Issue for October 23, 2025
Leaving behind a legacy of KIND: the back story
Rémy Joel Pettengill is the amazing soul behind the saying, Leaving Behind a Legacy of KIND. On December 30, 2022, the day after Rémy’s 17th birthday, his family was forever changed. Tragically, the vehicle he was a passenger in, was hit from behind at highway speed. While his three friends were released from the hospital, Rémy remained in the neuro-ICU. On January 7, 2023,he left this world a hero, with his family by his side, by saving the lives of four people via organ donation – a choice he had made when he earned his driver’s license…
Town News
Select board rules on two cannabis appeals
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members spent the first 90 minutes of their Oct. 16 meeting hearing an appeal from codes officer Eric Currie’s denials of two marijuana – now called cannabis – business license renewals…
Conservation commission discusses responsibilities
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Conservation Commission members spent most of their Oct. 15 meeting discussing their responsibilities as stewards of Monument Park and Eagle Park, on Route 32 (Main Street), in and just north of East Vassalboro Village…
School safety dominates school board meeting
VASSALBORO – School safety dominated discussion at the Oct. 14 Vassalboro School Board meeting, from two different perspectives. The meeting began with consideration of the possibility of adding a school resource officer; and later, several parents raised questions and concerns about how serious a September incident was, and how school personnel handled it…
Select board adopts new pet rules
CHINA – China select board members unanimously adopted a new Pet Policy for Municipal Properties, prepared for their Oct. 20 meeting by Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood…
EVENTS: China appeals board
CHINA – The China Board of Appeals meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23, to continue discussion of Timothy Theriault’s application for a variance has been canceled. A new date will be set and announced….
LETTERS: Important questions on ballot
from Doug Phillips (East Vassalboro) – To the Residents of Vassalboro: On Tuesday, November 4, 2025 Vassalboro voters will be presented with three local referendum questions. This being an off-year election the voter turnout tends to be low but please vote, these are important questions which will provide needed direction for the future of the town. I write to ask your support for question two…
LETTERS: Voter suppression is beneath us!
from Livka Farrell (Rockland) – I urge Mainers to Vote No on Referendum Question 1. Please say “NO” to this voter suppression effort. But don’t just take it from me. Chris Potholm – an expert on Maine politics and former campaign manager – condemns the modern assault on voting rights in his book How Maine Decides: An Insider’s Guide to How Ballot Measures Are Won and Lost …
Hamel presented with teacher of the year award
CHINA – On Wednesday, October 15, Kennebec Valley Federal Credit Union, proudly presented the first 2025 Distinguished Teacher of the Year Awards. The award was presented to Marissa Hamel, fifth grade teacher at China Middle School, for her outstanding kindness, dedication, and excellence in teaching…
Community Cookout gathers folks for fun and food
PALERMO – A perfect mid-October afternoon in and around the grape arbor brought neighbors and friends together to enjoy plentiful food, laughter, and entertainment. Three pitmasters kept the steam tables full of freshly grilled chicken, pork steaks, brats, burgers, and hot dogs. Neighbors and volunteers brought their specialty dishes, and a Japanese Taiko Drum group performed with choreographed skill…
PHOTO: Picture perfect
VASSALBORO — Lindy Sklover, of Vassalboro, photographed this old barn on a clear, cool fall day…
SPORTS PHOTO: Stopping the run
WATERVILLE – Members of the Waterville Youth Football grades 5-6 team going for the tackle at a recent game played on Sunday, October 19, at Reed Field…
New Dimensions FCU welcomes Sarah W. Sachs as Chief Operations Officer
WATERVILLE/WINSLOW – New Dimensions Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah W. Sachs as Chief Operations Officer (COO). In her new role, Sachs will lead the credit union’s operational strategy, focusing on optimizing processes, enhancing the member experience, and building on New Dimensions’ commitment to providing innovative financial solutions…
Local happenings
EVENTS: Golden Agers plan trip
CHINA — The China Area Golden Agers are arranging a trip to the Gardens Aglow on Friday, December 12, 2025. You do not have to be a member of Golden Agers to join on this exciting, colorful experience to a venue right here in the great state of Maine…
EVENTS: Erosion Control workshop slated for November
ROCKPORT — Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District and Maine DEP are co-sponsoring an in-person day-long training in Basic & Advanced Erosion Control Practices Certification for contractors on Thursday, November 6, at the Wiscasset Community Center, located on 242 Gardiner Road. The training will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and includes a light breakfast, lunch and refreshments…
EVENTS: Festival of Trees plans underway
WATERVILLE — Alfond Youth & Community Center and Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce combine efforts to present Festival of Trees this holiday season, continuing a proud tradition. Participation in this year’s event continues a fabulous holiday tradition. At the same time, money raised supports families in the community experiencing food insecurity through the services of Alfond Youth & Community Center and funds workforce development services and assistance through the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, meeting a need existing throughout our region…
EVENTS: Ticonic Bridge closure
WINSLOW — Beginning Monday, September 29, at midnight, through November 1, at 6 a.m., the project will be closing the Ticonic Bridge to all traffic for construction activities requiring access to the entire bridge. During this time, pedestrians will not be allowed to transit the bridge. Both pedestrians and vehicles will be required to follow the posted detour routes…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Vassalboro Public Library’s Variety Show and Fundraiser
VASSALBORO – The Vassalboro Public Library will be holding a variety show on Saturday, October 25, 6 p.m., start time, at the Vassalboro Grange Hall, 353 Main Street… and many other local events!
