Two guys are chatting around the office water cooler when someone in a horse suit walks by. Business as usual.

Every time one man says “whoa” to his colleague, the horsy dresser jerks to a stop, annoyed.

It looks like another nonsensical ad for Geico car insurance. It’s not.

It’s the newest commercial from the Maine Harness Racing Promotion Board and the TV debut of Whinnie the mascot. Or maybe it’s Winnie. Board members say they haven’t thought about the spelling of her name. Yes, Whinnie’s a girl.

The board has used commercials to promote the sport for the past three years, putting about $100,000 of its $140,000 budget into TV ads.

This is the first that is strictly humorous.

“We’re trying to reach certain demographics,” said acting Chairman Robert Tardy. The group is targeting ages 25 to 55, instead of the 55- to 95-year-olds who already frequent race tracks, off-track betting parlors and agricultural fairs.

Since there are no fairs or live track racing here right now, the ads are aimed at OTB sites, said Jayne Thornton, a board member from Lewiston.

“They do make you do a double take,” she added.

Whinnie’s costume already travels to fairs and big races in the state. It takes someone petite to fit inside.

In a second ad, she’s insulted again when she overhears a colleague in the break room complaining about a date. (“She eats like a horse!”)

– Kathryn Skelton
Chili rivalry

Two area restaurateurs say they won’t let a little thing like not winning trample a budding chili rivalry.

Jules Patry, owner of DaVinci’s Restaurant, and Ken Blais of Rolly’s Diner in Auburn were just two of the 27 entrants in Wednesday’s Chili and Chowder Taste Challenge at the Ramada Conference Center.

But they had their eyes on each other.

“The night before, (Blais) sent me a gag gift – a can of prepared chili,” Patry said. “It was his way of saying, I won last year. Good luck. You’ll need it.'”

In fact, one judge’s vote made the difference between the two chili entries in 2004. Rolly’s chili took first place. DaVinci’s took second.

“Every morning that I go in for breakfast, he makes sure to point to his first-place plaque and rub it in,” Patry said.

Alas, neither took honors this year. Eggcettera of Mechanic Falls and Governor’s Restaurant in Lewiston took first- and second-place chili honors, respectively.

Auburn’s Village Inn and the Green Ladle – Lewiston Regional Technical Center’s culinary arts program – claimed the top spots for their chowders.

“We took a silver prize for our display, for the way our table was all set up,” Blais said. But you can’t eat a display.

So bragging rights between the two will have to wait until next year.

“It’s even more important next year,” Blais said. “One of us has to win.”

– Scott Taylor

No favorites

Andover town meeting Moderator Brad Thibodeau played no favorites last Saturday.

After being sworn in, Thibodeau explained how he would run the session. Then, he told the crowd that anyone wishing to speak must direct their conversation toward him and state their name and town.

He had to reiterate this a few times in the next eight minutes, before people seemed to get the hang of it.

Then, when voters became mired in Article 9, which sought to raise $34,500 for protection services, Thibodeau called on one woman who raised her hand to talk.

She stood, then turned away from the moderator to respond to the last person to speak.

But before she could rattle off what she had to say, Thibodeau interrupted.

In a loud, firm voice that drowned out the woman’s voice, he said, “Address the moderator please! State your name and where you’re from!”

The woman looked at him with a blank stare. People who knew her began to laugh.

“I’m the moderator. I can do what I want,” Thibodeau added. More laughter.

With a look of disbelief on her face that quickly turned to a glare, the woman, Thibodeau’s wife, said, “Elissa Thibodeau, East Andover.”

– Terry Karkos

Max Levine Day

This April, there are many special days. Earth Day. The first day of Passover.

And now, in Poland: Max Levine Day.

Poland selectmen have dedicated April 3 to Levine, a senior at Poland Regional High School. Levine won an award from the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year, and the group asked the town to declare Sunday “Max Levine Day” so it could present him a letter or a proclamation during the awards ceremony.

Earlier this month, selectmen voted unanimously for the honor.

Although Max Levine Day has been proclaimed only in Poland, April 3 will be noted nationwide.

It also happens to be the start of daylight-saving time.

– Lindsay Tice

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