Jonathan Carter joins effort to curb wind farm siting atop peaks

HIGHLAND PLANTATION — Longtime environmental activist and wind-power supporter Jonathan Carter of Lexington Township joined forces this month with a grassroots coalition trying to stop sprawling industrial wind farms atop Maine's mountains.

Wilton police to hold holiday checkpoints

WILTON — The Police Department has received an $8,148 grant to conduct traffic safety checkpoints and enforcement patrols as part of the 2009 High Visibility Holiday Enforcement campaign, Chief Dennis Brown said.

The money from the Bureau of Highway Safety will be used to check for drunken drivers and enforce the seat belt law, he said.

Winter Wonderland is theme for Chester Greenwood Day parade

FARMINGTON — Winter Wonderland is the parade theme for the 33rd annual celebration of Chester Greenwood Day on Dec. 5.

The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has released a partial list of events for the celebration of the earmuff inventor from Farmington. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and proceed through downtown. Judging of floats will begin at 10:15 a.m. with cash prizes awarded in four categories: theme, originality, appearance and youth group. Earmuffs must be incorporated into each float.

Mt. Blue Christmas Craft Fair set for Saturday

WILTON — The Mt. Blue Christmas Craft Fair keeps growing: This year at least 160 tables will fill the Nichols Expo on the Weld Road on Saturday, organizer Shannon Smith said. The 16th annual fair runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The junior and senior classes at Mt. Blue High School sponsor the event as a fundraiser for Project Graduation.

Watching traffic pass by

FARMINGTON — Watching traffic on the Wilton Road, Harold Cote sees some strange things, but it's the waves and horn toots from motorists that keep him glued to his seat watching the busy road, also known as Routes 2 and 4 in West Farmington.

"I wave to everyone and many of them wave back," he says. "If I miss one, they'll toot their horn."

Grange members seek to improve building efficiency

FARMINGTON — Farmington Grange members are working to boost the efficiency of the hall on Bridge Street in West Farmington.

The Grange opened its doors to local farmers and buyers this month. From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, the Sandy River Farmers Market and artisans grace the hall with an array of locally grown vegetables, meats, baked goods and other items.

Board turns down property gift

WILTON — Selectmen opted to not accept a gift of property on Sunset Avenue by a vote of 3-2 on Tuesday.

David Friedman offered the lot, assessed at $41,000, to the town. Taxes on the property were partially paid in 2005 but nothing else has been paid since, Town Manager Rhonda Irish told the board. Taxes due on the property have accumulated to about $2,100.

Although a town pump station is located on the vacant lot, it's questionable whether anyone could build on the property, Code Enforcement Officer Paul Montague said.

Board reviews progress on razing dangerous buildings

WILTON — With an ongoing concern for properties considered potentially dangerous, selectmen reviewed a list of those sites Tuesday and gave one owner a deadline for clearing debris.

An excavator razed a building on the corner of Depot and Union streets Wednesday morning. Over the past few years, the board had worked with property owner Janis Stinson who wanted the building taken down, but some selectmen had run out of patience.

Tasteful Creations starts 'going out of business' sale

JAY — The local economy has taken its toll on another small business. Tasteful Creations on Route 4 began a going-out-of-business sale this week, and will close at the end of December.

"The area has been hard-hit with the mill closing and the economy," said owner Laura Fitzgerald, who has devoted herself to the business for the past 15 years.

She worked in the home decoration and flower shop prior to buying the business about seven years ago, she said.

Dixfield Ski-Doo shop heading for Wilton

WILTON — A former shop on Route 2 will once again showcase snowmobiles, parts and accessories.

Scott Frechette, owner of Frechette's Ski-Doo, now located in Dixfield, is preparing to move the shop to the former site of Trask's Inc. on Route 2.

He has bought the property including three sets of buildings and hopes to make the move to Wilton over the Thanksgiving weekend, he said Wednesday. The showroom has undergone some renovation and signs should be going up soon.

Laying the foundation

Barker & Sons crew members Joel Barker, Fred Ross and Mark Cochran work on the foundation for a new office building Tuesday at Narrow Gauge Square in Farmington. Optometrist Troy Norton went before the town's Planning Board last month for approval of the new building next to Tim Saulters, chiropractor, and Narrow Gauge Cinema.

Fencing at Mallett

Mark McKenna and Mark Richardson of Quality Fence Co. of Rumford work on 300 feet of fencing they have erected around the front yard of the Mallett School in Farmington on Tuesday. The front yard will become the school's playground during construction of the new elementary school behind Mallett.

