When renowned Maine humorist Tim Sample was growing up in Boothbay Harbor, the Knights of Pythias owned what’s now the Boothbay Opera House, and it was host to the occasional blackface minstrel show.

“People used to roller-skate where the seats are now,” Sample said. “Everything’s changed.”

Wiscasset Police Department report the following:

The Newcastle Board of Selectmen voted Monday to lower the mil rate for the town’s property tax payers.

In an effort to prevent tax increases, the RSU/MSAD 40 School Board and district voters approved a 2011/12 school budget that includes the elimination of several teaching and administrative positions.

Marine virologist Dr. Willie Wilson has been selected as the new director of Bigelow Laboratory’s Provasoli-Guillard National Center for the Culture of Marine Phytoplankton (CCMP).

Timothy and Christine Meter of Warren are pleased to announce the arrival of a baby girl, Nataleigh Elizabeth Meyer.

The Lincoln County News popular West Warren correspondent Marilyn Beane is currently under the weather. After visiting to Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta for a few days last week, Marilyn was transferred to Windward Acres in Camden to begin rehabilitation.

A lively crowd packed a June 1 public hearing to argue the merits of Oxxfest, the July 31 concert at the Wiscasset Raceway that will feature Shinedown, Chevelle, and other popular rock bands and could attract 5,000-15,000 fans.

The Maine Forest Service and the National Weather Service have issued a red flag warning for the entire state of Maine (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/car/local_hazards.php).

Worshipers attending Newcastle-Alna Baptist Church Sunday morning were both stunned and overjoyed by news their steeple fund campaign was over.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection began herbicide treatments to kill the invasive plant hydrilla in Damariscotta Lake on June 25.

Developers of the Piper Commons are scheduled to reveal initial concepts for the proposed 265-acre Damariscotta development at a meeting July 13.

The town of Jefferson will not hold their annual Jefferson Community Day this year because of the construction at the Jefferson Village School, Town Clerk Lynn Bond said on June 15.

Newly appointed Fire Chief Tim Pellerin presented his vision for the town’s newly consolidated fire department at Monday night’s meeting of the Whitefield Board of Selectmen.