We hope that Brian and Stacy Rundlett of New Portland had a great time at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. The couple won the tickets to the big race from a local business. Brian and Stacy headed to Florida early for some sight seeing. Brian was heading out for a quick ride in race car one day last week and when we say quick ride we mean at high speeds, apparently the car gets up to speeds of 160 miles per hour on the track. We'll have to keep an eye on Brian when he returns to make sure he's not trying to drive that crane truck at those speeds. Sorry Jr. didn't win the race, but at least you got to see him knock a few of the big guys around on the track. Hope you had a great time!

Speaking of having fun, don't forget that this weekend is the Walkers for Knockers First Annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser Snowmobile Ride and Scavenger Hunt in Rangeley. This sounds like a fun time raising money for a worthy organization. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Club House.

After so many empty store fronts along Main Street in Kingfield for so long, it's great to see them filling up again. Beginning next door to our office, the Kingfield Thrift Shop, specializing women's attire, is housed in the Strand Building under the ownership of Julie Swain and is open now. Following along the boardwalk, the next shop is Pat Buck's old place next to Longfellow's Restaurant —the Reinholt Gallery featuring a fine arts gallery and custom furniture is operated by Ian and Saskia Reinholt. Their grand opening is Friday. And then, of course, there's Anni's reopening with Bob Thomas and John Beaupre at the helm, sometime in early March by all accounts. Watch the Irregular for more info on each of these fine new establishments.