Issue for June 30, 2022

Enjoy a safe July 4th Independence Day holiday weekend!

STAFF VACATION: The Town Line staff will be on vacation the week of July 4, 2021. The office will be closed. There will be an issue published as usual on July 7. The Town Line office will re-open on Monday, July 11, at 9 a.m.

Celebrating 34 years of local news

Nathaniel Lombardi captures grand championship title

Nathaniel Lombardi is a long time student of Huards Martial Arts. He has achieved a third degree black belt in karate and jujitsu at the school. Lombardi is no stranger to the competition scene, as a veteran member of the Huard’s Sport Karate Team. He has travelled throughout Maine and New England competing in weapons forms, open hand forms and fighting… by Mark Huard

Erskine Academy’s Paige Reed named America’s Most Spirited Student for 2022

Varsity Brands, the national driving force behind cheerleading’s transformation into the high-energy, athletic activity it is today, has named Erskine Academy senior Paige Reed America’s Most Spirited Student for 2022. The award program celebrates schools, organizations, and individuals that go above and beyond to build school pride, student engagement, and community spirit, and carries with it a $3,000 cash prize… Submitted by Amy Rau

Your Local News

Selectboard hears from heads of two advisory committees

CHINA — China select board members heard updates from the heads of two advisory committees at their June 21 meeting, and took the actions one requested…

Redmond to head select board; church scheduled for demolition

VASSALBORO — At newly-elected Vassalboro select board member Frederick “Rick” Denico, Jr.’s first meeting June 23, he and Chris French promptly and unanimously elected Barbara Redmond, senior member of the board, as the new chairman…

School board elects new chairman

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro School Board members began their June 21 meeting by electing Jolene Gamage chairman, succeeding Kevin Levasseur, with Jessica Clark vice chairman, and proceeded through routine business…

LETTERS: Announces candidacy

from Stephen J. Hemenway (Northport) — My name is Stephen J. Hemenway, a retired Deputy Sheriff of 32 years, currently living in Northport, producing a national family educational public access tv show called The Children’s Corner, which is also on Youtube. I decided a few months back to leave my little retirement “safe zone,” and run for State House Representative for District #39. Why would I do such a thing?…

Name that film!

Identify the film in which this line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville: “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is July 8, 2022…

Erskine Academy third trimester honors

CHINA – List of honor roll students at Erskine Academy for the third trimester of 2022…

Erskine Renaissance awards

CHINA – On Friday, June 10, 2022, Erskine Academy students and staff attended the final Renaissance Assembly of the year to honor their peers with Renaissance Awards…

Red Cross asks for donations

CENTRAL ME – The American Red Cross sees a pretty big decline in blood and platelet donations during holiday weeks – around 21 percent. When blood donations drop, so does the availability of blood products for hospital patients. Donors can help ensure blood is ready when needed by making an appointment to give in the coming weeks…

Lions Clubs hold serving kindness celebration

AUGUSTA – Lions Club members from around the state came together on Sunday, June 12, at the Buker Community Center, in Augusta, to celebrate their clubs and members’ achievements…

PHOTO: Waterville Yellow Minors

WATERVILLE – The 2022 Waterville Yellow Minors baseball team photo, from Central Maine Photography…

PHOTO: Winslow Black Majors

WINSLOW – 2022 Winslow Black Majors baseball team photo, from Central Maine Photography…

EVENTS: Palermo library annual meeting slated

PALERMO – Learn about Palermo Soldiers’ role in the Battle of Gettysburg at the Palermo Community Library’s Annual Meeting. The Palermo Community Library will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the annual meeting on Sunday, July 10, 2022, at 2 p.m…

EVENTS: Sheepscot Lake Assn. annual membership meeting

PALERMO – Sheepscot Lake Association will be hosting its Annual General Membership meeting on Thursday, July 21, at 7 p.m., at the Palermo Consolidated School, on Rte 3. Please attend that evening to renew your membership, meet your neighbors, and discuss the programs that help keep the lake healthy…

EVENTS: Unity Parkinson’s Support Group

UNITY – Unity Area Parkinson’s Support Group now meets 3rd Monday of the month from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., at Unity Barn Raisers Community Building at 32 School St., in Unity. Come for education, support and free info. Call Eleanor at 948-1474 or email: dogisland52@gmail.com for more info…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Native Americans – Conclusion (new)

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — No historian your writer has found says how many Native Americans lived in the Kennebec River Valley before the Europeans arrived. The Maine Historic Preservation Commission has a document on its website estimating 25,000. Another on-line estimate for Maine and Maritime Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) says 32,000… by Mary Grow [2062 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Native Americans – Part 4

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Last week’s article talked about Native American sites along the Kennebec River between Fairfield and Sidney on the west bank, but the east bank between Ticonic (Winslow) and Cushnoc (Augusta) was skipped for lack of space. This week’s article will remedy the omission by talking about Vassalboro and about sites inland on the east side of the river (as was done for the west side last week)… by Mary Grow [1958 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Native Americans – Part 3

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — The Kennebec tribe’s village at Cushnoc (a word that means head of tide, most historians agree) was on high ground on the east bank of the Kennebec River in what is now Augusta, about 20 miles south Ticonic village (described last week)… by Mary Grow [1967 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Native Americans – Part 2

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Earlier articles in this series have identified the Kennebec River Valley as a throughway connecting the coast and the St. Lawrence River, used by, among others, Benedict Arnold going north to attack Québec in 1775 and Canadians coming south to find jobs in Maine in the 19th century… by Mary Grow [1891 words]

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Mr. Drew coming to China

CHINA — Mr. Drew and His Animals Too will visits the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, on Tuesday, July 5, 2 p.m. During his Mr. Drew operates an educational outreach and rescue program and will introduce us to some of his creatures… and many other local events!

Obituaries

CHINA – Rachel A. (Weston) Bourque, 86, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2022, at her home, in China. She was born January 5, 1936, in Mount Vernon, the daughter of Charles and Gladys (Rathey) Weston… and remembering 8 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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: Lisa Hockley, Skowhegan

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | Have you ever gone to bed on a warm summer night, and seen this thing flying around that resembles a large mosquito? It happens to me all the time at camp. Sitting up in bed, grabbing the book I’m reading, or possibly a magazine for some light and quick reading. And, there it is, buzzing around the light, and becoming extremely annoying. It looks like a giant mosquito…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | Although spring always brings admissions of injured, sick and newly-orphaned wildlife to the Wildlife Care Center, May and June are also the months that find Don and his volunteers releasing rehabbed critters back to the fields and woods where they belong. The animals have depended upon human assistance to regain their health or simply mature to an age where they can face the world on their own…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates |  Pianist Marcelle Meyer (1897-1958) was one of a superbly gifted group of pianists born between 1880 and the beginning of World War I…

MY POINT OF VIEW

by Gary Kennedy |  FREEDOM is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants, without hindrance or restraint. Also, the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government. Also, freedom is the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved…

LIFE ON THE PLAINS

by Roland D. Hallee | Well, we’ve been down the whole length of Water St. Now we’ll move a little to the west, and take a stroll down Summer St. The place of note is at the corner of Summer and Sherwin streets, and the home of former Maine Governor Clinton A. Clauson, who died in office on December 30, 1959. He was the 66th governor of Maine…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in 10 Americans can expect to be diagnosed with diabetes. If you or someone you care about is ever among them, you may be surprised to learn that one of the most important ways your doctor can help detect the condition is with an eye exam…