Week of September 3, 2020
Local scouts rally in attempt to save Camp Bomazeen
Scouts from across the area are busy working on a new and difficult project. If they are successful, there is no merit badge for them to receive but something even better. They hope to save their beloved Scout Camp – Camp Bomazeen… Submitted by Chuck Mahaleris
Your Local News
Tax bills mailed Aug. 31; first payment due Sept. 25
CHINA — Three notices from the China selectmen’s Aug. 31 meeting: Signed nomination papers for Nov. 3 local elections are due at the town office by 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, for candidates’ names to be on the local ballot. Town Manager Becky Hapgood said…no one was circulating papers for the District 4 Planning Board seat or for the positions of secretary and at-large member of the Budget Committee…
Planners discuss proposed ordinance amendment
CHINA — At their Aug. 25 meeting, China Planning Board members discussed a proposed ordinance amendment that would make a special provision in lot coverage requirements for solar panels…
Board denies appeal over shoreland wall
CHINA — By a 3-2 vote the China Board of Appeals has upheld Codes Officer Bill Butler’s denial of Brent and Cathy Chesley’s application for a permit to build what documents call a retaining wall along the shore of China Lake…
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Vassalboro Days slated for Sept. 12 – 13
VASSALBORO — (Schedule of Events) The Double Dam Ducky Derby will be held Saturday, September 12, at the Mill at 1 p.m. Tickets are $3 each or 5@ $10 and will be sold that day at the VBA Tent at the Mill up until ten minutes before the race. Tickets may be purchased from Ray Breton…
Albion Library book sale
ALBION — The Albion Public Library will host the annual book sale on Saturday, September 5, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The sale will be held at 17 Main Street, across the street from the library. Come and fill up your book shelves!…
Cruisin’ for a Cure
LEWISTON — Bikers everywhere are invited to join Cruisin’ for a Cure, a motorcycle ride to support the American Cancer Society, on Saturday, September 19. Funds raised will support pediatric cancer research. The event begins at L-A Harley-Davidson, 839 Main St., Lewiston…
Business breakfast to feature “Advocacy Refresher”
OAKLAND — Tim Walton, founder, and president of Walton External Affairs will deliver a talk entitled “An Advocacy Refresher” as he explores why the Legislature matters to you and your business, as well as how a bill becomes a law. This month’s breakfast will be held on Thursday, September 10, from 7:15 to 9 a.m. in the Waterville Country Club Banquet Room in Oakland…
Skowhegan chicken BBQ slated
SKOWHEGAN — Join the Skowhegan Lions on Saturday, September 19, and enjoy the famous, better than ever chicken barbecue. This event will be curb side pickup only…
Local restaurant provides support for law enforcement
WATERVILLE — Multiple law enforcement agencies and emergency personal were on scene on Tuesday, August 25, in Waterville, after a shots fired incident was reported around 4:15 p.m… by Mark Huard
Local seed swap group forming
CHINA — This announcement of the formation of the China Area Seed Swappers is to help gardeners pursue your curiosities and save some money, too. The timing is perfect. It is now the harvest season. Veteran gardeners save some of their crops that make seed for the following years’ plantings…
Taking the hand off
WATERVILLE — Isaac Chase, 6, takes a hand off from coach Matt Perry during the recent Waterville Youth Football clinic (photo)…
School raises funds to provide financial aid
AUGUSTA — An open call for help to parents and families of St. Michael School, in Augusta, produced financial assistance at a difficult time and became the latest proof of how special this school’s community truly is…
Northern Light Women Health welcomes Dr. Doucette
WATERVILLE — Northern Light Women’s Health welcomes Stephanye Doucette, DO. Dr. Doucette joins their practice located at 180 Kennedy Memorial Drive, in Waterville…
Anna Schutte makes the deans’ list at Azusa Pacific University
SIDNEY — An English major, Schutte is honored for a fall semester 2019 academic standing of a 3.5 or better grade-point average. Schutte is joined by 2,171 other students receiving the same honor…
Volunteers needed to help set up outdoor classrooms in the China Schools Forest
CHINA — Anita Smith, Director of the China Schools Forest, has been preparing the grounds for outdoor learning experiences in time for the beginning to the 2020-21 to year. The China School Forest provides ample space for students to socially distance in a calm, safe atmosphere, while learning. Volunteers have been essential…
Become a member: An open letter to our readers
Dear Reader: According to a 2018 study published in the Oxford Journal of Communication, communities without a local source of news become more partisan, divided and politically fractured. You’ve seen it happen on the national level. It’s a growing problem around the country. Part of the problem for this is the loss of local publications like ours…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Stagecoach routes in central Kennebec Valley (New)
