04-07-2008 05:57:16

Thursday, March 13, 2008

    The Town Line newspaper was born 20 years ago this week. On March 15, 1989, Gary and Trish Newcomb, formerly of South China, founded The Town Line newspaper with a simple mission: “The Town Line has been created to provide a vehicle for sharing community interests. Experience from similar publications in Maine has proved a wealth of talent exists within the communities, as well as the desire of townspeople to share those talents. We are finding that our four towns are no exception....” That message is true to this day.
    With that first issue, The Town Line served the towns of Branch Mills, China, Palermo, Windsor and the Vassalboros. Today, The Town Line is available at over 200 locations in 22 towns located between Jefferson and Bingham, including the Augusta and Waterville markets. A monthly total market coverage issue is mailed free to over 15,000 homes, reaching a potential 52,000 readers.
    The original office was in the old fire house (now the location of Whitt’s Garments), next to the old post office, just off Rte. 3 at the intersection with Rte. 32 South. It was later moved to the present site of Legacy Home Improvements, and then again to the 202 Plaza on Rte. 202. In 1999, it moved to its current location at Jonesbrook Crossing.
    In that first issue, there was a story about the Weeks Mills School, a photo of ice fisherman David Burnier of China, along with ice fishing derby participants Jarrod Levesque of China and Jeremy Gordon of Fairfield, and a hot dog tasting by Priscilla Adams, Ginney Robideau and Diane Vasseur, all of China.
The board of selectmen in China was Edward W. French, Joann Clark Austin, Leroy Austin, Joyce Norton and Michael Ellis, while the planning board was comprised of Irene Belanger, Albert Althenn, Fred Homan, Jamie Pitney and Sidney Malliet. Hugh Krajewski was the town manager and Debra Fischer was town clerk. In Vassalboro, the town manager was Mike Roy, and Vicki Schad was town clerk; the board of selectmen was Philip Haines, Dudley Foley and Charles Kellenberger. David Caruso was the codes enforcement officer and the constable was Richard Jerolman.
    In those 20 years, the newspaper has seen some transitions. The Newcombs continued to own it until they felt they had taken it as far as it could go. The paper was then purchased by Dennis Keller in 1998. The Town Line newspaper was closed in October 1998, but was resurrected in February 1999 as a nonprofit, reader supported publication, governed by a board of directors. It remains that way to this day.
    Over the past 20 years, the newspaper has had four editors beside the Newcombs who served as co-editors during the formative years. Julie Dermott was the administrative assistant. Susan Cottle was the second editor from 1991-1992; Lea Davis served from 1993- May 2004; Susan Varney from May 2004 - February 2005, and Roland Hallee from March 2005 to the present. Many community-minded persons have served on the board of directors in the last nine years, with the current board consisting of Joann Austin, of China, president; Lee Austin, of China, treasurer; and Gladys Hewett, of Windsor, secretary. Other members are Neil Farrington, of China, Margie Roy, of China, and Sam Birch, of Coopers Mills.
    The Town Line staff has grown in 20 years, from three in 1989, to 10 in 2008. Besides Roland Hallee, editor, are Claire Breton, business manager (2000), Angela Brunette, office manager (2006), Diane Bickford, advertising sales director (2007), Marlene Myers, advertising sales representative (2004), Karen Stansbury, graphic designs (2002), and delivery drivers Phil and Mary Smith, Brad Whitaker and Keith Stewart.