Week of November 5, 2020

Celebrating 32 years of local news

Revere Bell to ring for veterans, ring for peace

The Paul Revere bell from the belfry of the Benton Falls Congregational Church has been silent this past year. It sits on the ground beside the church awaiting repair of the belfry timbers to support its 798-pound weight. The cradle in which it swings is now intact. While work and fundraising continues so the bell can resume its proper place in the church belfry, its service to the community continues… by Marion Foster

Your Local News

2 incumbents, newcomer gain selectboard seats

CHINA — In Nov. 3 local elections, China voters re-elected two incumbent selectmen and chose Blane Casey to fill the seat vacated by Donna Mills-Stevens…

TIF committee reviews past, future activities

CHINA — Members of China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Committee spent most of their Oct. 27 virtual meeting reviewing a list of past and planned future activities…

Vassalboro school closed for two weeks

VASSALBORO — “We are going to do full remote learning for the next two weeks. Our in-person learning will plan to resume Monday, November 16 – a BLUE cohort day,” said Pfeiffer. “You will be updated more as we hear from the Maine CDC”…

Ballfields discussed, final action possible Nov. 12

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro selectmen got rid of one item of continuing business at their Oct. 28 meeting: they learned that the Vassalboro Conservation Commission seems on the way to reviving itself, and decided they did not need to discuss its future again…

What we now observe as Veterans Day began as Armistice Day

by Gary Kennedy — Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day, November 11, 1919. Beginning in 1938 Veterans Day became a National holiday. This was the anniversary of World War I…

Maine: the fifth most supportive state for veteran-owned businesses

by Amanda Postma — Some veterans have a hard time getting into the workforce after having served. That’s why so many of them start their own business…

Free Thanksgiving dinners offered

WATERVILLE — The Alfond Youth and Community Center, North St., Waterville, will host a Drive Thru Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday, November 21, from 1 – 3 p.m. in the AYCC parking lot…

Pie sale planned in conjunction with awards ceremony

ROCKPORT — Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District is holding a pie sale and fundraising raffle in conjunction with their first virtual awards celebration on November 10… Raffle tickets are $1.50 each or $6 for five and must be purchased by Sunday, November 8…

Turkey pie sale planned in Madison

MADISON — A turkey pie sale, curbside only, will be held at the back entrance of the Madison American Legion Hall, on Saturday, November 7, 2020, from 3 to 6 p.m., at 20 S. Maple Street. Each pie is $10, and pre-orders are encouraged, call Charlotte at 696-3375 by October 30…

Bottle drive to benefit food pantries

CENTRAL ME — Through October, recyclable bottles are being collected to benefit the Palermo, Liberty, and Montville Food pantries. Bottles may be dropped off at the porch of the Palermo Community Center anytime, or at Nancy Bartlett’s home, at 801 Acadia, across from the 10-4 Diner…

STUDENT WRITERS PROGRAM: So what? The real impact on young people (New)

ERSKINE ACADEMY — We all have bad days. Maybe your cat got run over or maybe the jelly in your PB and J sandwich made the bread way too soggy for the desired taste of the sandwich, or maybe you’ve had your head in your screen all day… by Hannah Soule

STUDENT WRITERS PROGRAM: Tribalism in American Politics

ERSKINE ACADEMY — Tribalism is the behavior and attitudes that stem from strong loyalty to one’s own tribe or social group. Tribalism is a natural part of human behavior that can be seen in all aspects of life. More now than ever, we are seeing strong tribalism in American politics… by Grace Kelso

Lions hold successful food drive

WATERVILLE — On October 24 the Waterville Lions Club held a drive thru food drive to raise donations for local food pantries. The Club thanks the community for all the support!…

Picking up yards

WATERVILLE — Waterville Youth Football team member Logan Cimino (42) takes the ball down field with teammate Charlie Ferris following, during a recent game on October 25 (photo)…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Electricity and telephones (New)

MAINE HISTORY — Many local histories find the arrival and expansion of electricity and telephone service noteworthy, especially in Maine’s smaller communities. As most of us learned in grammar school, Benjamin Franklin is credited with discovering electricity in 1752… by Mary Grow [1865 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Mail delivery – Conclusion

MAINE HISTORY — The previous article talked about postal service in the southern part of the central Kennebec Valley. This article completes the story with summary postal histories of Sidney, Fairfield, Benton, and Clinton, plus miscellaneous notes… by Mary Grow [1371 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Mail delivery – Part 1

MAINE HISTORY — Intercolonial mail started in the early 1700s in the major cities on the east coast of the future United States, and had reached Maine’s coastal towns before the Revolution. The national postal service was organized during the Revolution, with Benjamin Franklin the first Postmaster General. Alma Pierce Robbins wrote in her history of Vassalboro that mail service reached the central Kennebec Valley in the 1790s… by Mary Grow [1829 words]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Trolleys

MAINE HISTORY — Not long after finishing the piece about street railways that appeared in The Town Line, Sept. 10, this writer came across a small paperback book published in 1955. Written by O. R. (Osmond Richard) Cummings, it is titled Toonervilles of Maine The Pine Tree State. (The title refers to Fontaine Fox’s comic strip called Toonerville Folks that Wikipedia says first appeared in the Chicago Post in 1908 and last appeared in 1955… by Mary Grow [1608 words]

Webber’s Pond

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

Obituaries

PALERMO — Virginia L. (Kenerson) Cullivan, 97, passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at Mt. St. Joseph nursing home, in Waterville, following a brief illness. Virginia was born on September 22, 1923, in Abington, Massachusetts, the daughter of Arthur and Pauline Kenerson… and remembering 8 others.

Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate!

DEADLINE: Friday, November 13, 2020

Identify the objects 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: Kay Pooler, Vassalboro.

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | They seem to have invaded our environment and taken up permanent residence in the state of Maine. We are seeing more and more of them in and around our homes. More so this time of year when the critters are attempting to come indoors where its warm. They are commonly known as stink bugs…

THE MONEY MINUTE

by Jac M. Arbour | What is retirement? The definition is forever evolving, and the answer depends on whom you ask. There is no list of things that can describe exactly what retirement is or what it is not. The retiree is the architect and, therefore, the decision-maker. It will be whatever he or she chooses…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Russian writer Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) conveyed an astute sense of reality in his short stories and plays , and did so with extraordinary literary artistry, powerful compassion for human beings and ruthless attention to detail…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | I have been collecting articles about using every day household items for different purposes. It is time to share my stash that’s getting rather large…