Commemorating Shakespeare’s 456th birthday
Emily and Josh Fournier, of Recycled Shakespeare Company, stroll the Riverwalk, in Waterville, on William Shakespeare’s 456th birthday on April 23, 2020. (photo by Lyn Rowden)
Mid-Maine Chamber and area businesses donate books to Educare
Mid-Maine Chamber, SAPPI and Marden’s Discount Store donated nearly five hundred children’s books to Educare Central Maine to assist families in need of reading and educational materials during this time of isolation.
Last Friday, members of KV Connect picked up and delivered the books to Educare in response to their request for much-needed items for children. KV Connect is a networking group for young professionals in the Greater Waterville area seeking to positively impact the community through economic, social, political, and community service initiatives.
Mid-Maine Chamber would like to remind residents that Educare has indicated need for other items as well, including crayons, markers, construction paper, coloring paper, scissors, glue sticks. Household items are also on the list: laundry detergent, Waterville trash disposal bags, paper towels, toilet tissue, diapers and wipes.
If you would like to help, the above-mentioned items can be dropped off at Educare, located at 56 Drummond Ave., Waterville, on Tuesdays between 9-10 a.m. and Thursday between 1-2 p.m. You can also assist by making a monetary donation so that these items may be purchased and delivered to the families served. Please contact erinm@kvcap.org.
WATERVILLE: Main Street construction update
Downtown Waterville
Waterville Works crews from Ranger Contracting began on Monday, April 20, at the south end of Main Street, at the intersection of Main, Front and Water streets, by removing necessary trees and completing the connection to the existing water main. Looking ahead, crews will continue excavating with 12” water main replacement heading towards Lockwood Hotel, up Main Street. Ranger Contracting also has a two-man crew pre-fabricating temporary water piping along Main Street for installation as needed. Another excavator is expected to arrive to assist in additional earthwork.
Courtesy of Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce.
Healthcare workers applauded
Waterville Fire and Police were joined by other local first responders in thanking local healthcare professionals at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Thayer campus, in Waterville, on April 15. (photo by Waterville Police Deputy Chief William Bonney)
Mid-Maine Chamber Golf Classic rescheduled to Aug. 18
photo: Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce
The annual Mid-Maine Chamber Golf Classic tournament, originally scheduled for June 15 at the Waterville Country Club, has been postponed to Tuesday, August 18, for this year, with an 11 a.m., shotgun start.
Given the current orders relating to COVID-19, the determination was made that it is too early to say when courses and other operations will be allowed to open, so an alternate date was chosen for August.
Team registrations are currently being accepted for this prize-laden tournament, with a chance to win $1,000,000. The entrance fee for Chamber members is $125 per team member, or $150 for non-chamber team members.
This year’s Chamber Golf Classic is sponsored by Central Maine Power and Maine State Credit Union.
For questions, please contact Cindy Stevens at (207) 649-5225, or email cindy@midmainechamber.com.
Waterville farmers market to reopen April 30
The Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market will re-open at the Head of Falls on Thursday, April 30, at 2 p.m. ,and remain open until 6 p.m. each Thursday as a food distribution location.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the market is encouraging pre-orders from the local farmers. There will be an updated list of vendors posted on the Facebook page listing those attending the opening so they may be contacted directly.
A recent Facebook post outlined some specific cautions and operational rules which will be in place for the market:
Residents are reminded to follow safety rules when visiting the market.
Visitors to the market are asked to keep a distance of six feet from each other and to allow the vendors as much space as possible during transactions. The first half hour of the market will be reserved for senior citizens along with “high risk” customers. Everyone is asked to refrain from socializing, eating, or lingering in the market or vicinity.
It will be helpful to the vendors to bring an assortment of smaller bills if paying with cash, or providing a pen if paying with a check.
For more information: www.Watervillefarmersmarket.org or visit Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market on Facebook.
Alfond Youth and Community Center to provide weekend meals
Alfond Youth and Community Center staff gathered ingredients to provide meals to many at-risk children in the Waterville area. (photo courtesy of Mark Huard)
The Alfond Youth and Community Center, in Waterville, is still serving free meals and snacks at six locations throughout the community every Monday through Friday, with weekend backpacks available every Thursday and Friday at the AYCC location.
Now, thanks to the generosity of Colby College and the hard work of their amazing kitchen crew, meals will be handed out on Saturdays and Sundays, too.
The meals will be distributed on Saturday and Sunday, from 1 – 2 p.m., at the Alfond Youth and Community Center parking lot, on North St., in Waterville.
Inland Hospital workers receive surprise welcome
First responders, police and firefighters greeted the workers at Inland Hospital and Lakewood with a surprise welcome as they arrived at work recently. (photos courtesy of Kathy Jason, Northern Light Health lead communication specialist)
by Kathy Jason
Lead Communication Specialist, Northern Light Health
It was an amazing ride into work for all of us at Inland and Lakewood today – what a heartwarming gesture!
Thank you to Waterville’s police, fire and rescue departments, and the many other departments from around the region who lined our campus to honor healthcare workers as we drove in and out of work this morning.
