READFIELD -- Chicago-based U.S. Cellular has expanded its service in Readfield with a $290,000 infrastructure investment.

The company added equipment to an existing Readfield cellular tower, which is owned by Rural Cellular Corporation.

The federal Universal Service Fund, administered through the Federal Communications Commission, assumed the cost of the upgrade. The equipment came online Aug. 29, U.S. Cellular spokeswoman Kelly Whalen said.

In a statement, the company said cell phone service should improve along Routes 17 and 41.

Rural Cellular, known locally as Unicel, recently agreed to be acquired by Verizon Wireless.

Event to train people in substance recovery

AUGUSTA -- A local event is scheduled to celebrate National Recovery Month, which honors millions of people in recovery from substance use.

"The Power of Our Stories: Media Training for People in Recovery" will be held 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the University of Maine at Augusta.

The four-hour training teaches recovering people to use their stories in the media and in community-based presentations to educate about recovery from substance addiction and to reduce the stigma surrounding it.

The free training is sponsored by the University of Maine at Augusta Counseling Services, Maine Alliance for Addiction Recovery and the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration.

For more information, call Debbie Dettor at 458-4366 or e-mail ddettor@masap.org.

Writer to speakon press freedoms

WATERVILLE -- Veteran journalist Phil Taubman will deliver the lecture "Treason or Patriotism? When the Press Publishes National Security Secrets."

The free event is 7 p.m. Sunday in Room 142 of Colby College's Diamond Building.

Taubman, a former New York Times Washington bureau chief, is author of the book "Secret Empire: Eisenhower, the CIA and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage."

Taubman currently is a Lovejoy Journalist in Residence at Colby.

Pro-life groupsets awards event

The annual awards brunch of the Pro Life Education Association s is slated for Sept. 20 at the Senator Inn in Augusta, and is open to the public.

Marie Hahnenberg, project director for American Life League, of Stafford, Va., is the keynote speaker. She is the editor of league's "Stop Planned Parenthood Report" and project manager for its "The Pill Kills" campaign, a national effort about the birth control pill's effects on women.

Those being honored for their pro-life efforts include former congressional candidate Dean Scontras, and the Christian Civic League of Maine.

Reservations are required. Call Patricia Truman at 622-6772, or write her at 85 Second St., Hallowell, ME 04347.

China school panelto review merger

CHINA -- The School Committee meets at 6 p.m. Monday at China Middle School. Agenda items include a discussion of reorganization into a regional school unit.

Current China partners Vassalboro and Winslow intend to consolidate with Waterville, while a majority of the board of School Administrative District 47 -- Belgrade, Oakland, Rome and Sidney -- voted Wednesday to accept China as a partner in a new regional unit.

Committee members are also slated to review several school policies.

Interested residents are welcome at all School Committee meetings; Monday's agenda includes an opportunity for public comment.

China planners set subdivision site walk

CHINA -- Planning Board members hold a site walk at 6 p.m. Tuesday to view Timothy O'Brien's proposed seven-lot subdivision on the east side of McCaslin Road.

They will open their regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the Town Office. The agenda includes:

* a 7:15 p.m. public hearing on the O'Brien subdivision;

* a 7:45 p.m. public hearing on a proposed revision to Jason and Melissa Finley's subdivision on Weeks Mills Road, to add one lot;

* an 8 p.m. discussion with Thadius Barber about his China Mall at the intersection of Route 3 and Vassalboro Road; and

* discussion of various local ordinances, including amendments that may be submitted to voters on Nov. 4 for their approval or rejection.

Road issues couldreach ballot in China

CHINA -- The Road Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Town Office to consider members' recommendations on two questions likely to be submitted to voters Nov. 4.

One issue is whether to discontinue a short section of Jones Road in South China, as part of proposed traffic improvements in response to the planned Hannaford supermarket just south of South China Village.

The other is a proposal to amend the Streets and Ways Ordinance so its provisions match those in subdivision ordinance changes approved by voters in June 2007.

Winthrop to reviewschool-town sharing

WINTHROP -- Members of the Town Council will look at a proposed agreement on sharing services with the Winthrop School Department at the regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.

Council also will hear an update on an energy conservation and resources workshop and consider a special meeting to review building plans for renovating the Police Department.

Council meets in the Town Office.

Compiled from staff reports