Issue for August 1, 2024
Cruisin’ for a Cure car show raises over $21,000 for Maine Children’s Cancer program
The 10th Annual Cruisin’ for A Cure Car Show, hosted by New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, on June 1, 2024, was a huge success! Held at the Robert LaFleur Airport, the event saw 168 car owners and enthusiasts as well as hundreds of spectators come together for a day filled with classic cars and community spirit, all in support of a great cause…
Unique Hawai’ian public supper at Vassalboro Methodist Church
The Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC) monthly public supper is taking a twist on Saturday, August 17, from their traditional menu. One of the organizers, Simone Antworth said, “We had been thinking for some time about offering pulled pork as an alternative and when we realized that Hawai’i is celebrating 65 years of statehood in August we decided to honor Hawai’i by offering some of their traditional foods this time”…
Town News
First responders receive $17,500 grant from blue ribbon commission
VASSALBORO – Money was a major theme at the July 25 Vassalboro select board meeting, and for once, some was coming in instead of going out….
Planners OK water district shoreland zoning permit in 15 minutes
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Planning Board members needed only a quarter-hour-long July 23 meeting to approve the Kennebec Water District’s application for a shoreland zoning permit on Outlet Stream near the KWD plant on Route 32…
Town revaluation puts property values near 100 percent
CHINA – China select board members heard information at their July 29 meeting that they hope will let them set the 2024-25 local tax rate at their Aug. 12 meeting…
LETTERS: Will not seek re-election
from Janet Preston (China Select Board) – I would like to thank the residents of China for supporting me over the last five years in my role on the select board. I have learned a lot about local government and have enjoyed representing your interests. However, I will not be seeking another term. Nomination papers are now available for the November election at the Town Office, and I encourage you to get involved and run for my spot. It’s time for some new faces…
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: “A man’s got to know his limitations.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is August 8, 2024.
Webber’s Pond comic
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by a local central Maine resident (click on the thumbnail to enlarge)…
AYCC holds first summer camp games
WATERVILLE – The Inaugural Summer Camp Olympics 2024 event held , Friday, July 26, was fantastic, according to Ken Walsh, chief executive officer, at the Alfond Youth and Community Center, in Waterville…
China Historical Society Museum open to public Saturday during China Community Days
CHINA – To help promote this year’s China Days celebration, the China Historical Society’s Museum will be open for exploration on Saturday, August 3, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This facility, located in the old town hall, on Lakeview Drive, contains for the present time the society’s collection of artifacts, documents and memorabilia…
Local happenings
EVENTS: China Community Days schedule of events Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4
CHINA – Schedule for China Community Days this weekend!…
EVENTS: Windsor Fair set for Aug. 24 – Sept. 2
WINDSOR – Maine’s second largest agricultural fair will be offering harness racing, Rockwell Amusements Midway, exhibition hall, historical museum, livestock, demo derbies, truck/tractor/livestock pull events, live music, agricultural education and more…
EVENTS: Sidney Masons to hold annual pig roast
SIDNEY – The Ancient Free and Accepted Masons invite the public to their third annual “Pig Roast”. Last year’s event was met with such enthusiasm; they decided to repeat this year. Rural Lodge #53, of Sidney, was established in 1827 and has always maintained a strong community presence…
EVENTS: Kennebec Land Trust hosts annual celebration of land conservation
CENTRAL ME – Join the Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) to celebrate another successful year of advancing land conservation throughout the Kennebec River and Lakes Region! Founded in 1988, KLT has conserved over 7,700 acres and constructed more than 58 miles of trails on KLT lands…
EVENTS: A Capital Read gets underway in Augusta
AUGUSTA – The Friends of Lithgow Library are happy to announce that our 2024 A Capital Read selection is Tess Gerritsen’s The Spy Coast. A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller in Gerritsen’s latest book…
EVENTS: Food, Fun, and Friends meet at the community cookout
PALERMO – The fun begins at 4 p.m., on Saturday, August 3, at 26 Veterans Way, in Palermo, as people gather for a celebration of summer in the Palermo Community Garden behind the gray mobile home…
EVENTS: “No Spring Chickens” & prizes at Democratic lobster bake
WALDOBORO – “No Spring Chickens” – Two chicks with guitars, dynamic vocals, and lush harmonies” – will provide music during the Lincoln County Democratic Committee (LCDC) Family Fun Day Lobster Bake on Sunday, Aug. 4, in Waldoboro…
EVENTS: 53rd annual blueberry festival set for Aug. 10
WINSLOW – One of Maine’s all-time most popular, beloved, and downright yummy summer events – Winslow’s annual Blueberry Festival – is coming this year on Saturday, August 10, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., to Winslow Congregational Church, 12 Lithgow Street, Winslow. Admission to the festival grounds is FREE…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Annual chicken BBQ, rummage sale in So. China
So.CHINA – The South China Community Church, 246 Village St., in South China, will be having their annual chicken BBQ on Saturday, August 10, from 11 a.m. until they run out. The menu includes chicken, beans, coleslaw, potato salad, pickles and a roll for $12. To pre-order, call Darlene at 717-682-8364. Rummage sale and the Cookie Walk will run from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m… and many other local events!
Obituaries
CHINA – Dominque Madeline Andrews, 23, passed away suddenly of natural causes on July 22, 2024 at home. She was born November 23, 2000, a daughter of Richard L. Andrews Jr. and Michelle M. (Qualey) Andrews…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Sidney (new)
SIDNEY HISTORY — The town on the west bank of the Kennebec River south of Waterville that is now Sidney began as part of Vassalboro, the town on the east bank… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville
WATERVILLE HISTORY — Waterville, now a city, started as the part of Winslow on the west bank of the Kennebec River. In the 1902 centennial history, editor and writer Edwin Carey Whittemore traced Winslow/ Waterville’s origin from Native American settlements onward… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Fairfield
FAIRFIELD HISTORY — This article brings readers to Fairfield, northernmost of the four municipalities in this series on the west bank of the Kennebec River. Fairfield is across the river from Benton and Clinton. Fairfield is one of the two towns in the series outside Kennebec County; it is far enough north to be in Somerset County… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Albion
ALBION HISTORY — Of the town and city names your writer has explored in this subseries, none has yet been as frustrating as the Town of Albion. Sources agree on names and dates. In 1802, Freetown Plantation was incorporated, including most of present-day Albion and the northern end of what is now the separate town of China… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, August 15, 2024
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: Nancy Marston, Weeks Mills
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | For some reason, this summer, I am getting more and more questions about poison ivy. Where is it? What does it look like? What do you do about it and how do you treat it?…
THE BEST VIEW
by Norma Best Boucher | “Hey, great shoes!” I hear a man yell across the convenience store parking lot. “Thanks!” I answer loudly as I look around for the person with the compliment…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | First I will apologize to our readers as I had promised to continue my VA series but for some reason I have misplaced two articles. I will start today by briefly defining some of the questions asked of me and then elaborate on a particular issue. We can do this each week. Thousands of subscribers read this column so I am very sure we are bound to eventually cross paths with your question…
SMALL SPACE GARDENING
by Melinda Myers | There never seems to be enough room for all the plants you want to grow. If space allows, create new garden beds to expand your planting space and increase the beauty of your landscape…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | You generally won’t need to see your doctor to be diagnosed with a poison ivy rash. If you go to a clinic, your doctor will likely diagnose your rash by looking at it. You usually won’t need further testing…