Issue for August 8, 2024
Cassidy’s birthday book drive to support Local Little Libraries
ShineOnCass Foundation invites the community to join “Cassidy’s Birthday Book Drive” to help shine a light on childhood literacy and inspire reading. The ShineOnCass Foundation, named and created in memory of Cassidy Charette, will collect children’s books during the month of August to help fill the shelves of local Little Free Libraries…
Learn about the art of rug hooking at Chapman-Hall House
Textile artist Kathie Hills will demonstrate and discuss the art and craft of hooking rugs at the historic Chapman-Hall House, on Sunday, August 11, from noon to 4 p.m. Her demonstration is free and open to the public…
Town News
Planners have new mass gathering ordinance ready for select board
CHINA – China Planning Board members decided at their July 30 meeting that they have a proposed new town ordinance ready to forward to select board members…
TIF committee discusses third amendment to program
CHINA – Three members of China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee discussed the third amendment to the town’s TIF program, which they intend to ask the select board to present to voters at the Nov. 5 local election…
Board rules they have no jurisdiction on appeal
VASSALBORO – Three members of the Vassalboro Board of Appeals found they lacked jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a June 4 planning board decision….
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…
LETTERS: Meyer connects with community
from Kristi Philbrook (Belfast) – I’m thrilled to endorse Robert Meyer for State Senate! I’ve witnessed his efforts to connect with our community, truly understanding the people he aims to represent. His kindness, humility, and genuineness are evident in every interaction, especially when he speaks about his family…
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)…
Albion Eagle Scouts
ALBION – The town of Albion is celebrating its bicentennial this year with alumni gatherings, a frying pan throwing contest, parade, fun run and plenty of food. Among the festivities and pageantry, residents and guests are learning more about what makes their community special and of her rich history… by Chuck Mahaleris
New Dimensions FCU voted a Forbes America’s best in-state credit union
WATERVILLE – New Dimensions has been awarded on the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2024. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced on June 18, 2024, and can be viewed on the Forbes website…
PHOTO: Summer beauty
So.CHINA – Emily and James Poulin, of South China, photographed this female black swallowtail butterfly…
POEM: Ode to Albion
ALBION – Kristin Frangoulis was honored when asked to write a poem to celebrate Albion’s 200th birthday. This is what she authored…
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 27, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym…
TEAM PHOTO: PAL football camp senior group
FAIRFIELD – Lawrence High School Varsity Coach John Hersom and his high school players volunteer to run a three-day camp, July 30 – August 1, for youth football players to inspire a love of football…
TEAM PHOTO: PAL football camp junior group
FAIRFIELD – 2024 Annual Junior PAL Football Camp…junior camp PAL players: ages 8-10…
Jeff Beyea named to spring 2024 deans’ list
WHITEFIELD – Jeff Beyea, of Whitefield, has been named to the spring 2024 dean’s list at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Cambelle Nutting graduates from Saint Michael’s College
VASSALBORO – Cambelle Nutting, of Vassalboro, graduated from Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester, Vermont, in May 2024. Nutting graduated with a degree in business administration and gender and sexuality studies.
Addison Wing receives Elmira College Key Award
SIDNEY – Addison Wing, of Sidney, received the Elmira College Key Award for academic and community leadership, in Elmira, New York. A tradition that goes back to 1935, the EC Key Award is presented to outstanding students in their junior year of high school or preparatory school.
Local happenings
EVENTS: China Community Days schedule of events Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4
CHINA – Schedule for China Community Days this weekend!…
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
CLINTON – Victoria Robertson Winsor, 66, passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2024. Vic was born on August 12, 1957, and was raised in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. She graduated from East Bridgewater High School in 1975…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley – Bacon families: Sidney early settlers (new)
SIDNEY HISTORY — Among early settlers in Sidney against whose lives your writer brushed while trying unsuccessfully to learn why someone chose to name the town after a long-dead Englishman were the Bacon, Faught, Lovejoy, Marsh and Snow families… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Sidney
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
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 | Last week, a friend of mine texted me with the photo of a cricket-like bug for identification. Before I could get back to him, he ID it as a katydid. A few days later, I saw one hanging on the screen door at camp. It had been a while since I had seen one…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Recording producer Eli Oberstein (1901-1960) was mentioned some months ago in a column about early 78 and LP budget labels. Oberstein had worked for Victor during the 1930s and helped start its 35 cent Bluebird label with country music artists and then bandleaders Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw, which was hugely successful when 78s cost a dollar or more…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | I will try to get a couple things answered this week. I am getting slower in my old age and VA is becoming more complicated than it used to be. Remember, what I share with you is my opinion based upon my research and that which has worked for me and veterans I have worked with overtime…
Harvest and enjoy garden-fresh cucumbers
by Melinda Myers | Low in calories and versatile, cucumbers can flavor beverages, perk up a salad, served as a snack, or made into pickles. This popular vegetable is a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin K. Plus, they have a high water content, making them a mild diuretic to help in weight loss and reduce blood pressure. To ensure the best flavor and greatest nutritional value, grow your own or purchase cucumbers fresh from the farmer’s market…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | Obesity is a life-long health problem that affects more than 42% of American adults. Most people don’t know that obesity is a disease and impacts some ethnic and racial groups more than others, including 47% of Hispanic American adults…