at an absolute minimum.”
Turbines at the project are routinely maintained and inspected by an on-site crew. Turbines go through quarterly reviews and annual inspections to ensure they’re kept in good working order as much as possible. “In addition, the turbines are monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at our Renewable Energy Operations Centers in California and Boston,” Lamontagne said.
The project has seen about 300 full time jobs created since the site construction started. “Once the project is completed, Bingham and surrounding communities will receive millions in tax revenues,” he said. “Although the energy goes to out-of-state utilities, the county should see a windfall in terms of revenues to pay for goods and services.”
Lamontagne said that when the Mars Hill project was built in 2007, folks saw their taxes drop 25 percent, once the project went on-line. When the project was completed in Oakfield last year, folks in that community are seeing a massive benefit in their tax bills. “Bottom line, communities see benefits in terms of jobs and economic benefits when the project is built.”
Locals chime in
Many local residents have been keeping in touch with the wind tower project. They have seen, towers, wind blades, of about 185 feet long and a lot of other pieces heavy equipment go by on the streets, headed to the job sites.
One of the towers on its side so electronics can be placed inside. The tower stands approximately 100 meters, (330 feet). Photos by Dan Cassidy
“We are totally impressed,” Steve Steward, first selectman of Bingham said. “It is quite a big project. When it’s all completed, the cost of the project will be over $400 million,” he said.
The tax savings in Bingham should be affected next year, according to Steward. There are 11 towers located in Bingham that will be about $4,000 per tower. “The other towers are located in Mayfield, an unorganized territory and Kingsbury.”
The Town of Bingham negotiated $8,000 per tower that they would pay. “There was no ceiling, $4,000 was the minimum they have to pay for tax relief, so we accepted $8,000, and I was happy with that.”
The construction is going smoothly, and most residents are comfortable with that. A note of interest is that the 56 wind towers being erected are not visible from Route 201.
Stanley Redmond, a local long time resident and a wood harvesting Land Agent has seen a lot of heavy equipment go right by his door on Route 201 over the last several months. “How great it is to see science so advanced today and to watch all the people involved in installing these wind towers and see how professional they are doing their great work,” he said.
“The operation of installing these giants is something entirely different than what we thought it would be,” he said. “Everyone involved are in great hopes these wind towers will prove to be very helpful for many reasons and will be accepted with open arms by all. It will be interesting to see the decrease cost of purchasing power from these giant wind towers once they start turning the blades. The engineer and all the associates should receive our thanks for such a remarkable job.”
Example tower sights
Lamontagne compared the Oakfield Wind towers in Piscataquis County, as an example, “that town will receive $26 million in tax benefits and community benefit payments over the next 20 years. “As a result, folks in that community have seen their tax bills dramatically reduced.”
“Full-time Oakfield residents now receive tax breaks and an annual check for about $2,000 per year, a benefit that will be in place for 20 years,” he said.
Dean College, in Franklin, Massachusetts, is has announced that Alexis DeVogt, of Waterville, has earned a place on the dean’s list for the Spring 2016 semester.
Summer…Picnics, ants, swimming at the old swimming hole, pool, lake or ocean and seeing friends who have been in warmer weather all winter. You give them back their “in case of an emergency” key and go on with your life.
Recently, we took a cruise to Bermuda. I had four months to prepare for it, thought I was ready, then discovered the day was upon me. Carefully throwing things into my suitcase as well as taking all the shoes I would need, my feet hurt a lot, I change shoes frequently and off we went. Standing at the ship, preparing to get on I reached for my non-existent passport. (Being one to follow instructions, I had made a photocopy of it and left the original in the copier. They won’t recognize a copy, so why bother?) The very nice lady asked me if I had my birth certificate. How many of you have your birth certificate on your person in case you forget your passport? Unfortunately, I didn’t, and she could not let me on board the ship. Three people were standing there looking at me, I told my husband to go as the money was already spent and I would go to my cousins on “The Cape.” The answer was no. Then the woman said if you had been born anywhere in Massachusetts you could go over about two blocks and get your birth certificate and I can let you on. My answer: How about 1944 Boston??? She told me where to get the taxi, called ahead to vital statistics, let me right on when I got back and walked me through all of the security lines, saying “this is the one who forgot her passport.” Imagine the surprise of my traveling group who I met on their way to the rooms at the elevator. The rest of the trip was quite uneventful and enjoyable.
Mrs. Crosby’s house between the Besse Building and Post Office has been purchased by Laura and Joe Strohman. It was becoming quite the eye sore in town. Now the lawn and field have been cut, renovations are occurring inside with as many original style wood, doors, etc., as possible. Many other improvements have been planned. Hats off to the Strohman’s. Rumor has it there are other changes on the way to Main Street, hopefully making it a more inviting place for people to recognize it as a town they might like to reside in.
Johnny’s has turned those fields on the flat into gardens. They are a wonderful business and keeping the area very clean. Roads are getting patched which makes for a much better ride. Even the state is hot topping the road to Belfast.
Hopefully, I have caught up from the last 2 weeks.
Have a wonderful rest of July.
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercyGood morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy!
One of many enjoyable events through my many years of writing took place last Saturday at Whispering Pines, in North Anson. Thank goodness it was a beautiful, calm, (just a soft breeze) perfect for flying day for the Franklin County Aircraft Modelers who were going to demonstrate flying their planes for members of Goodwill out of Waterville.
President of the club, Lewis Gordon was contacted by a staff member at Goodwill asking about eight residents coming to North Anson to see the club members fly their planes. Wayne White, who has been flying and making some of his planes for years, demonstrated his craft, which is very breathtaking how he can make his planes do such amazing things with the touch of his fingers on the controls. The guests who watched were fascinated and asked questions.
Joe Gilbert, another experienced flyer, demonstrated his drone with CG 03 4K camera which he flew way up in the sky and it took some pictures that were absolutely beautiful! It is amazing (to me) how anyone can design these things. Some of the others from the club who flew that day were Dalton Poulin (Shorty), Kirk Rollins and Frederick Bray. I think I can safely say that many of the guests were glad to be on such a fun trip on a beautiful day. I heard many, “Thank you” from them, along with smiles.
The staff member who accompanied them was Kevin Taft, of Solon, and the driver of the bus was Chris Tredeau. They have done many other trips and enjoyed getting out to Lake George, whitewater rafting to name a few.
The Neighbor to Neighbor Thrift Shop at the Embden Community Center is having a sale. One-half off on tank tops, shorts and sleepwear through July 23. The thrift shop is open Wed., Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
My daughter, Mary Walz was born on July 18 and her son Ben Walz surprised her with a wonderful birthday party at The Sedgley Place, in Greene. Those attending were Mary’s husband, Dave Walz, her sons, Ben and Alexander, her brother Mark and his wife Karen and Lief and me. Mary’s daughter Amanda was unable to attend.
The Sedgley Place is a beautiful old mansion and we had a room to ourselves, it was a great party with lots of good food!
Some people evidently hadn’t picked up The Town Line paper the week I wrote that I was going to take a vacation from writing this column in the July 7 issue. Anyway, several people have approached me, all upset because they thought I had stopped writing. They said they liked Percy’s memoirs and said how much they missed the stories about him, but liked his memoirs!
So here is Percy’s memoir this week about Friendship. “It is a sweet thing, friendship, a dear balm, A happy and auspicious bird of calm…. Whose coming is as light and music are.. ‘Mid dissonance and gloom – a star Which moves not ‘mid the moving heavens alone, A smile among dark powers – a gentle tone Among rude voices, a beloved light, A solitude , a refuge, a delight. Found this in an old yellowed book, the words are by Shelly.
And faith in friendship is the noblest part. Friendship above all ties does bind the heart.
The China North Minor A baseball team recently won the league championship with an undefeated season. Front, left to right, Parker Bellows, Dylin Breton, Ryan Tyler, Tristan Anderson, Duncan Bailey, Parker Studholme, Hayden Chase, Keenan Clark, Kyle Burrill and Ayden Michaud. Back, coaches Chad Bailey, Kirk Studholme and Adam Chase.
Photo courtesy of Katie Bailey
One six-inch plank on one side of the control gates at the dam is open to minimize water runoff. Photo courtesy of Frank Richards
With very little rain in May, June and so far in July, folks residing on Webber Pond have been wondering about the low water level on the pond.
Webber Pond Association President Frank Richards commented, “My own dock is barely useable.”
Richards went on to explain, “the pool is four inches below the spillway [at the dam]. Normal would be two inches.
A ruler indicates Webber Pond’s water level is four inches below the spillway. That is twice as much as normal for this time of year.
“The lake is being drained by one six-inch plank on one side of the control gates. We are trying to keep at least a drizzle going into the outlet stream.”
He also noted that the inlet at Seaward Mills Stream is “dewatered.”
Attempts to contact China Lake Association President Scott Pierz for comments on that lake were unsuccessful.
Vassalboro selectmen approved the financing for the new fire truck voters authorized at the June town meeting, after Town Attorney Alton Stevens reviewed the financing contract and proposed changes.
Authorizing Town Manager Mary Sabins to sign the necessary paperwork and approving the initial $63,000 payment were the major business items at a mostly-routine July 13 selectmen’s meeting. Sabins said volunteer firefighters can now prepare specifications for the new truck.
Selectmen approved the rest of the bills ready for payment, some from the fiscal year that ended June 30 and others for the new fiscal year.
Sabins expects tax bills for the 2016-17 fiscal year will go out in mid-August. By town meeting vote, the first quarterly payment is due Sept. 26.
The next regular selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, Aug. 11. One item likely to be on the agenda is proposed sidewalks in East Vassalboro, a project that has been under consideration for years.