Issue for June 17, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Lawrence H.S. graduates presented PAL Football award of excellence

Director of the Fairfield PAL Football Program, John Stewart, has announced the recipients of the Award of Excellence and Scholarship for the 2020 Season to Jon Roy and Dylan Coombs. The coaches association selects two members of the senior class each year to receive this award. The criteria is as follows: dedication, loyalty, character, role models and team above self…

Youngest female to achieve black belt at Huard’s Martial Arts Dojo

Abigail Dudley, 15, of Winslow, entered the Huard’s Martial Arts Dojo, in Winslow, for the first time at the age of four. She was already enrolled in dance lessons and her parents thought this would be a great additional activity. A goal of her parents was to raise a child that could defend herself and be independent and confident. Shortly after starting classes, Abigail started competing in Sport karate competitions on the SMART and IPPONE Tournament Circuits…

Your Local News

Expanded China election results

CHINA — The results of China voters’ June 8 decisions at their annual town business meeting, posted on the town website, show information that would not have been available from an open meeting…

China Broadband Committee (CBC) members to ask for TIF funding

CHINA — China Broadband Committee (CBC) members voted unanimously at their June 10 meeting to ask for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to contract with Mission Broadband, the Bangor-based consulting firm that has worked with them for months, now that China voters have approved the updated TIF plan…

Town still waiting for treasury dept. rules on rescue plan

CHINA — At the June 7 China selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager (and Town Treasurer) Becky Hapgood said she and her colleagues statewide are still waiting for the United States Treasury to make rules for using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds…

TIF committee receives half dozen requests for funds

CHINA — Members of China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee reviewed half a dozen requests for TIF funds at their June 14 meeting and forwarded all to the Board of Selectmen with recommendations that the funds be disbursed…

Transfer station committee discusses fees

CHINA — China Transfer Station Committee members spent most of their June 9 meeting talking about money, mostly small amounts…

Pike Industries awarded summer road paving

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro selectmen approved acceptance of bids for summer road paving and for providing large dumpsters so the town crew can remove an ancient mobile home on a tax-acquired lot; decided they should develop an ordinance to govern mass gatherings; and discussed other mostly-administrative matters at their June 10 meeting…

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

LETTERS: In-person learning still the best way

from Bob Bennett (South China) — In response to a recent comment in The Town Line regarding the need for “educational renovation,” I’ll submit the following comments: While there is no question that remote, on line learning has been vital during the COVID pandemic, it is not the perfect or ideal form of teaching or gaining knowledge…

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #9:

What was used for the first time in a baseball World Series game that is noted in the 2021 Vassalboro Sestercentennial Calendar?

SPECIAL TO THE TOWN LINE: Father’s Day began in Europe during middle ages

by Gary Kennedy — In Catholic countries of Europe it has been celebrated as Saint Joseph Day on March 19 since the middle ages. So it is not an exclusive American holiday. Actually there are 111 countries which honor father and fatherhood. Dad: A son’s first hero, and a daughter’s first love…

PHOTO: Waterville Minors Central Maine Motors baseball team

WATERVILLE — The 2021 Central Maine Motors Waterville Minors baseball team members are…

Carrabec High School 4th quarter honor roll

ANSON — Listing of honor roll students at Carrabec High School…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Churches – Part 2 (new)

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]

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 1

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]

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 – Brandon Michael Breton, 21, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. He was born in Portland on February 29, 2000, the son of Michael and Susan (Cromwell) Breton… and remembering 12 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 | Well, the first June bug of the year made its appearance at camp on Saturday, May 29, at 10:30 p.m. We were, after all, still in May. To date, however, I have only seen three. I remember one summer, around 2002, we were literally swarmed one night while sitting around a camp fire…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | I have never seen this Jeff Bridges/ Rachel Ward thriller but, having read the Wiki synopsis, am now curious. The soundtrack itself is a first class mishmash of instrumentals underscoring the action and individual tracks by Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Big Country, Mike Rutherford, Kid Creole and the Coconuts and, last but not least, the sublime Phil Collins hit, Take a Look at Me Now

POETRY CORNER

by Marilou Suchar | The daffodils have nodded/And the tulips have gone by/The grass grows tall/But most of all/Our love will never die…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | My family just enjoyed celebrating a very important first birthday this past weekend. It was held in my daughter’s backyard. If you came you would see the kitchen was still busy prepping food like peanut- butter and jelly sandwiches shaped like a star fish and chicken salad sandwich shaped like a clam shell (crescent roll)…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | As always, I was very happy to receive the Solon School news sent to me on June 8. It starts with Best Wishes To Fifth Graders…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPS) | Sunshine and warm weather have many people thinking about new workout options. If you’re ready to kickstart your fitness routine—but want to do so safely—consider these three simple tips…