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Friday, January 9, 2015
Volume 11 • Issue No. 2
Remembering the Years Behind the Lens Spotlight Feature By Joyce Amend, Staff Writer WELLS It’s easy to see why astronauts, presidents and art collectors sought after Willene Whisenhant’s photographic images. Now retired, this charming artist is assertive, witty, and most of all extremely talented! A recent visit with Willene shed new light on this spunky woman of 84 years young. Her journey through life has taken her love of photography to many illustrious and exciting places. As she reflected upon her 67 years of experiences, told with incredible detail, this writer listened with awe and amazement.
Willene Whisenhant remembers years of photographing beautiful scenes like this one titled “Relax�.
Willene’s career was sparked by her interest in photography as a young girl. She was the one who took all the family photos, and after graduating from University of Texas in Austin, she
secured a position with a local photography studio. Willene’s career took flight when she accepted a position at NASA, after it had moved to Houston in 1962. Previous to
Willene Whisenhant the NASA assignment, she had worked many years for a Texasbased photography studio. The private studio sent her on various locations to take photos. “I had my camera with me all times and would photograph anything and everything that would be good for the business,� she said. In 1985, the oil crisis took its toll in Houston and her company began to go downhill. Handing out pink slips became a Friday ritual. “We quit bringing our lunch on Fridays because we didn’t know who would be let go before noon,� she quipped. One of Willene’s colleagues suggested they go over to NASA and fill out applications. Fearing that she might be next
to get a pink slip, she agreed to go. NASA took her application and gave her an assignment to go out and take pictures in order to assess her work. They were impressed, and subsequently offered her a position. Willene would not commit to the NASA offer because she wanted to wait and see what happened with her present job, since she had been with that company for a long time. As it turned out, a pink slip was waiting for her when she returned, and she accepted the NASA position. This would be her employer for the next five years – one where she was the first and only woman working in See WILLENE page 23...
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Ice Fishing Report STATEWIDE – Welcome to the 2015 ice fishing season! If you haven’t purchased your license yet, 2015 licenses are available online at www.mefishwildlife.com. The 2015 fishing lawbook is also available where you buy your licenses or at your favor-
Index
Page
Arts & Entertainment Business & Finance Calendar of Events Classifieds Computer Lady Health & Fitness Home & Business Library News Obituaries Pets Puzzles Real Estate Where To Dine
12 10-11 6 27 30 13-15 25-26 8 24 22 28 23 16-21
ite sporting goods store. As always, please consult the law book before fishing your favorite water, and stay safe while out on the ice. While many waters are open for ice fishing, that does not always mean they are safe on which to travel. For safety tips, visit www.mefishwildlife.com. Sebago Lakes Region Due to the early cold spell, some anglers have already been out on the ice catching fish. While the December warm spell put a damper on ice fishing activity in the region, more sea-
sonable temperatures will mean more ice fishing opportunities. “Crystal Lake (in Gray) has set up a few times, but then we get a little rain and some wind and it opens right up again,� says IFW fisheries biologist Francis Brautigam. Biologists manage several ponds in the Sebago Lakes Region for ice fishing opportunities. Among them, anglers will have good luck at ponds such as Worthley Pond in Peru, Halls Pond in Paris, the Hinckley Ponds in South Portland and York Pond in Elliot. These ponds were stocked with catchable
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Photograph of J. Frank Walker’s store, circa 1900.
KITTERY On Wednesday, January 14, at 7 p.m., enjoy a presentation by Kim Sanborn of the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum at the STAR Theatre, 120 Rogers Road in Kittery. This visual lecture will focus on the history of Kittery in the early 1900s. Much of Kittery's visual history would be lost without the photography of J. Frank Walker. This presentation in-
cludes over 150 photos of Kittery around 1900. Walker provides a look at what life was like back in the day from the Foreside to the Piscataqua, the Shipyard, Kittery Point, and beyond. These pictures are a treasure to be shared today. This lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 207-439-3800 or visit www.kitterycommunity center.org.
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that have regulations of artificial lures only after October 1,
History of Kittery Presented in Photos
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trout earlier this year. If you are looking for other ponds like these, check the law book for ponds in the region
Health & Fitness A section concerning your health... INSIDE:
PG 13-15
Also check out our section on
BUSINESS & FINANCE PG 10-11
Puzzles Exercise your mind on our puzzles!
PG 28