The Tax Club
This innovative “club” is designed to assist residents budget out their property tax payments and avoid possible interest charges. The Tax Club requirements include that citizens must be current on their taxes to join prior to the new tax year billing.
If payments are made on time, no interest is charged. If a payment is late, membership is automatically terminated and the taxpayer returns to the same due date and interest penalties as non-participating taxpayers. As a member in good standing with the Tax Club, the citizen’s name will not appear in the Town Report. Taxes can always be paid early, but if they are not in the club, taxpayers don’t have the interest-free benefit or the guarantee of the name not appearing in the Town Report for outstanding taxes due. For questions, further information or if you wish to join, please contact Andrea Powers at the Town Office at 455-8485. There will be contracts available at the Town Office this July.
Birthdays/anniversaries
A very special first birthday wish goes out to Will Routhier. Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Garry Pangburn, Londa Brown, Jason Thompson, Susan Merchant, Lavina Corey, Dennis Conley, Doug Conley, Les Plissey, Keith Brooks, Sue Boyd, Angela Haley, Rose Doughman, April Flagg, Travis Drost, Jessica Hatch, Jonathan Maynard, Marianne Helton, Larry Bragg, Steve Doody, Ian Robertson, Bernice Farley, Butch Johnson, Carl Tupper, Kate Campbell, Kelley Tupper, Mike Easler, Dakota Scott and Janice Searles.
Special anniversary wishes go out to: Randy and Neisha Bragg, Tyler and Julie Turner, Jason and Heidi Thompson, Bruce and Kathy Drost, Randy and Sue Chasse, Bill and Sally Sargent, Dick and Gilda Howlett, Ricky and Heather Bragg, Obrien and Julia Bragg, Bob and Brenda Clayton and Dick and Kathy Howlett.
Rec Center summer programs
The summer breakfast and lunch programs will begin on Monday, June 23, at the elementary school cafeteria. Breakfast is from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meals are free for anyone age 18 and younger, and adults may purchase their meals and the price will be available by June 23.
On Wednesday, June 25, there will be basketball with grades K-2 playing from 8:30-9:15 a.m., grades 2-4 playing from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and grades 5-8 playing from 10:30-11:30 a.m. There will be swimming lessons from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Major League baseball team will play at 5:30 p.m. and T-Ball will play from 6 to 6:45 p.m.
On Thursday, June 26, there will be K-2 Soccer from 8:30-9:15 a.m., grades 3-4 play from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and grades 5-8 go from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Also on June 26, there will be Arts and Crafts for grades 5-8 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and grades K-4 go from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
On Friday, June 27, the field trip will be to Frisbee Golf and a trip to Houlton Farms Dairy. The event goes from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Monday, June 30, there will be basketball with grades K-2 playing from 8:30-9:15 a.m., grades 2-4 playing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and grades 5-8 playing from 10:30-11:30 a.m. There will be swimming lessons from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Major League Baseball Team will play at 5:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, July 1, there will be K-2 Soccer from 8:30-9:15 a.m., grades 3-4 play from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and grades 5-8 go from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, July 1, there will be cooking at the Rec Center from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and grades 2-4 will cook from 10:30-11:30 a.m. There will be Minor League at 5:30 p.m.
The schedule for Major League Baseball this week includes: Wednesday, June 25, at Limestone, and Friday, June 27, at Fort Fairfield. Games are at 5:30 p.m. with departure time from Washburn at 4:30 p.m. If it is raining on Tuesdays and Thursdays, soccer will be cancelled. For further information on any of these programs, please contact Marcie at 455-4959.
Upcoming events/meetings
The Salmon Brook Historical Society will be holding their quarterly meeting on Friday, June 26, at the Washburn Civic Center at 6 p.m. There will be a potluck supper; please bring a main dish or dessert and a place setting. There will be a business meeting and entertainment will be provided by the Main Event Singers.
The Washburn Town Council will meet on Monday, June 30, at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center at 7 p.m. Please note that this is a change in dates for the monthly meeting.
Please be advised that through Monday, June 30, there is a change in the Town Office hours. The office will now be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a lunch hour closing from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This change is an effort to cut costs of operation in different ways throughout all town departments. Another cost-cutting will be attempted by publishing the “Scoop” four times a year rather than monthly.
The Washburn Town Office will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. The July Town Council meeting will be held on Monday, July 14, at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center.
TOPS will be meeting each Monday at the Washburn Trailrunners clubhouse, starting with weigh-in at 4:15 p.m. and the meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For further information, contact Birdena Cochran at 455-8353.
Friendly Co-Op order week will be held from July 7 through 11 with a projected delivery date of Friday, July 18. Please phone or e-mail your order to Brenda Helton.
Junior Camp at Camp Nomacca will be held from Monday, June 30 through Friday, July 4. This camp is open for ages 8, 9, 10 or entering grades 3-5. The director is Melissa Flewelling.
