Week of February 13, 2020

Celebrating 32 years of local news

Williams Elementary School honors first responders

Hearts for Heroes program presented by students

On January 24, Williams Elementary School, in Oakland, celebrated local first responders with a special Hearts for Heroes event.  The entire school came together in a community assembly to show their gratitude and appreciation for local responders and all they do to keep us safe… [580 words] by Mandi Favreau

Your Local News

Planners OK replacement of power poles

VASSALBORO — Central Maine Power Company’s plan to replace power poles and lines between McCoy’s Substation, in Vassalboro, and the Augusta East substation got approval from the Vassalboro Planning Board at a Feb. 4 meeting, but still awaits state action, company spokespeople said…

China selectmen do semi-final review of warrant articles prior to April 4 town meeting

CHINA — China selectmen spent almost two hours Feb. 10 doing a semi-final review of the warrant articles for the April 4 town business meeting. Their work was to be submitted to the budget committee on Feb. 12 for its members’ final review and recommendations…

Addition, renovations completed at China Middle School

CHINA — The new expansion of the gymnasium accommodates a new stage, instrumental music practice room, new gym floor, and movable bleachers to accommodate more seating for concert, basketball games and other events (see photos)…

Meet the candidates session before special election for vacant selectmen’s seat

CHINA — A meet the candidates session is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library, in China Village, in advance of China’s March 3 special election to fill a vacancy on the Selectboard. Candidates are Christopher Hahn, Janet Preston and Kevin Rhoades…

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The Town Line Valentine’s Day Greetings!

If you submitted a Valentine’s Day greeting for your special someone, please find it here!

Annual Polar Bear Dip held during Maine Pond Hockey Classic

SIDNEY — The 27th Annual Polar Bear Dip took place on Sunday February 9 at the Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney. The event helped raise $23,500 and had 114 dippers. Colby College Sports brought 68 dippers and raised over $4,000 by itself! (photos by Central Maine Photography)…

Dr. David Austin talks about Doctors Without Borders in African countries

ALBION — In a Feb. 5 talk at the Albion Public Library, Dr. David Austin described some of his experiences as a physician in three African countries in 2010 and 2011. He read from his book, Therese’s Dream, a collection of emails he sent to Dr. Paul Forman at the Lovejoy Health Center, and answered audience questions…

China Boy Scouts hold Sunday Service at China Baptist Church

CHINA — February 9 was Boy Scout Sunday at China Baptist Church. Troop #479 is sponsored by and meets weekly in the church vestry fellowship hall. Each year they participate in a Sunday service honoring and celebrating the Boy Scout program…

China Middle Schoolers tour Kennebec Technologies

CHINA — On January 14, China Middle School JMG had the opportunity to tour Kennebec Technologies, in Augusta. Eighth graders walked the shop floor with Shawn Arbour, director, sales and marketing, and Harvey Smith, director of quality, learning about the variety of machinery and jobs…

Empty Bowls Fundraiser at Messalonskee High School

OAKLAND — This year’s Empty Bowls Dinner will be on Friday, March 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., in the high school cafeteria. Empty Bowls has been a fundraiser at Messalonskee High School for the past several years. The purpose of this project is to raise money for local food pantries…

Tickets available for fishing derby

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Fishing Derby will take place on Sunday, February 9, from 1-5 p.m., at the Olde Mill. The prizes! You don’t have to fish to win. There are over $600 in cash prizes from $50 to $300, plus a $256 Natanis Golf package…Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and available from…

Kennebec Historical Society to present “Lost Indian Tribes of Western Maine”

MANCHESTER — Hopelessly caught between the colonial aims of several European nations, Maine’s native population never stood a chance. The presentation will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, at Hope Baptist Church in Manchester…

Vassalboro Historical Society seeks donations for storage building

VASSALBORO — We have grown since the inception, both in membership and in acquisitions. We are now at a crossroads financially. Due to the number of large items we currently have, including wagons, farm equipment, boating equipment, etc., we need a large space…

Eunice Farnsworth-Ruth Heald Cragin Chapter DAR

SKOWHEGAN — We discuss women’s issues, health tips, recycling, conservation, patriotism, growing gardens, pollination, etc., maintain the World War I Memorial Sundial Garden at Coburn Park, in Skowhegan, donate to a local animal shelter…

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

L.C. BATES MUSEUM at Vassalboro Public Library. The World of Reptiles, Fri., Feb. 21, 2 p.m. Uncover the fascinating diversity and adaptations of snakes, turtles, lizards, alligators, and crocodiles. NOTE: Sat., Feb. 22, 1 p.m., Climate in Maine, with Prof. Lenny Reich, of Union of Concerned Scientists, program is geared to adults… (…and many other local events!)

Obituaries

OAKLAND – William P. Fisher, Sr., 93, died on Saturday, on January 4, 2020, in Waterville. He was born March 17, 1926, in Waterville. He was the son of the late Norman and Alice M. (Otis) Fisher… and remembering 11 others…

2019-’20 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

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

Webber’s Pond

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

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | The American robin, Turdus migratorius, is a migratory songbird. While robins occasionally overwinter in the northern United States and southern Canada, most migrate to Florida and the Gulf Coast to central Mexico…

Emily CatesGARDEN WORKS

by Emily Cates | As the wind whips through the drifting snow, I snuggle up by the wood stove with a warm cup of tea and a seed catalog. Each year there’s something new, along with seeds tried and true. With imagination running wild, I run my highlighter through the pages…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | When I stopped in at 10:30 a.m. on a Wednesday in mid-January, Don had been up since a chilly 7 a.m. and was just coming in after inspecting a section of deer fencing which needed repair…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Peter Serkin and his father, Rudolf Serkin, achieved fame as classical pianists of immense distinction. I saw each of them perform twice in concert and found their musicianship quite special for different reasons…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | I promised information about Cats this week. The article I read in Reader’s Digest was just a reminder that I had never done a column on our pets. Okay, I did Dogs last week, cats this week and I’m done. There are so many pets to have in your home now I would never get all the pets included. I am sorry if you feel slighted, that is truly not intended…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club met at the Solon Fire Station on February 8. There were 10 members, 4 leaders and 3 visitors present. Their project was having the 4-H members put together food trays for the elderly as a community service. Demonstrations were given by three members…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI)—Driving a car means maintaining independence for many older adults. Driving allows you to shop, see friends and family, keep up with medical appointments, and avoid social isolation. But sometimes staying safe behind the wheel as you age can be a challenge…