Issue for January 30, 2025
Oakland woman named Maine Mother of the Year
Monica Wilcox Charette, of Oakland, has been named 2025 Maine Mother of the Year. Charette will be recognized and represent Maine at the 90th National Convention of American Mothers, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in April, where one honoree will be named American Mother of the Year…
6th annual China Lake ice fishing derby slated for Feb. 16
The China Four Seasons Club and the China Village Fire Department are co-hosting the the 6th Annual China Lake Ice Fishing Derby, scheduled for Sunday, February 16, during Maine’s Free Fishing Weekend. Building on the success of previous years, the weekend will feature the town-wide “China Ice Days” activities beginning Friday evening. Highlights include a “Bean Suppah” at the China Village Mason’s Lodge followed by a guided snowmobile ride, weather permitting. Additional Friday events include a Silent Disco, at the Middle School, and an Owl Prowl, at Thurston Park… by Sandy Isaac
Town News
All town voters can vote for sanitary district trustees
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members settled two issues that have been on their meeting agendas since November 2024…
Trails committee discusses maintenance work
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Trails Committee members discussed maintenance work for 2025 at a Jan. 21 meeting. At chair John Melrose’s suggestion, they agreed by consensus to ask town voters for a $1,250 budget allocation for 2025-26, the same amount as in the current year…
Transfer station members focus on wetlands
VASSALBORO – Much of the Jan. 23 discussion among Vassalboro Transfer Station Task Force members focused on wetlands. Task Force members have talked for months about a rearrangement of the waste disposal facility on Lombard Dam Road. Their main goal is to increase safety by traffic changes. They would like to eliminate the need for residents to back up to the waste hoppers and simplify traffic flow…
Select board OKs kayak, paddleboat rental station
CHINA – The three main issues at the Jan. 27 China select board meeting were town trucks; a proposed kayak and paddleboard rental station; and recreation programs. Board members postponed decision on a new truck for two weeks and, on a split vote, authorized the rental station…
Local bank named America’s Best Regional Bank
CENTRAL ME — Bar Harbor Bank & Trust has been recognized by Newsweek as one of “America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions” for the second consecutive year…
FISHY PHOTO: Success on the ice
VASSALBORO — James Owens, son of Anne Owens, of Vassalboro, caught this beautiful brown trout, in China Lake, on Saturday, January 18. The trout was 19 inches long and weighed 3 pounds…
SNHU announces Fall 2024 president’s list
CENTRAL ME — Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), in Manchester, New Hampshire, congratulates the following students on being named to the Fall 2024 President’s List. The fall terms run from September to December…
Webber’s Pond Comic
Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by a local central Maine resident…
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 walking here! I’m walking here!” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is February 6, 2025.
Local happenings
EVENTS: The Waterville Opera House raises the curtain on its 2025 season with The Cottage
WATERVILLE – The Waterville Opera House (WOH) kicks off its 2025 theatrical season January 31 – February 9, with The Cottage, a hilarious new comedy by Sandy Rustin…
EVENTS: Erskine Academy to host 8th grade open house
CHINA – Erskine Academy invites all eighth-grade students and their parents from the surrounding communities to attend the 8th Grade Open House, on Wednesday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym…
EVENTS: KPAC resumes rehearsals
CENTRAL ME – Kennebec Performing Arts Company resumed rehearsals the week of January 26 in preparation for its spring concerts, which are scheduled for May 2 and 3…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: China Lake ice fishing derby
CHINA – The 6th annual China Lake ice fishing derby will take place on Sunday, February 16, 2025. Cash payouts will be in several categories. Over $10,000 in door prizes. Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10 and include fishing derby entry and chance for door prizes… and many other local events!
Obituaries
BELGRADE – Freeman Robert “Bob” Rowe, 89, died on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at his home in Belgrade. Born March 15, 1935, in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, to Freeman L. and Augusta Barlett Davis Rowe, Bob moved with his family to Belgrade the following year…
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China High Schools – part 2 (new)
CHINA HISTORY — Note: part of this article, like part of last week’s, was first written in September 2021. Yet another private high school in China, Erskine Academy, opened in September 1883 and is thriving today. The China bicentennial history gives a detailed account of its origins: it became a private academy because China voters at the beginning of the 1880s refused to accept donated money for a public high school… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China High Schools – part 1
CHINA HISTORY — The Town of China had five high schools at various times in the 19th century. The one in China Village lasted into the 20th century; Erskine Academy in South China (next week’s topic) was founded in 1883 and is thriving in 2025… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China elementary schools (Continued into the 20th century)
CHINA HISTORY — As mentioned in previous articles about 19th-century Maine elementary schools, in 1894 the state legislature passed a law that began, “The school districts in all towns in this state are hereby abolished”… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: China elementary schools
CHINA HISTORY — What is now the Town of China was settled in 1774, starting on the shores of China Lake, and promptly incorporated as Jones Plantation… by Mary Grow
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 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: Nichole Bilodeau, W. Gardiner
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | Oh, my goodness! Sunday is Groundhog Day. My, how times flies. For starters, I have to find out where my friend Woodrow Charles is hanging out these days. Last year, he had moved to less than flattering surroundings. A quick email will tell me where he is…
FARMGIRL AT HEART
by Virginia Jones | Maine is one of those states that seems to keep winter close at hand. We have a very long cold season with short warmer seasons following. It seems like winter could last forever. Even though we have longer seasons of frigid weather that doesn’t mean that we have to discontinue our gardening until the warmer temperatures come our way…
THE BEST VIEW
by Norma Best Boucher | I remember the day; I remember the hour; I even remember the skipped heartbeat when I first heard my six-year-old son Alan’s words: “I want to be a hockey player.” Translation – You can be my hockey mom…
AARP NEWS YOU CAN USE
by Joyce Bucciantini | February is one of the most beautiful times in Maine. Gone are the super short days of early winter, leaving us with more daylight to enjoy the great outdoors in Maine. Many cities and towns have winter-themed celebrations which might include snow sports, ice fishing, or maybe an opportunity for hot cocoa…
CRITTER CHATTER
by Jayne Winters | As noted in recent columns, I’ll be sharing some of Carleen Cote’s past articles because Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center isn’t accepting any wildlife or phone inquiries right now. What follows is a story entitled, Labor of Love, from August 3, 2002…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | German composer Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) suffered three major traumas the summer of 1907 – His oldest daughter Maria died from diptheria…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease.1 During January, recognized as Thyroid Awareness Month, YARAL Pharma is raising awareness of thyroid disease, particularly hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Despite its prevalence, thyroid disease remains widely misunderstood, with many people unaware of its signs and symptoms…