• It is common talk on the streets that at shops and hotels in Lewiston, liquors, both hard and soft stuff, may be obtained without any difficulty. As a matter of fact conditions in this city are said to be nearly as bad as they were when the Sturgis deputies were first sent here.

• The best display of cookery ever seen was made by the Methodist ladies at the food sale. W. V. Cole very kindly allowed the ladies the use of the drug store and for the time being acted as chef instead of apothecary and the sale of medicine was suspended, though one gentleman was unkind enough to remark that no doubt there would be an alarming call for digestive tablets next day.

50 years ago, 1957

A Maine Restaurant Assn. spokesman said the young people he hires don’t need a minimum wage law; they’re taking it out in trade. Stanley Tyks of Skowhegan told the legislative Labor Committee in Augusta that the youngsters have hearty appetites. For example: One youth he employed last summer put on 25 pounds in 10 weeks, consuming 350 pieces of pie and cake. And another devoured nine pounds of lobster meat, at $3.50 a pound, in one week – between meals.

25 years ago, 1982

• In existence for more than two years, Lewiston-Auburn’s emergency telephone system, 9-1-1, has slowly become recognized as the number for residents to dial if they need help, be it fire, police or ambulance. “People are getting used to having available three services at one call,” according to 9-1-1 Supervisor Gilles Lessard. “Rarely do we receive calls through the old emergency line,” he added, as people use the new emergency dispatch system more and more to request help.

• The Public Utilities Commission is giving Central Maine Power Co. less than half its requested rate increase. Despite the $32 million hike in base rates, electric bills probably will drop because of a pending fuel-cost adjustment.