So I came to Albuquerque for Christmas to visit my parents and spend some time in the sunshine and warmth of the Southwest. I arrived Christmas day and spent the afternoon wrapping presents (can't take them wrapped through security at the airport and they even recommend you don't wrap them in your checked baggage). Everyone else is unwrapping gifts; I'm wrapping. Why be ordinary, eh? ;-)
So Today, December 26, we celebrated Christmas. The temperature range today in Albuquerque was a high of 34 and a low of 16. Guess what . . . back in Farmington the low was only 19 and the high was 39! It was warmer in Maine than in New Mexico! Good thing I brought my long coat. :-)
I hope to get caught up on posting to the blog while I'm here "on vacation". I've got photos from the past 3 months and lists of things to write about. It's really hard to go back and get caught up. My New Year's resolution is to not get this behind again.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
12/15/2007 Snowy Sunday
Even for Maine, this snowstorm is supposed to be unusual for this time of year and it's supposed to be a big one. Check out the article below that describes the impending storm, discusses why it's unusual, and uses the word "wicked" as a superlative (a common Maine practice, but I always thought of it as slang and was surprised to see it in print in the newspaper outside of a quote).
We walked to church this morning instead of driving since the roads weren't plowed yet. I was up for the adventure The snow was pretty light and not too deep, but there was enough of it that I was very glad to finally arrive at church and get out of it. During the service you could see out the window that the flakes were getting bigger and the quantity of falling flakes was increasing. I was glad to take Patty up on her kind offer of giving us a ride home.
REGIONAL STORM
Snow could turn to sleet
By DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/16/2007
Here we go again. Another winter storm promising snow, sleet and howling winds was bearing down on the state Saturday night for arrival in central Maine sometime this morning.
By the calendar, it's not even winter yet.
And according to John Jensenius, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gray, the track of this latest batch of winter weather could mean a change-over to sleet this afternoon, which could mean lower snowfall totals and some wicked travel conditions.
He said 6-10 inches of new snow and sleet can be expected by tonight in Kennebec County, 8-12 inches in southern Somerset and Franklin counties with up to 18 inches in the mountains.
Coastal and interior Waldo County can expect 4-8 inches.
"We expect snow to develop across central Maine probably early in the morning -- 7 a.m., something like that," Jensenius said. "At this point it looks like snow will mix with sleet and freezing rain along the coast and actually mix with sleet in the interior sections as well."
The powerful coastal storm began forming over the Carolinas Saturday night, then rapidly intensified as it moved northeast up the eastern seaboard this morning.
Moisture is forecast to collide with Arctic air, spreading snow up through the entire state.
By noon today, the snow will just be reaching northern Maine and several inches will have accumulated over southern areas of the state, according to the Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to remain in the teens and low 20s, with mighty wind chills making it feel like 6 or 7 below.
Jensenius said the culprit in any possible change- over is warm air being dragged in above the cold air that is already solidly in place.
"What is happening with the storm moving right along the immediate coast, is the winds out ahead of this storm are bringing warmer air in aloft -- between about 7,000 and 10,000 feet," he said. "That warm air aloft is causing the precipitation to change from snow to rain as it falls through that warmer layer and then eventually as it gets into a colder layer, it refreezes back into sleet or when it reaches the ground, possibly freezing rain."
If the track moves further east -- off the coast -- more snow can be expected, he said. Further west, inland, could mean more in the way of sleet and rain.
The intense weather maker is expected to move out of the region tonight.
Strong northwest winds will develop as the system pulls away, creating lots of blowing and drifting snow in all areas on Monday. Winds could reach 10-20 mph, with gusts to 25 mph, Jensenius said.
Central Maine Power Co. is preparing for possible power outages due to ice and blowing snow, company spokesman John Carroll said Saturday.
"We are expecting high winds and lots of snow, which could be heavy and wet along the coast," Carroll said in a statement. "This combination can be tough on our crews and equipment.