“It was an emotional and humbling experience, to be thanked by our community partners who we consider heroes – who keep people safe and save lives,” said Terri Vieira, Inland/Lakewood president.
Waterville police chief, Joe Massey explained, “We wanted to show our support for Inland and Lakewood healthcare workers. We are all fighting COVID-19 together and we are grateful for everything Inland and Lakewood staff members are doing. This effort shows our solidarity and how much healthcare staff mean to us and our community.”
Thanks again to all who attended to show their support: Fire/EMS from Albion, Belgrade, China, Clinton, Fairfield, Oakland, Rome, Sidney, Waterville, and Winslow; Waterville and Winslow police departments and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Department; and Delta Ambulance.
Inland and Lakewood staff are deeply touched by your kindness and we thank you for all you do to serve our community. Together, we will get through this!
Water works planned for downtown Waterville
Downtown Waterville
Kennebec Water District (KWD) is scheduled to begin updates of the existing water main infrastructure in downtown Waterville in partnership with the City of Waterville’s upcoming Downtown Revitalization Project. With an anticipated start date of April 20, 2020, KWD will begin replacement of pipes originally installed in 1905 and earlier, moving service from old cast-iron mains to modern cement-lined ductile iron pipes. The streets affected by this construction project will be: Main, Front, Appleton, Temple, Common, Hathaway, Leighton, and Deeb. No water rate increases are expected as a result of this project for KWD customers, and the project is estimated to be completed in November 2020.
Charlie Matthews honored for 55 years in scouting
Charlie Matthews
The Kennebec Valley District of Scouting honors Charlie Matthews, of Fairfield, for celebrating 55 years in the Scouting program. Charlie would have received a 55-year veteran service pin at the annual Scout Leader Recognition dinner this month but it was put on hold in response to Covid-19.
“Charlie Mathews has been a steadfast stalwart Scouter,” said Kennebec Valley District Chairman Butch Dawbin. “Whenever there was a need, Charlie stepped up and performed very well. Troop #460 always achieved high standards when they were at district events under Charlie. It was his leadership and turning over that leadership to his Scouts that made this happen. “Charlie was a youth member of Troop #470, in Fairfield, from 1953 to 1955, and then from 1967 through 2019 he served as Scoutmaster of Fairfield Troop #460.
“I have enjoyed working with young people and see them go from a new Scout who wasn’t sure of himself to become a leader with confidence in himself,” Charlie said. Matthews led the Scouts to annual visits to Camp Bomazeen or Camp Hinds and some very challenging experiences as well. “I think that some of the most favorite experiences were the camping trips. I especially enjoyed hiking 50 miles on the Appalachian Trail. I enjoyed seeing a Scout taking care of himself for six days. He carried everything he needed for the trip. Many enjoyed it and did the hikes for several years. I had one Scout tell his father that he “did it, done it and never do it again.” His family moved to Kentucky. They wrote to me when he made Eagle.”
Lyn Rowden, who is a neighbor of Matthews, has two examples of Charlie’s great work with youth. “Our two sons joined as Tigers and became Eagles under Charlie’s tutelage. They had a lot of fun at camp, on Appalachian Trail hikes and all the Scout activities. As adults in their 30s they both truly respect Charlie to this day,” Rowden said. “Countless boys have benefited from his dedication to the scouting program. It is Charlie’s knowledge and his easy-going personality that has attracted our family to Boy Scouts.”
Bruce Rueger, who has been in Scouting in Waterville for more than 40 years, admires the example Charlie Matthews presents. “Charlie Matthew is the epitome of adult scouting. He always has time to share and has an incredible amount of knowledge. Whenever Scouting is in action he can be found there in the background providing guidance and support to the Scouts who are in front providing the leadership.”
One of Charlie’s Eagle Scouts, Nathanael Batson, was quick to praise his former Scoutmaster. “He never fails to put the Scouts before himself, which shows his kind heart,” Batson said. “Charlie is like a Scouting encyclopedia who is always willing to teach others as well as assist in the trail to Eagle.” Batson earned his Eagle rank in 2015 with Matthews as his Scoutmaster.
Along with his service as Scoutmaster, Charlie has served on the Catholic Committee for Scouting, the Kennebec Valley District Scouting Committee, the Nominating Committee and various special event committees over the years. “Through the Boy Scouts and Catholic Committee on Scouting, I have met people from all parts of Maine and New England,” Charlie said. “I found them very dedicated to the program and nice people.” In 2015, Charlie was the Scoutmaster of Nathanael Batson who received his Eagle Scout rank that year. Nathanael, who is blind, overcame many obstacles to achieve his goal with the support of Charlie.
Charlie said, “The sad part of serving 55 years is that a lot of the old Scouters are gone and that many of my Scouts have passed on also. I never set out to be a lifelong Scouter. I enjoy the Scouting program and I just registered every year without giving any thought to not signing up again. Now I tell people that I am too old to quit. There are many good people involved and many young people who can benefit from the program.”
The award will be presented to Charlie at an appropriate ceremony after the current Covid-19 challenge has passed. He remains an active Scouting volunteer.