Issue for June 11, 2026
Five key VCS employees retiring
The Vassalboro school department is losing five important employees as the 2025-26 school year ends. Alan Pfeiffer is retiring from the superintendency, after eight years. He was hired for a part-time position; his successor, to be chosen soon, will be full-time and have two additional responsibilities, curriculum coordinator and grant-writer… by Mary Grow
Town News
Election results for China and Vassalboro
CHINA/VASSALBORO — Tuesday election results for China and Vassalboro…
China ballfield repairs top select board agenda
CHINA – Repairs to China’s ballfields, specifically to the fence and the area near the snack shack, generated the longest discussion at the China select board’s June 1 meeting. Board members unanimously approved fixing the fence and improving the grounds…
Weeks Mills fire chief gives report to select board
CHINA – It was Weeks Mills Fire Chief William Van Wickler’s turn to describe his department to the China Emergency Services Assessment Committee at the group’s June 4 meeting, and he did, complete with illustrative slides…
Vassalboro planners approve two applications; farm stand, generator
VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Planning Board members had on their June 2 agenda a second application to open a farm stand (they approved one on Cemetery Street at their May meeting; see the May 14 issue of The Town Line, page 3) and renewed consideration of a new generator at the cell tower on Bog Road. They approved both, with conditions…
Vassalboro briefs: Meeting night change
VASSALBORO — The Vassalboro select board is changing its meeting night from Thursday to Wednesday, specifically the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, effective June 24. Meetings will still be at 6:30 p.m., in the town office meeting room…
Historic milestone at KV Baptist Church Awana awards night
CENTRAL ME — A local youth ministry celebrated a historic night of personal achievements and global ministry during its annual awards celebration on May 27. Highlighting the evening, the Awana ministry at Kennebec Valley Baptist Church honored 14-year-old Mason Bruinsma with the prestigious Meritorious Award. This marks the first time the church’s Awana program has presented this specific honor in at least 15 years…
Scouting America Spring Rendezvous: A weekend spent in 1826 at Camp Bomazeen
BELGRADE — On May 15, 2026, 130 individuals converged at Camp Bomazeen for the 2026 Spring Rendezvous Camporee, a living history 1840s fur trade theme event for Scouts from all over the state of Maine. This weekend long camporee drew in scouts from three of the four districts in Pine Tree Council which is one of two councils in the state of Maine… by Chris Bernier
Local author, bookshop owner donate children’s books to hospital
WATERVILLE — Acting together as a team, Waterville children’s book author Jeanine Deas and Oliver & Friends Bookshop owner Renee Cunningham have donated 10 free copies of Ms. Deas’ new children’s book, ABC Ducks of Deering Oaks Park, to MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, in Portland… by Dave Carew
PHOTOS: Oakland Legion #51 holds Memorial Day parade
OAKLAND — American Legion Post #51 held its Memorial Day parade and ceremony, in Oakland. The post’s color guard led the ceremony, and was joined on the parade route by the Kora Shrine Drifters Unit, which participates in roughly 25 parades a year and donates all funds raised to the Shriners hospitals…
Summer soccer coming to area towns
CENTRAL ME — A summer soccer program for grades 5 (going on 6) through eighth grade, will take place this summer from June 22 – August 19 (TBD), for area youth. The program will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 5 – 6:30 p.m., at the Palermo Athletic Fields, 467 Turner Ridge Rd., Palermo. The program is open to all youth in the surrounding towns…
Carrabec High School top 10 seniors for 2026
ANSON — Carrabec High School has announced its top 10 seniors for 2026, with graduates headed to college programs ranging from veterinary technology, to electrical technology, to psychology…
Carolyn Snowman an award winner at Hamilton College
CANAAN — Carolyn Snowman, of Canaan, was named the recipient of The Coleman Burke Prize Scholarship and The Madeleine Wild Bristol Prize Scholarship in Music at Hamilton College’s annual Class & Charter Day, held on May 12, in Clinton, New York…
TEAM PHOTO: Waterville Purple Majors
WATERVILLE — The Waterville Purple Majors pose for their team photo, with coaches Daniel Coleman and Nate Withee…
TEAM PHOTO: Waterville Purple Minors
WATERVILLE — The Waterville Purple Minors pose for their team photo, with coach Matt Gilley…
Worcester Polytechnic Institute students complete intensive Capstone Research Projects
WATERVILLE — Worcester Polytechnic Institute students completed a capstone thesis called the Major Qualifying Project (MQP), a research-driven, professional-level project that challenges students to solve the kinds of problems they would typically encounter in their professional discipline…
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Tips for enjoying the wilderness by trail
SOUTH CHINA – Aislinn Sarnacki, a registered Maine Guide who has authored three books of Maine hikes, will share her favorite trails and tell stories about wonderful experiences she’s had in nature while hiking throughout the state. She will be at the South China Public Library, 27 Jones Rd., South China, on Sunday, June 14, at 1 p.m… and many other local events!
Obituaries
WATERVILLE – Claude J. Giguere, 93, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Maine Veterans Home, in Bangor, after suffering for many years from dementia…
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: “There’s no place like home.” Email us at townline@townline.org with subject “Name that film!” Deadline for submission is July 8, 2026.
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: More agriculture (China & Albion) (new)
CHINA/ALBION HISTORY — The next town north of Palermo is China, and north of China is Albion. These two towns were settled about the same time and in 2026 are still slightly agricultural, with a few active farms in each… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: More agriculture (Windsor)
WINDSOR HISTORY — One bit of early agricultural history in Windsor has not yet been discussed, in spite of all the prior articles: Windsor Fair, often described now as “Maine’s second largest agricultural fair”… by Mary Grow
Dick Jerolmon’s history of the Vassalboro fire department
VASSALBORO HISTORY — Dick Jerolmon’s May 24 talk on the history of the Riverside Hose Company and the Vassalboro Fire Department was partly a reunion. Jerolmon named many people associated with the organizations from the 1960s on… by Mary Grow
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture & organizations
WINDSOR HISTORY — Last week’s article about Windsor’s early settlers and their farms mentioned four families. In alphabetical order, they were the Dockindorffs (also spelled Docken- and the last syllable doff or dorf); the Grovers; the LeBallisters (also spelled Le Ballister, Labalister); and the Linns (or Lynns)… by Mary Grow
Town Line Original Columnists
SCORES & OUTDOORS
by Roland D. Hallee | OK, let’s shift gears this week and talk about our roads. No, not the ruts, potholes and whoopsy dos, nor the bevy of political signs that sprout along the roadway. I’m talking about the carnage on our highways…
REVIEW POTPOURRI
by Peter Cates | Mary Stafford was the stage name of Annie Burns (1895-1938), the first African-American vocalist to record for Columbia Records, starting in 1921. Among her backup musicians was her younger brother, a drummer George Stafford (1898-1936) who collaborated elsewhere with trombonist Jack Teagarden and others who had performance careers well into the 1940s and ’50s…
SMALL SPACE GARDENING
by Melinda Myers | Roots erupting through the soil surface beyond the tree trunk irritate gardeners when trying to grow and mow grass under trees. Save time, reduce frustration and be kind to your trees when dealing with these surface roots…
QUINN MINUTE
by Rix Quinn | I learned about hand towels later in life, because they were important to my wife. As a kid, I paid them no attention whatsoever. If somebody told me, “Go wash your hands,” I did that…
FOR YOUR HEALTH
(NAPSI) | If you or someone you care about is among the 10 million people worldwide who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD), there are a few facts you should know…