Week of October 24, 2019

Celebrating 31 years of local news

Northern Light Inland Hospital initiates innovative solution to ensure food bank access

Nearly one in six households in Kennebec County lacks enough food to maintain healthy, active lifestyles for all household members. Nutritious food is available, yet many families can’t access the food because they don’t have transportation to a food bank. Northern Light Inland Hospital is responding to the problem with an innovative solution to ensure access to food banks for patients who do not have dependable transportation…

Your Local News

Firefighters’ stipend argument continues; LaVerdiere walks out, resigns

CHINA — The argument over volunteer firefighters’ stipends that China selectmen have conducted intermittently for a year and a half continued at their Oct. 15 meeting, culminating with Selectman Jeffrey LaVerdiere announcing he was tired of arguing, resigning from the board and walking out…

Candidates critical of current administration’s procedures and decisions

CHINA — Three candidates for two positions on the China Selectboard and a small audience had a lively discussion of town affairs at an Oct. 20 candidates’ forum in China Village…

Two-sided local ballot for November 5

CHINA — The first four referenda are intended to comply with state law requiring municipalities to “opt in” before anyone may open a new medical marijuana facility…

Progress on China Middle School expansion

CHINA — Construction continues on the addition to the China Middle School as masons have begun to apply the brick work on the outside of the building. Work remains on schedule. The $1.5 million project will add storage for cafeteria tables, redoing the gym floor and (photo)…

CMP presents revised easement proposal; town counter offers

VASSALBORO — Vassalboro selectmen discussed an unusually varied list of issues at their Oct. 17 meeting, postponing action on most of them. Keltie Beaudoin attended the meeting with a proposal from CMP to revise its easement allowing a power line to cross town property near the Webber Pond outlet dam…

Vassalboro public works director cited for service

VASSALBORO — At the October 3 meeting of the Maine Chapter of the American Public Works Association, in Bangor, at the Maine Municipal Association Convention, Vassalboro Public Works Director Eugene Field was presented with the 2018 Public Works Leader of the Year Award…

Halloween goes back about 2,000 years

by Gary Kennedy — Halloween began approximately 2,000 years ago in the areas which are now Ireland, United Kingdom and part of France. The people who lived in these areas were known as Celts…

South China Legion to hold veterans Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 6

CHINA — The day after election day – Wednesday, Nov. 6, this year – the Legion puts on a veterans dinner that begins at noon and lasts “until the food or the people are gone,” Finance Officer Jean Royal said….

Skowhegan’s annual trunk or treat

SKOWHEGAN — The annual Trunk or Treat, sponsored by Skowhegan Savings Bank, will take place on Saturday, October 26, at the bank’s lower parking lot…

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Fundraiser for McCormack’s employees coming this Saturday, October 26, to Winslow Congregational Church

WINSLOW — Winslow Congregational Church will host a delectable take-out soup-and-bread lunch to raise money for McCormack’s Building Supply employees impacted by the recent devastating fire. The take-out lunch will be held at the church in Winslow, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 26…

Fall Scouting Camporee brings out adventures, challenges with super hero theme

by Scott Bernier — On a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones, Thanos plans to use the artifacts to inflict his twisted will on reality. The fate of the planet and existence itself has never been more uncertain. Only the greatest heroes assembled can stop the mad Titan. Who can stop Thanos from wiping out half of the population? The Scouts can!…

Nutrient management for high tunnels to be presented

WHITEFIELD —A presentation on Nutrient Management for High Tunnels will be held Thursday, October 24 from 5 – 6:30 p.m., at Sheepscot General Farm & Store, in Whitefield, the first of two fall programs in the Knox-Lincoln Farmer and Gardener Workshop Series…

2019 Real Estate Tax Due Dates

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

SCHOOL NEWS

Dominic Smith is Erskine Academy’s National Merit Scholarship student

WHITEFIELD — Erskine Academy, in South China, has announced that Dominic Smith, son of Katrina and Dan Jackson, of Whitefield, has been named a Commended Student in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program…

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!

Webber Pond

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

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ONE STRANGE ROCK, Movie at Palermo Community Center, featuring the only people who have left Earth behind, astronauts. This movie is jaw-dropping. Palermo Community Center, Fri., Oct. 25, 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Just bring a dish to share. FMI: Connie at 993-2294 or pwhitehawk@fairpoint.net…. (…and many other local events!)

Obituaries

WATERVILLE – Jonn M. Raymond, 32, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 5, 2019. Jonn was a retired Army veteran with two tours in Iraq, including Opertion Iraqui Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom… and remembering 5 others.

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

DEADLINE: Friday, November 8, 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.

Previous winner: Deb Titus, Vassalboro

Town Line Original Columnists

Roland D. HalleeSCORES & OUTDOORS

by Roland D. Hallee | A campaign was began in 1983 by a group of moose lovers to place the moose hunting question on a referendum ballot. The initiative failed…

AARP OUTREACH

by Japhet Els | There’s opportunity in Maine, though it’s not often in plain sight. We believe that communities often have the best solutions baked into them already so what’s needed isn’t big investments from shiny-shoed bankers but instead the bootstraps many of us were born with here in Central Maine…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | Born in Buffalo, New York, the writers Elizabeth Coatsworth (1893-1986) and her husband, Henry Beston (1888-1968), lived in an early 19th century farmhouse, Chimney Farm, alongside Damariscotta Lake, in Nobleboro, Maine…

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS

by Dan Beaulieu | Now just think if we are in a loyalty program where we will get a product, we actually love…and get it for free. Let’s face it everyone loves getting rewarded as long as it is something they like, and they don’t have to jump through hoops to get it…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Sitting here with my latest cute little book, “You Know You’re A Mom…”, I knew I was going to have to share these with you. I hope they give you a chuckle. They each start out with: You Know You’re A Mom…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | The Solon Pine Tree 4-H Club reorganized on Saturday, October 12, with 15 members joining. Two new members were welcomed. The Somerset County Achievement night will be held at the Kennebec Grange Hall on Friday, October 25…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI)—It’s important to evaluate your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan every year. Your plan benefits can change, including your prescription drug coverage, premiums, deductibles and pharmacy benefits. As you do your research, you may run into a few misconceptions…