On Jan. 1 Kirkland Councilman Mike O’Neil and longtime friend Rick Maxam took their oaths of office for terms on the Kirkland Town Board. O’Neil, in his fourth term serving his hometown, died last week at age 46. He owned and operated his own business, O’Neil Electric, and for 28 of his 46 years was a member of the Clinton Fire Department. His full obituary is on page 8.