Issue for April 29, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Erskine cereal box challenge nets 3,544 boxes for local food pantries

Responding to a challenge issued by the Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) students of Cony High School, in Augusta, to their peers at Erskine Academy, in South China, the school exceeded the 1,000 box challenge, raising 3,544 boxes of cereal for its local food pantries…

Albion’s parade reminds us what’s important

When Jessica Norton felt ill late last month, her son Colbyn Cole’s inner superhero sprung into action bringing her whatever he thought would make her feel better… by Jeanne Marquis

Your Local News

Meeting generates questions on town committees funding

CHINA — China selectmen held April 26 public hearings on two pieces of the June 8 town business meeting warrant, the amendment to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Program that is Art. 16 and the warrant as a whole…

China Broadband Committee goal explained in document

CHINA — China Broadband Committee (CBC) members spent most of a two-hour April 22 meeting wordsmithing the document they plan to share with selectmen on April 29…

Selectmen to hold public hearing on marijuana ordinance

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro selectmen plan to hold a public hearing on the proposed Marijuana Business Ordinance at the beginning of their Thursday, April 29, meeting…

Solar power, marijuana top planners’ agenda

VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro Planning Board has a medical marijuana application and a solar power application on its May 4 agenda…

EVENTS: China School Forest work day set for May 8

CHINA — A work day has been scheduled at the China School Forest on Saturday, May 8, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and will be rain or shine. They will meet at the China Primary School bus circle. People can come for as long as they want…

EVENTS: Taste of Waterville: The show will go on with modified format and location

WATERVILLE — Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s 29th annual Taste of Waterville is planned for Wednesday, August 4, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Head of Falls, off Front Street, in downtown Waterville…

China Middle School honor roll

CHINA — List of honor roll students for China Middle School…

Carrabec High School third quarter honor roll

ANSON — List of honor roll students for Carrabec High School…

Vassalboro Community School honor roll

VASSALBORO — List of honor roll students for Vassalboro Community School…

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt

Item #2: A sales receipt dated April 27, 2021, or later from any business located in Vassalboro.

PHOTO: Moving up the ranks

CENTRAL ME — These students at Huard’s Martial Arts earned the rank of Blue Belt on April 24…

Annual St. Michael School and Travis Mills walk-a-thon returns

AUGUSTA — A labor of love and service at St. Michael School, in Augusta, will return next week after shifting to become a virtual event last year due to the pandemic…

Can I come home this year?

by Ralph Ashburn — It’s been a long, lonely, cold winter so I am really looking forward to coming home for the summer. But I’m not sure if traveling to Maine will be as bad as last year. As an old guy I spend time at my different kids’ homes, but love to spend summers at the camp…

Local children’s book author releases new book

WATERVILLE — In her new children’s book, Twinkle, Twinkle, Where You Are, Waterville-based children’s book author Jeanine Deas offers a comforting, reassuring message for children everywhere — one especially powerful as we all journey through the pandemic…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 4 (New)

MAINE HISTORY — Historical records show the Town of Vassalboro has had three separate Grange organizations, of which the newest, East Vassalboro, is still active in its 126th year… by Mary Grow and Bernie Welch [1371 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 3

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]

LETTERS: Puzzled over nursing home rules

from Frank Slason (Somerville) — I must preface this letter by stating that I realize nursing homes have one of the toughest jobs there is, and they must adhere to the CDC recommendations. But to us loved ones on the outside these rules are becoming much harder for us laymen to understand…

Webber’s Pond

Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers…

Obituaries

ALBION – John Robert Boivin, 58, passed away on Thursday, April 15, 2021. John was born September 18, 1962, in Man­chester, New Hamp­shire, to Paul and Edna (Gurney) Boivin… and remembering 11 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

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | The pumpkin bug, or squash bug, are also called stink bugs, but are not the traditional stink bug. Although some pumpkin bugs are called stink bugs, not all stink bugs are pumpkin bugs. If you ever spot a sizable green stink bug, there’s a good chance that it’s a pumpkin bug…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | When visiting at the Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab Center in March, I asked Donald Cote what we should submit for the April column. With no hesitation, whatsoever, Don said spring is the time to remind people that not all young animals that appear orphaned need rescuing…

POETRY CORNER

by Marilou Suchar | Did you ever taste the ocean?/Is it really salty brine?
Did you ever see a rainbow,/And wish it were all mine?…

MAINE MEMORIES

by Evangeline T. | This week, I have a fish tale for you. Hope you enjoy it! Every fisherman (or woman) has a tale to tell about the big fish that got away or the trips taken to catch fish in some far away river or lake…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | A June 11,1953, seven-inch RCA Victor 45 record – 47 5368 – features June Valli (1928-1993) singing Cryin’ In the Chapel, which reached #4 on the Billboard charts…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Some of these pieces you may know about and some you may be introduced to today. My hope is you find usefulness and hopefully a little humor, too, in what I am going to share with you. Most of this information is coming from the 2020 Farmer’s Almanac

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Here it is the last of April, time certainly flies! And this year Lief and I will be hurrying around delivering The Town Line papers in quite a few stores in Somerset County…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Over 70 million Baby Boomers grew up playing board games and watching game shows together—and they still love doing both. A new pop culture trivia game is taking Boomers on a nostalgic road trip back to the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s…