OTISFIELD – Two local entrepreneurs, who are tired of bad news dominating the media, decided to do something about it.

So, in August the first monthly “Best of . . . Times” newsletter was created.

The first issue contained articles on chocolate, lessons of a waitress and an interview with a mother of 10 children.

Longtime friends and Oxford Hills residents Deborah Hammond and Joanna Backman teamed up to publish the newsletter.

“We met in 1991 when working at Stephens Memorial Hospital,” Hammond said. “Over the years we talked about gong into business someday.”

Hammond owned a freelance writing and editing business for seven years.

Backman is the director of the local community college center and will assume that position when the Western Maine University and Technical College opens in January.

“We’re pretty optimistic people and there is so much negative news out there,” Backman said. “While there are so many things to feel bad about, we want to focus on the positive things. Why life is good.”

The two women sent out 175 issues with surveys and learned potential readers’ top three interests were reading, family and gardening.

Backman said the general idea of the newsletter was to focus on things she and Hammond enjoy and share with other people, in hopes they would reciprocate.

“We want to have 50 percent of our newsletter written by our readers,” Hammond said. “As far as we’re concerned, our readers are our experts.”

She said those submitting articles would not be paid in cash. They would receive additional issues to their subscription, which is $21 per year.

Hammond said they have two dozen subscribers so far spread across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Texas.

They are willing to send a free copy to those interested and they may be reached at bestoftimes@yahoo.com or by writing Best of Times, 998 Bolsters Mills Road, Otisfield, Me. 04270.

jsmedley@sunjournal.com

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