Brownies enjoy party
Members and leaders of Washburn Brownie Girl Scout Troop 194 recently enjoyed a Christmas party at the Washburn Rec Center. The girls had treats with everything from fudge to punch and also got presents to open and enjoy.
One of their Christmas crafts included working on a red and green paper chain. They made one last Christmas, and the two will be joined together to make one, with the girls hoping to eventually having the longest paper chain in Washburn. By the looks of the chain that they took over to the craft program to share with those kids, they’ve already made it.
Scouts, volunteers, guests and helpers included: Brianna Kaelin, Danielle Thompson, Kaitlyn Maynard, Macey barker, Brittany Brissette, Sarah Maynard, Christine Maynard, Katie Easler, Abbey Easler, Lexie Barker, Katianne McLaughlin, Ashley Conroy, Amy Joy Berube and Michael Barker.
Santa’s official arrival
Santa made his annual trip to Washburn, and as usual was escorted through town by the Washburn firemen. The Jolly Old Elf seems to enjoy the loud bells, whistles and sirens each year. He made his way to several areas of town including senior citizen housing at Salmon Brook and Washburn Estates, along with a stop at Story Hill apartments.
The Santa parade also made a few extra stops along the way to say hello to some children who hadn’t made it out of some special church services in time to see the man in red, and one stop to say hello to a young fellow who was very busy enjoying his birthday party. What a surprise entrance Santa must have made!
Due to the very cold weather, Santa met with area children at the fire department bays where they received bags of candy and got a chance to talk with Santa and give him their wish lists. They also had some special chocolate milk to drink courtesy of Hood’s Dairy and Washburn Food Mart.
Special donation
The town of Washburn recently received a grand donation for boxes going out over the Thanksgiving holiday. Also thank-yous go out to the Methodist Church and Washburn Rotary for their help in providing for food baskets to be filled to the brim for those who need a little boost during this time of year.
The Christmas giving was also great. and thanks to all who helped there as well. Many toys and gifts, as well as clothing and food, were distributed during this special time of year.
The Washburn Soup Kitchen is also doing a great service for our community, with hot meals being served at the kitchen as well as some delivered meals. The efforts of the many volunteers are more than appreciated, as well as the efforts of the kitchen’s director, Elizabeth Richardson.
The Soup Kitchen had an “Open Tree” with many new or nearly-new gifts for folks to pick from and give to family members this Christmas. They also gave out lots of clothes and food baskets to those who wished for them. They are open two days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with meals being served from 3 to 5 p.m. Anyone is welcome to come for a hot meal and some friendly conversation in a warm place. Anyone wishing to donate items or money may stop by on the open days or phone the kitchen at 455-0900 or phone Elizabeth at 764-3167.
Birthdays/anniversaries
Those enjoying special Christmas birthdays are Elizabeth Howard, Stephen Rouse and Avis Drost. Others celebrating birthdays this week include: Heidi Crouse, Marissa Emery, Bette Lou Tilley, Charlotte Griffin, Matthew Conley, Cortney MacDonald, Nicole Kennedy, Trina Akerson, Art Griffin, Lindsey Blackstone, Holly Tompkins, Simone Willett, Roderic Emery, Francis Powers, Brandon Farley, Alex Bird, Marie Drost, Owen Allen, Tyler Paradis, JoAnn Bragg, Sandy Dahlgren, Jay Blackstone and Tony Sellars.
Those celebrating anniversaries this week include: Wallace and Linda Tupper, Art and Charlotte Griffin, Rodney and Helena Corey, Stacy and Kelley Baker, Tim and Carolyn O’Donnell.
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 Office. All dogs over 6 months old must be registered before Jan. 1, 2009 and rabies vaccinations must be current. The cost for dogs spayed or neutered is $6 and dogs not spayed or neutered is $11.
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 open on Wednesday, Dec. 31 and 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.
The Christmas Angels went out from the Perham Town Office and post office for real live angels who wanted to make a child’s Christmas a little brighter, and that they did. There will certainly be some wonderful smiles on Christmas morning thanks to the generosity of these true “Angels among us.”
The Perham Town Office will be closed on the following days will close at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.
Rec Center schedule
On several days this month, the Washburn Rec Center has been the scene of a craft fair where youth from the area have been making some special gifts for the people in their lives. Included in the items were hand-painted sleds, “stained glass” Christmas tree ornaments and sugar cookies in a jar, complete with recipes to make with mom or grandma.
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.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Powers
Students in Washburn’s a.m. kindergarten class delivered boxes of collected non-perishables to the Town Office.
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
SEVERAL WASHBURN children gathered at the Rec Center recently to work on Christmas crafts as gifts for those on their Christmas lists.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Powers
STUDENTS IN THE AFTERNOON kindergarten class at Washburn Elementary School recently delivered boxes of non-perishables to the Town Office.
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
Brownie Girl Scouts celebrated during at the Troop 194 Christmas party on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
WASHBURN BROWNIES and other area youth gathered at the Washburn Rec Center for a day of fun, making Christmas crafts and enjoying a holiday party.
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
THESE YOUNG FELLAS spent time stuffing bags and marking tags during a recent Christmas craft session at the Washburn Rec Center.