"People see the damage storms like this can do and they understand they can cause outages. Our crews will be there to put things back together, but we hope people will also take some simple steps to keep themselves safe and comfortable."
CMP offers customers some simple steps to stay safe and comfortable if power outages do occur.
•Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand.
•Stock up on supplies of drinking water.
•Keep a supply of non-perishable foods.
•Never use grills or camp stoves indoors -- they can give off dangerous gases.
As is common practice during potential storm situations, Carroll said CMP has been in touch with utilities in other parts of New England and in the Canadian Maritimes to discuss mutual needs and capabilities.
Retrieved 12/15/2007 from http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4568907.html
We walked to church this morning instead of driving since the roads weren't plowed yet. I was up for the adventure The snow was pretty light and not too deep, but there was enough of it that I was very glad to finally arrive at church and get out of it. During the service you could see out the window that the flakes were getting bigger and the quantity of falling flakes was increasing. I was glad to take Patty up on her kind offer of giving us a ride home.
REGIONAL STORM
Snow could turn to sleet
By DOUG HARLOW
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/16/2007
Here we go again. Another winter storm promising snow, sleet and howling winds was bearing down on the state Saturday night for arrival in central Maine sometime this morning.
By the calendar, it's not even winter yet.
And according to John Jensenius, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Gray, the track of this latest batch of winter weather could mean a change-over to sleet this afternoon, which could mean lower snowfall totals and some wicked travel conditions.
He said 6-10 inches of new snow and sleet can be expected by tonight in Kennebec County, 8-12 inches in southern Somerset and Franklin counties with up to 18 inches in the mountains.
Coastal and interior Waldo County can expect 4-8 inches.
"We expect snow to develop across central Maine probably early in the morning -- 7 a.m., something like that," Jensenius said. "At this point it looks like snow will mix with sleet and freezing rain along the coast and actually mix with sleet in the interior sections as well."
The powerful coastal storm began forming over the Carolinas Saturday night, then rapidly intensified as it moved northeast up the eastern seaboard this morning.
Moisture is forecast to collide with Arctic air, spreading snow up through the entire state.
By noon today, the snow will just be reaching northern Maine and several inches will have accumulated over southern areas of the state, according to the Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to remain in the teens and low 20s, with mighty wind chills making it feel like 6 or 7 below.
Jensenius said the culprit in any possible change- over is warm air being dragged in above the cold air that is already solidly in place.
"What is happening with the storm moving right along the immediate coast, is the winds out ahead of this storm are bringing warmer air in aloft -- between about 7,000 and 10,000 feet," he said. "That warm air aloft is causing the precipitation to change from snow to rain as it falls through that warmer layer and then eventually as it gets into a colder layer, it refreezes back into sleet or when it reaches the ground, possibly freezing rain."
If the track moves further east -- off the coast -- more snow can be expected, he said. Further west, inland, could mean more in the way of sleet and rain.
The intense weather maker is expected to move out of the region tonight.
Strong northwest winds will develop as the system pulls away, creating lots of blowing and drifting snow in all areas on Monday. Winds could reach 10-20 mph, with gusts to 25 mph, Jensenius said.
Central Maine Power Co. is preparing for possible power outages due to ice and blowing snow, company spokesman John Carroll said Saturday.
"We are expecting high winds and lots of snow, which could be heavy and wet along the coast," Carroll said in a statement. "This combination can be tough on our crews and equipment.
"People see the damage storms like this can do and they understand they can cause outages. Our crews will be there to put things back together, but we hope people will also take some simple steps to keep themselves safe and comfortable."
CMP offers customers some simple steps to stay safe and comfortable if power outages do occur.
•Keep battery-operated flashlights and radios on hand.
•Stock up on supplies of drinking water.
•Keep a supply of non-perishable foods.
•Never use grills or camp stoves indoors -- they can give off dangerous gases.
As is common practice during potential storm situations, Carroll said CMP has been in touch with utilities in other parts of New England and in the Canadian Maritimes to discuss mutual needs and capabilities.
