Issue for June 10, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Jefferson’s Hailey Milliken graduates valedictorian at Maine Connection Academy

Hailey Milliken, a 12th grader from Jefferson, was Valedictorian for last week’s graduation ceremony for Maine Connections Academy, the state’s online charter school. The in-person ceremony took place on June 3, at Thompson’s Point, in Portland. Milliken will be attending Boston University in the fall, majoring in media science in the College of Communication. Originally from Maine, Milliken lived in many places and attended many schools before joining Maine Connections Academy in 2020…

Your Local News

Local election results for Vassalboro, China and Fairfield

CENTRAL ME — Local June 8 election results for the towns of Vassalboro, China and Fairfield…

China Broadband Committee (CBC) members return to grant application

CHINA — At their June 3 meeting, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members returned to their application for a ConnectMe planning grant for expanded and improved broadband service. They also reviewed a more definite – but still with uncertainties – financial model for their project…

Board reappointments hit procedural snag; one denied

CHINA — China selectmen’s usually routine annual appointment (mostly reappointment) of town officials and board and committee members turned into a procedural tangle followed by a highly unusual refusal to reappoint a sitting board member…

Vassalboro residents approve 37 articles at short town meeting

VASSALBORO — Veteran moderator Richard Thompson guided about five dozen Vassalboro voters through the first 37 articles of their annual town meeting warrant in a little over an hour the evening of June 7…

Planners approve another solar array

VASSALBORO — At their June 1 meeting, Vassalboro Planning Board members unanimously approved another solar array, this one west of Cemetery Street, between East and North Vassalboro…

Manager presents 9-month budget to selectmen

WINDSOR — At their May 11 meeting, Windsor Town Manager Theresa Haskell presented the board of selectmen with her nine-month budget. Currently, 73.3 percent of the budget has been spent. The two areas of concern are elections and town meetings…

LETTERS: Urges support of affordable drugs

from Bridget Quinn (AARP) — Right now, the legislature is considering a package of vital and common sense bills that will work to reign in rising drug prices and assure that all Mainers have access to affordable prescription drugs. Now is the right time to help Maine families afford their necessary prescription drugs…

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

Northern Light Inland Hospital announces finance leadership changes

WATERVILLE — Randy Clark, vice president of Finance and Operations at Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital, in Pittsfield, will expand his duties to include Inland Hospital and Lakewood, becoming vice president of finance for both hospitals and the continuing care facility…

Corkum graduates from Bowdoin College

CHELSEA — Sarah Avery Corkum, of Chelsea, graduated with a major in environmental studies-government and legal…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Churches – Part 1 (new)

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]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Goodwill-Hinckley – Part 2

MAINE HISTORY — The Goodwill-Hinckley campus has more buildings of historic interest than there was space to describe in the May 20 The Town Line article, including a third school included in the boundaries of the National Register area… by Mary Grow [1791 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Goodwill-Hinckley – Part 2

MAINE HISTORY — Maine State Grange voted at its 22nd meeting, held in Bangor in 1895, to raise money to build and equip a “cottage” for the new “Girls’ Farm” at what was then Good Will Homes, in Hinckley, one of Fairfield’s original seven villages… by Mary Grow [1570 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 6

MAINE HISTORY — The members of the next Grange to be discussed should be proud to belong to one of the earliest Grange organizations in the central Kennebec Valley area, and one that is still active in its 147th year… by Mary Grow [1709 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

WATERVILLE – Phyllis Shiro, 92, passed away on Saturday, May 22, 2021, following a period of declining health, at MaineGeneral Center for Health, Thayer Campus, in Waterville. She was born Phyllis Ann Kovner, in Brockton, Massachusetts, on November 9, 1928, to Jeanne and Sam Kovner… and remembering 11 others.

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #8:

Visit the Vassalboro Historical Society, find a certain display and receive a Vassalboro Sestercentennial Trading Card.

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 | As I approached this particular turtle, it was obviously in a perilous position. I began to slow down to stop and assist the critter across the road when I noticed another vehicle approaching behind me. I began to pull over to let him by when I noticed he pulled over the side of the road, got out of his Jeep…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | PP and M were, arguably, one of the finest musical vocal groups in any genre. This first of several great albums during their initial seven- or eight-year run (followed by solo outings and intermittent reunions) still holds up incredibly well as a listening experience…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | There have been times when I have wondered just how long some products last. The article I read may not have had some of the products I was interested in, but they may interest you. The information was from an HGTV Magazine, written by Colleen Sullivan…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | This week I call this column; Gram’s: Very cute, and grandma’s to boot. It is taken from an article that was written in the Somerset Reporter way back in June 30, 1983. It brings back happy memories to me and I hope you will enjoy it also…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Enabling K-12 schools to reopen for in-person learning is a high priority for parents, communities and governments. In fact, President Biden’s National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness was launched to fund COVID testing for teachers, staff and students in an effort to create a safer return-to-school environment…

2020-’21 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

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