Issue for November 10, 2022

Celebrating 34 years of local news

Three brothers complete Eagle Scout hat trick

Bryson Lee Pettengill, of Troop #479, received his Eagle Scout rank during a ceremony held on October 30, at the China Masonic Lodge. He isn’t the first in his family, however, to attain the rank of Eagle. Both of his brothers have also earned scouting’s highest honor. Aiden earned his Eagle on October 25, 2017, and Rémy, who is currently serving as Senior Patrol leader for Troop #479, earned his Eagle on August 28, 2019… by Chuck Mahaleris

Town News

Planners use bulk of meeting to discuss commercial solar development

VASSALBORO – Despite a three-item agenda plus a spill-over item from the Oct. 13 select board meeting, Vassalboro Planning Board members spent an hour and a half of their long Nov. 1 meeting discussing proposed regulations for commercial solar developments…

Select board supports broadband committee

CHINA – After a pre-meeting party in appreciation of retiring chairman Ronald Breton, China select board members settled down to deal with a long and varied Nov. 7 agenda. They unanimously endorsed a letter of support for the China Broadband Committee (CBC) application for a Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) grant to improve broadband service in China…

Election Results

Voters approve moratorium on solar development

VASSALBORO – At the polls on Nov. 8, Vassalboro voters approved a moratorium on commercial solar development in the town, effective immediately…

Casey, Preston re-elected; Chelsey wins other race

CHINA – The results of China’s Nov. 8 local voting, as reported by Town Clerk Angela Nelson just before 11 p.m., are as follows. In local elections, Blane Casey and Janet Preston were re-elected to the select board and Brent Chesley was elected to succeed Ronald Breton. Vote totals were Casey, 1,434; Chesley, 948; and Preston, 1,124…

Thibodeau, Lawrence win council seats

FAIRFIELD – In unofficial returns submitted by Fairfield Town Clerk Christine Keller, Stephanie Thibodeau and Peter Lawrence were elected to the two open town council seats in a three-way race. Thibodeau received 1,465 votes, Lawrence 1,385 and Lawrence MacDonald 1,224…

Local happenings

Community Cupboard Food Pantry to benefit from Hannaford Bouquet Promotion

WINSLOW – Looking for an easy, effective way to support a local food pantry during these challenging economic times? For the month of November, Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry will receive a $1 donation from each “Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet” (marked by a red circle sticker) sold at the Hannaford supermarket located at 190 Kennedy Memorial Drive, JFK Plaza, in Waterville…

Carrabec High School 1st quarter honor roll

NORTH ANSON – List of honor roll students at Carrabec High School in North Anson…

TEAM PHOTO: KSW Senior PAL champions

FAIRFIELD – Team photo by Central Maine Photography…

TEAM PHOTO: Sonny’s Junior PAL champions

FAIRFIELD – Team photo by Central Maine Photography…

EVENTS: Spectrum Generations and Northern Light Health to offer flu vaccinations and COVID-19 boosters in Central Maine

CENTRAL ME – Spectrum Generations, in partnership with Northern Light Health, will offer two flu shot and vaccination clinics, at the Muskie Community Center, 38 Gold Street, Waterville, on Thursday, November 17, from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at the Cohen Community Center, 22 Town Farm Road, Hallowell, on Thursday, December 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m…

EVENTS: Knox-Lincoln S&WCD announces wildflower seed fundraiser

ROCKPORT – Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District is excited to announce a new fundraiser – native wildflower seeds. October is the perfect month to sow wildflower seeds for spring growth. Want to develop a big flower garden without planting and tending…

EVENTS: Lithgow Library events

AUGUSTA – Upcoming events at Lithgow Library in Augusta…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Augusta fires & fire departments – Part 3 (new)

AUGUSTA HISTORY – After the April 12, 1861, southern attack on Fort Sumter started the Civil War, James North’s Augusta history focused on the local contribution to and effects of the war. He did not neglect other events, however, including fires and firefighting. Early on, he combined the two topics, describing the patriotic parade on Thursday, April 18, 1861, that was led by the Augusta Band, with the Pacific Fire Engine Company next in line… by Mary Grow [1886 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Augusta fires & fire departments – Part 2

AUGUSTA HISTORY – Another fire Augusta historian James North described was the one that destroyed Augusta’s bridge across the Kennebec River the night of April 2, 1827. It was spotted a little after 11 p.m. and spread so fast that the “citizens [who] rushed to the scene of conflagration with fire engine and buckets” could do nothing… by Mary Grow [1881 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Augusta fires & fire departments – Part 1

AUGUSTA HISTORY – James North’s year by year history of Augusta, published in 1870, records several fires before the 1865 disaster. The first he knew of was in 1785 (when Augusta was still the northern part of Hallowell): “Elias Craig’s Hatter’s shop” burned on Dec. 1… by Mary Grow [1736 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville historic district – Part 8

WATERVILLE HISTORY – This concluding article on prominent Waterville residents features William Thomas Haines, mentioned briefly in several August and September articles and last week; Frank Redington, mentioned almost weekly; and a minister, none other than Rev. Edwin Carey Whittemore, chief editor of the 1902 Waterville centennial history. All were born in the 1850s and lived into the 20th century… by Mary Grow [1564 words]

Webber’s Pond

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

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: Cookie walk and craft fair in Vassalboro

VASSALBORO — A Cookie Walk and Craft Fair will be held at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church, on Saturday, November 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to cookies and crafts, Minestrone Soup, Corn Chowder, Chili, Pickled Beets, Zucchini Relish and Salsa will also be available to go. Come and enjoy while helping others… and many other local events!

Obituaries

WINSLOW – Ronald M. LeClair, 64, passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2022, following a battle with cancer. Ron was born in Waterville to Robert and Noella (Gilbert) LeClair, in August 1958, just minutes before his identical twin brother, Don… and remembering 10 others.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | While preparing breakfast last Saturday, I glanced out the kitchen window towards my recently cleaned up garden plot. As I looked around I noticed some movement, and commented to my wife: “I think I have a title for a new country song, ‘There’s a squirrel in the compost pile’”

MY POINT OF VIEW

by Gary Kennedy | So here we are with another year passing us by and searching for meaning. We veterans know who, what and why we are considered veterans. In general, those who have served in the U.S. Military are veterans. However, title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, army, navy, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable”…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | I own a ten inch 78 (Dootone 348) containing two songs performed by the doo wop vocal group, the Penguins – Hey Senorita and Earth Angel. It was released in late 1954 and, in early 1955 in an ironic twist of commercial fate, side one’s Senorita, even though pleasant enough, would be ignored by disc jockeys in favor of Earth Angel soaring to #1 on the rhythm and blues charts for three weeks with 4 million copies sold by 1966 and very musically deserving of its success…

FINANCIAL FOCUS

by Sasha Fitzpatrick | One of the rewards for working over several decades is the ability to contribute to tax-advantaged retirement accounts, which can help provide needed income for you when you do retire. As the years went by, you may well have accumulated several retirement accounts, such as IRAs and 401(k)s or similar employer-sponsored plans. But you might find it advantageous to consolidate these accounts with a single provider…

LIFE ON THE PLAINS

by Roland D. Hallee | The final installation of our photo essay of oldtime Water Street in Waterville…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Have you heard the saying, “Movement is medicine?” Countless studies have shown that physical activity can help reduce the risks of serious health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, back and neck pain, some types of cancer, and even falls…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | No Job too small. Even if you are technically now a “skilled laborer” you can offer your services and grow your business right now… Without any special tools, equipment, or skills. You just have to know how to work hard and let people know you are available…