Obituaries
SIDNEY – George A. Savage passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2025. A Celebration of Life was held on Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. at the Sidney Second Baptist Church, 3022 West River Rd. in Sidney…
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: “I’m king of the world!” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is November 6, 2025.
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Area Revolutionary War veterans (new)
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — This sub-series started out to explore the effects of the American Revolution on Kennebec Valley towns, and turned into short biographies of some of the veterans who moved to the area after the war. In other words, one effect was an increase in population… by Mary Grow
The first Methodist foreign missionary was a son of Central Maine
CENTRAL ME HISTORY — In October, 1793 the Methodist itinerant minister, Jesse Lee from Virginia first preached in Hallowell and a Methodist Society was formed. Capt. Charles Cox and his wife Martha, of Hallowell, were the first two converts to Methodism in that town. In 1799 Martha gave birth to twins, Melville and Gershom and when a revival was held there in 1800 the couple had their sons baptized. Both of the boys grew up to become Methodist ministers… by Dale Potter-Clark
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Albion Revolutionary veterans
ALBION HISTORY — Other towns included in this series that are in the Kennebec Valley, but lack direct access to the Kennebec River, are Albion, China, Palermo and Windsor. These towns’ earliest known settlers came later than the first settlers along the Kennebec… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Revolution affects Clinton residents
CLINTON HISTORY — Samuel Varnum (born Feb. 17, 1747 [Fisher] or 1746 [WikiTree, whose writer adds a Jr. after his name]) in Dracut, Massachusetts, did not move to Clinton until after his Revolutionary service, Fisher wrote. He enlisted for a year in the spring of 1776, and later in 1776 for three years… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, November 13, 2025
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: Dave Carew, Waterville
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Over recent years I have been asked why certain creatures in nature seem to be disappearing. First we noticed a decline in fire flies, then June bugs, and even frogs. Last week, I received an email from a loyal reader about the absence of crickets this past summer. After reflecting, I also wondered why we don’t hear them anymore…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | Another week has come and gone. I am sad to report that we have entered the third week of the government shutdown. I have good and bad news regarding this matter. The bad news is this shutdown has allowed a legal pathway of eliminating miscellaneous government jobs. The Unions are fighting this tooth and nail. However, the president’s campaign promise of cleaning up the dead wood in the work force was a promise waiting for a way to happen…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | It’s not too late to plant garlic. Part of the allium or onion family, it first arose in Central Asia and has been grown in the Middle East for over 5,000 years. Now it’s grown worldwide as an important part of many cuisines. Many Maine farmers are adding it to their crop list and a lot of us home gardeners are planting it now…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Between July 1973, and August 1980, I attended a number of captivating concerts in Boston, New York, Washington D.C. and Portland. In October 1973, the touring Leningrad Philharmonic under the direction of Gennady Rozhdestvensky (1931-2018) appeared at Symphony Hall, the program consisting of the 15th Symphony, completed just two years earlier by then-still living Dimitri Shostakovich, and the deservedly popular Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | Sometimes I wonder how our ancient ancestors survived without foods like breakfast cereal and ice cream. But maybe they didn’t realize what they were missing, because pre-historic television commercials got such poor reception…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | In most of the United States, respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcal disease consistently show increased activity between October and March. That’s in part because during the fall and winter, people spend more time indoors and close to one another, making it easier for respiratory illnesses to spread…