ACTON • ALFRED • BUXTON • CORNISH • HOLLIS • LIMERICK • LIMINGTON • LYMAN NEWFIELD • PARSONSFIELD • SANFORD/SPRINGVALE • SHAPLEIGH • WATERBORO FREE YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER Locally owned and independently operated. VOLUME 18, ISSUE 41 PO Box 75, North Waterboro, ME 04061 • 247-1033 • www.waterbororeporter.com THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 Maine in Stage 4 of reopening Beginning Oct. 13, indoor seating limits are increased, enforcement of face coverings is strengthened statewide The Mills Administration organizations that serve people has announced that Maine will through seated activities – such move into Stage 4 of the Plan to as indoor dining, religious gather- Restart Maine’s Economy be- ings, and movie theaters – are per- ginning Tuesday, Oct. 13. With mitted to operate at 50 percent of cold weather months approach- their capacity, with a maximum of ing, Stage 4 increases limits on 100 people. Updated COVID-19 indoor seating to 50 percent ca- Checklists for these businesses pacity of permitted occupancy, and organizations are posted on or 100 people – whichever is the Department of Economic and less – and maintains the critical Community Development’s web- public health measures outlined site. Appropriate health and safety in COVID-19 Prevention Check- protocols, such as enhanced clean- lists, such as enhanced cleaning ing practices and the requirement practices and physical distancing. to maintain six feet of distance Today’s Executive Order also fur- between seating areas, remain in ther strengthens the State’s face full effect. covering mandate by requiring To arrive at this adjustment, Jayce Rosario receives a red fi reman’s helmet from Limerick fi refi ghters at Libby and Son U-Pick’s that a broader set of entities, such the Administration worked close- Fall open house. (See related story on Page 2.) PHOTO BY C.J. PIKE as private schools and municipal ly with the Portland Regional, buildings, ensure that employees Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan, and people in their buildings ad- and Bangor Region Chambers of here to this critical health mea- Commerce, as well as the Visit Newfi eld library NATIVE PLANT sure. The Order also expands the Portland and Visit Bangor Re- scope of the enforcement state- gional Convention and Visitor Bu- nominated for SPOTLIGHT: wide, rather than in just Maine’s reaus. The Chambers worked with federal award coastal counties and more popu- their restaurant member teams to lous cities. solicit feedback, of which the pri- BY C.J. PIKE The progression into Stage 4 mary ask was to be able to operate comes as Maine, adjusted for pop- at 50 percent capacity. The Newfi eld Library has ulation, continues to lead the na- For non-seated indoor activ- been nominated for the Institute tion on key metrics for COVID-19 ities, such as physical activity in for Museum and Library Services response, including having the gyms, the limit remains at 50. The award for 2021, by Senator Angus lowest hospitalizations, second outdoor gathering limit remains King’s offi ce, according to Librar- lowest new cases, and fourth low- at 100 people. Retailers remain ian Cheryl Cause. est deaths. subject to the occupancy limit of The entry process is quite ex- “With winter weather ap- 5 people per 1,000 square feet of tensive as there is a 13-page form, proaching, we must support busi- shopping space. and four sections of an essay that nesses across the state as outdoor Stage 4 also anticipates a re- Cause will have to fi ll out. She service becomes less viable and opening date for indoor service will also need three letters from people move inside. This expand- for bars and tasting rooms of community members. ed capacity, along with continued Monday, Nov. 2. To reopen for in- This is a federal organization, health and safety precautions, is door service, these establishments which was started in 1994 and a prudent step forward that bal- must abide by the newly-posted gives out grant money “to foster ances public health and econom- COVID-19 Prevention Checklist lifelong learning and cultural and CClosedlosed BBottleottle GGentianentian ic health,” said Governor Janet for seated food and drink service, civic engagement.” Mills. “These adjustments, how- which is an update to the restau- Cause is pleased to say that this ever, should not lure us into a false rant checklist. is the highest honor in the country ((GentianaGentiana aandrewsii)ndrewsii) sense of security. This virus is still Governor Mills also expand- for institutions such as libraries very much with us all across the ed her Executive Order requiring and museums; and the committee This native Closed Bottle Gentian is a fascinating fl ower. Its blooms state and wearing a face cover- certain businesses to enforce the will name 15 library fi nalists and remain tightly closed throughout its fl owering season. Bumblebees work ing, staying six feet apart, avoid- State’s face covering requirement. 