For over 48 years,Josephine Stone has been my mentor and friend. Though her devotion to God and love of people, many young people have been able to achieve goals they never dreamed possible. I was one of them. We have overcome the many twists and turns in life through the leadership of God, His son Jesus Christ and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. On December 23, 2002, Josephine McAllister Stone went home to be with the Lord. She passed away peacefully in her own home with her famiy at her side - three days before her 99th birthday. My mentor, "Mother" and friend and I had 48 wonderful years together. I was able to take care of her so she never had to leave her own home. She is sadly missed by her Barjo family and all her many friends. But her memory will live on in the heart of all the many lives that she touched, young and old alike. In the spring in Norway, Maine, there is to be erected a monument to her at the municipal parking lot. This was a project she was working on at the time of her death - not for herself but for Ezra Beal. I was able to complete the project by making a presentation before the Norway Board of Selectmen on January 2, 2003. A monument saying "The Beal's Hotel Municipal Parking Lot in Memory of Josephine Stone" will be place at the corner of Main and Cottage Street in honor of two icons in Norway's history, Josephine Stone and Ezra Beal. The Beal's Hotel was located here from 1871 to 1961 and was considered one of the outstanding hotels of it day.

IN 1990, while I was the manager of Barjo Restaurant, the restaurant was one of seven in the USA chosen to receive the "Salut Au Restauranteur" award from Florida State University.
In 1991, the Norway Merchants Association gave me a Special Achievement Award for Community Service.
On April 30, 2002, I graduated from Writer's Digest School, Cincinnati, Ohio, completing a two year course - Writing Short Stories and Novel Writing - in nine months. On April 10, I received The Writer's Digest 2001 Self-Published Book Award ~Certificate of Merit~ for The Legend of Barjo Restaurant. There were 1,900 books included in the competion.

In January, 2001, my first book, The Legend of Barjo Restaurant - the Life of Josephine McAllister Stone was published. This book will be on display at the Maine Office Building kiosk, Augusta, Maine and also at the Maine Arts Commission Offices in their "Arts in the Capitol" exhibit focused on the "Mountain counties" of Maine from March 3, 2003 until May 23, 2003.

MeJeffEmy Editions
I am now working on a second book that will be about the many memories our customers, friends and many former employees have of Barjo's and Jo Stone.

MeJeffEmy Editions
Please visit my website to read reviews about my book, leave a comment or buy the book.

Maine Products Program
"The Legend of Barjo Restaurant~The Life of Josephine Mcallister Stone" will be on display at the Maine State Office Building kiosk during the holidays and will be part of the "Art in the Capitol" exhibit of the "Mountain counties" of Maine sponsored by The Maine Arts Commission Offices from March 3, 2003 to May 23, 2003.