Town officials want ideas for a town slogan.

Administrative Assistant Kathy Hutchins said the search began a couple of weeks ago by the Innovative Housing Committee as plans continue to eventually relocate the village area.

So far, about a dozen people have dropped ideas into a bright green box in the town office. More ideas are requested, something that will capture the essence of the town.

Although she hasn’t read all the submissions yet, Hutchins said some have really touched her.

“Some are so well-written, related to home and hearth,” she said.

Whichever one is chosen will be used on anything related to the marketing of the town such as entrance signs, town letterheads and town reports.

Those with a flare for creativity are asked to drop off their ideas as soon as possible.

-Eileen M. Adams

Dixfield Town calls for birthday shower

It’s not every day that two lifelong residents celebrate their 95th birthdays within a day of each other.

And because of this uniqueness, and because the two women have given many volunteer hours, the town of Dixfield is calling for a birthday card shower for Clara Stetson Howard and Loraine Welch Smith.

“This is the first time we’ve done this. We just thought it would be a nice thing to do, a fun thing for them,” said Charlotte Collins, deputy treasurer and secretary at the town office.

Smith is a longtime member of the Dixfield Historical Society who has compiled 28 scrapbooks filled with newspaper clippings on town matters that have been donated to the historical society. Howard is also a member of the group.

The women’s husbands, now deceased, were also greatly involved in the town, said Collins. Both women live within a few streets of each other and have been friends for years. In fact, said Collins, Smith was in the wedding party when Howard married her husband, Raymond.

Cards may be sent to Howard at P.O. Box 614, Dixfield, ME 04224. Her birthday is on July 13. Cards may be sent to Smith at 6 Nash St., Dixfield, ME 04224. Her birthday is on July 14.

-Eileen M. Adams

Canton Revaluation set to begin

A full revaluation of all 1,000 properties in town is expected to begin in the next few days.

Administrative Assistant Kathy Hutchins said John O’Donnell of New Gloucester plans to conduct the re-val over the next few months.

The values of all properties are expected to be completed in time for the 2005 tax year.

It has been at least 15 years since the value of properties has been updated. Canton is one of the few River Valley towns with a population that has grown during the last two censuses, from 831 people in 1980 to 1,121 in 2000.

Residents have raised at least $35,000 for the project.

-Eileen M. Adams