Issue for August 12, 2021
Two community leaders at Purnell Wrigley Field kicked off the 2021, 11-year-old New England Cal Ripken Baseball championship on July 16-18
Alfond Youth and Community Center CEO Ken Walsh and 82-year-old Francis Purnell, 40-plus years involvement with Waterville Little League, were on hand to begin the 2021 11-year-old Cal Ripken New England tournament, held in Waterville over the weekend of July 16. Purnell still keeps up with the youngsters with his pride and support. He fell in love with his first encounter with Little League as a coach to his son… by Mark Huard
Your Local News
Selectmen make appointments; Sean Teekema named transfer station supervisor
WINDSOR — At the July 6 meeting of the Windsor selectmen, Town Manager Theresa Haskell reported that June revenues were down from this time last year, with $620.41. However, the total amount for the year was up $12,043.44, for a total 2020/2021 year to date income of $71,007.86. Haskell noted that $65,000 was budgeted…
Planners approve dam removal; extend permit for solar work
VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Planning Board members approved both items on their Aug. 3 agenda. The major one was an application from landowner Linda Butterfield and the Maine Rivers organization to remove the Morneau Dam on Outlet Stream and replace the nearby Mineral Springs Road bridge…
Money theme of selectmen’s meeting
CHINA — Money was the theme for many of the topics at the China selectmen’s Aug. 2 meeting – quite a lot of money, much of it potentially outgoing. The China Broadband Committee’s planned request for a bond issue of around $6 million is the biggest proposed expenditure…
CBC revises documents to present to selectmen
CHINA — At their first in-person meeting Aug. 5, after months of zooming, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members spent almost three hours revising documents they intend to present at the Aug. 16 selectboard meeting…
Palermo Community Foundation: Nonprofit Spotlight
PALERMO — Originally known as the Palermo Community Foundation, the organization was chartered in 1996 by a group of friends led by John Potter, Jim Osier, Dennis Sturgis, Ted Bigos, Mike McCarty, Eben Bradstreet, and Herb Flint. Their plan was to serve the needs of the community by providing a building for local groups to meet, learn, share ideas and talent, and to create a more sustainable community… submitted by Connie Bellet
China Community Food Pantry: Nonprofit Spotlight
CHINA — Nearly 30 years ago, Lee and Ann Austin founded the China Community Food Pantry with one goal in mind: to help reduce food insecurity in central Maine. The couple had owned and operated the Willow Beach Camps Resort on China Lake for more than a decade, and after closing the establishment, they were looking for a way to give back to a community that had been so supportive of them over the years… by Eric W. Austin
Second vaccines available in China
CHINA — People who got their first Covid-19 vaccination at the pop-up clinic in China on Saturday, July 24, are reminded to return for a second shot on Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 8 to 9 a.m., at the same site, the portable building behind the town office…
Vassalboro Library to host animal events
VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro Public Library will be sponsoring two popular live animal events in Vassalboro as a part of their end of summer reading. Families from surrounding communities are invited to attend. This event is free for all ages with donations welcomed…
China to hold WindowDressers workshop this fall
CHINA — The China for a Lifetime Committee is busy planning for a WindowDressers workshop that will take place this November 3 – 7. The initiative is a volunteer-led, “barn-raising” effort to construct low-cost “window inserts” to reduce residential energy bills…
Webber Pond Association Annual Meeting
Saturday, August 14
10 a.m.
Vassalboro Community School
Mid-Maine Big Brothers Big Sisters receive grant to launch “Bigs with Badges” in Augusta
CENTRAL ME — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine has received a generous $30,000 Innovation Grant from United Way of Kennebec Valley (UWKV) to help launch a new program linking local law enforcement one-to-one with Augusta youth…
Maritime Energy president, Susan Ware Page, nominated for NEFI Legends Award
CENTRAL ME — The National Energy & Fuels Institute (NEFI) announced its slate of Legends Award honorees to pay tribute to energy industry leaders in each state for 2021…
Mid-Maine Chamber announces scholarship winner
WATERVILLE — Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce announces the 2021 Joseph B. Ezhaya scholarship winner. Zoey Trussel, of Waterville, has been selected as the scholarship recipient from a field of applicants…
Palermo VFD receives gift from women’s extension group
PALERMO — On Thursday, July 15, 2021, at the July Palermo selectmen’s meeting, a check for $800 was presented to the Palermo Volunteer Fire Department Chief Roger Kormandt, by the Palermo Women’s Extension Group, to be used for much needed equipment/materials…
Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #17:
A golf ball with a “Natanis Golf Course” logo printed on it.
