Issue for September 9, 2021

Celebrating 33 years of local news

Just Our Jams raises money for local food pantry

Can strawberry jam save the world? Two local women think it can. Luanne Webber and Cindi Orlando, both from China, have started a venture called “Just our Jams” to help raise money for their local food pantry. The initiative aims to repurpose leftover fruit from the China Community Food Pantry to make jam, which they sell at events around central Maine. All profits are donated back to the food pantry. In just the last few months, they’ve raised more than $1,400… by Eric W. Austin [1231 words]

Your Local News

Voters to decide mass gathering ordinance

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro voters will have a chance to approve or reject a Mass Gathering Ordinance at the polls on Nov. 2. Selectmen unanimously approved the proposed new ordinance at their Sept. 2 meeting…

Broadband ballot question over 200 words long

CHINA — China selectmen learned at their special meeting Sept. 2 that it takes at least two lawyers to draft a proper ballot question asking voters if they will authorize selectmen to issue a bond – and a third lawyer to explain the result…

New round of façade and building improvement grants in Waterville

WATERVILLE — Complementing revitalization within downtown Waterville’s Main Street corridor, Central Maine Growth Council (CMGC) is pleased to announce the successful grantees of its Façade and Building Improvement Grant Program (FBIGP)…

Another year of outstanding water quality at Sheepscot

PALERMO — All who pause to look out at our Maine lakes see a beautiful natural marvel, but how do we know if a lake is as healthy and vibrant as it looks. The answer is through water testing and the Sheepscot Lake Association (SLA) is committed to the task… by Carolyn Viens

Sheepscot Lake Fish & Game Association: Nonprofit Spotlight

PALERMO — Back in the early 1940s, a group of young men in Palermo, who often fished and hunted in the area, talked about how they wanted to form a fish and game club, and build a clubhouse. But, Pearl Harbor was bombed and soon these men went off to war. When they returned, their families came first, but soon that clubhouse dream was back… by Martha Sullivan

Vassalboro Sestercentennial Scavenger Hunt
Item #21:

Any newspaper article of a story about anything related to Vassalboro.

Chamber hosts re-vamped Super Raffle dinner

WATERVILLE — Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Super Raffle Dinner, is back, with a new venue, and re-energized format. The annual dinner will be hosted on Thursday, September 30, at The Elm, College Avenue, Waterville…

Veterans Memorial to be dedicated on Saturday, September 11, 2021

WINDSOR — In 2017, the Windsor Board of Selectmen approved to start raising funds for a new Veterans Memorial Monument for the town of Windsor’s residents who have enlisted to join the Armed Forces…

Skowhegan legion to hold September events

SKOWHEGAN — Skowhegan American Legion Post #16, will hold two events during the month of September: Luck of Draw Auction on Sept. 11, and Stuff the Cruiser on Sept. 18 & 19…

Share the Road with Carol bicycle ride set for September 19

WINDSOR — The fifth annual Share the Road with Carol memorial bike ride will take place on Sunday, September 19. Share the Road with Carol is an all ages commemorative bike ride planned for Sunday, September 19, 2021, in Windsor and Whitefield…

It’s the time of year for good ol’ fashioned coon pailing

by Jim Metcalf — Summer is coming to a close with the enjoyment of corn picked only after the pot of water comes to a boil. But there is one creature who enjoys corn so much that it picks ears at the earliest sign of ripening. In fact, this creature will travel through a corn planting, ripping ears open just to find the best of the best…

Kringleville volunteers

WATERVILLE — Kringleville 2021 is underway thanks to the Waterville Children’s Discovery Museum and these Colby College students who volunteered to spruce up the Kringleville Christmas cabin…

Local residents named to Simmons University dean’s list

CENTRAL ME — The following local residents were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Simmons University, in Boston, Massachusetts: Allyson Cunningham, of Augusta, Kaili Shorey, of Vassalboro, Abigail Bloom, of Waterville, and Maddie Beckwith, of Winslow…

Carey receives degree from Simmons University

OAKLAND — Katiann Carey, of Oakland, earned a bachelor of arts degree, in Economics, cum laude, from Simmons University, in Boston, Massachusetts…

Michaud completes New Zealand project

VASSALBORO — Madison Michaud, of Vassalboro, a member of the class of 2019 majoring in biomedical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), in Worcester, Massachusetts, was a member of a student team that recently completed an intense, hands-on research through the WPI project center, in New Zealand…

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Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Central Maine high schools (new)

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — According to Millard Howard’s history of Palermo, an 1817 Massachusetts law that apparently carried over into Maine in 1820 required each town with 50 families to provide a primary school and each town with 200 families to have a grammar school whose teacher was able to teach Latin and Greek… by Mary Grow [1796 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Cony Flat Iron Building

AUGUSTA HISTORY — One more former school in the central Kennebec Valley is on the National Register of Historic Places: the original Cony High School, in Augusta, often referred to as Old Cony High School, to avoid confusion with present-day Cony High School, or as Cony Flatiron, for its unusual shape… by Mary Grow [1860 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Schools – Part 1

CENTRAL ME HISTORY — There are four school buildings in the central Kennebec Valley that are on the National Register of Historic Places, two in Augusta and one each in Winslow and Waterville… by Mary Grow [2000 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Tiffany Hill Chapel

SIDNEY HISTORY — Remaining to be described is Tiffany Chapel, sometimes called Tiffany Hill Chapel, at 544 Tiffany Road, in Sidney. It was built as a Methodist church in 1881 and added to the National Register on Oct. 4, 2018… by Mary Grow [1868 words]

Calendar of Events: Leadership Luncheon

WATERVILLE – Heidi Neal, owner of Loyal Biscuit Co., will speak at the Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday, September 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Amici’s Cucina, 137 Main Street, Waterville…

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!

2021-’22 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

2021-2022 Real Estate tax due dates for the following towns: CHINA, FAIRFIELD, PALERMO, SIDNEY, VASSALBORO, WATERVILLE, WINDSOR and WINSLOW…

Obituaries

WINDSOR – Kathleen Ann Carle, 52, of Windsor, passed away peacefully in Port Charlotte, Florida, on Sunday, August 22, 2021, following a battle with breast cancer. Kathleen was born in Waterville, on May 9, 1969… and remembering 7 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, September 10, 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: Ben Pinette, Sidney.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | The big question that comes to mind is which do we prefer, the sounds of the loons’ eerie calls in the night, the barred owls caterwauling at each other in the early morning hours, peepers in the spring and all the other wonderful sounds of nature, or…

Emily CatesGARDEN WORKS

by Emily Cates | The veggies decided to proliferate. The zucchini are ballooning into baseball bats, the beans barreling headlong into full production, and the plums are breaking branches. Tomato plants are tumbling onto the ground from the weight of their full fruitage…

MAINE MEMORIES

by Evangeline T. | For this installment, I’m remembering when I raised chickens. At about age 12, each girl in a club I belonged to had to do a summer project…

POETRY CORNER

by Joan Ferrone | I’ve got baggy eyes/and flat feet/Too much belly/and a saggy seat/My hair won’t curl/my nails are split/I can’t sit without/a pillow for my bum/The legs and feet/will go numb…

ROTARY CLUB NEWS

by Gary Kennedy | Well we all know it’s been a very difficult past two years. People have been sick and dying; the world has conflict everywhere. The political theatre has been very trying. Travel has been a very difficult situation with Covid and world strife…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Novelist Mary McCarthy (1912-1989) summered in Castine for years and received honorary degrees from Colby College, in Waterville, and Bowdoin College, in Brunswick. She possessed a feisty, at times savagely critical brilliance as seen in her novels and essays…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | More Americans may be looking to retire before age 65, according to several studies. However, they need to understand their financial needs, both long term and before age 65…