Week of February 28, 2019

Celebrating 30 years of local news

Jack’s: Where everybody knows your name

Growing up near China Village in the latter half of the last century, there was one place everyone visited at least once a week. Officially named China General Store, Incorporated, most of us knew it simply as “Jack’s.” It was the center of life in China Village for more than 50 years.

This is the story of Jack’s General Store, and the man who ran it…

Your Local News

STATE OF THE TOWN LINE:
The importance of the printed paper

from Neil Farrington — I would personally like the paper to continue for another 30 years, so I’m asking our readership to take some ownership in The Town Line. A $35 yearly membership donation could save our little printed paper from being swallowed up by the digital 21st century world…

Selectmen put warrant in final form

CHINA — Most of the questions ask voters to approve appropriations for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2019, and ends June 30, 2020. The articles contain summaries; voters seeking details are referred to a “budget book” about 15 pages long that will be part of the 2017 town report…

TIF committee gives manager OK on land offer

CHINA — China TIF (Tax Increment Finance) Committee members held a short Feb. 25 meeting, with decisions made on two agenda items and absences blocking progress on two others…

Selectmen ready to forward budget to committee

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro selectmen wrestled with the 2019-2020 municipal budget for three hours at their Feb. 21 meeting. They concluded they were ready to forward it to the budget committee…

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Local man announces presidential candidacy

from Fred Wiand (China) — From the onset I will tirelessly perform the duties of president and lead our country with positive and progressive ideas further into the 21st century. Second, I am not from ‘within the beltway,’ but will bring viewpoints from all areas of our country…

COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Local resident advocates for new state of Maine flag

from Matt Bourque (China) — Our original flag is simple, prominently displaying a pine tree and star on a beige background. This design is a far cry from our current flag, which resembles many other state flags such as New York, New Hampshire, Minnesota and a host of others…

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2019 Real estate tax schedule

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

Town Meeting schedule for 2019

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

Lawrence boys headed to state championship game

FAIRFIELD — The Lawrence High School Bulldogs captured the Class A North boys basketball championship on Friday, February 22, with a 47-40 victory over the Skowhegan Indians (photos)…

Arts society to offer scholarships

CENTRAL ME — The Waterville Area Art Society (WAAS) is now accepting applications for its annual $500 scholarship award to be given to a graduating high school senior who pursues a degree in visual arts, performing arts or music…

Deadline nears for film and video conference

CENTRAL ME — Registration is now open for the second annual Maine Student Film & Video Conference, a full-day event offering a slate of hands-on workshops for middle and high school students in narrative and documentary film-making, broadcasting, photography, and technical production…

School News

Area students named to Colby’s dean’s list

WATERVILLE — Area students were among more than 500 students named to the highly selective dean’s list at Colby College, in Waterville, for the fall semester of the 2018-19 academic year…

Saige Knight named to St. Lawrence University’s dean’s list

OAKLAND — Saige Knight, of Oakland, has been selected for inclusion on St. Lawrence University’s dean’s list for academic achievement during the Fall 2018 semester, in Canton, New York. Knight is a member of the Class of 2021. Knight attended Messalonskee High School.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WATERVILLE — LENTEN ORGAN CONCERTS, First Baptist Church, Elm St. Sunday, March 10, Christina Misner Rao, of Manchester, organist at Wayne Community Church. …

Obituaries

VASSALBORO – Douglas Paul Perry, 69, passed away on Sunday, February 17, 2019, following an extended period of ill health. Doug was born to Marie I. and Benedict E. Perry on July 17, 1949, living his whole life in North Vassalboro… and remembering 6 others…

Common Ground – Round 2: 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 | A 40-year study conducted by the Audubon Society has found that more than half of 305 bird species in North America are spending the winter about 35 miles farther north than they did 40 years ago. Some of these birds include chickadees, robins and owls…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Mrs. Janet Dow told me of some paragraphs from White’s book, One Man’s Meat, in the form of a diary entry, devoted to the January 1941 night when the writer, his wife and their son slept at a China Village inn owned by Mrs. Dow’s mother, Letha Wilson…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Once again it is “that” time. It’s the first of a new month of Crazy Holidays and I hope you will find them interesting and a bit humorous…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy | The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club held a meeting on February 16 with 15 members and two guests, Rebecca Johnson and Cynthia Lewis from GGC Member on Youth…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) — One in five Americans suffers from bunions. A bunion, or hallux valgus, starts out as redness and a bump on the side of the foot near the big toe. Over time, bunions can cause chronic pain and restrict movement…

Do I Need Bunion Surgery?