Issue for April 18, 2024
China Primary School observes 100th day of school
Mrs. Eaton’s first grade class, at China Primary School, celebrated the 100th day of school. They rotated through stations such as making 100 gumball machines, stacking and ordering 100 cups in number order, making the number 100 with 100 Legos, following pattern block templates with 100 pattern blocks, and so on! The class enjoyed celebrating being one hundred days smarter in first grade!
China woman places second in the Women’s Master’s Division of USA Powerlifting Maine State Championship
Toni Wall, of China, attended the USA Powerlifting Maine State Championship on March 23, 2024, at Casco Bay CrossFit Undaunted, in Augusta. Competitors from all over Maine came, despite the winter storm, to show their strength in the squat, bench press and deadlift. According to the USA Powerlifting, the sport consists of three lifts: the back squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Competitors are categorized by gender, age, and bodyweight. Athletes are allowed three attempts at each of the lifts, the best lift is added to the total weight lifted…
Town News
Budget committee works on school, municipal budgets
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro budget committee members met the evenings of April 9 and 10, the first time for a presentation on the school budget and the second time for review of the municipal budget. The April 9 meeting followed that evening’s school board meeting. Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer had given budget committee members the amended proposed 2024-25 school budget beforehand…
Select board postpones marijuana business, discusses roads, sanitary district
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Select Board chairman Chris French postponed the April 11 public hearing on the amended marijuana business ordinance to discuss, first, planned 2024 road work and second, the Vassalboro Sanitary District’s (VSD) financial problems…
School board reviews proposed 2024-25 budget
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro School Board members continued review of the proposed 2024-25 budget at an April 3 special meeting. At their regular meeting April 9, they discussed non-budgetary and budgetary issues, before joining the Vassalboro Budget Committee for a joint review of the proposed 2024-25 school budget…
Public hearing set on apartment application
CHINA – At their April 9 meeting, China Planning Board members scheduled a May 14 public hearing on Carrol White’s application for a permit to convert the former Silver Lake Grange Hall in China Village to four two-bedroom apartments…
Webber’s Pond comic
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident exclusively for The Town Line (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
One hundred jumpers for one hundred years
WATERVILLE – The Alfond Youth & Community Center (AYCC) held the annual Polar Plunge during the 100-year anniversary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Waterville, on Saturday, March 16. More than 100 warm-hearted supporters took the plunge to support the AYCC Kids Kitchen…
Madison Aux. unit observes Military Child Month
MADISON – American Legion Auxiliary Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39, Madison recognized April as the Month of the Military Child which honors the sacrifices made by military families, with emphasis on children. The Military Child’s Table Setting Ceremony was performed by Past Commander, William Price and Unit Chaplain, Geraldine Jenks, on April 1, 2024…
PHOTO: LaCroix captures first places in New England
SKOWHEGAN – Huard’s Martial Arts Student Lucia LaCroix, 13, left, of Skowhegan, captured first place in both traditional and creative weapons at the 42nd Ocean State Grand Nationals, in Warwick, Rhode Island, on April 5-7…
Local scout leader receives training award
VASSALBORO – Since kids don’t grow up overnight, it can sometimes be hard to tell from week to week how much of a difference you’re making as a scouting volunteer. Scouting leaders who complete training programs deliver stronger programs that reach each youth where they are every single week… by Chuck Mahaleris
Local scouts attend Red Sox game at Fenway Park
WINSLOW – On Saturday, April 14, Scouts from Winslow area and Hartland area had the chance to touch the Green Monster and to see Fenway Park the way those icons saw- from the field. This happened during the annual Scout Day at Fenway… by Chuck Mahaleris
Sidney girl achieves Eagle Scout status
SIDNEY – Einin Riddle, of Sidney, is just 14 years old but has accomplished something fewer than six percent of all scouts achieve – she earned the Eagle Scout rank… by Chuck Mahaleris
Silver Beaver award presented to area scout leaders
CENTRAL ME – The Silver Beaver is the highest award a local council can bestow upon a volunteer Scout leader. Two local scouters from across the Kennebec Valley District of Pine Tree Council received this award, Kelly Pillsbury, of Benton, and Joseph Poulin, of Oakland… by Chuck Mahaleris
Local residents named to RIT dean’s list
CENTRAL ME – The following students were named to the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, New York, for the fall semester of the 2023-2024 academic year. Lunden Dinkel, of Augusta, who is in the industrial design program. Tyler Dow, of China, who is in the computer science program.
Waterville student graduates from UWM
WATERVILLE – A total of 1,966 students received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in Madison, Wisconsin, on December 17, 2023, including Jorge Hernandez Lasa, of Waterville, from the College of Letters and Science, Doctor of Philosophy, Spanish.
Local happenings
EVENTS: Water Dance set for April 20
HALLOWELL – On Saturday, April 20, the Spiral Dance Collective will perform an original work as part of the 6th Bi-annual National Water Dance, hosted at Granite City Park, 94 Water Street, in Hallowell…
EVENTS: Lincoln Dems to host panel on Gen Z & Millennial voters
NEWCASTLE – The Lincoln County Democratic Committee (LCDC) will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 25, with a panel discussion on engaging Gen Z and Millennial voters. The meeting begins at 7 p.m., and will be in a hybrid format…
EVENTS: Shakespeare group plans 460th birthday party
WATERVILLE – What ho! Come party with Recycled Shakespeare Company for 460th birthday of the great bard William Shakespeare in Waterville, on Saturday, April 20, with the 11th annual Bard’s Birthday Bash…
EVENTS: Kennebec Performing Arts Co. to present pops concert
WINTHROP – Kennebec Performing Arts Company will present its annual Spring Pops Concerts, on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m., at Winthrop Performing Arts Center, 211 Rambler Road, Winthrop, and Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m., at the William and Elsie Viles Auditorium, Cony High School, Pierce Dr. Augusta…
EVENTS: Safe, practical storage and display spaces for historic objects
FAIRFIELD – Explore the best ways to care for your personal or museum collections. Come join this free workshop Monday, May 6, 2024, Safe Practical Storage and Display Spaces for Historic Objects Workshop, at the L. C. Bates Museum at Good Will-Hinckley…
EVENTS: Bird migration in central Maine lecture
UNITY – A bird migration in central Maine lecture will be held on Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m., Unity Community Center, 32 School St., Unity…
EVENTS: Maine International Film Festival: passes and packages now on sale
WATERVILLE – The Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) returns to Waterville, Maine, for its 27th edition July 12–21, 2024. Festival passes and packages are now available for preorder online at MIFF.org…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Soup & Pie Social fundraiser
VASSALBORO – The Vassalboro United Methodist Church, at 614 Main Street, Vassalboro, will be holding a public dine-in supper on Saturday, April 20, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. Menu will consist of baked beans, hot dogs, spaghetti, macaroni & cheese, carrot casserole, corn bake, chicken pot pie casserole, tossed salad, rolls, pies and assorted desserts, coffee, tea and water: $10 for adults, $30 for a family of four, children under 5 free…. and many other local events!
Local town meetings schedule for 2024
Schedule for town meetings in 2024 for Albion, China, Palermo & Vassalboro..
Obituaries
WEEKS MILLS – Marilyn June (Dodge) Pullen, 88, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from complications related to dementia. She had been a resident of Brentwood Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing, in Yarmouth. She was born April 29, 1935, the daughter of Luther and Iva Dodge of South China… and remembering 14 others.
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Sylvester Judd of Augusta (new)
AUGUSTA HISTORY — Another local writer mentioned in Thomas Addison’s chapter on literary people in Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history was Rev. Sylvester Judd, who was born in Westhampton, Massachusetts, and grew up in adjoining Northampton… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Augusta-area authors
AUGUSTA HISTORY — This week’s article is about two more Augusta-area writers whose careers began in the 19th century. In order of birth, they are Edward Stanwood (born in Augusta, spent most of his career in the Boston area) and Laura E. Richards (born in the Boston area, spent most of her career in Gardiner, two towns south of Augusta)… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Two Augusta women poets
AUGUSTA HISTORY — As mentioned last week, the list of writers in Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history includes many from Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner. Among them were two Augusta women listed as poets, Emma Nason (born Emma Caroline Huntington) and Olive Eliza Dana… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Some early Maine poets
CENTRAL HISTORY — As promised last week, no more ponds for a while. Instead, your writer turned to Thomas Addison’s chapter on Literature and Literary People, in Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history. She hopes you will enjoy meeting a few of the writers mentioned… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, May 16, 2024
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: William F. Vining, Norridgewock
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | There is nothing like beating a subject to death. But, in this case, it’s worth every word. You have to be living in a cave not to know that deer ticks are at an all time high. They are everywhere. Friends and family have told me stories about their encounters with the insect, and they all have one thing in common. They have all had multiple numbers on them at one time…
SMALL SPACE GARDENING
by Melinda Myers | Have fun and enjoy picking fresh fruit right outside your door thanks to compact varieties you can grow in containers. Just clear some space on your patio, deck, balcony, or front steps that receives at least six hours of sunlight and get busy planting…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Highlights (Columbia CT 52849) is a 1992 cassette of 24 selections from the massive 1991 four CD set, Just for the Record, of almost 40 years of Barbra Streisand’s singing with a few vocals from composers Harold Arlen, Richard Rodgers, and Michel Legrand, and singers Judy Garland, Neil Diamond and Ray Charles…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | When we talk about mental health we are talking about “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being.” Our mental health influences how we think, feel, and behave in daily life. It also affects our ability to handle stress, face and overcome challenges, maintain and build relationships, and recover from difficulties and setbacks…