Week of February 8, 2018

Celebrating 30 years of local news

Branch Mills Dam project update

Branch Mills Dam is one of three major barrier removal projects in the Sheepscot River corridor being undertaken by the Midcoast Conservancy, the Atlantic Salmon Federation and other conservation partners. The primary intent of these projects is the restoration of fish passage for a variety of sea-run fish species to the river. Branch Mills Dam is the only project sited on the West Branch of the river […]

Your Local News

China selectmen prepare warrant for budget committee review

CHINA —  Selectmen spent much of their Feb. 5 meeting putting the warrant for the March 24 town business meeting in absolutely final form, in preparation for review by the budget committee the evening of Feb. 6. The last few changes they approved included renumbering the articles; deleting an unnecessary reference in the funding article for the LakeSmart program; and increasing the amount they recommended for the China Village library from $100 to $4,500, matching the recommendation for the South China library […]

WHITEFIELD: Cindy Lincoln presented with multiple Lions awards

WHITEFIELD — At the January 25 meeting of the Whitefield Lions, club president Cindy Lincoln was presented with the Membership Key Award and the Silver Centennial Award for Membership. Both awards are given for inviting and sponsoring new members into the club. At the January 28 Cabinet meeting, Lion Cindy Lincoln accepted the 1016-2017 Excellence Award on behalf of the Whitefield Lions club. Lincoln, has served as president of the Whitefield Lions club for two of her nine years in the club […]

Fun day scheduled in China

CHINA — The China Winter Family Fun Day is scheduled for Saturday, February 17, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the China Lake Camp and Conference Center. Admission, and all activities and food are free […]

Oak Grove School Foundation offers grants

CENTRAL ME — The Oak Grove School Foundation is accepting applications for grants to support the education and cultural needs of students and non profit organizations in the greater Central Maine area. Recipients must be educational, charitable or religious organizations that are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) Of the Internal Revenue Service code […]

New pastor to be welcomed in Weeks Mills

WEEKS MILLS — The Weeks MIlls Baptist Church has appointed Nathan Bell as the new interim pastor. A meet and greet brunch is planned for Sunday, February 18, to welcome Mr. Bell and his wife Elizabeth, who reside in Unity […]

Raymond James welcomes Cheryl Flewelling

WATERVILLE — David V Smith, Branch Manager of Raymond James, welcomes Cheryl W. Flewelling as Financial Advisor. Flewelling joins the firm with 25 years of industry experience. Cheryl focuses on developing personal relationships with clients to help them define and achieve their goals, while minimizing the risks that they take […]

Albion book group to hold first meeting; library receives shipment of new books

ALBION — “Let’s Talk About It,” a book group sponsored by the Maine Humanities Council will have its first meeting on Wednesday, February 14, at 6 p.m. If you are interested in joining, they still have a few openings.
The library also has several new additions to the book shelves […]

Kennebec Historical Society presents life and death of Maine millionaire

KENNEBEC — Born in Sangerville in 1879, Harry Oakes’s life experiences took him to six continents, earned him a knighthood as well as a personal fortune rivaling all others, but also tragically ended in a brutal 1943 murder that remains unsolved. Portrayed by Gene Hackman in one of the actor’s least memorable endeavors, Sir Harry’s actual career, fortune and death garnered world-wide attention, even though he never forgot his Maine roots. He is buried in the bucolic beauty of the East Dover Cemetery […]

SCHEDULE OF LOCAL TOWN MEETINGS FOR 2018 <-- click here!

Check this page to find out when your town meeting is. We’ll be updating this page as more meetings are scheduled. If you don’t see your town listed, send us an email at townline@fairpoint.net or visit our contact page!

The Town Line to benefit from Hannaford’s Reusable Bag Program

Buy one of these reusable grocery bags in February, and the China Hannaford will donate $1 to The Town Line!

Area students achieve Husson University honors

BANGOR — The following students have been named to the Fall 2017 President’s List at Husson University, in Bangor. Students who make the President’s List must carry at least 12 graded credit hours during the semester and earn a grade point average of between 3.80 to 4.0 during the period […]

Misty Waters Completes Internship Requirement

NEW LONDON, NH — Misty Waters completed Colby-Sawyer College’s internship requirement with Colby-Sawyer’s Windy Hill Laboratory Schoool, in New London, New Hampshire. Waters, of Starks, is a member of the class of 2018 majoring in child development […]

Four area students named to University of Vermont dean’s list

BURLINGTON, VT | Four area students have been named to the fall dean’s list at the University of Vermont, in Burlington, Vermont. To be named to the dean’s list, students must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better and rank in the top 20 percent of their class in their respective college or school […]

Three area students on URI dean’s list

KINGSTON, RI — The University of Rhode Island, in Kingston, Rhode Island, has announced that three local undergraduates have qualified for the fall 2017 dean’s list  […]

Do you have news about your town?
Email us at townline@fairpoint.net or visit our contact page!

Letters to the Editor

Volunteers | The China Food Pantry exists because of volunteers. Every week four drivers travel to collect fresh items to be distributed on Friday and Saturday. These items are then sorted and prepared both mornings so as to offer good quality shopping. Because of the generosity of three Hannaford stores, Friehoffers Bread Outlet, in Fairfield, Bagelmania, Little Debbie’s, and food donations from community people […]
Fishing Derby | There is an ice fishing derby this weekend, organized by the Vassalboro Business Association. Proceeds are to benefit “Save the Mill,” which is a great cause. Tickets are available at The Olde Mill Store, Maine Savings FCU, and the Vassalboro Town Office […]

CALENDAR of EVENTS: Local author to speak at ACB Library

CHINA VILLAGE | Local author Maureen Milliken, author of the Bernie O’Dea mystery series, will speak at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library on Sunday, February 18, at 2 p.m., at the library. Admission is free, refreshments will be served, and the public is welcome […]

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!

Obituaries – week of February 8, 2018

WINSLOW––Jerome Norman Gravel, 91, of Winslow, passed away on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at the VA Medical Center, Togus. Jerome was born in Waterville on August 25, 1926, the son of Joseph and Marie (King) Gravel… and remembering 11 others…

Take our weekly survey!
[poll id=”35″]

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | One of the educational things I do for myself every day is read the comics in the daily newspaper. It kind of sets the tone for the rest of the day for me. I have my favorites: Peanuts, Hi and Lois, Beetle Bailey, Garfield, etc. I even like to read Mark Trail just to see what kind of adventure he sets out on, and invariably, brings to a successful and happy ending […]

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | I have seen and enjoyed this warm-hearted soap opera twice, if such a term can be employed. Martha Scott (1913-2003) portrays an English teacher, Ella Bishop, who serves for over 40 years at the college in her mid-western small town. William Gargan is a local businessman and loyal, lifelong friend, Sam, deeply in love with her forever but never having the gumption to declare it […]

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy | Was pleased, as always, to receive an e-mail from Somerset Woods Trustees and it starts out like this: “It’s Winter. Not that I needed to tell you! Here are three questions to make winter more interesting: 1. Do you have some great pictures of ice shacks you might be willing to share? 2. Do you love the sound of owls and wish you knew more about them? 3. In this low winter light, are you enjoying the view of snow-draped firs but wondering how to pass along the forest you love to your children? […]

Katie Ouilette WallsIf Walls Could Talk

by Katie Ouilette | Well, WALLS, you sure know when to do the right thing! Surely our faithful readers were happy to receive your message, after our ice storm. The yards of our faithful readers may be cluttered with branches and all that goes with them, as our yard is. Now, those branches and green-things which they held are waiting as we are for Spring clean-up to begin! Actually, this column is being written on Ground Hog Day, as we went to Augusta yesterday […]

FOR YOUR HEALTH

With more than 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each day, the number of people eligible for Medicare is growing rapidly. Medicare Open Enrollment starts Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, a time when millions of people are evaluating their health plan options to ensure their coverage meets their retirement lifestyle […]

Surprising Perks Of Your Medicare Plan