Notes from the Hungry Heron Farm, January 31, 2012

Folks who live on the East Waldo Road know that the Town of Waldo begins at the dirt road. Belfast has paved their end, but for a 2 ½ mile stretch in Waldo the road goes unpaved. Waldo resident Peter Velanzon and his neighbor, Tom Seymour, have started a petition to get the dirt roads in Waldo repaired. Their petition goes like this:

Petition

Whereas unpaved roads, namely East Waldo Road, Savage Road, Bonne Terre Road and a short section of the Back Brooks Road in the town of Waldo are now and have been for many years in a continual state of disrepair and neglect to the point that they represent a safety hazard not only to the public, but also to fire, ambulance, and school and other municipal and government vehicles, we, the undersigned, hereby petition the Town of Waldo to immediately take whatever steps are necessary to correct this dangerous and unnecessary situation.

Peter Velanzon characterizes the problem as a 20-year struggle between town officials and residents over the upkeep of dirt roads. He claims that “gravel” delivered by local businessman Alvin Winslow, said by town officials to be 1 ½ inches, is in reality what is known as “sand.”

Alvin Winslow, who has only ever maintained roads for the Town of Waldo, says the East Waldo Road is better than other dirt roads in Maine, mostly because the residents of the road keep complaining.  “Most people understand when they purchase a home on a dirt road that it’s going to be rough in the winter. I wouldn’t live on one,” he admitted. “It’s a mess.”

Alvin says the town votes on how much to spend on roads at Town Meeting and that between ditching, grading, cutting back tree limbs, and laying gravel, maintaining a road is expensive. He defends his practice of laying 1- to 1 ½-inch rock for the past 25 years saying he’s always used his own gravel – and that he would never use sand on the roads.

Peter, Tom, and others appreciate the bucolic experience of living on a dirt road; they’re not looking to have it paved, but they want a heftier grade to save their vehicles and keep school and WCAP busses coming. Peter Velanzon’s  11-year-old son rides the bus to school and he says the school bus recently slid sideways narrowly avoiding a ditch and that the school bus garage had to be called. Peter is concerned about his son’s safety.

For more information about signing the petition above, call Peter at 505-1772. He is planning to present the petition to the Waldo Town Meeting the 3^rd Saturday of March. Meantime, Alvin says he’s happy to meet with folks at any time to discuss the particulars about how Waldo dirt roads are maintained. His number is 342-5773.

News from Brooks

(do me a favor and clip this out - put it on your refrigerator so I won’t have to keep repeating the message every week; I promised Sandra)

Sandra Littlefield called to say that the Brooks Congregational Church is serving breakfasts at the Varney from 7:30-9:30 am every Sunday until April 1 for what she calls a “free wheel donation.” (I had to ask: turns out a free wheel donation is the expectation that you’re going to give money without coming right out and demanding it. Most people give $5, she says.) Breakfast includes eggs, bacon, baked beans, raisin bread, coffee, tea, and much more. Folks are welcome to sit down and talk afterward. Call Sandra for more information at 342-5223.