Issue for August 27, 2026 Celebrating 38 years of local news China Village History Walk – Part 4 of 4: What stays behind M ore than 60 people turned out on the evening of Friday, July 17, for the China Historical Society’s China Village History Walk, tracing two centuries of village history on foot, building by building. This is the last of four parts. Last week’s installment left the walkers outside the old inn on the corner, hearing how E.B. White spent a snowbound night there in 1941. This week: a shopkeeper’s corner, a house full of other people’s memories, and a threshold worn into a curve… by Eric W. Austin China select board sets the tax rate at 11.1 mil CHINA – In their capacity as assessors, China select board members set the town’s 2026-27 tax rate at 11.1 mils, or $11.10 for each $1,000 of assessed value… Vassalboro select board begins process to hire interim town manager VASSALBORO – Vassalboro select board members discussed two main topics at their special workshop meeting on Aug. 20, postponing decisions to a regular meeting. One topic is finding a part-time, interim town manager to fill in after Aaron Miller leaves in mid-September… Vassalboro cemetery committee again discusses trees VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Cemetery Committee members spent most of their Aug. 17 meeting rehashing the months-old argument about trees in cemeteries, coming to a compromise decision affecting two cemeteries… POETRY CORNER: The Dirt Road I Grew Up On by Bruce DeMerchant – I grew up on a dirt road, the kind that held dust in summer and mud in spring, the kind that knew our names before we knew ourselves…. Mini Panthers football camp builds skills & character WATERVILLE — More than 55 young athletes from Waterville and surrounding communities spent four exciting days learning football fundamentals, building friendships, and developing life skills during the recent Mini Panthers Football Camp… by Mark Huard Winslow summer track program WINSLOW — The Winslow Summer Track Recreation Program wrapped up another successful season, bringing together young athletes from communities throughout central Maine… by Mark Huard Liberty launches regional tenant search for Liberty Community Center LIBERTY — The Town of Liberty’s Walker School Repurposing Committee has launched a regional tenant search and Tenant Interest Survey for the Liberty community center – a major step in turning the former Walker Elementary School into a mixed-use municipal and community facility. The $3.5 million redevelopment is expected to open in June 2028… Erskine Academy named one of Maine’s best places to work for third consecutive year CHINA — Erskine Academy has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Maine for the third consecutive year, and remains the only independent high school in the state to earn the recognition – which is what makes the three-year run particularly meaningful to the school community… Improvements at Oakland legion OAKLAND — Over the course of the summer, John Palmer, vice commander of Decker-Simmons American Legion Post #51, led a team of post members in tearing out the old bathroom in the rental hall and building a new, bigger, ADA-compliant set of bathrooms. All of the labor and much of the material were donated by local businesses… HealthReach opens “Tiger” Health Center GARDINER — HealthReach is opening its second school-based health center at Gardiner Area High School with the start of the school year in September. The “Tiger” Health Center, near the nurse’s office, will offer the same services as any primary care office, Tuesdays through Fridays, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., on open school days… Eastern student Olivia Bourque makes spring 2026 dean’s list VASSALBORO — Eastern Connecticut State University, in Willimantic, Connecticut, recently released its dean’s list for the spring 2026 semester, recognizing 1,216 students. Among them is Olivia Bourque, of Vassalboro , a full-time senior majoring in health sciences… Dean’s, president’s lists students named at UA CENTRAL ME – A total of 14,306 students enrolled during Spring Semester 2026 at The University of Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, were named to the dean’s list. Local students include Elizabeth Hardy, of South China , and Alexis Alcott, of Windsor , both named to the president’s list… Emiko Peck completes intensive research project WATERVILLE — Emiko Peck, of Waterville, a member of the class of 2028 majoring in Mathematical Sciences, at Worcester Poly­technic Institute (WPI), in Worcester, Massachusetts, was a member of a student team that recently completed a professional-level research-driven project titled Bass Harbor Lighthouse Overlook E26… Local happenings EVENTS: Winslow to honor 1976-77 football champs WINSLOW — On Saturday, September 19, the legendary 1976-77 Winslow Black Raiders Pine Tree Conference Class B state football champions will return to the field during the 2026 homecoming game, recognized at halftime on the 50th anniversary of that championship season – along with the cheerleaders, majorettes, band members and drill team… EVENTS: Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area to offer 6-week evening peer grief support group WATERVILLE — Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area is offering a 6-week peer grief support group from September 3 through October 8, from 6 – 7:30 p.m., at its Community Center, 304 Main Street, in Waterville. Facilitated by trained bereavement volunteers and open to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one; registration is required… EVENTS: Opening reception for artist Loughridge Sept. 4 at Whitefield Library WHITEFIELD — South Bristol artist Sally Loughridge will have a reception and art show called “Intersect – Land, Sea, and Sky” at the Whitefield Library on Friday, September 4, at 6 p.m. Loughridge paints Maine’s rugged, organic beauty, especially along the coast, where sky, water and land intersect… EVENTS: Tempting cakes and tantalizing experiences up for bid at Preservation Party DAMARISCOTTA — Elegant cakes, intriguing experiences and a treasure trove of raffle items await guests at Lincoln County Historical Association’s annual Preservation Party on Sunday, September 13. This year’s auction offerings include camp stays, a colonial-style dinner for eight at the Pownalborough Court House, and an airplane ride… EVENTS: Sheepscot Chorus to begin rehearsals WISCASSET — Sheepscot Chorus invites you to join as it begins rehearsals for its December 5 and 6 Boothbay Harbor holiday concerts, featuring Joseph Haydn’s charming St. Nicholas Mass performed with orchestra and conducted by artistic director Linda Blanchard… EVENTS: St. Cecilia Chamber Choir to hold auditions NEWCASTLE — St. Cecilia Chamber Choir is holding auditions for all voice parts as it begins preparing for its highly-acclaimed December Concert of Lessons and Carols – a program blending sacred and secular carols with seasonal readings, accompanied by a professional string quartet…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Contra Dance at the E. Vassalboro grange VASSALBORO – The East Vassalboro Grange will host a contradance and potluck, 6 – 10 p.m., this Saturday, August 29… and many other local events! CHELSEA – Kenneth Joseph Lapointe, 79, passed away on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at MaineGeneral Medical Center. He was born on July 28, 1947, a son of Joseph and Jeannette (Marois) Lapointe… Name that film! Identify the film in which this famous line originated and qualify to win FREE passes to The Maine Film Center, in Waterville: “You can’t handle the truth.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is September 2, 2026. The Webber’s Pond comic is drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident… Celebrating Maine history Click here for all of our recent stories about the local history of Maine! Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture in Augusta (new) AUGUSTA HISTORY — This article concludes your writer’s brief biographies of farmers in Augusta in the 1800s, from the list Charles E. Nash included in his Augusta chapters in Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history… by Mary Grow Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture continued AUGUSTA HISTORY — In the short biographies that end the Augusta chapters in Henry Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history, Charles Nash identified about two dozen men as farmers or living on farms, out of almost 100 subjects, not all of whose occupations he named… by Mary Grow China Village History Walk – Part 3 of 4: The night the row burned CHINA HISTORY — More than 60 people turned out on the evening of Friday, July 17, for the China Historical Society’s China Village History Walk, tracing two centuries of village history on foot, building by building. This is the third of four parts… by Eric W. Austin Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture in Augusta after 1797 AUGUSTA HISTORY — Following James North’s report on Hallowell’s 1784 condition (from last week’s article), here is his report, taken from his 1870 Augusta history, on another survey, in 1792… by Mary Grow Common Ground: Win a $10 gift certificate! DEADLINE: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 Identify the people in these three photos, and tell us what they have in common! You could win a $10 gift certificate to Hannaford Supermarket! 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: Yvette Bernier, Winslow Town Line Original Columnists SCORES & OUTDOORS by Roland D. Hallee | The drive from work in South China to my summer camp, in Vassalboro, is short – 4.7 miles, 10 minutes. But, along the way, I have made some observations that kind of make me think… Relaxing and watching Mother Nature’s creatures MAINE-LY GARDENING by Jude Hsiang | In recent weeks our roadside ditches and fields have been filling with goldenrod, tansy that escaped gardens, and ripening grasses. But here and there are spots of the bright purple-magenta flowers of purple loosestrife… Pretty purple invasive flowers REVIEW POTPOURRI by Peter Cates | As Maine’s second largest agricultural exposition, the justly renowned Windsor Fair gets set to open for 10 days from this Saturday, August 29, to Labor Day’s September 7, I immediately thought of the justly renowned 1945 film classic State Fair , a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical… From Iowa’s State Fair to the concert hall VETERANS CORNER by Gary Kennedy | I start on a very positive note and thank all those Masons of Lodge #53, of Sidney, as well as the Messalonskee Lodge #113 A.F. & A.M. in Oakland, and others. The love that flows through the brotherhood is one of a kind and can be felt by all who belong… Thanks to everyone who made the outing a great success QUINN SIMPLE SCENES by Rix Quinn | One of life’s great questions is, “What makes people fall in love?” Almost nobody knows how to answer this. All we know is that suddenly a young man willingly trades a heart full of love and a wallet full of money for a wedding full of guests who sit on the bride’s side… Falling in love FOR YOUR HEALTH (NAPSI) | You probably know the feeling: you’ve been staring at your screen for hours, your inbox keeps growing, and your next meeting starts in five minutes. Sometimes, the best way to reset is to take a quick moment to focus on something completely different… How playing a quick puzzle can improve your workday About Us Submit News Donate Calendar of Events Community Local news Events Town Line Archive