Local residents named to Simmons University dean’s list

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The following local residents were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Simmons University, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Allyson Cunningham, of Augusta, Kaili Shorey, of Vassalboro, Abigail Bloom, of Waterville, and Maddie Beckwith, of Winslow.

To qualify for dean’s list status, undergraduate students must obtain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, based on 12 or more credit hours of work in classes using the letter grade system.

New child care center opens in Winslow

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Neighborhood Child Care Center in Winslow. (contributed photo)

by Laurie Lizotte

When two hundred thirty one child care centers in Maine closed during the pandemic, we were determined to find alternative care for families in our community. There are currently 210 programs that have reopened for care for children ages birth through age 12. Make that number 211 as a brand-new childcare center has opened in central Maine. The Neighborhood Child Care Center is now open at 20 Garland Road in Winslow. They are currently accepting enrollment for ages 4-12. The expanded hours will include before/after school, early release days and full-day care from 6:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. They will also be open for summer care. Please email at theneighborhood.tiffany@gmail.com for more enrollment information.

Over the past 18 months, many communities have been hit hard by the lack of quality child care centers that remained open during the pandemic. When the virus was at its peak, child care centers across the country and the State of Maine were forced, in many instances, to shut their doors, thus creating a void in the child care industry. This void proved to be an insurmountable, drastic upheaval in households where families were forced to either leave their jobs permanently, work from home (not the best situation), and/or collect unemployment. If your employment was in the health care field, you worked tirelessly to ensure that those folks who were ill with the virus received the utmost professional care possible all the while rearranging your schedules to provide a positive child care environment for your young children.

As noted in “Child Care Plan for Maine: September 2021 Updates”:

“Maine recognizes the importance of quality, accessible, affordable child care to support working families. The benefit of quality child care is multifold – it supports working parents to provide for their families while children benefit educationally, socially, and emotionally from a caring, nurturing environment.”

This excerpt was taken from the most recent update from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and serves as a reminder to us all that without quality, engaging, healthy, creative, and sustainable child care, the community would find it difficult to return to work.

They are delighted to be able to provide a child care solution for the hard-working families in our communities.

Winslow Community Cupboard Food Pantry seeks new donations

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Hannaford offers one way to lend support

Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry—which now serves more than 225 food-insecure families in Winslow, Waterville, and surrounding towns—is actively seeking new financial donations.

One easy, effective way to lend support is by purchasing a $2.50 reusable “Fight Hunger” Shopping Bag sold at the Hannaford supermarket, located at 190 JFK Plaza, in Waterville. The food pantry will receive $1 for every “Fight Hunger” Shopping Bag purchased at that location in October.

Those unable to purchase the Hannaford “Fight Hunger” Shopping Bag, or who wish to make a direct donation, may do so by mailing a check payable to “Winslow Community Cupboard” to: Winslow Community Cupboard, 12 Lithgow St., Winslow, ME 04901. Credit card or PayPal donations are also greatly appreciated at this link: https://winslowucc.org/winslow-community-cupboard/

“Winslow Community Cupboard” food pantry is a ministry of Winslow Congregational Church, 12 Lithgow Street, Winslow, which has served the local community since 1828.

For more information, please contact Winslow Community Cupboard at WinslowCupboard@Gmail.com.

Blessing of the Animals set for October 2-4

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Animal lovers from around Maine are invited to flock to have their animal companions blessed outdoors in celebration of Saint Francis of Assisi’s Feast Day (October 4). All pets are welcome to attend any of the Blessing of the Animals events. As prayers are offered, the pets will be gently sprinkled with holy water.

Saint Francis of Assisi was known for his love of all of God’s creatures. The Blessing of the Animals remembers Francis’ love by invoking God’s blessing on the animals and thanking God for letting us share the earth. Here are the confirmed events in chronological order (new events will be added as scheduled at www.portlanddiocese.org/Blessing-of-Animals-2021):

Monday, October 4

Grotto of St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street, Winslow, at 6 p.m.

2021-’22 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

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Albion

Tax year runs Feb. 1 to January 31
Taxes due September 30, 2021

China

Semi-annual
September 30, 2021
March 31, 2022

Fairfield

Four quarters

August 25, 2021
November 10, 2021
February 9, 2022
May 11, 2022

Palermo

October 31, 2021

Sidney

September 1, 2021

Vassalboro

Four quarters
September 27, 2021
November 22, 2021
February 28, 2022
April 25, 2022

Waterville

Four quarters
October 8, 2021
December 10, 2021
March 11, 2022
June 10, 2022

Windsor

Semi-annual
September 30, 2021
March 31, 2022

Winslow

Four quarters
October 8, 2021
December 10, 2021
March 11, 2022
June 10, 2022

To be included in this section, contact The Town Line at townline@townline.org.

