Week of December 3, 2020
Vassalboro recovers lost piece of its history
Looking up at the Civil War memorial statue standing guard over Monument Park on Route 32, in Vassalboro, you may notice something missing. Although the proud Union soldier stands tall, gripping the muzzle of a 19th century rifle, the bottom portion of the chiseled gun he holds is gone. Where it disappeared to has been a source of continuing mystery and speculation in the town of Vassalboro. But now, after more than 50 years, a part of this lost history has been found… by Eric W. Austin
Your Local News
Selectmen say public water supply is not possible
CHINA — After several discussions earlier this fall, China selectmen decided at their Nov. 23 meeting they cannot grant a resident’s request to establish a public water supply for people whose well water is undrinkable…
Decision on trailer-based marijuana dispensary postponed
CHINA — After a 20-minute Nov. 24 public hearing during which one person testified remotely, China Planning Board members postponed a decision on Giovanni DelVecchio’s application to set up a trailer-based medical marijuana dispensary on Route 3…
Planning board meeting rescheduled
VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro Planning Board meeting scheduled for Dec. 1 has been rescheduled for Dec. 8 due to power outages causing a lack of internet and telephone connections at the town office on Dec. 1…
The Town Line only weekly newspaper in central Maine
The first issue of The Town Line was published on March 15, 1989. The brain child of Gary and Trish Newcomb, of China, the newspaper’s goal was to bring neighbors and their respective towns closer together through better communications… by Roland D. Hallee
Interactive nativity scene at St. Bridget
VASSALBORO — The St. Bridget Community Center, in North Vassalboro, has created an outdoor display of which people can become a part. The faces of the shepherds, angel and kings have been cut out so that individuals can take their picture(s)…
$2 a bag book sale in Vassalboro
VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro Public Library will hold a $2 Holiday Book Sale for the entire month of December. There will be a great selection of books, media, and puzzles: fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books…
Bookgiving drive held at China library
CHINA — The Albert Church Brown Library, in China Village, is asking residents to participate in Bookgiving! They are collecting new books to be given at Christmas to needy families in town, through the China Food Pantry in cooperation with Toys for Tots…
Vassalboro JMG selling wreaths
VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro Community School Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) program will be doing their annual Christmas wreath sale, starting right now until the week after Thanksgiving. They will still be taking orders when they get back from Thanksgiving break…
Winslow church to hold drive-thru turkey pie sale
WINSLOW — It’s one of Winslow’s most beloved holiday traditions! On Saturday, December 5, from noon to 2 p.m., Winslow Congregational Church (12 Lithgow Street) will be offering over 400 incredibly yummy, ready-to-be-baked turkey pies for curbside/drive-through pick-up. Cost is just $10 per pie…
Story time at South China library
CHINA — Come join Courtney Roy for South China Public Library story time (online) for some reading fun, songs and finger plays on Wednesday, December 9, at 6 p.m., right on the library Facebook page. This is geared towards ages 0-5…
Popular St. Michael School Christmas Fair goes virtual in 2020
AUGUSTA — Through December 21, all are encouraged to check gifts off their Christmas shopping list by visiting the St. Michael School Christmas Fair, being presented virtually due to the pandemic…
Covid-19 memorial at Pleasant Street church
WATERVILLE — Rev. Barbara Sagat-Stover, Congregational Coordinator at Pleasant Street United Methodist Church (PSUMC), in Waterville, created a COVID-19 memorial after reading about a Madison, Wisconsin, congregation that created a fabric ribbon tribute on the church outdoor railings…
Gov. Mills launches $40M economic recovery grant program
CENTRAL ME — Governor Janet Mills has announced an economic recovery grant program to support Maine’s tourism, hospitality, and retail small businesses. Backed by $40 million in Federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF), the Tourism, Hospitality & Retail Recovery Grant Program is focused specifically on supporting Maine’s service sector small businesses, such as restaurants…
Legion auxiliary pie sale a great success, raises over $1,000
MADISON — Twenty-five turkeys later, 118 pies were made and were all sold a week before the scheduled date of pick up on November 7. The were able to donate $1,050 among five local food cupboards – Madison, Anson, Starks, Norridgewock and Solon…
COMMUNITY COMMENTARY: Is our country ready to round the corner on race relations?
