Issue for February 5, 2026
China community food pantry prepares for their next chapter
As with many great ideas, the China Community Food Pantry began with a simple conversation. In October 1992, when Lee and Ann Austin were renovating the first level of their lodge, a couple came to the door by the name of Jeremiah and Lynn. “We’d never seen them before,” Ann recalls. “They told us God said we were supposed to start a food pantry in China. We said, ‘Oh.'” … by Jeanne Marquis
Town News
Planning committee continues ordinance updates
CHINA – China Planning Board members continued work on updating town ordinances at their Jan. 27 meeting, having received advice and suggestions from Jeff Dennis of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) water quality bureau…
Ministry Association looking for people in need; volunteers
VASSALBORO – Rose Fortin, President of the Vassalboro Ministry Association Fuel Fund, is looking for Vassalboro residents who need help keeping their houses warm and for people who’d like to help them, by sending money or joining the fund’s volunteers…
LETTERS: We Need Permitting Reform
from Gary Jump (Citizens’ Climate Lobby) — We’ve read about the rapid growth of data centers supporting artificial intelligence and requiring vast amounts of electricity, which strain electrical grids and increase our bills…
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: “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is February 4, 2026.
Stratton wins Whitefield Library chili contest
WHITEFIELD – The Whitefield Library’s 3rd Annual Chili Contest, held on Saturday, January 24, has a new reigning champion in Olivia Stratton. Judges from Pittston, Whitefield, Nobleboro, and Jefferson tasted and rated 13 chilis to determine the winner. They scored the chilis based on presentation, taste, heat, aroma and texture…
Call for quilts to display at Vassaslboro UMC quilt show
VASSALBORO – There are quilt display spaces available at the “Cabin Fever Quilt Show” to be held at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC), 614 Main St., on Saturday, February 14 (storm date Feb. 21st). There is no entry fee…
DeMerchant assumes ownership of Staffing Solutions
CENTRAL ME – Capital Area Staffing Solutions, Inc. has announced that co-founder Cathy DeMerchant has assumed full ownership of both firms, marking a new chapter for the woman-owned staffing and workforce consulting companies serving Central and Eastern Maine…
Northern Light Health marks American Heart Month in February
CENTRAL ME – Northern Light Health is going all in for heart health this February, joining the national observance of American Heart Month with a powerful message: “Be the Heart of Our Community.” Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Maine, accounting for nearly a quarter of all deaths in the state…
HealthReach welcomes new Clinician, Luigi Santilli, FNP
CENTRAL ME – This February, staff at the Madison Area Health Center are happy to welcome Luigi Santilli, FNP, to their professional healthcare team. Santilli earned his Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Husson University…
Carrabec High School 2nd quarter honor roll
No.ANSON – List of honor roll students at Carrabec High School for the 2nd quarter…
Area residents named to dean’s list at UNE
CENTRAL ME – The following students have been named to the University of New England’s dean’s list for the fall semester 2025, in Biddeford, Portland and Morocco, in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts…
Olivia Bourque makes fall 2025 dean’s list
VASSALBORO – Eastern Connecticut State University, in Willimantic, Connecticut, recently released its dean’s list for the fall 2025 semester. Among them is Olivia Bourque, of Vassalboro, a full-time senior who majors in Health Sciences.
Sophia Labbe named to Lasell University Fall 2025 dean’s list
VASSALBORO – Sophia Labbe, a Lasell University student from Vassalboro, was named to the dean’s list for her academic performance in the Fall 2025 semester, in Newton, Massachusetts.
Brianna Paine graduates from Berry College
MADISON – Berry College, in Rome, Georgia, recently announced its newest class of graduates for 2025. Among them was Brianna Paine, of Madison, who earned a BS in Animal Science.
Elizabeth Quinn named to Shenandoah University honors lists
SKOWHEGAN – Elizabeth Quinn, of Skowhegan, is one of 1,195 students who earned a spot on Shenandoah University’s Dean’s List for the Fall 2025 semester, in Winchester, Virginia. She was also named to the university’s president’s list.
Two area students on Le Moyne College Fall 2025 dean’s list
CENTRAL ME – Le Moyne College, in Syracuse, New York, has named two local students to its Fall 2025 dean’s list. They are Elizabeth Holden, a freshman Physics major, from Clinton, and Jacob Moody, a sophomore Economics major, from Oakland.
Ouellette earns dean’s list status
CENTRAL ME – Bryan Freeman Ouellette, of Augusta, earned a place on Furman University’s dean’s list for the 2025 fall semester, in Greenville, South Carolina. Ouellette’s parents and/or guardians are Bryan Ouellette and Michelle Ouellette.
Pratt named to dean’s list at UMaryland
CORNVILLE – Seth Pratt, of Cornville, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2025 term at University of Maryland Global Campus, in Adelphia, Maryland.
