Early documentary evidence suggests that the history of mead-making goes back at least 4,000 years. It is referenced in ancient cultures of India, Egypt, and China. Perhaps elsewhere.

Mary Olson founded Moody’s Gifts with her husband and parents 23 years ago, and on Jan. 31 she officially sold the business to Moody’s Diner. 

At the corner convenience store in North Whitefield, not a candy bar was out of place. Saturday morning drew the usual crowd. The door swung open, thudded shut. Outside, snow melted. A few people idled in the parking lot, a few others filled their tanks with gas. The neighbor’s sheep bleated, a lamb among them, which seemed to be fascinated by the salt-coated trucks, exhaust, the propane tank. The red light-up sign shined “Open.”

Like many business owners in Bristol, The Bradley Inn and Restaurant’s Tony and Laura Moskwa shutter the windows of their 15 rooms and dedicate themselves to improving the property in preparation for the summer season.

Kent and Lisa Boucher, the owner/operators of The Penalty Box Sports Pub in Damariscotta, are the new owners of Harbor Light Convenience, formerly known as Dee’s Variety.

After closing on the business on Dec. 3, new Weatherbird owner Sarah Levangie immediately jumped into work to help get the shop through the holiday rush. Once things slowed down in January, Levangie had time to regroup, close the store for some pre-spring cleaning, and make the business hers.

For the first time since the business’s inception, Wooden Screen Door Co. in Waldoboro is under new ownership.