Entries by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Immigrants

by Mary Grow Middle Easterners, Waterville, & Irish, Augusta The French-Canadians and the Irish were not the only groups coming to the central Kennebec Valley from other countries. Stephen Plocher wrote in his Waterville history (found on line) that in the 1860s, people he called “Syrian-Lebanese” from Syria (Lebanon and Syria were French mandates until […]

Vassalboro school board chairman stepping down

by Mary Grow VASSALBORO, ME — The May 17 Vassalboro School Board meeting was Chairman Kevin Levasseur’s last, after 21 years on the board, and was marked by expressions of appreciation on both sides. Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer and board members thanked Levasseur for his service, and Pfeiffer assured those present that, “I still know where […]

CHINA: Committee will not recommend new storage building

by Mary Grow CHINA, ME — China Transfer Station Committee members decided at their May 17 meeting they will not recommend a new building to shelter the second compactor just north of the main trash hopper, because cost estimates are too high. Instead, they plan to investigate a cover to protect the controls and container […]

China select board moves to purchase new loader

by Mary Grow CHINA, ME — After a long discussion at their May 23 meeting, China Select Board members unanimously voted to buy a new Volvo loader from Chadwick-BaRoss, Inc., of Westbrook. Director of Public Services Shawn Reed urged them to make an immediate decision. Prices are rising weekly, he said; if board members put […]

CHINA: Road paving plan to use chip seal process

by Mary Grow CHINA, ME — China Director of Public Services Shawn Reed has consensus support from the town Road Committee for his paving plans for this summer, which involve extensive use of chip seal rather than asphalt resurfacing (see The Town Line, May 12, p. 2). Reed and Doug Fowler, representing All States Construction, […]