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The Town Line Community Newspaper, 575 Lakeview Drive, China, ME (2025)

11/29/2025

EVENTS: Mid-Maine Chamber promotes Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 29

Join Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and area businesses for Shop Small Saturday Mid-Maine – and shop ‘til you drop!

What better way to enjoy a Saturday, get some holiday shopping done, and know that you are helping your friends, neighbors, and business owners at the same time. So, grab your friends and family members – and head to the great outdoors for some much-needed activity.

Shopping locally keeps your money in the area and supports the businesses that serve and support you. Take some time this season to check out special offers, new merchandise, or a business you have not visited in the past. They will make it worth your while!

Participating businesses will include great discount offers in a special Shop Small – Save BIG coupon book and will have shopping bags for your convenience, and entry forms for a chance to win a $100 Chamber gift certificate to be used at over 180 local businesses. A list of participating businesses, as well as extra coupons, will also be available on www.midmainechamber.com.

Mix 107.9 will be making the rounds in the area with sponsored live remotes, highlighting additional opportunities to join in the fun, and other sales and promotions being held in our towns.

Mark your calendars to join us on Saturday, November 29, and shop ‘til you drop, with Shop Small Saturday Mid-Maine! Your small purchase will make a BIG difference to our local businesses!

Sponsors for this event include: SBS Carbon Copy and Allen Insurance & Financial, Major Co-Sponsors; Central Maine Motors Auto Group; Kennebec Savings Bank; Damon’s Beverage; Oliver & Friends Bookshop, Huhtamaki; Skowhegan Savings Bank; Best Western Hotel and Front & Main/Lockwood Hotel.

11/28/2025

Self-taught cheesemaker from Skowhegan wins Super Gold and Bronze at the World Cheese Awards

Crooked Face Creamery, an artisan creamery based in Skowhegan, has received global recognition at the 37th annual World Cheese Awards in Bern, Switzerland. The small-batch creamery took home a coveted Super Gold award for its Plain Whole Milk Ricotta and a Bronze award for its Applewood Smoked Ricotta.

The World Cheese Awards, organized by the UK’s Guild of Fine Food, is the largest and most prestigious cheese-only competition in the world. This year’s event featured a record-breaking 5,244 cheeses from 46 countries, judged by a blind panel of 265 international cheese experts.

The Super Gold award is one of the competition’s highest honors, designating a cheese as one of the best in the world. Super Gold winners are selected by each judging team as the most outstanding cheese at their table, advancing it to the final round to be judged by a Super Jury of international judges and becoming a finalist for the title of World Champion Cheese. Crooked Face Creamery’s Plain Whole Milk Ricotta was one of 110 cheeses to receive this distinction, putting Crooked Face Creamery in the top two percent of the best cheeses in the world.

The World Cheese Awards brings together producers, retailers, buyers and food commentators from across the globe to celebrate excellence in cheesemaking. Crooked Face’s success highlights the growing reputation of American artisan cheese and the dedication of small producers who prioritize quality and traditional methods.

“For our small creamery in Skowhegan, Maine, to be recognized on the world stage, surrounded by centuries-old traditions, is a testament to the power of hard work and a deep love for this way of life,” said Crooked Face’s founder, Amy Rowbottom. “Being awarded Super Gold and Bronze at this year’s World Cheese Awards is a moment I will never forget. When I look at this award, I see not only the quality of our cheese and thousands of batches it’s taken to get here, but the quality of the people who make it all possible.”

Rowbottom, who is entirely self-taught, discovered her passion for cheesemaking in her late twenties. Over fifteen years of late nights and weekends at the stovetop, she refined her ricotta and other cheeses into celebrated, award-winning products.

“Amy is our hometown cheesemaker, and I feel so lucky to be able to enjoy her fresh ricotta each week,” said Amber Lambke, co-founder and CEO of Maine Grains, and owner of the Somerset Grist Mill, where Crooked Face’s cheese shop is located. “Our community is thrilled to see her receive recognition on the international stage among such accomplished cheesemakers from around the world!”

Phil Buchstaber, owner of Kάnu, in Old Town, said, “I’ve been so proud to introduce her cheeses in the dining rooms as ‘my friend Amy’s at Crooked Face Creamery.’ I have also met her cows and they are happy cows!” He added that he and his executive chef, Justin Bard, “Don’t like using any other ricotta. We’ve known she makes the best ricotta in the world for years now. It’s nice to hear the rest of the world say it, too.”

