MARS HILL NEWS
by Tomi Henderson
Plans for Homecoming 2014 are underway, with festivities to be held on Aug. 8-10.
Friday’s activities take place from the Mars Hill Town Office to the fire department and park areas and include the Library Tag Sale at Grew’s store from 3-7 p.m., the Rotary Car Hop Supper from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Kids Bike Parade, Gospel music and ‘50s and ‘60s music by the Kinneys and other artists, laser tag, bingo and a teen dance.
On Saturday, following the 10 a.m. Parade, plans from noon to 4 p.m. include various activities at the high school such as antique and classic car show, firemen’s muster, reunion tents, library book sale, craft booths, bake sale booths, karaoke with Fireman Fred, Key Stone Cops, bounce house, photo booth, karate demonstration 1-1:30 p.m., and a cribbage tournament 1-3 p.m. The Mars Hill Fire Department will be doing a chicken barbecue dinner on Saturday from 4:30-7 p.m. The Variety Show will take place 7-8 p.m. and from 8:30-10 p.m. will be a Family Outdoor Movie featuring “Cars 2”.
Sunday’s events include a bike ride around Mars Hill Mountain, leaving from Fort Street Elementary School at 10 a.m., as well as Gospel music from 2-4 p.m. in the afternoon in the CAHS parking lot.
Brochures are available at different locations around town as well as at the Presque Isle Chamber of Commerce.
Aroostook Health Center
Upcoming events for the week of Aug. 6-12 include: Wednesday is Diner Day and will feature the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Wii Bowling at 9 a.m., Table Tennis at 10 a.m. and Karaoke with Bill Deschesne at 1:30 p.m. Thursday is Open House and will feature the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo Bucks at 9:30 a.m., BYF Potluck Dinner at 11 a.m. and Faith Baptist at 6:30 p.m. Friday will feature Five Card Bingo at 9:30 a.m. and Movie Matinee, featuring “Charlotte’s Web,” at 1:30 p.m. with popcorn and Coke floats. Saturday will feature the Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. and Karaoke with The Deschesnes at 6:30 p.m. Sunday will feature the APC Church Service at 3 p.m. Monday will feature Nail Beautiful a 9:30 a.m., Patio Social and Card Games at 1:30 p.m., and Gospel Group at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will feature the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m. and Card Games at 1:30 p.m. All of these activities are subject to change. If you would like to volunteer to help with any of these activities, call Connie or Vicki at 768-4915.
Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met on July 29 at 6:30 a.m. at the Aroostook Health Center. The special speaker was Kayla Cushman, a student at Ohio University. She showed slides and spoke about the Missions Trip she took to Guatemala City in December 2013. She spoke about the week they spent there working with 60-70 kids each day. They played games, told Bible stories and did projects with them.
They also were able to go to a marketplace, which was full of different colors. Each region typically has certain colors they use. She enjoyed speaking Spanish and bartering with the shopkeepers.
There are few automobiles in the city as most people walk, ride bikes or use public transportation. There is also a big problem with gang violence in the city, with gangs coercing young children into working for them.
School starting
The first student day for SAD 42 schools will be on Monday, Aug. 18, according to Superintendent of Schools Roger Shaw. Workshops for teachers will be held on Thursday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 15, beginning at 8 a.m. in the music room at Central Aroostook Jr/Sr High School. Lunch will be on your own. First aid for bus drivers will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the high school with the school nurse. The regular bus driver meeting will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Superintendent’s Office.
New students to the area may register for Jr/Sr high school (grades 7-12) classes at the Central Aroostook Jr/Sr High School, 26 Pleasant St., on Aug. 11-15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Guidance Office. Parents wishing to register Pre-K-6 students may do so at Fort Street Elementary School, 38 Fort St., Aug. 11-15 from 8 a. m. to 3 p.m.
The bus schedule will remain the same as last year. Hot lunches will be available beginning the first day of school at a price of $1.95 at the elementary school and $2.20 at the Jr/Sr high school. Reduced-priced meals are $.40 cents for all qualifying students at both schools. A breakfast program is also offered at both the elementary and Jr/Sr high schools. Breakfast prices are $1.15 for both schools or free for qualifying students. Applications must be approved prior to receiving free or reduced meals. Only one application per family is required. There will be no charging of school lunches/breakfast. Please plan accordingly.
Anyone having questions regarding the 2014-15 school year may contact the Superintendent’s Office at 425-3771, the Jr/Sr high school at 425-2811 or the Fort Street Elementary School at 429-9514 during regular business hours.
Westfield Days
This year’s Westfield Jubilee will take place on Aug. 22-24. A new committee has been formed, with some new ideas for activities for this old-fashioned weekend. The committee is headed up by Tammy Carson, who can be reached at 429-1015. Any vendors, entertainers or operators that have been involved in the past, or would like to participate this year is asked to contact Tammy. Anyone that would like to be part of the planning committee is also asked to contact Tammy.
Library fundraiser
The Library’s Tag Sale fundraiser will be open on the weekend of Homecoming. The hours will be Friday, Aug. 8, beginning at 3 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. There will also be a book sale on Saturday afternoon at CAHS during Homecoming activities.
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached by emailing tomihen@yahoo.com.
