Issue for March 10, 2022
Area scouts take part in Klondike Derby
Camp Bomazeen, on Great Pond, in Belgrade, saw several inches of new snow, temperatures hovering between 0 and 10 degrees, and a camp full of eager Scouts hunting for gold during the annual Klondike Derby winter activity on Saturday, February 26… by Chuck Mahaleris
Your Local News
ARPA funding topic at special meeting
VASSALBORO — At a special meeting March 2, spokespeople for the Vassalboro Sanitary District (VSD), the Vassalboro Volunteer Fire Department and the Vassalboro First Responders told select board members how they would use federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds if they got some…
Committee begins pre-town meeting budget talks
VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Budget Committee members began their pre-town-meeting considerations at their March 3 meeting with a two-way virtual discussion with human resources consultant Laurie Bouchard, of LBouchard and Associates of Jefferson…
Junkyard, marijuana licenses approved by planners
VASSALBORO — The March 3 Vassalboro Select Board meeting began with two public hearings, followed by unanimous approval of applicants’ licenses, as recommended by Codes Officer Ryan Page…
Check before giving to Ukraine relief efforts
CENTRAL ME — News reports of Russia’s attack on Ukraine may encourage concerned individuals to reach out and help victims affected by the conflict. Before giving, go to BBB’s Give.org for tips on how to best help Ukraine relief activities…
Turner couple raising money to bring Ukraine orphans to Maine
TURNER – Chelsea and Andrew Davies have been hosting twin orphan boys from Ukraine for the last two years during the summertime. The couple, who lives in Turner, grew concerned over the last few weeks as they learned more about Russia’s threats to invade Ukraine…
Spectrum Generations, Capital Area New Mainers Project will help deliver services to underserved in central Maine
UNITY – Spectrum Generations, Central Maine’s Agency on Aging, has entered into a contract with Capital Area New Mainers Project to expand equity of access to Older Americans Act services to New Mainers in central Maine…
Diocese of Portland removes strong recommendation for masks at Masses in Maine churches
CENTRAL ME – Effective immediately, the Diocese of Portland is removing the “strong recommendation” for all parishioners to wear masks at Masses celebrated in Maine’s 141 Catholic churches. Those who still wish to wear a mask are welcome to do so…
UNITEL to join Direct Communications family
UNITY – Direct Communications of Rockland, Idaho, announced that it has acquired Unitel of Unity, Maine. Direct Communications, a family-owned broadband provider, has been assisting customers with their communications needs since 1954…
Trout stocking sale underway; Pre-order deadline is May 6
ROCKPORT – Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District (KLSWCD) is once again sponsoring an annual trout stocking sale for your home or farm pond. We offer two sizes, 4 – 6-inch rainbow trout and 7 – 9-inch brook trout, as well as oxygen bags that hold up to 20 – 30 fish. Minimum order is $50…
Waterville Creates announces Youth Art Month Exhibition and launch of Youth Arts Access Fund
WATERVILLE – Waterville Creates, a nonprofit supporting and promoting high-quality, accessible arts and cultural programs in central Maine, is excited to host the 8th Youth Art Month (YAM) exhibition at Ticonic Gallery and Railroad Square Cinema from March 1-31, 2022…
Celebrate Earth Day with free trees for kids!
WATERVILLE – Plant a tree and help the Earth! The Waterville Public Library (WPL) is celebrating Earth Day this spring by participating in the 13th Annual Neighborhood Forest free tree program, whose aim is to provide free trees to kids every Earth Day! To get one, parents can fill out the online registration form…
O’Rourke promoted to commercial loan officer at New Dimensions FCU
WATERVILLE – New Dimensions Federal Credit Union has announced its new Commercial Loan Officer, Kyle O’Rourke, who has years of lending experience as a Commercial Loan Underwriter and Mortgage Loan Officer…
Rep. Perkins announces local projects in Maine DOT work plan
OAKLAND – State Representative Mike Perkins R-(Oakland) is pleased to announce that the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Work Plan for Calendar Years 2022, 2023 and 2024 is available. The estimated value of work in the plan totals more than 2,316 individual work items with a total value of $3.17 billion. This represents a substantial increase from last year due to anticipated federal funding…
Colby students for mutual aid created
WATERVILLE – This GoFundMe was created to support an ongoing fund by Colby College students for mutual aid. The organizers are students passionate about building a community within the Colby student body and alumni network where they can support the students most impacted by COVID-19 and Colby’s reopening. The fund is specifically benefiting students of color, first-gen low-income students, and queer and trans students…
STUDENT WRITERS: To Recycle or Not to Recycle
by Mackenzie Roderick (Erskine Academy) — Miltimore claims that recycling has been a hoax for years and is just a giant placebo to make society feel better about themselves. Overall, I disagree with Miltimore’s claim that recycling is a waste. I believe that there are downsides to recycling, however it is better to recycle than not…
ICE OUT 2022? Take a guess. Win a prize!
