Happy Losers meet
By Shirley Sides
On Wednesday, Feb. 29, the Happy losers held their weekly meeting at the Congregational Church vestry in Island Falls. Jackie Pratt, the leader opened the meeting with the usual pledge and roll call. Shirley Sides was the loser of the week, and Annie Jane Smith was runner-up. Great job ladies!
Weight loss for the week was awesome. The secretary and treasurer gave reports for the week. Riva Hawkes led the program for the week. Her topic was on an article from the Prevention magazine.
Meetings are interesting and very informative. Please feel welcome to join our group every Wednesday. Weigh-in is from 8-8:45 a.m., and meeting starts at 9 a.m. Call 365-4884 for more info.
Spring is just around the bend, so get those extra pounds off. See you there!
Island Falls
On March 3 the Log Drivers annual cookout was held at the Big Valley’s club house on Route 2 Despite the poor , snowy, slippery weather a fairly good crowd turned out to enjoy the good food prepared and the good biscuits and doughnuts prepared at the spot. Cooking the biscuits were Janet and Bruce Willette, Louis Conrand and Gil Sirois and frying the doughnuts were Ted and Terry Pettengill, from Patten.
This has been an annual event for a good many years and is looked forward to by many. Frank and Mary Stiles, former residents of Island Falls, traveled from the warm south to attend this event and to extend their visit to three weeks in order to visit with friends and to enjoy snowmobiling.
I have heard that Jerolyn Ireland is doing very well following a serious accident and is expected to spend some more time in Bangor while undergoing rehab for her injured shoulders. I have had a good time lately enjoying the antics of the squirrels around my feeders. One gray squirrel is still clinging to the big feeder, upside down, while trying to get at the seeds in the small holes and the frustrated red squirrel sits on my front steps watching him and chattering away at him. Now have two red ones and two gray ones and sometimes they have a ball chasing each other around the cedar tree. They also like the peanut butter mixture I put on the tree limbs so the small birds sometimes have to wait to get their share.
I had a phone call from a Mr. Sholler, former resident of Merrill, and he wanted me to know that he feeds birds too, and is now making a peanut butter and lard mixture for them. He lives in Lebanon, near Sanford, and has lots of birds, and subscribes to the Pioneer to keep in touch with friends doings.
I had five deer the other day to enjoy the apples I give them but usually only have two, and once in a great while, I have four there. Was watching them yesterday at about dusk when they were spooked by someone who had seen them from the road and took off to the woods. Later they came back and ate it all.
Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
Another bright and sunny Sunday in Houlton, Maine. There is a little wind but the sky is bright and it is a good day, in the low 40s, for those out of state who like to keep track of those facts. We are well into the month of March. Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 11, so mark your calendars for that change. Remember, the old saying, ‘’Spring ahead and fall behind.’’
My neighbor, Barbara Spellman, spent some time in Houlton Regional Hospital in February, transferred to a hospital in Bangor and now is at Westgate Manor, where she is a resident. If you want to call Barbara or send her a card, you may do so at this address: Westgate Manor, 750 Union Street, Bangor, Maine 04401, telephone 207 942-7336. She has many friends and I’m sure she would be delighted to hear from some of them.
My new neighbor from Caribou is Barbara Ganem. We hope you have a long and happy life here, Barbara. Joe Garnett has a new drum and is making some noise lately (on the drum, of course). Lenten season is well into its second week. The ecumenical programs on Wednesday evenings are well attended. You can find the schedule in another issue of Houlton Pioneer Times.
Lillian Stairs is a patient at Houlton Regional Hospital where she has been for a couple of weeks. ‘’Let Justice Prevail’’ was the theme for the World Day of Prayer, Malaysia was the country so honored. It was a wonderful program with many ladies representing various churches locally and led by Deacon Albert Burleigh of St. Mary of the Visitation at St. Mary’s. We thank Deacon Al for the luncheon he sponsored and cooked. It was delicious. Also thanks to all those ladies who took the initiative to show up and pray for their faith and the faith of another country. With all, we can do it together—let justice prevail.
Joyce Bryant had a birthday party for her son Randy several weeks ago. Even though, this birthday has gone by, Joyce will be delighted that it is finally in the Ricker Rumblings. Joyce had a cake, gifts and several of Randy’s friends were present.
We had another Bingo on Wednesday. Robin Chambers brought cup cakes with a filling to delight. A large platter of home baked brownies were presented by another baker, who is also a wonderful baker. We love those treats.
Our office will be closed for a couple days, March 12 and 13 and will reopen on March 14.
Did I tell you my Christmas cactus has blossomed again? It is truly beautiful, so if you see one in the computer room, you will know that I’m showing off!
Congratulations to all the basketball teams and all those involved with the basketball tournament. They have served their high school well and deserve much credit. Surely I enjoyed watching the teams on television.
St., Patrick’s Bazaar is slated for Saturday, March 17, at the parish center and parish hall of St. Mary’s Church. If you want a good time, music, games, dinner, friends — come to the bazaar. It’s always a fun place to be!
Be an angel to someone today. Give without asking for anything in return. Help without hindering. Care without controlling. Listen without lecturing. Love without limiting.
Have a good week, keep safe and healthy.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly
ME 0233, HOULTON
by Lois Downing
Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Chapter 0233 of Houlton met at the Aldergate building on High Street for its Friday, March 2, meeting. Denise Clark, leader, was in charge. Nineteen TOPS were present including three KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly).
Reports were given by Joanne Scott and Charlotte Marley. Janette Nelson gave a February report of the finances. Loser of ther week was Denise with Darren runner-up.
Barbara Troy explained the Shamrock contest and told the contestants how to earn stickers for their shamrocks.
Election of officers was held with these results: leader, Diane Folsom; co-leader, Bonnie Wotton; secretary, Brenda Lacostic and treasurer, Janette Nelson. Installation will take place soon. Joyce Estey and her daughter Margaret Hagerman attended after a long absence also Gerry McAfee and all were welcomed back.
Weigh-in is 8-8:45 every Friday; the meeting starts at 9 a.m. and usually lasts an hour. No weigh-ins are held after 8:45 to allow the officers to compute their figures.
The next meeting will be March 9. If you need more information about the chapter, you may call Betty Ivey at 532-9653 or Charlotte Marley at 757-8384. Come, enjoy and take off weight.