Anna Lakey named to Elmhurst University’s dean’s list
WINSLOW – Anna Lakey, of Winslow, was among more than 1,000 students named to Elmhurst University’s Fall 2025 dean’s list, in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Cassondra Heath named to president’s list at Commonwealth Univ.
LIBERTY – Cassondra Heath, of Liberty, was named to the Commonwealth University-Mansfield Fall 2025 President’s List.
Kaylyn Bourque achieves dean’s list honors
BENTON – Kaylyn Bourque, of Benton, has achieved dean’s list honors for fall 2025 semester at Nichols College, in Dudley, Massachusetts.
Local happenings
EVENTS: 7th annual ice fishing derby slated for February 15
CHINA — The China Four Seasons Club (CFSC) and the China Village Volunteer Fire Department announce the 7th Annual China Lake Ice Fishing Derby, taking place Sunday, February 15, 2026, during Maine’s Free Fishing Weekend…
EVENTS: Kennebec Performing Arts Company welcomes new members for spring season
AUGUSTA — The Kennebec Performing Arts Company (KPAC) is inviting new members to join its Choir and Wind Ensemble as preparations begin for the upcoming spring concerts on May 1 and 2…
EVENTS: Whitefield art night
WHITEFIELD — The Whitefield Library’s First Friday Art night will be held Friday, February 6, at 6 p.m., featuring Rachel Roberge. Rachel is a local artist who works mostly in acrylic, although recently she has begun an exploration into watercolor…
EVENTS: Cabin Fever quilt show and luncheon at VUMC
VASSALBORO — A “Cabin Fever Quilt Show and Luncheon” will be held in Vassalboro on Saturday, February 14 (storm date February 21), at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC), 614 Main Street.. “What better way to spend a mid-winter Saturday than taking in a display of beautiful new and vintage quilts,” said one of the event coordinators, Dale Potter-Clark…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: China Lake ice fishing derby
CHINA – The China Four Seasons Club and the China Village Volunteer Fire Department will be holding the 7th annual China Lake ice fishing derby on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Fireworks will take place on Saturday, February 14, 6:15 p.m. at the north end of the lake. For more info, www.chinafourseasons.org… and many other local events!
Obituaries
VASSALBORO – Betty Bradstreet, 92, passed away on Sunday, January 25, 2026. Born in Albion on June 5, 1933, she passed peacefully and gracefully, on Lake Wassookeag, in Dexter. She graced our world with beauty, strength and dignity. She offered her wisdom and loving support during the highest of highs as well as the lowest of lows…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture and organizations – Part 4 (new)
CENTRAL HISTORY — The following article concludes (at least for now) the discussion of early agriculture in Vassalboro and moves eastward to Palermo. The focus in Vassalboro this week is on livestock. Readers will note this week’s article is even more discursive than usual, as your writer came across a variety of slightly-related topics that intrigued her… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture – Part 3
VASSALBORO HISTORY — Until Jan. 30, 1792, Vassalboro, on the east side of the Kennebec River, included Sidney, on the west side. A partial summary of Sidney’s early agricultural history was the topic of last week’s article in this subseries; this week’s article will concentrate on the area that remained Vassalboro… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture – Part 2
SIDNEY HISTORY — Last week’s article discussed the beginnings of European settlers’ agriculture in central Kennebec County, drawing heavily from Samuel L. Boardman’s chapter in Henry Kingsbury’s 1892 county history… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture – Intro to a new subtopic
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — In Henry Kingsbury’s 1892 history of Kennebec County, Samuel L. Boardman wrote the chapter on agriculture and livestock, from the first European farmers to the 1890s. He began with one of the flourishes that help make Kingsbury’s work vivid and entertaining, calling the agricultural history “one of incident, importance and influence” and explaining… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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: Mary Jane Vigue, Winslow
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Driving into work one morning this week, I noticed a “flock” of turkeys under a tree along Rte. 32, in Vassalboro. (By the way, a flock of turkeys is referred to as a “rafter”.) I hadn’t seen very many turkeys since the heavy snow started flying, which led to the next question: where do turkeys go in the winter, and what do they do?…
GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
by Dan Beaulieu | One of the most important aspects of growing a successful business is to have a complete understanding of who your customers are. You need to know everything possible about the people you are selling your products and services to…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | Maine’s white pines are the most well known of our native pines and found all over our state and beyond, but there are three other native pines that add variety to our landscape and some valuable products to the economy…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | I have recently viewed five movies, four of them centered on the CIA, one on a K9 unit in the Los Angeles Police Department. Aaron Eckhart stars in three of the movies, two of them relating to the CIA and the other as a LAPD K9 unit policeman. First the two releases without Eckhart…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | Say, do you have rats at home? I’m talking about critters with fuzzy ears and whiskers who slither around the house after dark, pick up crumbs, and eat from the dog’s bowl. If they live with you, this information can provide them a higher quality life…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease.1 During January, recognized as Thyroid Awareness Month, YARAL Pharma is raising awareness of thyroid disease, particularly hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone…