Issue for July 1, 2021

Enjoy a safe July 4th Independence Day holiday weekend!

STAFF VACATION: The Town Line staff will be on vacation the week of July 5, 2021. The office will be closed. There will be an issue published on July 8. The Town Line office will re-open on Monday, July 12, at 9 a.m.

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Fairfield Historical Society quilt show tradition resumes

The Fairfield Historical Society announces the resumption of the FHS Quilt Show which they have hosted every other year, until the Covid Pandemic interfered. On Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., more than 50 quilts will be displayed at the Victor Grange, in Fairfield Center. These quilts belong to either the FHS or local residents. Others who have quilts of local interest that they would like to show are invited to call the FHS at 453-2998… by Marion Foster

Your Local News

China will not receive ConnectMe grant

CHINA — The China Broadband Committee (CBC) did not get a state ConnectMe grant that members had hoped to use to hire Hawkeye Connections, Inc., of Poland, Maine, to establish the cost of new broadband infrastructure for the town…

Planners spend time on final Solar Energy System ordinance review

CHINA — China Planning Board members ignored most of their June 22 agenda to spend time on a final review of the Solar Energy Systems Ordinance they hope selectmen will present to voters on Nov. 2 and voters will approve…

Rec committee, selectmen talk about reorganized programs

VASSALBORO — Members of Vassalboro’s Recreation Committee joined Vassalboro selectmen at their June 24 meeting to talk about a reorganized, post-pandemic recreation program, policy changes needed, town ballfields and related topics…

Windsor town manager presents money saving news to selectmen

WINDSOR — The June 7 meeting of the Windsor selectmen saw no one from the public attending the approximate one-and-a-half hour meeting…

The South China Public Library: Nonprofit Spotlight

SOUTH CHINA — As I believe most of we humans are aware, especially in these difficult times, change is inevitable. For the most part, the results of these events are positive, at least in the long run, and we look back with gratitude and acceptance… by Bob Bennett

China Lake Association; Protecting the Lake and Land Owners: Nonprofit Spotlight

CHINA — Many China residents likely remember the algae blooms resulting in low fish counts, few lake birds, limited lakeside wildlife, and sparse or distorted shore plant life. All these are indications that the health of the lake is failing… by Steve Ball

China Four Seasons Club: Non-profit Spotlight

CHINA — Founded in 1970, the China Four Seasons Club is a growing nonprofit club organized to bring together enthusiasts of outdoor activities of all sorts. The club was organized after a merger between the China Lake Association and the China Regional Snowmobilers organizations… by Steve Ball

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #11:

The total number of tan pavers around a flagpole where baseball is played in Vassalboro.

PHOTO: Waterville tennis team captures northern Maine title

WATERVILLE — The Waterville High School boys varsity tennis team recently captured the Northern Maine Tennis Championship following an undefeated season…

Hospice Summer Bereavement Workshop series to start July 13

WATERVILLE — Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area will offer, Is this Normal? What to Expect when Grieving, the first of a series of workshops for those grieving the death of a loved one. The workshop will be held Tuesday evening, July 13, from 6 – 8 p.m…

AYCC parking lot work to continue through summer

WATERVILLE — Three construction phases will take place at the Alfond Youth and Community Center, on North Street, in Waterville. The project began June 28 and projected to be completed by October 4…

art + gender exhibit to begin Aug. 6

HALLOWELL — The Harlow invites artists to submit artwork to art + gender, a juried exhibition that explores the relationship between gender and society. art + gender will be on view August 6 – September 11, 2021…

New Dimensions FCU supporting their community

WATERVILLE — Ask New Dimensions Federal Credit Union (NDFCU) what Team Teal means to them and they will likely talk about giving back to their community through the fundraising efforts of their Social Responsibility Committee…

LETTERS: Thanks for the parade

from The Sylvester family (China) — The Sylvester family, on behalf of Jack and Ann Sylvester, extend their appreciation and unending thanks to the town of China, China Village Fire Department and the surrounding municipalities for the parade on May 30. In his own words Jack would like to say, “Thank you all so much for the reception. I’m so happy I could help you folks all these years and it’s awful good to be seen”…

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

CHINA HISTORY — Two churches in the Town of China were added to the National Register of Historic Places on Aug. 4, 1983. The earlier is the Pond Meeting House, on Lakeview Drive, built in 1807. The South China Meeting House, now South China Community Church, on Village Street, dates from 1884… by Mary Grow [1910 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Churches – Part 3

MAINE HISTORY — Moving up the Kennebec to the city of Waterville, two of its many church buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places: the First Baptist Church, at 1 Park Street, and the Universalist-Unitarian Church… by Mary Grow [1775 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Churches – Part 2

MAINE HISTORY — In the June 10 issue of The Town Line, readers learned about three of the four Augusta church buildings that have gained recognition on the National Register of Historic Places. The fourth, and an associated building, are described herein… by Mary Grow [1596 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Churches – Part 1

MAINE HISTORY — Having finished summary histories of Grange organizations in the central Kennebec Valley in The Town Line issues beginning April 8, and a two-part description of aspects of the Goodwill-Hinckley School, in Fairfield, this writer now turns to a different type of organization, the church… by Mary Grow [1712 words]

Webber’s Pond

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

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!…

Obituaries

VASSALBORO – Diane B. Pomerleau, 66, of Vassalboro, died peacefully at her home on Friday afternoon, June 4, 2021, from pneumonia associated with Alzheimer’s. Diane was born on Jan­uary 26, 1955, the daughter of William H. and Theresa (Veilleux) Bean… and remembering 9 others.

2020-’21 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Real Estate tax due dates for the following towns: ALBION, CHINA, FAIRFIELD, VASSALBORO, WATERVILLE, WINDSOR and WINSLOW…

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, July 9, 2021

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: Dave Carew, Waterville.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | One of the things I enjoy doing at camp on a Saturday morning is grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting on my deck, focusing on the bird feeders. There is much activity around there, not just the birds, but the squirrels and chipmunks, and the occasional cat that comes around to harass the wildlife…

Emily CatesGARDEN WORKS

by Emily Cates | Well! I had intended, amongst the hustle and bustle of a busy life and chaos in the garden, to write on the next rainy day… which doesn’t help so much with a lack of rain. Anyways, here we are for a look at one of the most annoying problems – besides ticks – that I’ve ever had to deal with outdoors. Now, what could that possibly be? You guessed it, those blasted browntail moths and their cursed caterpillars!…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | One of the state’s major attractions for adventurous campers and climbers is Mount Katahdin. I’ve yet to make the trek but one very exciting book I read decades ago was Donn Fendler’s Lost on a Mountain in Maine

POETRY CORNER

by Joan Ferrone | I’ve got baggy eyes/and flat feet/Too much belly/and a saggy seat/My hair won’t curl/my nails are split/I can’t sit without/a pillow for my bum/The legs and feet/will go numb…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Ever notice how sometimes things are easier when you put them in your own words rather than maybe the appropriate one? You know, bring them down to your terms…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Received the following information from Margaret Chase Smith Library. Sorry it’s coming out so late in the month. We miss editor Angie Stockwell. Speaking of which, in this issue you will be introduced to her replacement, Nicole Potter, although she has not been brought on board to edit the newsletter…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | There are certain aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic that many Americans may not have thought about. For example, one area that saw a sharp decline was volunteerism—placing heavy burdens on nonprofit organizations that rely on the compassion of their volunteer forces…