10 years ago – June 30, 1995

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BUCKSPORT – With its three most recent property tax bills still in dispute, Champion International Corp. officials learned that their Bucksport mill’s assessed value for 1995 has risen by 0.2 percent, the first increase since 1992.

Bucksport assessor Bill Mayo said that the 1995 value is $303.2 million, an increase of about $316,000 over last year. Mayo attributed the increase to capital improvements at the mill, including a new $16 million coating kitchen not yet in operation and a $3 million to $4 million computer system that monitors the papermaking process.

.

BANGOR – On the surface, it might have seemed like Lucinda Stevens was having a really bad hair day and was taking it out on everybody else at the Bangor Public Library.

In actuality, however, Stevens was doing nothing more than playing hair dresser for a day, twisting and turning and tying and dyeing the hair of children and adults who dared to sit before her and actively participate in the Bad Hair Day portion of the library’s Humor Me program.

More than a dozen children and couple of adults sat patiently as Stevens, a part-time children’s librarian, used the tools of her bad hair trade – combs, ribbons, pipe cleaners – to give everybody a look that summed up the day’s designation, Silly Day.

25 years ago – June 30, 1980

BANGOR – Bangor Police Detective Bruce Boyd says that bicycle thefts in Bangor have skyrocketed. He points to 105 reports of bicycle theft that were filed in the last three months. The 1980 thefts may surpass the record $18,500 bicycle value stolen in the city in 1978, he said.

One of two officers assigned to Bangor’s juvenile division, Boyd said some stolen bikes are broken down into parts at “bicycle chop-shops;” others are sold outright or shipped to another area for sale.

Boyd recommended that cyclists lock their bikes to a fixed object after running the lock cable through both wheels and the frame. Bikes should be locked in well-traveled areas where the bike is in less danger of vandalism by would-be thieves who can’t break the lock or the cable.

.

CASTINE – What makes the Maine Maritime Academy racing sloop Omega crew just a bit unique this year is the fact that one member is a woman. Midshipman 3rd Class Lisa Zarmarchi of Eliot is the first woman in the academy’s history to crew on the ocean racing sloop. Asked what her regular assignment aboard ship would be, Zarmachi replied, “I’ll be working the traveler and mainsail, plus helping out on the spinnakers.”

Sailing Master Doug Hoogs is hoping the sloop will do well in the races.

Maine Maritime Academy, which began admitting women to its program a few years ago, is looking to build up its sailing team. “There is no doubt that we would like to have people who are interested in sailing come to the academy,” Hoogs said. “And that includes both men and women.”

50 years ago – June 30, 1955

BANGOR – Nearly 1,000 boys and girls danced to the music of Nat Diamond or sat and just watched, at the first “under the stars” dance of the season Wednesday night.

The dance was held as usual in the First National parking lot.

Sponsored by the city’s recreation department, the outdoor dances are one of the most popular features of the summer program. The parking lot was filled as teenagers danced, small brothers and sisters romped on the edges of the crowd and older folks looked on.

.

BANGOR – Bill Cohen hurled a no-hitter as the Atlantic Steak House defeated the Wheels 15-0 in a Rotary League game at Bass Park.

Darkness halted the tilt after the fifth inning.

Cohen fanned 12 men in recording the victory.

The combination of Giggey and Pedaris hit doubles while Gerrish had a triple. Vomvoris was the winning catcher while McNulty, Jordan and Chaisson was the losing combination.

.

BANGOR – The emphasis will be on agricultural exhibits at this year’s Bangor Fair it was announced by President Thomas A. Mourkas who has made elaborate plans for the fifth fair under his guidance.

The exhibits of 4-H Clubs and individuals of seven counties as well as that of all livestock will be held in the spacious west end of Bass Park where new buildings and sheds will house all products, produce and livestock.

Garden clubs will present their colorful displays in the exhibition hall along with the hundreds of needle- and fancywork exhibits under the direction of Mrs. Arthur Dinsmore.

100 years ago – June 30, 1905

BANGOR – Bunting of many colors decorated the business district of the city and the rays of the sun – which really shone – flashed back from the gold and jewels of many gorgeous uniforms as the members of the Gethsemane Commandery, Knights Templar of Newtonville, Mass., were escorted by St. John’s Commandery through the streets of Bangor. It was a handsome picture, varied, animated, picturesque; and to witness it, and take in its beauties were thousands and thousands of people from the city and surrounding towns.

The long special train, with its carloads of modern chivalry, rolled into the western station at 3:30 o’clock. Already Railroad Street was filled on either side with interested spectators. The members of St. John’s Commandery, 125 in number, extended in single file from Broad Street to the foot of Summer. Chandler’s Band of Portland took its place at the head of the column and the parade started.

Such a band! All along the line of march it sent forth great waves of mellow, stirring harmony.

.

BUCKSPORT – There has been much trouble caused in town lately by some unprincipled person or persons who have been robbing clotheslines. Many lines during the week having been entirely stripped.

.

BUCKSPORT – The first native strawberries of the season were brought in by Herbert W. White of East Orland and were purchased by S.C. Homer and Co.

.

BANGOR – Although it has been a number of years since the Frank A. Robbins All New Features Shows has exhibited here, the circus does not come as an experiment or a stranger. In fact, no other tented amusement enterprise is as well and favorably known in New England as this one.

Before most workers get to their places of labor, the work of erecting the vast canvas city of the circus will be under way and in a remarkably short time fully seven acres of ground will have been covered with tents of various sizes.

.

VERONA – With no more ceremony than the tooting of a tug whistle, Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Peary sailed from Portland on his new ship, the Roosevelt [built at Verona Island], for New York where the vessel will be loaded with supplies for a trip to the Arctic regions.

If the vessel ever comes back to Portland, it will be after Peary has found the North Pole according to a declaration by him just before he sailed. Aboard the Roosevelt were several members of the Arctic Club of North America, Mrs. Peary and son, and Miss Mamie Babb, the Maine school teacher who wants to be the first woman to reach the North Pole. Flying from the peak of the ship was an American flag presented to Miss Babb by the pupils of her school at North Harpswell.

.

BANGOR – By one-half lap, Billy O’Brien of Portland defeated Jimmie Connors of this city in a three-mile roller skating race at the auditorium. The time was announced by timekeeper Frank O. Moore as 13 minutes and 40 seconds. The contest was a pursuit race, each racer starting at opposite corners. Bert Mason officiated as referee and the race was run without a hitch. Connors took a prize of $50.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin