Sun Journal columnist and registered economic adviser J. Dwight of Wilton was featured on the cable channel CNBC on Friday morning, Aug. 1, in a segment filmed live from an economists’ conference in Grand Lake Stream.

Dwight was interviewed by CNBC’s Steve Leisman about Maine’s economy, its strengths and weaknesses, and the relative lessons learned from being a relatively small (by CNBC audience comparisons) financial adviser.

A couple of things from his interview, for the local audience. Maine-based banks are doing well in the struggling economy, Dwight said, and even mentioned one – Bar Harbor Bank and Trust – as a choice recent stock pick, along with ConocoPhilips.

But it was what Dwight had to say about the oil markets that was most interesting. Oil, he said, is likely to plummet down to $100 per-barrel or less, which would be an economic boon. But lower prices shouldn’t necessarily preclude other action on oil.

Like offshore drilling. “They do it off of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland,” Dwight told Leisman. “I don’t see why we can’t do it here in Maine.”

Well, J. That’s a sound-bite that could come back to bite you.

To see Dwight’s full interview, visit www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=810267660 http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=810267660>.

– Anthony Ronzio
Friendly reminder, and then some

Some downtown Rumford folks have tired of dog owners not cleaning up after their pooches. This sign was spotted next to a parking lot, that may be a favorite dumping ground on Congress Street. But rather than leave a nasty gram, the message was a cordial reminder and also an offering of the equipment needed – a supply of plastic bags – to pick up after Fido. So no excuses folks.

– Scott Thistle
From Wilton to Washington

Port Townsend, Wash., and Wilton, Maine, are nearly as far apart as two towns can be and still be in the United States.

But that didn’t stop not one, but two highly unlikely events from happening to a longtime Wilton resident who now lives in Washington State.

Christal Crockett Ericksen, a Wilton Academy graduate, owns a photography studio in downtown Port Townsend, a lovely small town west of Seattle, and chats with her customers every day about the places she has visited all over the world. Her store’s walls are covered with exotic photographs.

Last month the “where are you from” conversation with a customer revealed that the man, John Coull, not only came originally from Wilton (his dad owned a garage in the village of Dryden), but he had also grown up in the same house Christal grew up in, only a decade or so apart. And they each occupied the same bedroom, as well.

If that wasn’t enough, a week or so later, another man came into her photo shop and began chatting. He also had lived in Wilton.

His name was Darrell Morton and he graduated from Wilton Academy, two years after Christal did.

If things always come in threes, Christal is waiting for the third visitor from home to appear.

“I can’t wait for the next one,” she said.

– Eileen Adams