Week of January 21, 2021

Celebrating 32 years of local news

Debate over Windsor youth sports rages

School board rules risks too high to allow athletes in school gym; Proponents claim same safety measures as school sports can be used

The RSU #12 School Board has decided that Youth Sports for the 2020/2021 winter season is too risky to allow in the Windsor School gymnasium. At least, according to the latest RSU Board meeting, having Youth Sports in the Windsor School is too risky to allow until March when the decision will be reconsidered. The RSU Board has debated youth sports in multiple meetings since November 2020 and on each occasion the vote remained that with COVID-19 infections on the rise there will be no youth sports activities allowed in the Windsor School facilities… by Steve Ball

Your Local News

TIF committee satisfied with proposed amended wording to document

CHINA — China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members decided on Jan. 14 they are satisfied with their proposed amended wording to China’s TIF document…

Three solar projects get planners’ approval

CHINA — At their Jan. 12 meeting, China Planning Board members worked on a proposed solar ordinance that will establish rules for evaluating future applications for solar developments…

Earned paid leave law goes into effect in Maine

by Charlotte Henderson — Maine’s new law, the Earned Paid Leave Law (MEPL), allows certain Maine workers to build up paid leave time. In businesses that employ more than 10 people, wage earners can now (effective New Year’s Day, 2021) accrue one hour of paid time off for every 40 hours worked, up to five paid days a year…

VBA ice fishing derby set for Feb. 7

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro Business Association’s annual ice fishing derby and raffle will be held at the Olde Mill, at 934 Main St., on Sunday, February 7, 2021, in all Maine legal waters…

Disc golf fundraising tourney set for Feb. 27

SIDNEY — Get your family and friends involved in some winter fun, that will help raise money for an important cause. A disc golf fundraising tournament will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2021, to benefit Chiari Malformation…

Local woman publishes her second children’s book

FAIRFIELD — Sharon Hood, local musician and radio personality of Cruisin’ Country 93.5, recently published her second children’s book, Who Stole the Snowman’s Nose?, this past November and it has been very well received… by Mark Huard

Norridgewock author publishes new book, Moving Up to a Higher Zip Code

NORRIDGEWOCK — Newly-published author, Deb Brown, of Norridgewock, recently had her book, Moving To A Higher Zip-Code, a memoir about her accidental spiritual journey published and it is now available on Amazon or at Balboa Press…

China Village library to bring wintertime cheer with nostalgic programs

CHINA — To help ward off the wintertime blues, the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village announces some programs to bring a little laughter and cheer to the community in January and February… by Carla Gade

Maine ranks first in personal freedom

MAINE — The Cato Institute recently released the latest edition of Freedom in the 50 States, which ranks each U.S. state by how its public policies promote freedom in the fiscal, regulatory and personal freedom spheres…

STUDENT WRITERS: Negative Effects of Toxic Masculinity

ERSKINE ACADEMY — The negative effects of various media like television and movies on women and young girls have rightfully been shown time and again. The negative effects on men from these same forms of media is a much lesser known, but no less real, phenomenon… by Adam Oches (Vassalboro)

STUDENT WRITERS: Reaction to Covid-19 outbreak, and school

ERSKINE ACADEMY — What seemed like 10 years ago, March, was the beginning of this crazy, terrifying, isolating adventure that we experienced through a screen. Everything I had been looking forward to this year had suddenly been uprooted and thrown out. I think a lot of people were in shock or denial, or I don’t know what… by Wes McGlew (Junior)

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Historic listings – Part 3 (New)

AUGUSTA HISTORY — The previous articles in this series on historic places talked about some early Augusta sites and buildings. Two more…are on both the National Register of Historic Places and the list of National Historic Landmarks. They are the Kennebec Arsenal on the east bank of the Kennebec and the Blaine House on the west bank, beside the state capitol building… by Mary Grow [1600 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Historic listings – Part 2

AUGUSTA HISTORY — As mentioned in the first article on historic places in Augusta, four are on the National Park Service’s Register of National Historic Landmarks (as is Fort Halifax, in Winslow). The Augusta sites, listed in historical order, are the Cushnoc Archaeological Site, Fort Western, the Kennebec Arsenal and the Blaine House… by Mary Grow [1811 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Historic listings – Part 1

AUGUSTA HISTORY — The City of Augusta has 44 listings on the National Register of Historic Places, but some overlap. Nonetheless, the capital city has a substantial share of the 136 historic places in Kennebec County… by Mary Grow [1355 words]

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

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]

LETTERS: Make your country proud

from Frank Slason (Somerville) — As a veteran of two wars, it is with a tear in my eye as I witnessed what happened to our great republic. It’s hard to believe that true Republicans would have had anything to do with this insurrection…

Obituaries

CLINTON – David Robert Cairnie, 80, of Clinton, formerly of Fairfield, passed away at Togus Veterans Hospital, in Augusta, on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, following a short illness. Dave was born in Waterville, the first child of the late Ethel (Taylor) and William David Cairnie, on January 25, 1940… and remembering 10 others.

2020-’21 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

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

Become a member: An open letter to our readers

Dear Reader: For the past 32 years, The Town Line has pledged a mission statement to “create a vibrant rural community connecting our towns, organizations and individuals through communication, education and public dialogue.” It’s all part of The Town Line’s mission to be a positive force in our community…

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, February 5, 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: Ardra Poulin, Winslow.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | Don’t ask why or how, but last week, during a conversation, I was asked a question about ferrets. Not knowing that much about them, I decided to look into it…

MAINE MEMORIES

by Evangeline T. | Hello and welcome to Maine Memories, little snippets of life from our home state. For the first installment, we have a story that starts in a far-away country, across the Atlantic Ocean…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | One of the more pressing problems that small business owners have is finding, hiring, and most importantly keeping the right people. This has been an issue with small business for years, and it seems that it is an issue that never really gets solved…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Back during the summer of 1965, the family had a General Electric table model radio which I listened to by the hour when it broadcast classical music from WMTW-FM then located in the old Poland Springs Hotel, at the foot of Mount Washington…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | How are you doing with your winter this year? I say this year because it is a little different than most. This year winter is following almost an entire year of isolation. Life has definitely been different than most years before it…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | The following is notes on the annual Solon Budget Committee meeting held last Saturday: The committee nominated and elected Michael Golden as chairperson. Elaine Aloes gave a selectmen update. Ann Padham has moved out of town. Heather Padham has taken her place on the budget committee…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | If you or someone you know has ever had blood cancer, a term you might have heard is “minimal residual disease,” or MRD. MRD refers to the small number of cancer cells that can stay in the body during and after treatment…