Issue for July 10, 2025
July 4th boat parade at Sheepscot Lake
The Sheepscot Lake Association held its sixth annual boat parade on July 4, with 35+ boats joining the parade, and several residents cheering the parade on from the lakeshore. Lynda Pound, founding member of the lake association, with 10 years of service on the board, was Grand Marshal of the parade this year.
Matthew Christen making waves in the martial arts world
A 14-year-old from Benton is making waves in the martial arts world. Matthew Christen, a dedicated student at Club Naha Karate-Do, in Waterville, has earned a spot on the World Karate Confederation (WKC) Team USA and will represent the United States at the world tournament, held in Niagara Fall,s in October… by Mark Huard
Town News
Select board deals with food pantry, parking and fire department
CHINA – At their June 30 meeting, China select board members got information on the China Food Pantry, the Golden Agers and the China Village volunteer fire department. They appointed municipal officials and board and committee members for the fiscal year that began July 1…
Winslow’s Adirondack chairs are gone
WINSLOW – “It’s a sad, sad situation. People love the chairs,” Winslow Parks and Recreation Director Amanda McCaslin said regretfully. The chairs she meant were the wooden Adirondack chairs that used to be in Fort Halifax Park, near the Kennebec River. Early in June, unknown people apparently threw them into the river…
Select board proposes town government changes
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members agreed at their June 26 meeting to propose, and seek residents’ opinions on, three changes to town government…
Dam Road to close in July
VASSALBORO – The selectboard has voted to allow the closure of the Dam Rd., in Vassalboro, due to construction at the Webber Pond dam. The earliest date for bridge closure is Monday, July 15, according to Maine Rivers Project Manager Matt Streeter…
Vassalboro Sanitary District seeks three trustees
VASSALBORO – The Vassalboro Sanitary District currently has three openings on the Board of Trustees. Two trustees must be customers of the district while one trustee must live in Vassalboro. If you would like to serve, please contact Town Manager Aaron Miller at 207-872-2826 or email amiller@vassalboro.net…
Planners OK one application, no action needed on another
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Planning Board members approved one application on their July 1 agenda and decided the second one needed no action…
LETTERS: Nominations for awards open
from Dr. Erica Magnus (Windham) — With so many older Mainers making a difference in our communities every day, AARP Maine is proud to once again honor one outstanding individual through the annual Andrus Award for Community Service. I’m writing to encourage Mainers to nominate someone age 50 or older who has gone above and beyond in serving others. The nomination deadline is July 15, 2025…
Sebasticook Valley Hospital graduates nurses
CENTRAL ME — Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield and Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor are proud to announce their 2025 nursing cohort graduates…
Name that film!
Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to The Maine Film Center, in Waterville: “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is July 10, 2025.
Area students named to President’s List at Plymouth State University
CENTRAL ME — Area students have been named to the Plymouth State University President’s List, in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Included are Dylan Flewelling, Exercise and Sport Physiology major, of Oakland, Riley Johnson, Psychology major, of Windsor, Kaiden Kelley, Art and Design majo,r of South China, and Courtney Peabody, Physical Education major, of Solon.
Dean’s, president’s lists students named at Univ. of Alabama
CENTRAL ME — A total of 14,289 students enrolled during spring semester 2025 at the University of Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Local students include: Elizabeth Hardy, of South China, was named to the Presidents List. Alexis Alcott, of Windsor, was named to the Presidents List…
Local happenings
EVENTS: Bean supper at VUMC
WINSLOW — A traditional baked bean public supper will be held at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC), at 614 Main Street/Rte. 32, on Saturday, July 19, 4:30 – 6 p.m. The supper is open to the public and the menu will include baked beans, hot dogs, casseroles and a variety of summer salads in addition to the traditional coleslaw, breads, beverages and pies. A donation of $10 per person is appreciated…
EVENTS: Kick for Cass soccer event July 12
WATERVILLE — Over 450 high school soccer players from around the state are registered to play in the 10th Annual Kick For Cass, a continuous soccer game to honor Cassidy Charette, on Saturday, July 12, at Thomas College, in Waterville…
EVENTS: Maine’s most alluring movie makes its Waterville premiere
WATERVILLE — A Peace of Forest, the first feature length wildlife movie filmed in Maine, has been screening to sell out audiences, and will make its Waterville premiere at The Playhouse at Waterville Station, from July 11 thru July 20, 2025.
EVENTS: Make the world brighter for patients by giving blood
CENTRAL ME — Upcoming blood donation opportunities June 24-July 14 Kennebec County…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Tea party to benefit Tiffany Chapel
OAKLAND-SIDNEY – There will be a tea party at the Oakland-Sidney UMC, on Saturday, August 2, from 2 – 4 p.m. The tea party will be in the fellowship hall at the church. The tea party will have tea, delightful food, live entertainment and a silent auction… and many other local events!
Obituaries
FAIRFIELD – Joyce A. Hart, 86, of Fairfield , passed away on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. She was born in Barre, Vermont, on January 18, 1939, the daughter of the late Earl H. and Marcella A.(Provencher) Stewart…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Early surveyors (new)
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — As promised, the next articles in this series will introduce some of the important surveyors in the central Kennebec Valley as Massachusetts proprietors sold lots – mostly pieces of land they had never seen – to settlers, and other people began lumbering, trapping and farming without the formality of buying a lot… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Early land titles
KV HISTORY — The lawyers discussed in this series earlier this spring were undoubtedly important in the lives of European settlers in the central Kennebec Valley. Before the lawyers, and equally if not more important, were another group of professional men: the surveyors… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville City Hall
WATERVILLE HISTORY — This article will return to the history of a series of buildings, more cheerful than the Augusta jail(s) described in the June 5 story: Waterville’s town hall that became a city hall that was – and still is – combined with a large gathering space called an opera house… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: More China lawyers
CHINA HISTORY — The Greeleys or Greelys were early settlers in Branch Mills, the village on the west branch of the Sheepscot River shared between China and its eastern neighbor, Palermo. The China bicentennial history says Jacob Greely was a Revolutionary War veteran who moved to China after 1782… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, July 17, 2025
Identify the people in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common. You could win a $10 gift certificate to Hannaford Supermarket! Email your answer to townline@townline.org or through our Contact page. Include your name and address with your answer. Use “Common Ground” in the subject!
Previous winner: STILL NO WINNER!
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | A reader recently asked about the Japanese beetle, and the lack of them so far this year. She said they usually devour her roses, but has not seen one this year…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | Before I give you the negative residuals of last week’s messages let me say I hope you enjoyed a wonderful July 4…
THE BEST VIEW
by Norma Best Boucher | “Where is it?” I say to myself, checking out the beef department cooler at the large grocery store…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | Six months ago, when gardeners began to dream of summer and pour over seed catalogs, tomatoes were at the top of many wish lists. Now those gardeners are tending their plants and watching as the little yellow flowers begin to develop into what the botanists call berries, but most of us think of as vegetables…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | As the room darkened, I grasped the signet ring, named my office address, then added “9 AM, May 28,”…three days ago. The lights brightened, and I stood in our office kitchen at the refrigerator…