Week of June 8, 2017

Week of June 8, 2017

China schools hold Forest Day celebration

Last Friday morning’s torrential downpour didn’t dampen spirits at the China Schools as they hosted their 9th Forest Day Celebration. “Who can find a white ash?” Cindy Lyford called out as students enthusiastically pawed through leaves set out on the tables, trying to find the right match to add to their leaf rubbings. Down the hall, an Inland Hospital volunteer led kindergarten students through some basic yoga, while students in the cafeteria listened to a Maine forester’s presentation while eagerly awaiting the arrival of Smokey the Bear… […]

Your Local News

We’d like to feature stories about you, your neighborhood, schools, events and places you remember in Maine from the 1960s or before. Photos, too!

Send your story, with name, phone, or email, to townline@fairpoint.net or P.O. Box 89 Jonesbrook Crossing, So. China, ME 04358. FMI: 445-2234.

Town Line Original Columnists

Week of June 1, 2017

Week of June 1, 2017

Area observances of Memorial Day

A sea of red, white and blue fills the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, in Augusta, as thousands of flags adorn the graves of soldiers buried in the cemetery. This is the 11th year of the event. The ceremony featured music from the Public Safety Pipes and Drum Corp, the singing of the National Anthem, prayer by a local deacon, and brief remarks from Maine Governor Paul LePage. Hundreds of volunteers including Scouts, veterans, civilians and other civic groups joined forces to place a flag on the grave of every soldier buried in the cemetery, about 15,000 in total, on Saturday, May 27.  As the volunteers dispersed to the graves with flags in hand, the bagpipes playing Amazing Grace echoed in the chilly morning air…. […]

Your Local News

We’d like to feature stories about you, your neighborhood, schools, events and places you remember in Maine from the 1960s or before. Photos, too!

Send your story, with name, phone, or email, to townline@fairpoint.net or P.O. Box 89 Jonesbrook Crossing, So. China, ME 04358. FMI: 445-2234.

Town Line Original Columnists

Week of May 25, 2017

Week of May 25, 2017

MEMORIAL DAY

Monday, May 29, 2017
The Town Line office will be closed.
The office will re-open Tuesday, May 30, at 8:30 a.m.

Local law enforcement honors those fallen in the line of duty

Law enforcement officers, family and friends gathered in Augusta on May 18 to honor the more than 80 police officers, wardens and troopers who have died in the line of duty in the state of Maine. The event, part of National Police Week, has been held annually for 26 years. It is sponsored by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. […]

We’d like to feature stories about you, your neighborhood, schools, events and places you remember in Maine from the 1960s or before. Photos, too!

Send your story, with name, phone, or email, to townline@fairpoint.net or P.O. Box 89 Jonesbrook Crossing, So. China, ME 04358. FMI: 445-2234.

Week of May 18, 2017

Week of May 18, 2017

Vassalboro group announces scholarship recipients

Ally Clark Bonsant, Madison Grass and Kassidy Richards.

The Vassalboro Business Association has announced three Vassalboro residents have each been awarded $500 scholarships by the association.  This scholarship particularly honors community service. Ally Clark Bonsant, daughter of Kelly Clark and Tim Bonsant, has attended Erskine Academy all four years of her high school career. After graduation, she will be attending the University of Maine with a major in nursing. She enjoys playing basketball and throwing for her track and field team. She has participated…. […]

We’d like to feature stories about you, your neighborhood, schools, events and places you remember in Maine from the 1960s or before. Photos, too!

Send your story, with name, phone, or email, to townline@fairpoint.net or P.O. Box 89 Jonesbrook Crossing, So. China, ME04358. FMI: 445-2234.

Week of May 11, 2017

Week of May 11, 2017

Full Fork Farm, a project on the land in China

Following an 11-year span when he lived in New York and California, Anson Biller, of China, yearned to return to the northeast, where he had moved from after growing up in Massachusetts. Last year, he purchased the former Dutton Pond Farm at 154 Dutton Road, about one-and-a-half miles from the northeast corner of China Lake. He renamed the location Full Fork and began his endeavor. His path to vegetable farming wasn’t exactly a straight shot. He was initially pulled into it through an after-school youth education program in which one of his jobs was teaching childrens the ins-and-outs of growing vegetables. An after school program led him to take on living at and producing food for the kitchen at a retreat center for two-and-a-half years, then to running s small CSA and U-pick farm at an environmental education center north of San Francisco for another two-and-a-half years.. […]

Week of May 4, 2017

Week of May 4, 2017

China transfer station receives excellence award

The Town of China was awarded the Maine Recycling and Solid Waste Most Improved Program award in 2010. Since then the town has continued to strive for excellence. China and Palermo have recently agreed to share the use of the China transfer station and the transition has been extremely successful. Many positive comments from Palermo residents have commended the staff’s high commitment to excellence in the pursuit of stellar service to all the residents served. […]

Week of April 27, 2017

Week of April 27, 2017

Honor guard welcomes home a number of World War II veterans

On April 2, the Mount Merici Academy honor guard took another trip to the Portland Jetport to welcome home a number of World War II veterans as they returned from their Honor Flight to Washington, DC, where they viewed the national memorial to their indescribable courage in World War II, a time in their lives when they were barely older than Mount Merici’s eighth graders. With respect and immense gratitude, the Mount Merici Academy Honor Guard, led by United States Army veteran Joel Lavenson, (a Mount Merici parent), welcomed each veteran home with a salute, and then carried their flags proudly in a “welcome home” parade, escorting them past a throng of respectful citizens representing a grateful nation. […]

Week of April 20, 2017

Week of April 20, 2017

Local scout troop conducts food drive

Boy Scout Troop #479, of China, did some good this past Good Friday and collected food and donations to support the local China Food Pantry. Led by Scoutmaster Scott Adams, with committee member Priscilla Adams, Assistant Scoutmasters Matt and Madison Bodine, and scouts Nick Shelton, Tucker Leonard and Misha Littlefield, the team prepared ahead of time by creating a fundraising flyer and posting a notice for volunteers on the troop’s Facebook page. Then early Friday morning the good Samaritans set out on their mission of Easter love. They worked tirelessly all day Friday and most of Saturday, collecting over $580 in food and $451 in cash donations! […]

Week of April 13, 2017

Week of April 13, 2017

Central Maine homeschoolers present Shakespearean play

On Saturday, I was lucky enough to catch the final showing of The Southern Maine Association of Shakespearean Homeschoolers (SMASH) production of The Comedy of Errors. After months of rehearsal (and surviving two blizzards!), and a previous weekend of public performances already under their belt, the cast hadn’t lost any of their enthusiasm for the material. Directed by Pastor Sam Richards, of Winthrop, it was truly amazing to see these kids, ages K-12, remember all their lines without a hitch! […]

Week of April 6, 2017

Week of April 6, 2017

Autism awareness growing at Winslow Elementary School

Autism Awareness is growing at Winslow Elementary School. April is Autism Awareness Month and there are many activities planned. Most people have heard about Autism by now, and many even know someone personally who lies somewhere on the Autism Spectrum. At Winslow Elementary School, the Autism program is spreading the word: Kids with Autism want to be included, just like you! Autism is a social communication disorder that makes it difficult for a person to read social cues, interact, and express themselves. They may need to be taught how to make friends, or to read body language. It often affects the way they perceive the world, as well. The buzzing in fluorescent lights may drive them crazy. The sound of a fire drill may be unbearable. Looking into your eyes might be so distracting, they can’t listen to your words. On the other hand, you may know a person with Autism their entire life and never know they have a diagnosis! Every single person on the Autism Spectrum is unique! […]