Patten Seniors
Patten Senior Citizens met for their regular meeting on Feb. 6 at Meadowbrook Manor with eight members present.
The Lord’s Prayer was recited before the potluck meal. After the meal, the business meeting was opened by President Annette Noyes, who also led the flag salute.
Secretary and treasurer reports were read and accepted.
Cards were signed and sent to Jackie Palmer, Keith Shorey, Raymond Sommers, Earl Davis, Rodney Morgan and the family of Alta Noyes.
A donation was made to the RSVP Recognition that will be held in May.
The Game was played.
The next meeting will be Feb. 21.
Members present were Marge Heath, Mary Cox, Annette Noyes, Nettie Shorey, Mary Lawler, Marilyn Somers, Maxine Brackett and Joyce Harvey.
Bridgewater Historical to meet
By Jann Bonkowski Votaw
The Bridgewater Historical Association will hold a meeting on Monday, Feb. 20, at the Civic Center in Bridgewater at 7:00 PM, weather permitting. If you haven’t done so already, please come prepared to pay your 2012 dues. They are still $5 a year. Newcomers welcome.
Houlton Council of Catholic Women
by Lois Downing
Houlton Council of Catholic Women met Sunday, Feb. 5, in the parish center following the 11 a.m. Mass. Eighteen members were present with moderators Rev. David Raymond and Deacon Albert Burleigh plus guests Bill Roach and Jackie Junkins.
Co-president Mary Armour presided and the meeting began with traditional prayers and the singing of our hymn. Fr. Dave led us in the blessing prior to the luncheon provided by the February committee. After the meal, the meeting was resumed. Recording secretary’s Jane Stile’s minutes were approved as read. Treasurer Mary Grant gave a up to date report and Lois Downing read the thank you notes.
Alta Reardon will order a 100-cup coffee maker for the kitchen; the local Knights of Columbus will pay half the cost.
Members filled bags of fruit and special treats provided by council members and each bag included a Valentine made by the children in the Faith Formation classes.
A meeting at the rectory on February 6 was held for those interested in helping to organize St. Patrick’s bazaar.
The October 4, 5 and 7 are the dates chosen for the annual HCCW rummage sale. Mary Armour and Janet Barker will decorate the center for the February 10 Valentine dinner. They asked for volunteers.
Ethel Mersereau was thanked for distributing Valentine cards at each place setting. The seminarian fund was taken up. Molly Bailey asked for help for the March meeting. There were no anniversaries for February but birthdays were recognized.
Jackie Junkins won the door prize. Members were encouraged to stay to help with Valentine bags and many ladies delivered the bags to the chosen ones. The next meeting is Sunday, March 4, after the 11 a.m. Mass.
Happy Losers
By Shirley Sides
The Happy Losers held the weekly meeting on Feb. 11 at the Congregational Church vestry in Island Falls. Jackie Pratt, the leader opened the meeting with the usual pledge and roll call.
Nine members weighted-in and attended the class. May 11 is last day for our contest. Annie Jane Smith was the loser of the week, and Cecilia Brown was runner-up. Great job ladies.
Secretary and Treasurer reports were given for the week.
Pratt led the program with 10 questions on our knowledge for losing weight. Meetings are always interesting and informative. Please feel welcome to our group every Wednesday 8-8:45 a.m. weigh-ins and meeting starts at 9 a.m. Spring is just around the corner, time to lose weight! Call 365-4884 for more info. See you there!
Island Falls news
On Feb. 24, the Island Falls Historical Society will hold a food sale at Jerry’s Thriftway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a great variety of food for everyone to choose from, all of which is gladly donated by many good friends of the society, so everyone come and choose what you would like best for you and your family.
We had a nice note from Larry Thorne, a former resident of Island Falls, who now lives in Meredith, N.H. and subscribes to the Pioneer to keep in touch with his hometown. This winter he is in Florida and thus has escaped the winter doldrums. Charlene Webb has been in Bangor recently to consult with her doctor there about a recent illness she had. So far, all reports are good and she is now at home and feeling in good shape once again. Had a phone call on Feb. 9 from Brad Emery and he wanted me to know that he had just seen a robin in his back yard near his apple trees. Both he and wife, Sherry, watched this bird for some time as we don’t usually have robins this time of year. Hopefully they put out some bird seed for the little fellow.
I am still busy keeping my feeders full and am using up a lot of the peanut butter and lard mixture for all the bird to enjoy. Still have some female gold finch at the feeders and, of course, the squirrels—Saw the little red one eating busily from one feeder that is open and easy to get at. The gray squirrel wasn’t lucky enough to get there first. Now have two deer that show up every afternoon about 4:30 p.m. and occasionally I see five out there. They appreciate the cut-up apples I give them, I guess, and sometimes linger awhile, probably hoping for more.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly 0233, Houlton
by Lois Downing
Take Off Pounds Sensibly ME Chapter 0233 of Houlton met at the Aldergate building on High Street for its Friday, Feb. 10, meeting. In the absence of leader Denise Clark, co-leader Diane Folsom had charge of the meeting. Reports were given by Charlotte Marley and Joanne Scott.
