Issue for June 20, 2024

Celebrating 36 years of local news

Windsor 10-year-old is cancer survivor

Owen Gosselin is a 10-year-old boy from Windsor. He is a little league player, a beloved son and brother and a student. Owen is also a survivor of cancer. Over the last year, Owen and his family have been fighting a battle… by Mark Huard

New industrial business-space complex planned for Winslow

Kennebec Roofing, a family-owned business in Waterville, has begun construction of The Kennebec Roofing Industrial Annex (KIA), a premier, $2.8 million, 16,500 square foot industrial office-space property for local contractors and others, to be located at the high-visibility location of 875 China Road (Route 137), in Winslow, minutes away from Route 201 and Interstate 95… submitted by Dave Carew

Town News

TIF committee completes recommendations on revising document

CHINA – At their June 10 meeting, China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members completed recommendations on revising the document that governs the use of TIF funds…

Select board tours Thurston Park, makes appointments

CHINA – China select board members and Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood began the June 17 select board meeting with a motor tour of Thurston Park, in northeastern China…

Board OKs TIF funds for VSD

VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members began their June 13 meeting by electing Frederick “Rick” Denico, Jr., board chairman, succeeding newly re-elected member Christopher French…

Select board deals with multiple agenda items

WINDSOR – At the May 21, 2024 meeting of the Windsor Select Board, Road supervisor Keith Hall reported on several repairs being done to town equipment. Also select board member Tom McNaughton asked Keith for an update on the Amish signs…

Support The Town Line: An open letter to our readers

For the past 33 years, The Town Line has pledged a mission statement to “create a vibrant rural community connecting our towns, organizations and individuals through communication, education and public dialogue.” It’s all part of The Town Line’s mission to be a positive force in our community and bring together the rural towns of central Maine by promoting better understanding of our surroundings…

Name that film!

Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to The Maine Film Center, in Waterville: “Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is July 5, 2024.

Webber’s Pond comic

Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by a local central Maine resident (click on the thumbnail to enlarge)…

PHOTO: Winslow Majors Orange team

WINSLOW – Winslow Majors Orange baseball team photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography…

PHOTOS: Erskine Renaissance awards presented

CHINA – On Friday, June 7, Erskine Academy students and staff, in South China, attended a Renaissance Assembly to honor their peers with Renaissance Awards…

Local happenings

EVENTS: A China school reunion planned for July 18

CHINA – As we all know, history cannot be changed and, sometimes unfortunately, it can be repeated in a negative sense. But most important of all, it must never be forgotten. This is one of the primary goals of our now, solidly in place, China Historical Society, and to follow that path we are going to coordinate an event with our annual meeting on Thursday, July 18… by Bob Bennett

EVENTS: Albion bicentennial photo contest underway

ALBION – Albion bicentennial photo contest is open to anyone, but photos must be taken in Albion. There are four categories: people, animals, still life and landscape in three age groups, 12 years old and under, 13-20, and over 20…

EVENTS: Madison blood drive planned at legion

MADISON – A blood drive hosted by American Legion Tardiff-Belanger Post #39, 20 S. Maple Street, Madison, will take place on Thursday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up at redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767 or contact Richard at drwho57_57@yahoo.com…

EVENTS: L.C. Bates Museum activities

HINCKLEY – The following programs will be presented at L.C. Bates Museum, on the campus of the Goodwill-Hinckley School, on Rte. 201, in Hinckley…

EVENTS: Spectrum Generations announces area plan on aging public hearings

CENTRAL ME – The Central Maine Agency on Aging d/b/a Spectrum Generations will hold public hearings on the proposed four-year Central Maine Area Plan on Aging for Older Americans Act (OAA) funded programs and services that help older Mainers, and their care partners, remain healthy and safe in their communities…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Reading and signing with Gerry Boyle

CHINA – A reading and signing of the book Hard Line, with Gerry Boyle, will take place on Sunday, June 23, 1 p.m…. and many other local events!

Obituaries

HARPSWELL – Barry William Dolley, 84, died peacefully at home in South Harpswell on Friday, May 31, 2024, following a long battle with cancer. He lived most of his life in Winslow, before retiring to South Harpswell in 2005, with his wife Sandy… and remembering 12 others.

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Clinton (new)

CLINTON HISTORY — The town of Clinton, Benton’s ancestor and northern neighbor, is the northernmost Kennebec County town on the east bank of the Kennebec River. Historian Carleton Edward Fisher wrote that Clinton’s first white settler was probably Ezekiel Chase, Jr., who might have arrived by 1761, before the Kennebec Proprietors claimed the area… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Benton

BENTON HISTORY — Continuing north on the east side of the Kennebec River, the next town after Winslow is Benton. Next north of Benton is Clinton… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Vassalboro – Winslow

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Going north from Augusta on Route 201 on the east bank of the Kennebec River, one follows the approximate route of Massachusetts Governor William Shirley’s 1754 military road between Fort Western, in present-day Augusta, and Fort Halifax, in present-day Winslow… by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: City of Augusta

AUGUSTA HISTORY — The City of Augusta began its legal existence as part of Hallowell, and has been named Augusta since June 9, 1797. It became the state capital in 1827, and transitioned from a town to a city in 1849. It is the only municipality in this part of the Kennebec River Valley that is still on both sides of the river… by Mary Grow

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, July 11, 2024

Identify the people in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common. You could win a $10 gift certificate to Hannaford Supermarket! 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: Jane Vigue, Winslow

Town Line Original Columnists

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | A two LP set, Richard Himber and his Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Featuring Joey Nash (RCA Bluebird, AXM-5520, released 1975) contains 32 recordings from the 1934-35 years of 78s that were originally released on the ten-inch discs of that decade by RCA Victor’s subsidiary 35 cent Bluebird label…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Incidents involving dog attacks on Postal Service employees rose to more than 5,800 cases last year—but you can help get those numbers down and keep your own mail delivery up…