Week of January 7, 2021

Celebrating 32 years of local news

Shane Savage named CMGC developer of the year

Central Maine Growth Council has presented its 2020 Developer of the Year award to Shane Savage, R.Ph., co-owner of Savage’s Drug. The award was presented at Central Maine Growth Council’s Annual Meeting, sponsored by Central Maine Motors, Kennebec Savings Bank, MaineGeneral Health, and New Dimensions Federal Credit Union…

Thelma Bulger presented with Vassalboro’s Boston Post Cane

The Vassalboro Historical Society has announced the honorary ownership of the Boston Post cane to Mrs T. Lois Bulger. The tradition of the cane began in 1909, when the Boston Post distributed 431 of the canes to towns throughout New England with instructions that each should be presented to the oldest living citizen of the town…

Your Local News

Approved marijuana growing locale sparks proposed ordinance changes

VASSALBORO — The agenda for the Thursday, Jan. 7, Vassalboro selectmen’s meeting includes discussion of two proposed ordinance amendments, sparked by a recent Planning Board approval of a marijuana growing facility adjacent to a subdivision on Sherwood Lane…

Selectmen say no to hiring Portland attorney

CHINA — China selectmen spent the most time during their Jan. 4 virtual meeting on two issues, one of which was on the agenda…

TIF committee revisits allowable expenditures

CHINA —  China Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee members spent the first hour of their Dec. 29 meeting re-discussing lists of allowable TIF expenditures they had voted on at their Dec. 17 meeting…

Windsor selectmen unanimously delete purchasing procedure policy

WINDSOR — The Windsor Board of Selectmen met on December 8, 2020, and worked through a rather light agenda.
The old and new proposed purchasing procedure policy was distributed and discussed…

Many kids waiting for big brothers, big sisters in 2021

CENTRAL ME — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine (BBBSMM) kicks off the New Year with a recruitment effort to match 30 waiting Littles with adult mentors and train another 70 college and high school students to serve as “Virtual Bigs” to mentor area youth, with hopes of returning to in-person programming this year…

Compost for a better future

by Sarah Corkum — With the holidays upon us, now is the perfect time to begin composting. Food waste is a major issue in the United States and composting is a great way to combat this. According to the Maine Organic Farmer and Gardeners Association (MOFGA), composting “recycles and converts nutrients and provides a product that improves the soil”…

How small business can beat Covid-19 to be presented by Mid-Maine chamber

CENTRAL ME — Nancy Marshall will offer tips to address how businesses and leaders can embrace adaptability, exercise empathy in the workplace, and take action to assure success during and after the pandemic. The Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s January breakfast will be held on Thursday, January 14, from 7:15 to 9 a.m., at the Best Western Plus in Waterville…

Bear Cub Scout receives religious emblem

AUGUSTA– Bear Cub Scout Tristan Morton, of Pack #603, Kennebec Valley District, read the liturgy to St. Michael School second and third graders at St. Mary’s Church, in Augusta…

Kringleville 2020: The magic of Kringleville like no other season

WATERVILLE — A message from Mrs. Claus to our Kringleville, Maine, USA friends. This certainly was a season like no other Kringleville season. Though Santa and I could not visit with you in the cabin, we were so pleased to be able to connect with so many of you remotely…

STUDENT WRITERS PROGRAM: Negative Effects of Toxic Masculinity

ERSKINE ACADEMY — Toxic masculinity is a negative, oppressive phenomenon that not only affects men but also everyone around them. Toxic masculinity is negative because it can lead to aggression, repressed emotions, and psychological trauma… by Autumn Boody

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

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]

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]

Webber’s Pond

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

Obituaries

PALERMO – Diana J. (Briggs) Lee, 79, of Palermo, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, December 20, 2020, due to Babesiosis, a rare infection caused by a tick bite. Diana was born in Freedom on December 23, 1940, the daughter of Carolyn and Clyde Briggs… and remembering 9 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 is a road off Lakeview Drive, in China, called Killdeer Point Road, that takes you to Killdeer Point, on the lake. We know the area received its name when someone exploring the area saw what he thought was a killdeer, and so named the point. So, what is a killdeer?…

POETRY CORNER

by Marilou Suchar | The gold, the red the shades of green, splash of fall colors, a brilliant scene./It’s nippy, it’s cool – the breezes blow, It won’t be long ‘til winter’s snow…

VETERANS CORNER

by Gary Kennedy | Ah! Here it is the first week of January and all will turn back to normal soon. The presidential election is over and the race in Georgia for control of the Senate has been decided. The results of these two events will guide this country for the next four years…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | In April, 1940, Italian composer Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945) conducted the La Scala Opera Orchestra and Chorus in a recording of his masterpiece, Cavalleria Rusticana, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its 1890 premiere, at the invitation of the record label, La Voce del Padrone, in a very hea­vy set of 11 breakable 78s…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Happy New Year!! I have a hope and a wish that we have all entered this new year happy and healthy. Christmas, for the most part, is over. You possibly have a gift or two for those you haven’t connected with yet. All in good time…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Here I sit on the new year of 2021, and I wish all of you a Happy New Year! The following is the December Solon School News…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | Well it’s happening again. Contractors are getting busy. Despite the pandemic, contractors who come to your house, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, carpenters, painters, you name them, they are all very busy right now. People have been taking advantage of the warm weather to get work around their homes done while they can…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) | Experts of all sorts now say face masks are a must to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Someone you meet could have the coronavirus and not realize it. Not all masks work equally well, however, researchers have discovered. Here are some of the most important features to look for when choosing a mask, according to the latest conclusions…