10 years ago – July 5, 1997

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

ORONO – It’s summertime and thoughts turn to basketball. Specifically, women’s professional basketball.

The fledgling WNBA has made its debut and fans across the country are flocking to games. Around these parts, the topic invariably brings mention of Maine’s favorite daughter, Cindy Blodgett.

As in: What will life after the University of Maine hold for the two-time Division I scoring champ?

Can she play in this league, or the rival American Basketball League? Across the state, people toss the topic around. Hopefully, seven years in the spotlight – first at Fairfield’s Lawrence High and then at UMaine – have dampened the fervor of the naysayers.

If not, listen up.

In 1998, Cindy Blodgett will be a professional basketball player. [Editor’s note: Cindy Blodgett was hired recently by UMaine to serve as coach for the women’s basketball team.]

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BANGOR – The future of the little hole-in-the-wall park at 24-28 Central St. may be decided soon. Bangor Hydro-Electric Co.’s proposal to use the rear portion of the 30-by-60-foot vacant lot will come up for consideration by the City Council during its regular meeting.

Business owners who operate nearby and have helped improve the site with plantings don’t want to lose the park to transformers and other equipment Bangor Hydro wants to put there.

City officials have pointed out that Bangor has 32 designated parks and play areas, but this has not been a park but a vacant lot for the 10 years the city has owned it.

25 years ago – July 5, 1982

BANGOR – Bangor City Councilors will decide their objectives for use of $1.129 million in community development funds and will consider taking steps to apply for an Urban Development Action Grant to assist Bangor Maine Associates in development of an inn in a downtown building.

50 years ago – July 5, 1957

BANGOR – Bangor’s phantom hubcap bandits struck again, adding four more hubcaps to their total. Two more thefts reported to Bangor police made a total of four cases under investigation during the past week.

The Beacon Motor Company reported the theft of two hubcaps from a 1955-model Oldsmobile parked in the company’s Summer Street lot. The value was estimated at about $60.

Winslow Grant, 207 Forest Ave., reported the theft of two hubcaps, valued at about $24, from a 1957-model Oldsmobile parked in his yard.

Also reported stolen was a wheel and tire from a 1954-model Chevrolet while parked in front of Brake Service Inc. on French Street. The loss was estimated at $35.

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ORONO – Through the courtesy of Rear Admiral Edward Ellsberg, Southwest Harbor, U.S.N.R. retired, the class of 1957 of Orono High School has had the privilege of naming Seaman First Class Charles Benedict King to be commemorated at the new Memorial Stadium at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

A memorial chair has been designated to bear his name.

Seaman King was killed in action on Jan. 21, 1945, aboard the USS Ticonderoga in the Pacific area. He was buried at sea. A graduate of Orono High School in the class of 1934, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis H. King, 55 Pine St., Orono.

Rear Admiral Ellsberg was the commencement speaker at the graduation exercises of the class of 1957 at Orono High School and asked that a fee that he ordinarily would receive for such an address be sent to the Naval Academy at Annapolis for the purpose designated.

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CASTINE – Westward ho the wagon – in this case a “dependable” 1951 station wagon which has already logged 67,500 miles – all the way to Alaska.

That’s the dream about to come true for Roy M. Bowden of Castine – explorer, 1957 style.

And when Roy returns home some time late in 1958 he’ll be able to tell at a glance just where he’s been. So will everyone else.

For the green station wagon will have become a multi-colored map in motion, with every point visited clearly noted on sides, hood and rear. And an estimated 20,000 more miles will have been added to the odometer.

Roy Bowden is a 56-year-old contractor who qualifies not only as an embryo cartographer but as a rugged individualist. He has an insatiable curiosity about the world in which he lives and its people. That’s why he has planned this trip which will probably cover more than a fourth of the North American continent.

100 years ago – July 5, 1907

ORONO – The YPCU of the Universalist Church gave a very pleasant lawn party at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Frank Whitcomb. The lawn was decorated with Japanese lanterns.

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WEST WINTERPORT – Mr. Frank T. Bussey came down from Bangor in his 20 horsepower runabout to attend a meeting at O. Gardner Grange.

Quite a number from this place attended the circus in Bangor.

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CASTINE – Laurent D. Hall of Bangor, sole survivor of the capsizing of the sloop Ruth E. Cummock in Penobscot Bay last Tuesday, together with Sherman W. Smith, the father of one of the victims, is in town on a search for the bodies of the unfortunate boys. It was reported yesterday afternoon that two of the bodies had been discovered on the shores at Islesboro, but the report proved to be false.

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BUCKSPORT – The tug Lottie and May leaves here on the arrival of the morning train from Bangor with the fathers of the victims of the sloop Ruth E. Cummock to try an find the bodies of their sons. They will try to locate the spot where the yacht went down and then do all in their power to find the bodies, which may be a difficult job, as the water in that vicinity is not very clear, as the fresh water from the river gives it a reddish cast.

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FRANKFORT – The stone cutters, who have been absent for some months, have got employment with the Mt. Waldo Company. They have started about 100 men.

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NORTH PENOBSCOT – F.A. Lowell and son are moving the barn, recently bought by them of W.F. Soper, to their home farm. As the distance is about a mile along the public highway, the undertaking is something unusual for this place.

Mrs. Vesta Haney, who has been living in Bangor for nearly a year, is in town for a few days attending to the interests of her farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Gray are much distressed at the disappearance of their 15-year-old son, who went away with the Robbins circus when it left Bucksport last week. His older brother, Harry, left here on Saturday for Houlton where he hoped to intercept the circus and bring the boy home with him.

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EAST ORLAND – Visitors are arriving in large numbers at East Orland, which is becoming a favorite summer resort on account of its beautiful scenery and its excellent facilities for boating and fishing.

Work on the electric plant at East Orland is being pushed along quite rapidly now.

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ORONO – The University of Maine Department of Germanic Languages is collecting a library of special interest to teachers of German. German texts and textbooks published in America or England will be included. The books of each publisher will be shelved under the names of the respective firms. Teachers thus will be enabled to compare texts issued by different houses.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin