Week of December 31, 2020

Celebrating 32 years of local news

Winslow’s Garay family ringing the bells of Christmas

The year 2020 has been a difficult year for many across the nation and world. Maine families are not an exception to the havoc Covid-19 has brought on the human race. Many times we find ourselves here in Maine on the moderate side of worldwide tragedy but not this time. Many families have suffered financially and physically throughout this pandemic. They have been without loved ones and without work, and nobody really knows where the end is… by Mark Huard

Erskine Academy faces challenge of a year like no other

This month Erskine Academy began implementing the rapid antigen test in its arsenal in the fight against Covid-19. Headmaster Michael McQuarrie was the first to complete the testing process. The rapid antigen test is designed for persons exhibiting at least one of the most common symptoms or two less common symptoms of COVID-19… by Jeanne Marquis

Your Local News

Two annual activities successful despite disruptions

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro School Board members again got upbeat monthly reports from school officials at the Dec. 15 board meeting…

Proposed sale of Lakeview Drive parcel sparks renewed discussions

CHINA — China selectmen’s Dec. 7 split decision to ask voters to approve selling the former subdivision on the east side of Lakeview Drive generated renewed and wide-ranging discussion at their Dec. 21 meeting…

Planners to prepare new solar ordinance

CHINA — When China Planning Board members met virtually Dec. 22 to begin discussion of a new solar ordinance, most of the members had received the template sent in November to Codes Officer Bill Butler only that afternoon…

Proposed TIF revisions go to selectmen

CHINA —  China Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members continued review of the proposed Second Amendment to China’s TIF document at a Dec. 17 meeting, and planned to resume discussion the evening of Dec. 29…

Special selectmen’s meeting reviewed personnel policy

CHINA — The China selectmen’s special meeting Dec. 28 was called primarily to review Town Manager Becky Hapgood’s proposed changes in the town’s personnel policy…

Broadband members adopt two motions

CHINA — China Broadband Committee members unanimously adopted two motions on the agenda for their Dec. 16 meeting. Both required approval from China selectmen, who postponed action on the major one…

USDA funding for Knox, Lincoln, Kennebec & Waldo counties

CENTRAL ME — Knox-Lincoln, Kennebec and Waldo Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field offices in Belfast and Augusta, will host virtual meetings of the Knox-Waldo and Kennebec-Lincoln Local Working Groups (LWGs)…

Vassalboro Community School honor roll

VASSALBORO — List of honor roll students at Vassalboro Community School…

Fairfield Cops Care For Kids goes on COVID style

FAIRFIELD — Even though the Cops Care for Kids program looked slightly different this year, the officers from the Fairfield Police Department didn’t let that stop them from making sure the boys and girls of the Fairfield Community got their annual delivery of toys…

St. Michael School students donated over 2,400 food items to Augusta Food Bank

AUGUSTA — Students at St. Michael School, in Augusta, participated in a “Week of Giving” food drive that generated not only a massive collection of food (four pictures below) for people in need, but reinforced the importance of giving back to the community that has given them so much…

Waterville’s Light Up the Town winners announced

WATERVILLE — This holiday season, the Children’s Discovery Museum hosted a city-wide light celebration! Light displays moved outside of just Main Street this year, as businesses and individuals decorated their properties with lights to celebrate the holidays…

Waterville Rotary Club wraps up successful auction

WATERVILLE — The 57th annual Waterville Rotary Auction with hundreds of gifts, services and discount items was held in late November as a part of the Waterville Rotary Club’s commitment to support of area programs and initiatives highlighting childhood literacy…

Scouts collect food for needy

CENTRAL ME — Area Scouts have been busy helping feed the hungry and honor our deceased veterans. Scouts from Jackman to Camden took part in the Scouting for Food Drive which collected hundreds of pounds of food to help fill shelves in local food pantries…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Maine Supreme Court Chief Justices from Kennebec Valley – Part 2 (New)

MAINE HISTORY — After the three Maine Supreme Court Justices whose biographies were summarized last week the next Chief Justice listed as an Augusta resident was the 15th, William Robinson Pattangall (1865-1942)… by Mary Grow [1800 words]

Maine Supreme Court Chief Justices from Kennebec Valley – Part 1

MAINE HISTORY — Of the 26 chief justices of the Maine Supreme Court, Augusta has provided six – perhaps not surprising for the state capital. Portland is second, with five chief justices including Leigh Saufly, who was appointed Dec. 6, 2001, and retired April 14, 2020… by Mary Grow [1616 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Newspapers of Central Maine – Conclusion

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]

Webber’s Pond

Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident…

Obituaries

CHINA – Deloris A. McCaslin, 79, of China, passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. She was born in Augusta, the daughter of Lucille (Fisher) Seeley and Perley Seeley… and remembering 12 others.

2020-’21 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Real Estate tax due dates for the following towns: CHINA, VASSALBORO, WATERVILLE and WINDSOR…

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

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, January 8, 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: Rick Pooler, Vassalboro.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | There has been a long-going debate as to whether mountain lions, also known as cougars, are present in Maine. The official word from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is that they do not exist…

AARP OUTREACH

by Lori Parham | If there is one thing that the pandemic has made clear, it is that personal connections are both immensely valuable and sorely missed…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | The annotator Valeriu Anania writes: “Romanian Christmas carols are deeply rooted into the soul of a nation who not only created them but also experiences them within its intimate nature, handing them down from generation to generation, mainly through the voices of children…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | I wish you the happiest and healthiest New Year! Hope you remember anyone who will be alone for the holidays. We are all down to “Crunch time” for those Christmas projects, unless you are one of those…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | To All Budget Committee Members: This is the notice of the annual budget meeting where the budget committee will give their recommendation on the articles in the annual town meeting warrant…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | When talking to Donald Cote at his Vassalboro Wildlife Center last month he mentioned one of his pet peeves: owners of exotic pets releasing them into the wild after they get bored with them or can no longer provide the care required…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | What kind of leader are you? No matter if you have three employees or 30, or 300, your job is to not only lead them, but to be the best leader you can be. How about you? Are you a great leader? Do you inspire your people?…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | For many Boomers, retirement may involve taking vacations, taking up a new hobby, and spending more time with family, friends and the grandchildren…