Issue for May 16, 2024
Messalonskee senior graduates college before high school
Ella Buck, is a senior at Messalonskee High School, in Oakland. Since the age of eight, Ella has known that she wanted to be a nurse. When Ella was a sophomore, just 14 years old, she took her first “college” class through the Early College Program. This program allows high school students to take courses that are not offered at their high school, through colleges/universities. Students can take up to 12 credits a year for free. With a passion for nursing, Ella began taking general education courses required for a degree in the field. She took online courses from four Maine community colleges… submitted by Tania Buck
Erskine Academy announces Renaissance award recipients
On Friday, April 26, 2024, Erskine Academy students and staff attended a Renaissance Assembly to honor their peers with Renaissance Awards…
Town News
Committee begins work on revising TIF document
CHINA – Four members of China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee started on their planned revision of the town’s TIF document at a workshop session May 13…
Planners approve new business, review planned expansion of another
VASSALBORO – At their May 7 meeting, Vassalboro Planning Board members approved a new business in North Vassalboro and reviewed preliminary expansion plans at Sidereal Brewery, at 771 Cross Hill Road. Sidereal owner James D’Angelo is likely to present a formal application at the board’s June 4 meeting…
Copies of annual town report now available at town office and other public places
Copies of China’s annual town report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023, are now available at the town office and in other public places around town.
PHOTO: China Food Pantry participates in hunger walk
CHINA – The China Food Pantry sent a team to participate in the Feed ME 5K Walk Challenge to End Hunger in Maine, on Saturday, April 27. The event is an annual fundraiser sponsored by the Maine State Credit Union to bring awareness to the issue of hunger in our local communities. Participants included…
PHOTO: Feeding the baby
WATERVILLE – Michelle Dorr, of Waterville, photographed this bald eagle feeding a new born eaglet on the Kennebec-Messalonskee Trail, in Winslow.
PHOTO: Aurora Borealis
WILTON – Philip Mazoki photographed this spectacular view of the Aurora Borealis – The Northern Lights – over Wilson Pond, in Wilton, last week.
PHOTO: Opening day
WATERVILLE – Waterville Police Chief William Bonney, Waterville Mayor Mike Morris, and Alfond Youth Community Center CEO Ken Walsh, welcome players at the Little League opening day ceremonies. (photo by Mark Huard)
Nathan Choate earns rank of Eagle Scout
ALBION – Nathan Choate, of Albion, received the Eagle Scout medal during a ceremony conducted by China Troop #479 in his honor on Friday, May 10, at Waterville’s Mount Merici Academy…
MaineGeneral’s comprehensive spine program
WATERVILLE – Mary Beth Ranger, nurse navigator for spine and osteoporosis, is several months into her role helping patients with back issues find the right care, with the right clinician, as part of MaineGeneral Orthopaedics’ Comprehensive Spine Program. Not long ago, Mary Beth was sitting in the chair as a patient…
Carrabec High School announces honor parts for class of 2024
No.ANSON – Peter Campbell, Principal, has announced honor parts for the Class of 2024 at Carrabec High School, in North Anson…
Area students receive Husson University academic award
CENTRAL ME – Husson University Online, in Bangor, celebrates the academic achievements of students recently named to the president’s list, dean’s list and honors list for Term 3 of the 2023-2024 academic year…The students are: Jazzmin M. Johnson, of Augusta, President’s List; Melissa Lyon, of Waterville, – Dean’s List; Olivia Brooke Roy, of Augusta, – Dean’s List…
Jeff Beyea named to fall 2023 chancellor’s list
WHITEFIELD – Jeff Beyea, of Whitefield, has been named to the fall 2023 chancellor’s list at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Local happenings
EVENTS: Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s premiere tradeshow to be held May 21
WATERVILLE – Central Maine’s largest tradeshow, Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Business to Business Showcase, has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, noon to 6 p.m., at Thomas College Field House, West River Road, Waterville…
EVENTS: Waterville Farmers Market open for the season
WATERVILLE – The Waterville Farmers Market will open Thursday, May 2, 2 – 6 p.m., at Head of Falls, in Waterville. It is open every Thursday, 2 – 6 p.m., rain or shine, until November 21. This year they have 23 vendors offering seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, eggs, meat, fresh baked items, local crafts, maple syrup, honey, and plants/seedlings…
