Issue for January 9, 2025
Stormwater solution highlights power of collaboration for China Lake
Aserious runoff problem that was dumping phosphorus-laden water into China Lake has been resolved, thanks to teamwork that saw private landowners, nonprofits, and government agencies joining forces with the goal of protecting the lake’s water quality… Submitted by Jennifer Syer
Town News
Judson Smith adjusting well at Maine School of Science & Mathematics
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro resident Judson Smith, 14, has no regrets about choosing the Maine School of Science and Mathematics (MSSM), in Limestone, as his high school…
Eugene Field retires as Vassalboro public works director
VASSALBORO – Back in the early ’80s, Frederick “Rick” Denico, Jr., reminisced, when his father, Frederick Denico Sr., was on the Vassalboro select board, he brought home the report that there was “a young kid working for the town” under the federal CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) program…
Leader of Main Street Skowhegan recognized at White House event
SKOWHEGAN — USDA Rural Development State Director Rhiannon Hampson joined U.S. Under Secretary for Rural Development Dr. Basil Gooden, in Washington, D.C. Together they recognized Kristina Cannon, President and CEO of Main Street Skowhegan, as a Rural Innovator…
Local Rotary Club wraps up busy year of community service
VASSALBORO — The Waterville Rotary Noon club has had a busy year of putting “Service above Self”. With the new Rotary year starting in July, the club has already completed several Community Outreach and assistance projects…
Legion Christmas stockings drive
VASSALBORO — The American Legion Post #126, in Vassalboro, thanks all the individuals and groups who donated items and volunteered to fill the stockings. Through their generosity 250 Christmas stockings and 20 Hanukkah dreidels were filled on December 9, 2024, and delivered December 12…
PHOTO: I see you!
WASHINGTON — Sarah Sanchez, of Washington, photographed this red fox well camouflaged in the woods…
Waterville Creates welcomes new board chairman and new board members
WATERVILLE — Waterville Creates announces the addition of two new members to the board of directors and a new board chairman stepping into the role…
Windsor Fair officers/trustees
WINDSOR — Windsor Fair officers for 2025 are Daniel Foster, president; William McFarland, first vice president; Rick Cummings, second vice president; Dennis “Frank” Reed, secretary; Jeffrey A. Tracy, treasurer…
Waterville/Winslow bridge closed until June
CENTRAL ME — Starting this past Monday, January 6, 2025, through June 20, 2025, the project will be closing the Ticonic bridge to all traffic for construction activities requiring access to the entire bridge. During this time, pedestrians will NOT be allowed to transit the bridge. Both pedestrians and vehicles will be required to follow the posted detour routes….
Skowhegan man named to ABMA federal legislative committee
SKOWHEGAN — The American Building Materials Alliance (ABMA) is proud to announce the appointment of Rod Wiles, Vice President of Human Resources at Hammond Lumber Company, as the chairman of the Federal Legislative Committee. With 38 years of experience at Hammond Lumber Company, Wiles brings exceptional industry expertise and a proven track record of leadership to this vital role…
LETTERS: Rebuttal to dad’s letter
from Holly Slason (Dunnellon, Florida) — This was my dad’s letter…advice to seniors. Readers deserve to know the truth. Please publish this as it is not fair to allow my dad to slander me and not let me tell my side…
Sophia Labbe named to Lasell University Fall 2024 dean’s list
VASSALBORO — Sophia Labbe, a Lasell University student, from Vassalboro, was named to the dean’s list for their academic performance in the Fall 2024 semester, in Newton, Massachusetts….
Husson University Online celebrates Term 4 academic award recipients
CENTRAL ME — Husson University Online has announced the academic achievements of students recently named to the president’s list, dean’s list and honors list for Term 4 of the 2023-2024 academic year….
Brianna Paine named to the Berry College dean’s list
ROME, GA (12/23/2024 ) — Brianna Paine, of Madison, was named to the fall dean’s list, at Berry College, in Rome, Georgia. The dean’s list honors students who posted an academic average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale while carrying a class load of at least 12 hours during the semester.
Dana Plummer named to Husson University online’s president’s list
WATERVILLE — Dana Plummer, of Waterville, has been named to Husson University Online’s President’s List for Term 5 of the 2023-2024 academic year. Plummer is enrolled in Husson’s online BS Psychology with a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program.
Rebekah McKay named to dean’s list at Olivet Nazarene University
CHELSEA — Rebekah McKay, of Chelsea, was named to the dean’s list at Olivet Nazarene University, in Bourbonnais, Illinois, during the recently completed spring 2024 semester. To qualify for inclusion on the dean’s list, a student must have been enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and must have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 grading scale.
Local happenings
EVENTS: January history talk at Waterville Historical Society on Fort Halifax
WATERVILLE – Friends of Fort Halifax President, Ray Caron, is back by popular demand for the Saturday, January 11, history talk. When one thinks of Winslow and its defining history, few would not mention Fort Halifax. But what do we know about its history?…
EVENTS: Waterville Area Soup Kitchen to hold fundraiser
WATERVILLE – The Waterville Area Soup Kitchen will be holding its first fundraiser on Thursday, March 20, at the Elks Club, on Industrial Street, in Waterville. The event is a tropical themed winter getaway. The doors will open at 5 p.m…
EVENTS: Norridgewock select board meetings rescheduled
NORRIDGEWOCK – Due to scheduling conflicts, the Norridgewock Select Board’s regular meetings for January 2025 will be Wednesday, January 8 and 22, 2025, 6 p.m., at the Norridgewock Town Office. The regular meeting schedule of the first and third Wednesdays of each month will resume in February. Meeting agenda are posted at the Town Office and online at www.norridgewock.gov…
Obituaries
CLINTON – Elaine J. Gurney, 80, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 13, 2024, at Lakewood Continuing Care, in Waterville, following a short illness…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Some community calendars still available
VASSALBORO – During the months of October through December several members and friends of the Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC) delivered approximately 2,100 Community Calendars to every home and business in Vassalboro… and many other local events!
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China elementary schools (new)
CHINA HISTORY — What is now the Town of China was settled in 1774, starting on the shores of China Lake, and promptly incorporated as Jones Plantation… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Clinton and Benton School
CLINTON/BENTON HISTORY — This subseries on education is organized by the dates the central Kennebec Valley towns were incorporated, and Clinton, in 1795, was next after Fairfield, in 1788. Therefore the history of education in Clinton, on the east side of the Kennebec River, opposite the northern part of Fairfield, follows the December 2024 articles on Fairfield… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Fairfield high schools
FAIRFIELD HISTORY — This article continues the history of schooling in Fairfield with information on the town’s high schools. It begins with conflicting information about where the first high school classes were held… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Education in Fairfield
FAIRFIELD HISTORY — After multiple postponements, this article really is about the history of education – elementary education; high schools next week – in Fairfield, the town next upstream from Waterville on the west bank of the Kennebec River. Your writer thanks the Fairfield Historical Society for generously sharing material on the topic… by Mary Grow
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | I recently received this update from the Maine Forest Service on the status of the browntail moth caterpillar. Browntail caterpillars will remain in their winter webs for now…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | Good day to my fellow veterans and all of you who read and contribute to these articles of importance which support and clarify issues of relevance in the veteran’s life and well being. It can be a long and testy road from active military force overseeing all that we know and love to veteran…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Good day to my fellow veterans and all of you who read and contribute to these articles of importance which support and clarify issues of relevance in the veteran’s life and well being. It can be a long and testy road from active military force overseeing all that we know and love to veteran…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | You may not know it, but chances are you have at least one risk factor that could make you vulnerable for serious complications from flu, COVID-19 and other dangerous diseases. Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and lung diseases including asthma and COPD increase your risk. Other common factors including being overweight, obese, pregnant, and even age—being 50 or older—can put you at greater risk for serious illness…