Issue for January 20, 2022

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Stories from Fort Hill Cemetery

As anyone who has lived in Winslow for any length of time can tell you, Fort Halifax was built by the English in the middle of the 18th century on the point of land where the Sebasticook and Kennebec Rivers meet. All that is left of it today is the solitary block house on the southeast corner where the fort had stood. The block house floated down the Kennebec River in the flood of 1987 and returned in pieces to be reassembled by local citizens. It now stands as our town’s symbol, incorporated into stationary, logos, websites and other town-related items… by Kit Alexander [954 words]

Your Local News

Town attorney has doubts about expanding unbuilt solar farm

CHINA — At their Jan. 11 meeting, China Planning Board members were willing to hear an application to enlarge the approved, unbuilt solar farm on Route 3, until Codes Officer Jaime Hanson told them the town attorney has doubts. Now they want more information before they make a decision…

Building committee continues review of information

CHINA — China Municipal Building Committee members met Jan. 13 and continued review of information they have and information they need as they plan additional storage for town records. Main tentative conclusions were…

Transfer station committee waits for more info

CHINA — Members of China’s Transfer Station Committee continued discussion of several issues, but still lack information to make decisions. Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood told them residents continue to respond to the survey she distributed that asked, among other things, the days and hours on which they use the transfer station…

Erskine Academy first trimester honor roll

CHINA — List of students who made Erskine Academy’s honor roll for the first trimester of 2022…

OPINIONS – Is there a cynical plan to bankrupt USPS? Sen. Susan Collins’ response

from Sen. Susan Collins — I am an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act (S. 1720), introduced by my colleagues Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI). This legislation would eliminate the pre-funding requirement for health benefits, improve transparency, and increase accountability by mandating that USPS send biannual operational and financial reports to Congress…

Tuminaro to run for the Legislature

CHINA — China mother, wife and small businesswoman, Jennifer Tuminaro has announced she is running for the Legislature in District #62 (China, Palermo, Somerville, Hibberts Gore, and Windsor). Tuminaro was encouraged to seek office by current Rep­re­sentative Tim Theriault (R-China), who is term-limited…

PHOTO: Third generation black belt

WINSLOW — Kancho Randy Huard started Huard’s Martial Arts School in 1966. This was at a time when there were very few Dojos in the area. He built the school on a foundation of loyalty, discipline and respect. Over 55 years later, he is still teaching those same values to his students and through his students. On January 7, 2022, there was a very special milestone…

Annual plant sale fundraiser underway

ROCKPORT — Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District’s 2022 Spring Plant Sale Catalog is now available in print and online! Plants are available for pre-order, either online or by mail through Tuesday, April 19, 2022. This year we are offering curbside pick-up of your orders on Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14, and “Cash and Carry” on Saturday…

Local students named to dean’s list at St. Anselm College

SIDNEY/WINSLOW — Julia Bard, of Sidney, class of 2025, majoring in English; Christine Quirion, of Winslow, class of 2022, majoring in business…

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 3 (new)

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]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 2

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]

2021-’22 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

2021-2022 Real Estate tax due dates for the following towns: CHINA, FAIRFIELD, PALERMO, SIDNEY, VASSALBORO, WATERVILLE, WINDSOR and WINSLOW…

Webber’s Pond

Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Cabin Fever Cornhole tourney

WATERVILLE — The Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation presents the Cabin Fever Cornhole Tournament, Saturday, January 22, at The Elm, 21 College Ave., Waterville, with registration beginning at 10 a.m., and the games begin at 11 a.m… and many other local events!

Obituaries

VASSALBORO – Albert B. French, 79, passed away Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at his home. He was born October 11, 1942, in Somerville, oldest son of Herbert French and Marion (Brown) French… and remembering 16 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, February 11, 2022

Identify the people in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common. You could win a $10 gift certificate to Retail Therapy Boutique in Waterville! 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: Megan Marquis, China Village

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | I ran into an acquaintance at a local supermarket last week, and he commented on my articles on black squirrels, and told me he had heard that a reported albino squirrel had been spotted in the central Maine area. We’ve talked the gamut about squirrels, grey, red, black, white-tipped tails, so let’s dive into white and albino squirrels…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | I do love these little tidbits of information (hacks) that show up online on the computer, things from my newsletters from The Farmer’s Almanac, advertisements for Joey Green’s latest books usually have a few tidbits. (If you check out Joey Green’s list of books you will find some easy to follow instructions and usually an entertaining read)…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | The best way to know what your customers want is to ask them. One of the biggest disconnects between your company and your customers is not having a comprehensive agreement of what services the customer expects from you…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | This is a continue of Solon Elementary School news: Winter Session of After-School Program To Begin: This program will run on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays from 2:30 : 4: 15 p.m., at the school. This program is run by a partnership between the Town of Solon and RSU #74 for students in grades K – 5…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | The 1987 anthology Maine Speaks contains the short story “Whale!” by Eleanor Sterling, originally published in 1974 as part of a Yankee Magazine collection. It depicts, as the author beautifully puts it in her opening paragraph, the following situation…