Present at the ground breaking for the new Franklin Savings Bank in Rangeley last August were (left to right): John Blanchard, H.E. Callahan general contractor; Peter Judkins, President and CEO of Franklin Savings Bank; Leenanna Wilbur, Rangeley Branch Manag— er; and Ken Haley, M&H Construction (subcontractor). Western Mountains — Projects that hadn't been heard from since last year were back in the news, as was school consolidation, which was finally put to rest. The wind power project north of Eustis was underway and both Saddleback and Sugarloaf greeted snow enthusiasts with large improvements over the previous season and lots of snow for Christmas. And the year closed with the loss of a 100-year-old Eustis landmark and wellknown business.

July

The first issue in July reported that residents of Phillips rejected the proposed municipal budget effectively shutting down the town government and forcing the new town manager to take drastic actions. Despite rain, the 6th annual Kingfield POPS Festival was a success, as was Stratton-Eustis's Family Fun Days. The Irregular inaugurated its extensive series "Maine energy and the future" in July. New Portland capped its year-long bicentennial celebrations in grand style with a massive parade lead by Nan Berry on her horse and included 15th Alabama Infantry reenactment. Backyard Farms in Madison announced that it planned to construct another greenhouse; the company was already the largest New England greenhouse. Mt. Abram began the installation of a wind turbine, making it possibly the only school in the state to use wind power to offset electricity costs.

Chris Baldwin finishes the job of taking down a landmark tree in Stratton estimated by some to be nearly 300 years old. The tree had died the previous winter and was a hazard. August

Despite residents' desire to keep it open, MSAD #74 directors voted to close Central Elementary School. Geraldine "Jebbie" Campbell retired after serving 35 years as a fourth grade teacher in Phillips. Grams softball team of Phillips took the championship in the North Franklin Men's Softball Tournament. Phillips' Old Home Days celebrated its 50th year with all the trimmings including choosing Sheriff Denis Pike as the Honored Person. Copious amounts of rain were causing difficulties for many including blueberry growers, those cultivating corn and trying to harvest wood from the soggy forests. Clem and Rolande Begin of Carrabassett Valley donated $1.76 million between Maine Huts and Trails, Carrabassett Valley Academy, Carrabassett Valley Public Library & Community Center and the Sugarloaf Ski Club. Nine-year-old Leah Cuetara of Winslow, who was reported missing on a Saturday morning, was found the following Sunday afternoon after an extensive search.

William Gillespie, a member of the Norton Wuori American Legion Post #61, disposes of unserviceable flags at the Kingfield War Memorial during last year's Veteran's Day observance. September

Work on the Kibby Wind Power project was underway. The TransCanada project was slated to span Kibby Mountain and Kibby Range in Kibby and Skinner townships and include 44 wind turbines. Warren Cook, of Carrabassett Valley, was named Saddleback Maine's new CEO. While the MSAD #58 Board of Directors opposed it, members sent a revised consolidation plan to Augusta as required by state law. In turn the state approved the plan leaving its fate in the hands of voters.

Gathering to honor former Chief Dana Littlefield (front, second from right) who retired after 23 years were Carrabassett Valley and Kingfield firefighters: (back. left to right) Kingfield Fire Chief Chuck Twitchell, Fred Nichols, Carrabassett and Kingfield Deputy Chief Bob Carlton, David Harrison, Chip Eames, Charles Hinkley, Thornton Ring, Phil Shurtlef Sr., Michael LEmpert, Pete Boucher, (second row) Mahlon Hansen Carrabassett Fire Chief Courtney Knapp, Earl Connor, Hubert Norton, Aaron Boone, (front row) Ethan Gile, Torin Twitchell, Littlefield and Phil Shurtleff Jr. October

School consolidation continued to be a hot topic as the MSAD #58 Board of Directors developed a brochure designed to help voters consider the pros and cons of consolidating; and in fact recommended a "No" vote. Sugarloaf announced that more than $5 million in improvements would greet Sugarloafers when the resort opened for the season. It was also noted that since the mountain joined the Boyne Resorts family, more than $9 million had been spent. WSKI-TV 17 and Time-Warner formed a partnership so that the local TV station could continue to offer its unique brand of programming. After serving as the town manager for New Portland for over 12 years, Andrea Reichert retired from that position to take one at Poland Spring in Kingfield.

The bell of the North New Portland Community Church is lifted back into the belfry after both it and the church had major renovations and repairs done. November

Androscoggin Superior Court ruled that Saddleback and others violated the Maine Human Rights Act when Master Electrician and foreman, Robert Duggan, was fired from Saddleback's worksite for reporting serious electrical safety hazards and unlicensed workers doing electrical work. Mt. Abram's boys' soccer team defeated Georges Valley in semi final action, 1-0, to move on to the Western C finals. Maine's Election Day referendum saw the repeal of the beverage tax endorsed by voters, who also knocked down a casino for Oxford County, but the drinking water/waste water bond was approved. For the area, one of the biggest questions was whether MSAD #58 voters would approve or shoot down the consolidation plan; they shot it down.

Zoe Grant, 13, mingles with some of the 24 alpacas and two llamas at the Good Karma Farm in Kingfield, owned by her parents, Jim and May Grant. Good Karma was one of many farms that held an open house for Maine Alpaca Open Farm weekend last September. December

A local hunter was accidentally shot when he was on the further side of a deer his nephew fired on. The hunter was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons. The Tranten family of Kingfield was in the middle of opening a new store in Farmington at the old Riddles Drug Store location. Harley Lee of Endless Energy Corporation was trying to breathe new life into his Redington Wind Farm project by asking the town of Carrabassett Valley to annex part of Redington Township so that the wind farm would come under the town's purview and not LURC's. Between 28 and 32 inches of snow fell on the area in time for Christmas, with Eustis reporting a whopping 42 inches. In an early morning fire, the Porter House Restaurant in Eustis burned. While the front of the house remained intact, the kitchen area was a total loss. The building was 100 years old this year.

Cars crossing the United States border at Coburn Gore enter a new radiation portal monitor. The nonintrusive machine, in place by September, detects both legitimate and illegitimate radiation and is one of 374 located at borders across the U.S. See Year in Review Part 1: January through June on-line at www.theirregular.com

You can also check out the entire 2008 and 2007 issues in PDF format on-line: go to www.theirregular.com and click on "Archives" on the bar at the top of the page underneath the Irregular logo.

Abby Hansen Masterman, a new intern at Mt. Abram Regional Health Center in Kingfield, holds 10-dayold Jasper Mello of Strong.