Issue for August 7, 2025
FirstPark executive director retires after nearly eight years
Jim Dinkle, executive director of FirstPark, retired on July 24 after nearly eight years with the Kennebec Regional Development Authority (KRDA). Dinkle brought to the role more than three decades of experience in economic development and public service from around the country. Since joining FirstPark in November 2017, Dinkle led the business park through a period of steady growth and progress. Under his leadership, seven lots in the Oakland business park have been sold…
Town News
Webber Pond water levels dropping
VASSALBORO – Why are Webber Pond’s water levels dropping? According to a Webber Pond Association official, there are three factors affecting Webber water levels…
Vassalboro nomination papers available
VASSALBORO – Nomination papers for Vassalboro’s representative on the Kennebec Water District (KWD) Board of Trustees are now available at the Vassalboro town office. Signed papers must be returned by 3 p.m., Monday, September 8, for candidates’ names to be on a November 4 local ballot…
China Select Board to hold public hearing
CHINA – The China select board will hold a public hearing on Monday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m., in the town office meeting room on Lakeview Drive. The subject is old Route 202 at the head of China Lake’s east basin…
Enthusiastic response to Buffer Bundle Campaign
CHINA — That was the belief that organizers of the China Lake Buffer Campaign had in mind when they came up with a plan to give bundles of native plants to shoreline property owners…
PHOTO: Up close!
CENTRAL ME — Deb Dolan photographed this damsel fly up close, while being stared down.
TEAM PHOTO: Senior football camp
FAIRFIELD — The 2025 annual PAL Senior Football Camp (July 29-31), was held at the Lawrence High School, and led by Lawrence varsity Coach John Hersom and his high school football players. It was organized by PAL football director, Nick Nadeau.
Local residents named to Clark U. dean’s list
CENTRAL ME — The following local residents were named to Clark University’s Spring 2025 Dean’s List, in Worcester, Massachusetts: Frankie D. Roberts, of Unity, was named to first honors; Jasper Q. New, of Jefferson, was named to first honors; Samantha N. Golden, of South China, was named to second honors; and Brexton E. Getchell, of Unity, was named to second honors…
Sav Lancaster named to the Champlain College dean’s list
NORRIDGEWOCK — Sav Lancaster, of Norridgewock, was named to the Champlain College dean’s list for the Spring 2025 semester, in Burlington, Vermont.
Local happenings
EVENTS: KPAC announces rehearsal sessions
CENTRAL ME — The Kennebec Performing Arts Company (KPAC) is pleased to announce its rehearsal and concert schedule for the 2025-2026 season. The KPAC Wind Ensemble and Choir will once again be under the direction of John Neal, while the organization welcomes Russell Caverly as the new director of the KPAC Jazz Band…
EVENTS: Great Carrying Place
CENTRAL ME — This year commemorates the 250th anniversary of Benedict Arnold’s march through the Maine wilderness in an attempt to capture Québec. To honor this daring journey, the Arnold Expedition Historical Society (AEHS) is offering three guided hikes along a section of the Arnold Trail to Québec, known as the “Great Carrying Place Portage Trail,” retracing the steps of Arnold’s 1,000-man army, on Saturday, August 16; Saturday, September 27; and Saturday, October 18, 2025…
EVENTS: Gravel road maintenance workshop slated
UNITY — Gravel roads are essential for seasonal and year-round access to homes, camps, and natural areas across Maine. If not properly maintained, they can lead to challenges for landowners – they can also contribute to erosion and water quality problems. Join them for a hands-on workshop focused on how to evaluate and maintain gravel roads with water quality and long-term performance in mind…
EVENTS: “Made in China” — A local art exhibition
CHINA — The China Historical Society is proud to present “Made in China,” a group art exhibition showcasing the work of artists who live in China, Maine – or whose work reflects the spirit, beauty, and stories of the town…
EVENTS: Baked beans and blueberries public supper planned at VUMC
VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Methodist Church is holding a “Baked Beans & Blueberries” public supper on Saturday, August 16, 4:30 – 6 p.m. The menu will include their traditional baked beans and a variety of other kinds. Hot dogs, casseroles, salads, breads, pies and blueberry desserts will also be available. The supper is open to the public for a $10.00 donation per person…
EVENTS: Winslow’s Blueberry Festival on tap for August 8 – 9
WINSLOW — One of Maine’s all-time most popular, beloved, and downright yummy summer events – Winslow’s annual Blueberry Festival – is coming this year on Friday, August 8, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, August 9, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., to Winslow Congregational Church, 12 Lithgow Street, Winslow. The Friday evening event will feature a delicious chicken BBQ fundraiser ($15 donation per supper) to benefit Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry, plus live music. Admission to the festival grounds is FREE both days…
EVENTS: Do you know a Nelson?
PALERMO — You might be a Nelson if your last name is: Crommett, Bailey, Curtis, Glidden, Dowe, Tobey, Doughty, or Turner. Come see at the 100th Nelson Reunion of Erastus and Eliza Nelson descendents to be held Saturday, August 9, at the Palermo Christian Church…
EVENTS: Rock around the jailhouse block
WISCASSET — It’s party time at the Old Lincoln County Jail on Federal Street in Wiscasset! Gather your friends and family for a rousing good time at Jailhouse Rock on Saturday, August 9 from 5-8 pm. Jailhouse Rock is an event for all ages with dancing, food, lawn games, and tours of the jail cells…
Name that film!
Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to The Maine Film Center, in Waterville: “Bond. James Bond.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is August 7, 2025.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: “Made in China” — A local art exhibition
CHINA – The China Historical Society is proud to present “Made in China,” a group art exhibition showcasing the work of artists who live in China, Maine – or whose work reflects the spirit, beauty, and stories of the town. Held at the barn, at 16 Jones Road, in South China, the exhibit opens with a public reception on Thursday, August 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibition will also be open to visitors on Saturday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m…. and many other local events!
Obituaries
SOUTH CHINA and North Port, Florida – Thomas R.Barber, 82, passed away on Wednesday, June 25, 2025…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Women doctors in central Kennebec Valley (new)
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — In the course of collecting information on the doctors included in last week’s article about the central Kennebec Valley (and other places), your writer reviewed lists in Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history and Rev. Edwin Carey Whittemore’s Waterville history… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Doctors Pulsifer
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — While wondering what new subject might keep readers – and writer — interested, your writer glanced at random pages in randomly-chosen history books. A warning: what she found does not remain in the central Kennebec Valley. Her eyes fell on Dr. Nathan Goldsmith Howard Pulsifer… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Early surveyors – John Jones
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Yet one more important early surveyor in the central Kennebec Valley was John Jones (c. 1743 – Aug. 16, 1823), known as “Black” Jones because of his dark complexion, and later because of his unpopular politics… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Early surveyors – John McKechnie
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Another Kennebec Valley surveyor who worked for the Kennebec/Plymouth Proprietors/Company was Dr. John McKechnie (1730 or 1732 – April 14, 1782). Ernest Marriner, in his Kennebec Yesterdays, called McKechnie “one of those men of varied talents who meant so much to many pioneer communities” – “an educated physician, a civil engineer, a land surveyor, and a shrewd business entrepreneur”… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, August 14, 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: Ted Helberg, Fairfield
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | A friend of mine was asked by an acquaintance if she recognized a certain bug they found hanging around the garden, and boring holes in the yard. She suggested the person send the photo to me for identification. With the help of my insider at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, we came up with this…
ERIC’S TECH TALK
by Eric W. Austin | There’s something unsettling about talking to a large language model. At first, the responses feel remarkably human – thoughtful, creative, even insightful. But then you remember how it works: pattern matching, statistical prediction, probability distributions. Suddenly, what felt like intelligence transforms into something mechanical, almost fraudulent. It’s just a very sophisticated autocomplete, we tell ourselves. It’s not really thinking…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | Humans began farming about 12,000 years ago in locations around the world after much earlier recognized plant materials that could be used for food, clothing, shelter, and wooden tools. One thing that sets humans apart from other creatures is our desire to beautify ourselves and our surroundings. Cave paintings using the minerals ochres are 40,000 years old. Archeologists find beads and other small items carved from stone, bones, and shells…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Kennebunk’s Kenneth Roberts (1885-1957) wrote the historical novel Boon Island in 1956. Boon Island is a ledge 300 by 700 feet in the Atlantic Ocean, 14 miles south of Kennebunkport and, since 1811, has the tallest lighthouse in New England…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | One of life’s great questions is, “What makes people fall in love?” Almost nobody knows how to answer this. All we know is that suddenly a young man willingly trades a heart full of love and a wallet full of money for a wedding full of guests who sit on the bride’s side…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | First off let me thank all who participated and those who attended the Mason Lodge #53, Sidney, pig roast. Also, a special thanks to the Oakland Mason Lodge for allowing us the use of their lodge to hold the event. Masons are a family of brothers who love and support each other as well as contribute to the well being of those who struggle to get by on a daily basis. The Sidney lodge is in dire need of repair or replacement. We have existed since the 1800s…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | A well-stocked supply of medicine must-haves can sometimes mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a potential emergency room visit. From summer sunburns to allergy flare-ups, headaches or tummy troubles, keeping stock of appropriate over-the-counter products—and knowing how and when to use them—can help to support health at home…