Issue for November 11, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

China’s treasured community leader retires

42 years service to town; 22 years as select board member

Whether in the public eye or behind the scenes, over the past 22 years China residents have placed their trust and confidence in Irene Lydia Belanger. Serving as an elected member on the China Select Board, she has been steadfast in representing the people’s best interests and moving the community forward… by Deborah Belanger-Warnke

Your Local News

Planners set meeting for Nov. 18

PALERMO — There is a meeting of the Palermo Planning Board on Thursday, November 18, at 6.30 p.m., at the Palermo Town Office (45 North Palermo Rd). The purpose of the meeting is to review the subdivision request for Colby Road…

Selectmen work through miscellaneous agenda

CHINA — China selectmen had a miscellaneous agenda for their Nov. 8 meeting, and dealt with most of it expeditiously…

What’s next for China’s broadband committee?

CHINA — China Broadband Committee (CBC) members met Nov. 4 to consider “What’s next for broadband in China,” after voters rejected their request to authorize select board members to borrow money for expanded broadband infrastructure…

Council seat recount upholds election day results

FAIRFIELD — A recount in the race for two seats on the Fairfield Town Council confirmed the election day results, according to town clerk Christine Keller. Newcomer Matt Townsend and incumbent Council Chairman John Picchiotti claimed the two seats…

Erskine’s Samantha Golden presented with Heisman High School Scholarship

CHINA — On Monday, November 1, 2021, the Heisman Trophy Trust and Acceptance Insurance announced the 2021 school winners for the Heisman High School Scho­larship presented by Acceptance Insurance. Ers­kine Academy senior Samantha Golden, daughter of Jane and Richard Golden, of China, was selected as a school winner in the competition…

Vassalboro Civil War memorial statue repaired

VASSALBORO — Repairs were made to two places on the cape, and to the nose of the statue. The rifle has been missing for years, and pieces were most recently discovered at the Outlet Dam, in North Vassalboro. The missing rifle section will not be repaired at this time, as costs were prohibitive…

Red Cross to offer free smoke detectors

CENTRAL ME — Finally, the Red Cross of Northern New England has resumed its free smoke alarm installation program and home safety checks. Those interested in this free service can schedule an installation…

Lions Club holds successful food drive

WATERVILLE — The Waterville Lions Club held their 2nd Annual Drive Thru food drive on October 23. The response from the community was overwhelming, again. In addition to individual donations the following local businesses offered their support by gathering donations…

Rumor has it…America will be 401 years old on November 11

HISTORY — As we approach the celebration of the 401st anniversary of America, the Liberty Tree Society, Walpole, New Hampshire, is offering, at no cost, a Mayflower Compact Certificate to any all-male descendant of the Mayflower Compact signer…

PHOTOS: Fairfield police support local Halloween event

FAIRFIELD — On October 31, the Fairfield Police Department hosted their Second Annual Halloween Trunk or Treat Drive Thru, and it was a huge success. What started as a solution for trick or treating the first Halloween during COVID, has now turned into an annual event…

PHOTO: Heading to state championship game

WATERVILLE — The Waterville Panthers football team is headed to the state 8-man large schools championship game on Sat., Nov. 13, vs Cheverus, at Fitzpatrick Stadium, in Portland…team photo…

PHOTOS: Winslow boys soccer crowned Class B northern Maine champions

WINSLOW — The Winslow boys soccer team recently captured the Class B Northern Maine championship…team photo…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Libraries (new)

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — The differential treatment in education discussed last week did not necessarily make women less interested than men in learning and literature. Local histories mention discussion and debate groups, most by and for men, some by and for women, and early libraries… by Mary Grow [2925 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Women in education

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Readers of recent articles in this series on the history of central Kennebec Valley towns will have noticed differences between education for men and education for women from the late 1700s into the 20th century… by Mary Grow [1955 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Windsor & Winslow schools

WINDSOR/WINSLOW HISTORY — Windsor residents are fortunate to have a well-researched town history by Linwood H. Lowden, published in 1993, that includes an equally well-researched chapter on schools by C. Arlene Barton Gilbert… by Mary Grow [1817 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville Liberal Institute

WATERVILLE HISTORY — In Waterville, in addition to the private and public schools already described, there was Waterville Liberal Institute. An on-line list of Universalists’ “higher institutions of learning” says Waterville Liberal Institute opened in 1835… by Mary Grow [1508 words]

2021-’22 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

2021-2022 Real Estate tax due dates for the following towns: CHINA, FAIRFIELD, PALERMO, SIDNEY, VASSALBORO, WATERVILLE, WINDSOR and WINSLOW…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Yummy Soup & Biscuit Fundraiser Saturday, November 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WINSLOW — Get ready to enjoy a “soup-er” flavorful take-out lunch, brimming with your choice of mouth-watering soup, a homemade biscuit or cornbread, and cookies! On Saturday, November 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Winslow Congregational Church…and many other events!

Webber’s Pond

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

Obituaries

WINSLOW – Gerard A. Poissonnier, 66, passed away on Friday, October 1, 2021, a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gerard was born April 6, 1955, the only son of Alcide and Gabrielle (Poulin) Poissonnier, in Waterville… and remembering 8 others.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | A couple of weeks ago I noticed a lot of different birds coming to our feeders, and I compared the situation with the Alfred Hitchcock thriller film, The Birds. Well, I have another chapter in that episode…

MY POINT OF VIEW

by Gary Kennedy | At 11:00 a.m., on November 11, 1918, the Allied Powers signed a cease fire agreement with Germany at Compiegne, France, which terminated the war known to us as World War I. Armistice Day, so called was commemorated by the U.S.A., France and Great Britain…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Tonight, I am going to share some suggestions for the home mostly but there may just be some general information, too. Of course, I will have to tell you what my baby great-granddaughter has been up to recently as this morning…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Since I have quite a bit to tell you about, I’ll get right to it … Benjamin Safford was recently presented with the Boston Post Gold Cane by Solon Selectmen, as Solon’s oldest resident…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Scott Elledge’s 1984 E. B. White: A Biography, was published when White was still living (he died in 1985) and is well worth dipping into for those, like myself, intrigued by the man who contributed to the success of the New Yorker magazine, wrote unsurpassed prose and raised ducks and geese on his Brooklin, Maine, farm…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Children and teens are catching and spreading COVID-19 at an increasingly high rate. Even if your child or teen has not yet contracted COVID-19, they are at risk, especially with the low number of vaccinated residents in Montana…