Week of January 30, 2020

Celebrating 31 years of local news

Maine SciFi & Fantasy Nerd Festival comes to central Maine

Hundreds attend the first ever “Nerd Super Bowl”

The first ever Maine Sci-Fi & Fantasy Nerd Festival invaded Central Maine on January 26, at the Community Center, in Fairfield. About 250 fans gathered to share their love of cosplay, comics, games, and all things nerdy… (pictures & text by Mark Huard)

Your Local News

Selectmen OK RFPs for solar energy project

VASSALBORO — At their Jan. 23 meeting, Vassalboro selectmen unanimously approved a request for proposals (RFP) for a solar energy project for the town, including the school department and the Vassalboro Sanitary District…

Discussions continue over conflict of interest

CHINA — At their Jan 21 meeting, China selectmen, assisted by town attorney Amanda Meader, continued their discussion of conflict of interest as it relates to budget committee members who are also volunteer fire department members…

Selectmen make budget recommendations

CHINA — China selectmen made their recommendations on Town Manager Dennis Heath’s proposed 2020-21 municipal budget at a special meeting Jan. 27, so the budget committee could review them Jan. 30…

Planners set to visit one proposed solar development site

CHINA — China Planning Board members are tentatively scheduled to visit the site of one of two proposed solar developments in town Saturday morning, Feb. 8…The site visit is considered a board meeting and is open to the public…

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Valentine Vaudeville

WATERVILLE — Enjoy a night out at Valentine Vaudeville with a buffet dinner and floor show at 6 p.m., on Saturday, February 8, in the Ballroom, at Governor’s Restaurant, in Waterville…

Singing Valentines

CENTRAL ME — Heart & Soul, a quartet with the Maine-ly Harmony a cappela barbershop chorus, is one of the groups that will be delivering singing Valentines in central Maine. To have the group sing for your sweetheart, call…

TOCmedia to host three new social-media marketing business-breakfast events

WATERVILLE — TOCmedia will host three new social media marketing business-breakfast events, “How to Recruit & Retain Top Talent on Social Media.” The series will kick-off on Friday, January 31, at Thomas College, on West River Road, in Waterville…

Mid-Maine Chamber to host “meet the reps”

WATERVILLE — Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and KV Connect will host “Meet the Reps,” an event that brings members of the business community and public together with elected officials at all levels of government February 5, 2020 from 5:30-7 p.m., at Chace Community Forum in Waterville…

Grand Prix races slated for grades 2-5

WATERVILLE — A free racecar event will be held at Kennebec Valley Baptist Church, 91 Marston Road, Waterville, on March 14, beginning at 2 p.m. Small wooden car creations built by youngsters age two through grade five with the help of a parent or other adult are raced…

AARP Tax-Aide program offered

CENTRAL ME — The AARP Tax-Aide program provides free federal and state income tax preparation and electronic filing to low- and moderate-income individuals. Returns are prepared by IRS-certified volunteers. The program is funded by the AARP Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable organization, and the IRS…

School News

Erskine Academy to host eighth grade open house

So.CHINA — All eighth grade students and their parents from the surrounding communities are invited to attend the Erskine Academy 8th Grade Open House on Wednesday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m., in the gym…

Erskine Academy girls basketball team holds fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis

So. CHINA — One of the Erskine basketball players, Mackenzie Roderick, has been personally affected by MS, as her sister, Cassidy, was diagnosed with the disease a year and a half ago, making this cause very special to her and her teammates…

Carrabec High School announces second quarter honors

ANSON — Carrabec High School, in North Anson, announces the 2019-2020 second quarter honor roll…

Obituaries

SIDNEY – Verna (Deschene) Ferland, 72, passed away peacefully at her home, in Sidney, on Sunday, January 26, 2020. Verna was born in Grand Falls, New Bruns­wick, Canada, on November 3, 1947, one of seven children born to Claude Deschene and Winnifred Levesque Deschene… and remembering 12 others.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DR. DAVID AUSTIN, will share his experiences with Doctors Without Borders, at the Albion Public Library, Wed., Feb. 5, 7 p.m. Dr. Austin served 12 months in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Djibuti…. (…and many other local events!)

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!

Webber’s Pond

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

Common Ground – Round 13: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, February 7, 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@fairpoint.net or through our Contact page. Include your name and address with your answer. Use “Common Ground” in the subject!

Previous winner: Ardra Poulin, of Winslow.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | It’s time again to bundle up and make my trek through the snow fields of center Vassalboro in search of my old friend, Woodrow Charles. With Groundhog Day coming on February 2, I always visit him a little early to give our readers a head start on the possibilities of the weather for the next couple of months…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Playwright Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836-1911) and composer Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842-1900) began a collaboration that produced 14 comic operas from 1871 to 1896, several of which are still produced often around the world…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | In the garden of my life there are many colored plants. I choose mine because of my attraction to their colors or combination of colors. I plant mostly perennials because they are always there, even when they are resting and waiting for the next blossoming period. Sometimes friendships are like that…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | The Solon Pine Tree Club met at the Solon Fire Station on January 11 for their meeting. In attendance, there were six members and five leaders. The craft project was wood burning and finishing candles from the previous month…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI)—Academy Award winner Tom Hanks is rallying the nation behind America’s military caregivers with help from the legacy of a legend, Bob Hope. Hope’s daughter, Linda Hope, was the first to join the campaign, donating $1 million on behalf of the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation…