Week of January 4, 2018

With winter settled in, ice fishing success increases

Ice fishing on Webber Pond can be really good, particularly in January and March. I’ve learned a few things over the years and I’d like to pass them on. Usually, fish are most active just after the ice forms and in March as the snow melts, bringing oxygenated water into the pond. February can be slow…. [read more here…]

Your Local News

Short agenda leads to variety of discussions

CHINA — China selectmen turned a short agenda into a variety of discussion topics at their between-holidays meeting Dec. 27. Called primarily to pay biweekly bills, the meeting included updates on the road crew’s work in the Christmas storm and on the new Neck Road fire pond; proposals to record selectmen’s meetings and to change the meeting time; ways to find a successor to Town Manager Daniel L’Heureux, who is retiring at the end of June; and plans to look into increased police service….

Kennebec Historical Society to hear Joey Kelley

AUGUSTA — Come for a ride through 150 years of history in Waldo County. Chartered in 1867, the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad has survived two world wars, the construction of highways, the collapse of the poultry industry in Waldo County and survives today as a tourist railroad and historic relic of days gone by. This presentation by author and railroad historian Joey Kelley outlines the history of this unique railroad and gives you a summary of his book on the subject – the very first book ever written on the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad….

Erskine to hold parent/teacher conferences

CHINA — Erskine Academy has scheduled Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, January 17, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. (snow date will be Thursday, January 18….

Care & Comfort workplace cited

WATERVILLE — Care & Comfort, a leading provider of Home Health and Behavioral Healthcare, was recently recognized as one of Maine’s best employers for workers over the age of 50 for 2017 by the Maine State Workforce Investment Board’s Older Workers Committee….

Kringleville has one of its best years

WATERVILLE — Another magical season at Kringleville in the friendly city of Waterville has come to an end. The visitors seemed to be full of visions of Legos and hatchimals dancing in children’s heads, rather than sugar plums of old. The elves were certainly hard at work in the North Pole making toys for all the good little boys and girls. Elves, Cinnamon and Cinnamon Stick were busy at Kringleville in the cabin taking photos of folks who stopped to tell Santa what their Christmas wishes were….

Shalahn Staten, serving in leadership position of Assumption’s ALANA Network

CLINTON — The Assumption College Office of Student Activities, in Worcester, Massachusetts, has announced that Shalahn Staten, of Clinton, has been elected, and is currently serving, as president of ALANA Network for the 2017-18 academic year….

Do you have news about your town? Send us an email and let us know!
Visit our contact page!

Fallen state trooper remembered

SOMERSET COUNTY — On Monday, December 11, Senator Paul Davis (R-Piscataquis) and Senator Scott Cyrway (R-Somerset), joined retired Trooper Mark Nickerson, Trooper Seth Allen, Trooper Tyler Harrington and Lieutenant Jackie Theriault at Brown Cemetery in Benton to visit the grave of Trooper Thomas J. Merry, a hero who died in the line of duty in July of 1980, in Palmyra….

Give Us Your Best Shot!

Our best winter shots from local residents, and one to make you think of summer….

Obituaries – week of January 4, 2017

OAKLAND – John W. Casey, Jr., 80, died Monday, December 11, 2017. He was born July 2, 1936, the son of John Casey, Sr. and Margaret Nugent Casey….. and 11 others…

Take our weekly survey!
[poll id=”30″]

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS: News flash – the birds are back in town

by Roland D. Hallee | It was prompted by a telephone call, on December 20, from a reader in Freedom who alerted me that birds had returned to her feeders. So, I went home, told my wife about the conversation I had with the caller, and proceeded to refill our feeders. It took a couple of days, but by the the time of the nor’easter of Christmas day, it was business as usual at the stations….
News flash: the birds are back in town

ERIC’S TECH TALK: Does the future spell the end of local news?

by Eric W. Austin | In August of 1981, an upstart cable TV station began broadcasting these slick new videos set to music. They called it “music television.” The first music video to air on the new channel was the Buggles’ song “Video Killed the Radio Star.” It was supposed to herald the end of radio’s dominance and introduce the world to television as a new musical medium. Instead, nearly 40 years later, music can hardly be found on MTV and radio is still going strong….
Does the future spell the end of local news?

MESSING ABOUT: Always consider the “rule of threes”

by Ron Maxwell | The more one wanders about in the land of survival talk, the more one hears about the rule of threes. It has been approached by many writers in many styles with many words and I claim no exclusivity to any part of it. The rule of threes is however a clever thing and worthy of our consideration….
Always consider the “rule of threes”

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI: Tahra Story

by Peter Cates | Tahra was a historical CD label started in 1992 by Myriam Scherchen, daughter of the conductor, Hermann Scherchen (1891-1966), and her late husband, Rene Tremaine, journalist, producer and voracious record collector. They started the label as a means of releasing previously unavailable tapes, recordings that had been out of print for decades and some restored material that had wretched sound in their earlier release but now were much improved….
Tahra Story

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySolon & Beyond

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy | Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy! It has been awhile since I sat down at this computer to write a column, perhaps you noticed that The Town Line wasn’t published last week. Hadn’t had a chance to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!…
SOLON & BEYOND

I’m Just Curious: The way we learn

by Debbie Walker | Yes, I have been into my books again. Okay, now give me a chance, quit rolling your eyes. It might be interesting. (I can hope!) Make a cup of coffee or tea and sit for a spell. This morning I found a book that I hadn’t seen for a while. The title is The Way They Learn, by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias. It has to do with how we all learn in different ways….
The way we learn

For Your Health: Use Your Brain To Tackle Tinnitus

(NAPSI)—Approximately 80 percent of people with hearing loss also suffer from tinnitus—a ringing, buzzing, whistling or other noises in the ear. It can disrupt life and interfere with your enjoyment of everyday activities, but you can find relief. Hearing aids have proven helpful for people with hearing loss who also experience tinnitus. That’s because with better hearing, the brain has other external sounds to listen to, making tinnitus less disturbing. Improved hearing also takes away the strain of listening, especially in difficult listening situations, and may help to reduce the stress associated with tinnitus….
Use Your Brain To Tackle Tinnitus