Issue for April 8, 2021
Hussey’s General Store: The history of a humble country business
It was the late 1960s and Elwin Hussey was sleeping on the floor of Hussey’s General Store, armed with a shotgun. Frustrated with the lack of progress by police after a spate of recent break-ins, Hussey decided to take matters into his own hands. He began driving home in the evenings and walking back up to the store in an effort to catch the perpetrators in the act… by Eric W. Austin [1511 words]
Your Local News
China Broadband Committee rearranges future schedule
CHINA — With four of China’s five selectmen joining their April 1 virtual meeting, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members rearranged their future schedule and discussed what might be good news…
Vidalia onions returning as community center fundraiser
PALERMO — Covid may have cancelled last year’s fundraiser, but the Palermo Community Center is back in action, selling 25-pound boxes of fresh, sweet Vidalia onions from Georgia…
School board fails to finalize budget proposal
VASSALBORO — Meeting March 30, Vassalboro School Board members were still unable to come up with a final 2021-22 budget proposal. They intended to try again Tuesday evening, April 6…
Selectmen, school committee suggest compactor supplement at transfer station
VASSALBORO — The transfer station was again the major topic as Vassalboro selectmen and budget committee members met sequentially at Vassalboro Community School the evening of April 1…
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…
Soup & Biscuit fundraiser coming to Winslow Congregational Church
WINSLOW — Get ready to enjoy a “soup-er” flavorful take-out lunch, brimming with your choice of mouth-watering soup, a homemade biscuit, and cookies! On Saturday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Winslow Congregational Church…
2021 Ice Out winner
CHINA — The Town Line’s official ice out judge has ruled that ice went out of China Lake on March 30. Therefore, Tricia Rumney, of China Village, has been declared the winner of the $25 gift certificate to North Country Harley-Davidson, on Rte. 3, in Augusta…
Watershed Based Management plan in the works for North Pond, part 1
submitted by Jodie Mosher-Towle — The North Pond Association (NPA) recently hired Jennifer Jespersen, owner of Ecological Instincts (EcoInstincts), to prepare a grant on the association’s behalf to help fund a Watershed Based Management Plan (WBMP)…
Waterville Rotary club wraps up successful grant program for food insecurity
WATERVILLE — In keeping with one of its goals, Waterville Rotary Club board voted recently to take $15,000 out of its reserves to offer grants addressing food insecurity in the greater Waterville area…
PHOTOS: Cub Scouts learn about police forensics
AUGUSTA — Maine State Police Detective Hugh Landry was the guest at Augusta Cub Scout Pack #684, and showed the Cub Scouts how to get fingerprinted and spoke with them about forensics…
PHOTO: Waiting for the change
WATERVILLE — Central Maine Youth Hockey player Jamie Laliberty, 9, of Waterville, waits for the next line change during the last game of the season against the Gladiators on March 20…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: The Grange – Part 1 (New)
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]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Livestock
MAINE HISTORY — Besides crops, the other major facet of agriculture is livestock. For early Kennebec Valley settlers, cattle, a term that includes milk-producers, meat-producers and draft animals, were especially important… by Mary Grow [2052 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: 18th & 19th century agriculture
CHINA HISTORY — The third farm property in the area this series covers that is on the National Register of Historic Places is in China. The Edmund and Rachel Clark Homestead is on the west side of China Lake… by Mary Grow [1871 words]
Become a member: An open letter to our readers
Dear Reader: For the past 33 years, The Town Line has pledged a mission statement to “create a vibrant rural community connecting our towns, organizations and individuals through communication, education and public dialogue.” It’s all part of The Town Line’s mission to be a positive force in our community…
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident…
Obituaries
WASHINGTON – Gwenith Neal Gee, 91, passed away Thursday, March 25, 2021, at Pen Bay following a period of declining health. She was born October 19, 1929 in Dexter, to Joel Neal and Doris Martin Neal; she was the youngest child… and remembering 5 others.
2020-’21 Real Estate Tax Due Dates
Real Estate tax due dates for the following towns: CHINA, VASSALBORO, WATERVILLE and WINDSOR…
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Friday, April 9, 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: Thomas Doherty, South China.
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Porcupines. Nuisance, or ecological necessity? It all depends with whom you talk. I know some people who are overrun by the animals to the point where they are raiding the gardens, and having to deal with their dogs being injured by porcupine quills due mostly to their own curiosity. While others find a use for them…
POETRY CORNER
by Marilou Suchar | The farm was old –
I stood, and mused
So many families
Was well used…
GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
by Dan Beaulieu | No matter what your customers ask, always find a way to help them. If they ask for something that you don’t normally do, then find a way to do it. IF it is a service that you don’t or cannot possibly do then find someone who can provide that service and either partner with them to provide your customer what she needs or introduce them to the customers…
MAINE MEMORIES
by Evangeline T. | Hello and welcome to Maine Memories, little snippets of life from our home state. For this installment, I have a story about my dad as a youngster and one memorable day when he fed the pigs. He sure learned a lesson! I’d been born in my grandparents’ large farm house, and as a young girl, I’d spend a week or two with them each summer. I loved it there…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Continuing the weekly series of paragraphs from Robert P. Tristram Coffin’s essay Kennebec Crystals: “Then a sharp blue wind came up out of the northwest, the mercury in the thermometers tumbled…”
SOLON & BEYOND
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Received the following email from Carol Dolan and my many thanks for this recent news ! She wrote; I’ve been asked to circulate the following from the New Portland Library Cutest Pet contest…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | That’s right. Since my granddaughter told us she was pregnant with a baby girl due in May 2020 the memories have taken over. I have experienced so many different memories. These memories include the little heart tugs and the laughs and there have been many…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | If you ever have trouble seeing your way clear to getting your eyes checked, here’s a case to consider: Genida White could tell her vision was gradually getting worse, but she rationalized away the need to see an ophthalmologist…