Issue for November 2, 2023
Scouts hold haunted woods event at Camp Bomazeen
Kids and parents clad in cute or creepy costumes skulked through Camp Bomazeen on October 14 for the annual Haunted Woods event. Cub Scouts and their parents donned fantastic or phantasmic costumes on Saturday and visited different activity areas around camp such as Archery, BB Gun Shooting, the Haunted House run by Augusta Troop 603, outdoor cooking, the obstacle course, pumpkin painting, and arts and crafts. In the evening, after the younger Scouts went home with their parents, the older Scouts from area Troops took part in the haunted hike that lasted until the witching hour (11 PM). Julie McKenney of Belgrade organized the program. “It is so much fun to watch the younger kids and their parents have fun together at Camp,” she said… by Chuck Mahaleris
Town News
Only three of six candidates take part in forum
CHINA – Three of the six candidates on China’s Nov. 7 local election ballot attended the Oct. 28 candidates’ forum at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village…
Resident presents new plan for property development
CHINA – China resident Chris Harris presented a new proposal for his land on Route 3 to town planning board members at their Oct. 24 meeting. Board members advised on next steps, planning continued review in November…
Assessment review board denies abatement request
CHINA – At an Oct. 25 meeting, three members of China’s board of assessment review unanimously upheld the board of assessors (also the select board), who on Aug. 28 denied Marie Michaud’s application for a property tax abatement…
Trucks/equipment discussed at select board meeting
WINDSOR – At the October 10 meeting of the Windsor Select Board, there was discussion of the truck/equipment schedule. Public Works Supervisor Keith Hall spoke to the time line and the notes he made on a handout for replacing each of the trucks and equipment…
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: “One word: Plastics.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is November 9, 2023…
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
SCOUTS: Tristan Morton completes orienteering course
AUGUSTA – Tristan Morton, of Augusta Troop #603, moves across terrain and trails as part of his Orienteering Requirement for the First Class Rank at Augusta’s Viles Arboretum. Working over a mile, he navigates to landmarks and cross-country, Tristan shoots a back azimuth to verify his position after boxing around Viles Pond. After verifying his position, he is ready to navigate to his next objective… by Chuck Mahaleris
Davidson Nature Preserve Full Moon Hike
VASSALBORO – Join Kennebec Land Trust staff and volunteer property stewards to take advantage of the full moon for a hike at the Davidson Nature Preserve on Monday, November 27 at 5:30 p.m. Bring what you need to be comfortable for a night walk, including a headlamp or flashlight, warm clothes, water, snacks etc. The family-friendly hike will be approximately one mile long…
HealthReach welcomes Dr. Martini
CENTRAL ME – This November, HealthReach staff in Strong, Livermore Falls, and Belgrade are happy to welcome Dr. Jenna Martini to their care teams. Dr. Martini grew up in Peru, Maine. She earned her doctorate degree, Doctor of Osteopathy, from Touro University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, CA…
New Dimensions FCU names Grenier as new executive vice president
WATERVILLE – New Dimensions Federal Credit Union has announced the promotion of Michael Grenier to Executive Vice President. In this new role, Grenier will oversee operations, develop growth strategies, and enact the vision set forth by the Board of Directors and CEO…
PHOTO: Harvesting success
VASSALBORO/WINSLOW – Reese O’Brien became a member of the Big Buck Club of Maine on Saturday October 21, the second day of the youth hunt, when he harvested an eight point Buck which weighed 200 lbs in Vassalboro. This was the third deer that Reese has harvested since he started hunting. Reese is from Winslow and was being mentored by his great-uncle Jim Rafuse…
TEAM PHOTO: Fairfield PAL teams winners at Senior Bowl
FAIRFIELD – Fairfield PAL fourth and sixth grade senior bowl players painted their helmets with L’s and hearts as a way to support and honor Lewiston Strong as they played in Hermon, on Pottle Field, on Sunday, Oct.29.. (Team photo by Ramey Stevens, Central Maine Photography)…
TEAM PHOTO: Messalonskee grades 5/6 red football team
OAKLAND – Team photo by Missy Brown, Central Maine Photography…
LETTERS: More volunteers needed at Window Dressers workshop
CHINA/VASSALBORO – Last year The Town Line ran a piece about Window Dressers, a grassroots, volunteer-run, nonprofit organization that trains, supplies, and supports volunteers to construct Insulating Window Inserts for residents who need help in keeping their homes warm… from Roberta Barnes (Windsor)
Local happenings
EVENTS: Bella Ann fundraiser
CHINA – A beautiful afternoon of live music awaits you! Bella Ann will be performing her original music along with some select covers. Guest artists will play a few songs before Bella hits the stage for her first headlining show, on Sunday, November 12, at the Children’s Discovery Museum, 7 Eustis Parkway, Waterville, beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15…
EVENTS: Thank you for your service!
CHINA – Boynton-Webber American Legion Post #179, in South China, will be hosting a turkey dinner for veterans, and one guest, on Wednesday, November 8, starting at noon, at the South China Legion Hall, at 79 Legion Memorial Drive, South China….
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Veterans free turker dinner in South China
So. CHINA — A Veterans free turkey dinner will be held on Wednesday, November 8, at noon, at the Boynton-Webber American Legion Post #179, Legion Memorial Dr., South China… and many other local events!
Obituaries
CHINA/EXETER, New Hampshire – Henry “Hank” C. Dillenbeck, 94, passed away Wednesday, October 18, 2023. He was born August 18,1929, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to parents Ben and Emilie… and remembering 11 others.
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture & Inventions – Part 2 (new)
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
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture – Part 7
VASSALBORO HISTORY — Recent articles have mentioned two Vassalboro men, Thomas Stackpole Lang and Hall Chase Burleigh, who each deserve more attention for their agricultural contributions, along with Lang’s father, John Damon Lang… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture – Part 6
WATERVILLE HISTORY — Another locally-bred trotting horse, even more famous than General Knox (described last week), was Nelson. Nelson was a bay horse. The color is described on line as “a reddish-brown or brown body color with a black point coloration on the mane, tail, ear edges, and lower legs.” Several on-line pictures dramatically contrast his dark mane with his lighter body. He stood a little over 15 hands (readers will remember a hand equals four inches)… 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 | We’ve turned another page on the calendar and we are now entering into the time of year when the holidays are upon us, and the wintery weather is on the horizon. What is in store for us this year? Well, most of my natural signs are not visible this year…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | The 38th President Gerald Ford (1913-2006) always struck me as the most personally likable of our 46 chief executives. His geniality helped immensely in generating good will on both sides of the aisle during his 25 years in the House of Representatives before President Richard Nixon appointed him as vice president on December 8, 1973, after Spiro T. Agnew was forced to resign…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | That is right. Quite a bit of time I am working on one project or another. The most recent one has Dave scratching his head in wonder. I have been wanting to do some matchy (means I want the different pieces to match) things for the bedroom. I found a comforter for the bedroom, truthfully, I bought it to help me cheat in making a quilt. But… some other idea traveled through my head before I got to the quilt (I’ll just have to buy another one to cheat with.)…
MY POINT OF VIEW
by Gary Kennedy | November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson set November 11 aside as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. President Wilson stated, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations”…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Though lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer in Maine and the U.S., catching lung cancer early increases the chance of survival by 20 percent. MaineGeneral offers low-dose CT (LDCT) screening, an important tool that can save your life…