Issue for November 4, 2021
These fish have been waiting 200 years for this moment
It’s been more than 200 years since an alewife has successfully made its way, under its own power, from the ocean and up the Sebasticook River to Outlet Stream before arriving at China Lake, but all that’s about to change. After nearly seven years of hard work, oceans of red tape, scores of harrowing town meetings, contentious public debate and skeptical property owners, the Maine Rivers team has succeeded in their efforts to bring a fish back to China Lake… by Eric W. Austin [1234 words]
Your Local News
Voters reject mass gathering ordinance
VASSALBORO — In Vassalboro, voters rejected the proposed Vassalboro Mass Gathering Ordinance, by a vote of 615 in favor to 698 opposed. Town Clerk Cathy Coyne said she thought many people voted “no” because they did not know what the ordinance was about…
Officials, residents present ideas for future town improvements
VASSALBORO — Vassalboro select board members, Town Manager Mary Sabins and other residents presented ideas for future town improvements at the select board’s Oct. 21 goal setting session…
VCS has new gadgets, costing almost nothing…for now
VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Community School (VCS) has lots of new technology for students and staff – and so far, the gadgets have cost town taxpayers almost nothing. But there may be big bills down the road, as things wear out and need repair and replacement…
China broadband initiative defeated, 876-547; Chadwick, Marquis win seats on select board
CHINA — China voters had one referendum question and annual elections on their Nov. 2 local ballots. The referendum question asked whether voters would authorize, but not require, select board members to borrow money to finance expanded internet infrastructure in town…
Rumpf succeeds Batteese as budget committee chairman
CHINA — Newly-elected budget committee chairman Thomas Rumpf succeeds Robert Batteese, who has held the position since 1993, with a one-year break in 1994 when Norman Dwelley was elected…
Broadband infrastructure report off the radar
CHINA — China select board members spent much of their Oct. 25 meeting discussing the recent report on China’s broadband infrastructure, an issue that is at least temporarily off the radar after voters on Nov. 2 defeated a request to allow selectmen to borrow money for broadband improvements…
Committee considers options for added town office space
CHINA — Members of China’s Municipal Building Committee (MBC) spent their Oct. 28 meeting again considering options for additional space at the town office, primarily for storage of town records…
Windsor selectmen hear request for medical marijuana business
WINDSOR — At the October 12 meeting of the Windsor select board, the members heard from Baylee Dresser who appeared before the body to inquire about renting a piece of property from the town to open a medical marijuana store front for sales, and seek the process to do so…
Picchiotti, Lawrence win council seats
FAIRFIELD — Unofficial election results according to Town Clerk Christine Keller, for the town of Fairfield are as follows…
LETTERS: High prescription costs affect the whole family
from Paul Armstrong (Palermo) — When it comes to prescription drugs, we can all agree that rising prices have become a critical issue. Some Mainers are going without their required prescriptions as they can no longer afford them…
PHOTO: Waterville advances
WATERVILLE — The Waterville Purple Panthers quarterback Liam Von Oesen with the carry during last Friday’s game vs. Mount Desert Island…
PHOTOS: Youth active in sports in central Maine
CENTRAL ME — Winning team photos for Palermo middle school soccer team, Messalonskee Grade 5/6 soccer team, and Clinton PAL senior league soccer team…
LOCAL EVENTS
Children’s book author to hold book signing at Retail Therapy in Waterville
WATERVILLE — Local children’s book author Jeanine Deas will be signing copies of her new book, We’re All in the Kitchen, at an appearance, at Retail Therapy Consignment Boutique, in Waterville, on Saturday, November 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m….
Time to order citrus fruit
PALERMO — Once again, it is time to order your sweet, sparkling citrus fruit in time for Christmas or Thanksgiving. This sale benefits the Palermo Community Center, which, in turn, provides a venue, freezer space, and utilities for the Palermo Food Pantry Shipping costs only $6.95 per box, and can be delivered anywhere in the continental U.S….
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Women in education (new)
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]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: More high schools (Vassalboro)
VASSALBORO HISTORY — In Vassalboro, which until 1792 included Sidney on the west side of the Kennebec River, voters first discussed schools in 1771, the year the town was incorporated. According to Alma Pierce Robbins’ Vassalboro history, voters at a September town meeting approved “Thirty Pounds Lawful money” to support a minister – and refused to appropriate anything to support a schoolmaster… by Mary Grow [1944 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: Take out turkey pie supper at United Methodist Church
FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield United Methodist Church is having a Take Out Turkey Pie Supper on Saturday, November 6, from 4 p.m. until gone. Turkey pie with all of the fixings. Tickets are only $10 and only 100 tickets will be sold…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
SIDNEY – Barbara Jean Dudley, 70, of Sidney, died unexpectedly Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at the Alfond Center for Health, in Augusta. She was born in Plymouth, New Hampshire, on September 26, 1951, the daughter of Bernard and Phoebe (Carmen) Hinds… and remembering 9 others.
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Friday, November 5, 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: Greg Wood, Rome
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | The Maine Forest Service recently published its last planned bulletin of the season. It was quite lengthy so I have sorted out what I thought would be of interest to our readers. The following are excerpts from that bulletin…
CRITTER CHATTER
by Amy Messier | When I stopped by to talk to Don Cote at the Duck Pond Wildlife Center today about this month’s column, I was surprised to find all but one carrier empty of critters!…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | This week I came across something I am curious about. I read a page in a local advertising paper. It was written under something called “Gus’s Animal Gossips” and “Citrus Animal Services”…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Last night on Amazon prime, I watched the 2021 film Lansky and was quite impressed by one particular quality, the performance of 82-year-old actor Harvey Keitel as the mobster accountant and major Godfather for way too many decades, Meyer Lansky (1902-1983)…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | Stephanie Bramlett, of Winder, Georgia, is one of many in the Southeast region who has experienced the effects of COVID-19 firsthand. Earlier this year, when the entrepreneur and mother of three was told she could get vaccinated, she was hesitant…