HAPPY THANKSGIVING from
THE TOWN LINE!

Issue for November 25, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Moving forward with the South China Public Library

If you travel on Jones Road near the north end of South China village you will see progress on construction of the new South China Public Library building, located at 27 Jones Road. The exterior of the building is complete and interior work will continue over the coming months. Blane Casey Building Contractor is coordinating the project and working with other local businesses. While the exterior looks great, the library volunteers and directors continue to raise funds to finish the interior of the building and prepare to move to the new location… by Jean Dempster

Your Local News

Transfer station committee members agree on two monetary issues

CHINA — China Transfer Station Committee members agreed unanimously on two monetary issues at their Nov. 16 meeting. One was to ask selectmen to choose an engineer to design a cover for the pre-crusher and controls beside the mixed-waste hopper at the transfer station. Committee members recommend an engineered plan because they want the new cover attached to the present structure…

CBC continues exploring options for funding

CHINA — At their Nov. 17 meeting, China Broadband Committee (CBC) members continued exploring options for funding better internet service for China residents, after voters said no to borrowing money through a town-issued bond…

Select board looks at issues that could turn into 2022-23 budget requests

VASSALBORO — At their Nov. 18 meeting, Vassalboro select board members agreed on a variety of issues that are likely to turn into 2022-23 budget requests and recommendations…

School heads ask for more early release days

VASSALBORO — The liveliest discussion at the Nov. 16 Vassalboro School Board meeting was over the administration’s request for additional early release days, when students are sent home for the afternoon so teachers can work together…

Vassalboro Fire Dept. fundraising for life saving equipment

VASSALBORO — Rural volunteer fire departments regularly come to the mutual aid of other neighboring rural volunteer fire departments to team up to combat larger structural fires. As an example of ‘mutual aid’ – Mike Vashon, vice president and board of director member of the Vassalboro Fire Department, told us how their 3,000 water-tank truck had been called to assist other towns because rural towns without hydrants need additional water quickly at the site of fires… by Jeanne Marquis

Winslow resident earns award from Western Governors University

WINSLOW — Bethanie Farr, of Winslow, has earned an Award of Excellence at Western Governors University College of Health Professions, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The award is given to students who perform at a superior level in their course work…

Don Plourde named CMGC’s 2021 Developer of the Year

CENTRAL ME — Central Maine Growth Council is pleased to present its annual 2021 Developer of the Year award to Don Plourde, broker and co-owner of Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate, in Waterville. The award was presented at Central Maine Growth Council’s Annual Meeting, sponsored by Central Maine Motors, Kennebec Savings Bank, MaineGeneral Health, New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, and Huhtamaki…

Palermo Community Garden seeks seed money grant

PALERMO — The Palermo Community Garden supplies over 350 pounds of organic greens, veggies, fruit, and herbs each growing season to the Palermo Food Pantry, and is run by volunteers. This project is participating in the SeedMoney Challenge, a 30-day online fundraising competition, and it could really use your support…

New AARP survey reveals veterans are more likely to lose money to certain scams than non-military

CENTRAL ME — The statistics we hear about scams and fraud are nothing short of staggering and a new AARP survey shows that scams targeting veterans are on the rise. Scammers will stop at nothing to steal veterans’ benefits including pension payments and much more. Please consider the following scams and take a look at the survey results. Of those who lost money, the top scams reported include…

EVENTS: CLA to present 10-year runoff plan

CHINA — A 10-year plan to restore water quality in China Lake will be the focus of an online, interactive public meeting sponsored by the China Lake Association on Thursday, December 2, at 6 pm. The meeting will provide an overview of the proposed measures needed to minimize stormwater runoff into the lake, address internal phosphorus loading from lake sediments, and ultimately prevent annual algal blooms that have been occurring in China Lake over the last 40 years…

EVENTS: Managing lands for high quality water: Kennebec Water District’s Watershed Management

VASSALBORO — The Kennebec Water District (KWD) will be hosting a public informational meeting at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at the KWD Water Treatment Plant, at 462 Main Street, in Vassalboro, to review the Forest Management Plan and the South Narrows Peninsula Harvest Plan… by Robbie Bickford

EVENTS: Gibbs art to feature Rachael Richmond

WASHINGTON — The Gibbs Library, in Washington, has just had the pleasure of hanging a lovely watercolor show. Sea creatures and other animals…and one landscape. A must-see for all ages. The artist is Rachael Richmond, from Jefferson, and the show will run through November and December…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Libraries – Continued

CLINTON HISTORY — Lawrence Library, in Fairfield, described to readers last week, is one of three libraries in the central Kennebec Valley whose buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. The other two are Lithgow Public Library, in Augusta, this week’s topic, and Brown Memorial Library, in Clinton… by Mary Grow [1671 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Libraries

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]

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…

Webber’s Pond

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

The Remembrance Tree

Help us decorate the tree and at the same time remember a loved one. For only $10 a ball, you can commemorate a love one who has passed. Mail your donation and the names of your remembered loved ones to The Town Line, PO Box 89, South China, ME 04358. Deadline is Friday, December 17!

Obituaries

ALBION – Robert Merle Foster, 88, of Albion, passed away suddenly on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at JFK Airport, in New York City. Bob and his wife Marion were traveling to Washington state to visit their grandson, Christopher Walsh… and remembering 8 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, December 10, 2021

Identify the people in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common. You could win a $10 gift certificate to Retail Therapy Boutique in Waterville! 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: Kay Pooler, Vassalboro

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | Thanksgiving is here again, and is the unofficial kick off point for the holiday season. Turkeys are the main fare at the dinner table on that day. So what do we know about the wild gobbler?…

MY POINT OF VIEW

by Gary Kennedy | In doing my research for a thanksgiving article I started with Huff Post and its contributor Randy S. Woodley. The article was Thanksgiving Myth. Although those of us who have given history an honest look know that the fairy tale, Thanksgiving, isn’t realistic or even close to the truth…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Good afternoon. Any snow yet? I have to ask, you know. I am on a race tonight to get this done before Tabby (cat) comes in. When she comes in at night, or whenever she comes in, she expects to be the center of attention. Laying across my keyboard tends to assure her of the attention possibilities…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | We were not able to hold our outdoor Fall Open House because at the time half of our students and some staff members were quarantining. Please check out our open house webpage created by our new Title I ed tech Samantha Taylor. You can see our classrooms and read about each teacher’s goals for 2021-22 school year…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | As winter’s balmy freeze approaches with increasingly grim ur­gency and inevitability for the next six to seven months, some brief depictions of the ice cold season are offered. Poet Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) gives a slightly humorous perspective in the following lines from Winter: My Secret

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Entering the second holiday season of the COVID-19 pandemic, Idahoans are eager to reconnect with family and friends and return to treasured holiday traditions. Some simple steps can keep family and friends healthy through their fall and winter celebrations…