Mars Hill News
by Tomi Henderson
Fan Appreciation Night at CAHS will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 27. There will be 40 door prizes. Teams that will be recognized include girls’ basketball, cheerleaders, pep bank and the ski team.
The CAHS Booster Club will be selling lobster rolls and grilled cheese sandwiches during the games.
In a continuing effort to recognize outstanding student citizenship, the faculty of Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School has announced that Stephanie Dame and Logan McLaughlin have been selected as the December Students of the Month. They were selected in recognition of their commitment to the pillar of character.
Stephanie is a member of the 8th grade and lists English and art as her favorite subjects. She is a member of the junior high basketball and softball teams, as well as chorus, jazz choir and the Yearbook Committee. Stephanie also participates in Aroostook Team Leadership Camp (ATLC). She enjoys singing, cooking , drawing, primitive stitchery and sports. Her future plans involve going to college to receive her bachelor’s degree in culinary arts. Stephanie is the daughter of Stephen and Debbie Dame.
Logan is a member of the Junior Class and lists math and U.S. history as his favorite subjects. He is a member of the varsity golf, basketball and baseball teams. He enjoys sports, hunting, fishing and farming. His future plans involve attending college and getting a degree, then coming back to Mars Hill to farm with his family. Logan is the son of Stephanie and Ward McLaughlin.
McLaughlin
The January meeting of the Mars Hill UMW met in the church vestry with 10 members and one guest present. All repeated a special blessing led by President Elaine Bailey. After an hour of enjoying the sandwich lunch each one had brought from home, a delicious dessert was served by the two hostesses, Janice Footer and Cindy Anderson.
President Elaine opened the meeting by all repeating the Purpose Pledge and Prayer. Members then told of various acts of kindness done over the past month — a part of the meeting that is enjoyed by all. The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were read and accepted as read.
Several thank-you notes were received for the group’s gifts over the Christmas season. One monetary gift was welcomed by the group from a very special couple in the community to be used for the group’s “ongoing” mission work.
The date decided upon to clean the church kitchen and Sunday school rooms is Jan. 25. Members are to be at the church a 9 a.m. with cleaning materials.
Joan Boone reported that there would be a change next year in giving Christmas gifts to the Aroostook Health Center nursing home patients. Instead, they would welcome a monetary gift toward the proposed new whirlpool room.
Donna Brewer volunteered to see about getting new padded chairs for the vestry. She would bring in all the information on different chair prices and availability.
President Elaine announced that the group would be hostess for the UMW Sub District Meeting on the 21st of April. Plans soon have to be made.
Diane Ketchum announced that on Jan. 19 at 9 a.m. she would have the proposed budget meeting for 2010 at her home.
Directions for knitting prayer shawls were available to those interested.
The meeting was turned over to program Chairpersons Diane Ketchum and Cindy Anderson. They introduced Rachel Juris from the Presque Isle Pregnancy Care Center. Juris enjoys her work and welcomed the opportunity to be involved with a Christian ministry. The center provides free pregnancy tests, adoption planning, parenting planning, Bible studies and education lifestyle changes. The center seems to be doing a wonderfully successful job for the community and the area working with unwed mothers. She announced that baby gifts of all kinds would be welcomed by the center. The UMW presented her with a gift for the center.
Those attending included: Elaine Bailey, Donna Brewer, Joan Walsh, Joan Boone, Goldie Folsom, Diane Ketchum, Cindy Anderson, Janice Footer, Judy Sawin Stahnke, Clara Hussey and guest Rachel Juris.
The Mars Hill American Legion Hall is offering karaoke each Friday night from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is $3 per person. With Emcees Dennis and Celia Maurice, this promises to be a fun thing to do on Fridays. Those under age 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Singers are to bring their own songs. Prizes will be awarded each Friday for the best performers.
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 6:30 a.m. at the Aroostook Health Center. The meeting was run by Sasha Grass, FFA president at CAHS.
Members were updated on some projects — the forming of a local Historical Society and a Health Fair in April. The first printing of the Mars Hill memory book is sold out and a second order has been placed.
The special speaker was Rotarian Dr. Venkat Munukutla, of Naturally Potatoes. He is in charge of product development at the plant. This requires knowing the properties of each variety of potato and other ingredients used in their plant. He must also see that very good records are kept and that the testing of each product is done under controlled circumstances. Each proposed product is compared to the “gold standard,” which would be the best-selling product that they make. A new product can take anywhere from six months to two years before it comes to the production line.
When proposed new products are tested, there are several essential components to the sensory evaluation. They include flavor, appearance, aroma, taste — both basic and intense — and texture. Attention is also given to each tester’s age group, gender, attitude toward a product and how often they normally eat a certain product.
Naturally Potatoes has developed eight different products in the last three years — five mashed varieties and three cut products.
Copies of “I Remember When in Mars Hill” are now on sale at the Mars Hill Town Office and several other businesses in town. At a cost of $25, these books include 37 stories of Mars Hill through the years. Written by various individuals, there are stories and memories about local and farm families, sports, Main Street, postal service, Eagle Scouts and much more.
Copies of the 2010 Birthday Calendar are also available for $6. Sponsored by the Mars Hill Rotary Club, proceeds will be used for various Mars Hill projects.
East Ridge Union Church in Mars Hill will be showing the film “Flywheel” on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 5 p.m. Admission is free. The production is from the creators of “Facing the Giants” and “Fireproof.” Join Jay Austin on the ride of his life.
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached at 429-9126 or e-mail tomihen@yahoo.com.
