Issue for October 7, 2021
Pack #603 holds Webelo Resident Camp
Photos of Augusta Pack #603 from Webelo Resident Camp this summer, as they construct an emergency shelter during the Pack #603 Family Camping at Camp Nutter, in Acton…
Your Local News
Selectmen approve CBC distribution of flyer
CHINA — China selectmen held a special meeting Tuesday evening, Oct. 5, for one purpose: the China Broadband Committee (CBC) asked them to meet to approve distribution of a revised informational flyer on the proposed new internet system for the town…
CBC informational session draws small audience
CHINA — The China Broadband Committee’s third public informational session, held on-line only Sept. 26 and hosted from the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, drew a small audience with many questions…
Planning board: subdivision permit on Lakeview Dr. land has expired
CHINA — With two pending permit applications postponed, China Planning Board members had a short meeting Sept. 28. They did not hold a public hearing on, or discuss, Miguel Rivera’s application to convert the former Knowles Mechanical Building at 1097 Route 3 to a medical marijuana business…
Selectmen hold public hearing on mass gathering
VASSALBORO — Vassalboro selectmen spent the first half of their short Sept. 30 meeting hosting two public hearings. The first was to seek comment on the new Mass Gathering Ordinance that will be on the Nov. 2 local ballot. The second was the annual hearing on permits for junkyard/auto graveyard permits and auto hobbyist permits…
Cross Country Journey – Part 1 Stage One: From Belfast to Ohio
by Steve Ball — This is a story of a trip across the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The idea of making the trip was crazy. Ride across the country on a bicycle. Are you nuts? I am one of those riders who peddles along our local roads, streets, and byways: Lake View Drive, Rte. 3, Rte. 32, Rte. 17… and the list goes on. It’s how I find my inner peace…
Cross Country Journey – Stage Two: Defiance, Ohio, to Medora, North Dakota
by Steve Ball — We left Cleveland with new found enthusiasm. Allane and I had made it 1,000 miles and our friends and riding partners, John Williams and Nancy Beardsley, joined us for our journey continuing to Davenport, Iowa…
Erskine Academy announces National Merit Scholarship students
CHINA — Erskine Academy has announced that Aidan Larrabee has been named a semifinalist in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program…In addition, Sarah Praul has been named a Commended Student in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program…
China group cancels fall WindowDressers workshop
CHINA — The China for a Lifetime Committee has announced they will not be moving forward with a WindowDressers workshop this fall. Current uncertainty regarding conditions around the COVID-19 pandemic as well as low participation were the reasons for the cancellation…
PHOTOS: Waterville 5/6 grades football & spirit squad
WATERVILLE — Team photos of the Waterville Youth Football 5/6-grades and the spirit squad, by Central Maine Photography…
Winslow Community Cupboard Food Pantry seeks new donations
WINSLOW — Winslow Community Cupboard food pantry—which now serves more than 225 food-insecure families in Winslow, Waterville, and surrounding towns—is actively seeking new financial donations…
MY POINT OF VIEW: A controversial figure whose holiday name was changed
by Gary Kennedy — It happens every year my friends. And for me it will happen every year in the future if I have anything to say about it. This year this holiday occurs on Monday October 11, 2021…
OPINIONS – Question #1: A diabolical scam to gain more control
by Sheldon Goodine (South China) — A lot of questions and confusion about question #1 have come to my attention, so I’m going to try to dissect the wording and give you my take on it. I do this under my by-line, The way I see it, and not by any legal or expertise on my part…
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: More high schools, part 3 (new)
FAIRFIELD, PALERMO & SIDNEY HISTORY — In Fairfield, according to the Historical Society’s bicentennial history, town meeting first appropriated money for schools in 1793, five years after the town was incorporated. As in other towns, schools were based in neighborhood school districts. The history says in 1904 there were 25 schools within the town boundaries… by Mary Grow [1800 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Even more high schools
ALBION, BENTON & CLINTON HISTORY — Continuing the discussion of (mostly) 19th-century high school education, this article will talk about Albion, Benton, and Clinton. In following weeks, continuing alphabetically, readers will find information on Fairfield, Palermo, Sidney (don’t expect much), Vassalboro, Windsor and Winslow… by Mary Grow [2215 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: More high schools
CHINA HISTORY — The Massachusetts legislature chartered China Academy in June 1818. Charter language quoted in the China bicentennial history is almost identical to the language used 50 or so years later for Hallowell Classical and Scientific Academy: purposes are to promote “piety, and virtue,” and to provide instruction “in such languages and in such of the liberal arts and sciences” as the trustees prescribe… by Mary Grow [1976 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Hallowell academies
HALLOWELL HISTORY — Remaining to be described are numerous other 19th-century public and private schools in central Kennebec Valley towns. A few are well documented; for most, local histories offer only tantalizing glimpses… by Mary Grow [1608 words]
Webber’s Pond
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident (click thumbnail to enlarge)…
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Obituaries
WINDSOR – Clara Tibbetts Mayo, 85, of Windsor passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. She was born in Whitefield on October 13, 1935, the youngest daughter of Charles Edward and Gladys Gertrude (McDonald) Tibbetts… and remembering 14 others.
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Friday, October 8, 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: Dave Carew, Waterville.
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | I know they exist, but just how many are there? Several years ago I had the rare opportunity to see a black squirrel in Waterville. Last Monday, while driving along the Seaward Mills Road, in Vassalboro, I spotted another one as it was crossing the road in front of me…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | The Haldeman Diaries, a massive book of almost 700 pages, was issued by Putnam a year after the death of H.R. Haldeman (1926-1993) who served as Chief of Staff for former President Richard Nixon for four years before being quietly pressured to resign by his boss in the spring of 1973 during the Watergate scandal…
I’M JUST CURIOUS
by Debbie Walker | Customer service is another one of those business items that owners and operators should force themselves to take notice of. I know right now they are just concerned to get more staff. That is witnessed by the many “hiring” signs in front of their businesses…
SOLON & BEYOND
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met on Saturday, September 11, at the Solon Fire Station. In attendance were Kaitlin Delarma, Jillian & Desmond, Robinson, Katelyn & Devyn DeLeonardis, Isabella Atwood. There wasn’t any craft project during this meeting. Members re-tagged their projects to exhibit in the New Portland Fair…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | The discovery of insulin 100 years ago led to many research and clinical advances that have greatly improved strategies used to help people manage diabetes to live longer and healthier lives…