Week of April 4, 2019

Celebrating 30 years of local news

Area Eagle Scouts perform over 6,000 hours of community work

The Kennebec Valley District finished 2018 with 36 Scouts attaining the highest rank – the Eagle Scout. In 2018, there were 141 Eagles from the State of Maine and 52,160 young men across the nation earned Scouting’s lofty award. Locally, churches and charities from Jackman to Camden and from Wilton to Albion saw Scouts providing more than 6,000 hours of service just through projects led by teenagers hoping to earn their Eagle Scout rank…

Your Local News

TIF members discuss final details of revolving loan fund

CHINA — Members of China’s Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Committee and its Revolving Loan Fund subcommittee spent much of the March 25 TIF meeting discussing final details of the revolving loan fund they hope will soon be accepting applications…

Vassalboro school superintendent presents zero percent budget

VASSALBORO — “I can’t remember the last time I brought a zero percent budget in,” Vassalboro Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer told budget committee members and selectmen as they assembled to review results of March 19 and March 26 school budget discussions…

Two TIF fund questions to be on warrant; assistant codes enforcement officer introduced

CHINA — After the April 6 town business meeting, China residents will vote again in June on a written-ballot warrant that already has two proposed articles…

China prepares for annual town meeting

CHINA — Voters at China’s Saturday, April 6, town business meeting will have 31 warrant articles to consider, fewer than in previous years. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at China Middle School, if a quorum is present…

CMS students learn how to plant native seeds

CHINA — For the second year, China Middle School students participated in the River Restoration project by planting native seeds and learning the importance of maintaining an eco-system…

Giving a helping hand

CHINA — For a number of years some of the local schools raised salmon eggs until the salmon were about two to three inches long. The students released them into the Seven Mile Stream behind Harland Robinson’s house hoping they would return…

Wiand to receive official send off on campaign tour

CHINA — Fred Wiand announces his campaign tour send off, Saturday, April 6, 1 p.m., at the China Lake boat landing at the north end of China lake. Fred is a Democratic candidate for president in 2020…

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China School’s Forest to offer fun, outdoor activities for youth

CHINA — The China School’s Forest will be holding a fun, interactive Project Learning Tree workshop on Saturday, April 27, at 9 a.m., at the China School’s Forest. All participants will receive the Pre K-8 Activity Guide with over 96 ready-to-use lessons to bring outdoor education to children…

New books available at China Village library

CHINA — The Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, on Main Street in China Village, has a number of new books – and many older ones – to lend to area residents…

Spring is here: Vidalia Onions are on sale!

PALERMO — Celebrate the end of winter by ordering sweet, juicy Vidalia onions from the Living Communities Foundation. The foundation supports the Palermo Community Center, which, in turn, hosts the Palermo Food Pantry…

Keeping French heritage alive in central Maine

AUGUSTA — On Saturday, April 27, 2019, the Maine French Heritage Language Program will host its big annual fundraiser, “Springtime in Paris,” from 6 – 9:30 p.m., at Le Club Calumet. The event features French food and music, as well as both a live and silent auction in order to raise money for the program…

Town Meeting schedule for 2019

Check here to see when your town has scheduled their 2019 town meeting. Current listings for China and Windsor. To have your town listed, send an email to townline@fairpoint.net.

SEND US YOUR BEST ICE OUT GUESS FOR 2019

CHINA — Can you guess the day The Town Line declares China Lake free of ice? Write down your best guess (one per person) and send it to us. Get your guess to The Town Line office by noon, Friday, April 5, 2019. To help you guess, here are 145 years of ice-out dates for China Lake…

2019 Real estate tax schedule

Find out when real estate taxes are due for China, Vassalboro, Windsor & Winslow.

School News

Erskine Academy announces School calendar change

CHINA — Parents and students should be advised of a change to Erskine Academy’s school calendar. Due to excessive snow days, Friday, April 12, will now be an early release day for all Erskine Academy students. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m…

Double winner

WINSLOW — Eban Barbeau, 8, captured first place in both forms and fighting at the 39th Battle of Maine held at Thomas College, in Waterville, on March 23…

MacKenzy Labrie accepted to Delaware Valley University

WINSLOW — MacKenzy Labrie, of Winslow, has been accepted for admission at Delaware Valley University, in Doylestownb, Pennsylvania.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

LENTEN FISH CHOWDER SUPPER, Knights of Columbus Council #11303, every Friday through Lent, 4:30 – 6 p.m., St. Joseph’s Maronite Church Hall, Front St.

Obituaries

WINSLOW – Theresa “Terri” A. (Grandmaison) Boudreau, 82, passed away Monday, March 18, 2019, at MaineGeneral Hospital, in Augusta. She was born March 5, 1937, in Oakland, the daughter of Roland A. and Hilda (Rood) Grandmaison…and remembering 9 others…

Common Ground – Round 3: Win a $10 gift certificate!

Identify the men in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common. You could win a $10 gift certificate to Retail Therapy boutique in Waterville, next to the Dairy Queen! Email your answer to townline@fairpoint.net or visit our Contact page.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | The game is called Pétanque, a sport that falls in the category of boules sports, which include bocce and lawn bowling. A popular sport in Europe, it is not widely played in the United States…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Above Suspicion is the account of an eastern Kentucky woman, Susie Smith, murdered back in 1989 by the area FBI agent, Mark Putnam, also a married man with whom she was having an affair…

THE MONEY MINUTE

by Jac M. Arbour | When you hold your paycheck in your hand or view your electronic deposit, I’d like you to consider that the amount you see doesn’t represent what you actually earned…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | You know I love to read and so does Ms. Dee. Since I have been here in Florida, Dee has been cleaning out her sewing room to give it some order, she has been sharing old newspaper clippings with me…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy | Received the following e-mail from Somerset Woods Trustees: Forest Birds, Save-the Dates, & Weston Woods & Waters. SWT Hosts Audubon’s “Forestry for Maine Birds” at Weston, Madison…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI)—If you’re like 90 percent of shoppers, you consult the Nutrition Facts panel on food packages before you buy. To make it easier to make informed food choices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed a new Nutrition Facts label…