Members of the Salmon Brook Historical Society held their Christmas potluck supper and meeting. A well-known musical group, The Barber-Shoppers, entertained the partygoers and all enjoyed the evening. The Barber-Shoppers had a sing-along as well as singing several Christmas carols and holiday music, along with their regular barbershop music.
Washburn Librarian Kathy Corey did a presentation, asking assistance with a special project. The library would like to invite Kerck Kelsey of Freeport to give a special presentation on his two books. Kelsey is an author on the history of Israel Washburn, a member of the well-known Washburn family. Israel was a former Maine governor and Civil War soldier, known as “Maine’s Little Known Giant of the Civil War.” While governor, Israel Washburn donated approximately 200 volumes to the town’s library and due to this generous gift, the town of Salmon Brook was re-named Washburn.
Kelsey will also be doing a PowerPoint presentation on things he’s learned over the past 20 years, including earning his master’s degree just prior to his 70th birthday. The Society voted to assist the library with this project.
During a short business meeting, Historical Society members elected Chuck Cunningham to the office of president and his wife Kitty Cunningham to the office of vice president. Other officers include: Secretary Sally Flewelling, Treasurer Dennis Harris, and Directors David Rand, Wilmont Flewelling and Wilburn Scott. Leo Flewelling was elected curator.
New members are needed and always welcome. The Society’s next meeting was scheduled for March 26. 2008.
Birthdays/anniversaries
Those celebrating birthdays this week included: Madisyn Umphrey, Ryan Scott, Mavis Carter, Lindsey McKeen, Jill Maynard, Carl Pinette, Roger Herrick, Leon Tarbox, Breen Bagley, Taylor Bagley, Gloria Doody, June Churchill, Rena Drost, Mike Brooker, Robert Mette, Betty Conor, Emilia Churchill, Owen Allen, Abram Dow, Laurie Blackstone, Ernest Bragg, Gerald Carney, Autumn Tuttle, Greg Anderson, Wade Willett, Anna Springer, Jana Shaw, Chuck Cunningham, Brent Tardie, Jenalee Bragg and Gerald Vaughn.
Special anniversary wishes go out to: Art and Charlotte Griffin, Rodney and Helena Corey.
Municipal minutes
On Monday, Dec. 8, the Washburn Water and Sewer District held their meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. Included in the agenda was the approval of the Monday, Nov. 17, minutes and the directors voted to reimburse the town of Washburn for administrative fees. There was also discussion regarding District by-laws, which was tabled for a later meeting. Also discussed were terms of office for District directors and the decision was made to have four-, three- and two-year terms for the first terms of this new District.
Following the Water and Sewer District meeting, the Washburn Town Council met for their December meeting. They approved the minutes of the Nov. 17, meeting and reviewed the financial figures through Nov. 30, 2008.
Also included in the agenda was a review of a letter notifying the town of Washburn that the Caribou Pet Rescue center was closing; and the Council was provided with a copy of an e-mail from Geoff Herman of MMA regarding a survey on federal issues. The Council also received information and a vehicle update from the Washburn Fire Department.
The Council voted to pay the yearly Boy Scout Insurance Premium for Troop 177 for 2009.
The Council retired to executive session to discuss economic development and legal and personnel matters. The next meeting of the Town Council was set for Monday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. All are urged to attend.
Library special hours
The library’s hours for Dec. 18 will be 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4:30 p.m., due to the meeting at the Town Office.
Events/reminders
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.
In both Washburn and Perham, the new dog tags are available at the town offices. All dogs over 6 months old must be registered before Jan. 1, 2009, and rabies vaccinations must be current. The cost for dogs who are spayed or neutered is $6 and dogs not spayed or neutered is $11.
The town of Washburn is currently collecting non-perishable foods for the annual giving of Christmas boxes. You can choose to help fill a box, fill one of your own to donate or donate money for the crew to fill the boxes. The town is also collecting new toys and clothes along with monetary donations to purchase needed gifts for the Christmas boxes to go to area children and families. Anyone knowing of a needy family or child, please feel free to contact Anne Carter at the Town Office during regular hours and she will put that family on the list. The deadline for donations to be delivered to the Town Office will be 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. If you need your items picked up, please phone Anne at 455-8485 during the 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. office hours. The Town Office hours during the holiday are as follows: They will be open on Wednesday, Dec. 24, from 7 a.m. to noon and closed Thursday, Dec. 25 and Friday, Dec. 26, reopening on Monday, Dec. 29. The office will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 1, and Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
The holiday hours for the Washburn Memorial Library are: Dec. 24, the library will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed on Dec. 25 and 26; and open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 31. The library will also be closed on Jan. 1 and 2, 2009. There will be a meeting of the Middle School Book Group on Friday, Jan. 2, starting at 5:30 p.m.
At the Washburn Soup Kitchen there will be a special “Open Tree,” with some nearly-new toys and stuffed animals for anyone to take home for Christmas gifts; and anyone wishing to donate new toys or stuffed animals and some Christmas wrapping paper may drop them off at the kitchen during regular hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m.
Rec Center schedule
On Thursday, Dec. 18, there will be a basketball game at Easton for the grades 3-4 team. They will be leaving the Rec Center at 5:15 for the 6 p.m. game.
