Issue for January 27, 2022

Celebrating 33 years of local news

GFWC raises funds for humane society

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) Semper Fidelis, of Skowhegan, proudly donated $305 each to Canine Companions for Independence and the Somerset Humane Society. Also donated to the local shelter were 32 bags of dog and cat food, 118 cans of cat food, 12 bags of dog treats, dog harnesses, collars, and toys, 4 dog beds, cleaning supplies, blankets, and towels. Sixty unfinished round ornaments, red and green acrylic paints, and mini poinsettia garnishes were purchased, then painted and assembled by members of the club for “Paws for a Cause” to make keepsake paw print Christmas ornaments…

Your Local News

Select board hears grant requests from firefighters, library

VASSALBORO — At their Jan. 20 meeting, Vassalboro select board members got preliminary requests for money, federal or local or both, from town organizations. Further discussion was postponed until 2022-23 budget deliberations begin in earnest in February. Two requests were presented at the meeting…

School board hears variety of reports

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro School Board members heard a variety of reports at their Jan. 18 meeting, some touching on effects of the pandemic. They did not talk about the 2022-23 budget – yet…

Select board focuses on transfer station issues

CHINA — China Select Board members’ January 18 discussion focused on transfer station issues. Board members adopted one major change and are leaning toward another. The approved change will be to replace the placards now used to identify transfer station users with the stickers used before 2019…

Town manager presents initial budget draft

CHINA — China Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood gave select board and budget committee members her initial draft of the 2022-23 town budget at a special joint meeting Jan. 24…

Consolidated Communications officials: Do not expect an offer to expand internet service

CHINA — Members of China’s Broadband Committee (CBC) heard a presentation from two Consolidated Communications officials at their Jan. 18 meeting. The speakers did not encourage them to expect an offer from the company to expand internet service to town residents…

Skowhegan icon, former columnist dies at 91

SKOWHEGAN – Kathleen “Katie” Valliere Denis Ouilette, 91, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022. She was born on July 8, 1930, at 29 Chestnut St., in Skowhegan, to Henry and Roxie (Russell) Valliere…

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…

STUDENT WRITERS

King Middle School | Due to climate change, the Antarctic ice cap, where most of the world’s water is from, is in danger of melting within a century. I am Amos, a student at King Middle School, in Portland. We have been doing an expedition about climate change and the effects of carbon pollution. I strongly believe that educated United States citizens should focus more on helping move into a carbon neutral future, than trying to educate others. I am aware of the irony of me trying to raise awareness without taking action, but because of my legal ability, this is the best I can do…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 4 (new)

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]

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]

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!…

Webber’s Pond

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

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…

Obituaries

VASSALBORO – Colleen S. Cook, 68, of Vassalboro, passed on Monday January 10, 2022. She was born on March 31, 1953, in Eastport, the daughter of John Jacob Hutton and Margaret Elizabeth (Calder)… and remembering 14 others.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | Last summer we experienced a season of discomfort with multiple rashes brought on by the browntail moth caterpillar. Personally, I suffered through it no fewer than six times. Yes, it is only January, but the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”…

FINANCIAL FOCUS

by Sasha Fitzpatrick | As you know, inflation heated up in 2021, following years of pretty stable – and low – numbers. And now, early in 2022, we’re still seeing elevated prices. As a consumer, you may need to adjust your activities somewhat, but as an investor, how should you respond to inflation?…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winter | It is with much sadness and great appreciation that this month’s column is written in memory of Amy Messier, who passed away unexpectedly on December 4, 2021. Amy had been a volunteer at Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab Center, in Vassalboro, for almost 20 years. Although unable to work most of this past year due to a couple of surgeries, she was looking forward to resuming her critter care this coming spring…

VETERANS CORNER

by Gary Kennedy | The past couple of years have been hard for us. Our veterans have found it to be extremely so. I have lost many friends and more are preparing to meet their maker. It’s a time when we pray and hope that for the most part we got it right. It’s a heart breaker to say good bye and rely on what comes next…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Rock singer Meatloaf, born Marvin Lee Aday, died this past weekend from covid at the age of 74. His 1977 album Bat Out of Hell has sold 65 million copies worldwide, still logging in annual sales of 200,000. In recent years, he guest-appeared on the BBC comedy show Benidorm and the CBS Elementary

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | As a child I grew up in Burnham just over a hill from Unity Lake (or Winnecook Lake). There was a camp road just past our driveway. It wasn’t one that got plowed in the winter months, but we would use it to walk down to the lake year-round…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Good morning to all of you; I hope you all have a wonderful day! This week I am using parts of a column that I wrote in 2019, when I don’t remember that it was as cold as this year has been so far. It was called, “Looking back on journalism career”…