Joan Pratt wrote to remind us that Thomas Vining, originally from Bar Harbor, did some fine books on

Mount Desert Island – and they’re still available. Here they are:

. “Cemeteries of Cranberry Isles and the Towns of Mount Desert Island,” including Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor and Tremont. $35.

. “Census Records 1790-1840 of Cranberry Isles and the Towns of Mount Desert Island, Vol. I.” $25.

. “Census Records 1850 of Cranberry Isles and the Towns of Mount Desert Island Vol. II.” $25.

Add 5 percent sales tax and $6 per book for shipping or 20 percent of the total of the book order, whichever is lower. Mail to V.F. Thomas, 219 Dead River Road, Bowdoin 04287.

You also may order by phone at 266-5748, on the Web at vfthomas.com or by e-mail at info@vfthomas.com.

“These sources are invaluable for MDI research,” Pratt said. “They are carefully done with annotations on various discrepancies.”

Just in time for Christmas comes a booklet published by the Dixmont Historical Society – “Dixmont Tidbits,” by Eleanor Toothaker.

The information is taken from Dixmont Town Reports 1981-2003. However, the information covered goes back to 1806, when Collegetown Post Office was in operation.

And how’s this for an interesting tidbit? In 1893 it was voted to pay 15 cents an hour for two horses or two oxen and 71/2 cents an hour for one horse in the repair of the District 9 (Jewell) Cemetery fence.

Ms. Toothaker also tells about James Sluvian Clarkson, a Dixmont “grandson” who was a general in the Civil War and became assistant postmaster general in Benjamin Harrison’s administration.

Other topics include roads, highways and byways, stories of downtown Dixmont, the Bussey Spring, Northeast Dixmont. And did you know that three Dixmont residents served in the Revolutionary War? They were Benjamin Butman, Noah Edminster and Moses Littlefield.

There also is a segment on the recipients of the Boston Post Cane, of whom Eleanor Toothaker is the most recent.

The booklet is a lovely remembrance and is available for $9, including postage and handling, from Dixmont Historical Society, P.O. Box 100, Dixmont 04932. Or, booklets may be picked up at the town office.

The Penobscot County Genealogical Society will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, in the Lecture Hall at Bangor Public Library. The topic will be “Favorite Ancestor or Black Sheep Relative Night.” This is a chance for members to share the ancestor they want to talk about.

The Aroostook County Genealogical Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, in the Caribou Room at the Caribou Public Library. The meeting will be an informal session, giving those attending a chance to seek assistance with their own genealogies. Those who have queries or material to donate may write to P.O. Box 142, Caribou 04736-0142.

3303. GILES-SHORT-GOODRIDGE. Seeking parents of Lenora M. (Giles?) Short. She was perhaps the first wife of Pearl Short, who was born July 16, 1889, Haverhill, Mass.; died June 27, 1969, Portsmouth, N.H. He was the son of Edmund Short and Annie Goodrich. Danny W. Howard 903, DECF 64 Base Road, Machiasport 04655.

3304. BROWN-DENICO-PLAISTED. Seeking information on parents of Earl Lawrence Brown, said to be born July 29, 1913; died June 9, 1982, Waterville. He married Evelle Denico of South China and then Florence A. Plaisted of China. Danny W. Howard 903, DECF 64 Base Road, Machiasport 04655.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; or send queries by e-mail, familyti@bangordailynews.net.