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Friday, January 3, 2020
Volume 16 • Issue No. 1
The Origins of Baby New Year Excitement for a new year abounds on January 1. Baby New Year is one of the more recognizable symbols of the New Year’s holiday, particularly in print advertisements and television commercials. Perhaps you’ve wondered what role Baby New Year plays in the celebration? While he may seem like a relatively modern icon, this cultural mainstay has a lengthy history. One theory suggests Baby New Year was celebrated as far back as 600 B.C. in ancient Greece, when a child was paraded around in a basket upon
the arrival of the new year. The baby represented rebirth, and Greeks believed their god of wine, Dionysus, was reborn on New Year’s as the spirit of fertility. Other historians say that the custom even predates the Greeks to the ancient Egyptians. Even though the baby new year custom was originally frowned upon by Christians and deemed a pagan tradition, eventually Christians embraced the symbol as well, albeit in a different way. The end of the year is marked by the birth of the Christ child, and this
became a special way to interpret Baby New Year. In modern times, Baby New Year has lost any connection to a deity or religious figure. Rather, he is now interpreted as a child who arrives at the start of the year and eventually ages into Father Time. The baby is depicted as an infant or toddler wearing a diaper and a sash with the year he is representing (and often a top hat). He is sometimes depicted holding or associated See BABY page 2...
Public Input on Solutions To Shipyard Traffic Challenges KITTERY The Town of Kittery, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission have worked with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. to understand issues impacting the town and surrounding communities, and identify possible solutions to address regional traffic issues. The public is urged to attend a final community input session to learn about the recommendations and offer feedback. The JLUS Open House will take place at the Kittery Community Center, 120 Rogers Road, in Kittery, on Tuesday, January 7, 3-7 p.m. with presentations at
3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. JLUS Project Manager Jason Schrieber, a transportation expert with Stantec Consulting Services, says, “There is no silver bullet to address the congestion and encroachment impacts of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, however, we have identified a combination of strategies that can collectively address many issues facing Kittery and beyond. We look forward to answering questions as we finalize the study results and recommendations.” For the past year, Stantec has collected data, conducted numerous surveys, led public engagement sessions, and met with
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Most areas in Europe and North America observe daylight saving time. Daylight saving time is often welcomed in spring, as it helps to extend daylight hours well into the evening. But few may welcome turning the clocks back in fall. Coupled with the natural shortening of daylight hours as winter approaches, the end of DST facilitates a sudden shift in the ratio of sunlight to darkness. As autumn transforms into winter, the number of available hours of daylight slowly dwindles. Some areas of Alaska and Canada see only about three or
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Arts & Entertainment 8-9 Calendar of Events Classifieds
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Home & Business 24-26 Library News
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speed in the Foreside and neighborhoods near shipyard gates and to improve safety conditions for bicyclists; Improve bus transit
Beating The Winter Blues
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regional planners and stakeholders to identify the most pressing issues and come up with a plan for addressing them. The study is in the final stages and the release of the report will provide a blueprint of actions designed to preserve the shipyard’s ability to meet its critical mission in support of national defense while addressing any possible impact on the surrounding community. Among the solutions under consideration: Create additional Park and Ride lots for commuters in close proximity to the shipyard; Implement Traffic “calming” measures including road improvements to control
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People & Business 20,27 Puzzles
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Real Estate
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Where To Dine
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four hours of daylight per day in the winter months. Conversely, those who live in Key West,
Health & Fitness
A section concerning your health... 13-15
Florida, the southernmost point of the contiguous United States, may enjoy around 10 hours of daylight. Fewer daylight hours can adversely affect mood and productivity. Seasonal affective disorder, often referred to as “SAD” or “the winter blues,” has been recognized and included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. Clinicians say that, as days become short and dark, a predictable set of symptoms of SAD may emerge. Individuals with SAD may experience a host of symptoms, including
Check out the pages on
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options to and from the shipyard, expand bus transit to Sanford; See TRAFFIC page 22... difficulty waking in the morning; diminished energy levels; a tendency to eat more; an inability to concentrate; and depression. The Cleveland Clinic advises that approximately half a million people in the United States suffer from winter SAD, while 10 to 20 percent may suffer from more mild forms of winter blues. The Canadian Mental Health Association states that between 2 and 3 percent of Canadians will experience SAD in their lifetime. Another 15 percent will experience a mild form of SAD that leaves them only slightly depressed. See SAD page 6...
Pets Consider a new fuzzy family member for the holidays!
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