There will also be a Day Camp at Camp Nomacca on Saturday, July 5, for those age 7 or entering grade 2. Registration will be held at the campsite from 8-9 a.m. and the fee is $10.
Wednesday, June 25, is the halfway mark for the year 2008. Please remember to pick up your Washburn calendar from any Rotarian, or check at White’s Service. The photo for the month of July is sponsored by Umphrey Farms and Umphrey Potato Company and features the Oscar Dow Post 48 of the American Legion. Photos include the Legion in action in a local parade, at a regular meeting and at a flag retirement ceremony held with the assistance of Washburn Boy Scout Troop 177. The calendar cost is only $10 and will become a fine keepsake in years to come.
The next meeting of the Oscar Dow Post 48 of the American Legion will be held at the Washburn Civic Center on Tuesday, July 15, at 7 p.m. New members are welcome to attend.
Fun Bible schools
The Perham Baptist Church is featuring a special Treasure Hunt Vacation Bible School ending Friday, June 27. The program is open for grades K-8 and for further information, or those needing rides, phone Don Thompson at 455-8218.
The Washburn Pentecostal Church will be holding their Vacation Bible School starting Monday, June 30, through Thursday, July 3. The program is open for those in pre-K through grade 6, and will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. For further information, contact the church at 455-8511.
Library ‘bookmarks’
On Saturday, June 28, the Washburn Memorial Library will begin their annual Summer Reading Program, which will run for six weeks. Participants can pick up their time sheets at the library any time, and registration forms will also be available. The Reward Banquet will be held on Friday, Aug. 15, so start reading, and good luck to everyone!
Last month, the library’s Story Time was held, and the theme was “Spring Time.” It was noted that the weather didn’t make it seem much like spring as there was a hail storm going on outside!
Janet Peary read “Come to the Meadow” and Kathy Corey read “When Will It Be Spring,” and “Spring’s Sprung.”
The participants discussed what their favorite part of spring was, with most opting for flowers, butterflies and warm sunshine. They all enjoyed refreshments and the door prizes were given out. Winners included: Kylee Plummer, Emily Osborn, Dawson McCoy, Scott Flood, Tal McCoy, Brooklyn Plummer, Christa McCoy, John Coleman and Valerie Flood.
The library’s After School Program open to grades 5-8 was enjoyed by all who attended. They made the choice of cooking the most and closely followed by games. They made delicious no-bake cookies, cakes in a cup, chocolate chip peppermint scones along with Rice Krispie treats. Games enjoyed included Pass the Pig, Operation, Bingo and Trouble.
Correction
Victoria (Helton) Levesque and husband Kevin Levesque are proud to announce the birth of a new baby girl, Sophia Rae Levesque, who was born on Wednesday, May 7. Inadvertently omitted from the past announcement of the birth of Sophia Rae Levesque, the second child and first daughter of Victoria (Helton) and Kevin Levesque, were the proud grandparents Condrad and Karen Helton of Ohio. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Shelter has local connections
During a recent “Open House” for Caron’s Lawn Care and Landscaping, several board members and staff of the Homeless Shelter of Aroostook attended a fund-raiser at the open house. They served up hotdogs and rolls along with soda to customers. Those purchasing the good food helped support the various activities of the homeless shelter with their many projects and needs. Board members attending included: Dave Wright, the head hotdog cook; Marlene Kelley; and Deidre McMahon. Also assisting in the event were staff member Bob McDougal and Susan Mitchell, executive director of the Homeless Services of Aroostook.
Homeless Services of Aroostook depends on donations to provide homeless people with food, shelter and relocation support. Some referrals from the shelter to the transitional housing meet the needs of homeless families by helping them in their living space for up to two years. The Sister Mary O’Donnell shelter has a wish list and current needs include toiletries including a special need for baby shampoo, powder and lotion. Also needed are monetary donations, cleaning supplies, coffee, cheese, 30-gallon trash bags, meats and silverware. For shelter donations, please contact 764-4125 and for information on transitional housing, please phone 764-5114.
FEMA-MEMA-SBA Updates
There has already been $1.8 million in assistance approved following the recent severe storms and flooding. FEMA has funded 80 requests totaling more than $516, $794,765 has been approved for housing assistance and $146,266 was approved for personal property loss, medical or dental costs and other significant disaster-related expenses. The SMA has approved low-interest disaster loans totaling more than $411 for homeowners, businesses and renters.
Please be sure and note that the Disaster Assistance Registration Deadline is Tuesday, July 8. This only leaves 13 days left to register with state and federal agencies.
Those who suffered any damages in the flooding that occurred from April 28 through May 14 are asked to phone FEMA at 800-621-3362 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday or online at www.fema.gov.
Small Business Assistance officials urge applicants to visit the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in the Fort Kent Town Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will also be a FEMA representative available for questions and assistance. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
