The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Monday, January 28, 2013

2013 Moxie Festival Theme Winner‏

31st Annual Moxie Festival July 12-14, 2013

(from left) Jan. 26, 2013 at Lisbon Town Hall. Frank Anicetti, owner of Kennebec’s; John Hardesty of Dallas, the 2013 Moxie Festival theme winner; and Scott Benson, Lisbon’s Director of Economic and Community Development.

Dallas resident who calls Maine “home” wins the 2013 Moxie Festival theme contest

Jan. 26, 2013. The Moxie Festival Committee is pleased to announce that the 2013 Moxie Festival theme is Moxie: A Maine Tradition. The winner, John Hardesty, resides in Dallas, TX, but calls Maine “home.”

The Committee chose John’s entry from a selected list from previous nation-wide Moxie Festival theme contests.

A native New Englander, John Hardesty was born in Lawrence, MA, but has deep roots in the Lisbon area. While growing up he spent many days at his grandmother/step grandfather’s farm on Ferry Rd. in Lisbon. His parents, the former Margaret Ashton and Nap Hardesty, were married in the Ferry Rd. farmhouse.

His uncle, Charles Earle, and his parents and siblings, lived for many years on Frost Hill and owned much of the land down to the river. Earle, a member of the Lisbon Falls Masonic Lodge, worked at both the Farwell and Worumbo mills. Hardesty’s aunt, the former Martina Ashton, met Earle while both worked at the Farwell Mill. They were later married in Lewiston, ME.

In addition, Hardesty remembers attending many ceramic classes with his mother, aunt and grandmother at a farmhouse on Webster Rd. in Lisbon. He fondly recalls riding on the American Legion train on summer nights around downtown Lisbon. Hardesty attended many Moxie Festivals and enjoyed the parade with family and friends.

He developed his strong preference for Moxie at an early age while growing up in the farmhouse and spending many holidays and summer vacations in Maine. Moxie became and remains his soft drink of choice. To this day, after spending time in Maine, Hardesty always returns to Texas with a suitcase full of canned Moxie that he carefully rations until he returns “home.” He has passed on his passion for Moxie to his grandson in Texas who now requests a can whenever the two get together.

Hardesty and his wife, Deborah, currently live in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area.

Hardesty received a basket filled with Moxie items from The Kennebec Fruit Company store in Lisbon Falls. He will also return home to Maine to be one of the judges for the Moxie Festival Parade on Saturday, July 13^th.

The parade which attracts over 100 participants follows the two mile plus route that begins on Capital Avenue and Route 196 and ends at the MTM Center on School Street in Lisbon Falls.

According to Lisbon Public Safety Officials, over 50,000 people attend the three-day Moxie Festival. The Town of Lisbon has approximately 9,300 residents.

Since 1982, The Moxie Festival in Lisbon, Maine has been held on the second weekend in July. The Festival now includes a three day Pow Wow; Friday night fireworks; a Saturday parade, Moxie Day 5K Race, Moxie Day ATV Charity Ride, and Family Fun Fair; and on Sunday, the Chief Worumbo Androscoggin River Race and the Moxie Car Show. Moxie was designated Maine’s official soft drink on May 20, 2005.

Keep checking the Moxie Festival website: www.MoxieFestival.com for the latest information on events.