(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Feb. 7, 1998

BANGOR – The University of Maine women’s basketball game against Western Kentucky couldn’t have been much better for Bangor television station WABI-TV – both on and off the court.

The Black Bears upset Western Kentucky 76-64 before a loud, near-sellout crowd and WABI’s broadcast was nearly as top-notch as Maine’s effort.

For the most part, most broadcasts are as strong as their announcers and that’s the main reason WABI’s broadcast was so smooth. Play-by-play man Jon Small and color analyst Brenda Beckwith complemented one another perfectly.

Most of the time Small did such a nice job, viewers could close their eyes and still follow most of the action from his play-calling.

Here’s a perfect example:

“Blodgett up top. Witcher is on her. Over to McCormick, left side. They look back to Danes at the foul line, spin, move inside, nothing there. They give it back to Blodgett – shot clock is at 10 – Cindy fires up a 3 … Yessss!!”

BUCKSPORT – A splashy new festival with boat races and a fun run is in the works for this summer.

Conceived of last July by the Bucksport Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, the festival would officially recognize the efforts of the Friends of Fort Knox to restore the historic fort in Prospect, which is just across the river from the Bucksport waterfront.

The family-oriented event also would showcase improvements to the Bucksport waterfront which include a marina and a scenic walkway.

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BANGOR – They do not look like books. Their colors swirl and dance, illuminating, lifting the heavy, ornate letters off the page. Some of the words are familiar psalms, others quote long-dead poets, playwrights, penners of ancient tales and legends.

Many of these books are made in a manner similar to that employed by scribes in the Middle Ages, before the printing press, typewriter or word processor were an inkling in their inventors’ minds. These one-of-a-kind art books are lovingly produced in artist Jan Owen’s Bangor home.

Unlike most other bookmakers, Owen most often starts not with words, but with colors.

25 years ago – Feb. 7, 1983

BANGOR – Single parenting may be less of a social stigma than it used to be, but it’s not any easier.

The Displaced Homemakers Project for women who are divorced, separated or widowed will sponsor a workshop about parenting alone.

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BANGOR – Lynn Van Leer, a junior public accounting major at Husson College, is one of three students from Maine recently selected as semifinalists for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. She is one of 235 semifinalists who were selected from educational institutions in the United States.

Van Leer carries a full-time schedule of continuing education and extension division courses at Husson. She lives in Hermon with her husband and five children.

50 years ago – Feb. 7, 1958

ORONO – Room and board charges at the University of Maine will be increased from $590 to $650 per college year beginning next September.

The university announced that increased operating costs and the amortization and interest on indebtedness incurred for dormitory and dining hall construction makes the increase necessary.

The last increase in the board and room rate was made in 1955. Since that time the costs of supplies and equipment as well as services have increased considerably, the university pointed out.

The adjustments of rates in units other than the so-called permanent dormitories will be as follows: The Elms, which is the women’s cooperative dormitory, from $340 to $370 per year; The Cabins, for men who furnish their own food, $130 to $150; and North Dormitories, which are the World War II buildings moved to the university from South Portland by the federal government in 1946, from $545 to $600.

There will be no increase at this time for South Apartments for married students. The rent for these was increased in 1957.

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ORONO – Two Orono mothers, Mrs. Stanley J. Cowin, Elm Street, and Mrs. Richard C. Dolloff, Forest Avenue, have been nominated for Mother of the Year of the state of Maine for 1958, according to officials of the Orono Jaycee Wives club. The Maine Mother of the Year is one of the projects of the State Jaycee Wives this year.

Mrs. Cowin, the former Freda Garneau, is the mother of six children, all Orono High School graduates, and has 11 grandchildren.

Mrs. Dolloff, the former Erdine Besse, is the mother of four children, and has two grandchildren.

100 years ago – Feb. 7, 1908

BANGOR – The storm that began Thursday morning developed into a mild blizzard during the afternoon, and it looked as though a substantial addition to the body of snow on the ground would be made. It wasn’t an especially disagreeable storm – the wind was not violent nor the snow thick – but it was too rough outdoors for pleasure.

Shortly after 9 p.m. it changed from snow to sleet and then into a drizzle, which was in progress with a high degree of success at midnight. The rain froze where it struck and the walking was very hard.

Hardware dealers have begun to dispose of a vast stock of snow shovels, which was apparently held over from another year, and sled runners and other accessories following them. The trade in skates, which was brisk for a day or two, has ended again, however.

Trains were approximately on time, notwithstanding the storm, and the electric cars maintained service. All the plows were out and working through the night to keep the rails from becoming hopelessly ice-coated.

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BANGOR – The storm interfered with the usual big attendance at the entertainment and supper in the Columbia Street church last night.

The orchestra recently organized among the young men of the parish made its first appearance and the musicians acquitted themselves very creditably.

The other entertainers, Miss Frances Andrews, soprano soloist; and Raymond Fellows, reader, shared honors equally, both giving the greatest satisfaction.

Miss Andrews gave a number of Scottish songs and ballads to which her voice lends its qualities with most pleasing effect, while Mr. Fellows kept the audience in continual laughter with his humorous selections most cleverly rendered.

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BUCKSPORT- Alvah G. Dorr sent to a party in Cleveland, Ohio, a large wildcat skin and also one to parties in Warsaw, Ill. Mr. Dorr is a large buyer of furs and has many desirable ones during the season.

The cutting of ice for the village supply commenced this week. Lewis Hopkins and Charles Cahoon began work on Silver Lake and began to haul in and fill the ice house of J.E. Marks. The ice is 15 inches thick and of the first quality, and after filling the houses in town, they can supply any and all who wish. The facility for shipping direct from the pond is of the best, and all can be placed on board vessels cheaper at this port than any point on the river.

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HAMPDEN CORNER – The regular meeting of the WSRC No. 48 was held in the GAR hall. Although the thermometer pointed to a mark considerably below zero, a large number enjoyed the culinary of some of Hampden’s experts.

Mrs. Lillian Swett presided at the organ and entertained the assembly with patriotic and popular songs.

Almost the entire gathering joined in singing the former, which are always enjoyed, for, like other good things, they seem to improve with age.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin