Issue for August 21, 2025
China special town meeting to consider Old Rte. 202 issue
On Monday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m., China holds a special, open town meeting in the town office meeting room. After electing a moderator, voters will discuss and approve or reject two actions proposed by the select board, as follows:
— Approving the board’s Aug. 11 Order of Discontinuance of a Public Easement for Old Route 202, at 1380 Lakeview Drive, paying nothing in damages for the action; and
— Giving to The Landing, LLC, the restaurant at the address, “whatever interest it [the town] has (if any),” in adjacent property. … by Mary Grow
Town News
Select board recommends setting tax rate at 11.74 mils
VASSALBORO – The two Vassalboro select board members present at the Aug. 12 meeting (Michael Poulin was absent) have recommended setting the town’s 2025-26 tax rate at 11.74 mils, or $11.74 for each $1,000 of property valuation. The figure is the middle one of three options recommended by the town’s assessor, who will now set the rate as recommended, Town Manager Aaron Miller said…
Nomination papers still available for Nov. 4
CHINA – On Nov. 4, China voters will decide two elections, choosing three members of the select board for two-year terms and one representative to the Regional School Unit (RSU) #18 board of directors for a three-year term…
Webber Pond Fishway update
VASSALBORO – The Webber Pond Fishway upgrade is now well underway. Excavation has begun at the stream side (entrance) to the fishway, and concrete pours began on August 18. Sandbags have also been placed at the lake side (exit) of the fishway, to manage water as excavation works its way up in that direction. Construction is proceeding as planned, and in-water work should be completed no later than September 30, as scheduled… by Matt Streeter
OPINIONS: Don’t let them give away old Rte. 202
from Carrol White (China resident) — The people of China, and indeed all citizens of Maine, should be alarmed: the Town of China is considering giving away the abandoned section of Old Route 202 “free and clear” to The Landing, LLC. But here is the truth the town cannot ignore – China does not own this road and therefore has no right to give it away…
LETTERS: China Area Golden Agers
from Sheldon Goodine (China resident) — The China Area Golden Agers has no structured organization or agenda. We do what gives us enjoyment and have a good time with neighbors and friends. If we had a product it would be laughter. Laughter is great medicine. During our Wednesday meetings we have lots of fun and our troubles and cares are put aside for a short time…
Army Reserve ambassador for Maine receives public service decoration
AUGUSTA — U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador Jeffrey Morton, of Augusta, received the Patriotic Public Service Award July 17 during an annual training workshop held at 99th Readiness Division headquarters, at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The award was presented by Maj. Gen. Kris A. Belanger, former 99th RD commanding general…
Oak Grove stained glass restored and replaced
VASSALBORO — The Oak Grove School Foundation and the Friends of the River Meeting House are pleased to announce the return of two large stained glass windows. They were removed from the historic Oak Grove Chapel/River Meeting House, in Vassalboro, in March for repairs. The windows were installed around 1895, and over the years, gravity, old lead and the weight of the glass caused serious buckling and gaps between some of the glass pieces…
PHOTO: The finishing touch
WINSLOW — Tyler Fisher, 12, of Winslow adding the final touch on the roof at Mini Fenway, in Oakland. (Photo by Central Maine Photography.)
Rotary Noon Club of Waterville installs new officers
WATERVILLE — Michele Prince, of Winslow, was installed as president of the Rotary Club of Waterville during the club’s meeting on June 29, 2025, at the Best Western Plus, in Waterville. Tina Chapman was also installed as the Club Secretary, and Sarah Wadick will continue to serve as Treasurer…
PHOTO: School supplies
OAKLAND — Christine Meader, Ed Tech at Williams Elementary School, in Oakland, standing next to donations collected by Bonnie Vigue Audet, at American Legion Decker-Simmons Legion Post #51, Oakland. If you are interested in donating, donations are still being accepted, you can contact Bonnie at the American Legion, 207-465-2446.
