Issue for February 23, 2023

Celebrating 34 years of local news

KVYSO a hidden gem in central Maine

“I think of it as a hidden gem in central Maine,” says board president Stephanie Taylor, about the Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras (KVYSO), an independent nonprofit formed in 2018 as an outgrowth of the Pineland Suzuki School of music, in Manchester. The initiative was an effort to bring the string musicians of the Suzuki School together with local students of wind, brass and percussion instruments for a full orchestral experience… by Eric W. Austin

Town News

Planning board holds workshop on land use ordinance

CHINA – After the China select board held a Feb. 13 public hearing on proposed amendments to the Board of Appeals Ordinance and invited members of the planning and appeals boards to participate, planning board members devoted their Feb. 14 meeting to a workshop on the ordinance…

Thurston Park committee talks mostly about money

CHINA – At a Feb. 16 meeting, five members of China’s Thurston Park Committee talked mostly about money to repair and improve the entrance road and trails and add amenities…

School board discusses various topics

VASSALBORO – Vassalboro school board members discussed various topics at their Feb. 14 meeting, excluding the 2023-24 budget. The budget will be the topic of a Tuesday, March 7, workshop, set to begin at 5:30 p.m. instead of the usual 6 p.m. at Vassalboro Community School (VCS)…

Planners approve re-use of country store

VASSALBORO – At their Feb. 7 meeting, Vassalboro Planning Board members approved reuse of the East Vassalboro Country Store; continued discussion of the proposed solar ordinance; postponed two applications on their agenda because applicants were not present; and rejected an unusual request to pre-approve a new business…

Sen. Pouliot visits with select board

VASSALBORO – District #15 State Senator Matthew Pouliot visited the Vassalboro select board’s Feb. 16 meeting to speak briefly about legislative issues and to ask what’s important to Vassalboro officials and residents…

Local happenings

China 2023 Ice Fishing Derby winners

CHINA – List of prize winners and prizes from the recent 2023 China ice fishing derby…

Foundation receives Bigos donation

PALERMO – The Living Communities Foundation has received a generous donation of $3,000 from Michael Bigos, son of Ted and Jeanne Bigos, of Palermo…

Eldon McLean presented with Boston Post Cane

NORTH ANSON – Eldon McLean, 93, was honored as the oldest resident of North Anson by the presentation of the ceremonial Boston Post Cane by Anson Historical Society, at the Anson Town Office, on February 9, 2023…

Drive Fore Kids charity golf tourney to see celebrities coming to Maine

CENTRAL ME – World class golf will return to Maine this summer as the first annual Drive Fore Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament brings a star-studded field to the Falmouth Country Club…

Maine Catholic youth raise nearly $14,000 in “Souper” Bowl of Caring

CENTRAL ME – In addition to Super Bowl Sunday parties and gatherings, young Catholics from around Maine had more reason to celebrate on Sunday, February 12: a wildly successful “Souper” Bowl of Caring…

Northern Light welcomes Dominique Uva

WATERVILLE – Northern Light Inland Hospital welcomes Dominique Uva, FNP-C, family nurse practitioner, to Northern Light Endocrinology and Diabetes Care, in Waterville…

New provider welcomed at Northern Light Primary Care in Oakland

OAKLAND – Northern Light Inland Hospital is pleased to welcome Stephanie Plasse, DNP, FNP-C, family nurse practitioner, to Northern Light Primary Care, in Oakland…

Purdue Global partnering with Northern Light Inland Hospital

WATERVILLE – A new partnership between the Purdue Global School of Nursing and Northern Light Inland Hospital will create a more efficient and innovative learning model that meets the needs of Purdue Global students, Inland Hospital staff and the community…

Northern Light Vascular Care welcomes Mark Bolduc, MD

WATERVILLE – Northern Light Vascular Care, in Waterville, welcomes Mark Bolduc, MD, a highly skilled vascular surgeon to the team. Dr. Bolduc also sees patients and performs surgeries at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital, in Pittsfield…

New mental health provider welcomed to Unity practice

UNITY – Northern Light Primary Care in Unity welcomes Jennifer Turner, LMSW-CC, a licensed master social worker, to the team. Jennifer was the Unity practice manager for the past five years and has transitioned into this new role. Jennifer has been with Northern Light Inland Hospital for 21 years…

Matthew Burnham joins Rizzo Mattson, REALTORS® as an agent

CENTRAL ME – Matthew Burnham, a lifelong resident of the Boothbay Region who served as a lobsterman for 17 years while also building and remodeling homes, has joined Augusta-based Rizzo Mattson, REALTORS® as a sales agent…

Name that film!

Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville: “Go ahead, make my day.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is March 9, 2023…

SCHOOL NEWS

Allison Pease awarded Leon A. Gorman scholarship

CENTRAL ME – Among the 2022 Leon A. Gorman Scholars recipients was Allison Pease, of Belgrade, studying as a physical therapist assistant, at Kennebec Valley Community College, in Fairfield…

SNHU announces summer ‘22 president’s list

CENTRAL ME – Kate Murphy and Justin Drescher, both of Augusta, Matthew Bandyk, of Jefferson, Merval Porter, of Palermo, Lisa Johnson, of South China, Lacey York, of China, Lilly Reardon, of Benton, Jeffery Wheeler and Brendon Peace, both of Waterville, Talon Mosher, of Winslow, Jacob Colson, of Albion, Carrie Stackpole, of Clinton, Stormy Wentworth, of Fairfield, Glenn Rich and Mariah Rich, both of Madison, and Kassandra Grant, of Vassalboro…

SNHU announces fall 2022 dean’s list

CENTRAL ME – Those attaining dean’s list status are Brandon Stinson, of Augusta; Jessica Autieri, of South China; Patric Moore, of Waterville; Crystal Hillman, of Fairfield; and Petra Sullivan, of Vassalboro…

Endicott College announces local dean’s list students

CENTRAL ME – The following students have met these requirements: Emily Clark, of China, daughter of Stacy Clark and Christopher Clark, is majoring in nursing; and Hunter Scholz, of Augusta, son of Kimberly Scholz and Stephen Scholz, is majoring in history…

Local students on Cedarville dean’s honor list

CENTRAL ME – Earning honors were Catherine Estes, of Sidney, and Rebecca Riley, of Chelsea…

Western New England University announces fall 2022 president’s list

CENTRAL ME – Those included Kasen Sirois, of Sidney, working toward a BA in Communication/Media & Journalism., and Andrew Mayo, of Sidney, who is working toward a BSE in Civil Engineering…

York County Community College announces fall 2022 honors

CENTRAL ME – York County Community College, in Wells, recognizes students each semester for their outstanding academic achievements. They include: Lorenna Ambrose, of Chelsea, part-time dean’s list; Michaela Bisson, of Winslow, dean’s list; and Ella Buck, of Sidney, part-time dean’s list…

Allen named to dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester at Quinnipiac University

WINDSOR – Annemarie Allen, of Windsor, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester at Quinnipiac University, in Hamden, Connecticut…

FICTION: The House, part 5: A Clean Slate

Dave, with Jake’s assistance, measured out the smaller second floor room. Since the room had been made smaller than the other rooms due to the fact that a half bathroom was constructed from one of the large bedrooms, Jake and Miri had decided that it would be the perfect size for storage of linens, towels and other sundry items when the house would be turned into the Bed and Breakfast… by Peg Pellerin

LETTERS: AARP wants to hear from you

CENTRAL ME – Do you ever get the feeling that no one’s really listening to you? Well, that’s about to change… from Carl M. Toney, P.A. Executive Council Volunteer (AARP Maine)

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Augusta families – Part 3 (new)

AUGUSTA HISTORY – Daniel Cony (Aug. 3, 1752 – Jan. 21, 1842) has been mentioned in previous articles in this series in various contexts, including as the founder of Augusta’s Cony Female Academy and the man after whom Cony High School is named… by Mary Grow [2162 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Early Augusta Families – Part 2

AUGUSTA HISTORY – Last week readers met James Howard, one of the first settlers at Cushnoc (which became Hallowell, which divided into Hallowell and Augusta) and some of his family members; and your writer promised information on other pre-Augusta settlers, Ephraim Ballard, Daniel Cony and Henry Sewall… by Mary Grow [1758 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Early Augusta Families – Part 1

AUGUSTA HISTORY – The three people whose diaries Charles Nash excerpted in his 1904 Augusta history, and who provided old weather records for last week’s article, were members of some of the first families to settle in the area. Martha Ballard came to Hallowell in October 1777, two years after her husband Ephraim brought his surveying business to the area. Henry Sewall came “after the Revolution,” Daniel Cony in 1778… by Mary Grow [1985 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Weather events

KENNEBEC VALLEY HISTORY – James North and Ruby Crosby Wiggin, quoted last week, were not the only local historians to mention the Year without a Summer. And 1816 was not the only unusually cold spell – though it was the longest spell of (fairly) consistently cold weather – recorded in the central Kennebec Valley since the settlers’ arrival… by Mary Grow [1846 words]

Listing of local town meetings

CENTRAL ME — Listing of 2023 local town meetings in central Maine. To have your town listed, please email us at townline@townline.org…

2022-’23 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Real estate tax due dates for the towns of Albion, China, Fairfield, Oakland, Palermo, Sidney, Vassalboro, Waterville, Windsor and Winslow…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Hazardous waste take back rescheduled

CHINA — The household hazardous waste take-back day at the China transfer station has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 22, instead of April 15, as previously planned… and many other local events!

Obituaries

WATERVILLE – Sister Joyce, formerly known as Sr. Ann Patrick, 86, died on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Mount Joseph, Waterville, following a long journey with dementia. She was in her 66th year as a Sister of St. Joseph of Lyon… and remembering 2 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 8, 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: Ann Budris, Winslow

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | My wife purchased a new bird feeder for our home. The old one had kind of played out its time. They hadn’t had one for a while, so I was curious to see how long it would take for them to find this one. So, while standing at the kitchen window, keeping vigilance, I started thinking. Oh, oh, that means trouble…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | As a follow-up to last month’s article about the flying squirrel at Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center, I wanted to share some information I found from my on-line research. January’s column included a general overview from articles written by Carleen Cote several years ago, but I was curious about their habitat, diet, family structure, etc…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Lewiston-born writer Margaret Dickson published a 1985 novel, Octavia’s Hill, which follows four generations of a family, and from which a chapter was anthologized in the book, Maine Speaks

LIFE ON THE PLAINS

by Roland D. Hallee | This photo revisits the layout of the Plains in the 1950s…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | If your family is like most, you spend more time inside when it’s cold and dark outside. On the one hand, that can make this a great time for enjoying baking, reading, board games, movies, and so on together. On the other hand, you’re also all breathing in what could be poor-quality indoor air…