Issue for October 9, 2025
Kennebec County 4-Her wins national challenge
When people think of artificial intelligence and conservation, they don’t always imagine the two intersecting. But for one Kennebec County 4-H member, the overlap has opened doors to innovation and earned national recognition. This summer, Morgan B, a member of the Delta Prime Robotics 4-H Club, from the Richmond area, won a national 4-H AI Community Challenge competition. Her project, the Fish-Friendly Culvert AI Chatbot, ties together the seemingly disparate worlds of conservation and technology, offering a potential solution for one of Maine’s long-standing infrastructure and environmental challenges: poorly designed culverts…
Town News
Select board, emergency groups discuss SWOT
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members and heads of town emergency services spent most of the Oct. 2 select board meeting in a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) review of the town’s emergency readiness…
Select board to hold four hearings
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members now have four hearings on their Oct. 16 agenda. Board members had already planned and advertised three informational hearings on Nov. 4 local warrant articles. Voters are invited to learn about ballot questions asking them to approve or disapprove…
Select board spends whopping amount at recent meeting
CHINA – China select board members spent a whopping amount of taxpayers’ money at their Oct. 6 meeting. Most of the spending was near the beginning of the meeting, when they unanimously approved a warrant for miscellaneous goods and services (the “payables warrant” that’s on each biweekly agenda) in the amount of $1,419,494.85…
Board of appeals postpones decision on permit denial
CHINA – Four members of the China Board of Appeals met Oct. 2 and postponed a decision on Timothy Theriault’s request for a variance to allow a re-division of his two lots on Lakeview Drive…
Somerset County Commissioner vacates seat
SOMERSET COUNTY – On Wednesday, October 1, Somerset County Commissioner Cyprien Johnson announced he was stepping down as he no longer resided within the district. Following the recent closing on the sale of his home in Madison, Johnson has relocated to property his family owns in Skowhegan. County Charter and State statute require that a County Commissioner reside within the boundaries of the district they represent…
South China Library: A Tile Tale
SOUTH CHINA – The purpose of this brief article is to update local folks, and hopefully some from “away” as well, on a question that some have been asking. As every human knows, projects big or small can take an unanticipated amount of time. This has certainly proven to be true for the (re)creation of the South China Public Library. But, though we are really close to completion we are still faced with a relatively small, but heavy, issue. This concerns the tiles that we have offered to patrons as a way to donate funds… by Bob Bennett
Vassalboro’s historic Leach-Overlock House endangered
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro’s Leach, or Leach-Overlock, House is on Maine Preservation’s 2025 list of most endangered historic properties. The house is on Bog Road, the next building west of the Vassalboro Public Library. It was built around 1805, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since Oct. 20, 1983, and was owned by artist Trudy Overlock until her death in July 2023… by Mary Grow
TEAM PHOTOS: Waterville youth football
WATERVILLE – Team photos of Waterville youth football by Galen Neal of Central Maine Photography…
PHOTOS: Lawrence High School holds homecoming parade
FAIRFIELD – Photos of Lawrence High School’s homecoming parade, by Ramey Stevens of Central Maine Photography…
Local happenings
EVENTS: Palermo Community Cookout coming Saturday, Oct. 11
PALERMO — The weather report for October 11 looks great, with Indian Summer gracing us with autumn warmth. This is the perfect time to kick back and enjoy some wonderful food and camaraderie with friends and neighbors in a backyard setting beneath a real grape arbor and some shady shelters. The fragrance of roasting meats over a charcoal fire whets our appetites as the Palermo Community Center and the Great ThunderChicken Drum welcome everyone to the feast…
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: KV Chordsmen prepare for annual show
KENNEBEC VALLEY — The Kennebec Valley Chordsmen who have been singing in harmony for the past 52 years, are proud to present their 2025 Annual Show featuring Maine based talents such as: The Maine Idea which is a mixed quartet of male and female voices including local music educators and long time performers of barbershop harmony, The Messalonskee High School Master Singers, a one time only performance by the quartet Flash In The Pan, and the Kennebec Valley Chordsmen…
EVENTS: October public supper and Fall Fest in Vassalboro at VUMC
VASSALBORO — On October 18, a “Harvest Supper” will be held at the Vassalboro United Methodist Church (VUMC) fellowship hall, at 614 Main Street/Route 32. Roast chicken and all the fixings will be on the menu as well as their customary baked beans and a variety of pies…
EVENTS: Lincoln Pumpkin fest set for October 11-12
LINCOLN COUNTY — In celebration of Pumpkinfest, Lincoln County Historical Association will present a special demonstration of the work of the colonial cooper on Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12, between noon and 4 p.m., at the Chapman-Hall Hous,e at 270 Main Street, in Damariscotta…
EVENTS: Break from reality
SKOWHEGAN — Who doesn’t need a break from reality now and again? Saturday, October 11, Lights Up Skowhegan presents Magic Wes Wonder’s Crazy Fun Family Show, at the Skowhegan Opera House, at 7 p.m. General Admission $10 – Kids 5 and under free. Tickets available online at www.lightsupskowhegan.org or at the door. Bring the whole family to make some magical memories…
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: Bluegrass duo to perform at Vassalboro Grange
VASSALBORO – Fendrick and Peck, folky, bluegrassy singer songwriters, will perform at the Vassalboro Grange on Friday, October 10, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. A potluck will be held from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. Super tight harmonies, guitar pickin’, soulful violin and plucky mandolin. Admission is free but monetary contributions accepted… and many other local events!
