Week of July 23, 2020

Celebrating 32 years of local news

New China town manager takes over with unprecedented local support

As China’s new town manager, Becky Hapgood is taking over the position at one of the most challenging times in the town’s history. With big projects on the horizon, like the Causeway Phase 2 construction planned for later this summer, and the COVID-19 pandemic making all aspects of life more complicated, Hapgood is facing a host of responsibilities right out of the gate not usually associated with being a small-town manager… [2011 words] by Eric W. Austin

Your Local News

Selectmen approve town office hours

CHINA — At their July 20 meeting, China selectmen approved new Town Manager Becky Hapgood’s proposed town office hours, emphasizing her plan to review them after a few months’ trial…

Every article but one passed unanimously

WINDSOR — A dozen Windsor voters, mostly masked, who spaced themselves around the Windsor School gymnasium were in an agreeable mood at the July 15 town meeting…

School board makes five decisions at meeting

VASSALBORO — At a short July 20 virtual special meeting, Vassalboro School Board members took five important decisions, without dissent. They accepted the almost $7.97 million 2020-21 school budget…

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Upcoming meetings in area towns

Vassalboro selectmen to set tax rate

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro selectmen intend to set the 2020-21 tax rate at their Thursday, July 23, meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m., in the town office meeting room. Two other agenda items are suggesting ways to celebrate the town’s 250th birthday…

China planners to review two potential ordinances

CHINA — China Planning Board members are scheduled to review two potential ordinances at their July 28 meeting, set for 6:30 p.m., in the town office meeting room. They are a Recreational Marijuana Ordinance and a Local Food and Self Governing Ordinance…

LongRoad Energy to hold public informational meeting

VASSALBORO — LongRoad Energy Management sponsors a public informational meeting on a proposed solar project at 2579 Riverside Drive (Route 201) in Vassalboro at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, in the gymnasium at Vassalboro Community School…

Elvis fundraiser in Vassalboro

VASSALBORO — American Legion Post #5, in Waterville, will be holding an Elvis Concert fundraiser, on Sunday, July 26, from 2 – 4 p.m., at the St. Bridget Center in North Vassalboro. For tickets, call Craig Bailey at 313-8865, or Pearley Lachance at 873-0358. Advance tickets are $15, and they will be $20 at the door…

China School Forest workday planned July 25

CHINA — I am coordinating a work day at the China School Forest for Saturday, July 25, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Helpers can come for part or all day. There are many projects that can be done with social distancing in place or in family groups. All volunteers should wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water to drink… by Anita Smith

Ward rejoins Kennebec Federal Savings

WATERVILLE — Joshua Ward, who offers more than 20 years of banking and mortgage experience and who previously served as Branch Operations Manager at Kennebec Federal Savings, has rejoined the bank as a Loan Officer…

Peaches are coming!

PALERMO — You need a break from the monotony. The Living Communities Foundation is bringing in big, drippingly-sweet peaches from northern New Jersey starting on July 31, with one or two more deliveries in August…

Public supper in Freedom

FREEDOM — A public supper will be held at the Freedom Congregational Church on Saturday, August 1, from 4:30 – 6 p.m., at the church hall. These will be takeout dinners only…

FISHY PHOTO: Big ol’ yellow perch

CHINA — Tyler White, son of Nathan and Alison White, caught a big ol’ yellow perch while fishing at the head of China Lake with his dad and grandmother.

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Three notable citizens – Part 1 of 3 (New)

MAINE HISTORY — George John Mitchell is usually referred to as Senator Mitchell, but that’s only one title earned by this Waterville native. His 2015 memoir is The Negotiator, another appropriate title; and one could add lieutenant (in the Army), chairman (of a variety of committees and boards), judge (federal district court in Maine), chancellor (of the Queen’s University of Belfast in Northern Ireland) and (honorary) Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire…  [1655 words] by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Governors with Kennebec ties, Part 2

MAINE HISTORY — Here follows the third and probably final piece on Maine’s governors and the second that lists those with a connection to the central Kennebec River valley, with some random notes that might be of interest…  [1152 words] by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Governors with Kennebec ties

MAINE HISTORY — Since 1820, 71 people have held the office of Governor of Maine. Four of them served non-consecutive terms and get counted twice, so Janet Mills is the 75th governor. The next two articles in this historical series will provide information on governors who were born in or near, or made their careers in or near, one of the central Kennebec Valley towns with which the series began…  [1804 words] by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Kennebec Proprietors

MAINE HISTORY — This series has repeatedly mentioned the Kennebec Proprietors. It is now time to backtrack to the 18th century, to find out who they were and why they are mentioned in almost every history of the State of Maine and in most local histories of Kennebec Valley towns and cities…  [1845 words] by Mary Grow

Webber’s Pond

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

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!

LETTERS: A tradition ends

from Dick Morse, Fire Chief, South China VFD — For the last 40 years on the third Saturday in July, the South China Volunteer Fire Department has held a fundraising auction…Unfortunately, the tradition is over. I have the sad duty to advise you that…we will not be holding an auction in 2020…

Obituaries

FAIRFIELD – Emily Mary-Evelyn Fournier, 32, passed away on Saturday, July 11, 2020. She died in a whitewater rafting accident wherein, according to the game warden, she rescued a child who had been ejected from the raft. While her passing was sudden and tragic, her friends and family take comfort in knowing that she acted heroically and bravely… and remembering 18 others.

Common Ground – Round 19: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, August 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@townline.org or through our Contact page. Include your name and address with your answer. Use “Common Ground” in the subject!

Previous winner: Pat Clark, Palermo

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | I have an idea: let’s play a game! Everybody likes a game. We’ll call it – get a load of this ingenious title – Fact or Fiction! Many of us have pets, and we also like to watch animals. Let’s ask some questions and see if you can tell if it is fact or fiction…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | YouTube has made available an hour long September 1968 interview with the great former conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell (1897-1970), who raised that Midwestern group of 100 or more players from an already good level to world class during the 24 years of his leadership…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | As those of you know who read this column, I am very against the CMP Corridor……. and I have managed to get a few printed to the editor of the daily paper. A lot of that is due to the fact that I can remember when we had to sell our homes and move from Flagstaff…

AARP OUTREACH

by Japhet Els | “We cannot compete if we are not connected.” Jim Fisher was right: how can Maine expect to compete, to grow and expand, without being better connected to more customers, clients, consumers, and the rest of the world? The simple answer is, we can’t. And Mr. Fisher’s experience as Town Manager of Deer Isle showed him this…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Have you seen those shows on TV about the “Little Houses” and the people are “scaling down” to fit into them? Keep that picture in your mind. It’s not real, it can’t be real! And some of them with children! No way!…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) — The older people get, the less likely they are to share memories, researchers say. And when they do reminisce, older folks don’t offer as much detail as younger adults do, new study findings show…