Week of November 28, 2019

Celebrating 31 years of local news

The story behind the first Thanksgiving

For some of us, Thanksgiving isn’t a space in time, day, week, month or year. In older times it was being thankful for a good harvest which was derived from a year of hard work which would supply the people for the coming months with food. Most crops were obtained in the late part of September to early October, depending on the crop. After this, harvest and storage of food stores were followed by hard winters… [728 words] by Gary Kennedy

Your Local News

Selectmen reach firefighters’ stipend decision – for this year

CHINA — China selectmen made a decision at their Nov. 25 meeting that they think settles the controversy over stipends for volunteer firefighters – at least for this year. On a 3-0-1 vote, with Mill-Stevens abstaining, board members approved Chairman Ronald Breton’s motion that China’s three fire chiefs be invited to pick up their $10,000 stipend checks…

Proclamation for David Herard Day in China

CHINA — The Nov. 25 China selectmen’s meeting opened with a proclamation by Town Manager Dennis Heath marking the day as “David Addis Herard Day” in honor of the late head of China Rescue. The manager summarized Herard’s many services to his town and his country and presented a certificate to his daughter…

DEP denies Windsor’s initial request to install a diesel fuel tank

WINDSOR — At the November 12 selectmen’s meeting, Town Manager Theresa Haskell reported that the DEP has denied Windsor’s request to have a diesel tank installed on town property, specifically at the public works department. The need for a new diesel fuel tank stems from John Moody’s retirement announcement, effective this December…

Rome voters reject CMP Corridor

ROME — On the evening of November 19, the town of Rome held an informational session and special town meeting focused on the CMP corridor. Following the informational session, Rome residents voted 27-2 (with one neutral) for the town to take a position of opposition on the deeply unpopular CMP corridor…

2019 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

Due dates for 2019 Real Estate taxes for Albion, China, Palermo, Vassalboro, Waterville and Windsor…

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Facebook to match donations on “Giving Tuesday” for nonprofit organizations

On Tuesday, December 3, Facebook will be matching up to $7 million in donations made through its social media platform to U.S. nonprofits on a first-come, first-served basis. To donate, follow our page and look for our Facebook post on Giving Tuesday! You can also help out by creating a fundraising campaign for us on your own page using this link: www.facebook.com/fund/townline.org

China Food Pantry thanks community

CHINA — WOW!! Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community, the China Community Food Pantry has been able to serve 53 families this year. Thank you all so very, very much. The outpouring of support from this community was both humbling and staggering. We are so very, very grateful to each and every one of you…

Induction ceremony held for Erskine Leos

WHITEFIELD/CHINA — The Whitefield Lions club held an induction ceremony for 10 incoming Leos. The Erskine Academy Leos are an affiliate service group of the Whitefield Lions (photo)…

Roxanne Malley inducted as Lion

WHITEFIELD/CHINA — Roxanne Malley has been inducted in to the Whitefield Lions Club after serving three years as the adviser to the Erskine Academy/Whitefield Leos (photo)…

Kennebec Historical Society hosts tea on December 8

AUGUSTA — The Kennebec Historical Society will host a Victorian Tea Party at its headquarters in Augusta. Please come and join us as we celebrate the holiday season on Sunday, December 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a variety of goodies to sample including cookies, snacks, coffee and of course tea! Enjoy the festive decorations and holiday musical selections played on the piano…

Ignore those vehicle repairs and you may get pulled over

(NAPSI)—Many drivers may feel that they don’t have the time or money to address vehicle repairs immediately, but beware: Ignoring some repairs can get you pulled over and even ticketed….

SCHOOL NEWS

Hunter Smart competing on Assumption men’s track & field team

OAKLAND — The Assumption Department of Athletics, in Worcester, Massachusetts, has announced that Hunter Smart, of Oakland, has been named to the 2019-20 Assumption Men’s Track & Field roster and is competing during the indoor season…

Graduates from military basic training

FAIRFIELD — Parents Ben and Patrice Harris, of Fairfield, have announced their daughter, PVT Jordaan Harris, has graduated from Army Bootcamp, on November 15, 2019. She successfully completed 10 weeks of intensive basic training…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING, Fri., Dec. 6, 6 p.m., the Olde Mill, in North Vassalboro. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance. There will be caroling around the tree and the Girl and Boy Scouts will be serving cookies and cocoa inside… (…and many other local events!)

Obituaries

SIDNEY – George David Horton Jr., passed away on Monday, October 28, 2019, at Togus VA Hospital. He was born in Pleasantville, New Jersey, to George and Kathryn (Beckman) Horton, both predeceased… and remembering 6 others.

Common Ground – Round 11: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, December 6, 2019

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: Pat Clark, Palermo

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is an upland ground bird native to North America. Although native to North America, the turkey probably got its name from the domesticated variety being imported to Britain in ships coming from the Levant via Spain. The British at the time therefore associated the wild turkey with the country Turkey and the name prevails…

Emily CatesGARDEN WORKS

by Emily Cates | Are we ready for Old Man Winter? We should be, since Mother Nature seems to be making up her mind that she’s here! Many opportunities in the garden like digging and planting are lost when the ground freezes. The good news, though, is there may be a little time left for winterizing our garden and orchard now…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | Great customer service is often delivered by people who don’t mind breaking the rules. Sometimes great customer service comes to you unexpectedly…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | This is the 12th month I have done the Crazy Holidays columns. I haven’t decided yet what I will follow up with to use for the last week of the month. Do you have any ideas? Let me know what you might like for one week out of every month. I’ll be waiting…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | There will be a preliminary budget meeting for annual town meeting on Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m., at the town office conference room. This is a preliminary meeting to discuss town budget issues before the annual budget meeting and the marijuana “Opt In” options for a town vote in March…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI)—Army veteran Ron Hope was piloting a helicopter in Vietnam to extract a company of soldiers, when he was shot down. His left brachial plexus—the network of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the arm and hand—was crushed. He also broke both legs, suffered compound fractures in six vertebrae and had third-degree burns covering 55 percent of his body…