On Monday, Dec. 22, and on Monday, Dec. 29, there will be men’s basketball at the elementary school gym from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Looking ahead, there will be cross country skiing starting in January.
For further information on any Rec Center programs, please contact Marcie at the Rec at 455-4959 during regular hours.
‘Angels’ in Perham
The Christmas Angels are at the Perham Town Office and post office for real, live angels who would like to make a child’s Christmas a little brighter. Please return the gifts to the Town Office no later than Dec. 16.
The town will also be taking donations of new toys and non-perishable food items at both Perham’s Town Office and post office. They may be dropped off during regular business hours or for further information phone 455-5887 during regular business hours.
The Perham Town Office will be closed on the following days: will close at 12 noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.
Boy Scouts in training
On Friday, Nov. 28, Scouts and leaders of Troop 177 traveled to the Wilcox camp at Mud Lake for their annual Junior leader training and annual program planning. The boys learned how to work together as a team, communicate, teach skills and lead in their new positions of leadership to take effect the first of January, 2009. The boys did team building, working together in teams of three to plan and build their own sections of a “Snow Scout” and it was built to perfection in 30 minutes!
On Saturday night, the Scouts made a Dutch oven supper complete with sparkling potatoes, chicken “thing” and cherry apple cobbler. After supper it was time to watch the familiar “Follow me Boys” that depicts a small-town Scout troop from the 1930s to the 1950s – always a crowd favorite.
Washburn Boy Scout Troop 177 now has its annual plan for 2009 complete and there will be plenty of “Scouting” going on in Washburn for the year.
Board certification achieved
Meredith (Hews) Messer has recently been granted National Board Certification for Professional Teachers. She passed a process of testing for modeling an extensive set of standards for teaching excellence. The certification awarded is for a 10-year period. Standards included mathematical content, developing mathematical reasoning and the teacher as a communicator, learner, leader and collaborator.
The process included creating a portfolio containing four entries with requirements varying depending on the area in which the applicant is to be certified. In total, Meredith submitted over 120 pates of writing and documentation to show that she met the standards, including videotapes of her various classrooms. She had to plan lessons stating goals and objectives, then identify how current, prior and future lessons would fit into the unit as a whole, then analyze if it was a success or not in meeting the established goals set forth in the planning portion, then reflect upon the lesson. Meredith noted that this was the most valuable portion, having her look at how she could do it better and did it work as well as she had planned it to work, thus making it more effective in reaching more students.
Meredith also had to take a test in her content area, consisting of subjects including algebra, geometry, data analysis, calculus, probability and technology in the classroom. She attended six support sessions provided by the MEA and had professional development days provided by her district. All this work had to be squeezed in between soccer games, basketball games and the regular time needed for her job and family. She noted that nationally, only 40 percent of candidates who attempt the National Board Certification receive it on the first attempt. Seventy percent of Maine teachers are successful, and Meredith was one of these. She laid lots of credit to working with the MEA, as these were dedicated teachers who were already certified and trained in scoring the portfolios, and their workshops gave her valuable direction and feedback.
The value of the Board certification is twofold with the state of Maine giving each successful applicant a $3,000 annual stipend for the 10-year certification, and her school district has an additional $2,000 annual stipend, making a total 10-year pay increase of $50,000 available to Meredith. The other and likely more important value is the personal achievement in her profession, making it possible to connect with her students in a more valuable way. “Without their investment” to this process, her job would have been “much more challenging,” and there was a deeper bond formed between teacher and student through this process.
Meredith is the daughter of Dana and Virginia Hews, of Crouseville, and currently lives in Rockport with her husband, Martin, and three children, Charlotte, Casey and Quincy. Martin teaches special wd in Lincolnville.
Meredith is a 1990 graduate of Washburn District High School and attended her first year of college at the University of New England and finished her final three years at the University of Maine at Farmington, graduating in 1994. Meredith was Girls JV Soccer and Softball coach and Varsity Girls Soccer coach, as well as playing soccer at Farmington. She has taught mathematics at Camden Hills Regional High School since 1994 and is the only faculty member at the school to be certified for professional teaching standards.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
Photo courtesy of Katherine Corey
STUDENTS ENJOY READING – Shown here enjoying the recent meeting of the Middle School Book Group are: Ellie Saucier, Darbie Koch, Tanya Tarbox, Catelyn Coulombe, Lucia Bragg, Mikayla Churchill, Virginia Farley and Kolby Koch.
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
Washburn Boy Scouts from Troop 177 recently took part in Junior Leader training. Fun was incorporated into the event, with Scouts taking time to make a “Snow Scout.” Boy Scouts pictured with the snowman, from left, front row: Stephen Kinney, Taylor Skinner, Keagan Page, Kody Brissette and Drew White. Back row: Daniel Roy, Adam Wilcox, Jacob Reed, Curtis Thompson and Chris Hartman.
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
TRAINING AT CAMP – Boy Scouts from Washburn’s Troop 177 recently spent a weekend at camp to take part in leadership training. Pictured, front row, from left: Drew White, Kody Brissette, Keagan Page, Stephen Kinney and Taylor Skinner. Second row: Scoutmaster Larry Harrison, Daniel Roy, Assistant Scoutmaster Ron Rand, Chris Hartman and Assistant Scoutmaster Don Wilcox. Back row: Curtis Thompson, Jacob Reed and Adam Wilcox.
