Issue for November 27, 2025
Remembering the Thanksgiving without power
Nearly everybody who has lived in Palermo for a number of years has stories to tell about power outages (no disrespect to CMP, whose workers are heroic). However, when the power went out after the usual November storm right before Thanksgiving a few years ago, we all had to get creative. At least we can all laugh about it now… by Connie Bellet
Town News
Cemetery committee addresses trees, again
VASSALBORO – Keeping gravestones and cemetery monuments safe, especially from falling trees and tree limbs, and repairing stones that are damaged, from whatever cause, were again discussion topics at the Vassalboro Cemetery Committee’s Nov. 17 meeting…
Manager, committee look beyond budget preparations for transfer station
CHINA – China Transfer Station Committee members and Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood spent part of the committee’s Nov. 18 meeting talking about future expenses, looking toward and beyond 2025-26 budget preparations…
The Remembrance Tree
CENTRAL ME – Help us decorate the tree and at the same time remember loved ones. For only $10 a ball, you can commemorate loved ones who have passed. Mail your donation and the names of your remembered loved ones to: The Town Line, PO Box 89, South China, ME 04358, to place an ornament on the tree. Deadline is Friday, December 12. The completed tree will be published in the December 18 issue. All donations to The Town Line are tax deductible.
Legion raises funds for food pantry
OAKLAND – Decker-Simmions Post #51, Oakland, along with the Auxiliary, Sons of the Legion, The Legion Riders, and Fundraiser Marsha Flye, all helped in raising a donation of $1,600 for the Oakland Food pantry. Pictured here is Vice Commander John Palmer presenting a check to Cate Mulvey, of the Oakland Food Pantry, to help the pantry this season…
Self-taught cheesemaker from Skowhegan wins Super Gold and Bronze at the World Cheese Awards
SKOWHEGAN – Crooked Face Creamery, an artisan creamery based in Skowhegan, has received global recognition at the 37th annual World Cheese Awards in Bern, Switzerland. The small-batch creamery took home a coveted Super Gold award for its Plain Whole Milk Ricotta and a Bronze award for its Applewood Smoked Ricotta…
PHOTO: Aurora Borealis
PALERMO – Gary Mazoki, of Palermo, photographed the most recent spectacular show of the Northern Lights….
PHOTO: First place at Spooky Spectacular
CENTRAL ME – Huard’s Sport Karate Team member Jackson Hanson, 13, of Clinton, captured first place at the Spooky Spectacular last month, in Portland. (Photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography)…
Local happenings
EVENTS: Mid-Maine Chamber promotes Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 29
WATERVILLE — Join Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and area businesses for Shop Small Saturday Mid-Maine – and shop ‘til you drop! What better way to enjoy a Saturday, get some holiday shopping done, and know that you are helping your friends, neighbors, and business owners at the same time. So, grab your friends and family members – and head to the great outdoors for some much-needed activity…
EVENTS: KPAC concert December 6
AUGUSTA — The Kennebec Performing Arts Company (KPAC) will “Celebrate the Season” at its annual holiday concerts on Friday, December 5, 7 p.m., at Winthrop High School and Saturday, December 6, 5 p.m., at Cony High School in Augusta…
EVENTS: Parade of Lights November 29: A message from Santa
WATERVILLE — The 2025 Parade of Lights will be held on Saturday, November 29, at 6 p.m. It will start on College Ave., and travel down Waterville Main Street…
EVENTS: Free SeaStrings Concert: An afternoon of enchanting string music celebrating community and volunteerism
VASSALBORO — An afternoon of live music with the SeaStrings, a local group of friends and neighbors from mid-coast Maine, will be performed on Sunday, December 14, at 2 p.m., at the St. Bridget Center in Vassalboro…
EVENTS: Family Festival of Trees coming soon; Santa will be in the house
WATERVILLE — Alfond Youth & Community Center and Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, through the Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative are bringing Festival of Trees this holiday season, continuing a proud tradition…
EVENTS: Without family to share Thanksgiving? Join friends and neighbors at Palermo Community Center
PALERMO — If you have no family nearby to share the Thanksgiving Holiday, you are welcome to join friends and neighbors at the Palermo Community Center for a potluck dinner, on Thursday, November 27, at 2 p.m. There will be a roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and fresh cranberry sauce. To prevent duplications, there is a sign-up list so we can share all our favorite dishes and make sure we have enough pies…
EVENTS: All aboard the Polar Express
