CHINA -- Selectmen are scheduled to meet at 7 tonight in the Town Office with an agenda that consists mostly of continuing business.

Among items to be discussed are:

* plans for the Nov. 3 state and local balloting, including scheduling public hearings on three local ordinances that voters will approve or reject;

* Town Manager Daniel L'Heureux's new information on the process and costs for replacing the Ryan's Lane bridge over the West Branch of the Sheepscot River in Branch Mills; and

* meeting schedules for committees implementing the revised town comprehensive plan.

In addition to votes on town ordinances, China's local elections are on Nov. 3. There are no candidates for the Planning Board position from District 3, the southeastern part of town; or the Budget Committee positions representing the southeastern and northwestern parts of town (Districts 1 and 3).

All candidates on the ballot are unopposed, including Irene Belanger and Neil Farrington for re-election as selectmen, Robert Batteese for re-election as Budget Committee chairman, James Wilkens for re-election as Planning Board member from District 1 and Ronald Breton as Planning Board alternate, succeeding Scott McCormac.

China's Nov. 3 voting will occur from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Town Office meeting room.

Town Clerk Rebecca Hapgood said absentee ballots can be requested at the following e-mail address: www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl

Driver injured when car hits pole

VASSALBORO -- A Winslow woman escaped serious injury Friday when her car hit a utility pole on U.S. Route 201 after swerving to avoid a head-on crash.

Dorothy Morin, 60, was taken to Inland Hospital in Waterville with minor injuries, said Deputy Mike Pion, of the Kennebec County Sheriff's Department. Morin was wearing a seat belt, Pion said.

The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m., as Morin drove north near the Webber Pond Road intersection.

"Witnesses say there was a vehicle heading south in (Morin's) lane," Pion said. "She swerved off the road to avoid a head-on collision."

Morin's car broke through a utility pole, knocking down the wires, Pion said.

There is no description of the other vehicle on which to base a search, Pion said.

Morin's 2005 Toyota Corolla sustained significant front-end damage.

Neither speed nor alcohol was a factor in the crash, and no charges are expected.

Sheepscot school unit to vote on budget

Residents of the eight towns that make up the Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit visit the polls Tuesday to weigh in on a proposed budget for the 2009-10 school year. This will be the third approval attempt for the district's budget. The current proposal is for a $26.5 million budget.

Here are polling places and times:

* Alna: 3-7 p.m., Town Office.

* Chelsea: 2-8 p.m., Town Office.

* Palermo: 2-8 p.m., Town Office.

* Somerville: 3-7 p.m., elementary school.

* Westport Island: 4-8 p.m., Old Westport Town Hall.

* Whitefield: 4-8 p.m., Whitefield Town House, upstairs.

* Windsor: 3-8 p.m., Town Hall.

* Wiscasset: 12-8 p.m., Wiscasset Community Center.

Chelsea office closed Tuesday afternoon

CHELSEA -- The Town Office will close Tuesday at noon for the Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 referendum. Polls at the Town Office will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The office also will be closed on Oct. 9 in conjunction with state furlough days.

From staff, wire reports