The lack of an Underwriters Laboratory rating kept Lewiston’s newest fountain from flowing for two weeks this summer.

City engineers said the electrical pump had plenty of power to run the fountain at the corner of Lincoln and Main streets.

But when the fountain was inspected by Lewiston electrical inspectors, they discovered the pump was not rated by the UL to run a public fountain.

Not many are.

“You can buy smaller ones that work fine, but not ones that pump 50 gallons a minute,” said Michael LePage, project engineer.

After a full day of searching on the Internet, LePage found the right pump, which was installed last week and has been running ever since.

The fountain fiasco at Courthouse Plaza was a different story, said City Engineer Richard Burnham. The wrong-sized pump was installed there twice. The first was too strong and flooded the plaza, and the second was too weak and threatened to burn out.

“This was just a matter of city inspectors being careful,” Burnham said. “That could be considered a good thing.”

– Scott Taylor

Sign of the times

Central Maine Community College reverted back to a Technical College this week.

At least that’s what the sign said.

For years, a boulder engraved with “Central Maine Technical College” has stood at the entrance to the two-year college in Auburn. When the technical school became a community college last year, it stuck a white plywood sign in front of the boulder.

For a year, the temporary sign has announced the entrance to Central Maine Community College. This week, the plywood sign was removed.

The CMTC boulder was back.

But not for long.

Workers plan to refurbish the permanent sign this week, engraving “Community College” in place of “Technical College.” Work on the rock should be done by next week.

– Lindsay Tice

French’s history

Leave it to the mustard people with the Franco-sounding name.

French’s Foods – the Parsippany, N.J., company that makes bright yellow mustard – is promoting its 100th anniversary with a history contest.

They call it, “How I Saved History in My Community.”

The company plans to give away 100 prizes of $100 each for mini-essays. Each must be 100 words or less and could involve cleaning a local park, saving an old building from demolition or volunteering at a museum.

The contest is being co-sponsored by the History Channel.

Entries must go to French’s Mustard “How I Save History in My Community,” c/o BHGPR, 546 Valley Road, Upper Montclair, N.J., 07043. The deadline is Dec. 31.

– Daniel Hartill