by Eric W. Austin For the past several years, something unusual has been happening in the world of technology. It hasn’t arrived with a single dramatic announcement. There hasn’t been one defining moment. Instead, quietly and rapidly, computers have learned how to understand us. That may sound minor, but it isn’t. For the first time […]
by Eric W. Austin On a busy morning at the old Farrington’s building, on Legion Memorial Drive, the first thing you notice is that it feels alive again. That might sound like a small thing, but longtime South China residents know this isn’t just any address. Over the decades, the building has played more than […]
by Eric W. Austin The new Winslow town manager has a simple rule: if you call, he calls back. “Listening is everything,” he says. “If you’re not listening, you’re not actually doing your job.” Winslow began a new chapter this fall with the arrival of Marc Amaral, the town’s newly-hired town manager. A Marine veteran […]
by Eric W. Austin On Thursday evening, August 21, in China, more than a dozen history enthusiasts gathered at Killdeer Point for a walk through local history led by longtime resident Richard Dillenbeck. The event, sponsored by the China Historical Society, offered attendees a chance to hear the stories behind this historic corner of China […]
by Eric W. Austin There’s something unsettling about talking to a large language model. At first, the responses feel remarkably human – thoughtful, creative, even insightful. But then you remember how it works: pattern matching, statistical prediction, probability distributions. Suddenly, what felt like intelligence transforms into something mechanical, almost fraudulent. It’s just a very sophisticated […]
A Journey of Peace and Friendship connects communities across Maine by Eric W. Austin It was a gray, drizzly afternoon at Friends Camp, in China, but the warmth inside the gathering hall pushed back the gloom. A fire crackled in the hearth as benches were pulled into a loose semicircle around it, and a table […]
by Eric W. Austin The 3rd Annual Mothers-to-Be Tea is set for Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 1-3 p.m., at the St. Bridget Center, in Vassalboro. This heartwarming event, hosted by the dedicated volunteers of Sew for a Cause, aims to provide a supportive and celebratory space for expectant mothers to relax, connect, and enjoy […]
by Eric W. Austin On Saturday, October 26, representatives from historical societies across Central Maine met at the Vassalboro Historical Society, united by a shared goal: to preserve and celebrate Maine’s rich history. About two dozen history enthusiasts and society members gathered to share updates, discuss challenges, and brainstorm solutions to common issues. Each society […]
by Eric W. Austin The China Historical Society is pleased to invite the public to an engaging presentation on the history of the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington (WW&F) narrow gauge railway. This event, featuring local experts Bob Wallace and Phil Dow, from the Albion Historical Society, will take place next Thursday, October 17, at 7 […]
by Eric W. Austin The annual meeting of the China Historical Society, held on Thursday, July 18, was a delightful blend of business and nostalgia. This year, the meeting doubled as a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the China Elementary School, a cornerstone of our community since 1949. The event, hosted in the gymnasium […]