Retrieved 12/15/2007 from http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4568907.html
Saturday, December 15, 2007
12/13/2007 Crime Spree in Farmington
My quaint little town had an unusual series of crimes in the past two weeks. The front page of today's paper (Thursday 12/13/07) had two headlines about them:
Farmington bank robbed
and
Assault suspect arrested
There was a mugging on campus Sunday night and the bank was robbed in downtown on Wednesday. Pretty scary. But they do have the suspect in the assault arrested and it looks like they know who robbed the bank. It is unusual to have any crime in Farmington, much less two big ones in the same week.
Here are the stories:
Jailed teen allegedly tried to rob student at UMF
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/13/2007
FARMINGTON -- Three days after a University of Maine at Farmington student was beaten and kicked in a robbery attempt near the UMF student center, Farmington police arrested a man they believe is the assailant.
On Wednesday afternoon, police arrested Caleb Hupper, 18, of 439 Zions Hill Road in Chesterville on charges of robbery and aggravated assault, both felonies.
According to an intake worker at the Franklin County Jail, Hupper is being held on $25,000 cash bail.
The mugging of the 18-year-old freshman from Duxbury, Mass., occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday as he was walking in front of the Education Center on High Street on his way to the Olsen Student Center.
Farmington Police Chief Richard Caton III said Wednesday evening that police followed up on several leads and arrested Hupper at his home earlier in the day.
He declined to comment on whether Hupper has a juvenile criminal record.
Caton said he has no idea why the student was attacked. In an interview Monday, UMF Director of Public Safety Ted Blais called it a random act of violence.
The victim was attacked after he refused to hand over his wallet, police said.
He suffered cuts on his face and bruises on his body where the attacker punched and kicked him and continued to strike him while he was lying on the sidewalk.
The attacker ran off to a waiting car when another student who witnessed the attack from his dorm room at the Mallett Residence Hall rushed out to help, police said.
The student was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital by NorthStar EMS where he received stitches for facial cuts. He also was treated for a mild concussion, according to UMF officials.
Wednesday was a busy day for Farmington Police. Caton said that as a press release on the Hopper's arrest was being prepared, he and his officers had to rush off to respond to a robbery at TD Banknorth on Broadway at 3:25 p.m.
"We were all excited about the arrest and I was planning on getting the information out when the robbery call came in," Caton said.
Retrieved 12/15/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4560307.html
AND:
Farmington bank robbed
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/13/2007
FARMINGTON -- Police are looking for a man who robbed the TD Banknorth branch on Broadway Wednesday afternoon.
The suspect, whose image was captured in a surveillance photo although his face is partially covered by sunglasses, is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a husky build. He was wearing a brown jacket with a hood, according to Farmington Police Chief Richard Caton III.
"He passed a note to a teller indicating he had a firearm and to give him money," Caton said.
After pocketing an undisclosed amount of cash, the man left the bank on foot, police say. The bank's doors were immediately locked and the staff called 911. Caton said police were there within minutes, including officers with a tracking dog.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Farmington police at 778-6311.
This is the second robbery of a Farmington business this fall. On Oct. 5, a man claiming to be armed demanded narcotics from the Rite Aid pharmacy in West Farmington and then escaped on foot.
Wednesday's robbery was disconcerting to local employees and merchants.
"It was pretty scary, being so close to home," said Patty Bessey, an employee at the Renys department store on Broadway, who also works across the street at the Farmington Thrift Shop. "A lot of the girls are upset because they have to walk home after dark."
Ron Gelinas, owner of Mainestone Jewelry next door to the bank, said he had been in the bank a few minutes before the robbery.
"It shocks you and makes you nervous. I am just thankful no one was hurt," he said. "The police did a very good job controlling the situation and kept a low profile. People on the street and in the shops didn't even know there was anything the matter."