PHOTO: Crooked Face Creamery’s Amy Rowbottom making her ricotta. (contributed photo)

11/28/2025

Legion raises funds for food pantry

Decker-Simmions Post #51, Oakland, along with the Auxiliary, Sons of the Legion, The Legion Riders, and Fundraiser Marsha Flye, all helped in raising a donation of $1,600 for the Oakland Food pantry.

Pictured here is Vice Commander John Palmer presenting a check to Cate Mulvey, of the Oakland Food Pantry, to help the pantry this season. (contributed photo)

11/27/2025

Remembering the Thanksgiving without power

by Connie Bellet

Nearly everybody who has lived in Palermo for a number of years has stories to tell about power outages (no disrespect to CMP, whose workers are heroic). However, when the power went out after the usual November storm right before Thanksgiving a few years ago, we all had to get creative. At least we can all laugh about it now.

My husband, Phil, won a large turkey at a raffle sponsored by the Palermo Community Library. Don Barrett had raised the monster bird and I think it was trying to take over his farm. It weighed in at 38 lbs. It would not fit into my oven. It would not fit into my large roaster, either. So, we called around to see if anybody would saw it in half.

The guy at Hussey’s finally said he’d do the deed. So, Phil wrapped it in a towel so he could get a better grip on it and lugged it into Hussey’s. It was like hauling a beer keg. He hoisted it onto the meat counter, amidst a number of curious onlookers. The butcher considered this a challenge, so he turned on his big band saw and grabbed the turkey’s ankles to guide it through. The band saw made some unusual noises in protest, then, almost halfway through, shrieked and ejected the saw blade.

Nobody was hurt, but there was a lot of crashing and clanging, drawing more onlookers. The butcher was now taking this personally. He carefully cleaned and remounted the band saw blade. Then he turned the turkey around and guided it in by the wings. The band saw protested, but kept going until the turkey stuck in the gateway. Only an inch or two remained. It was just too big.

Not to be deterred, the butcher decided he needed a tool to split the last inch of breastbone and spine. I thought he’d grab an axe, but nooooo. He was a real Mainer (who shall remain nameless to protect his innocence). Without an axe handy, he picked up a tire iron and stabbed it into the breastbone. It struck with a resounding crack, the turkey fell open, and the crowd went wild!

No sooner had I cleaned and brined the turkey, the power went out, and stayed out. Our next door neighbor had a generator, so he offered to plug in my roaster. I had a gas oven, which held the other half of the turkey and its stuffing, so we were good to go.

As usual, I had invited local people who didn’t have family to share Thanksgiving to join us at the Community Center. About 23 people showed up, even though we had no heat or lights. Phil collects oil lamps, so we lit several of those, and somebody brought in a space heater. Everybody brought some food, so very shortly our laughter warmed the rooms and eyes sparkled with reflected lamplight. We toasted the power company trucks as they hustled down Turner Ridge Road and in a couple of days, the power came back on and we were thankful again.

Once again, we will host Thanksgiving Dinner at 2 p.m., on Thursday, November 27. To reserve a place at the table, please call Connie at 993-2294 or email [email protected]. We will be delighted to welcome you.

11/27/2025

The Remembrance Tree

CENTRAL ME – Help us decorate the tree and at the same time remember loved ones. For only $10 a ball, you can commemorate loved ones who have passed. Mail your donation and the names of your remembered loved ones to: The Town Line, PO Box 89, South China, ME 04358, to place an ornament on the tree. Deadline is Friday, December 12. The completed tree will be published in the December 18 issue. All donations to The Town Line are tax deductible.

11/26/2025

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

The online edition of The Town Line newspaper for Thursday, November 27, is now available on our website!

Web edition is available at: https://townline.org/issue-for-november-27-2025/

Print edition can be found at your favorite local business: https://townline.org/distribution-drops/

We are Reader Supported. Want to become a member? The need for local reporting hasn’t lessened, and your support makes a big impact! Any amount helps. Subscriptions are also available for a $75 donation, delivered to your door by first class mail. Best of all, since we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your donation is completely tax deductible!

