10 years ago

From the Journal Tribune: “The newly planted pansies in Monument Garden are further proof that spring has arrived at Dock Square. The simple, though elegant display was under construction Thursday morning, as members of the Seacoast Garden Club got their hands dirty for their first planting of 2006.”

50 years ago

From the Biddeford-Saco Journal: “The Old Orchard Beach police department will operate with eight full-time men and no additional men will be added, except in case of emergency, without prior approval of the town council. These police were unanimously approved by the council at an open meeting following an executive session with Police Chief John Clark and Civil Service Commissioner Clarence Williams last week.”

100 years ago

From the Biddeford Daily Journal: “‘How old do you think I am?’ said H. P. Crane of Rochester, N.Y., to the clerk at Hotel Thatcher, where he was registered on Thursday night. When 70 years was guessed the venerable ‘Knight of the Grip’ laughingly said, ‘I am 83 years young. I began traveling in 1860 and have been on the road continuously ever since. Have been coming to Maine now for over fifty years.’”

— Angelo J. Verzoni and Christopher Murphy

Today in History

Today is Friday, April 22, the 113th day of 2016. There are 253 days left in the year. The Jewish holiday Passover begins at sunset.

On this date: In 1864, Congress authorized the use of the phrase “In God We Trust” on U.S. coins. In 1889, the Oklahoma Land Rush began at noon as thousands of homesteaders staked claims. In 1930, the United States, Britain and Japan signed the London Naval Treaty, which regulated submarine warfare and limited shipbuilding. In 1970, millions of Americans concerned about the environment observed the first Earth Day. In 1983, the West German news magazine Stern announced the discovery of 60 volumes of personal diaries purportedly written by Adolf Hitler; however, the diaries turned out to be a hoax. In 2000, in a dramatic pre-dawn raid, armed immigration agents seized Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy at the center of a custody dispute, from his relatives’ home in Miami; Elian was reunited with his father at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On April 22, 1616, Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote,” died in Madrid. (The date is according to the New Style Gregorian calendar that was adopted by Spain in 1582).

Ten years ago The Iraqi parliament elected Jalal Talabani to another term as president. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu won spots in a runoff election for Nagin’s job (Nagin won the runoff). Italian actress Alida Valli died in Rome at age 84.

Five years ago Syrian security forces fired at protesters, killing at least 75 people around the country. Pope Benedict XVI consoled a 7-year-old Japanese girl, reassured a mother about her ailing son’s soul and advised a Muslim woman that dialogue was the way to peace in Ivory Coast during an unusual, pre-recorded Good Friday appearance on Italian TV.

One year ago A federal judge in Philadelphia approved a settlement agreement expected to cost the NFL $1 billion over 65 years to resolve thousands of concussion lawsuits. A federal appeals court in San Francisco overturned home run leader Barry Bonds’ obstruction of justice conviction, ruling 10-1 that his meandering answer before a grand jury in 2003 was not material to the government’s investigation into illegal steroids distribution.

Quote of the day:

“Demasiada cordura puede ser la peor de las locuras, ver la vida como es y no como debería de ser.” (Too much sanity may be the worst folly, see life as it is and not as it should be).

— Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)

JOURNAL TRIBUNE

VOLU ME 132 NUMBER 94 The Journal Tribune is published evenings Monday through Friday and Saturday morning at 457 Alfred St., Biddeford, ME 04005. Publisher: Devin Hamilton Newspaper office: 457 Alfred St. (Route 111, east of the Maine Turnpike Exit 32 ramp) in Biddeford. Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday To reach us by telephone: For home delivery or customer service, call the Biddeford office: (207) 282-1535 or fax 282-3138 From the Sanford area, call: 324-4444 To reach us by mail: 457 Alfred St., Biddeford, ME 04005 To reach us by email: [email protected] Postmaster: Second-class postage paid at Biddeford, ME 04005. Send address changes to: 457 Alfred St., Biddeford, ME 04005.