Retrieved 12/15/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4560089.html
Farmington bank robbed
and
Assault suspect arrested
There was a mugging on campus Sunday night and the bank was robbed in downtown on Wednesday. Pretty scary. But they do have the suspect in the assault arrested and it looks like they know who robbed the bank. It is unusual to have any crime in Farmington, much less two big ones in the same week.
Here are the stories:
Jailed teen allegedly tried to rob student at UMF
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/13/2007
FARMINGTON -- Three days after a University of Maine at Farmington student was beaten and kicked in a robbery attempt near the UMF student center, Farmington police arrested a man they believe is the assailant.
On Wednesday afternoon, police arrested Caleb Hupper, 18, of 439 Zions Hill Road in Chesterville on charges of robbery and aggravated assault, both felonies.
According to an intake worker at the Franklin County Jail, Hupper is being held on $25,000 cash bail.
The mugging of the 18-year-old freshman from Duxbury, Mass., occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday as he was walking in front of the Education Center on High Street on his way to the Olsen Student Center.
Farmington Police Chief Richard Caton III said Wednesday evening that police followed up on several leads and arrested Hupper at his home earlier in the day.
He declined to comment on whether Hupper has a juvenile criminal record.
Caton said he has no idea why the student was attacked. In an interview Monday, UMF Director of Public Safety Ted Blais called it a random act of violence.
The victim was attacked after he refused to hand over his wallet, police said.
He suffered cuts on his face and bruises on his body where the attacker punched and kicked him and continued to strike him while he was lying on the sidewalk.
The attacker ran off to a waiting car when another student who witnessed the attack from his dorm room at the Mallett Residence Hall rushed out to help, police said.
The student was taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital by NorthStar EMS where he received stitches for facial cuts. He also was treated for a mild concussion, according to UMF officials.
Wednesday was a busy day for Farmington Police. Caton said that as a press release on the Hopper's arrest was being prepared, he and his officers had to rush off to respond to a robbery at TD Banknorth on Broadway at 3:25 p.m.
"We were all excited about the arrest and I was planning on getting the information out when the robbery call came in," Caton said.
Retrieved 12/15/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4560307.html
AND:
Farmington bank robbed
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/13/2007
FARMINGTON -- Police are looking for a man who robbed the TD Banknorth branch on Broadway Wednesday afternoon.
The suspect, whose image was captured in a surveillance photo although his face is partially covered by sunglasses, is about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a husky build. He was wearing a brown jacket with a hood, according to Farmington Police Chief Richard Caton III.
"He passed a note to a teller indicating he had a firearm and to give him money," Caton said.
After pocketing an undisclosed amount of cash, the man left the bank on foot, police say. The bank's doors were immediately locked and the staff called 911. Caton said police were there within minutes, including officers with a tracking dog.
Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call Farmington police at 778-6311.
This is the second robbery of a Farmington business this fall. On Oct. 5, a man claiming to be armed demanded narcotics from the Rite Aid pharmacy in West Farmington and then escaped on foot.
Wednesday's robbery was disconcerting to local employees and merchants.
"It was pretty scary, being so close to home," said Patty Bessey, an employee at the Renys department store on Broadway, who also works across the street at the Farmington Thrift Shop. "A lot of the girls are upset because they have to walk home after dark."
Ron Gelinas, owner of Mainestone Jewelry next door to the bank, said he had been in the bank a few minutes before the robbery.
"It shocks you and makes you nervous. I am just thankful no one was hurt," he said. "The police did a very good job controlling the situation and kept a low profile. People on the street and in the shops didn't even know there was anything the matter."