Local residents named to Simmons University dean’s list

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The following local residents were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Simmons University, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Allyson Cunningham, of Augusta, Kaili Shorey, of Vassalboro, Abigail Bloom, of Waterville, and Maddie Beckwith, of Winslow.

To qualify for dean’s list status, undergraduate students must obtain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, based on 12 or more credit hours of work in classes using the letter grade system.

PHOTO: New rankings

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Huard’s Martial Arts students earned new rankings on July 17. Front row, from left to right, new yellow belts, Koen Oakes, Ryder Ross, Asher Stone, Dasan Keen and Jonah Gold. Back row, new yellow belts Jeb Keen, Kallan Oakes, Adrianna Lombardi and Anthony Lombardi, and orange belts Lukas Blais and Preston Schneider, and blue belt Lane Irish. (photo by Mark Huard)

Delightful “All Things Blueberry” Festival promises loads of family fun

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by Dave Carew

One of Maine’s all-time most popular, beloved, and downright yummy summer events—Winslow’s annual Blueberry Festival—is coming this year on Saturday, August 14, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., to Winslow Congregational Church, 12 Lithgow Street, Winslow. Admission to the festival grounds is FREE.

Nearly 700 mouth-watering blueberry pies and “all things blueberry” baked goods will be available for sale. Blueberry pies ($12 each; $20 for 2; $10 each for additional pies) may be picked up at the church anytime from 3 to 6 p.m. the previous evening (Friday, August 13) or the day of the festival (Saturday, August 14) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kicking off the 50th Annual Blueberry Festival on Saturday will be a delicious Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, from 7 to 10 a.m. Cost of the breakfast will be $7 per person and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets for the pancake breakfast will be available in advance at Winslow Congregational Church on the Saturday prior to the festival (August 7) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In addition to the “all things blueberry” pies and other culinary delights, festival patrons will enjoy a Lobster Shore-Dinner Raffle; live classical, pop, folk, and blues music; local crafts vendors; a yard sale; a popcorn vendor; an agricultural exhibit featuring goats; a dunk tank sponsored by Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry; and a firetruck and police car.

The night before the Blueberry Festival, there will be a Friday-evening (August 13) Chicken Bar-B-Q Supper (with “all the fixin’s”) at Winslow Congregational Church, which will be served by first-responders from the Clinton Fire Department. The Chicken Bar-B-Q Supper will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Blueberry pies, blueberry baked goods, and a yard sale also will be available during the Friday-evening supper. Cost of the Chicken Bar-B-Q supper is $12 per person, with advance tickets strongly encouraged, but day-of tickets also available. Advance tickets will be available at Winslow Congregational Church on the Saturdays prior to the festival (August 7) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and also at Rita’s House of Pizza (51 Bay Street) and Pool Tech (28 Charland St .) during regular business hours through Thursday, August 12.

A beloved community favorite since 1972, the Blueberry Festival raises funds to empower the local humanitarian/Christian-service work of Winslow Congregational Church. Celebrating its 193rd birthday this year, the historic church is housed in a building dating from 1796, which has been home to a worshipping congregation since 1828.

Everyone seeking a wonderful opportunity to gather and enjoy a treasure trove of “all things blueberry” is cordially invited to attend this year’s Blueberry Festival. Mark your calendar now!

The 50th Annual Blueberry Festival is grateful for the support of both Hannaford Supermarkets, in Waterville, Rita’s House of Pizza, and Pool Tech, in Winslow, and Tradewinds Market, in Clinton.

For more information about the 50th annual Blueberry Festival, please visit: https://winslowucc.org/blueberry-festival/.

PHOTO: New brown belts

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These Huard’s Martial Arts students earned their advanced brown belt ranks on Saturday July 17. From left to right, Ethan Joseph, Dominic Joseph, Isabella Citro, Patience Goulette and Landon Nunn. (photo by Mark Huard)

Winslow resident named to UMass Lowell dean’s list

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Treva Campbell, of Winslow, has been recognized for achieving academic distinction at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Campbell, majoring in psychology, was named to the dean’s list at UMass Lowell for the spring 2021 semester.