Issue for December 18, 2025
Office hours
The Town Line office will be closed the week of December 22, 2025, for the staff’s annual winter vacation. The office will re-open on Monday, December 29, at 9 a.m. Our apologies for any inconvenience.
Winslow’s new town manager: a connector with a heart for service
The new Winslow town manager has a simple rule: if you call, he calls back. “Listening is everything,” he says. “If you’re not listening, you’re not actually doing your job.” Winslow began a new chapter this fall with the arrival of Marc Amaral, the town’s newly-hired town manager. A Marine veteran with a deep background in public service, Amaral steps into the role with an emphasis on transparency, responsiveness, and community connection. “I pride myself on being a connector and not just somebody that picks sides,” he says. “I don’t think that’s the path forward. We progress by working together and not working against each other…” by Eric W. Austin
Town News
Planners continue talks on ordinance updates
CHINA – At a brief Dec. 9 meeting, China Planning Board members continued discussion of updating town ordinances, focusing on the Planning Board Ordinance and the Phosphorus Control Ordinance. Both are available on the town website, chinamaine.org…
Select Board discusses sanitary district
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members heard presentations on the sanitary district and on the budget process, and appointed a new sanitary district trustee, at their lengthy Dec. 11 meeting. Multiple other topics were discussed…
School board members hear about building renovations, and more; Superintendent to step down
VASSALBORO – At their Dec. 9 meeting, Vassalboro School Board members heard a presentation from Vassalboro Community School’s two counselors and an update on building renovations from Tom Seekins, president of Portland-based Energy Management Consultants (EMC)…
Planners OK lone application
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Planning Board members unanimously approved the one application on their Dec. 9 agenda before turning their attention to updating the town’s junkyard ordinance…
Trails committee reviews conditions of trails
VASSALBORO – At their Dec. 10 meeting, Vassalboro Trails Committee members reviewed the condition of the town’s public trails – generally satisfactory – and talked about expansions and improvements, in cooperation with other entities…
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 toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town!” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is January 7, 2026.
Local effort helps people “from away”
VASSALBORO – While working for the sixth season at Vassalboro’s Lemieux Orchards, Miquel’s home in the highlands of Jamaica, was crushed by flying trees and all of his family of six’s possessions were blown away by Hurricane Melissa…
Vassalboro American Legion prepares Christmas stockings for vets at Togus
VASSALBORO – On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, volunteers filled 320 Christmas stockings and Hanukkah dreidels with personal care products for Togus Veterans Outreach Programs. American Legion Post #126, in Vassalboro, thanks all those who made, donated, volunteered, and delivered the stockings and dreidels…
1-in-3 Mainers believe eggnog is ‘light beer’ strength
CENTRAL ME – Every December, Americans trade their usual drinks for something a little more “seasonal” – steaming mulled wines, cozy Irish coffees, spiked hot chocolates and candy-cane martinis that feel far more innocent than they are. But a new survey by Bisnar Chase, polling 2,002 adults (21+), reveals just how badly people underestimate the strength of these festive favorites…
Local happenings
EVENTS: ShineOnCass Blue Christmas invites community to remembrance ceremony on Winter Solstice
OAKLAND — The ShineOnCass Foundation will host its 5th Annual Blue Christmas Ceremony for grieving families and friends and those who support them on Sunday, December 21, at sunset, starting at 4 p.m., on the Winter Solstice – the longest and darkest night of the year…
EVENTS: Making music during the month of December
So.CHINA — Do you like to sing? Especially the memorable and special songs of the holidays? South China Community Church invites you to join them during the month of December! They’re providing several opportunities for singing and enjoying carols and music selections of the upcoming holiday season. You don’t have to be a church member or attendee – we just want to share the special music of Christmas with the community…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Toy drive in Madison
MADISON – American Legion Tardiff-Belanger Post #39 is hosting a toy drive for the Children’s Christmas Party. Drop off locations are Family Dollar, at 20 Old Point Ave., Madison; Madison Town Office during business hours, at 26 Weston Ave., Madison… and many other local events!
Obituaries
WINSLOW – Frances M. Plante, 100, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, in Augusta. Born in Benton on November 24, 1925, the daughter of John and Odila (Pouliot) Hebert…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China town reports – 1861-1906 (Part 2) (new)
CHINA HISTORY — The China reports between 1861 and 1906 that John Glowa donated and that started this subseries include more than the selectmen’s financial summaries described last week. There is also financial and other information from and about the town poor farm and other town boards…. by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China town reports – 1861 – 1906 (Part 1)
CHINA HISTORY — A China resident bought a bundle of old China town reports, which have fallen into your writer’s hands for her – and your – information and entertainment. Thank you, John Glowa! The earliest of the 21 reports (plus two duplicates) is for the municipal year 1860-1861, which ran from mid-March 1860, to mid-March 1861… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Last three Ballard children
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Last week’s article ended without finishing the story of Martha and Ephraim Ballard’s second son, Jonathan. When interrupted, he was living on his farm in the northern part of Augusta, on the road to Sidney, with his wife, Sarah “Sally” (Pierce), and an increasing number of children… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Martha’s children
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — This article continuing the Ballard family history will summarize information about three of Martha and Ephraim’s six children who lived to adulthood – space limits postpone the other three, and the end of Jonathan’s story, to next week. As related previously, three Ballard children died young, in a 1769 diphtheria epidemic in Oxford, Massachusetts… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
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: Anne Budris, Winslow
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Christmas is quickly sneaking up on us, and as everyone knows, it is the day that Santa Claus comes down the chimney bearing gifts. And, we also know, Santa arrives at your house in a sleigh powered by eight flying “reindeer.” So, what are reindeer?…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | Once seen almost exclusively at proms and weddings, orchids have become increasingly available as house plants and are popular gifts. This is because orchids are actually quite easy to care for in spite of their exotic appearance…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | One of my favorite stories is A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. How many other tales feature a miser, four ghosts, tombstones, and a goose?…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Gregg Smith (1930-2016) drew this chorus of 16 men and women from a Japanese Methodist church in Los Angeles in 1955. The Singers would go on to record albums of music by composers ranging from Stephen Foster to Igor Stravinsky…