CHINA -- The Planning Board will meet Tuesday to make up for the June 23 meeting canceled due to lack of a quorum, and with the same agenda:

* an after-the-fact timber-harvesting application from Peter Jolliffe of Robbins Lumber Co. for harvesting on Earlon and Mark Eugley's Waterville Road property;

* an application from Caroline Rideout, doing business as Rideout's Towing and Auto Recovery, to operate the business at 413 Lakeview Drive;

* an application from the Weeks Mills Volunteer Fire Department for a new fire station at 778 Dirigo Road; and

* continued discussion of a proposed nudity ordinance.

Tuesday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Town Office. Interested residents are welcome at all Planning Board meetings.

Chelsea releasesTown Office hours

CHELSEA -- The Town Office will be closed Friday to celebrate Independence Day, and open as usual Monday.

Literary Tea setJuly 17 in Gardiner

GARDINER -- People are invited to attend a Literary Tea at Gardiner Public Library, 152 Water St, 4 to 5:30 p.m. July 17 in the Hazzard Reading Room.

Lisa Liberatore, owner of the Gardiner-based Baxter Tea Company, will pour and share insights into the tea business. Anne Davis, library director, will talk about the upcoming renovation and thank library volunteers for their work, according to a news release.

Tickets are $10, available at the library. Space is limited. Attire is casual or dressy, hats are encouraged but not required. Call 582-3312 for tickets.

Wayne marketto open Sunday

WAYNE -- Opening day Sunday at the Wayne Farmers' Market will feature five vendors selling locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, along with baked goods and meats.

The market will occasionally feature performances by local musicians.

The market is open Sunday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Mill Pond behind the Wayne General Store and Tubby's Ice Cream.

Holiday festivalat travel plaza

WEST GARDINER -- The Center for Maine Craft will host a holiday weekend kickoff barbecue noon to 3 p.m. Friday.

Food will be supplied by Denny Mike's 'Cue Stuff, owned by Mainer Dennis Sherman; music by musicians Jon Fernans and Hope Hoffman.

The event is free and open to the public at The Center for Maine Craft, West Gardiner Travel Plaza near Interstates 95 and 295.

Transfer stationhours announced

READFIELD -- The Readfield-Wayne Transfer Station this week will be open Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed Saturday, for the Fourth of July holiday.

Trees removed nearSkowhegan school

SKOWHEGAN -- At least six trees lining the street and driveway outside Margaret Chase Smith School were removed Wednesday.

Officials said the trees were so diseased and deteriorating that a strong wind could easily bring down heavy limbs, endangering students when school is in session and children who play at the school's playground year-round.

James Ross, president of the Bloomfield Garden Club, questioned the need to cut down the trees.

"If trees are diseased, remove the section that is diseased," he said, "but don't cut the tree down unless the tree is endangering somebody or somebody's property."

Hospital goesinto receivership

AUGUSTA -- State officials announced that Eastern Maine Health Systems has been appointed to serve as emergency receiver of Down East Community Hospital.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Down East Community Hospital filed a petition jointly in Kennebec Superior Court on Tuesday.

Officials said Doug Jones, the former chief executive officer of Maine Coast Memorial, will be named the interim head of Down East Community in Machias.

The federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services had informed the hospital that as of July 10 it would no longer be able to receive Medicare reimbursements because of its failure to correct deficiencies.

Compiled from staff, wire reports