Halloween Dance in Bridgewater
By Jann Bonkowski Votaw
This Saturday the Bridgewater Historical will hold its annual Halloween Dance at their hall located at 485 Main Rd in Bridgewater from 8 p.m. until midnight. Tickets for the dance are $7 if you come in a costume and $9 if you don’t. Last year about 99 percent of our attendees had costumes on. Fun was had by all. There will be lots of good music to dance to and lots of goodies to eat. There will be a costume contest with prizes for the Best, Scariest, and the most original costumes. A pumpkin decorating contest will take place too. Bring in a decorated pumpkin, donate $2 and the winner will split the pot with the BHA.
We will have tickets on sale for the raffle to help us get a pen for the Maine State Trooper Canine Officer, Gleni who is stationed in Houlton at the dance. First Prize is a handmade quilt by Shirley Drew of Oakfield, Second Prize is a wood carving, “Three ducks on the wing”, (My error I previously called it Three Geese on the wing, it is ducks), made by Dee & Phyllis Cote of Littleton, and the Third Prize is a food basket with items donated by BHA members. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.. The drawing will take place in December.
For more information about events and/or to join the BHA call me at 425-7901. Once again thank you to all who support the BHA.
Happy Losers gather
By Shirley Sides
On Oct. 17 the Happy Losers held the weekly meeting at the Congregational Church vestry in Island Falls. Jackie Pratt, the leader opened the meeting with the usual pledge and roll call.
Nine ladies weighed-in and seven attended the class. Weight loss for the week was great!!
Jackie Pratt was the person who lost the most weight for the week. Loretta Bouchard was runner-up. Great job ladies.
Reports were given by the secretary and treasuer for the week. The leader led the program for the week. Her topic was called The Power of Pumpkin. Pumpkin lifts moods and helps with vision.. Meetings are always interesting and informative.
Please feel welcome to our group every Wed., weigh-in from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and the meeting starts at 9 a.m. Call 365-4884 for more info. See you there!
Purple Hat Society
by Lois Downing
The ladies of the Purple Hat Society met at Smoki-Haulers Snowmobile clubhouse in Oakfield Tuesday, Oct. 17. Seventeen members were in attendance with one guest. The program was a Halloween party and that it was.
The blessing for the meal was given by Wannetta Townsend. Halloween favors decorated the tables, and were given to those who wanted to take them home. A portion of the members came in Halloween costume; others decorated their Purple Hats and there were some funny hats!
‘’Happy Birthday’’ was sung to several ladies. Readings were given by Cindy Gray, Mildred Gagnon, Jackie Colella and Betty Wyman.
A Halloween Story was created and directed by Charlotte Marley, leader. Each story was different, with the theme being the same. The groups turned it into fun, fun, fun and all were unique. Ring toss, bowling, and bat the ball were played; the funniest part was the ones who tried to keep the Hula Hoop going. That’s a feat in itself.
Purple purses were given to Arlene Friel and Marsha Reed. The meeting in November will be at Grammy’s in Linneus. A non-perishable item will be brought to the meeting by each lady, if possible, for the Food Pantry. Plans were made for the Christmas party.
Attending the October meeting were: Jackie Colella, Wannetta Townsend, Marsha Reed, Marie Gillotti, Betty Wyman, Cindy Gray, Doreen Messina.
Also, Sandy Wyman, Delores Locke, Arlene Friel, Evelyn Johnston, Ursula Levesque, Mildred Gagnon, Bernice Campbell and Elaine Barrett. Also, Sandra Holmes, Charlotte Marley and guest Joe Messina.
Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
What a beautiful Sunday this is! It’s dusk at 5:15 p.m. but that will change next week or whenever we change to a new time system, then it will be dark at 4-5 p.m. Many don’t like changing clocks. How do you feel about it?
Sylvia Thompson has been taking a lot of time with our flower garden, covering it up at night when a frost is expected. Sylvia’s green thumb is proving she is a pro at it. She has a fancy cover that is handy whever she wants to place it over our garden.
A new construction is going up on the Bangor Road, an office building, I’m told. Have you noticed?
Judy Wolf is visiting with Peggy Robinson. Judy is from Hunters, WA. She is here to visit her son and his family in the Hodgdon Amish Community.
The office is closed for several days. Charlene and hubby Brian (Henderson) are in Florida. Charlene, we hope, is relaxing and doing what she should for a well earned vacation. One funny story is she related is one of the grandchildren wanted to know where his ‘’ticket’’ was! Too cute for words.
Lois Downing has been showing off her Christmas catcus as it is in the ‘’computer room.’’ The cactus is filled with pink blossoms.
One can take old eyeglasses to Dr. Goodwin’s on Main Street. They will send them overseas for the needy. The writer has several she is taking there soon.
Bible verse is taken from Ephesians 4-1: ‘’I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received.’’
Joyce Madigan of Highland Avenue had a ‘’Happy Birthday’’ sung to her by the technicians and men/women in one of the ‘’rehab’’ classes at Houlton Regional Hospital. Joyce turned 90 and celebrated with family, a son from California, all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at her home. Many more to come, Joyce, a very sweet and lively person.
Have a wonderful week.
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 on Friday, October 19 for its weekly meeting. Leader Diane Folsom was present and handed the program over to Charlotte Marley. Fifteen TOPS ladies were present, plus five KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly).
Loser of the week was Marsha Reed with runners-up Diane Folsom and Mildred Gagnon. The skinny dish was taken home by Marsha. Sherrill Driscoll was welcomed back after a long absence.
We all signed our contest papers and returned them to chairman Betty Ivey. Barbara Troy led us with several minutes of exercises. Allie Smith’s husband gave pumpkins to us and each one exercising held one in her hand while doing the exercises. It proved to be very beneficial.
Charlotte read a letter from Janice Cote, our chapter representative, denoting the workshop in Washburn Saturday, November 3. The workshop consists of a Christmas party, each member bringing a gift (if he/she joins in the gift exchange).
In charge of the weekly program was Shirley Ethier, her program being cholesterol. Shirley informed us you must know your numbers pertaining to cholesterol. She explained what HDL (good) and LDL (bad) means. One should have it checked every five years. When your cholesterol is high, it can affect your heart, lungs, liver, etc.
The next meeting is next Friday, October 26. Weigh-in is 8-8:45 every Friday with the meeting commencing at 9 o’clock and lasting an hour.
For more information ion the chapter, you may call Charlotte Marley at 757-8483 or Betty Ivey at 532-9653.
Come, enjoy and take off weight. You’ll be glad you did!
Island Falls
Tom Hawkes, son Chris and grandson, Joshua, arrived from Glenburn a few days ago armed with axe and chain saw to do some cosmetic work around my place on the outside.
I had lots of branches trimmed, especially those that were interfering with my mowing during the summer. Joshua had a great time using my leaf-picker to clear up a lot of leaves. After a hearty meal and a visit, all left for home and a rest. Heard recently from the Delongs, who now live in Florida. All is well with them and they were sorry they were unable to come to Maine for a visit this summer.
There will soon be a new restaurant here in town as the Red Brick garage is now under reconstruction and plans are for the opening in March for the restaurent which will have (hopefully) a small deck overlooking the river for the patrons to enjoy.
Found out the other day from my next door neighbor that the animal attacking my bird feeders was a deer. She spied one not long ago under the cedar tree just as it was getting dark and and it was really working hard to get at the sunflower seeds. I have found two of my feeders on the ground lately quite aways from the cedar tree so the deer must have dragged them off. Still have old bread that I will now start throwing out for them and maybe they will leave the feeders alone. I have many grosbeaks now and an occasional woodpecker and lots of the little birds, nuthatches, chickadees, wrens and redpoles. It’s fun to watch them darting around each other as they feed. And the red squirrel was back the other day and I laughed as he made a leap toward one of the feeders out on a branch—-missed the feeder and fell to the ground, and left in a bad mood, I’m sure.
