Issue for April 22, 2021
Vassalboro kicks off sestercentennial celebration with rededication of Civil War monument on April 26
Have you ever looked at this monument, as I have, and wondered, “Who were these people? Did they all die? If so, how and where did they die? What units did they serve in?” I thought of some of these questions every time I studied the monument over a period of something like thirty years… by Lauchlin W. Titus [1279 words]
Your Local News
China considering regional trash collection system
CHINA — China Transfer Station Committee members are considering advocating for a regional trash collection system based in China, if the new owners of what was the Fiberight facility in Hampden don’t get their act together soon…
Emergency group works on updating document
CHINA — At a short April 15 meeting, members of China’s Emergency Preparedness Committee continued discussion of the two documents they’re updating this year…
Planners express frustration with virtual meetings
CHINA — China Planning Board members held a short virtual meeting April 13, at which they expressed their frustration with virtual meetings and, they hope, resolved one of the annoying issues…
Broadband committee agrees to keep Spectrum “on the shelf”
CHINA — China Broadband Committee members continued discussion of their proposal to continue working with Machias-based Axiom Technologies to provide a town-owned network that would extend improved internet service throughout the town…
Town warrant now includes school budget articles
VASSALBORO — In addition to another review of the draft warrant for the June 7 and 8 annual town meeting, Vassalboro selectmen continued plans for the April 26, 250th anniversary celebration, and discussed two other issues at their April 15 meeting…
Voters to decide fate of marijuana ordinance
VASSALBORO — One issue Vassalboro voters will decide at their June town meeting is whether to approve or reject a new ordinance titled “Town of Vassalboro Marijuana Business Ordinance”…
Board briefed on full day, in-person classes
VASSALBORO — Vassalboro School Board members held their regular monthly meeting April 13, followed by a meeting with the budget committee to answer questions about their proposed 2021-22 budget…
Vassalboro Community Read will begin in May
VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro Community School Librarian – Melora Norman – and the Vassalboro Public Library Director – Brian Stanley – have received a grant from the American Library Association – Libraries Transforming Communities – to do a Community Read in Vassalboro…
Town of Vassalboro 250th Anniversary Commemoration
VASSALBORO — The town of Vassalboro will begin the celebration of the town’s 250th anniversary on Monday, April 26, 10:30 a.m., at the Monument Park re-dedication. The schedule follows…
Children’s book author Jeanine Deas to hold book signing
WATERVILLE — Local children’s book author Jeanine Deas will be signing copies of her new book, Twinkle, Twinkle, Where You Are at an appearance at Retail Therapy Consignment Boutique, 270 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, on Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m…
Victor Grange to host drive-thru supper
FAIRFIELD — Victor Grange #56, in Fairfield Center, hosts a drive-through supper from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 24. The meal includes baked beans and hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, rolls or biscuits, desserts and (non-alcoholic) drinks. Cost is $10 per meal, with proceedings to be used for work on the Grange Hall…
Leadership luncheon to feature Dr. Khoury
UNITY — Enjoy a fabulous lunch and meet Dr. Melik Peter Khoury, president and CEO of Unity College (UC) on April 29, 2021 – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Amici’s Cucina~ 137 Main St., Waterville. He will share his vision for the future of the college, his notable leadership path and lifelong experiences that prepared him for his current position…
Auxiliary observes Military Child Month
MADISON — Members of the Madison American Legion Auxiliary wearing purple conducted the Military Child’s Table Setting Ceremony at their recent meeting. The potted flowering plant symbolizing that a military child may flower and flourish where they are planted…
Last chance to order Vidalia onions!
PALERMO — The April 25 deadline is approaching quickly to order and send your check in for Vidalia onions. These big beauties will arrive at the Palermo Community Center, right around Mothers Day…
Corpus Christi Parish announces changes to its Mass schedule
WATERVILLE/WINSLOW — Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Parish, which includes Notre Dame church, in Waterville, and St. John the Baptist church, in Winslow, has announced a change in its Mass schedule…
Art society exhibition and scholarship opportunity
WATERVILLE — The Waterville Area Art Society (WAAS) is celebrating 35 years with an art show that includes 150 pieces of art featuring 24 WAAS members. The majority of the show is exhibited at The Framemakers, in Waterville…
How to take the bite out of dog-related injuries
CENTRAL ME — With an estimated 90 million dogs living in U.S. households, accidents are bound to happen. Most dogs will never bite, but it is important to remember that any dog CAN bite regardless of breed or type…
Erskine Academy second trimester honor roll
CHINA — List of honor roll students at Erskine Academy in South China…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 3 (New)
MAINE HISTORY — Palermo had two Granges for which multiple records exist, and Milton Dowe found an earlier third one in his research for his 1954 History Town of Palermo. Dowe gives one paragraph to “Recreation Grange” – the quotation marks are his, and he did not add a number – in North Palermo, organized in 1875 and therefore among Maine’s first Granges… by Mary Grow [1969 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 2
MAINE HISTORY — The 1915 hall that serves Benton Grange No. 458 is one of 16 Maine Grange halls listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and one of two individually listed in Kennebec County. It was added to the register April 28, 2004… by Mary Grow [1640 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: The Grange – Part 1
MAINE HISTORY — The mother and father of all United States agricultural organization is the Grange, formally known as the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. The national Grange was organized in Washington, D. C., on Dec. 2, 1867, by a seven-person group headed by Oliver Hudson Kelley… by Mary Grow [1943 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture
MAINE HISTORY — By the 19th century, Maine farmers realized the benefits of organizing. Samuel L. Boardman, author of the agriculture chapter in Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history, wrote that the Waterville-based Kennebec Agricultural Society, founded in 1787, was the first such group in New England… by Mary Grow [1882 words]
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident…
Obituaries
WINDSOR – Elizabeth “Betty” Burgess, 82, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Born on June 27, 1938, she was predeceased by three older brothers, Harold, Warren and Palmer “Pinky” Porter… and remembering 8 others.
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Friday, May 7, 2021
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: Diane Gardner, Windsor.
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Beavers are the second-largest living rodents after the capybaras. We all know what a beaver looks like so I won’t go into any descriptions…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | A very good 1982 Philips cassette, Pops Around the World, features the Boston Pops under its former Music Director John Williams (1932-) playing seven Overtures – two from the U.S. and from Russia, and one each from France, Italy and Austria…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | Grab your coffee, wine, etc., and let’s chat. Let’s start with electric fryers. Do you have one? Please write and tell me how you got used to it. I could use all the help I can get. I killed the hamburgers tonight. It’s not fair to the meat. It already died once. I am certainly glad I wasn’t cooking for a guest tonight…
SOLON & BEYOND
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | This week, I finally went down to the Solon Town Office and picked up the papers for the Solon annual town meeting which was held on March 6. My apologies for being so late but the fall I took slowed me down a bit…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | The National Center for Health Statistics estimates 4 million babies will be born this year. If you’re having one of them, congratulations. If that one is causing you morning sickness, you’re far from alone—almost 80% of pregnant women suffer morning sickness at some point—and, fortunately, you can do something to ease it…