Newcastle resident Kensell Krah presented a petition with more than 80 signatures to the Newcastle Board of Selectman at their meeting Feb. 9.

The petition requested the board not approve the Land Use Ordinance Review Committee’s recommended changes to the town shoreland zoning ordinances. Krah suggested another committee be appointed by the selectmen to review the ordinance changes, which would include affected property owners.

Jason and Heather Knowles of Windsor are pleased to announce the arrival of a baby girl, Maggie Lane Knowles.

An issue that many say is the invisible elephant in the room this legislative session is being studied by the Utilities and Energy Committee, which is trying to determine which side, if any, it should endorse.

The Damariscotta River Grill has been selected for the Restaurant Neighbor Award by the National Restaurant Association. This award honors restaurant companies that have gone above and beyond in giving back to their communities.

In a conference call held during the Newcastle Board of Selectmen meeting Jan. 26, Ron Smith, of RHR Smith and Company, reported finding $147,000 double counted as revenue during part of the 2008 audit.

Lincoln County will wake up to fresh snowfall and the possibility of hazardous road conditions Mon. morning – a combination that may mean an extra day of vacation for local school children, and a messy morning commute for their parents. The most intense snowfall is expected for the early morning hours on Mon., falling at up to 2 inches per hour and creating whiteout conditions in some areas, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Habitat for Humanity/7 Rivers Maine is pleased to announce three new members have joined the board of directors.

Judy Metcalf is an attorney at Eaton Peabody in Brunswick with a practice balanced between trial work, resolution of real estate disputes, and contract negotiation and drafting. Metcalf is very involved in her summer community of Northport, is the mother of two champion swimmers and the wife of an avid reader and a terrific cook.

Mr. and Mrs. Ronny Wynn Parkerson of Richmond, Va., are proud to announce the engagement of their daughter, Catherine Wynn Parkerson, to Andrew Thomas Hodgkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Thomas Hodgkins of Jefferson.

Detective JC Allen is a veteran law enforcement officer, a 20-year veteran of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, a former prison guard, a military veteran, a husband and a father.

He is also out of work and, according to his wife, Lori, fast running out of options.

January 14 was Graduation Day for some Midcoast residents who received certificates for having completed a 30-hour training course organized by Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers (CFHV) and led by Ann Cole, CFHV Executive Director, and Hilary Carr, CFHV Bereavement Coordinator.

Voters’ rejections of school consolidation proposals in 143 towns will generate more than $6 million in penalties during the next fiscal year, money that will be used to fund transition costs for the towns that voted in the affirmative.

Educators and advocates for Maine’s labor force warned members of the Legislature Tuesday that slashing funding now, when the economy is at its weakest point in years, will stand in the way of a quick recovery when things turn around.

If and when a natural disaster hits Lincoln County, officials with the county’s Emergency Management Agency will be ready to help keep the public informed.

Earlier this month, county EMA Deputy Director Kimberley Kaiser and Assistant Director Ken Desmond attended an Advanced Public Information Officer Course in Maryland.

An oversight two years ago by the Secretary of State’s office, which has developed into a $125,000 budget hole, will be partially corrected if the Legislature approves an emergency spending plan endorsed Friday by the Appropriations Committee.