Issue for January 15, 2026
Raising funds for Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital
The Albert S. Hall School Civil Rights Team, in Waterville, is working to raise money for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. They will use the money to buy toys, movies, and games from the hospital’s wish list. They chose this charity because some of the students had been there themselves and/or had family members who had been there…
Two area martial arts students capture state titles
Huard’s Martial Arts student Kate Shores, 14, of Benton, recently captured both the divisional and state championship titles for forms, weapons and fighting…Huard’s Martial Arts student Isabella Citro, 17, of Waterville, captured the State Karate Championship Title for 2025…
Town News
Select board postpones action on cemetery mowing, kayak kiosk
CHINA – China select board members began their Jan. 12 meeting with a moment of silence in honor of the late Donald Pauley, whose many contributions to the town included service on what was then called the board of selectmen…
Select board remembers former colleague
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members Frederick “Rick” Denico, Jr., and Chris French began their Jan. 8 meeting with a moment of silence in honor of their former colleague, Michael Poulin, who died at the end of 2025…
Planners review building permit ordinance
VASSALBORO – With no applications on their Jan. 6 agenda, Vassalboro Planning board members reviewed proposed changes to the town’s Building Permit Ordinance, drafted by Codes Enforcement Officer Eric Currie. The ordinance is on the town website, vassalboro.net; it was last amended in June 2018…
LETTERS: Looking into rural postal delivery dilemma
from Rep. Katrina J. Smith (Palermo) — I am writing to you today as a State Representative of District #62, Palermo, China, Somerville, Windsor, and Hibberts Gore, to express deep concern over the ongoing challenges faced by the United States Postal Service in delivering reliable mail service not only in my district but throughout rural areas of Maine…
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.
Real estate outlook for 2026: why experience matters
CENTRAL ME – As we look ahead to 2026, the real estate market is expected to continue shifting toward a more balanced and strategic environment. While the rapid price increases of recent years have begun to level out, demand for well-priced, well-presented homes remains strong-especially in desirable communities across Central Maine… by Donna Pinkham
Dr. Alane O’Connor to be inducted into Maine Women’s Hall of Fame
CENTRAL ME – The 2026 inductees to the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame will be Dr. Alane O’Connor, Director of Perinatal Addiction Medicine at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center who has been in the forefront of addiction medicine in the state…
St. Michael School announces establishment of M. Brenda Shaw endowment fund
AUGUSTA – St. Michael School is pleased to announce the establishment of the M. Brenda Shaw Endowment Fund at the Catholic Foundation of Maine. Ms. Shaw, an Augusta native, bequeathed $2.9 million to the school upon her passing in August 2025…
SNHU announces Fall 2025 President’s List
CENTRAL ME – Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in Manchester, New Hampshire, announces the following area students being named to the Fall 2025 President’s List. The fall terms run from September to December…
SNHU announces Fall 2025 dean’s list
CENTRAL ME – Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in Manchester, New Hampshire, congratulates the following students on being named to the Fall 2025 dean’s list. The fall terms run from September to December…
Local happenings
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…
EVENTS: Chamber to sponsor Maine Civics Bee
WATERVILLE — In 2026, the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce will host the first-ever Maine State Civics Bee, taking place at Colby College, in Waterville. This event is part of a nationwide initiative happening in all 50 states and is designed to celebrate and strengthen civic knowledge among middle school students as the country enters the 250th anniversary of the United States…
EVENTS: Skijor coming to Bangor in January
BANGOR — Saturday, January 31, find your way to an exciting day of skijor at the Hollywood Casino Raceway, in Bangor. Skijoring is an exhilarating winter sport in which a horse and rider tows a skier or snowboarder who navigates 1,000 feet down a track of gates, jumps and collects rings along the way as fast as they can…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Online Winter Lecture series returns with talk on Maine’s WWII service members
LINCOLN COUNTY – The Lincoln County Historical Association’s popular Online Winter Lecture Series returns on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., featuring author and historian Aimee Fogg. This free online lecture is open to the public, with advance registration required to receive the participation link… and many other local events!
Obituaries
PALERMO – Miriam Althea Keller, 79, of Palermo, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at the Maine Veterans Home. Miriam was born on January 21, 1946, in Vassalboro….
PHOTOS: Birds of a feather: Surviving the winter
Bird photos by local photographers Joan Chaffee and Jayne Winters…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture – Intro to a new subtopic (new)
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
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China town reports – Part 4
CHINA HISTORY — The warrant for the March 19, 1900, China town meeting, printed at the end of the 1899-1900 town report, had 27 articles. The first 14 were elections of town officials (done in a single article in March 1897, readers may remember from last week). Selectmen, town clerk, treasurer and others were unquestioned, but voters decided whether to elect a superintendent of schools or a road commissioner before choosing someone for either position… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China town reports – 1861-1906 (Part 3)
CHINA HISTORY — A separate account for “Militia” appears in the financial sections of the 1863 and 1864 town reports. The cost reported March 10, 1863, was $14,556.64, almost twice the town’s available resources. The selectmen borrowed money… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China town reports – 1861-1906 (Part 2)
CHINA HISTORY — The China reports between 1861 and 1906 that John Glowa donated and that started this subseries include more than the selectmen’s financial summaries described last week. There is also financial and other information from and about the town poor farm and other town boards…. by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, January 14, 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: Anne Budris, Winslow
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Just the other day a friend told me she thought robins went south for the winter. That is the common thought. The American robin is a migratory songbird. While robins occasionally overwinter in the northern United States and southern Canada, most migrate to Florida and the Gulf Coast to central Mexico…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | Maybe you already have a few pots of herbs on a kitchen window or other bright spot. If not, consider adding some as a way to add some color to the house and meals with some favorite herbs. You can buy a kit for this little garden. Kits may include everything: little pots, seeds, planting mix, a tray to prevent spills, even lights…
AARP OUTREACH
by Jane Margesson | With the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature now underway, AARP Maine announces its 2026 legislative agenda which includes strengthening caregiver support resources in Maine, as well as a focus on fair and affordable utility rates…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | A 1905 twenty five volume set, Masterpieces of Eloquence, contains a May, 1812, speech from Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) which conveys a certain megalomaniacal arrogance as his armies were rampaging Central and Eastern Europe already on their way to Moscow…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | I just talked to an old friend who told me it is very cold in his town. He wonders what he can do for fun in icy conditions. Well, it is cold because it is winter. If it were hot, we would worry that there’s a hole in the ozone layer. But the ozone layer is invisible, so it would be hard to find the hole…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | Pregnancy is more than preparing for delivery; it also offers the first opportunity to protect your baby’s health. Maternal vaccines—including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), flu, Tdap, and COVID-19 – not only help protect you from severe disease, they also help your body create immunity that is passed on to your baby…