News
Mattawamkeag River Trail Pilot Program Launches This Spring
A 14-mile multi-use trail along the Mattawamkeag River will open in a pilot capacity this May, offering hiking, biking and cross-country skiing access.
newsDean Moreau Returns to Open The Dry Dock at Thorne's Bend
Dean Moreau, after 16 years in Boston, returns to Willow Creek to open The Dry Dock restaurant in the renovated Thorne & Sons boat shed at Thorne's Bend — the town's first destination restaurant and a milestone in the emergence of culinary tourism.
newsIce-Out Archive Project Begins at the Library; 96 Years of History Indexed
Doris Kim begins a multi-year project to index every Gazette Ice-Out article by date, winner, and prediction margin. The project will fill three binders and become the definitive record of the competition's history.
newsMattawamkeag River Trail Bridges Replaced with Modern Wooden Trusses
Two of the three original wooden bridges on the Mattawamkeag River Trail — dating from the 1908 railbed construction — are replaced with modern wooden truss bridges at a cost of $90,000, funded jointly by the county and state.
newsEleanor Vance Elected to Board of Selectmen; Pledges Economic Revitalization
Eleanor Vance is elected as Second Selectwoman on a platform of economic revitalization, bringing a background in non-profit management and a plan to fill Main Street's vacant storefronts.
newsClara Winslow Reflects on 20 Years at the Gazette's Helm
Clara Winslow marks 20 years as publisher of the Willow Creek Gazette with a reflective front-page editorial about her father's decision to buy the paper, her reluctant return from Bangor, and her decision to stay.
newsDoris Kim Appointed Town Librarian; Begins Gazette Digitization Project
Doris Kim, 47, is appointed head librarian of the Willow Creek Free Public Library. She brings experience from Portland and immediately begins work on digitizing the library's collection of bound Gazette volumes.
newsMill Centennial Celebration Draws 300: 100 Years on the Same Site
Willow Creek Custom Flooring, LLC celebrates 100 years of mill operations on the same site. The celebration features tours, a Jed Thorne-curated history exhibit, and a speech by Stu Peller.
newsAmos Homan Wins Second Ice-Out Championship; Joins Elite Ranks of Multiple Winners
Amos Homan wins his second Ice-Out championship, becoming the third multiple winner in the competition's history. His prediction methodology blends his father's data with modern barometric readings and intuition.
newsRandy Boucher Buys Route 11 Irving Station; Frames Family Ice-Out History on Wall
Randy Boucher purchases the Route 11 Irving gas station and towing service. He immediately frames a family record showing four generations of Boucher Ice-Out entries dating back to 1927.
newsArthur Pendelton Elected First Selectman; Pledges to Fill Main Street's Empty Storefronts
Arthur Pendelton is elected Willow Creek's First Selectman on a platform of economic development and Main Street revitalization. The election marks a generational shift in town leadership.
newsAmos Homan Wins First Ice-Out Championship; Homan Family Legacy Continues
Amos Homan, son of the legendary Ezra Homan, wins his first Ice-Out championship with a prediction just three minutes off the actual ice-clearing time, fulfilling a family destiny decades in the making.
newsMaeve O'Donnell Takes Over General Store; Installs Town's First Espresso Machine
Maeve O'Donnell, the third generation of the O'Donnell family to run the General Store, takes over from her father and installs a proper espresso machine, marking a new chapter for the Main Street institution.
newsDean Moreau Leaves Willow Creek for Culinary Career in Boston
Dean Moreau, 25, leaves Willow Creek to pursue a culinary career in Boston. His departure is noted in the community news section. Sixteen years later, he will return to open The Dry Dock at Thorne's Bend.
newsMattawamkeag River Trail Completed; 14-Mile Corridor Opens with Full-Color Map
The final 4.6-mile segment of the Mattawamkeag River Trail opens, connecting Thorne's Bend to the Mattawamkeag Lake Overlook. The Gazette publishes a full-color map pullout celebrating the completion of a project seven years in the making.
newsIce-Out Entries Top 1,000 for First Time in 66-Year History
The 66th annual Ice-Out draws 1,023 entries, topping 1,000 for the first time. The Gazette publishes a special statistical insert, and Maeve O'Donnell inaugurates her front-window whiteboard tally system.
newsFire Damages General Store; Community Rallies with Benefit Supper
A second fire in the General Store's history — traced to faulty wiring — causes extensive damage to the back storage area. Maeve O'Donnell vows to rebuild, and the community raises $4,600 at a benefit supper.
newsWillow Creek Custom Flooring Opens in Original Mill Site; Restoration Niche Fuels Revival
The mill reopens as Willow Creek Custom Flooring, LLC, specializing in quarter-sawn white oak and hard maple for the historic restoration market. The grand opening draws 400 people, and the Gazette runs a triumphant headline.
newsYoung Stu Peller Takes Job Sweeping Floors at the Reopening Mill
Stu Peller, then 22, takes a job sweeping floors at the newly reopened Willow Creek Custom Flooring, LLC. He will work every position in the mill over 28 years, eventually rising to general manager.
newsFirst Segment of Mattawamkeag River Trail Opens to Public
The first 4 miles of the Mattawamkeag River Trail open, connecting the Willow Creek Trailhead to Thorne's Bend. The ribbon-cutting attracts 150 people and marks the first tangible result of the town's bet on recreation-based tourism.