Issue for November 23, 2023
Local scouts honor veterans at parade
In Waterville, Scouts from Vassalboro, Winslow, Windsor and Augusta marched in the Veterans Day Parade with some of the Cub Scouts from Windsor leading the pledge of allegiance at City Hall. Windsor Pack #609 Cubmaster Shawn McFarland said, “This was our first parade and first community event. I am so proud of these Littles! Thank you everyone”… by Chuck Mahaleris
Town News
Select board discusses many issues; no decisions
VASSALBORO – At their Nov. 16 meeting, Vassalboro select board members talked again about the fire station roof, a generator for the town office and recording board meetings (theirs and other town boards), and revived a topic not discussed for years, membership in Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG)…
Planners discover omission in solar ordinance
VASSALBORO – In the course of exploring two applications for solar power developments at their Nov. 14 meeting, Vassalboro planning board members found what most of them consider an omission in the town’s new solar ordinance…
Planners hold rescheduled meeting on solar farm
CHINA – On Nov. 14, China planning board members held their rescheduled public hearing on Novel Energy Systems’ proposed community solar farm on Parmenter Hill Road, the section locally known as Moe’s Mountain…
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…
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…
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…
Help grow a seed money grant
PALERMO – The Palermo Community Garden gave almost 350 pounds of fresh greens, veggies, and herbs to the Palermo Food Pantry this growing season, and it was all done with volunteer labor and a grant from SeedMoney.org, a Maine nonprofit. This is a crowd funding challenge grant that the Living Communities Foundation applies for every fall…
LETTERS: What’s so wrong? Work it out.
from Gary Mazoki (Palermo) – When I speak with my friends and ask them if they heard the latest news from China? They say did President Xi order the invasion of Taiwan? I say it’s worse, the town of Palermo has received notice that the town of China, Maine, has given notice to terminate the contract for Palermo residents to utilize the China Transfer Station!…
Tell us about your family Christmas tradition. Send your memories to townline@townline.org
Local happenings
EVENTS: Rotary Club launches charity auction
WATERVILLE – The 60th annual Waterville Rotary Auction with hundreds of gifts, services and unique items will once again be held online through BiddingOwl.com. If you would like more information about the online auction Saturday, November 25, through Friday, December 1, 2023, please see our webpage for details…
EVENTS: Children’s Discovery Museum announces 2023 holiday programs line-up
WATERVILLE – The Children’s Discovery Museum is excited to announce its line-up of holiday programs for the 2023 season, which will include the Parade of Lights, Kringleville, Light Up The Town, Letters to Santa, and new holiday lighting in Castonguay Square…
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…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Festive Celebration at Erskine
SOUTH CHINA – Erskine Academy presents Deck the Halls, a Festive Celebration, Friday, December 1, from 4 – 7 p.m., at the school, 309 Windsor Rd., China. This will include the Red Barn Road Show food truck, tractor rides, tree lighting, caroling, cookie decorating, gingerbread house competition, a toy drive, and more…. and many other local events!
Obituaries
ALBION – Allen R. Higgins, 89, of Albion, passed away on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. He was born December 9, 1933, the son of Muriel and Roland Higgins… and remembering 6 others.
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Louis Masse (new)
VASSALBORO HISTORY — When Louis Masse’s name appeared in last week’s article on the Starrett family of China, knowledgeable Vassalboro residents might have been surprised. They thought he was theirs, founder of the family that owned and ran the Masse mill on the Masse dam, in East Vassalboro… by Mary Grow
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Starrett family of China
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
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, December 14, 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: Shirley Kinney, Augusta
Town Line Original Columnists
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | The 39th President Jimmy Carter has achieved a few longevity records. First, he is the oldest living one at 99. Secondly, he has lived the longest of any President…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | I have been watching a chain of events taking place. Have you noticed? It seems to me that we have been losing touch with those niceties. When I was working in the school system with first and second graders, that first day of school we had to teach academics but also had to begin teaching basic table manners. They caught on quickly. Kids learn good and not so good behavior at about the same time…
MY POINT OF VIEW
by Gary Kennedy | The Mayflower traversed the Atlantic to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620, led by William Bradford. The reason for the journey was the pursuit of religious freedom. Protestantism was in its infancy. William Bradford was an English Puritan Separatist originally from the West Riding of Yorkshire in northern England…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) — With respiratory virus season in full swing, you may think it’s too late for you and your family to get vaccinated against the flu. The good news: it’s not. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there’s still time to get your flu shot because flu typically peaks in February and can continue into May…