Janice Clowes, president of the Vassalboro Historical Society, captured the silhouette of the monument in the park, next to the historical society building.
At their April 8 meeting, Vassalboro Conservation Commission members unanimously voted to have three trees planted on Bog Road in front of the Methodist cemetery, replacing trees removed, to some residents’ dismay, several years ago.
Commission chairman Holly Weidner attended the March 16 Vassalboro Cemetery Committee meeting. That group talked about the value of trees near cemeteries, as long as they are not close enough to damage gravestone or fences if they drop branches or are blown down. Cemetery committee members prefer trees that do not exceed 30 feet high, Weidner reported.
Commission member Steve Jones said a donor will pay for three trees, which will replace two ash trees bought with Project Canopy funds and a dead elm he said was donated by the City of Waterville some years earlier.
Implementing the management plan will be very expensive and will require outside funding. – Mary Schwanke
Commission members unanimously approved accepting the trees, with Jones to choose appropriate ones. He does not plan to plant more ash trees because of the invasive Emerald ash borer.
The commission meeting began with member Mary Schwanke reporting that a draft management plan for the watersheds of Three Mile Pond, Three-Cornered Pond and Webber Pond was ready to be submitted to municipal officials in Vassalboro, Windsor and Augusta.
The report summarizes two summers’ study by many volunteers, and is a major step toward a ten-year watershed management plan, Schwanke said. She reminded the other commission members that last fall she talked with Vassalboro select board members about culverts the town should replace to minimize erosion into the lakes.
Both Three Mile and Webber ponds also have a lot of phosphorus in bottom sediments, Schwanke said. Every summer, a new phosphorus release feeds blooms of algae and cyanobacteria in the water.
Implementing the management plan will be very expensive and will require outside funding, Schwanke said.
Weidner reported that Rob Lemire, owner of Adirondack Chairs, had offered to donate chairs to Eagle Park. Board members discussed the need to chain them down so they won’t be stolen, and how to put a small plaque recognizing the donor on each.
They talked about how to enhance the Conservation Commission’s information on the town website, and about grant opportunities that might be available.
The next Vassalboro Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, in the town office meeting room. After select board members change their meetings to the second and fourth Wednesday evenings, planned to start in July, commission members proposed shifting theirs to the third Wednesday.
Responsible journalism is hard work! It is also expensive!
If you enjoy reading The Town Line and the good news we bring you each week, would you consider a donation to help us continue the work we’re doing?
The Town Line is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private foundation, and all donations are tax deductible under the Internal Revenue Service code.
To help, please visit our online donation page or mail a check payable to The Town Line, PO Box 89, South China, ME 04358. Your contribution is appreciated!
