Organizations
The Easton Happy Days Senior Citizens Club met for their regular meeting on Thursday, April 26, at the recreation room in West Ridge Manor with 15 members and two guests present. After a potluck lunch, Mona Lynch, a Medicare person from the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, spoke to the group. She spoke on how to check the Medicare statements that you get to make sure that they are correct and no mistakes or double billing have occurred. She also informed them that they should count their pills after getting a prescription filled. Sometimes there may have been a mistake made in the number given or they might have been intentionally shortchanged. If it happens often, then there is reason to be suspicious. You should speak to your pharmacist if a short count occurs. Rosalie Grondin, a sort of jack-of-all-trades, also from AAAA, spoke to the group about Medicare part C, a supplemental health insurance. She said that you should compare this to your current plan so that you get the best plan for you. She told them that they should be very careful and understand what it all means before they decide to make any changes. If you do not understand well enough then you should call the AAAA and they will help you.
Pamphlets on home health care were explained and passed out as well as booklets on Protecting Medicare from Fraud. They explained that billions of dollars are paid out for fraudulent claims and discussed a booklet on How to Read Your Medicare Summary Notice. Your summary notice is the paper you receive that explains services and supplies that were billed to Medicare for a 30-day period. You get this notice when you get health care services that Medicare Part A or Part B covers. It’s important that you check your notices to be sure you got all of the services, medical supplies or equipment that providers have billed to Medicare. This paper isn’t a bill and you don’t pay it.
The members were also given a paper explaining the benefits checklist for Maine and how their gross monthly income is judged to get help from Medicare in different programs. They were also warned that they should shred their private papers and be very careful about calls over the phone asking for private information because of the many scams going on today. They were informed that they should do no business over the phone as it could be fraudulent. The two ladies also gave the group papers to play Medicare bingo. Six members won small gifts in this game.
After the speakers left a short meeting was held with the pledge to the flag and the singing of “My Country Tis’ of Thee.” The treasurer’s report was made by Lindy Fowler followed by a roll call of members. Those present were: Marie Hewitt, Edith Fuller, Mike Carter, Stanley Jordan, Dottie and Duncan Beaton, Clair and Eldora Carter, Joanne Johnson, Lindy Fowler, Ailene Embleton, Vera Cullins, Liana DeMerchant, Rena Richardson and the two guests. A thank-you note was read from a homebound member, Lillian Flewelling, and one from a late member, Lucy Allen, from the family and a note that the celebration of her life will be held at the Ashland Advent Christian Church. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, May 10, and the members are encouraged to bring a story in remembrance of their mothers in recognition of Mother’s Day.
After the meeting, Duncan Beaton reminded those gathered there about the fear of losing the Easton schools to a forced consolidation. He suggested that they all attend a meeting held on Monday, May 7, at the Easton Elementary School cafeteria, and also contact anyone – senators or representatives – who may be of help in putting a stop to this foolishness.
Members of the Easton Wesleyan Church recently converted the basement of the church to the city of Jerusalem. Visitors entered through the city gate to register. Then they went into the ‘city’ itself to experience the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches of Jerusalem during the time of Christ. The visitors were welcomed into a home, taught in the Synagogue School, and experienced the marketplace. Children could make a bowl in the Pottery Shop, create designs on a leather strap in the Leather Shop, compete in a nail pounding contest in The Carpenter’s Shop and make baskets in The Basket Shop. In the Bakery were foods to taste and in the Herb Shop were herbs and spices to smell. Visitors finally went to the Petting Area to see animals found in the Jerusalem region. Upon leaving the ‘city,’ visitors were treated to a dramatic presentation of the final days of Christ while he was here on the Earth. The troupe ended with an incredible drama presentation to “Arise My Love.” In all, 84 members of the church participated in some way in this production. Pastor Matt and Pastor Vaughn applaud all the volunteers for working so hard together as a family to make this presentation a success. Visitors praised the production and will remember it for a long time.
Congratulations
The United States Achievement Academy has announced that Katrina Martin, from Easton, has been recognized for academic achievement as a United States National Honor Student Award winner. Katrina, who attends Easton High School, will appear in the United States Achievement Academy’s Official Yearbook which is published nationally. Recognizing and supporting our youth is more important than ever before in America’s history, and we congratulate Katrina for her dedication to excellence and achievement as does the founder of the United States Achievement Academy, Dr. George Stevens. Katrina is the daughter of Vaughn and Laurie Martin of Easton and the granddaughter of Phyllis Nadeau of Easton and Eugene and Judith Alton of Hartland.
Visits
Arlene Ladner, along with her sister, Ada Perley, of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, Canada, were driven to Portland on April 19 by their neighbors, Larry and Linda Pelkey, where they flew to New York to visit with Arlene’s son. Marvin and Donna Ladner make their home in Sidney, N.Y., and while there they helped him celebrate his 55th birthday. After some beautiful weather and lots of shopping, they returned to Portland on April 27 and were picked up by Larry and Linda and brought home, exhausted.
We wish Richard Kneeland a very happy birthday today; and also Chris Burch, Ira Dodge, Chelsea Hammond, Kathleen Haney, Lynn Flewelling, and Flora Adams, all a happy birthday for tomorrow. Rickie and Carrie Hull are wished a very happy wedding anniversary for tomorrow, also, and many more.
Sympathy
Our sympathy goes out to the family of Mary Cumming, 81, who passed away at the Presque Isle health care facility on April 28. Mary was born in Westfield to Frank and Ella Hamilton; she was a faithful member of the Easton Wesleyan Church where she will be sadly missed. Her husband, Morrison, passed away about a year and a half ago. They were a very special couple; raising a family of seven children kept them very busy. Mary was a beautiful cook and a beautiful person, never a bad word about anyone and always a smile for everyone. She had been wheelchair-bound for several years but they were able to live by themselves at the Presque Isle Leisure Village Apartments until Morrison’s death and until just a few weeks ago when Mary had to become a resident of the Presque Isle health care facility. Mary loved doing crafts, sewing and scrapbooking. She leaves behind her loving children and the prides of her life, Danny and family of Dover-Foxcroft, twin girls, Carol Smalt and family of Sanford and Carolyn Drummey and family of Wiscasset, Brian and family of Mars Hill, Patricia and family of Austin, Texas, Naomi Oakes and family of Winterport, and Gregory and family of Richmond, 16 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She also leaves her sisters, Fran Bishop of Presque Isle, Linda Boyd of Mars Hill, Jane Kneeland of Massachusetts and their families. A beautiful service was held at her church in Easton on Monday, May 2. Interment will be at a later date in Estes Park Cemetery. Those who wish may contribute in her memory to her church, the Easton Wesleyan Church.
