Issue for December 7, 2023
Local scouts conduct drive to benefit area food pantries
Lord Robert Baden Powell, the founder of Scouting worldwide, said, “The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.” Scouting isn’t just about earning badges and recognitions. Scouting strives to prepare youth to become responsible, participating citizens and leaders who are guided by the values of Scout Oath and Law. Scout Leaders throughout Kennebec Valley District, try to foster in our Cubs and Scouts an attitude of service especially for those in their community who are struggling. That’s where the annual Scouting for Food Drive comes in… by Chuck Mahaleris
Town News
Select board discusses land use in town
CHINA – China select board members’ Dec. 4 meeting included two discussions related, in different ways, to land use in town, with a lot of unanimous votes on other topics in between…
Planners approve Novel Energy Systems for solar development
CHINA – At their Nov. 28 meeting, China planning board members unanimously approved Novel Energy Systems’ application for a solar development, probably a community solar farm, on the section of Parmenter Hill Road known as Moe’s Mountain…
Broadband group looks into expanded access
CHINA – The China Broadband Committee (CBC) will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in the portable building behind the China town office to talk about next steps to expand internet access, after being denied a Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) grant…
Auto junkyard permits approved by select board
VASSALBORO – The two Vassalboro select board members at the Nov. 30 meeting approved six 2024 auto junkyard permits, after a public hearing that drew no comments…
LETTERS: Select board urged to reach agreement about trash
from Pat Clark (Palermo) – I’m writing in support of Gary Mazoki’s points published in The Town Line issue of November 23. 2023, on the possibility of Palermo losing access to the China Transfer station because of a couple of unresolved issues. Losing this access would place a huge burden on our citizens, especially the elderly and unwell as they would likely have to travel a much greater distance to dispose of their waste, incurring fuel cost and time lost…
Submit a name to The Remembrance Tree
CENTRAL ME – Help The Town Line decorate the tree and at the same time remember loved ones. For only $10 a ball, you can commemorate loved ones who have passed. Deadline is Friday, December 16, 2023. The completed tree will be published in the December 21 issue…
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: “It’s not a tumor!” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is January 4, 2023…
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
Community Garden gives back
PALERMO – Although 350 pounds of vegetables may not sound like a lot, the fact that most of these freshly-picked, organic veggies are greens that do not weigh a lot translates into loads of nutrition for people in our communities… by Connie Bellet
Local scout leaders attend training session
VASSALBORO – On Sunday, November 19, Vassalboro Cub Scout Pack #410 hosted adult Scout leader training at Thomas College, in Waterville, for leaders from the local pack and from Farmington’s Pack #585… by Chuck Mahaleris
Albion scout earns Eagle rank
ALBION – Nicholas Donald Choate, of Albion and China, member of China Troop #479, accomplished something less than four percent of all Scouts achieve. On Sunday, November 19, 2023, Nick received the Eagle Scout rank during a ceremony at the China Masonic Lodge and also the Bronze Palm for earning five additional merit badges beyond those required…
Vassalboro Community School first quarter honor roll
VASSALBORO – List of honor roll students at Vassalboro Community School…
Carrabec High School 1st quarter honor roll
No.ANSON – List of honor roll students at Carrabec High School…
Sarah Rodrigue named to Husson University Online’s President’s List
CORNVILLE – Sarah Rodrigue, of Cornville, has been named to Husson University Online’s President’s List for Term 1 of the 2023-2024 academic year, in Bangor…
Tell us about your family Christmas tradition. Send your memories to townline@townline.org
Local happenings
Enjoy a wonderful “Reverse Advent Calendar” … as you help food-insecure neighbors
WINSLOW – Throughout the centuries, families at Christmastime have delighted in their Advent Calendar. Now you can use your “Reverse Advent Calendar” to give back to your community – feed and love food-insecure children, seniors, and adults in Central Maine – and share the many blessings of the holiday season with others…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Maine-ly Harmony to present holiday concert
RANDOLPH – Maine-ly Harmony barbershop chorus’ upcoming holiday performances, singing a treasury of songs of the season. Peace on Earth will be held at the Randolph United Methodist Church, 16 Asbury Street, Randolph, on Sunday, December 10, at 2 p.m….. and many other local events!
Obituaries
SIDNEY – Harry “Bill” Brunelle, 58, passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Bill was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on January 27,1965, the son of Roger and Dorothy Drouin… and remembering 12 others.
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Dams and Mills (new)
VASSALBORO HISTORY — The list of old dams on China Lake’s Outlet Stream started last week with dams in Vassalboro, as far downstream as the North Vassalboro dams described below… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Vassalboro dams
VASSALBORO HISTORY — As last week’s article on the Masse family suggested, from the late 1700s through the 1800s central Kennebec Valley entrepreneurs dammed streams and rivers to provide water power for industry… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Louis Masse
VASSALBORO HISTORY — When Louis Masse’s name appeared in last week’s article on the Starrett family of China, knowledgeable Vassalboro residents might have been surprised. They thought he was theirs, founder of the family that owned and ran the Masse mill on the Masse dam, in East Vassalboro… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Starrett family of China
CHINA HISTORY — Two weeks ago, this series featured China-born inventor Laroy Sunderland Starrett. As suggested in that story, he was a member of a large family with generations of China connections. This article will provide information about Laroy Starrett’s family… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, December 14, 2023
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: Shirley Kinney, Augusta
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Growing up in the 1950s and ‘60s, we used to watch Saturday morning cartoons, after we finally got a TV in 1958. We also saw them at the State Theater during Saturday kids’ shows. One of my favorite characters was Mighty Mouse, and how he would always get the better of Sylvester, the cat. Well, for some reason, this year, for the first time in the 47 years my wife and I have lived in our current home, we are experiencing a showdown with house mice…
THE BEST VIEW
by Norma Best Boucher | Fall isn’t a date on my calendar, the lowering of the outside temperature, nor the coloring of leaves. Fall is the day I buy my heirloom pale blue Jarrahdale pumpkin. I didn’t start out being highfalutin….
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | I recently viewed a 2012 movie, Killing Them Softly, starring Brad Pitt as a gangland enforcer, James Gandolfini as a Mafia hitman and Ray Liotta as the host for a mob protected high stakes polka game, with a very good supporting cast…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) — The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for most people, the holiday season is definitely not the jolliest time of the year. Young people in particular find the holidays stressful: A Healthline survey found that 65 percent of Gen Z were stressed out by the holiday season, a higher number than either millennials or Boomers…