EVENTS: Waterville Memorial Day ceremony planned
WATERVILLE – American Legion Post #5 invites community members and families to the St Francis de Sales Cemetery wreath laying ceremony to honor deceased members of Canadian Legion Post #67, Forest J. Pare VFW Post 1285, Waterville Fire Department, Knights of Columbus #13486, Waterville Elks Lodge #905, McCrillis-Rousseau VFW Post 8835, and Law Enforcement Officers. The ceremony will be held at St Francis Cemetery on Grove St on May 27, 2024 and begin at 9:00 a.m…
EVENTS: Benton alewife festival set for May 18
BENTON – The 2024 edition of the Benton Alewife Festival will take place on Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., at t he park near the Benton Town Office, on Rte. 100. The event will take place rain or shine…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Public Supper at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church
VASSALBORO – The Vassalboro United Methodist Church will hold a public supper on Saturday, May 18, from 4:30 to p.m., for their monthly sit-down supper. They will be serving baked beans, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, a few casseroles, salad, rolls, and pies, apple crisp, and raspberry squares for dessert. All for $10. Bring a friend and make new ones while you fill your tummies… and many other local events!
Local town meetings schedule for 2024
Schedule for town meetings in 2024 for Albion, China, Palermo & Vassalboro..
Name that film!
Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to The Maine Film Center, in Waterville: “Worm’s gotta eat, too!” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is June 6, 2024…
Obituaries
VASSALBORO – Roland Henry John Poulin, 90, passed away on Monday, May 6, 2024, at Maine Veterans Home, in Bangor. Roland was born the son of Louis Poulin and Irene (Patnaude) Poulin, in North Vassalboro, on August 29, 1933. He attended and graduated from Winslow High School in 1951. After graduating, he served in the United States Air Force for 21 years from 1951 to 1972… and remembering 20 others.
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Holman Francis Day (new)
VASSALBORO HISTORY — Vassalboro native Holman Francis Day (1865 – 1935) was a well-known and prolific Maine writer. Starting as a newspaperman, he went on to write poetry and novels in verse, novels in prose, a play, non-fiction pieces and movie scripts… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Eli & Sybil Jones, Mary Hoxie Jones
CHINA HISTORY — From Rufus Matthew Jones, your writer goes backward and then forward in the Jones family. Rufus Jones was the nephew of Eli Jones and his wife Sybil (Jones) Jones, well-known Quaker missionaries. Rufus and Elizabeth (Cadbury) Jones’ daughter, Mary Hoxie Jones, born almost a century later than Eli Jones, was a historian and poet… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Rufus Matthew Jones — Part 2
CHINA HISTORY — Part of Rufus Matthew Jones’ story of his early life, in his 1921 book titled A Small-Town Boy, was summarized last week. This week’s article continues his story, starting with his primary schooling in one-room schoolhouses in South China and Weeks Mills… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Rufus Matthew Jones, of China
CHINA HISTORY — China native Rufus Matthew Jones was another writer with a religious background, like Sylvester Judd, though both his religion and his writing style were quite different. Various sources describe him as a philosopher, religious leader, theologian and mystic; he was also a writer, magazine editor, historian and educator… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, May 16, 2024
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: William F. Vining, Norridgewock
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Spring has arrived in Maine, and with it, the Maine Forest Service and others have been fielding caterpillar questions. Caterpillars are essential food for many other animals, including insects, birds, mammals, and even fish! However, sometimes caterpillars from our trees and shrubs become nuisances around our homes and workplaces, and outbreak populations can threaten tree health. The caterpillars of forest tent, eastern tent and browntail moths are beginning to make their presence known…
PLATTER PERSPECTIVE
by Peter Cates | Hangman is a 2017 thriller dealing with a serial killer on the loose in the fictitious city of Monroe, Georgia. The psycho also dispatches each of his victims according to a children’s game called Hangman, hence the title…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | There could be good news if you or someone you care about is ever among the one in 6,000 Americans the National Institutes of Health estimates will be diagnosed with keratoconus…