(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Aug. 7, 1998

BANGOR – Dana’s Grill, a local landmark celebrating its 60th anniversary this summer, has gone year-round providing diners with food once available only during warm weather.

Warren and Nicole Caruso own the business, which is the oldest restaurant in the Queen City. Opened in 1938 by Dana Gifford, located in various trailers and immobilized buses near the present site of Bean & Conquest Chevrolet, Dana’s soon wound up at 72 Summer St. in Bangor, based in a blue and white bus that symbolized the popular eatery until the mid-1980s.

In 1980, Bangor High School junior Warren Caruso and his father, Richard, leased the original Dana’s Grill from Don Bean, who had purchased an adjacent house, demolished it and constructed a parking lot. The Carusos renovated the restaurant, gradually removing bus components until only its frame and tires remained under a new wooden building.

Dana’s Grill Dockside opened at Turtle Head Marina in Hampden in summer 1991 and people flocked to that locale.

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ORONO – University of Maine grad Cindy Blodgett has encountered a major challenge this summer trying to make the transition from Division I basketball to the rigors of the WNBA.

Even so, the league seems convinced that Maine’s native hoop heroine is an enticing subject to help promote the second-year WNBA.

Blodgett, a member of the Cleveland Rockers, will be featured on a television special called “WNBA: Pure Passion.” On the show, UM coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie and Ron Brown, author of “Cindy Blodgett: Simply the Best,” shared their thoughts on the impact Blodgett has had on basketball in Maine during the last eight years.

25 years ago – Aug. 7, 1983

BANGOR – Photo Show ’83 results at the Bangor State Fair listed 186 competing with a total of 718 prints, according to Joe Pate, executive director of the Bass Park Corp., operators of the fair.

Bernie Littlefield of Bangor had the best black and white photo and George Mitchell Jr. of Bucksport had the best color photo in the exhibition. Best of Show went to John Henderson of Bangor.

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BANGOR – Hamburgers and hot dogs were the order of the day at the annual Senior Citizen’s Friendship Club outing at Bangor’s Jewish Community Center. Marcia Braveman, president of the group, served entrees to club members. Mrs. James Viner assisted.

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HAMPDEN – George Miller, 14, of Hampden won the Grand Champion trophy with his steer during the final 4-H judging at the Bangor State Fair. Miller is president of the Penobscot County 4-H Baby Beef Club.

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CARMEL – Albert Johnson’s steer was named Reserve Champion during the final baby beef competition held at the Bangor State Fair.

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BANGOR – Fanny Robinson celebrated her 99th birthday at the Bangor Convalescent Center. She was born Aug. 5, 1884. Helping her cut and serve birthday cake were Penny Toothaker and Sandy Sanborn.

50 years ago – Aug. 7, 1958

HOLDEN – Roseledge-Veeman-Valentine, a 6-month-old black and white registered Holstein heifer, was presented to a 10-year-old Holden youth by the agriculture and conservation committee of the Brewer Kiwanis Club.

Edward Storey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Price, received the animal from Lawrence L. Treworgy Jr., chairman of the committee, during the club meeting at the Penobscot Hotel.

The calf is the offspring of Roseledge-Veeman-Hannah, a heifer raised by Miss Martha Jean Cox of Eddington. Miss Cox received the animal from Kiwanians in 1956.

Edward’s brother, John Storey, 14, was awarded a calf in November 1957.

Other Kiwanis calves have been presented to Glen Tarr of Holden and Barry Bowden of Orrington.

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BANGOR – Miss Winifred L. Condon, 273 Fourteenth St., besides working for the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad for 40 years, has the distinction of being the only woman working for the railroad who enlisted in the women’s services during World War II. Miss Condon, who was honored on her retirement at a party held in the Coral Room at the Brass Rail, entered the WAC on March 12, 1945.

Miss Condon entered the Bangor and Aroostook offices as a clerk on June 25, 1918. During the years she has been in the same department and has worked on figures and done machine work, the latest on IBM machines. She was awarded a 40-year golden pass on June 25, 1958, entitling her to travel anywhere on the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad.

When asked if she was glad to retire, Miss Condon said that she was, but that she would miss the old crowd. Now that she has time, she is planning a trip to Florida in October and hopes to visit California at a future date. She also plans to do some gardening and photography, two of her pet hobbies.

Miss Condon was lovely in a blue and white flowered dress with a white hat.

100 years ago – Aug. 7, 1908

EAST ORRINGTON – Hines Pond is booming this summer. Transients are to be seen on the road at all times. All the cottages are occupied and some new ones are being built. The new town road is about completed and shortens the distance to some parts of the pond by a full mile. It runs right by E.L. Freese’s Wayside Inn.

Road Commissioner Herbert Rogers has a crew of men and teams on the stream road applying gravel donated by C.A. Wood.

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GREEN LAKE – The Nicolin Sunday school had a picnic at the U.S. Fish Hatchery [in Orland]. The steamer Senator took them down and brought them back.

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BANGOR – Master Cloudburst Jr. went on a jag in our village last evening, much to the joy of our citizens whose duties or desires called them out of doors. He is a very lusty frolicsome youth and during the time he reigned in our midst kept things quite lively.

It looked during the afternoon as though the clouds were nothing more serious than an ordinary fog mull. But shortly after 8 o’clock it began to rain, and there were showers at intervals until 10 o’clock. Then it began to come down in earnest, and shortly after 11, the cloudburst commenced.

The little imp was still cutting up at 1 o’clock in the morning, and the streets were flowing rivers. It had wrung the humidity from the atmosphere, however, and it really looks as though it might clear up decently.

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ETNA – At the Etna Baptist church, the pastor, Clarence K. Johnson, spoke at both morning and evening services. The topic in the morning was “The Power of Influence” and in the evening “Backbone.” At the latter service, Mrs. Joseph Sylvester rendered a soprano solo, and in the morning Hartley Tarr sang a bass solo. Waldo Withee gave several violin selections.

Next Sunday both sermons will be preached by the Rev. Harry W. Lambert, pastor at Bryn Mawr, Pa. Lambert was formerly an actor, leaving the stage about 15 years ago to enter Christian work. Besides being a powerful preacher, he possesses a baritone voice of particular sweetness.

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ORLAND – Mrs. Belle R. Fish, who is visiting her parents, Capt. and Mrs. D.G. Rich of Orland, has achieved no little success in the literary field, having written many short poems for the Boston Journal and Globe. Her latest poem, “Attainment,” appeared in the June [issue of] Munsey [a magazine founded by Frank Munsey, who was born in Mercer and founded at least 17 newspapers including the Washington Times, The Boston Journal and The New York Herald. He also is credited with the idea and implementation of “pulp” magazines that sold for 10 cents].

Mrs. Fish’s favorite poem is “The Pines of Maine.”

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin