75 Years Ago – April 28, 1949
New Chef To Feature “Smorgasbord” on The Sunday Night Menu — Another change at the Northland hotel is the new chef, Al Ham, who came here recently from Vermont. In that business for the past 20 years and also a retired Navy commander, Mr. Ham will start serving “smorgasbord” this Sunday. This new and unique service will be featured in the menu every Sunday night. For the price of one meal you can get as many servings as you desire.
Prison Sunday In Local Jail, May 1 — In 1916 the Salvation Army founded Prison Sunday, which is being celebrated in every Federal and State Penal and Correctional institution in the United States Sunday, May 1. Special speakers, musicians and singers will hold religious services in these institutions for the purpose of bringing some hope and cheer. The Army carries on a year-round program of social welfare for those who have been either discharged or paroled, providing them with work, residence, clothes, food and tools and such other help as is needed.
50 Years Ago – April 24, 1974
Maine’s Minimum Wage Goes To $2 On May 1 — Because of the increase in the Federal minimum wage effective May 1, Maine minimum wage will increase from $1.90 to $2.00 on that date. Also, the rate for students who are less than 19 years old will be increased on May 1 from $1.43 per hour to $1.50 per hour under the Maine law.
Fire Department At Bridgewater Has New Pumper — The Bridgewater Fire Department accepted delivery of a new 1000-gallon per minute pumper Wednesday afternoon. Fire Chief Pete Nelson accepted the new truck from Howard B. Hallett of Sherman Mills.
25 Years Ago – April 28, 1999
Reading Program Offers Parents and Children Valuable Skills — “IT’S THE READING LADY,” comes the ecstatic cry from the backyard as a half-dozen excited youngsters scramble for the back door amidst cries of “Wipe your feet,” and “Take off your dirty shoes,” coming from the daycare director. Such a greeting is just a typical run-of-the-mill reception for Deborah Kerr, an Americorp member who is part of a program called Born to Read, hosted by Americorp in order to promote reading among younger children. The program is run in cooperation with the Maine Humanities Council and targets children ranging in age from newborns to 12-year-olds. “Reading to children lengthens their attention span and helps them when they get to kindergarten,” said Kerr. The program reaches out into daycares, head-start programs, schools and homes throughout the surrounding area and impresses upon children the importance of reading.Secretary wins honor in contest — When Lisa Hardy, executive secretary at the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians returned to work Monday, she had a surprise waiting for her. Hardy was the winner of Chadwick Florist & Greenhouses and the Houlton Pioneer Times’ Best Secretary Award. In honor of April 21 being Professional Secretaries Day, area businesses were able to nominate their secretary with the winner receiving a free bouquet of flowers.
