Sun, syrup brings out crowds

By Dawn De Busk Staff Writer BALDWIN

— For some people, Christmas or Thanksgiving top the list of favorite holidays.

For Maddy McLellan, Maine Maple Sunday takes the cake.

“It is probably one of my favorite days of the year. I love maple. I love everything maple,” she said. “I would say I look forward to coming to the pancake breakfast here at Grandpa Joe’s. Definitely, the maple cotton candy. I like it when they take the ice cream and put maple syrup on top.”

Maddy’s husband Tyler bears witness to his wife’s love of Maine Maple Sunday.

“She talks about it all year,” he said.

For more than five years when she was growing up, Maddy’s mom brought her to Grandpa Joe’s for the March event. Now, it’s Maddy turn to carry on the tradition. It was the first Maple Sunday ever for her and Tyler’s son Kayne, who is 13 months old.

“He was only about a month old last year — a little too little. So, this is his first one this year,” the proud mom said.

While tasting all the maple products and visiting with people in the community are great ways to pass the time, having live music from The Half Jug Moon Band made it easy to linger longer, the family agreed.

“It’s cool. I love that they have the music this year. It just makes it even more fun,” Maddie said.

Her mom Amy Drew weighed in on the agricultural event.

“It is like the beginning of spring when you come to Maple Sugar Sunday. Maine Maple Sunday — it is the beginning of spring and the winter is almost over. It is about just celebrating spring and being together with other people after a long winter,” Drew said.

The group of family members from three generations were among the people taking part in the 40th annual Maine Maple Weekend, which started on Saturday. The Maine Maples Producers Association (MMPA) promotes the weekend long event that is designed to help with the sales of maple products and to create awareness about the process of tapping trees and making maple syrup. There are hundreds of small sugar houses across the state are open to the public. Maple Sunday always falls on the fourth Sunday of March.

Tyler did not grow up doing Maine Maple Sunday.

“I started going when I started dating her all those years ago,” he said. He listed his highlights.

“I look forward to the cotton candy. The music was really good. Of course, it was his first time here. That makes it more special,” Tyler said.

“Yeah, the memories are

With calls reaching 393 — up 10% over the previous year — the Harrison FD hit a figure not seen before. As the town continues to grow, Laplante expects call numbers expected to rise.

Voters will again tackle the fire protection question this June as they weigh four different options that will appear on the annual town meeting warrant.

Several residents turned out for a budget review hearing last week held at Harrison Elementary as moderator Vern Maxfield read through the 30-plus warrant.

Town officials provided attendees fact sheets, breaking down municipal operations proposed costs, along with previous amounts approved over the past three years.

Select Board Chairman Rick Sykes noted that the budget remains a work in progress, and adjustments could be made based on what the public had to say during the review meeting. He also pointed out that a firm number has yet to be plugged in for the SAD 17 tax, but “one can expect an increase,” Sykes said. “We’re trying to balance budget needs and the ability of taxpayers to pay.” Known numbers include:

• County tax, up $44,448

• Municipal operations, up $549,861

• Capital roads, up $150,000

The town has penciled in $298,213 for debt service; $225,000 for downtown revitalization; $225,000 for revaluation. Newell pointed out that the $225,000 for revitalization is the town’s portion of a matching grant. Work will include sidewalk improvement, bringing the town into ADA compliance. With some portions “crumbling,” the town was at risk for potential liability claims.

Here’s a breakdown of Harrison departments:

• Administration, $742,407, up $79,909, 12.1%

• Public Works, $890,928, up $163,696, 22.5%. Sykes noted that the board cut a request

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