Lisbon voters resolved more than seven months of controversy over a 2015-16 school budget and finally approved a $15.19 million spending plan on Jan. 12 on the fifth try. The adoption of a budget came after the school board and town council were able to meet in the middle on a budget after butting heads for several months.

It was a year of much change in Lisbon. On Jan. 22, Blue Ox Malthouse unveiled its 7,500-squarefoot traditional floor malting operation at 41 Capital Ave., in Lisbon. Blue Ox Malthouse uses traditional floor malting to process raw grain into malt, the ingredient used in brewing and distilling beer.

Other changes:

• After a decade sitting vacant along the Androscoggin River near the town of Lisbon’s gateway, Worumbo Mill owners confirmed in March that plans were underway to demolish the building. The work took place over the summer and by the end of August the historic mill on Canal Street by the Route 196 intersection, was gone.

• Frosty’s Donuts opened its latest retail location May 6 at 700 Lisbon St. in Lisbon Falls. Co-owner Shelby Omdal said the building they found in Lisbon was a prefect fit for the company. This marked the fifth retail location the company has in addition to a bakery at Brunswick Landing producing 6,000 to 8,000 donuts a day.

• On June 5, the Class of 2016 graduated in the new gymnasium at Lisbon High School, the first students to graduate at their own high school for 25 years.

• Lisbon Police Chief David Brooks retired in July after 42 years with the police department. The town hired Marc Hagan in August, a 25-year-veteran of Brunswick Police Department.

• The Kennebec Fruit Company, known as the “Moxie Store” closed in 2016 and the building went up for sale. On July 9, the Moxie collection of “Moxie Man” Frank Anicetti and other items from his store went to auction at Daniel Buck Auctions on Lisbon Street.

• On Oct. 14, a Lisbon woman suffered burns in a fire that destroyed her Summer Street home Saturday afternoon.

The sole occupant, Amanda Wrobel, 32, was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland with burns to more than 40 percent of her body. A GoFundMe campaign raised thousands of dollars for Wrobel.

• In November, New Jersey-based renewable energy company announced it acquired Brown Bear II Hydro Holdings, LLC, which owns the Worumbo Hydroelectric facility in Lisbon Falls. Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC is an owner, operator and developer of hydroelectric generating facilities.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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