Issue for February 10, 2022
A Valentine story: What makes a marriage last for over 50 years
When I popped over to the China Baptist Church to ask Pastor Ron Morrell if he was willing to do an interview, there he was having lunch with his wife Linda in his book-filled office, enjoying each others’ company and taking a pause on a busy day to be together. That scene alone spoke volumes. The three of us sat down for an interview two days later to hear about their journey of a 58-year marriage and what they felt makes it successful… by Jeanne Marquis
Your Local News
Planners approve three applications
VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Planning Board members unanimously approved three applications on their Feb. 1 agenda, none intended to create environmental changes…
Fairfield woman celebrates 100th birthday
FAIRFIELD – Gladys Benner, a resident of Fairfield and shared over 50 years with her now deceased husband, Harlan (Bud) Benner, celebrated her 100th birthday on February 5, 2022. She has two children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She had worked at the creamery, in Fairfield, when first moving to Fairfield…
Healing waters pool nears goal to open facility in Augusta
AUGUSTA – When Susanne Bouchard came to Maine from Germany in 1984, she was surprised there weren’t more warm water pools or spas like she had seen in Europe. If she can raise $300,000, that will soon change…
OPINIONS: Reduce Maine’s carbon footprint by restoring rails
from John D. Koons – Let’s restore the existing rail right-of-way from Brunswick to Bangor and power rail service with now-available battery or hydrogen-fueled equipment. Rail advocacy groups such as Trainridersne.org and Mainerailgroup.org have soldiered on for years largely out of the public eye with the hope of restoring efficient rail service on existing rail right of ways. Now is the time to take action…
Name that film!
Identify the film in which this line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville: “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is March 4, 2022…
Oak Grove School Foundation offers grants
CENTRAL ME – The Oak Grove School Foundation is accepting applications for grants to support the education and cultural needs of students and nonprofit organizations in the greater Central Maine area…
Endicott College announces local dean’s list students
PALERMO/SIDNEY – The following students have met these requirements: Alana York, of Palermo, majoring in business management, is the daughter of Cheryl York and Andrew York. Kristen Dube, of Sidney, majoring in nursing, is the daughter of Sarah Dube and Robert Dube…
Local residents receive academic honors
AUGUSTA/CHELSEA – The following local students were recently named to Northeastern University’s dean’s list for the Fall semester, which ended in December 2021: Augusta resident Mandy Cooper, majoring in business administration; Augusta resident Lauren Murray, majoring in economics; Chelsea resident Michael Nicholas, majoring in mechanical engineering/physics…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 6 (new)
MAINE HISTORY — War of 1812: The end of the American Revolution did not end enmity between Britain and its former colonies. They fought one more war, the War of 1812 (June 18, 1812 – Feb. 18, 1815). Even after that war, the border between the United States and British Canada remained partly unsettled until the Oregon Treaty of June 15, 1846… by Mary Grow [2014 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 5
PALERMO/SIDNEY/VASSALBORO HISTORY — Palermo, Sidney and Vassalboro, like the central Kennebec cities and towns in the previous two articles in this series, had Revolutionary War veterans among their early settlers. In Milton Dowe’s Palermo history, he identified Isaac Worthen (March 4, 1762 – March 1, 1841; later the name became Worthing), one of two brothers who moved to Palermo (then Great Pond Settlement) from New Hampshire, as a “hero of the Revolution”… by Mary Grow [1987 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 4
ALBION/CHINA/CLINTON/FAIRFIELD HISTORY — Ruby Crosby Wiggin wrote that town and state records and cemetery headstones identify more than a dozen Albion residents who were Revolutionary War veterans. Two, Francis Lovejoy and John Leonard, were among early settlers. Rev. Francis Lovejoy, grandfather of Elijah Parish Lovejoy, was in Albion by 1790. Wiggin found that he served initially in “Colonel Baldwin’s regiment” and later re-enlisted to fill the quota from his then home town, Amherst, Massachusetts… by Mary Grow [1896 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 3
WATERVILLE & AUGUSTA HISTORY — After the Revolutionary War, the demobilization of the army increased the population of the Kennebec Valley. This article and the following will describe some of the Revolutionary veterans who became part of local history, chosen more or less randomly. A visit to old cemeteries in area towns would undoubtedly add more names… by Mary Grow [1917 words]
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Albion Book Club
ALBION — The Albion Public Library Book Club meets from 6:30 – 8 p.m., on the last Wednesday of the month. The Book for February is Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward. Other books that will be read are World Made by Hand, by James Howard Kunstler and Dangerous New World: Maine Voices on the Climate Crisis… and many other events!
Obituaries
CHINA – Ghislaine “Jackie” Noella Fecteau, 84, passed away peacefully at her home in China, on Friday, January 28, 2022. Ghislaine was born on December 8, 1937, in St. Come de Beauce, Québec, Canada, to Joseph and Imelda Lessard… and remembering 13 others.
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | A black cat crossing your path; walking under a ladder; breaking a mirror: take your pick of long-standing superstitions. Most of us have some kind of superstition, although some don’t want to admit it. But I’m getting ahead of myself…
MY POINT OF VIEW
by Gary Kennedy | When we think of Valentine’s Day we think of sweethearts, roses and candies. For most of us it implies love and how we can show it, thus the beauty and the sweets. Some people display this special day in other ways such as, Rose Day, Propose Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day and ends on February 14 as Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s week is the most celebrated love week of the year…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Japanese conductor Takashi Asahina (1908-2001) achieved renown in his native country throughout most of his lifetime but was little known elsewhere until the early 1990s when he was 85…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | Since I grew up right over the hill from Winnecook Lake/Unity Pond it seemed like I was attracted to it in all seasons. I grew up with a bit of a cocky, self-assured attitude when it came to that lake. It seemed like I was born knowing how to swim. I was always in a debate with mom and dad about the lake and it would usually end with “Because I Said So”…
SOLON & BEYOND
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | This week I’m going to use a April 1, 2020, that was in The Town Line called, “The time I let Percy write the column in my absence. Now I would like to thank Roland from the bottom of my heart, for leaving Percy’s picture beside mine on our column; for all these years. For those of you who don’t know, Percy died quite a few years ago, and I still miss him every day, he was a very remarkable animal…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI)—Exercising with a personal trainer has transformed from a luxury amenity into a highly effective lifestyle routine in many people’s health and fitness journeys. One reason may be that, according to a recent report by International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), a global health and fitness association, 83 percent of consumers who exercise in-person with a personal trainer are on track to meet their fitness goals…