Issue for May 27, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

China School’s Forest opens a new trail

China School’s Forest opens the North Loop trail after a team of volunteers cleared brush and fallen trees. It has been twenty years since this portion of the forest had been opened for hikers. The North Loop trail is easy to find heading down the main trail toward the power lines, and it will soon be marked by a sign… by Jeanne Marquis

Your Local News

Business meeting ballot shortened to ease voting

CHINA — For the second year in a row, China’s annual town business meeting will be entirely by written ballot, with voters able to choose an absentee ballot or a Tuesday, June 8, trip to the polls…

Selectmen act on bids

CHINA — At their May 24 meeting, China selectmen acted on bids for summer work and got updated information on buildings that might meet the state definition of a dangerous building. They need more information on the buildings before possible action…

Town meeting set for June 7-8

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro’s annual town meeting will be held Monday, June 7, and Tuesday, June 8. The town meeting warrant and related information are posted in the center column of the town website…

Extra help available for students at VCS

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro School staff and officials are offering extra help to students who need to make up for parts of subjects they missed because of Covid-19…

EVENTS: Memorial Day Services

CENTRAL ME — A listing of Memorial Day services for Albion, China Village, Madison, South China and Windsor…

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #6:

A postcard depicting anything from Vassalboro.

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: Unity Parkinson’s support group meets monthly

UNITY — Unity Area Parkinson’s Support Group for Parkinson’s Patients and Caregivers, meets second Thursday of the month from 3 to 4 p.m., at Unity Community Center, 32 School Street, Unity…

EVENTS: Plant Giveaway & Permaculture Bed-Building

UNITY — The Unity Barn Raisers will hold Permaculture in the Park, hosted by the Ecology Learning Center, Unity Barn Raisers, and Triplet Park, on Saturday, May 29, at 11 a.m., at Triplet Park, 32 School St., in downtown Unity. Learn how to build beds and take home some plants to put in them!…

SPECIAL TO THE TOWN LINE: Memorial Day about fallen soldiers

by Gary Kennedy — Memorial Day is a federal holiday which is celebrated on the last Monday of May, each year. To me Memorial Day indicates a day of memory. In our case it is the American realization that our freedom isn’t free at all. Young men and women have gone to war to protect the American way of life for several centuries now…

PHOTO: Vassalboro Black T-Ball team

VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro Black T-Ball team members, Front row, left to right, Mason Hardy, Ava Fiser and Madelyne Hanson, Back, Coach Justin Hardy, Lance Curtis, Abby Marden and Colton Fletcher…

PHOTO: Winslow Majors softball team

WINSLOW — Rain on a tin roof proves so soothing that it can be found on white noise machines and meditation apps alike, but that’s not the only reason (nor one of the top!) for its popularity among today’s homeowners…

PHOTO:Great winter of fishing!

CENTRAL ME — It was a great winter of fishing for Megan Hallee, 12, of Rome. She caught the smallmouth bass, left, and the brown trout, right, while fishing with her maternal grandfather, Terry Greenleaf, of Oakland, last winter. She is the daughter of Ryan and Rachel Hallee, of Rome…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 7

MAINE HISTORY — Maine State Grange voted at its 22nd meeting, held in Bangor in 1895, to raise money to build and equip a “cottage” for the new “Girls’ Farm” at what was then Good Will Homes, in Hinckley, one of Fairfield’s original seven villages… by Mary Grow [1570 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Granges – Part 6

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]

Webber’s Pond

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

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!…

Obituaries

SOUTH CHINA – Helen Grotton, 90, passed away on Tuesday, May 18, 2021. She finally got her “wish” to join her husband, Wyman, in eternity. They were married for 65 years. Wyman passed in 2011. Their relationship was and is an everlasting love… and remembering 15 others.

2020-’21 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

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

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 | Last week, a reader dropped by my office to tell me a nature story that is, to say the least, unusual. Betsy, a China resident, told me about an oak tree on her property that is a considerable distance from their home. In the branches of this particular tree were multiple burls. One day, one of the burls fell from the tree during a period of high winds…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | When Don and I talked about a topic for this month’s column, he suggested letting readers know what the differences are between an Animal Control Officer (ACO) and an Animal Damages Control Agent (ADC)…

POETRY CORNER

by April Cookson | On the other side of the fence, the grass/is always greener,/That’s just a myth thought up by a dreamer./You can wish upon a star,/It won’t change who you are…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Count Basie (1904-1984) recorded Broadway Basie’s Way for Enoch Light’s Command label on August 18 and September 7 and 8, 1966. It contained 12 classic Broadway tunes…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | The other night I was flipping through my 2020 Farmer’s Almanac for the 100th (at least) time since I bought it last fall. I would have told you, if asked, that I had studied that volume front to back and there would be no surprises left for me in that issue. I discovered I was wrong. I had indeed missed something. I missed two of what I consider the funniest advertisements…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | When I opened my computer this morning I was very pleased to find this bit of news about the Embden Thrift Shop: The Embden Thrift Shop is planning to be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Clean donations are accepted, however no electronics. Items can ONLY be left on Saturdays while the Thrift Shop is open…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | There could be promising news for the more than six million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and the people who care for them…