Issue for June 24, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Jean Poulin, Vassalboro’s bookkeeper for 15 years, to retire on July 2

Jean Poulin estimates more than $94,000,000 have passed through her ledgers since she became the Town of Vassalboro’s bookkeeper on Sept. 11, 2006 – a position from which she is about to retire… by Mary Grow

Your Local News

Selectmen decide to maintain inactive local police department

CHINA — Much of the China selectmen’s June 21 business was following up on voters’ decisions at the June 8 town meeting. All but one selectboard vote was unanimous; two items were postponed…

China Broadband Committee (CBC) discusses ways to distribute fact sheet

CHINA — China Broadband Committee (CBC) members spent most of their June 17 meeting discussing ways to distribute a flyer publicizing their plans for expanded and improved broadband service in town…

China planners to hold special workshop

CHINA — The China Planning Board will hold a special workshop meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 28, to continue editing the draft Solar Energy Systems Ordinance…

Board members discuss plans for summer work

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Community School (VCS) Principal Megan Allen told school board members at their June 15 meeting that holding the eighth-grade promotion celebration outdoors at the school felt right…

Vassalboro planners to meet July 6

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Planning Board members are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, at the Vassalboro town office, with a single item on their agenda…

Main-ly Paving Services awarded paving contract

WINDSOR — The Windsor Board of Selectmen awarded the 2021-2022 paving contract to Main-ly Paving Services, LLC, of Canaan, who submitted a bid of $328,431.38, which included chip sealing, at their May 25 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

EVENTS: Palermo days canceled

PALERMO — Sadly, Palermo Days will not take place this August. However, plans have already begun for extra special events next year during the second weekend of August 2022…

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #10:

A picture of you holding a book written by Vassalboro author, Holman Day.

Vassalboro pastor to retire

VASSALBORO — After serving the Vassalboro United Methodist Church for 11 years and serving in the ministry for over 50 years, Pastor F. Gary Hubley and his wife Judy, of Randolph, retired June 30, 2021…

PHOTO: District 5 champions

OAKLAND — Messalonskee U-10 All-Stars defeat Skowhegan Riverrats, 16-10, for the District 5 championship, advance to state tournament. Members of the Messalonskee 10U All-Star team, in Oakland, include…

Camp Bomazeen prepares for season with help from Scouts

BELGRADE — The weather was ideal at Camp Bomazeen on Saturday, May 15, for a great Beaver Day-camp work day. Everyone who attended will get a commemorative patch of a beaver wielding a chain saw. Scott Adams, of China, organized the event…

Lambrecht on dean’s list

WINSLOW — Winslow resident Samuel Lambrecht, a Northeastern University student majoring in electrical and computer engineering, was recently named to the University’s dean’s list for the Spring semester, which ended in May 2021…

Scouts help dispose of flags

CHINA — Boy Scout Troop #479, of China, was asked to help with the flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion. Thanks to all the Scouts and leaders for participating on Flag Day,” said Troop Advancement Chairman Ron Emery…

Dispensation from obligation lifted

CENTRAL ME — Effective June 19-20, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland has lifted the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation throughout the state of Maine…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Churches – Part 3 (new)

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]

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]

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

SIDNEY – Curtis A. “Skip” Smith, Jr., 67, of Pond Road, passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2021. He was born on July 24, 1953, in Augusta, to Curtis A. Smith, Sr. and Betty (Freeman) Smith… 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 | Last week, I received an email from a colleague, and follower of this column, asking the question, “Why don’t deer and moose get their antlers caught in trees?” Well, it isn’t uncommon to find deer with their antlers caught in trees…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | Facebook wildlife and rehab groups often share photos of interesting critters, but I don’t know how many readers have ever seen a piebald animal. My husband and I were fortunate to see a wild piebald deer in the Hancock area a couple of years ago…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | There is nothing more beneficial than donating to local organizations. From churches and synagogues to Little League and Girl and Boy scouts to local school, there is no better way to spend your money than to support local groups…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | I have been receiving avalanches of free 78s the last few Sundays from a friend who needs to empty his locker. I call it a rescue operation of these records. Otherwise they end up in dumpsters because too many folks want everything modernized…

MAINE MEMORIES

by Evangeline T. | This week, I’d like to share an unusual memory about the Doodle-Bug! You probably have never heard of a doodle-bug and are wondering if it’s some kind of big, ugly beetle. It isn’t. Let me explain…

POETRY CORNER

by April Cookson | Time speeds by like a racing wild horse,/escalating into the future by an unseen force./Nights seem short, days even shorter…/no time to sit back, to linger, or loiter./So, take this moment to grin a big smile/And know what you do is all worthwhile…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | I was reading an article the other night from an HGTV magazine titled “when’s the Best Time to…” by Marie Masters. I have heard people talk about the best time to buy a new vehicle being in December, especially that last week of the year…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Seems as though all I do lately is apologize about something . Have received some recent news and didn’t get it in in time because of my computer acting up again ­ – and thanks to Peter, he has solved the problem once again, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart…

NEWS FROM THE VA

by Gary Kennedy | Well, it seems most of our veterans have received the vaccine. Moderna and Pfizer were the vaccines used. It seems all reacted well to both shots. In most cases the significant other had to wait a bit but all in all it was accomplished…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Most people would probably agree that having a dog charge at them and bite is a frightening experience. The Postal Service reports that is exactly what happened to over 5,800 letter carriers in 2020…