Issue for March 30, 2023

Celebrating 35 years of local news

Dozens take part in 30th anniversary plunge

The 30th anniversary for the polar plunge, a fundraising event hosted by the Waterville Area Alfond Youth and Community Center, was held on Saturday, March 11, with over 150 folks showing up at Oakland’s historic Pressey House, in Oakland, to enjoy the beautiful crisp weather, Pinky D’s delicious poutine, and watch the over 50 fundraisers take the plunge into Messalonskee Lake… by Mark Huard

Winslow’s Mike Siviski to be inducted in sports hall of fame

The Maine Sports Hall of Fame will induct ten in ceremonies at the Merrill Auditorium on October 29. “I am very proud of our diversity in terms of geography and the variety of sports represented,” said Board Chairman Brian Corcoran. “It’s intriguing to learn the stories of those who are the best of the best in Maine athletics” …

Town News

Select board “spends a lot of money” on new equipment

CHINA – “We’re spending a lot of money tonight,” China select board member Blane Casey commented as the board’s March 27 meeting wound down…

China and Vassalboro planning boards subcommittee continues work

CHINA/VASSALBORO – China and Vassalboro planning board members have created a joint two-town subcommittee to draft a new ordinance that, with voters’ approval, would be identical in each town. Its working title is “An Ordinance Prohibiting Any More Town Ordinances or Ordinance Amendments Until the Year 2050″…

Budget committee asks broad question about needs and costs

VASSALBORO – The Vassalboro budget committee’s March 21 meeting with select board members began with – and sometimes reverted to – a broad question about what townspeople want for their town and how much they are willing to pay…

School board discusses buildings & grounds

VASSALBORO – Vassalboro School Super­intendent Alan Pfeiffer doesn’t know yet how much larger next year’s school budget will be compared to this year’s, but he expects an increase…

FICTION: The House, part 8: The Conclusion – part 2

Another activity unfolded on the floor. Several clowns appeared performing antics to make the young and young at heart laugh. They were followed by jugglers passing what looked like bowling pins as well as swords and sticks on fire to each other. The four, or was it five, from the Stewart House, were enjoying themselves immensely. On stage others later came out doing acrobatics, performing tumbles and gymnastic routines. “I used to do those types of routines in the gym but we had mats on the floor,” remarked Miri… by Peg Pellerin

Local happenings

EVENTS: Sew for a Cause plans Mothers-to-be Tea in Vassalboro

VASSALBORO – A special Mothers-to-be Tea is planned for Saturday, May 6, by the Sew for a Cause ladies, at St. Bridget Center, in Vassalboro. The event is free and open to all new mothers or soon-to-be mothers in central Maine, but because space is limited, attendees are encouraged to register by April 15. Owner of St. Bridget Center, Rachel Kilbride, says they are expecting about 50 new mothers to attend along with a guest…

SCHOOL NEWS

Malachi Lowery receives MPA Principals Award

VASSALBORO – Malachi Lowery, of Vassalboro, a senior at Erskine Academy, in South China, has been selected to receive the 2023 Principal’s Award, Headmaster Michael McQuarrie announced. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals’ Association, recognizes a high school senior’s academic excellence, outstanding school citizenship, and leadership…

Brianna Paine named to dean’s list

MADISON – Brianna Paine, of Madison, was named to the Fall 2022 dean’s list at Berry College, in Rome, Georgia. The dean’s list honors students who posted an academic average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale while carrying a class load of at least 12 hours during the semester…

Emma Concaugh named to dean’s list

OAKLAND – Emma Concaugh, of Oakland, was named to the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts, fall 2022 dean’s list. A member of the class of 2024, Concaugh was named to the dean’s list for outstanding academic achievement during the fall semester of the 2022-23 academic year…

Listing of local town meetings

CENTRAL ME — Listing of 2023 local town meetings in central Maine. To have your town listed, please email us at townline@townline.org…

2022-’23 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Real estate tax due dates for the towns of Albion, China, Fairfield, Oakland, Palermo, Sidney, Vassalboro, Waterville, Windsor and Winslow…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Community pancake breakfast at the Vassalboro Grange

VASSALBORO — Next weekend the Vassalboro Grange will celebrate spring by opening its doors for the season with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast… and many other local events!

Obituaries

VASSALBORO – Sarah Martha Watson, 48, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 20, 2023. Born in Winslow on June 18, 1974, she was the daughter of Wayne Lemieux and Doreen (Pelham) Lee.. and remembering 10 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, April 13, 2023

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: Angel Hall-Stuart

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | Another sign of spring is upon us. While out checking and emptying my maple sap buckets last Monday, I saw a common house fly on the side of the bucket. The first one of the season. A sure sign of spring, but also the beginning of their irritation…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | By the time you read this month’s column, we will have turned the clocks ahead an hour and despite any late season snow storms, we know that spring is right around the corner. In looking through some of Carleen Cote’s old articles (dating from the 1990s), I thought I’d share one that is still applicable all these years later…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | In a speech given at the Pan-American Exposition, in Buffalo, New York, on September 5, 1901, (one day before he was shot by the psychotic anarchist Leon Czolgosz), the 25th President William McKinley (1843-1901) stated that “Isolation is no longer possible or desirable….The period of exclusiveness is past”…

LIFE ON THE PLAINS

by Roland D. Hallee | A couple of weeks ago we traveled out of The Plains to take a walk down the east side of Main St. This week, we’ll take a stroll down the west side. On this side, because we are talking about more than 60 years ago, there are a few gaps that this old brain can’t remember, but we’ll come close…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

The winter holidays have ended, and spring is in sight. As the days start to lengthen, it is a good time to tend to your overall health and well-being, including your mental health, by practicing daily acts of self-care. Mental health and physical health are closely related…