Issue for October 20, 2022

Celebrating 34 years of local news

Cubs help with fight against cancer

On Tuesday October 11, 2022, the Vassalboro Community School PTO held a Food Truck Night at Vassalboro Community School as a fundraiser for the Michaud family. Ira Michaud is the principal of the Vassalboro Community School and his son is battling a very rare cancer. Ira Michaud is himself a Cubmaster and his son Ian is a Cub Scout…

China seventh and eighth graders hold car wash for veterans, first responders

The seventh and eighth grade social studies students at China Middle School recently hosted a free car wash for first responders and local veterans in our communities in recognition of those service organizations who lost so many lives on September 11, 2001…

Your Local News

18 residents attend town manager search forum

VASSALBORO – Eighteen Vassalboro residents attended the Oct. 12 forum that was called to collect answers to two questions: what are the “major issues and challenges” facing the town in the next five years; and what “qualities, education, background and experience” should the town manager who succeeds Mary Sabins have…

Delta Ambulance plans financial requests from served towns

VASSALBORO – The topics that took the most time at a long and varied Oct. 13 Vassalboro select board meeting were a presentation by Delta Ambulance representatives on plans to request financial aid from towns served, and a discussion with Cross Hill Road residents about getting a new business to comply with conditions on its town permit…

Selectmen get glowing report from school super

CHINA – Regional School Unit #18 Superintendent Carl Gartley (a China resident) and China’s representatives to the RSU #18 board talked with select board members at the Oct. 11 select board meeting…

Six referendum questions on ballot deal with ARPA funds

CHINA – At the polls on Nov. 8, China voters will express their opinions on state elections, including choice of town representatives to the state legislature; local elections for select board, planning board, budget committee and Regional School Unit #18 director; and eight local referendum questions…

Voters to decide local and state elections

CHINA – China voters have local elections on Nov. 8, as well as the state elections. There are several contests for state offices; on the local ballot, there are more vacancies (which can be filled by writing in a name) than contests…

2022-’23 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Real estate tax due dates for the towns of Albion, China, Fairfield, Oakland, Palermo, Sidney, Vassalboro, Waterville, Windsor and Winslow…

OPINIONS: Protecting a high quality and fully-funded public education system is vital

by Tom Waddell The Supreme Court’s Casey vs. Makin decision all but forces Maine to fund private religious education. Now every state’s public school funding is under attack…

EVENTS: Proud tradition returns to honor veterans

WATERVILLE – The Veterans Day Parade, in Waterville, will be held on Friday, November 11, 2022. Lineup begins at 10 a.m., at The Elm, 21 College Ave. Waterville. American Legion Post #5 Commander Craig Bailey invites all area veterans of all wars and services to participate in the parade and ceremony at the Castonguay Square Park, Common Street, Waterville…

EVENTS: Gaslight Theater to present Agatha Christie thriller “The Stranger”

HALLOWELL – This November Gaslight Theater proudly presents The Stranger, by Agatha Christie, at Hallowell City Hall Auditorium, located at 1 Winthrop Street, in Hallowell. Theater patrons can choose from six performance dates over two weekends, including Sunday matinees, November 11, 12 and 13 and 18, 19 and 20…

EVENTS: Trunk-or-Treat fun coming to Winslow Community Cupboard

WINSLOW – Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry will be holding a fun-filled Trunk-or-Treat event and fundraiser in the parking lot of Winslow Congregational Church (12 Lithgow St.) on Friday, October 28, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m…

EVENTS: Palermo post to hold 10th annual craft fair

PALERMO – Malcolm Glidden American Legion Post #163, in Palermo, on the Turner Ridge Road, across from ball fields, will be holding its 10th annual craft fair on Saturday, October 29, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m…

EVENTS: Jefferson library to host authors’ reading night

JEFFERSON – The Jefferson Public Library, located in the Jefferson Village School, 48 Washington Road, Jefferson, is hosting an Authors’ Reading Event Thursday, October 27, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m…