WHITEFIELD — Tickets are FREE but must be obtained in advance due to space limitations. Grab yours at the library. Arrive at the Whitefield Library train depot, 1 Arlington Lane, Sat., December 6, at 3:45 p.m. Wear your PJs and bring your favorite stuffy or blanket. There will be hot cocoa with marshmallows, cookies and every child will get a special gift to take home…
EVENTS: Making music during the month of December
So.CHINA — Do you like to sing? Especially the memorable and special songs of the holidays? South China Community Church invites you to join them during the month of December! They’re providing several opportunities for singing and enjoying carols and music selections of the upcoming holiday season. You don’t have to be a church member or attendee – we just want to share the special music of Christmas with the community…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: ACB to hold holiday open house
CHINA – The Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, will have its annual Holiday Open House and Concert, on Sunday, December 7. There will be live music with Central Maine singer and songwriter, Bella Ann, from 1 – 2 p.m…. and many other local events!
Obituaries
WINSLOW — Eugene A. Robinson, 93, died peacefully on Friday, November 21, 2025, in Pittsfield. Gene was born on April 15, 1932, in Albion, a son of the late Kelsey and Mildred (Scibner) Robinson…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Martha’s children (new)
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — This article continuing the Ballard family history will summarize information about three of Martha and Ephraim’s six children who lived to adulthood – space limits postpone the other three, and the end of Jonathan’s story, to next week. As related previously, three Ballard children died young, in a 1769 diphtheria epidemic in Oxford, Massachusetts… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Women – Part 3
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s A Midwife’s Tale focused on women’s lives in the Kennebec Valley around 1800, using midwife Martha Ballard’s diary (from 1785 to 1812) as a main source of information. A consistent emphasis was women banding together to help each other, within families and within the community… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Women: Ballard – Part 2
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Martha (Moore) Ballard (1735 – 1812), to whom readers were introduced last week, cannot be considered a “typical” housewife, because she was a practicing midwife, out of the house on business much of the time… by Mary Grow
A history of Palermo’s Smith Cemetery 1825-2025
PALERMO HISTORY — 2025 marks the bicentennial anniversary of Smith Cemetery on Level Hill Road in North Palermo. Among the last of the major cemeteries in the area still operated by a cemetery association rather than the town itself, it has had an interesting history over its 200 years… by Andrew Pottle
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Identify the people in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common. You could win a $10 gift certificate to Hannaford Supermarket! 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: Diana Gardner, Windsor
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | My daughter just adopted a kitten. They are so cute and adorable, especially when you watch them chase a ball of yarn, fight to grab that elusive string hung in front of them, try to catch the red laser dot, or when they lay in your lap and purr into the evening hours…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | On Saturday, November 22, a Metropolitan Opera production of Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme, originally presented live on November 8 at other cinemas and venues worldwide, was replayed at Downtown Waterville’s Maine Film Center…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | Over the past 40 years I have advocated for hundreds of veterans, perhaps more. I have seen so many 100 percent cases I can’t remember. Eventually I will hear many say, “is this all there is”? Although most are very happy receiving the 100 percent there is always the question, “is there more”? The answer is simple, “yes”. However, after the 100 percent award there must be some serious disabilities available for exploration for upper level consideration…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | Poinsettias are another plant we use to add holiday color to our homes. They are another tropical plant, in this case from Mexico, where it is a perennial garden shrub. In our cooler temperate area, the plants are forced to bloom now, but with care they will brighten our days for weeks…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | If you’re like me, your mailbox is now bulging with holiday gift catalogs. Yesterday I even got a catalog showing other catalogs I could order…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | The holiday season is one of the most anticipated times of the year—and one of the most demanding for maintaining your health…