Issue for May 13, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Eagle Scout rank awarded to Hunter Praul, of China

Boy Scout Troop #479, in China, held a small ceremony to honor its newest Eagle Scout, Hunter Praul. The ceremony was held at the China Baptist Church on Sunday, April 18, 2021… by Scott Adams

Waterville scouts do clean up work at Fort Knox as a service project

On April 24, Boy Scout Troop #436, of Waterville, traveled to Fort Knox Historic Site and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory (America’s Original Fort Knox), in Prospect, as part of a service project to ready the park for opening for its season which began on May 1… by Chuck Mahaleris

Your Local News

Selectmen unanimously support CBC program

CHINA — At their May 10 meeting, China selectmen followed up on their April 29 meeting with China Broadband Committee (CBC) members by voting unanimously to support the CBC program, without yet committing any town money…

Two solar farm requests to fill June planners’ agenda

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Planning Board members ended up with a single application to review at their May 4 meeting. The previous week, Board Chairman Virginia Brackett reported that Sebago Technics had postponed continued review of their application for a solar farm off Cemetery Street…

Controversy over China Police Department heats up

CHINA — The following is a reprint of a letter sent to the Morning Sentinel writer Greg Levinsky, from China Police Chief Craig Johnson, provided to The Town Line by Chief Johnson…

Town manager explains proposed police budget for 2021-22

CHINA — The Select Board in conjunction with the town manager spent many meetings over three months reviewing the options for police services for China. All meetings were open to the public… by Rebecca J. Hapgood, Town Manager, Town of China, Maine

LETTERS: Not the right time to abandon the China police department

CHINA — To the citizens and taxpayers of China, My concerns about the town’s decision to dispose of the town’s police department for a lesser service with the county sheriff’s office… by Robert MacFarland, former chairman, China board of selectmen

EVENTS: Farmers Market open

WATERVILLE — The Waterville Farmers Market is open at the Head of Falls, off Front St., every Thursday, from 2 – 6 p.m…

EVENTS: Pond construction and maintenance workshop on June 4

ROCKPORT — Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District, in partnership with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), is sponsoring a Pond Construction and Maintenance Workshop on Friday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the District office at 893 West Street in Rockport…

EVENTS: Amber Lambke to address Leadership Luncheon

WATERVILLE — Amber Lambke, founder and CEO of Maine Grains, Inc., will speak at the June Leadership Luncheon on Thursday, June 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Amici’s Cucina, 137 Main Street, Waterville…

EVENTS: Skowhegan class of 1963 to meet

SKOWHEGAN — The Skowhegan High School class of 1963 will be gathering for a breakfast buffet on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., at 234 Hilton Hill, MountainsView, Cornville. FMI call 858-0946…

EVENTS: Summer reading program for children & teens coming from Winslow Public Library

WINSLOW — This summer the Winslow Public Library will again proudly offer the Summer Reading Program for children and teens. The theme this summer is Tails and Tales, which young readers will discover through art, stories, STEM, and imagination-themed activities. Due to the pandemic, most aspects of the program will be offered outdoors with mask requirements and social distance protocols, while other aspects will be offered online…

EVENTS: St. Michael Walk-a-Thon rescheduled

AUGUSTA — Due to unforeseen circumstances, the annual St. Michael School and Travis Mills Walk-A-Thon, originally scheduled for May 5, will now be held on Wednesday, May 19. Pledges and donations will continue to be accepted through May 19…

EVENTS: Permaculture in the Park begins new season

UNITY — Plant Giveaway and Permaculture Bed Building will kick off the Permaculture in the Park series at the Ecology Learning Center CommUNITY programming in partnership with the Unity Barn Raisers. The initial session will be held on Sunday, May 16, at 11 a.m., at Triplet Park, Wood Lane, in Unity…

EVENTS: Branch Mills flea market opens May 15

CHINA — Plant Giveaway and Permaculture Bed Building will kick off the Permaculture in the Park series at the Ecology Learning Center CommUNITY programming in partnership with the Unity Barn Raisers. The initial session will be held on Sunday, May 16, at 11 a.m., at Triplet Park, Wood Lane, in Unity…

EVENTS: Bird migration walk set for May 15

UNITY — Enjoy a walk through the Unity wetlands along the raised esker at the Pine Preserve, in Unity, in conjunction with the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust, on Saturday, May 15, from 7 – 9:30 a.m…

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #4:

The total number of panes of glass (not including doors) on St. Bridget Center.

New Dimension FCU announces scholarship program winners

WATERVILLE — New Dimensions FCU awarded a Cony High School student and a Lawrence High School student each with a $2,500 scholarship for their first year in college…

KVCC president departing in May

FAIRFIELD — Dr. Richard Hopper, president of Kennebec Valley Community College since 2013, has announced his decision to leave the College at the end of May after eight years of service to Maine and the mid-Maine region. He has been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in Ukraine…

PHOTO: Four generations

CENTRAL ME — Four generations posed for this photo recently. Mother Kassie Bisson, of Belgrade, holding daughter Brinley Bisson. Great-grandmother, Joan Hallee, of Waterville, and grandmother Angela Hallee, of Winslow…

Adrian Hoyt KVCC student of the year

BENTON — Adrian Hoyt, of Benton, has been chosen as the 2021 Students of the Year at Kennebec Valley Com­munity College, in Fairfield…

give IT. get IT recognized as sole nonprofit certified electronics reuse and recycling service in New England

SEARSPORT — Founded in 2002, in Searsport and Belfast, as the PCs for Maine computer access and literacy program and recently renamed ‘give IT. get IT.’, the organization has continued to provide businesses, nonprofits, and schools with sustainable electronics recycling practices as the only service of its kind in New England…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 6 (New)

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]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 4

MAINE HISTORY — Historical records show the Town of Vassalboro has had three separate Grange organizations, of which the newest, East Vassalboro, is still active in its 126th year… by Mary Grow and Bernie Welch [1371 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 3

MAINE HISTORY — Palermo had two Granges for which multiple records exist, and Milton Dowe found an earlier third one in his research for his 1954 History Town of Palermo. Dowe gives one paragraph to “Recreation Grange” – the quotation marks are his, and he did not add a number – in North Palermo, organized in 1875 and therefore among Maine’s first Granges… by Mary Grow [1969 words]

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!

2020-’21 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Real Estate tax due dates for the following towns: ALBION, CHINA, FAIRFIELD, VASSALBORO, WATERVILLE, WINDSOR and WINSLOW…

Webber’s Pond

Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…

Obituaries

SIDNEY – Richard Arthur Boudreau, 89, died Monday, May 3, 2021. Richard was born in Waterville on May 25, 1931, to Alphonse Boudreau and Grace (Pooler) Boudreau… and remembering 10 others.

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 | Have you ever heard of clover mites? Neither had I. Until, that is, a couple of weeks ago when a friend told me of her encounter with some. So, let’s take a closer look at them…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | A Netflix series, The Startup involves a cast of characters who are way too connected with each other for their own good. The locale is contemporary Miami, Florida, with its exotic palm trees and beaches, the year round weather ranging from balmy to scorching hot, and cesspools of criminality all too often on both sides of the law…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | This adventure is a little different than previous ones. Not much mileage involved in this one. I decided to share this adventure with you as another personal Public Service Announcement. It may seem a bit embarrassing to tell, yet that is exactly why I am sharing. Please do share the information…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | This is a continuation of the school Maine Education Assessment Takes on a New Form. Last spring Maine students did not take the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) because of the pandemic. This spring the test will resume, but it has a new form…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Asthma affects more than 24 million people in the U.S., including more than 6 million children, reports the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. In addition, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year…