If you would like to donate by check, please mail your donation to: The Town Line Newspaper, PO Box 89, South China, ME 04358.

Or make your donation via credit card or PayPal at this secure link: https://donorbox.org/donate-townline/

11/26/2025

Vassalboro conservation commission discusses two parks

by Mary Grow

At their Nov. 12 meeting, Vassalboro Conservation Commission members again discussed the two parks for which they are responsible, Monument Park, in East Vassalboro, and Eagle Park, a short distance north on Main Street and Outlet Stream.

For Monument Park, commission chairman Holly Weidner and member Steve Jones plan to ask the Vassalboro select board to approve a grant application for buffer plantings to help protect China Lake. The application is to include requests for money for signage and for the first two years’ maintenance.

For future years, Weidner proposed including maintenance money in the commission’s annual budget. She and Jones plan to have the buffer area marked off, probably with a row of rocks, so the public works employees who mow the park won’t accidentally mow it.

In Eagle Park, Jones has been working with town trails committee chairman John Melrose to put identifying labels on the different kinds of trees. Jones said Melrose has labeled many; he is lacking a few labels, and three additional trees need to be planted next spring to go with labels Melrose has.

In other business, Weidner summarized information from the recently-released Webber Pond watershed survey report. Property-owners whose property has non-point pollution sources (like run-off from driveways and other impervious surfaces) have been notified.

(The Town of Vassalboro is on the list of property-owners; see the Nov. 6 issue of The Town Line, p. 3.)

The report said that Webber Pond’s annual fall draw-down, aimed at flushing out algae, is finished. The dam boards have been replaced to allow the lake to return to its normal winter level.

The conservation commission is short two members. Anyone interested in becoming a member is invited to contact the town office.

Weidner recommends people curious about responsibilities attend commission meetings or watch the recordings on the town website, Vassalboro.net. To see the most recent meeting, go to the agenda (agendas are below the calendar on the main page) and click on the invitation to watch the meeting via YouTube.

The next Vassalboro Conservation Commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the town office meeting room.

11/25/2025

China select board gives preview of December meetings

by Mary Grow

China select board members offered the unusually large audience at their Nov. 17 meeting a preview of their Dec. 1 agenda.

On Dec. 1, they intend to discuss with members of the town’s three volunteer fire departments and China Rescue Unit when and how to begin consideration of creating a municipal emergency services department.

Several board members are concerned that the present system of private organizations is not sustainable much longer. For one thing, people said, municipal departments are eligible for federal grants that private ones cannot apply for.

Department representatives at the Nov. 17 meeting included South China Fire Chief Richard Morse, who urged board members to be aware that the rescue unit and the fire departments have different problems needing different approaches.

The bulk of the Nov. 17 audience were town employees, come to hear select board members talk about their health insurance.

China currently uses a Maine Municipal Association (MMA) insurance plan named Katahdin. Two lower benefit plans are named Moosehead and Pemaquid.

After MMA proposed a nine percent rate increase for Katahdin next year, Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood and Brent Chesley, former and newly re-elected select board member, looked into alternatives, including private companies, and adjustments.

Board members spent an hour and a half discussing options. Several employees, and at least one resident who is not an employee, suggested they were risking losing “the people who keep this town running” to save a trifling sum; they should instead start speaking up when the Regional School Unit #18 board discusses the annual school budget, which for China is almost $6 million.

The discussion ended with a vote to keep the present plan, increase and all. Board members Blane Casey, Natasha Littlefield and Thomas Rumpf voted in favor; Chesley was opposed; and Edwin Bailey abstained, because his wife is a town employee.

The nine percent increase amounts to a little over $31,000. After the meeting, Hapgood said China sends out about 3,500 tax bills, meaning the average cost of the increase per bill would be $8.88 (varying with the amount of the bill).

Chesley and other board members said they intended no disrespect to town employees. Chesley explained he was trying to balance employees’ welfare with taxpayers’ welfare, and Bailey thanked those present for their work.

Chesley and other board members said they intended no disrespect to town employees. Chesley explained he was trying to balance employees’ welfare with taxpayers’ welfare, and Bailey thanked those present for their work.

The meeting, the first since the Nov. 4 election, opened with election of board officers. Chesley was elected chairman and Rumpf secretary.