Write down your best guess (one per person) and send it to The Town Line, PO Box 89, South China, ME 04358, or email us at townline@townline.org with the subject “ICE OUT 2022“. If more than one person guesses the correct date, a drawing will be held to determine the winner. Get your guess to The Town Line office by noon, Friday, March 19, 2022…
Name that film!
Identify the film in which this line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville: “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is April 8, 2022…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 10 (new)
MAINE HISTORY — According to an on-line genealogy, Thaddeus Bailey (Nov. 28, 1759 – March 4, 1849) was born in Newbury, Massachusetts, served in the Revolutionary War from Lincoln County, lived in Palermo for some years and served in the War of 1812 while living in Albion… by Mary Grow [1819 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 9
MAINE HISTORY — In the course of reading about the War of 1812, your writer found information on Maine soldiers of less exalted rank than brigadier general, which she hopes readers, too, will find interesting. Colonel Elnathan Sherwin (born in 1759 from his cemetery record, or 1762 or 1763, from on-line genealogies; died Sept. 10, 1822), from Waterville, has been mentioned more than once… by Mary Grow [1865 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 8
MAINE HISTORY — Two national military leaders in the War of 1812, Brigadier General John Chandler and Brigadier General Eleazer (or Eleazar – sources differ) Wheelock Ripley, were from Maine, according to Louis Hatch’s state history. Both had connections with the central Kennebec Valley: Chandler lived most of his life in Monmouth, and Ripley practiced law in Waterville for a short time… by Mary Grow [1532 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Wars – Part 7
MAINE HISTORY — War of 1812:Hampden and Wiscasset. Two events in September 1814 involved central Kennebec Valley residents directly in the war against the British, fortunately without recorded casualties. The first and less significant began in Hampden, where British forces sailed up the Penobscot River to capture the USS Adams… by Mary Grow [1940 words]
Town Meetings Schedule for 2022
A list of local town meetings for Albion, China, Fairfield, Palermo, Sidney, Solon, Vassalboro and Windsor…
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Meet your rep opportunity
Looking for a familiar face? Do you have questions for your State and Local Officials? Would you like to meet some new representative(s)? Opportunity knocks Tuesday, March 22, 5:30 – 7 p.m., at Governor’s Restaurant Banquet Room, Main Street, Waterville… and many other local events!
Obituaries
SOUTH CHINA – James W. Ferrone, 77, passed away on Sunday, February 27, 2022, at the Androscoggin Hospice House, in Auburn. Jim was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, on June 9, 1944… and remembering 7 others.
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Friday, March 9, 2022
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: Frances Wittek, Skowhegan
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Last week we took a look at how white-tailed deer keep warm during those cold winter days and nights. As you remember, that was perpetrated by my watching birds at my wife’s feeders during the recent blizzard in early February. So, let’s talk about how those little feathered friends keep warm during those times…
SMALL SPACE GARDENING
by Melinda Myers | Growing dahlias is a must for anyone who loves cutting and arranging flowers. But there are hundreds of beautiful dahlia varieties to choose from and that can be overwhelming. To make the selection process easier, choose compatible colors that will look good together in the garden and in arrangements…
GROWING YOUR BUSINESS
by Dan Beaulieu | “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.” This is the ad that Ernest Shackleton placed in the London Times to recruit the crew of the Endurance that was setting out for the South Pole…
FINANCIAL FOCUS
by Sasha Fitzpatrick | The long-running coronavirus pandemic has fueled a lot of anxieties – including financial ones. But some people have had far fewer worries than others. Consider this: Among those investors who work with a financial advisor, 84% said that doing so gave them a greater sense of comfort about their finances during the pandemic, according to a survey from Age Wave and Edward Jones…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | The Mahler Symphony I would pick for beginners is the First, composed in 1888 when he was 28 years old. It has melodic appeal, it evokes the sounds of the natural world with coloristic sonorities from the woodwinds and double basses to heighten brooding, spooky tension and finally it utilizes brass and percussion for blazing crescendos…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | Today, I am going to pass on some ‘different answers’ of questions you may not even know to ask yet. Use of coconut oil is all new to me. It had never been in my house, say nothing about my kitchen. But… I found a few situations that it is useful. I am including a few things I read about Coconut oil and a few other things…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI)—If you’re a senior who smokes but is otherwise healthy, scientists warn that your cigarettes are just as bad for brain health as having type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The detrimental effects of smoking on overall health are well-documented, but new research suggests that seniors who light up well into their sixties may be tampering with their brain health and cognition…