15 museum fi nalists, before the extremely hard to get to the nectar inside. It looks excruciatingly diffi cult, ing large gatherings, and washing During the summer months, the winners will be announced in the but they manage to pry those closed petals apart enough to get inside. our hands often is key to keeping enforcement mandate was re- spring of 2021. Six winners will When the bee leaves, the corolla clasps closed again. Because it’s hard Maine schools and businesses quired only in Maine’s coastal receive a medal and a monetary work, and requires a certain amount of strength to get inside, not all in- open and keeping Maine people counties and more populous cit- award. sects can do it. The deep, dark purple color contrasts beautifully with the healthy.” ies. It is now required statewide. (Continued on page 4) greens of late summer, and then later, complements the yellows As of Oct. 13 businesses and (Continued on page 4) and oranges of fall. PHOTO AND INFO BY DEBBIE BRODERICK ect RRe-Electe-El VVOTEOTE NNOV.OV. 33RD!RD! DDAVEAVE WWoodsomeoodsome WWOODSOMEOODSOME WWorks!orks! wwww.WoodsomeForMaine.comww.WoodsomeForMaine.com MMAINEAINE SSENATEENATE THIS POLITICAL AD IS PAID FOR AND APPROVED BY BY THE CANDIDATE PAGE 2 Thursday, October 15, 2020 REPORTER Local u-pick celebrates fall BY C.J. PIKE Libby and Son U-picks held their first fall open house on Sat- urday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11, with plenty of activities, food, ap- ple picking and music. Oowners Aaron and Allison Libby greeted visitors and talked about the days’ events. Meghan Harriman helped out, along with many others, such as parking lot Owners of Libby & Son U-Picks in Limerick, Allison and Aaron Libby, and apple booth attendants. along with Meghan Harriman,right, greeted guests at their Fall open Aaron Libby said that they ex- house this past weekend. Lt. Ron Smith shows us the off-road EMS vehicle. pect to get about 1,000 visitors a day and everything was ready to go. They had apple smoothies, hot dogs, donuts, wood fired pizza, and even craft beer. Music was provided by Kris Hype, playing the oldies on his guitar, and there were transport shuttles ready to take people up the mountain to do some apple picking. Batman (and Batgirl) was there showing his many tools that he uses with We will be using our rain date: his costume and doing ‘photo ops’ with the kids. Lt. Ron Smith and members Sunday, Oct. 18 of the Limerick Fire Department were there giving out fireman’s Get a headstart on your holiday shopping! helmets to the children and raising money for the Walk for Warmth Over 40 crafters and vendors from the area will be heating assistance program. They displaying their wares at their own homes so that also gave demonstrations on folks can shop local in a safe manner (think yard sale smoke detectors and fire extin- style) with small crowds. On Oct. 11th, we will release guishers to the kids. a list of the addresses for all participating vendors. It was a very festive event, families enjoyed the day and chil- MUSTANG TRAIL CRAFT AND VENDOR FAIR Matthew Sawyer poses with the giant carved pumpkin dren had fun on the fire truck and PHOTOS BY C.J. PIKE talking to Batman. Aleyxa Reekie, volunteer for both Limerick and Newfield was there helping out; and Captain Tim Smarrella, Assistant Chief Robert Fossett, EMT Captain Jes- sica Hutchins, EMT Christina Vi- olette, Lt. Bill Gifford and Lt. Ron Smith all volunteered during the weekend. They raised over $3,000 towards the “Walk for Warmth’ The fire department was invit- ed by the Libby family to bring a fire truck and an off-road EMS. Libby said that he hopes to be able to donate a check to the fund, as well. There were $2,000 worth of raffle prizes doated from local businesses.” (See related photo on Fall in Love with Maple Event Page 1). October 9-18, 10AM- 4PM every day Visit our heated maple store where you will find: Easy, All Grades of Pure Maple Syrup • Plastic, Tin, and Decorative glass Containers • Maple Candy • Maple Fudge Maple Whoopie Pies • Maple Baked Beans • Maple Cotton Candy • Prepackaged Samples for you to enjoy no contact Visit our FB page for contests advertising! Family Pack of 12 quarts- $13.25 each Email: ads@ Case of Maple Whoopie Pies- $25.00 Case Pack of 12 Pints- $89.00 waterboro Held in conjunction with the reporter.com North American Maple Tour or call 247-1033! Safety Note: We will not be holding large entertainment events during our Fall in Love with Maple Event, as we do on Maine Maple Weekend, due to attendance restrictions by the Maine CDC. At our sugarhouse we are following all health and safety precautions including: social distancing, encouraging masks, and the use of hand sanitizer upon entry and exit.