EVENTS: Winthrop scouts to hold holiday craft fair

AUGUSTA – Winthrop Boy Scout Troop #604 is hosting a Holiday Craft Fair, on Saturday, November 26, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at the Augusta Armory to raise money for awards, membership and activities while at the same time helping out a good cause…

Anson’s oldest living resident is Boston Post Cane recipient

ANSON – Janet Faye Hilton Fletcher, 97, was honored as the oldest resident of Anson by the presentation of the ceremonial Boston Post Cane, by Anson Historical Society, at her home in Anson…

Albion’s Lovejoy Health Center welcomes two new staff members

ALBION – This September, staff at Lovejoy Health Center welcome two new members: Nancy Johnson, Connector; and Hattie Blye, Care Manager…

TEAM PHOTOS: 2022 Waterville youth football

WATERVILLE – Team photos for Waterville youth football, by Central Maine Photography…

Name that film!

Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville: “There’s no crying in baseball.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is November 3, 2022…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville historic district – Part 8 (new)

WATERVILLE HISTORY – This concluding article on prominent Waterville residents features William Thomas Haines, mentioned briefly in several August and September articles and last week; Frank Redington, mentioned almost weekly; and a minister, none other than Rev. Edwin Carey Whittemore, chief editor of the 1902 Waterville centennial history. All were born in the 1850s and lived into the 20th century… by Mary Grow [1564 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville historic district – Part 7

WATERVILLE HISTORY – The subseries on 19th-century Waterville businessmen continues in this article, beginning with Aaron Plaisted, born in 1831, and his family, and ending with Luther Soper, born in 1852. For variety, your writer added a medical professional (who was also a businessman)… by Mary Grow [1609 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville historic district – Part 6

WATERVILLE HISTORY – This article is planned as the first of a three-part subseries in which your writer introduces readers to some of the businessmen (and other people) mentioned in the previous weeks’ descriptions of Waterville’s Main Street Historic District, and sometimes to members of their families… by Mary Grow [1464 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville historic district – Part 5

WATERVILLE HISTORY – Returning to the 2016 enlargement of Waterville’s Main Street Historic District, the final two buildings included are the four-story Cyr Building/Professional Building, on the northeast corner of Main and Appleton streets at 177-179 Main Street; and the Elks Club, on the north side of Appleton Street… by Mary Grow [1727 words]

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Craft fair at So. China church

SOUTH CHINA — The South China Community Church is having a craft fair on, Saturday October 29, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. To rent a table call Diane at 207-399-6359. Table rent is $20 and the proceeds are yours to keep… and many other local events!

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!…

Webber’s Pond

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

Obituaries

SIDNEY – Kenneth M. Douin, 69, of Augusta and Sidney, died on Thursday, September 15, 2022, following a brave struggle with Alz­heimer’s Di­sease. He was born on Dec­ember 27, 1952, in Au­gusta, the son of Benoit and Cecile Douin… and remembering 10 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, November 9, 2022

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: Donald Eldridge, China

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | During one of the final weekends of camp, my wife and I, one day, were sitting on the deck, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and watched nature as we made our plans for closing up camp for the summer…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | The 13th President Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) was born into grueling poverty, in the Finger Lakes region of Western New York State, to Nathaniel (1771-1863) and Phoebe Millard Fillmore…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Did you realize the Pom-poms on our winter hats have a long history? I didn’t either until I read about it in my Farmer’s Almanac newsletter today. I really enjoyed the history. There have been several purposes besides a fashion statement…

LIFE ON THE PLAINS

by Roland D. Hallee | Part 5 of our historic walk down Water Street in Waterville…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Whether your family has been on its A-game when it comes to dental health or you were subject to the summer slide, the start of the school year is a great chance to reset. While your kids get used to the earlier wakeup call, incorporating oral health techniques along the way will help them beyond their first day…