Retrieved 12/15/2007 from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/4560089.html
Thursday, December 13, 2007
weather
A friend in Denton Texas just sent this email. How fun is this tidbit of information?! :-)
Date: December 12, 2007 11:44:58 AM EST
Subject: weather
It seems hard to believe but I just checked the weather and Farmington and Denton both had a temperature of 37.4 about an hour ago. Theresa, I am glad you all are finally getting some warm weather today! We in Texas are cold and wet.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Supper to aid ill fireman
I am soooo far behind in writing in my blog. And there is sooooo much to tell. But I wanted to post this newspaper article before the electronic version of it wasn't available anymore. Maggy teaches math education at UMF. She's in my department and is a phenomenal professor who contributes a lot to the community and the state. Her husband is Harry Wyckoff who is the subject of this newspaper article. I went to the Benefit Supper tonight. It's such a Maine thing to do and it's such an awesome thing to do. There were probably 40-50 cars when I got there at 6:30. It was packed inside the Town Office building. People of all ages and a LOT of volunteer firemen were in attendance. I found a table with university folks that I knew and joined them. We had a great time, though there was a somber feeling in the air as well. Harry wasn't there, but I did get to see Maggy. What a strong woman. I think she hugged every person who came.
I had a printout from Google maps with directions but it turns out, I went the wrong way on the very first road. But I still ended up in the right place! If I ever go back to Chesterville, I bet some of the signs that told me which way to go won't even be there. God takes very good of this "flatlander" (another name for 'a person from away' but specifically someone from the other 47 continental states) and He pulled another fast one tonight. On the way home, I figured out what I did wrong, but I still have no idea how I got there in the first place. But Lindsay . . . there were no U-turns!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Supper to aid ill fireman
By Ann Bryant , Staff Writer
Monday, December 3, 2007
FARMINGTON - Harry Wyckoff has spent more than a quarter century as an active volunteer on the Chesterville Fire Department.
"He's watched others face trials and tribulations and how they handled those," his wife, Maggie, said Friday, "and has realized that it's not what happens to you but how you approach what is happening."
"A positive attitude is a gift," she said, speaking of her 65-year-old husband, who is undergoing cancer treatment and faces surgery in January.
The Chesterville Fire Department will support the fellow firefighter with a benefit spaghetti supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Chesterville Town Office on Dutch Gap Road, said Ed Hastings, a friend and member of the department.
With a magic that draws kids in, Wyckoff said of her husband, he enjoys children and has visited schools teaching youngsters through the Learn Not to Burn program.
The couple wrote and received a grant for funds to purchase a 14-foot fire prevention trailer that is used as part of the presentation, Hastings said.
The trailer, painted to look like a child's bedroom, uses stage smoke to simulate a fire. Wyckoff starts in the classroom, she said, teaching the children to get down and to touch the doors with the back of their hands to check for heat.
Then he takes them out to the trailer where he asks if they have a light on while they sleep. He then adjusts the lighting and starts the smoke, she said. The children can hear the smoke coming before the two smoke alarms. They then drop and crawl out to where there is a fake phone to dial 911. The phone is connected to an acting-dispatcher who asks the same questions they could expect from a real dispatcher: town, name, address and problem.
"It gives the children that edgy feeling of a first-hand experience," she said.
The trailer was used during fire prevention week in October, said Chief David Archer as he named several local schools that were visited this year.
"The trailer's available to other departments to use also," he said. "It's a great educational tool, and if it saves one child, then it's done its job."
Wyckoff has written several grants over the years, Hastings said, the most recent one received, a FEMA grant in 2004, brought several thousand dollars to the department to help purchase fire equipment such as air packs.
It's equipment that brought the department up to OSHA standards, Wyckoff added.
A retired self-employed carpenter, Wyckoff is often around to respond to fire calls, Hastings said. He is important to the fire department, especially so when the town's two fire departments merged in the late 1980s.
A little rivalry between the North Chesterville and Chesterville departments was buried when they built the new firehouse together, Wyckoff said.
"They're a wonderful group of people," she said, "and the department has brought in many young people as junior firefighters. Watching them learn and grow has been very edifying for him. He's a real mentor."
Wyckoff has also served as the department's treasurer for years, said Archer, who called him a good friend and his experience a valuable aid.
The Wyckoffs have two sons, one in Baltimore and one in Cape Cod, she said. She is employed at the University of Maine at Farmington.
