Issue for June 3, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Dirigo Lodge delivers food to area food pantries

Caring for your neighbor is a tradition that is alive and well here in central Maine. I was fortunate enough to see our local Masons in action this week at the Dirigo Lodge #104. Lodge #104 was founded in 1860 and its first lodge master was James Parnell Jones. This lodge has continued since, and celebrated its 160th anniversary last year. I spent some time talking with the men behind the scenes and here’s the story… by Ron Maxwell

Your Local News

CBC members review models of potential offerings, prices

CHINA — China Broadband Committee (CBC) members reviewed models for potential broadband offerings and prices for customers at their May 26 meeting and asked for more definite information, if possible, to share with residents…

Planners finish draft of solar placement ordinance

CHINA — With only three members present for their May 25 meeting, China Planning Board members finished their draft of an ordinance to govern placement of solar arrays, subject to review by the absent members…

EVENTS: Vassalboro neighborhood yard sale June 4 – 6

VASSALBORO — Three years ago, Samantha Lessard and others organized The Mill Market, a weekly Craft & Vendor Fair, with the philosophy that when you help out community members the entire community benefits. It’s a full circle relationship… by Jeanne Marquis

EVENTS: Maine Fiber FUSION set for June 5 – 6

WINDSOR — A baker’s dozen of Maine fiber farmers and artists will be selling their products on Saturday and Sunday, June 5 – 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at The Fusion of Windsor, 243 Ridge Road (Rte. 32), Windsor, just a half mile north of the Windsor Fairgrounds…

Scout honors deceased veterans with project over several seasons

by Chuck Mahaleris — Gabriel Daniel Lawyerson, of Troop #216, received his Eagle Scout rank during an outdoor ceremony at Damariscotta Lake State Park, in Jefferson. His grandfather, Gary Lawyerson, earned Scouting’s highest rank in 1964 and proudly pinned his medal on his grandson. Gabe is going to Fort Sill Oklahoma July 7, 2021 for his basic training in the U.S. Army…

Free ME from Lung Cancer breathes life into community

by Carla Gade — When was the last time you took a good deep breath? During the past year I think we all have learned to not take our health and breathing for granted. Yet, this is a goal that the Free ME from Lung Cancer foundation continually works toward…

ShineOnCass event includes education and PJ party with baby animals

ALBION — It was a pajama party like no other at Hart-to-Hart Farm & Education Center in Albion on May 16, when 100 children, dressed in their pajamas, welcomed baby lambs, goats, calves, and other newborn animals – also wearing pajamas – as part of the annual ShineOnCass Animal Baby Shower… by Monica Charette

Diocese of Portland makes major updates to pandemic protocols

CENTRAL ME — The Diocese of Portland has announced major updates to the pandemic protocols currently in place at all 141 Catholic churches in Maine.
The following actions took effect on Monday, May 24…

PHOTO: Winslow Minors baseball team

WINSLOW — The Winslow Minors 2021 baseball team…

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #7:

The total number of Civil War soldiers’ names that are listed on Vassalboro’s Civil War Monument. (Please be respectful).

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

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: Granges – Part 7

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]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 5

MAINE HISTORY — In addition to the East Vassalboro Grange discussed last week, Vassalboro had two other Grange organizations. According to Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history, the earliest of the three was Oak Grove Grange #167, organized in North Vassalboro on May 11, 1875… by Mary Grow [1567 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

FAIRFIELD – Racheal L. (Soucy) Gola, 29, unexpectedly passed away on Friday, May 21, 2021. She was born January 17, 1992, in Waterville, the first child of Bruce Soucy and Lisa Breault… 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, June 4, 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: Geri Timmins, Waterville.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | While sitting on the deck at camp one lazy afternoon recently, one of our friends asked, “Why don’t we hear Whip-poor-wills anymore?” Interesting question…

MAINE MEMORIES

by Evangeline T. | This week, I want to tell you about a fun birthday I had as a girl. When I was ten, we moved to a 250-acre farm. Like most farms back then, the house, shed, and barn were connected…

POETRY CORNER

by Marilou Suchar | The ocean is calling to my heart,/I must go/To walk the shore, and in me store/The smell, the feel, the love…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | In 1955, Russian pianist Emil Gilels (1916-985) made his debut in the United States, being one of a handful of musicians allowed to tour outside the Iron Curtain. His entourage, like other touring musicians from the Soviet Union, included several ‘friends’ who were KGB operatives prepared to shoot in case Gilels tried to seek asylum…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Hi everyone! I used a reference about using salt to gargle a sore throat and a white warm salt sock to ease an infected ear. I did find that one as interesting. I am really surprised no one told Mom about it when my brother and I had earache problems as children…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | As usual, my computer is giving me trouble again, so this may be a short one this morning. I had started writing the column at an early hour and I got quite a bit written and I lost it. The bad news is that I have finally decided that the computer is smarter than I am…. not good…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | Years ago, one winter when I was out of town on business, enough snow had fallen – as it will tend to do here in Maine, – that my dear wife was concerned about the snow load on the roof. When she saw a crew working clearing a neighbor’s roof, she put on her boots and her winter coat to go talk to them…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | A new nationwide poll, the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor, has found more than 8 in 10 people diagnosed with depression say life would be easier if others could understand their depression…