Issue for September 3, 2026 Celebrating 38 years of local news Scenes from woodsmen’s field day competition at the 138th Windsor Fair | Photos C rosscut saws, springboard chops and flying axes: photographer Gary Mazoki was at the woodsmen’s field day competition at the 138th Windsor Fair… Photos by Gary Mazoki China assessors lower tax rate to 10.85 mil CHINA – China select board members, sitting as assessors, revised the 2026-27 tax rate down to 10.85 mils at a brief Aug. 27 special meeting – lower than the 11.1 mils they had set three days earlier, which Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said had been based on incorrect information. Taxes will still rise, because the rate applies to an across-the-board 12 percent valuation increase… China planners hear about proposed communication tower CHINA – China Planning Board members heard from Harmoni Towers Gateway, LLC, on Aug. 25 about a proposed second telecommunications tower on Moe’s Mountain, and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 22. The ordinance requires a balloon test – a balloon flown at the planned 195-foot tower height for at least 48 hours before the hearing… China select board candidates CHINA – Three of the five China select board seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot, and as of Aug. 27 five names were in play: incumbents Edwin Bailey and Thomas Rumpf had returned signed nomination papers, Blane Casey had taken his out, and Monica Hawk and Paul MacDonald were also circulating papers. The deadline to return them is the close of business Friday, Sept. 4… Vassalboro Sanitary District committee talks finances VASSALBORO – Vassalboro Sanitary District trustees talked mostly about finances at their Aug. 27 meeting, again with less concern than a few months ago. As of the end of July the district was still in deficit, but all bills were paid in full – including the current Maine Municipal Bond Bank debt payment, made well before the deadline… Open letter to our readers At The Town Line , we aren’t just reporting news—we’re telling the stories that shape our community. Written by locals, for locals, our paper reflects the heart and soul of central Maine. We exist because of you, our readers and local businesses, and we believe that when our community thrives, so does The Town Line … Webber’s Pond comic Webber’s Pond is a comic drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident. Local fire department receives grant NORRIDGEWOCK — The Norridgewock Fire Department is one of four Maine volunteer departments – and 150 nationwide – to receive a $10,000 grant through the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program, which helps departments operating on limited budgets buy safety equipment… Lawrence Hall of Fame omission FAIRFIELD — A name was inadvertently omitted from the August 13 story about the Lawrence High School Hall of Fame: Danielle Batey, Class of ‘93, is among this year’s inductees, recognized for her contribution to the Lady Bulldogs basketball program at the September 27 awards banquet… Dean’s list honors announced at Tufts University AUGUSTA — Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts, announced its spring 2026 dean’s list, which requires a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater. Samuel Goldey, Class of 2028, of Augusta, and Bella Wallingford, Class of 2026, of Oakland, were named… Bella Wallingford graduates from Tufts University OAKLAND — Tufts University awarded more than 3,600 degrees across all schools during its ceremony for the Class of 2026. Bella Wallingford, of Oakland, graduated with a degree from Tufts… Le Moyne College Spring 2026 dean’s list CLINTON — Le Moyne College, in Syracuse, New York, named several local students to its Spring 2026 dean’s list, including Elizabeth Holden, a freshman mathematics major, of Clinton, and Jacob Moody, a sophomore finance and economics major, of Oakland… Shannon Puccio named to Ohio University’s provost’s list NORRIDGEWOCK — Shannon Puccio, of Norridgewock, has been named to the spring 2026 provost’s list at the Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions, in Athens, Ohio… Sydney Snedden named to dean’s honor roll at University of Mississippi AUGUSTA — Sydney Snedden, of Augusta, was named to the University of Mississippi’s spring 2026 honor roll. Snedden is enrolled in the school’s B.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications program… Local happenings EVENTS: Garage sale to benefit Searsmont fire victims WINSLOW — Ken Quirion, who already donated a 2018 Honda Accord for a benefit raffle after the tragic Robbins Mill fire, is now opening his Winslow property for a huge three-bay garage sale over Labor Day weekend – Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 242 Morrill Road. Proceeds benefit the Searsmont Fire and Rescue departments… 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: 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: 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 and a colonial-style dinner for eight at the Pownalborough Court House… 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: 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…

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Dinner at Palermo Legion PALERMO – Malcolm Glidden American Legion Post #63 will host a corned beef and cabbage dinner on Saturday, September 19, from 5 – 6:30 p.m., at 33 Veterans Way, in Palermo. Cost of $15 per person includes dessert and drink… and many other local events! BELGRADE – Jeffrey Charles Bearce, 65, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, July 24, 2026. Jeff was born on November 23, 1960, in Waterville, to Orrin and Doris (McCafferty) Bearce… Celebrating Maine history Click here for all of our recent stories about the local history of Maine! Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Ira Daggett Sturgis (new) VASSALBORO HISTORY — Ira Daggett Sturgis was one of the third generation in a family who came to Vassalboro in 1796… by Mary Grow Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Agriculture in Augusta 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 China Village History Walk – Part 4 of 4: What stays behind 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 last of four parts… by Eric W. Austin 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 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 | Is it just me, or have there been fewer monarch butterflies this summer? I can’t think of a single moment when I have seen one… Has anyone seen a monarch butterfly? MAINE-LY GARDENING by Jude Hsiang | Mums are already showing up in garden centers, supermarkets – everywhere it seems. It also seems early. School has just begun. Labor Day will be here next week. Some even have signs saying, “October Selections!” Mums already?… Mums are already showing up REVIEW POTPOURRI by Peter Cates | Walter J. Black was a New York City publisher who developed a number of different mail order subscription book series, including collected works of classic authors such as Homer and Edgar Allan Poe, and Zane Grey westerns… A trio of classic mysteries AARP NEWS YOU CAN USE by Joyce Bucciantini | Whether we like it or not, the fall political season is upon us. There will be more political ads than we can count between now and Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Maine voters take their voting responsibility seriously, giving Maine the distinction of having one of the highest voting participation rates in our country… Fall political scene is upon us VETERANS CORNER by Gary Kennedy | Some of the most sought out VA issues in which veterans are commonly susceptible and very likely have are foot damage such as flat feet (Pes Planus) and such problems as hearing loss as well as Tinnitus… Two common ailments from which veterans suffer QUINN SIMPLE SCENES by Rix Quinn | All my life, I’ve found it hard to resist a good bargain. So, the pandemic a few years ago briefly curtailed my excellent purchasing decisions… My return to fashion FOR YOUR HEALTH (NAPSI) | Back-to-school is an incredibly important moment to get ADHD treatment right… The Bell Rings. Is Your Child Ready? About Us Submit News Donate Calendar of Events Community Local news Events Town Line Archive