Thomas Gage earns rank of Eagle Scout
CANAAN — Thomas Gage, son of Donald and Marcy Gage of Canaan, received Scouting America’s highest honor, the Eagle Scout medal- during a ceremony on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at the American Legion Post #16… by Chuck Mahaleris
Local hospital and police department prepare for chemical decontamination response with training exercise
PITTSFIELD — Recently, Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital staff and the Pittsfield Police Department trained on setting up a chemical exposure decontamination tent and stations, such as triage and staging area, at the hospital located in Pittsfield. Emergency preparedness is critical for staff to coordinate responses and to improve skills and familiarity with equipment and procedures so that they are not attempting something new during the stress of an emergency…
AARP Celebrates 90 years of Social Security
CENTRAL ME — Ninety years ago today, the Social Security Act was signed into law, marking a watershed moment for our country by providing American workers with a foundation for their financial security and dignity in retirement…
Teens to Trails welcomes new executive director
BRUNSWICK — Teens to Trails is pleased to announce the appointment of Nate Snow as its new Executive Director. Snow brings three decades of experience in youth development and outdoor education to the organization dedicated to connecting Maine students with transformative outdoor experiences…
Local students graduate from Plymouth State U.
CENTRAL ME — Plymouth State University, in Plymouth, New Hampshire, congratulates more than 650 students who received their academic degrees on Friday-Saturday, May 9-10, 2025, at the Bank of New Hampshire. They include Dylan Flewelling, of Oakland, graduated Summa Cum Laudewith a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Physiology. Riley Johnson, of Windsor, graduated Summa Cum Laudewith a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Courtney Peabody, of Solon, graduated Magna Cum Laudewith a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, and Abigail Sewall, of Jefferson, graduated Magna Cum Laudewith a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
James Smith graduates from Stonehill College
SIDNEY — James Smith, of Sidney, was one of 614 students to process at Stonehill College’s 74th commencement, held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Easton, Massachusetts.
Cassondra Heath named to Commonwealth University’s dean’s list
LIBERTY — Commonwealth University congratulates Cassondra Heath, of Liberty, for being named to the Spring 2025 dean’s list at the CU-Mansfield campus.
Laurel Dorr elected into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
FAIRFIELD — Laurel Dorr, of Fairfield, was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at University of Maine.
Griffin Brown named to The College of Charleston president’s list
OAKLAND — Griffin Brown, of Oakland, was named to the College of Charleston Spring 2025 President’s List, in Charleston, South Carolina. Brown is majoring in Mathematics and Physics.
Local students named to Stonehill College’s dean’s list
OAKLAND — Stonehill College, in Easton, Massachusetts, is pleased to recognize the students named to the Spring 2025 dean’s list. They include James Smith, of Sidney, and Jasmyne Mills, of Augusta.
Local student named to dean’s list
MERCER — Isabella McGlashing, of Mercer, has been named to the 2025 Emmanuel College dean’s list, in Boston, Massacshuetts. McGlashing is majoring in Psychology – Counseling & Health Psychology at Emmanuel.
Dean’s list honors announced at Tufts University
CENTRAL ME — Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts, recently announced the dean’s list for the spring 2025 semester. It includes Cole Bazakas, Class of 2027, of Waterville, Samuel Goldey, Class of 2028, of Augusta, and Bella Wallingford, Class of 2026, of Oakland.
Students graduate from Bates College
CENTRAL ME — At its 159th Commencement on May 25, 2025, Bates College, in Lewiston, celebrated 504 members of its Class of 2025. Included were Jamil Mouehla, of Augusta, and Sophie Wheeler, of Skowhegan.
Local happenings
EVENTS: Erskine Academy to host new student orientation
CHINA — All incoming freshmen or new students and their parents are invited to attend the Erskine Academy New Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 26, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym. The administration strongly encourages all incoming students to attend this event as it is an opportunity to become better acquainted with the faculty, facilities, and programs at Erskine. The first day of school for freshmen only will be Wednesday, August 27…
EVENTS: Messalonskee girls soccer plans annual mentoring day
OAKLAND — Messalonskee High School Girls Soccer and the ShineOnCass Foundation will host its 10th annual girls’ youth mentoring day “ShineOn Saturday” September 13, from noon to 2 p.m., on the Messalonskee High School Grass Soccer Field, in Oakland. The event is held to honor former Messalonskee soccer player and youth mentor Cassidy Charette, who died in a hayride accident October 11, 2014…
EVENTS: Cassidy’s birthday book drive promotes reading
CENTRAL ME — ShineOnCass Foundation invites the community to join “Cassidy’s Birthday Board Book Drive” to help shine a light on childhood literacy and inspire early reading. The ShineOnCass Foundation, named and created in memory of Cassidy Charette, will collect children’s board books during the month of August to help fill the shelves of ShineOnCass Lending Libraries and local Little Free Libraries. Volunteers will deliver donated books on what would be Cassidy’s 28th birthday on August 31…
EVENTS: Great Carrying Place
CENTRAL ME — This year commemorates the 250th anniversary of Benedict Arnold’s march through the Maine wilderness in an attempt to capture Québec. To honor this daring journey, the Arnold Expedition Historical Society (AEHS) is offering three guided hikes along a section of the Arnold Trail to Québec, known as the “Great Carrying Place Portage Trail,” retracing the steps of Arnold’s 1,000-man army, on Saturday, August 16; Saturday, September 27; and Saturday, October 18, 2025…
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: “I’ll be back.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is September 4, 2025.
