(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Jan. 9, 1993

DEDHAM – Selectman Edwin Roberts Jr. said at Thursday night’s meeting that although he is still working with the Grass Roots cable service for Dedham, he had not succeeded. Roberts said the reason the town wants Grass Roots to provide the cable service is that the company is willing to connect everyone to the system after it is installed.

Grass Roots promises to deliver service all the way to Bald Mountain. There would be only one house in town that could not be connected to cable because it is in such a remote location, said Roberts.

Residents have been hounding him about the cable service, said Roberts. Because of the mountainous terrain in Dedham, residents are able to receive only two stations, Channels 2 and 5.

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BANGOR – The outpatient services program affiliated with Bangor’s Hope House was licensed just 14 months ago, and already it has outgrown its location.

Three staff members recently moved from Union Street into new offices at 157 Park St. in Bangor, and a fourth staff member is expected to come on board within the next month.

Expansion may seem risky for a substance abuse agency such as the Hope House, which receives some of its money from the state, but this is a good time to offer more services, according to the agency’s executive director.

The fact is that Hope House, long known for its emergency shelter for alcoholics, is probably one of the most comprehensive facilities in the country. It also offers detoxification, rehabilitation and extended-shelter programs at its Texas Avenue location, as well as outpatient services on Park Street.

Rehab programs for those seeking to recover from alcoholism or drug addiction traditionally involved 28 days of inpatient treatment. Insurance regulations have forced many hospitals to cut that back to 14 days. Hope House can still provide the full 28 days when needed, whether the patient can pay for the additional care or not. The extended shelter program offers 45 more days for clients who need that.

Another point in the agency’s favor in its standing with the state would certainly be its cost-effectiveness. Officials said that Hope House could provide services at about $160 a day, compared to $400-500 a day or more in most hospitals.

25 years ago – Jan. 9, 1978

BREWER – Brewer councilors will wrestle with an involved agenda when they meet Monday night in council chambers at city hall. One of the items on the bill of fare for Brewer’s City Council is a lengthy document titled “Amusement Licensing Ordinance.”

The document spells out – soup to nuts – the authority Brewer will have in determining who gets an amusement license and what that license and licensee will do to live up to terms set forth in the ordinance.

In addition to a revised ordinance dealing with amusement licenses, the council will consider an amendment to the zoning ordinance to replace the zoning board of appeals, with a board of appeals for the city of Brewer. With that ordinance is a revised guideline of operation which spells out the proper procedures, jurisdictions, powers, duties, obligations, appeals and reapplication.

50 years ago – Jan. 9, 1953

ORONO – Mrs. Dorothy Clarke Wilson of Orono gave a lecture on India at the meeting of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service of the North Brewer-Eddington Methodist Church Wednesday night.

Mrs. Wilson gave an interesting and informative talk on the subject and showed colored slides which included a picture of the house around which her last book, “House of Earth,” was centered. She also told of the manners and customs of the people and included in her pictures the homes of the very poor and the wealthy to show the contrast. Mrs. Wilson spent several months in India gathering material for her book.

Mrs. Helen Clewley presided at a brief business session when it was voted to make contributions to the Eddington and Brewer March of Dimes. Mrs. Florence Fox was the devotional leader.

Approximately 75 attended the public baked bean and salad supper served by the Schoppee unit.

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ORONO – The Webster School Parent-Teacher club met Wednesday evening with about 35 parents and teachers attending.

Edgar McKay presided at the business meeting and presented Dr. Asa C. Adams, chairman of the Orono superintending school committee, who discussed the matter of additional housing facilities for elementary grades in Orono.

The attendance banner was won by the fourth grade, Mrs. Harold Brennan, teacher.

The January meeting of the Orono-Old Town Branch of the American Association of University Women will be Wednesday evening in Coburn Hall, room 15, University of Maine.

100 years ago – Jan. 9, 1903

BANGOR – Fortune continues to smile upon the Aubrey Stock Co. On Thursday afternoon a large audience witnessed the performance of “For Love of a Woman,” while at night another ample gathering of theatre-goers learned all about “The Dangers of Paris.” In the latter production a band of hardened criminals tried their level best to dispose of an unpopular member of their order by throwing him, boots and all, into a fiery furnace, but the evil design was frustrated, in the nick of time, by the opportune arrival of the police.

The offerings today will be “Sweethearts” and “The Land of the Living.”

On Monday night the Alma Chester Co., said to be one of the best repertory organizations upon the New England circuit, will open a week’s engagement in Bangor Opera House, presenting a melodrama titled “From Scotland Yard.”

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BANGOR – While the blizzard which was billed as approaching Bangor failed to materialize, the snow storm which began here on Wednesday night about 11 p.m. proved to be a considerable storm and did a great deal of good. At intervals during Wednesday evening the snow fell, but to no considerable amount, but at 11 p.m. the storm set in in good earnest and continued until about 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon, when it stopped and the sun shown out brightly. The storm was very general over the state, but had evidently expended its fury before reaching Bangor. In all there was a fall of about 9 inches of snow.

In the city the car lines were bothered slightly in the early hours of the day, but after a few trips were moving on schedule and were not inconvenienced in the least by the snow during the remainder of the day. The suburban lines and the Brewer car line were not troubled in the least by the snow.

Compiled by Matt Poliquin