EASTON NEWS
by Debbie Smith
Logan Halvorson, son of Barb and Phil Halvorson, was named a semifinalist eligible to compete in the Maine National Geographic Bee, sponsored by Google and Plum Creek. Logan is in grade 6 and he attends Easton Elementary School.
Bees are held in school with fourth- through eighth-grade students throughout the state to determine each school’s Geographic Bee winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which is submitted to the National Geographic Society. In each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools and the U.S. territories, the National Geographic Society invited the students with the top 100 scores to compete at the state level.
The 2010 Maine Geographic Bee will be held at the Abromson Community Education Center on the University of Southern Maine campus in Portland on Friday, April 9.
The state winner will receive $100, the “National Geographic Collegiate Atlas of the World” and a trip to Washington, D.C., where he/she will represent Maine in the national finals at the National Geographic Society headquarters, May 25-26. The first-place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the Society. The national winner will also travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid, to the Galapagos Islands. The winner will experience geography firsthand through up-close and personal encounters with the wildlife and landscape of Galapagos. Travel for the trip is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.
A teacher from the school district of the national winner will receive a trip to attend the Google Geo Teacher Institute in July 2010, where he/she will get hands-on experience with Google’s resources and learn about innovative instructional strategies. For additional information on the National Geographic Bee please visit www.nationalgeographic.com/geographicbee.
The benefit supper for Kim Hammond last Saturday night was a huge success. There was a great outpouring of love from those in attendance. The meal was delicious and everyone did a great job serving. A huge thank you to all of you who were involved, from serving, cooking, attending, cleaning up or in any other way.
The March Mardi Gras penny drive is in full swing, thanks to all who are spending their time counting and rolling coins — just one of the ways the Easton parents’ organization are helping make the school even better. This year’s money will be put toward a new stage curtain for the elementary school. This is one of the first places someone sees when they visit the building. It would be very nice to have a new, clean curtain to greet them.
We have two sets of four tickets to a Portland Sea Dogs’ game this baseball season. Tickets will be available during the parent-teacher conferences, the Olympics concert and at the school. This project will benefit the fund for a new stage curtain at the elementary school. Tickets are available for $1 or six for $5.
The Easton Happy Days Senior Citizens’ Club met for the first monthly meeting on Thursday, March 11, with 14 members and a guest speaker present.
After the potluck lunch, Carrie Hull, manager of the Easton Branch of Katahdin Trust Bank, spoke to them on ‘phishing,’ the practice of trying to get information to steal your identity and money, and ‘spoofing,’ the act of using a company’s logo on papers or the computer to con people into sending private information or money to this company.
Hull told the group that only saying “yes” when asked over the phone, if your name was so and so, is also a risk. That “yes” can be transposed into giving the scammer permission to get into lots of private information. If you are away and should need to call the bank for extra cash, the bank should have a couple of secret words to ask you to verify who you really are. She told them to be careful with their e-mail and not to open anything that they weren’t sure who it was from. She impressed on all there to never give out private information to anyone unless you’re positive who they are, or what they want it for — never over the phone or by mail, only person to person.
Criminals today are so literate in ways to scam everybody that it is wise to be on the alert all the time. Banks or companies do not call on the phone for this information. It is scary how easily one can lose all that they have to a crook.
After the speaker left, President Nina Trask opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of “America,” with Liana Demerchant at the piano. “Happy Birthday” was also sung to Joann Jaonson and Elizabeth Martin as their birthdays are in March.
Treasurer Ida Doak called the roll with these members present: Ida Doak, Nina Trask, Eldora Carter, Liana Demerchant, Ezalee Smith, Joann Johnson, Lois Ladner, Elizabeth Martin, Glenice Craig, Marie Hewitt, Helen King, Rena Richardson, Rogena Thomas and Arlene Ladner.
The Treasurer’s report was given and the secretary’s report read and both were accepted as read. Under Old Business, the issue of inviting friends to the lunch and meetings was discussed as well as those going on bus trips. It was made clear that guests could be brought to the lunch and meeting once in a while and a friend could go on a bus trip as long as they paid for their own meal. All Easton senior citizens are welcome to join the bus trips.
Lois Ladner, who assists with the programs, told the group that they would be on vacation for the next meeting, as far as the meeting was concerned. They will be served a Chinese meal along with a program on China. As there was no other business before the Club, it was voted to adjourn.
The Easton United Methodist Women met at the church dining room on Tuesday, March 16, with only six members present. A brown bag lunch was enjoyed along with pumpkin pie made by the hostess, Freda Dionne. A prayer list was made and Glenice Craig held devotions.
President Eldora Carter opened the meeting with the reading of the UMW Purpose. Freda Dionne read the minutes of the last meeting and Marie Hewitt gave the treasurer’s report; both were accepted as read.
A thank you was read from the Senior Class of the Easton Jr./ Sr. High School for the donation to Project Graduation. A letter was read from Elaine Bailey, president of the Northern District Sub-Division of the Untied Methodist Women, reminding them of the upcoming meeting on April 21 at the Mars Hill United Methodist Church. Marie also read a report that the Unit was again a five-star unit for 2008 and 2009. They were reminded that Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday would be held at the Easton Pentecostal Church, with breakfast at 6:15 a.m. and church service at 7 a.m.
Those present were: Freda Dionne, Marie Hewitt, Nina Trask, Lindy Fowler, Glenice Craig and Eldora Carter.
The Easton Kiwanis Club held their last meeting of the month on Tuesday, March 16, at the Odd Fellow’s Hall with a boiled dinner prepared by Loris Allen.
Four guests from the Presque Isle Club joined the meeting. They were: John Graves, Dianne Collins, Sheri Wilcox and Jim Nesbitt. Other guests included: Tom Osgood, Michelle Osgood, Jeremy Corey and young Karsen Winger. Members present were: President Mike Allen, Loris Allen, Harold Clark, Keith and Esther Richardson, Clair and Eldora Carter, Bernard Hussey, Ann Osgood and Mike Cyr.
The meeting was opened by President Mike Allen, with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and a prayer by Bernard Hussey. John Graves reminded the group of the upcoming Home and Garden Show which will also include the Golf Show, held at the Presque Isle Forum on April 17. He also said that the Presque Isle Kiwanis and Presque Isle Fire Department would hold a fund-raiser later — a varnished moose droppings raffle. To find out more, contact John.
Jim Nesbett informed the group of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to John by the Presque Isle Chamber of Commerce.
The president reported that the fund-raising supper for Kim Hammond was a huge success, with a great outpouring of people. He also said that much thanks goes out to the members who helped with serving and cleaning up afterwards.
Mike told the group that it was time for a new slate of officers and that he was asking for volunteers.
The meeting was closed early so that some could attend programs at the high school. Karsen Winger wielded the gavel for the closing.
On March 24, Ross Grass, Clair Carter, Everett Cronkite and Dwight Flewelling all have birthdays.
March 25 birthday wishes go out to Marcy Lamoreau and Robert Clark.
On March 26, Colby McPherson, Nichole Salavarria and Angela Nickerson will be celebrating their birthdays. Also celebrating an anniversary that same day is Ginger and Kent Smith.
On March 27, David Donahue, Sharon Jackson, Janet Coleman, Christine Wilcox and Randy Ireland will be another year older.
March 28 marks another birthday for: Rickie Hull, Bobby Dionne, Zachery Cilley, Penny Richardson, Paula Gallupe and Gabriel King.
On March 29, Kial Dionne and C.J. Hall will celebrate their birthdays.
Tuesday, March 30, will see Julie Horton, Reid Clark, Marilyn Brown and Barbara Clark turning a year older.
Blessings to you all on your special day.
Anyone interested in having people come and tour your gardens in July during Easton Field Days can contact Ellen Trask at 488-6075. Last year we toured some incredible ones. This is fun.
The class will run for eight weeks from 6-7 p.m. in the elementary school gym (Mondays from March 22 – May 10). The cost is $30. Please drop your payment off at the Town Office, checks payable to the town of Easton.
The Living Well Program is a six-week course to help people improve their health one step at a time. Participants will learn: how to set goals that are doable; stress management techniques; how to find solutions and support to problems; tips for coping with sadness, pain, and extreme tiredness; how relax and enjoy life; nutrition; exercise and communication skills. Lunch will be provided each class, a $2 donation towards is the cost of food is requested. For more information contact Hillary at 551-7737 or Darcy at 768-4081. The class will be taught by representatives from TAMC and the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging.
Save the date — Saturday, April 3, will be the Recreation Department’s annual Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt at 9:30 a.m. in the elementary school cafeteria.
Wednesday, March 24 — No junior activities today due to field trip. APE Day at UMPI from (9 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.) open to grades 6-8. Gymnastics class in Mars Hill starting at 3:15 p.m. and returning at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 25 — Field trip to Bradbury’s Maple Syrup. The bus will depart from the elementary school at noon time and return to the hall at 2:30 p.m. The cost is $2. Open to grades 1 and up. (This is an early-release day from school).
Friday, March 26 — Junior activities (for ages 2 through ECP) at the hall from 9:30-11 a.m. Seniors’ Living Well Class from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the recreation room at the manor. The cost is $2 for lunch. Field trip to the movies and lunch at McDonald’s. The bus will depart from the hall at 11:30 a.m. and return around 3 p.m. The cost for the movie is $5 (tickets, soda & popcorn) and participants are responsible for their own lunch. Grade 5 and 6 boys’ tournament is continued in Caribou. Time TBA.
Saturday, March 27 — Grade 5 and 6 boys’ tournament is continued in Caribou. Times TBA.
Monday, March 29 — Senior nutrition class starting at 11 a.m. in the recreation room at the manor. The cost is $2. Open gym after school until 4 p.m. in the elementary school gym.
Tuesday, March 30 — Swimming lessons at the PI Indoor Pool. The bus departs directly after school and will return to the hall at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $24 and lessons are open to grades 1 and up.
Debbie Smith is the correspondent for Easton. She can be reached by e-mail at debbiesmith04_69@hotmail.com or call 488-5530.