MAINE HISTORY — Early public transportation in the central Kennebec River valley came in three forms: the ferries and other riverboats previously mentioned; stagecoaches; and railways. On land, horses and oxen were the earliest movers, for people and goods, individually and corporately… [2088 words] by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Fires were common in 19th century
MAINE HISTORY — Readers might remember that this historical series started at the end of March in reaction to the pandemic, to divert readers’ minds and fill a page in the newspaper. What plan there was at the time included stories about disasters, not only plague and pestilence but fires, floods, wars and other cheerful topics. Given California’s situation, this week seemed appropriate for a story on fires in some of our Kennebec Valley towns… [1911 words] by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Notable citizens – James G. Blaine
MAINE HISTORY — James Gillespie Blaine was born Jan. 31, 1830, in West Brownsville, Pennsylvania. The town is on the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh; Interstate 40 now runs through it. The current google map shows an area called Blainsburg between the river and the interstate, a major road called Blaine Hill Road and a Blainesburg Bible Church. The 2010 census reported a population of 992; by 2018, it had decreased to 965… [1305 words] by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Notable citizens – Conclusion
ALBION HISTORY — Elijah Parish Lovejoy was born Nov. 9, 1802, in Albion. His grandfather, Francis Lovejoy, was one of the town’s first settlers. His father, Daniel, was a Congregational preacher who, according to extracts from the sermon preached at his funeral, was a good man and a good minister, but was sometimes too carried away by enthusiasm to be tactful and was subject to periods of depression… [1641 words] by Mary Grow
Obituaries
WINDSOR – Carroll Raymond York, 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 23, 2020, at the Togus VA Medical Center. Carroll was born in Windsor on April 6, 1925, the son of Raymond and Rubie (Colby) York… and remembering 10 others.
Common Ground – Round 20: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Friday, September 4, 2020
Identify the people 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! 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: No winner.
Town Line Original Columnists
GARDEN WORKS
by Emily Cates | Watch out for that squash! No, I’m not talking about the oversized zucchini endangering anyone who walks under it— or the health hazards of eating undercooked portions of Aunt Maybelle’s Squash Surprise Soup. I mean a real hazard that could lurk in any member of the Curcubit family…
THE MONEY MINUTE
by Jac M. Arbour | Last year, the Good Shepherd Food Bank was instrumental in serving over 30 million meals to Maine people. Thirty million. But don’t be fooled: this did not meet all the need that was there. It may be a hard figure to take in, but try for a moment: here in Maine, even 30 million meals does not fill the hunger gap…
AARP OUTREACH
by Patricia Pinto | As you may recall from my previous column in The Town Line, AARP Maine is laser-focused on the protection of Social Security this election season. This remarkable program just celebrated its 85th year and we like to remind all Mainers that in good times and in bad, for each one of those 85 years, Social Security has never missed a payment…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Originally on Showtime, Homeland ran for eight seasons, was one of the two or three most successful programs in its history and was still attracting new viewers when it came to an end. It starred Claire Danes as C.I.A. agent Carrie Matheson, who is also bi-polar while being very good at her work…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | Good afternoon! Grab a cup of your choice and relax. In this column I am sharing a few “memories” I received from our readers. It’s a follow up to “It’s the Little things That Matter” column from the August 6 issue. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Hopefully, these will bring more memories of your own…
SOLON & BEYOND
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | There will be a Marijuana Ordinances public hearing on Wednesday, September 16, at the fire station at 6:30 p.m. If input at the public hearing results in the ordinance committee deciding to further revice these draft ordinances…
LABOR DAY HISTORY
by Gary Kennedy | When this holiday was considered, the President of the United States was Grover Cleveland. May was the month of choice. However, President Cleveland wisely shyed away from May because of the Haymarket bombing. On May 4, 1886, a bomb went off in Haymarket square, Chicago, Illinois, during a labor rally, killing one policeman and wounding many others…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) — As the summer months wind down, many will continue to flock outdoors and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and fishing. What you may not realize is that despite the weather cooling off, ticks are still very prevalent outdoors. It is important to check for ticks after spending time in the grass or garden, as ticks can transmit a bacterial infection known as Lyme disease…