Nomination papers available for new school board members

RANGELEY — Nomination papers for seats on the new regional school unit Board of Directors are now available, Rangeley Town Clerk Ethna Thompson said Tuesday.

The town has five seats on what will be a 10-member board, Superintendent Brian Foster said. The original plan was for a 13-member board, but after Rangeley Plantation and Lincoln Plantation voted their opposition to the reorganization plan earlier this month, the board numbers were adjusted, Foster said.

Board considers more options for former Primary School

WILTON — Selectmen on Tuesday tabled action on the fate of the former Primary School to give those interested in the property another chance to present their proposals.

Town Manager Rhonda Irish provided requested estimates for both demolition and public auction of the property, but selectmen agreed that neither option should be taken now.

Commissioners relinquish road, review budget and hire dispatchers

FARMINGTON — County commissioners on Tuesday relinquished the county's connections to an old right of way in Madrid.

Melvyn Webber of Phillips made a request for the county to release the right of way formerly known as State Aid Highway No. 2. A friend, Chris Botka of Sandy River Plantation, presented Webber's request to the commission.

The history of the piece of property dates back to 1959 when the state began a road project to move State Aid Highway No. 2 east about 570 feet from the intersection of Reeds Mills Road and Calvin Gray Road.

Democrats to meet with Steve Rowe

FARMINGTON — The Franklin County Democrats will meet at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the University of Maine at Farmington Student Center to talk with gubernatorial candidate Steve Rowe, Maine's attorney general from 2001 to 2009.

The group will participate in an issues forum on the latest developments in health care and energy legislation moving through Congress.

Board approves salary and health insurance increases

LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen accepted three-year union contracts for employees in the police and highway departments Monday, Town Manager James Chaousis II said.

The contract will provide a 2-percent wage increase to all members of each department, but it also calls for an increase in the employee contribution to health care, he said. Each employee used to pay 5 percent; it will now be 8 percent. The change reflects a comparison to Maine Municipal Association policies, Chaousis said.

Farm Market open through winter

Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Otten to speak at UMF

FARMINGTON — Businessman and now gubernatorial hopeful Leslie B. Otten will visit the University of Maine Farmington on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The longtime Maine resident will be speaking at UMF's Mable Hastie Lounge (Ricker 116) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. This event is being hosted by the UMF College Republicans. All are welcome to attend.

Franklin County arrest log

FARMINGTON — The following arrests were recently logged at Franklin County Detention Center:

Robert Jewell, 28, Livermore Falls, driving under the influence, Nov. 13, $3,000 unsecured bail, court appearance Dec. 17, Farmington Police Department.

Scott Baldwin, 43, Farmington Falls, driving after suspension, Nov. 14, $3,000 unsecured, court appearance Dec. 17, Farmington Police Department.

This week's agenda

Tuesday

Wilton: Selectmen, 7 p.m., Town Office 

Thursday

Salem: SAD 58 Board of Directors, 6:30 p.m., Mt. Abram High School library

Strong: Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Office

Wilton: Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Office

Firearms, money taken from Route 4 home

AVON — Firearms and cash were taken Sunday from a Route 4 home during daylight hours, said Lt. Niles Yeaton of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.

Five weapons and an undisclosed amount of cash were taken from a home near the Lindbergh Airport while the owner was away motorcycling for about six hours.

He came home about 4 p.m. to discover that the house had been gone through, searched and the items missing, Yeaton said. The owner is checking for any additional missing items.

Made in Maine vests keep dogs visible during hunting season

Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Dog safety products made in Maine, Dog Not Gone, keep pets and hunting dogs visible during hunting season. Julie Swain was given a design and asked to create the bright orange vests. Swain and her husband, Bill, operate the growing, part-time, visibility products business from their home in Kingfield. Julie, above, along with her daughter, Maggie, display vest model, Max on Monday.

UMF seeks to raise awareness about human trafficking

FARMINGTON — A four-event program on human trafficking and slavery began at the University of Maine Farmington Monday night with a concert presented by the group, "The Wrecking."

Some members of the group are UMF alumni and presented a program on Love 146, said Katherine Thompson, a UMF Intervarsity Christian Fellowship member.

Furnace problems closes schools

FAYETTE — Fayette Central School in Fayette announced Sunday that the elementary school will be closed Monday due to problems with the building's furnace. All classes have been canceled for the day.