DIXFIELD – Trust a taxidermist to determine what’s ailing a giant moose with a broken antler.

Two weeks ago, taxidermist Vance Child, his apprentice Peter York and Selectman Hugh Daley, all of Dixfield, restored Bullrock, the town’s chainsaw-carved mascot, to its statuesque self.

Ever since New Year’s eve, when a vandal broke the sculpture’s left antler, the moose has stood forlornly with one antler up and the other dangling.

York and Child did the initial gluing and setting of the antler, while Daley and Child, later installed a metal brace. When temperatures warm, fiberglass will be added for increased support, Child said.

However, having its rack restored wasn’t all that the woody ungulate needed.

“Its pupils are in wrong,” Child said, noting that the eyes are going in the wrong direction. “The average person might not realize it. We’ll have him all back together soon.”

The moose can be seen beside Main Street (Route 2) guarding the town common.

Contest postponed

DIXFIELD – Judges of the town’s Maple Syrup Contest will have to wait another week to sample the tasty treats and pick the winner.

Thanks to Maine’s finicky weather, sap flow has been slow this spring, says co-organizer Charlotte Collins.

Therefore, entrants hoping to claim the blue ribbon and bragging rights have until Friday, April 11, to get their bottled samples in to Towle’s Hardware on Weld Street, where the town’s Bicentennial event of the month will be judged.

Several bottles of the sweet, sticky stuff have already been entered and can be viewed at Towle’s.

Road Commissioner retires

GILEAD – After serving the Town of Gilead for the past 32 years as highway commissioner, Harry “Ted” Taylor went out in style.

During the March 29 town meeting in the town hall, Selectman Fernand Corriveau, on behalf of the town, presented Taylor with a plaque commemorating his service record.

However, Corriveau said, the town couldn’t yet give the award to Taylor because the engraver had transposed Taylor’s 32 years as 23, causing the road commissioner to bust out laughing.

It set the tone for the rest of the night as Taylor shared anecdotes with 80 party goers before cutting and doling out portions of the two cakes he received.

One cake was decorated with a photo of Taylor and a town truck, while the other displayed a green town truck made out of frosting.

Taylor then unwrapped the many presents he received, again erupting into laughter upon unwrapping one gift to reveal a large, dented gray mailbox belonging to the Jay Milot family.

Milot, who was elected to the Board of Selectmen Saturday night, said he gave Taylor the present as a memento of his snowplowing work.

– Terry Karkos