Issue for May 18, 2023
Ladies group celebrates young families
When you hear tea party you might imagine a tea pot with tea cozy surrounded by teacups on saucers. The Moms to be Tea Party hosted by the ladies of Sew for a Cause was quite different. May 6, 2023, was a time to celebrate the joy of new life at the St. Bridget Center, in Vassalboro. The kindness and all the work that went into that day grew from a discussion in January 2023 on how these ladies could celebrate young families… by Roberta Barnes
Town News
Transfer station committee members struggle with unauthorized users
CHINA – China transfer station committee members pondered two questions at their May 9 meeting: how to make a second regional household hazardous waste day as successful as the one April 22 (if China hosts one again); and how to continue to reduce the number of unauthorized transfer station users…
Select board to hold second public hearing on board of appeals changes
CHINA – China select board members will hold a second public hearing on the proposed changes in the Board of Appeals section in the Land Use Ordinance before their May 22 meeting…
Listing all ways to state would be large undertaking
WINDSOR – Town manager Theresa Haskell informed the Windsor Select Board at their April 25 meeting about a bill pending before the Legislature, LD461, that if implemented, would require municipalities to develop or update a list of town ways, private ways, and private roads. Each municipality will have to have this provided to the Department of Transportation by November 1, 2023, and the towns would have to establish standards for private road construction by November 1, 2024. “This is a lot of work,” Haskell commented…
Browntail moth update
CENTRAL ME – We’ve had some wonderful sunny and warm weather this past week; which means that many browntail moth host plants have been continuing to produce leaves and flower buds. However, this also means that there is more food available for hungry browntail caterpillars…
Cub scouts pitch-in on Earth Day
WINSLOW – Cubs Scouts in Winslow Pack #445 spent Earth Day- Saturday April 22 – picking up trash around town. Sabrina Marie Garfield, Den Leader for the Wolf Den, organized the project as a way of teaching the Cubs that they have a responsibility to make their community a little better than they found it. The Wolf Den is made up of boys and girls in grade two and they cleaned up litter from more than four miles in town including around the elementary, middle and high schools… by Chuck Mahaleris
Waterville scouts at Nobscot Reservation
WATERVILLE – Friday, April 14, found Boy Scout Troop #436, of Waterville, spending the weekend at Nobscot Scout Reservation, in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Early Saturday morning, they headed to Lexington to hike the 10-mile “Sons of Liberty Trail” to the North Bridge, in Concord…
Quick response to Kennebec River freshet
WATERVILLE — On Tuesday May 2, 2023, Waterville Fire/Rescue responded to 10 Water Street for a routine flood assessment. During times of severe rain, they generally check areas of concern including Water Street and along the Messalonskee River. Upon arrival, they located a flooded parking lot which included three cars that were on the perimeter of the water line. There was a significant amount of debris which washed up on the parking lot creating a roadblock to accessing the vehicles… by Mark Huard
Mid-Maine Chamber names customer service specialist
WATERVILLE — Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, located in Waterville, welcomes Deborah Hellman as its new customer service specialist. Deborah has been named to the position, replacing Katelyn Hood, who worked for the chamber just under one year…
School News
Carrabec High School honor parts announced
NORTH ANSON — Announcing Luke Carey, Carrabec’s Valedictorian, and Mliss Hem, Carrabec’s Salutatorian…
Local happenings
EVENTS: Thurston Park committee to meet
CHINA – China’s Thurston Park Committee meets at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 18, at the park. The main purpose of the meeting, chairman Jeanette Smith said, is to determine what maintenance is needed in preparation for Erskine Academy’s Day of Caring work day on Friday, May 19, and the annual Spring Work Day in the park on Saturday, May 20…
EVENTS: Spectrum Generations invites public to participate in 21st annual Golf Fore a Cause Tournament
CENTRAL ME – Spectrum Generations, Central Maine’s Area Agency on Aging, invites the public to participate in the 21st Annual Golf Fore a Cause tournament at The Meadows Golf Club, in Litchfield, on Friday, June 9, 2023. This fun event will take place at 495 Huntington Hill Rd., where check-in starts at 8 a.m. and tee off is at 9 a.m…
EVENTS: All Saints ten mile yard sale
SKOWHEGAN – On May 19 and 20, the annual 10-mile yard sale winds its way from Skowhegan to Cornville. At All Saints Episcopal Church on, 169 Malbons Mills Road, Skowhegan, you will find free activities, big bargains and, of course, food…
EVENTS: National Poppy Day is May 26
CENTRAL ME – May 26, 2023 is National Poppy Day. Members of American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Unit #39, Madison, will be distributing bright red poppies in exchange for a donation throughout the month of May…
EVENTS: Hospice volunteers to offer weekend retreat for families
WATERVILLE – Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area has announced they will be hosting Camp Ray of Hope, a statewide weekend retreat for Maine individuals and families who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives. The retreat will be held June 16-18, at Pilgrim Lodge, in West Gardiner. Attendees are given opportunities to connect with other people from throughout the state who have experienced a significant loss…
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
Name that film!
Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville: “I feel the need — the need for speed!” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is June 7, 2023…
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…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: E. Vassalboro grange seedling sale set
VASSALBORO — On Sunday, May 21, from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., the East Vassalboro Grange will be having a springtime seedling sale! There will be six local farms selling vegetable, perennial, flower, and herb seedlings. A perfect time for finding plants for your gardens and home. Coffee and snacks will be available for purchase – all food proceeds support the grange’s commercial kitchen. Vendors will be set up on the lawn at the Vassalboro Grange, 353 Main Street…. and many other local events!
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…
Obituaries
BENTON – Chester E. Poulin, 93, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2023, following a brief illness. He was born in Waterville, January 8, 1930, the son of Philippe and Elizabeth (Wintle) Poulin… and remembering 11 others.
FICTION: The House, part 10: Visions of Christmas past (continued)
Excitement started to show on the boy’s face. He seemed to always enjoy anything to do with his father, especially whatever his father would give or send him. He quickly unwrapped the package and found a toy replica of the train engine Tom Thumb. He immediately tried to push it across the floor and his mother reprimanded him to not scratch the flooring. You can tell that she, yet again, was displeased with her husband’s choice of gift. Actually she never seemed pleased with anything to do with her husband and did not hold back how she felt about her son. “Why your father gets you those types of gifts is beyond me.” Ian did his best to ignore her… by Peg Pellerin
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Holidays: Memorial Day (new)
MAINE HISTORY — Waterville’s W. S Heath GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) Post #14, described last week, was the second founded of the eight in the part of Kennebec County covered in this series, according to Henry Kingsbury’s county history. It was the third of 19 in the whole county, Kingsbury wrote… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: May holidays
MAINE HISTORY — The month of May hosts two well-observed national holidays in the 21st-century United States: the second Sunday is Mother’s Day, and the last Monday is Memorial Day. There will be no story about Mother’s Day; it’s too new. Nor will your writer trouble you with details about the many other May holidays listed on line… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, June 15, 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: Sarah Cunningham, Waterville
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | It’s simply amazing what you come across in the woods of Maine. While preparing to open camp for the season, my wife and I were helping friends do some raking and leaf pickup, when the wife showed me something that she had raked up. It looked kind of odd. OK, something else I had never seen in the 34 years my wife and I have been there…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
As warmer months approach, the prevalence of ticks and the risk of contracting Lyme disease increase, especially in Maine. The state has consistently ranked high for Lyme disease cases, making it crucial for residents to be informed about prevention measures and early detection…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | I am curious if anyone still does May Day? I remember it from when I was a little kid, but I hear nothing about it now. Why did we lose that one? What else have we lost?…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Maine novelist Ruth Moore (1903-1989) was born on Gott’s Island, spent several years as an adult out of state, and published the very successful novel Spoonhandle in 1946, which was adapted for the 1948 movie Deep Waters; the money enabled her to move back to Maine for the rest of her life…