LIVERMORE – Resident Ethelyn Nichols, 98, was honored with the Boston Post Cane on Monday.

The Board of Selectpersons and historian W. Dennis Stires delivered the cane, a plaque and roses to Nichols at her home as family and friends looked on.

Nichols said red roses are her favorite.

Born in Jackman on May 14, 1908, she was raised in Skowhegan and ultimately ended up on Maple Lane Road in Livermore.

“We came to Livermore with $50 and 50 chickens,” Nichols said after Mark Holt, a former neighbor, urged her to tell her story.

“It was a good start, wasn’t it?” she asked.

Holt grew up across the street, “She is like a grandmother to me,” he said.

Nichols thanked the board and Stires.

“The cane used to be given to the oldest man in a town, but then women got the right to vote and now it’s given to the oldest citizen,” Stires said.

In other business Monday, highway Foreman Moe Laverdiere reported to the board.

“With that last messy storm, people complained that some sides of the roads were dug up,” Laverdiere said. “It’s hard not to do when the ground is soft.”

The highway crew did repair some of the damage, Laverdiere said. He also said the town’s new sand truck was working well after some slight adjustments.

The board also approved a 50-cent pay raise for Roger Ferland, whose three-month probation with the highway department has ended.

“He’s been working out really good, always willing to help,” Laverdiere said.

Administrative Assistant Kurt Schaub also reported that Code Enforcement Officer Richard Marble has sent letters to six residents who had not been following the rules at the transfer station.

The board also discussed a clothing allowance for the two full-time transfer station attendants. “Because they are outside quite often, they would like some help in purchasing new boots, coats and pants,” Schaub said. Financially the station is doing well, he said.

Fire Chief Don Castonguay also reported that his department is down to 16 active members.

“We are always looking for new blood,” Castonguay said.

Selectperson Tom Berry asked if there was anything the town could do financially to help. The board presently pays for firefighter training and discussed possibly funding other mandatory training.

The Town Office will close at noon on Friday and remain closed until Wednesday, Dec. 27. The next board meeting is 7 p.m. Jan. 2.