In 1925, as an ambassador for the newly formed American Foundation for the Blind, Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention in Cedar Point, Ohio.
“Try to imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly stricken blind today,” Keller asked Lions members packed into the convention hall. “Picture yourself stumbling and groping at noonday as in the night; your work, your independence gone.”
She went on to describe many challenges a blind and deaf person faces in daily living. As she closed her speech, Keller called upon the Lions Club members across the nation with this challenge: “Will you not constitute yourselves knights of the blind in this crusade against darkness?”
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
This challenge was gladly accepted and continues to be a key goal of Lions Clubs today.
On March 3, the Mapleton Lions Club hosted Sophie DiMaio, who works for the Maine Division of the Blind and Visually Impaired, which is part of the Maine Department of Labor. She also works with the Iris Network that reaches across the state to meet the needs of the blind and visually impaired.
The Club continues to help meet needs of financially challenged individuals who need eye examinations, glasses and other visual supports. The Club covers Mapleton, Castle Hill, Chapman and Presque Isle. Each year a number of children and adults get the help they need to deal with blindness or visual impairment. At the meeting, the Mapleton Lions Club renewed their ongoing efforts to fight preventable blindness.
There are three other Lions Clubs in Aroostook County. The Fort Fairfield club represents the Fort Fairfield and Caribou areas, while the Fort Kent and Van Buren clubs handle needs in the St. John Valley. For assistance from any Lions Club, contact any member.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Lions close season
On Feb. 22, Mapleton’s extended holiday season ended as the Lions took down and stored the holiday lights that decorated Main Street.
In 2022, the club in partnership with the Tri-Town Holiday Committee replaced the aging lighted Christmas wreaths that the club had hung on Main Street for the past decade. That first year there were 23 new lights, and last year 11 were added to light Main Street from just below the Dudley Road to the Mapleton Baptist Church.
This season the Club added another 10 lights. making a total of 44 lights starting just past Grendell Road and extending to Dudley Road. The expanded street lighting this season required new pole connections and the Mapleton Lions Club appreciates the assistance of Peter LaJoie and Versant Power in preparing the connectors and making the connections for the lights.
Just before the connection of the lights, Aroostook County experienced a severe storm that created several power outages. This delayed the connection of the lights as the power company had to address other more pressing storm damage needs. Also, materials for making the new additional connector boxes were back ordered, which added to the delay.
However once the lights were up and working, the club decided to extend the holiday season. Then weather turned severe and delayed the takedown of the lights until recently.
The club appreciates the many compliments on the new lighting. The effort was made possible with the vision, help and guidance of Jeff Clark and Elizabeth McHatten, who encouraged the club to invest in high-quality, professional lighting.
Later this summer a permanent guide will be installed at the Mapleton Lions Hall that will outline the sponsors and dedications of the lights. The donations and sponsors from the community residents, organizations and businesses made the holiday lighting of Main Street possible. The Mapleton Lions Club thanks all who supported the project.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