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Samuel F. Smith – Composer of America (new)
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Samuel Francis Smith (Oct. 21, 1808 – Nov. 16, 1895) is best known as the man who in 1831 wrote America, also called My Country ‘Tis of Thee. The song was one of the United States’ unofficial national anthems, especially popular during the Civil War as “a rallying hymn for the north”… by Mary Grow [1850 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Churches – Part 6
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — The Asa Bates Memorial Chapel, also called the Ten Lots Chapel, in the southwestern part of Fairfield, was built between 1916 and 1918 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on Oct. 31, 2002… by Mary Grow [2189 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Coburn Classical Institute
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — The school that in 1883 became Coburn Classical Institute started in 1821 as the first of what later became four (according to Ernest Cummings Marriner) or five (according to an anonymous website author) college preparatory schools (also called grammar schools, academies, or institutes) associated with what is now Colby College… by Mary Grow [3828 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Oak Grove School
VASSALBORO HISTORY — We now digress – for a change – from descriptions of churches on the National Register of Historic Places to the Oak Grove School, because of its association with the Sophia D. Bailey Chapel discussed last week (and also known as the Oak Grove Chapel)…. by Mary Grow [1801 words]
Lake Association Annual Meetings 2021
CENTRAL ME — Listing of local area Lake Association meetings. (To include your town in this listing, please email us at townline@townline.org)…
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
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…
Obituaries
VASSALBORO – Geri Lynn Richards, 50, passed away in her home on Tuesday July 27, 2021. She was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts, on August 2, 1970, the daughter of Sophie Prentiss and Eugene Bowdoin… and remembering 9 others.
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Friday, September 10, 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: Ben Pinette, Sidney.
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | It’s that time of the year again when snapping turtles appear everywhere to lay their eggs. Just this past week I have seen at least a half dozen snappers on the side of the road; saw one person stop to help it across the road, and I myself have done it once on the Nelson Road, in Vassalboro…
GARDEN WORKS
by Emily Cates | With all the buzz about unsafe food, who isn’t sick of the risks? Let’s face it, we all have to eat! And no one wants to eat in a bubble. Life without good food is like a sky without birds. So what can we do to make sure what we eat is safe? How can we see to it that we make it from the dinner table to good health, yet enjoy the enchanting tastes and aromas of delicious food?…
MAINE MEMORIES
by Evangeline T. | This week, I want to tell you about my name. When my mother was in grade school, she was required to read the story of Evangeline. Then and there, she decided that if she ever had a daughter, Evangeline would be her name. Well, guess what! I’m her daughter, not so young or little anymore. But it’s me…
FINANCIAL FOCUS
by Sasha Fitzpatrick | If you’ve heard of 529 plans, you might think they can only be used to help pay for college. And you wouldn’t be alone: Less than one-third of adults properly identified that a 529 plan can be used for more than just higher education, according to a survey by Morning Consult and Edward Jones. But what are these other expenses?…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Although she has not yet set foot in the United States, Moldavian violinist Valeria Zorina has concertized extensively in England and Europe to tremendous and deserved acclaim…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | I decided to have some fun tonight. I get curious about “sayings”. I am going to share some southern sayings. When I moved to Florida one of my treats was hearing these sayings. How about…
SOLON & BEYOND
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy | As I promised last week, this will be the conclusion to the story about Uncle Jack’s revenge that began in last week’s paper. The story ended with these words: “This must have been what angered the Great Spirit, because the next morning the white woman was found in a state of shock, the wigwarm burned to the ground and Uncle Jack was gone…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | Over 1.8 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer every year according to the American Cancer Society. If you or someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer you may be relieved to know there are techniques available that can improve your likelihood of response and survival by using your cancer cells to select the most effective drugs before you receive them…