Donations will be accepted at the supper, Hastings said, to help with expenses expected when the Wyckoffs travel to Boston in January for the surgery.
Wyckoff was undergoing treatment Friday and was unavailable for comment.
Retrieved Dec. 8, 2007 from http://www.sunjournal.com/story/241372-3/Franklin/Supper_to_aid_ill_fireman/#
As seen in Sun Journal newspaper, Lewiston, Maine
I had a printout from Google maps with directions but it turns out, I went the wrong way on the very first road. But I still ended up in the right place! If I ever go back to Chesterville, I bet some of the signs that told me which way to go won't even be there. God takes very good of this "flatlander" (another name for 'a person from away' but specifically someone from the other 47 continental states) and He pulled another fast one tonight. On the way home, I figured out what I did wrong, but I still have no idea how I got there in the first place. But Lindsay . . . there were no U-turns!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Supper to aid ill fireman
By Ann Bryant , Staff Writer
Monday, December 3, 2007
FARMINGTON - Harry Wyckoff has spent more than a quarter century as an active volunteer on the Chesterville Fire Department.
"He's watched others face trials and tribulations and how they handled those," his wife, Maggie, said Friday, "and has realized that it's not what happens to you but how you approach what is happening."
"A positive attitude is a gift," she said, speaking of her 65-year-old husband, who is undergoing cancer treatment and faces surgery in January.
The Chesterville Fire Department will support the fellow firefighter with a benefit spaghetti supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Chesterville Town Office on Dutch Gap Road, said Ed Hastings, a friend and member of the department.
With a magic that draws kids in, Wyckoff said of her husband, he enjoys children and has visited schools teaching youngsters through the Learn Not to Burn program.
The couple wrote and received a grant for funds to purchase a 14-foot fire prevention trailer that is used as part of the presentation, Hastings said.
The trailer, painted to look like a child's bedroom, uses stage smoke to simulate a fire. Wyckoff starts in the classroom, she said, teaching the children to get down and to touch the doors with the back of their hands to check for heat.
Then he takes them out to the trailer where he asks if they have a light on while they sleep. He then adjusts the lighting and starts the smoke, she said. The children can hear the smoke coming before the two smoke alarms. They then drop and crawl out to where there is a fake phone to dial 911. The phone is connected to an acting-dispatcher who asks the same questions they could expect from a real dispatcher: town, name, address and problem.
"It gives the children that edgy feeling of a first-hand experience," she said.
The trailer was used during fire prevention week in October, said Chief David Archer as he named several local schools that were visited this year.
"The trailer's available to other departments to use also," he said. "It's a great educational tool, and if it saves one child, then it's done its job."
Wyckoff has written several grants over the years, Hastings said, the most recent one received, a FEMA grant in 2004, brought several thousand dollars to the department to help purchase fire equipment such as air packs.
It's equipment that brought the department up to OSHA standards, Wyckoff added.
A retired self-employed carpenter, Wyckoff is often around to respond to fire calls, Hastings said. He is important to the fire department, especially so when the town's two fire departments merged in the late 1980s.
A little rivalry between the North Chesterville and Chesterville departments was buried when they built the new firehouse together, Wyckoff said.
"They're a wonderful group of people," she said, "and the department has brought in many young people as junior firefighters. Watching them learn and grow has been very edifying for him. He's a real mentor."
Wyckoff has also served as the department's treasurer for years, said Archer, who called him a good friend and his experience a valuable aid.
The Wyckoffs have two sons, one in Baltimore and one in Cape Cod, she said. She is employed at the University of Maine at Farmington.
Donations will be accepted at the supper, Hastings said, to help with expenses expected when the Wyckoffs travel to Boston in January for the surgery.
Wyckoff was undergoing treatment Friday and was unavailable for comment.
Retrieved Dec. 8, 2007 from http://www.sunjournal.com/story/241372-3/Franklin/Supper_to_aid_ill_fireman/#
As seen in Sun Journal newspaper, Lewiston, Maine
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)