An open letter to our readers
At The Town Line, we aren’t just reporting news—we’re telling the stories that shape our community. Written by locals, for locals, our paper reflects the heart and soul of central Maine. We exist because of you, our readers and local businesses, and we believe that when our community thrives, so does The Town Line. But times are tough for local newspapers. In fact, since 2005, one-quarter of U.S. newspapers have shut down, and experts predict that a third will be gone by 2025. Local papers like The Town Line—dedicated to covering the unique issues in our rural towns—are feeling this strain the hardest…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Film, A Place at the Table, to show in Vassalboro
VASSALBORO – Documentary film, A Place at the Table, about Food Insecurity in the USA , followed by three speakers from local groups who provide food programs for our residents. Friday, August 22, 6 p.m., film at the Vassalboro Grange, 353 Main St., Vassalboro… and many other local events!
Obituaries
FAIRFIELD – Dolan D. Peters, 79, passed away at home on Thursday, August 7, 2025, following a long battle with Parkinson’s and Cancer. Dolan was born on April 16, 1946, to David and Dora (Guite) Peters…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Revolution effects (new)
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — The American colonies’ war for independence from Great Britain had only limited effects in the central Kennebec Valley. With one important exception (to be described in September), no Revolutionary “event” occurred in this part of Maine. No battles between armies were fought here, although there were some between neighbors and, most likely, among family members… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Amy Morris Bradley
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — In her Vassalboro history, Alma Pierce Robbins introduced her readers to one of the town’s nationally-known residents, Amy Morris Bradley. Robbins’ focus was on Bradley’s role in nursing during the Civil War; other sources add information about her career in public education… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Women doctors in central Kennebec Valley
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — In the course of collecting information on the doctors included in last week’s article about the central Kennebec Valley (and other places), your writer reviewed lists in Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history and Rev. Edwin Carey Whittemore’s Waterville history… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Doctors Pulsifer
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — While wondering what new subject might keep readers – and writer — interested, your writer glanced at random pages in randomly-chosen history books. A warning: what she found does not remain in the central Kennebec Valley. Her eyes fell on Dr. Nathan Goldsmith Howard Pulsifer… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, September 11, 2025
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: Mary Alice Boxall, Augusta
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | The University of Maine and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) have confirmed the presence of an invasive Asian longhorned tick in the state for the first time…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | Many of us are now beginning to experience a tsunami of tomatoes, beans are still producing, and at last, sweet corn! At the same time some garden vegetables have peaked and there may be openings for some fall crops….
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | I am always the optimist. I say a prayer every night and every morning asking for the new day to be a blessing to family, friends and especially we veterans in need. With the new government, draining the swamp and all the talk about the love for America’s veterans I have been expecting the VA system to make rapid, direly needed improvements, in so many ways. Perhaps I am just not patient enough. I do hope that is the case. However, I can only go by what I see and hear and that my brothers and sisters are not very positive…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Moisevitch had a very playful type of piano artistry and joy in the pieces he chose to perform. The Weber Invitation has always been loved for its graceful opening depiction of somebody being asked to danced and then the jubilant dizzying waltz itself. Whether in this solo piano original scoring of Carl Maria von Weber or the brilliant orchestration of the genius father of 19th century romanticism, Hector Berlioz, it has a timeless beauty and charm…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | Not long ago I saw a survey that said people are more outspoken than they used to be. So last month — accompanied by a recorder, my friend George and his dog Gopher — we conducted our very own poll…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | As the school bells begin to ring and kids head back, millions of moms are excited to get a chance to get back to self-care. They spend the summer caring for the kids and everything else on their plate, leaving them feeling they have very little time for self-care. August is becoming the new self-care season for moms, as the kids head off to school, giving them plenty of time to prioritize themselves…