Thirteen TOPS and three KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Senbily) were in attendance. The loser of the week was Diane Folsom with Marcia Reed as runner-up. Charlotte Marley was the recipient of the skinny dish.
The Snowman contest will continue through the month of February. Members were asked to please sign their losses on the chart. A mug or cup swap took place. Members who brought wrapped mugs participated and the mugs were numbered. Each lady stood before a number and then leader Charlotte directed us to step to the right as we read a line from the ‘’Today’’ story. When finished, you found your numbered mug according to the number on the floor, on which you stood. Ladies who were absent were sent a mug, some filled with goodies and some unfilled. It was a fun project.
The next meeting will be Feb. 17 at the same location. Weigh-in is 8-8:45 a.m. The meeting is at 9 a.m. and lasts an hour. If you need more information about the chapter you may call Betty Ivey at 532-9653 or Charlotte Marley at 757-8483. Come, enjoy and take off weight.
Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
For the out-of-staters, the weather is cold, brrr! The sun is shining, thank you Lord, but that wind! Wow! We are so grateful for the warm sun.
Carmen Chasses’ great-granddaughter, Hannah, turned one on Jan 20. She was given a party and is so sweet and smiling all the time. She has made a hit with the tenants here. Hannah is the daughter of Jimmy Valante and Lacey Dunlop.
Doris Hogan had a fall in her bathroom several days ago and hurt herself, but luckily no bones were broken. Doris was waiting yesterday (Saturday) for a ride to visit her sister, who was recently moved to Madigan nursing home facility. Needless, to say, Doris was happy about that.
Potlucks are usually a fun meal, which ours turned out to be on Friday, Feb. 10, in the community room. Carmen Chasse made a large pan of lasagna, a hit to say the least. George Garnett brought homemade rolls and George wanted me to be sure I told everybody that he made them. So, here it is, George. They were delicious too. Chocolate cake, lemon or yellow cake, cookies and everything was delicious. More of these are welcome.
I have a small dinner plate with a flower design and I have forgotten the owner’s name. That is why I haven’t returned it. For the life of it, I can’t remember where I acquired this plate. Freshen my memory, please.
Isn’t the new building on Military Street turning into a beautiful store? Drove by there the other day and County Yankee is progressing well. Several workers were around the building and the manager or owner of County Yankee tells me that they are striving for a May opening. We’ll be anxious to see it.
I have acquired these numbers if you want to use them for ‘’DO NOT CALL’’ info numbers. They are 1-888-382-1222. Most of the time, it is a nuisance to have people calling about commercials.
We had the USDA girls from the University of Maine come and perform a demonstration in the community room on a recent Tuesday. One of my friends brought me the recipe for quiche, and then brought me a sample of what they cooked. Another demonstration was of soap and again I was given some samples, not having been able to be present. We are grateful for their demonstrations and look forward to their future meetings.
Recycle, reuse and redo—is what I try to do. The local animal shelter via a volunteer took a lot of scrap paper to them. They use it in their animal cages, shredded of course. I acquired many unused envelopes too and a use was found for that use. I save all cancelled stamps and give them to the missionaries. It is surprising how many one can acquire. Do you know you can use the labels from many food items—the schools use these, so that is another of my projects. My neighbors do that for me too and I appreciate their thoughtfulness..
The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 22. Then the St. Patrick’s bazaar is scheduled for Saturday, March 17. We are looking forward to these events.
Donna Burns, a former tenant at Ricker Plaza, wishes to be remembered to her friends at Ricker. She is a tenant at Madigan nursing home now.
Paul Armstrong and his grandson played instruments and added to the program at Oakfield on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Paul and Jeannie said they had a good time. Mike Nealey, a relative of Doris Hogan, was singing at one of these programs a few weeks ago.
Sympathy is extended to the family of Casey White, 61, a cancer victim, who is well known in our community. Peggy Robinson is one of his wife’s relatives.
The days are definitely longer and isn’t it nice? Soon we will have a change of time.
Thomas Vasko has returned from Houlton Regional Hospital about a week ago. He was also a patient at one of the Bangor hospitals too. Thomas suffered from various maladies—we were glad to see him at our potluck dinner. Glad you are home, Tom.
Florence MacDonald, a recent new tenant, is very happy here. We are glad to have you too.
Feb. 6 was the 2012 celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee. The only other British monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee was Victoria, who resigned almost 64 years ago. We have many friends who are Canadian and English, thus the comment.
Who’s to say a smile from a stranger or a gentle outstretched hand is not an act of angels in disguise?
Saddie Carpenter was given a surprise birthday party by her children about a week ago. The party was held in honor of Saddie’s 85th birthday and what a surprise it was. Saddie saw one of her children carrying a crock upstairs and said, ‘’Where are you going with that?’’ Saddie was given a birthday cake too. The party was Feb. 5 but the actual birthday date was Feb. 8. Her children are: Buck and Karen Carmichael, Raymond and Melanie Carmichael, Linda and Otis Shaw, Candy and Scotty Nevers, Wilfred and Lisa Carmichael, Rodney Carmichael plus numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A good time was had by all!
The bible reading for today is: “Do everything for the glory of God.” (Corinthinas 10:31).
Have a wonderful and safe week.
