Issue for January 13, 2022
Santa drops in at local dojo
Santa and Mrs. Claus made a surprise visit to Huard’s Martial Arts, in Winslow, on Wednesday December 22… Photos by Mark Huard
Fairfield’s Cops Care for Kids Christmas program completes 15 years
The Cops Care for Kids Christmas Program was started 15 years ago by Kingston Paul, of the Fairfield Police Department, to help create a positive relationship between the children of the community and the police officers at the department. What started out as delivering one stuffed animal with a Christmas tag to 40 kids has grown into delivering three small gifts along with their signature stuffed animal and tag to over 250 children… by Mark Huard
Your Local News
Board rules Priest Hill Rd. church is a dangerous building
VASSALBORO — Chad Caron told Vassalboro selectmen many residents would like to see the former Methodist Church on Priest Hill Road in North Vassalboro restored, not demolished. Some, he said, have helped him as he works on the dilapidated building…
WINDOR: Short, routine agenda at select board meeting
WINDSOR — Town Manager Theresa Haskell reported receiving a letter from Spectrum Generations asking if their letter to the town, requesting funding for an outside agency, could be included in the town report. Haskell suggested possibly putting the letter on the town’s website under Resident’s Services for outside agencies, so other letters can be displayed also…
CBC: seven possible sources for expanded service
CHINA — China Broadband Committee (CBC) members have a list of seven possible sources for expanded and improved broadband service to all town residents…
Erskine Parent/Teacher conferences slated for Jan. 19
CHINA — Erskine Academy has scheduled Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, January 19, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. (snow date will be Thursday, January 20)…
OPINIONS – A letter to Sen. Susan Collins: Is there a cynical plan to bankrupt USPS?
from Eugene Bryant (Palermo) — First, thanks to you and your staff for your onging service in these difficult times. Considering everything else that’s been going on, I’m writing about a somewhat less dramatic issue, the United States Postal Service. One of the charges I heard leveled against you in the last election was that you had sponsored or supported the bill that mandates the USPS fund, in just a few years, the full retirement and health insurance costs for its employees out for an incredibly long period – is it 70 years?
CNA training offered by Northern Light
PITTSFIELD — Looking to start a healthcare career? MSAD #53 Adult and Community Education in partnership with Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital is offering a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training course starting January 17. The eight-week training classes run Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. The classes will be held at Sebasticook Valley Hospital, in Pittsfield, and will offer classroom, clinical, and lab experience. The cost is $300…
Parishioners in Whitefield help shatter American Red Cross record despite pandemic
WHITEFIELD — When searching for reasons to smile during the pandemic, a common source of comfort has been the sacrifices made by many Mainers as they have looked past their own needs in hopes that those in greater danger might be helped…
Winslow resident earns award from WGU
WINSLOW — Bethanie Farr, of Winslow, has earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University College of Health Professions, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The award is given to students who perform at a superior level in their course work…
Kaitlin Dixon named to D&E president’s list
SOLON — Kaitlin Dixon, of Solon, a student at Davis & Elkins College, in Elkins, West Virginia, has been named to the president’s list for the fall 2021 semester. The president’s list includes all full-time students with a 4.0 GPA for the semester…
Local students on health professions dean’s list
CHELSEA/OAKLAND — The following local students have attained dean’s list status at the Maine College of Health Professions: Olivia Young, of Chelsea, Amanda Poulin, and Kaitlyn Vigue, both of Oakland…
Madison American Legion Auxiliary busy helping in the community
MADISON — The Tardiff-Belanger American Legion Auxiliary, Unit #39, of Madison, supports community programs such as Children and Youth. Each year the members of the auxiliary donate school backpacks filled with school supplies. Again this year because of the unknown at the beginning of the school year, the unit reached out to the community…
Name that film!
Identify the film in which this line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville: “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is February 4, 2022…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 2 (new)
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — As readers know, major wars have major effects, beginning before the battles, continuing for the duration and lasting years afterwards. Early historians tended to focus on economics and politics: whether development was slowed or speeded or both, who replaced whom in leadership. Later came interest in social effects, especially significant in the aftermath of the Civil War… by Mary Grow [1675 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part I
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — For the next however many weeks, this series will discuss 19th-century wars that affected central Kennebec Valley residents. After the British gained legal control of the region by the 1763 Treat of Paris, the valley was mostly peaceful, but military actions elsewhere had local effects. Your writer will start with the American Revolution (1775-1783), and go on to summarize some of the local connections with two more wars that finally ended quarrels over Britain’s interest in this side of the American continent, the War of 1812 (1812-1815) and the Aroostook War (1838-1839)… by Mary Grow [1950 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Library series conclusion
VASSALBORO/WATERVILLE/WINSLOW HISTORY — There is no evidence that the Town of Vassalboro had a public library before 1909, when the ancestor of the present lively institution was founded. The 1909 association’s bylaws give it two names, the Free Public Library Association of Vassalboro, d/b/a Vassalboro Library Association. The library has always been in East Vassalboro, and the bylaws say it must remain there… by Mary Grow [1975 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Palermo & Little Free Libraries
PALERMO HISTORY — Palermo residents are currently enjoying at least the third library in the town’s history. The earliest, according to Millard Howard’s history of Palermo, was started by Benjamin Marden 2nd, “around mid-century [1850], apparently at his home on Marden Hill,” and was called the Palermo and China Social Library… by Mary Grow [1952 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 library to host monthly Book Talks
ALBION — The Albion Public Library will be hosting a “Book Talk” beginning in January. The topic will be Climate Change and how it affects Maine and our lives…
Obituaries
ALBION – Merlon F. “Junior” Sylvester Jr., 73, passed away Tuesday December 28, 2021, at Northern Light Health Emergency Department. Born in Waterville on November 18,1948, he was the son of Merlon F. Sylvester Sr. and Christine (Caron)… and remembering 19 others.
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Don’t ask why or how, but last week, while gathered with friends, I was asked a question about ferrets. Not knowing that much about them, I decided to look into it. What I discovered about the little furry animals was most interesting…
FINANCIAL FOCUS
by Sasha Fitzpatrick | Sadly, identity theft happens throughout the year – but some identity thieves are particularly active during tax-filing season. How can you protect yourself?…
MAINE MEMORIES
by Evangeline T. | I grew up in the small town of LaGrange, Maine. We had a general store, a post office, service station, and a railroad station. My first train ride was on an old black steam engine from that station to Milo, Maine, a distance of approximately ten miles. I’ve never forgotten it!…
SOLON & BEYOND
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | I am so happy to have received the report from the Solon School about all the exciting news about what has been going on there recently. It starts out like this: Solon Fire Department Presents Fire Safety Programs; On November 18, two firefighters, Todd and Jenny Rollins, from the Solon Fire Department, visited our school to teach our Pre-5 students about fire safety. This is an annual event every fall to remind students how to keep themselves and their families safe in the event of a fire…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | I first became attracted to the music of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) back during high school when I heard a recording of his London Symphony at a friend’s house and shortly after ordered it by mail from King Karol Records in New York City, now long closed…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | For decades, medical researchers struggled to solve the mystery of how to reverse paralysis caused by serious spinal cord injuries. Finally, hope appears to be at hand…