MAPLETON NEWS
by Jennifer Buzza
The Northern Lights Youth Choir will be holding its annual fundraiser auction this Friday, Nov. 25 at the State Road Advent Christian Church.
Items can be viewed from 5-6 p.m. with the live bidding to begin at 6 p.m. Concessions will also be sold. All proceeds will benefit the Choir’s annual spring concert tour. Come support these talented young people and do a little Christmas shopping!
Chicken pie supper
There will be a chicken pie supper at the Mapleton Methodist Church Saturday, Dec. 10 from 5-6:30 p.m. Following the meal, musical entertainment will be provided by Wendell Hudson. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for children.
Birthdays
Birthday wishes this week go out to Clarissa Buck, Katherine Buck, Jacob Scifers, Elizabeth McHatten Brewer, Rebecca Lafland, Audry Milliard, Andrea Bard Smith, Allen Michaud, Nancy Charette, Ryan Hansen, Gunnar Carter, Dwight Wilcox and Brenda Boykin.
Anniversaries
Happy anniversary this week to Bill and Carolyn Doyen and Todd and Joanna Newlands on the 24th, Bill and Bonnie Landry on the 25th, Ronnie and Julie Roope and Larry and Debbie Sawyer on the 26th, and Ingrid and Taylor Sutherland on the 29th.
Anniversary celebration
The children of Larry and Debbie Sawyer held a surprise 40th anniversary celebration in their honor Nov. 12 at the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church in Presque Isle. Numerous family and friends gathered to view family photo albums and reminisce about the couple and all their years together. Everyone enjoyed watching a photo DVD and wonderful refreshments prepared by the church’s High Spirits Ladies Circle. The beautiful anniversary cake was made by Carole Soucy, who has also made the wedding cakes for both of Larry and Debbie’s daughters, Jennifer Buzza and Julie Powers, as well as their anniversary cake for their surprise 25th anniversary party 15 years ago. In addition to local family and friends, the couple was especially surprised by their special friends from North Berwick and Houlton. Also present were two attendants from their wedding party; bridesmaid Connie (Sawyer) Duchardt, Larry’s sister, and best man, Winfield Sawyer, Larry’s father.
Christmas concert
This December, singer Rebeckah Kay Perry will be presenting “Christmastime is Here,” a night of jazz standards and holiday favorites. The show will be presented in an intimate setting ideal for celebrating the holiday season with friends or a loved one. Refreshments, desserts and beverages will also be available throughout the show. Rebeckah will be accompanied by a three-piece jazz combo led by accomplished pianist Colin Graebert. The concert series will last three nights: Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m. They will be held at the Next Generation Theatre, 39 Center St. in Brewer. Tickets are on presale for $12 and will be available at the door for $15; they can be purchased directly at the Theatre or by calling 989-7100.
Rebeckah Kay (Gallant) Perry is a native of Mapleton, who has been residing in the Bangor area for three years. Her numerous accomplishments include the 2010 Eastern Maine Idol title, affording her a 5-day trip to San Francisco and a VIP audition for “American Idol.” She has sung the national anthem for the Boston Red Sox at both Fenway Park and their spring training facilities in Fort Myers, Fla., as well as for the Portland Sea Dogs, Maine Red Claws, Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers. She studied music performance at the University of Maine and performed in UMO’s 2010 production of the musical “Hair.” Rebeckah currently lives in Brewer, with her husband, Michael, and daughter, Lucy.
Message from 2011 Mapleton Daze Committee
Over the past 20-plus years, the citizens of Mapleton and the surrounding areas have enjoyed the festivities of the annual Mapleton Daze weekend. Many faithful and dedicated volunteers have given their time and energy to organize this event. Area businesses and individuals have supported this event with their financial donations. Community members have attended auctions and various fundraisers.
Each year we have a few new committee members join and each year we have some members retire. Unfortunately, at this time, the committee has not heard from any new committee members willing to join. Equally unfortunate is the fact that the 2011 committee has decided that it is time to retire.
Currently there is no Mapleton Daze committee for 2012. If there are people in the community that are interested in organizing this event, the time to act is now. It takes months of preparation and fund-raising to pull off the weekend. Mapleton Daze does have a Facebook page that may be useful to help organize those willing to take over.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115, or by e-mail at jbuzza@ainop.com.
