Issue for November 16, 2023
Alfond Youth Center hosted its 99th annual holiday community dinner
The Alfond Youth & Community Center, serving the Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA of Greater Waterville, hosted its 99th Annual Holiday Community Dinner on Thursday, November 9, 2023. This traditional sit-down holiday dinner with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, rolls, gravy, vegetables, beverages, pies and all the trimmings was amazing. The event served over 1,000 community members… by Mark Huard
Town News
Committee re-explains fees at transfer station
CHINA – At their Nov. 14 meeting, China transfer station committee members re-explained that facility users should expect to be charged for many items they donate to the free-for-the-taking building…
TIF committee hears reports
CHINA – Members of China’s Tax Increment Finance (TIF) committee met Oct. 30 to receive progress reports on town projects funded with TIF money…
Two positions filled with write-ins
CHINA – Two positions on China boards have been filled, after Nov. 7 write-in votes were counted and winners informed…
Submit a name to The Remembrance Tree
CENTRAL ME – Help The Town Line decorate the tree and at the same time remember loved ones. For only $10 a ball, you can commemorate loved ones who have passed. Deadline is Friday, December 16, 2023. The completed tree will be published in the December 21 issue…
Construction Updates: China Road Construction – Winslow; Ongoing Work
CENTRAL ME – Eastwood Contractors will continue a $2.4 million stormwater contract on the China Road. Work will continue in front of Cumberland Farms, tying into a large box culvert with a 48-inch storm drain that will proceed east on the China Road to the Cushman Road and continue down the Cushman Road…
Waterville-Winslow Ticonic Bridge Construction Look Ahead
CENTRAL ME – The bridge will be closed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., from Sunday, November 19 -Thursday, November 23, for work requiring access to the entire bridge. During this time, all vehicles will be required to follow the posted detour route. Message boards will be used to warn drivers. Pedestrians should continue to utilize the posted detour route during these times…
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: “Then dynamite, not faith, will move that mountain into this pass.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is December 7, 2023…
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
Love is Louder rally held at Mill Park
AUGUSTA – Well over 200 demonstrators gathered at Mill Park, in Augusta, on Sunday, November 12, to take part in the Love is Louder rally organized by State Representative Regan La Rochelle and the Greater Augusta Unity Committee… by Jonathan Strieff
Volunteers at The Mill help with basic needs
VASSALBORO – We all need a little help at various times. For the past year, people have been receiving food as needed at The Mill, in Vassalboro. Food is the fuel needed to keep our bodies functioning and proper nutrition matters… by Roberta Barnes
PHOTO: Youth action on the gridiron
OAKLAND – Messalonskee Youth Football 5/6 Red team member, Peter McLaughlin (33), running down field while Augusta Jr. Rams Liam Ferran (48) goes for the tackle, in football action earlier this fall. (photo by Galen Neal, Central Maine Photography)
PHOTO: Class B North champions
FAIRFIELD – The Lawrence Bulldogs defeated Cony, 27-7, in the Northern Maine Class B Championship game played in Winthrop, on November 11. The Lawrence Bulldogs now hold the 2023 Northern Maine Class B title, and will be playing in the state championship game on Saturday, November, 18, at Fitzpatrick Stadium, in Portland. Game time is 2:30 p.m. (photo by Ramey Stevens/Central Maine Photography)
Vassalboro Historical Society on-line collection now available
VASSALBORO – The Vassalboro Historical Society’s online collection, showing pictures of items from the society’s collection, is now available for viewing by computer at vassalborohistoricalsociety.org. People can see on line photos of items in the society’s collection, showing people, a great variety of documents, clothing, household objects and furniture, tools and other historic items…
Tell us about your family Christmas tradition. Send it to townline@townline.org
Local happenings
EVENTS: Festival of Wreaths to benefit Winslow Community Cupboard Food Pantry
WINSLOW – The Festival of Wreaths – a raffle-benefit for Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry – will be held on Friday, November 24, from noon to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, November 25, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Winslow Congregational Church, 12 Lithgow Street, Winslow. Admission to the event will be a $1 donation; raffle tickets will be 50 cents each. Food and beverages will be available for sale and there will be a very special appearance by Santa Claus!… by Dave Carew
EVENTS: Recycled Shakespeare announces auditions
CENTRAL ME – Recycled Shakespeare Company (RSC) will hold auditions for their upcoming play Richard III on Sunday, November 26, 5 to 7 p.m., at South Parish Congregational Church, in Augusta, and Monday, November 27, 5 to 7 p.m., at Fairfield House of Pizza, in Fairfield…
EVENTS: Family Festival of Trees scheduled for Elks Lodge
WATERVILLE – Alfond Youth & Community Center and Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce combine efforts to present Festival of Trees this holiday season, continuing a proud tradition reinvigorated last season, with a change of venue to the Waterville Elks Lodge…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Cookie Walk at Vassalboro church
VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro United Methodist Church invites you to their annual Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Saturday, November 18. Food and Crafts will also be available. Remember, “Cookies Make You Sweeter”…. and many other local events!
Obituaries
BENTON – Sandra Tuttle, of Benton, passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2023. She was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, to Clarence and Denise Bean… and remembering 12 others.
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Starrett family of China (new)
CHINA HISTORY — Two weeks ago, this series featured China-born inventor Laroy Sunderland Starrett. As suggested in that story, he was a member of a large family with generations of China connections. This article will provide information about Laroy Starrett’s family… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Inventors – Part 3
ME HISTORY — Here is Earl H. Smith’s introduction to Martin Keyes in Smith’s Downeast Genius, beginning with a comparison to the inventor profiled in this series two weeks ago. “Like Alvin Lombard, Martin Keyes (1850–1914) was blessed with an inquisitive and clever mind, but unlike his burly tractor-making neighbor, Keyes was a diminutive and fastidious man…” by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture & Inventions – Part 2
ME HISTORY — Colby College historian Earl H. Smith found four more local inventors besides Hanson Barrows and Alvin Lombard, whose work was last week’s topic. They were William Kendall, of Fairfield, and Waterville; Laroy Starrett, of China and Newburyport, Massachusetts; and in the 20th century, Martin Keyes and Frank Bunker Gilbreth… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Inventions, agriculture & others
ME HISTORY — Previous articles have talked about how agricultural work changed from the 1700s through the 1800s, as manpower was replaced by animal-power and then machines. Other changes, too, helped farmers produce more or expend less effort or both… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, November 16, 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: Maylou Ripley, Oakland
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | A little while back, I went to a friend’s house at the lake to help bring in his dock. But before we did that, he had to go to Hannaford to pick up his weekly issue of the Boston Sunday Globe – he wouldn’t read anything else. I stayed back to start getting things ready…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | I hope everyone had a very enjoyable Veterans weekend holiday. It’s always great to have three days off in a row to share time with family and friends. Some vets and I see each other every week. Often on Tuesday mornings we will meet in the rear section of the cafeteria and share information. Perhaps one day we will see you there. The coffee is not bad and the company is enjoyable and enlightening…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Poet Samuel French Morse (1916-1985) taught English at Northeastern University and summered in Hancock. His A Poem About the Red Paint People is a rumination on a long lost Native-American tribe and can be read in its entirety in the anthology Maine Speaks…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | At least I hope you find them interesting…. It’s not fun digging around in the dark when you realize you forgot to plug your cell phone into a charger. You might try putting a strip of Velcro on your charger to hold it in place where you can easily find it. Mine is on the head of my bed. It has saved me some time, don’t have to hunt anymore…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI)—November is National Diabetes Month, when communities across the country spread awareness about diabetes. Did you know that at least 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes? That’s 37 million adults and children…