Obituaries
FAIRFIELD – Joseph Levi Lemieux, 95, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, in the home he built with his wife Theresa. He was born in North Vassalboro in 1930 as the youngest son of Levi and Viola (Corriveau) Lemieux…
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: “It’s alive! It’s alive!” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is October 9, 2025.
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Revolution affects Clinton residents (new)
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
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Revolution affects Clinton
CLINTON HISTORY — Major General Carleton Edward Fisher’s 1970 history of Clinton includes a chapter on settlers who moved into the territory that became the town before 1782. He identified 10 of the men he named as Revolutionary veterans: Ezekiel Brown, Jr.; Nathaniel Burrell; Ezekiel Chase, Sr., and three of his six sons, Roger, Ezekiel, Jr. and Jonathan; Fred Jackins; John Spearin, Jr.; Samuel Varnum; and Solomon Whidden or Whitten… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Revolution affects Fairfield – Continued
FAIRFIELD HISTORY — This article will continue the story of Fairfield men who fought in the Revolutionary War, beginning – after a digression – with one important man mentioned last week, William Kendall… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Revolution affects Fairfield
FAIRFIELD HISTORY — In the 1770s, the next town north of Winslow on the west bank of the Kennebec River was Fairfield, organized as a plantation in 1774; and on the east bank, the part of Clinton that later became Benton. This article introduces some Revolutionary veterans with Fairfield connections; next week’s article will offer information on more veterans from Fairfield and from Clinton… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, October 16, 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: Nancy Marston, So. China
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | One night last week, my wife showed a photo to me she received from a friend, showing a pigeon-like bird with fuzzy feathers on its feet. I wasn’t quite sure what it was, but it did look like a pigeon…
MAINE-LY GARDENING
by Jude Hsiang | Putting the garden to bed is like sending a toddler off to dreamland. It takes more than a nighty-night kiss. There are a number of tasks to do, but they needn’t become dreaded chores. Remember, all the little jobs done this fall will be appreciated when spring gardening season begins. You’ll thank yourself for doing a good clearing of the vegetable garden so that no diseased plant material is left over winter…
VETERANS CORNER
by Gary Kennedy | Well, we are ending another week and V.A. continues its decline. The medical side continues to be short on help, yet the administration side remains well staffed and happy. There is no problem filing claims and results seem to be coming back rather quickly. Most claims are being serviced outside of the V.A. by various entities, most of which are nurse practitioners. Sleep studies are being done at home with an appliance attached to one’s finger…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Continuing with memories – the heat of very early morning during July 1973, in Boston, Massachusetts, was at bestial blast furnace levels. I remember walking from 23 Wyatt Street, in Somerville, at least a mile down to Central Squar, in Cambridge, to catch the Red Line air-conditioned subway to Washington Street, in Boston, for two days worth of morning classes in how to write up sales slips, cash out customers, approve checks with two pieces of legal identification and push the cranks on those dinosaur cash registers…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
HEALTH | Have you or someone you love been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that affects memory, thinking and behavior. It’s the most common cause of dementia, which is a word used to describe memory loss and other thinking problems that affect daily life…