After the Civil War, during the Reconstruction Period in American history (1865 – 1877), many newly-freed blacks took advantage of the right to vote and the right to hold office. As slavery was abolished (13th Amendment to the Constitution), denial of voting rights on account of race was prohibited (15th Amendment), and means were set up for secessionist states (freed blacks, too) to rejoin the nation and vote (14th Amendment), there were as many as 2,000 black office holders… by Charlotte Henderson
Carrabec High School first quarter honor roll
ANSON — List of honor roll for Carrabec High School for the first quarter of 2020…
China Middle School honor roll
CHINA — List of students who qualified for the honor roll at China Middle School for fall 2020…
STUDENT WRITERS PROGRAM – Examining “The Social Dilemma”: The real impact on young people
ERSKINE ACADEMY — It is truly paradoxical that a generation has been raised to be enthralled by inventions detrimental to their mental health and wellbeing. A Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, addresses the evolution of and dangers of social media, an enigma and issue growing exponentially along with the minds of young adults… by Olivia Bourque
STUDENT WRITERS PROGRAM: So what? The real impact on young people
ERSKINE ACADEMY — We all have bad days. Maybe your cat got run over or maybe the jelly in your PB and J sandwich made the bread way too soggy for the desired taste of the sandwich, or maybe you’ve had your head in your screen all day… by Hannah Soule
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Newspapers of Central Maine – Conclusion (New)
MAINE HISTORY — Several of the small towns in the central Kennebec Valley have had local newspapers, and one – China – still does as of 2020. This writer has found no record of a newspaper published in Sidney, Winslow, Benton, Palermo or Windsor… by Mary Grow [1473 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Newspapers of Central Maine, Part 1
MAINE HISTORY — In previous pieces there have been references to local newspapers, especially the Augusta-based Kennebec Journal. Both it and its sister publication in Waterville, the “Morning Sentinel”, have had long lives; but they are not and never have been the only newspapers in the central Kennebec Valley… by Mary Grow [1957 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Notable women
MAINE HISTORY — As background for this piece on a small selection of women of importance from the central Kennebec Valley, some historical notes might establish a useful timeline… by Mary Grow [1825 words]
Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Augusta printers
MAINE HISTORY — In addition to the nationally and internationally famous people profiled earlier in this series (James G. Blaine, Rufus Jones, Elijah Parish Lovejoy, Senator George Mitchell), other central Kennebec Valley residents have made significant contributions beyond the local area… by Mary Grow [1953 words]
2020-’21 Real Estate Tax Due Dates
Real Estate tax due dates for the following towns: CHINA, VASSALBORO, WATERVILLE and WINDSOR…
The Remembrance Tree
Help us decorate the tree and at the same time remember a loved one. For only $5 you can commemorate a loved one who has passed…
Obituaries
WINDSOR – Galen C. Perkins Sr., 83, of Windsor, passed away on Saturday, on November 21, 2020. He was born on November 20, 1937, in Presque Isle, to Shirley and Lorraine Perkins… and remembering 8 others.
Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!
DEADLINE: Friday, December 18, 2020
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: Ardra Poulin, Winslow.
Town Line Original Columnists
POETRY CORNER
by Gary Haskell | Freshly freed from her mother’s
womb,
her tininess fills the sterile room.
First gulped air, airs her plea;
“Look at Me, Daddy,
Look at Me!”…
CRITTER CHATTER
by Jayne Winters | Typically, one or two fishers are brought to the Wildlife Center each year for rehabilitation. I’ve only seen photos of them, so was interested in learning more after discovering one was in residence with Don Cote this past summer. And when I say “in residence,” I mean it literally as it was kept in a carrier in the living room for several weeks because there was no outside pen available…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | This anthology makes for a wonderful introduction to the appreciation of great opera (I know some consider great and opera an oxymoron) via 10 of the finest sopranos active during the last century, although I notice two of London records finest artists Inge Borkh and Mirella Freni are missing…
THE MONEY MINUTE
by Jac M. Arbour | Many people have heard of Bitcoin. It is the most popular crypto on the planet. However, it is one of only many. How many may you ask? Around 7,000 as I write this. Alternative coins, also known as altcoins, such as Ripple, Litecoin, and Ethereum, are also highly popular and in strong demand…
SOLON & BEYOND
by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Hope you enjoyed reading all about the five Generations Of Woodsmen, I did, and it was so different than it is today! The following is also from that same old 1974 paper…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) — Diabetes is not just an adult disease. It’s one of the most common chronic conditions affecting children and teens in the United States. Today, it affects about 193,000 youth under 20 years of age and rates of newly diagnosed cases in young people are increasing…