Week of October 29, 2020

Celebrating 32 years of local news

China residents discuss Causeway improvements at hearing

Causeway construction in China to last through mid-November

The completion of the Phase II Causeway Road bridge will provide a more walkable, accessible and family friendly area for residents and visitors. As with any renovation project, this one comes with a degree of inconvenience and mess, but this project also has generated a good deal of anticipation… by Jeanne Marquis

Your Local News

Planning board approves two requests after more detailed explanations

CHINA — Both items on the China Planning Board’s Oct. 20 agenda needed some explaining, but once the situations were clear board members quickly agreed on unanimous approvals…

Manager, selectmen discuss continuing newsletters

CHINA — The Covid-19 grant that is paying for the weekly newsletters from the China Town Office has run out, but Town Manager Becky Hapgood and a majority of the selectmen would like the newsletters to continue…

Shoulder work complete on all roads; assessors grant abatements

WINDSOR — The September 29 meeting of the Windsor Board of Selectmen opened with the board voting to adopt the MMA Model Ordinance GA Appendices (A-H) for the period of October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021…

China selectmen candidates explain their position on local topics

CHINA — The five candidates for three seats on China’s Board of Selectmen answered questions at an on-line Oct. 18 forum sponsored by the Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village…

Drive thru Halloween planned in Palermo

PALERMO — A trunk or treat drive through sights and sounds spectacular will be held at the China Regional Church of the Nazarene, at 898 Rte. 3, in South China, on Saturday, October 31, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m…

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…

41st annual China Maine craft show happening virtually

CHINA — It’s the resourcefulness of parents and crafters that’s making the 41st Annual China Maine Craft Show possible this year. Raigen Messier York and Melissa Clement, both of the China Schools PTO recreated the fair experience online, bringing crafters and consumers, together at ChinaMaineCraftSho.wixsite.com, from October 7 to November 7… by Jeanne Marquis

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: 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

Sheepscot Lake Assn. completes another year

PALERMO — I hope this finds you and your family safe and well! 2020 has already proven to be a year like no other. By the time you receive this, it would be great if we were on a path to something more normal! The COVID-19 outbreak and related social distancing orders have caused many unexpected changes for us all, however, the Sheepscot Lake Association was still very active… by Slater Claudel

Local scout leaders complete course

OAKLAND — Kennebec Valley Scouting District Training Chair Joe Poulin of Oakland announced that several volunteer Scouting leaders in our area had successfully completed the Youth Protection Training during two recent training sessions…

Food pantry seeks “Replenish the Cupboard” supporters to meet huge demand

WINSLOW — Due to extremely heavy demand for its food pantry services, Winslow Community Cupboard is seeking local individuals and organizations to help “Replenish the Cupboard” by offering a monthly donation of $20 for each of the next six months. Every penny donated will go directly to help food-insecure children, seniors, and other adults in Winslow, Waterville, Clinton, and Benton…

LETTERS: What about the USPS?

from Frank Slason (Somerville) — To everyone running for government office, I have a question for each and everyone of you: What are you going to do about this problem with the United States Postal Service?…

LETTERS: AARP is politically nonpartisan

from Lori Parham (President, AARP) — As we get closer to Election Day, the number and intensity of attack ads continues to grow. Unfortunately, I continue to see political ads that mention AARP and imply a candidate’s endorsement here in Maine. I want to be clear on this: AARP is entirely nonpartisan. We do NOT endorse or oppose candidates or political parties!…

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Mail delivery – Conclusion (New)

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]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Transportation: roads

MAINE HISTORY — Previous articles have discussed transportation by water and overland by railroads, local and long-distance. This article discusses aspects of the evolution of roads and travel over them. Laying out roads was a major task for local governments in the late 18th and early 19th centuries… by Mary Grow [1877 words]

DON’T FORGET to turn your clocks BACK one hour on Saturday night, October 31, to end Daylight Saving Time.

Become a member: An open letter to our readers

Dear Reader: For the past 32 years, The Town Line has pledged a mission statement to “create a vibrant rural community connecting our towns, organizations and individuals through communication, education and public dialogue.” It’s all part of The Town Line’s mission to be a positive force in our community…

Give Us Your Best Shot!

The best recent photos from our readers!

Obituaries

VASSALBORO – Barbara Bragdon, 88, of Vassalboro, passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at her home. Barbara was born at home in Plymouth, on February 14, 1932, (Valentine’s Day), the daughter of Robert and Francis Carll… and remembering 5 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 | Isn’t it amazing how when you begin a conversation with someone, inevitably, it always leads to the weather. What would we do if we didn’t have the weather to talk about. Maybe some of us would never speak…

CRITTER CHATTER

by Jayne Winters | As a follow-up to the September article, I’m submitting another written by the late Carleen Cote, published in the fall 1999. As we prepare for colder weather, it seems like a good time to share some of her fond memories…

Peter CatesREVIEW POTPOURRI

by Peter Cates | The old, very brittle 78s continue to give the greatest pleasure with their noisy surfaces, brief three to five minute playing sides and vivid sense of history, unmatched by LPs, CDs, and streaming. As so many people are still throwing boxes of them into dumpsters, they do call me and make offers I just can’t refuse…

I’M JUST CURIOUS

by Debbie Walker | Oops! I forgot this was supposed to have been in the column for last week, following the title of “Thee Onederful Werld ov Wirds” (from Moments for Grandparents). I forgot I was to send the next part of the article. Here it is as promised, just late…

Marilyn Rogers-Bull & PercySOLON & BEYOND

by Marilyn Rogers-Bull | Now for the last of Jeff McAllister’s words on How to Dismantle a Barn. Check all beams to see if the pinyons and wooden hard wood pegs are solid for they alone hold the barn together…

FOR YOUR HEALTH

(NAPSI) — Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases in the United States. NAFLD is typically a silent disease with few or no symptoms, and most people have no complications…