Chesley then opened a public hearing on Littlefield’s application for a liquor license for Nash’s Café, her new restaurant in South China. There was no public comment. Later in the meeting, the license was approved without discussion, with Littlefield abstaining on the otherwise-unanimous vote.

Hapgood listed the town committees on which there are vacancies: the planning board (three; Natale Tripodi and Elaine Mather have declined reappointment, and there was one vacant position); the budget committee (two vacancies, one caused by Chesley’s election to the select board); the appeals board (two vacancies, one Chesley’s former seat); the board of assessment review (one); the tax increment financing committee (three); and the comprehensive plan implementation committee (four).

The planning board is the only one of the six that meets regularly. Hapgood said the main requirements for a planning board member are “an open mind and logical thinking.” Audience members chuckled.

Select board members unanimously appointed Kevin Maroon to the budget committee.

Residents are invited to apply for any committee position. Information is available at the town office, applications there and on the website, chinamaine.org.

China municipal departments will be closed for Thanksgiving Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27 and 28; the town office will be open Saturday morning, Nov. 29. The next select board meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, Dec. 1.

11/25/2025

Webber’s Pond is drawn by an anonymous central Maine resident.

11/25/2025

VASSALBORO SANITARY DISTRICT: Lack of quorum adjourns meeting; some questions still answered

by Mary Grow

More than a dozen people came to the Nov. 17 meeting of the Vassalboro Sanitary District (VSD) board of trustees.

Board chair Lauchlin Titus called the meeting to order and announced that at 6:17 that morning, he had received Jenna Davies’ resignation from the board. Therefore, the theoretically five-member board is down to two members, Titus and Raymond Breton.

Two members is not a quorum, and the meeting could not be held. Titus adjourned it.

Audience members asked questions anyway, focused on VSD finances, and Titus allowed a half-hour unofficial discussion before he indicated it was time to leave. Because the audience included Brandy King from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Kirsten Hebert, executive director of Maine Rural Water Association, some of the questions got answered.

Titus said if additional questions were sent to him, he would try to get answers posted on the VSD website.

King’s main message was that DEP has done all it can to help relieve the about $3 million in debt the VSD incurred from the $8 million connection to the Waterville disposal facility, via Winslow. She explained some of the financing process.

Hebert’s organization is likely to play a role if Vassalboro’s and other towns’ legislators try to get debt relief through the state legislature. She said she can also offer help with local VSD administration.

Titus said any new volunteers to serve on the district’s board would need to be appointed by the select board, which next meets Thursday evening, Dec. 11. The member or members would then need to be sworn in by the town clerk, who would not be in the office until Monday, Dec. 15.

Before the quorum was lost, the next VSD board meeting was planned for the afternoon of Dec. 15.

11/24/2025

Vassalboro school board to explore policy on students’ cell phones

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro school board members’ discussion was mostly routine at the Nov. 12 meeting, with a couple important topics to be explored in more depth at future meetings.

One is the school’s policy on students’ cellphones and other personal electronic devices. Another is updating the strategic plan.

The Maine School Management Association has shared a recommended policy on cell phones and other electronic devices. Board members plan to align it with the current policy at a future meeting.

The current VCS policy is on page 20 in the student handbook (found on line at vcsvikings.org, under the heading For Students). Assistant Principal Tabitha Brewer said only a couple warnings for violations have been issued so far this year.

The strategic plan is currently an 11-page document setting out four broad goals and summarizing actions taken to achieve them, with a list of potential additional goals at the end. For each goal and subgoal, there are lists of what should be done, by whom and when, and what has been done in the preceding three academic years.

Superintendent Alan Pfeiffer asked whether AI (artificial intelligence) should be added to policies or the plan or both. Technology Systems Administrator David Trask said he has been including responsible use of AI in his courses this fall.

After the meeting, Pfeiffer said he will have the strategic plan added to the VCS website, with the understanding it is to be updated.

Board members approved revisions to half a dozen other of their more than 200 policies (found on line under School Board, Policies and Procedures). They have more to update at future meetings.

Among reports submitted to board members, one from Principal Ira Michaud said student enrollment remains at 420, and listed upcoming events. The winter concert for the community is scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, with a snow date Monday, Dec. 22.

Pfeiffer reported the roadside solar warning signs are operating; plans for an expanded parking lot are “inching forward”; and installation of LED (light-emitting diode) lights, part of planned building updates, might happen in December. After the Oct. 28 community meeting, discussion continues of safety measures, like installing metal detectors at entrances and hiring a school resource officer (see the Nov. 6 issue of The Town Line, p. 2).

The superintendent said when road conditions cause a no-school day or a delayed opening, notices will go out by robocall and will be posted on the website and sent to local radio and television stations.

Jennifer Lizotte, director of the child care center at VCS, reported 41 students enrolled. For the Thanksgiving holiday, she wrote, the center will be open all day Wednesday, Nov. 26, and closed Thursday and Friday. The school calendar says there will be no school Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

The next regular Vassalboro School Board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. It will be preceded by a curriculum committee meeting at 5 p.m.

11/24/2025

MAINE-LY GARDENING: What’s in the House? Oh, Christmas Tree

by Jude Hsiang

When the family gathers for the holidays, we often look through the photo albums and reminisce. Look at pictures of your Christmas trees over the years. Decorated with ornaments, lights, and garlands, and surrounded by gifts, children and pets, the tree itself is hardly visible, but we remember its fragrance, as well as the happy faces around it.

In recent decades, our Christmas trees are generally farmed and groomed to become full green cones. But If you look at photos from the 1950s and earlier, the difference is striking. The branches back then were more widely spaced, and the needles were pretty sparse compared to the tree you may be looking for this holiday season. Those trees from years gone by looked like the firs we see in the woods. Some folks still go out to the woodlot to find a tree, but many of us will buy one from a nearby Christmas tree farm, which may also sell wreaths, garlands, and more. Santa might be there to greet you.

As 14-year-old, a friend won a 4-H award for his chickens – a handful of balsam tree seedlings. Seventy years later, he, his son, and staff grow seven species of Christmas trees in addition to balsam firs – the traditional favorite of New Englanders – on 20 acres. Years ago it wasn’t unusual for some people to get their start in the Christmas tree business by digging or even pulling little fir seedlings in the woods in early spring to transplant on a north-facing slope. In seven years, the little trees would reach saleable height. (The same length of time it takes a lobster to reach your plate.)

Most Christmas tree farmers purchase 2- to 4-year-old seedlings from other farms and nurseries where trees are started from seed, transplanted as babies to the field, and finally sold in bundles to be grown to full size. As they grow the trees are carefully pruned to shape each year. There has been some resistance to “perfect” Christmas trees in recent years, as some customers prefer a more natural look. Whatever species, size and shape you want, the annual search for the right tree is a tradition.

Many growers belong to their regional Christmas tree farm association and also rely on their Cooperative Extension Service to keep up to date on trends in the market, and information on any threats to the crop from diseases, pests, and weather. The farmers may have a choose-and-cut operation, raise trees to be trucked to city markets, or a combination.

The Maine Christmas Tree Association has some useful tips for the customers, too. Like most plants, a Christmas tree is more than half water, and you’ll want to keep it fresh as long as possible in the warm, dry house after it’s become used to the cold during the fall. It’s best to have a stand that will hold about a quart of water for every inch of diameter of the trunk of the tree. Make a fresh ½ inch cut before putting it in the stand and check each day to be sure there’s still a good amount of water. Don’t trim off the bark or drill holes in the base. That won’t help the tree take up water, and it will damage the outer layers next to bark that do the work of moving water through the tree.

There’s more to think about such as keeping the tree away from heat sources and checking that lights are not going to add heat. It’s amazing to think that people used to regularly put lit candles on Christmas trees! Safety conscious folks turn off the lights before bedtime or if they are going out during the day.

Christmas tree growers remind us that natural trees are better for the environment. Among other benefits, real trees can be recycled. Once the holidays are over you can use the tree as mulch or start a wood pile that will shelter birds and small critters from the cold. Many towns now use the trees in various ways and encourage your help by offering streetside collection or designating drop-off spots.

If you have friends with goats, ask them if they’d like your used tree. – as long as it hasn’t been sprayed with any paint, artificial snow, or other inedible treatment. Goats love a post-Christmas snack!

© Judith Chute Hsiang
Jude Hsiang is a retired Extension Master Gardener instructor and member of the China Community Garden.

The Town Line Community Newspaper

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