Issue for September 15, 2022

Celebrating 34 years of local news

Headstone returned to China Village Cemetery

Many unanswered questions still buried

The bell tolled from the church at the head of the lake just as Margaret B. Ayer’s headstone was finally laid back into place again at the China Village Cemetery. Cindy Gagnon, of the Daughters of the American Revolution remarked, “Well did you hear the bell ringing? How appropriate. It says Margaret’s family appreciates she’s back now and they are complete again”… by Jeanne Marquis

Webber Pond tests positive for blue-green algae toxins

Following weeks of speculation, the test results were confirmed, on Friday, September 9, that Webber Pond, in Vassalboro, has tested positive for toxic algae blooms. According to Linda Bacon, at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, “scum collected Wednesday afternoon [September 7] tested positive for microcystin this afternoon, an algal toxin that causes damage to the liver”… by Roland D. Hallee

Your Local News

Select board approves one consultant; postpones another

CHINA – At their Sept. 12 meeting, China select board members discussed hiring consultants for two different projects. They postponed action on a municipal building consultant until they know the price, and approved a consultant to assist with meeting state Department of Labor regulations…

Tax rate set at 12.05 mil

CHINA – China’s property tax rate for the 2022-23 fiscal year, which began July 1, will be 12.05 mils ($12.05 for each $1,000 of valuation). After a series of frustrating delays caused by computer issues, the new rate was approved unanimously by the board of assessors (also the select board) at a special meeting Sept. 6…

Review of solar moratorium ordinance on agenda

VASSALBORO – One agenda item at the Vassalboro select board’s Thursday, Sept. 15, meeting is a review of a solar moratorium ordinance that board members intend to ask voters to approve on Nov. 8…

Two applications approved by planners

VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Planning Board members unanimously approved both applications on their Sept. 6 agenda, a new business and an extension of a solar development permit…

An open letter to our readers

BECOME A MEMBER: With the advent of the internet in the 1990s, advertising is no longer controlled by publications, but by social networking websites and search engines. As the internet has grown and gained more influence in our daily lives, the advertising power of the internet has grown as well. Over the years, the revenue from advertising that used to support local newspapers has shifted to global search engines and huge social networking websites instead. This change in who benefits from advertising has been a death blow to many local papers…

LETTERS: Smith supports hunting rights

from Paul Lucas (China) Hunting season is upon us, a tradition Mainers have looked forward to for generations. In this day and age with the rising cost of inflation hunting is now not only a tradition, but a necessity to feed our family. There is only one candidate in the race for the Maine House of Representatives who will ensure your right to hunt and to bear arms…

LETTERS: Gubernatorial positions on rising utility costs?

from Pam Partridge (North Anson) With Election Day now just weeks away, I’m eager to hear where the gubernatorial candidates stand on one of the issues of great concern to Mainers, particularly older Mainers on a fixed income. Electric bills jumped by 30 percent for average use customers this year with no meaningful break in sight while winter is just around the corner…

LETTERS: Couple to vote for Hemenway

from Kenny and Sandy Bowen (China) My wife and I will be voting to elect Stephen J. Hemenway for State House District #39 during the upcoming November 8. election. Stephen is a retired deputy sheriff of 32 years…

Name that film!

Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville: “My momma always said life was like a box of chocolates.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is October 6, 2022…

EVENTS: Windsor Historical Society to offer evening talk

WINDSOR – The Windsor Historical Society is offering an evening talk with John Bunker who will share his knowledge of Maine apple trees on Wednesday, October 12…

EVENTS: KVCOG to hold hazardous waste collection day

CENTRAL ME – The Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG) will be offering Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days for the following locations…

TEAM PHOTO: Lawrence High School girls varsity soccer team

FAIRFIELD – The Lawrence High School, of Fairfield, girls varsity soccer team photo…

Carrabec High School 2021-22 fourth quarter honors

NORTH ANSON – List of honor roll students at Carrabec High School…

Volunteers needed for Window Dressers workshop

CHINA – There is a great need for local community volunteers to make this a successful Window Dressers workshop. It is requested (but not required) that anyone ordering frames also commit to a four-hour shift on one of the workshop days. The committee is also looking for anyone who can supply food to the teams participating in the workshop…

Fall weather preview

CENTRAL ME – It has been a hot summer across the United States with the mercury frequently flirting with the 100-degree mark in countless cities and towns across the country and even some of the longest-duration heat waves in a decade. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those awaiting the return of hoodie weather, pumpkin-flavored beverages and even snow…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville historic district – Part 3 (new)

WATERVILLE HISTORY — After two weeks’ digressions, your writer returns to Waterville history, beginning with the C. F. Hathaway Shirt Company, described in Roger Reed and Christie Mitchell’s Lockwood Mill Historic District application as “an internationally known firm that originated in Waterville.” The application adds that Mill Number 2 “is the only intact industrial facility in Waterville associated with the important shirt maker”… by Mary Grow [1674 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Trotting parks

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Your writer intended to deliver the promised article on Charles Hathaway and his shirt company, and more information on Waterville’s historic Main Street buildings, this week. But a reader reacted to last week’s digression on agricultural fairs with a question: what is a trotting park? by Mary Grow [1918 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Agricultural Fairs

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — Your writer is pleased that she didn’t promise a story about Hathaway shirts this week, because, considering the season, she decided to detour to write about the country fairs our ancestors enjoyed. Some of the historians cited previously in this series mentioned them; your writer will share bits of their information… by Mary Grow [1865 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Waterville historic district – Part 2

WATERVILLE HISTORY — This week’s description of Waterville’s Main Street Historic District begins where last week’s left off, with the Common Street buildings on the south side of Castonguay Square, and continues down the east side of Main Street. It adds a summary of the separate Lockwood Mill Historic District, across the intersection of Spring and Bridge streets at the north end of Water Street… by Mary Grow [1780 words]

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Picture book author at ACB library

CHINA — Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, 37 Main St, China, will be hosting author, illustrator and musician Stephen Costanza, on Sunday, September 18, at 2 p.m. He brings his picture book, King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin, to life with a musical presentation… and many other local events!

Webber’s Pond

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

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!

Obituaries

PALERMO – Nancy A. Saban, 84, of Palermo, passed away on Friday, August 19, 2022, in Palermo. She was born in Vassalboro, on August 15, 1938, to parents Herbert and Ferne Keller… and remembering 12 others.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | While I was playing cornhole last Friday night, I was interrupted while in the process of preparing for my next toss. It was pointed out to me that something was attached to the leg of my pants. It was approximately two to three inches long, black/brown – at least in the evening light. Someone said it was a cicadae, but I knew better. I wasn’t sure what it was. We sent it on its way. Research told me it was a giant water bug…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | A Jacksonian Democrat, the 11th President James Knox Polk (1795-1849) promised to be a one-term leader and to do what needed to be done in that self-allotted time span. His style was secretive, in working quietly behind the scenes…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | I like words, groups of words and their meanings. I didn’t know for years, what an Idiom was. I had to learn it while working with first and second graders! So here goes, let me give you what I learned, and it is in the Mary Jane’s Farm magazine from the July 20-21 issue…

VETERANS CORNER

by Gary Kennedy | Well, as I promised here is part three of VA series. Not much has changed at the VA, Togus; the doors to Veteran Services are still closed/locked, the pool, gym are still off limits to all veterans except paying employees. Veterans are giving up…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Get the facts, not the flu. For many people, the start of fall means busier schedules and longer to-do lists, but you shouldn’t let your annual flu shot fall to the bottom of that list…