Editorials - The County

Editorials

The longest-serving councilor

It is perhaps fitting, with the recent elections to Presque Isle City Council, that we speak about the longest serving City Council member in Presque Isle’s history. Allen Crane Tibbetts Wilson was born in Bangor, Maine on March 23, 1866. He was one of five children and, after marriage, had five of his own.

Giving thanks for angels in my life

I received the ornament I have been waiting for. It is a yellow submarine and Santa himself is sitting right about where the periscope should be. He is the traditional St. Nick, with chubby, cherry cheeks and lustrous white hair. The submarine is decorated with sugar drops; green, orange, yellow and pink.

Colonial ancestry

In my last column I discussed the differences between the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Pilgrims of Plymouth. Millions of Americans descend from these Protestant settlers and quite often have ancestors from both colonies. You probably do if your ancestors were here in New England in the 17th or 18th century.

Button, button…

Have you ever stopped to really think about your buttons? Such a seemingly simple thing, right? After all, isn’t a button merely a small knob or disc used to fasten clothing? For most of us, it probably never crosses our minds until one falls off our shirt or coat.

Finding smarter renewable energy

Versant Power filed a request with the Maine Public Utilities Commission to increase their distribution and transmission rates beginning next summer. The rate case filed on Oct. 3 seeks an increase of about 32 percent, which would affect ratepayers by about 10 percent since only half of your bill is attributable to delivery costs.

Age Friendly Houlton: A Medicare reminder

What a gorgeous fall we’re having here in Aroostook County … nature has given us so many perfect days to enjoy. Age-Friendly Houlton gives this season two big thumbs up.

Honoring Maine heroes for Veterans Day

Veterans Day is one of the most sacred days on our national calendar. Across the land, grateful Americans pay tribute to the brave men and women who have defended our freedom throughout our history.

Pilgrims or Puritans?

Pilgrims. Puritans. Did your ancestors number among them and is there a difference? Even Henry Louis Gates on Finding Your Roots once told a Mayflower descendant they had Puritan ancestors.

Treasures are for today

She looked through the tangle of necklaces carefully, not quite sure if she wanted to wear the colorful plastic pearls or sterling silver chains that clung dutifully to tarnished baubles of all shapes and sizes. She asked herself once again why she had stored these pieces of jewelry in her dresser drawers.

Having your head examined

Have you ever heard of phrenology? Phrenology originated in the latter parts of the 18th century due to a scientific theory by Viennese neuro-anatomist and physician Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828). Gall put forth five basic principles of his theory.

Jury names

If you have an ancestor in colonial New England, you may discover that ancestor served on a jury. Serving on juries was considered the duty of all free men in a town. Women didn’t vote or serve in public offices at that time.

A house of hospitality

Beautiful words don’t do justice to Sarah’s House of Maine in Holden. When I decided to begin the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Kent and I launched a search for either a hotel that would not only offer us the guarantee of lodging for three months, but would also be affordable.

Benchmarks of a successful city

Across the country, communities are struggling with the lingering effects of the pandemic on their local economies. With all of the bad news we hear daily, it is good to take stock of the positive in one’s community. A 2019 article by Ron Starner in the Site Selection magazine outlines seven traits of highly effective small towns.

Tuberculosis and the sanatorium

In October 1920, all eyes were on Presque Isle as it officially opened a new state-of-the-art sanatorium to treat tuberculosis. The Northern Maine Sanatorium was ultimately one of nine in Maine. At the time of opening, staff consisted of a doctor, a superintendent, three nurses and eight other employees.

Collaboration

To paraphrase Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” to collaborate or not to collaborate, that is your option. As a genealogist you may choose to work on your own or with someone else researching the same family.

The struggle

I compare the foliage that we see from afar to a finely crafted quilt, one that tells a timeless tale. On this cool, sparkling Saturday morning, Kent and I were heading toward Allagash via Route 161 and then on to Fort Kent and the Allagash.

What to do with all those leaves?

It is getting close to that time of the year when the leaves are turning color and finding their way to the ground. The good news is that it is a beautiful time of the year. The bad news is that many of us are raking leaves because there are too many to leave on the lawn.

The therapy journey continues

The chamber therapy, along with the pleasure of watching “Grey’s Anatomy” during the session, gives me ample time for deep, clear-headed thinking. I am surrounded each day by competent professionals who soothe and lessen my anxiety every moment I am in their care.

Prev Page 1 Next