Association makes summer plans
MARS HILL NEWS
by Tomi Henderson
There will be a Bridgewater Historical Association meeting on Wednesday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at the BHA Hall.
A special thank you goes out to everyone who helped get the hall ready for this season. There was much to clean, some painting was done, plumbing work was done and, last but not least, the side stairs were replaced. Great job everyone!! Thank you.
Our Thursday Night Music will begin shortly. This year will be a bit different. The hall’s band “Outside In” will be performing. It will not be an open jam. So get your dancing shoes warmed up and get ready to have a great time. It is a very relaxed atmosphere and we are all there to have fun. We look forward to seeing you there.
If we can get it set up, we hope to have an open mic night on an another evening. We’ll keep you posted on that. We are also planning on having some yard sales this year. If you would like to make a donation, please contact us: Bridgewater Historical Association, P.O. Box 341, Bridgewater, ME 04735; or call Jann Votaw, president, at 425-7901.
The BHA extends congratulations to Little Miss Bridgewater 2011 Jenna Rusby and Junior Miss Bridgewater 2011 Halee Rusby. All the contestants did a great job.
Easton bonnets
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Lillie Mahan, left, and Logan Deschaine pose with the Easter baskets they won following the Easter egg hunt in Mars Hill on Saturday, April 23, at Fort Street Elementary School.
Every child had a ticket and the Easter Bunny (Mia Pangburn) drew two tickets for the prizes.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Modeling their Easton bonnets at the Aroostook Health Center on April 20 were several workers from the facility. Pictured are, in front from left: Vicki Jackson, Tee Pierce and Janet Sawyer. In back: Myrna Long, Pam Codrey, Denise Kingsbury, Connie Durost, Mary Martin and Tomi Henderson.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Tee Pierce shows off the “bunny special” hat
she donned for the Easter Bonnet Parade
at the Aroostook Health Center on April 20.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Priscilla Smith
played several numbers on the piano
as the Easter Bonnet Parade was going on
at the Aroostook Health Center on April 20.
She showed that she can still tickle the old ivories!!
Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met on Tuesday morning, May 3, at 6:30 at the Aroostook Health Center. The special speaker was Jason Parent, director of development and college affairs at Northern Maine Community College. Jason is also the president of the Maine delegation for L’Acadie Du Monde — Acadia of the Lands and Forests — 2014. He spoke about the World Acadien Congress to be held in northern Maine Aug. 8-24, 2014.
The congress is held every five years — and was held in Nova Scotia in 2004 and New Brunswick in 2009. Jason is currently working on event programming and regional activities, on building awareness and development, and fundraising for the 2014 event. This huge celebration includes over 300 activities, such as family reunions, local ceremonies, musical and theatrical productions, conferences, cultural performances and sporting events. There are also forums held for women and youth.
Around 50,000 visitors are expected from around the world, with an estimated economic impact of between $30 and $50 million for the host region. There will be 30 jobs directly related to the Congress and 160 more indirectly related. There is worldwide exposure for the host region. There is to be an $8 million investment by the provincial, state and federal governments, with another $3 to 5 million in private sponsorships.
The 2014 Congress is bringing together neighboring regions from two nations, two provinces, one state and five counties.
Volunteers will be needed to help welcome the world to all of Maine and Aroostook County. For more information, contact Jason at jparent@nmcc.edu.
LEARNING BICYCLE SAFETY
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Julie French, certified instructor from the Maine Bicycle Coalition, poses with some of the Fort Street Elementary School students in Mars Hill following her Bike and Pedestrian Safety Day demonstration on April 15. Pictured are, in front from left: Lucas Haines, Jack Bailey, McKenzie Green, Tyler Brewer and Nathan Chandler. In the middle: Elizabeth Hotham, Libby Grass, Josh Thomas, Megan Brewer, Grayson McKenney, Sarah Maillett, Benjamin Delong, Josh Dahl, Emma Fletcher and Bryan Anthony. In back: Alex Toby, Samantha McCrum, Brandon Wright, Stetson Nicholas, Makayla Bernier and Malachi Fitzherbert.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Julie French, certified instructor from the Maine Bicycle Coalition, and Grayson McKenney, Fort Street Elementary student, demonstrate the difference between going with the flow of traffic while biking and going against the flow of traffic while walking. Julie spoke to the students on April 15 for Bike and Pedestrian Safety Day.
Girl Scout Bronze Award
Sixteen members of Junior Girl Scout Troop 59 in Mars Hill received their Bronze Award on Saturday, April 30. The girls started planning their Bronze Award project in the spring of 2010. They initially identified 47 things that needed to be done at the Mars Hill and Blaine Community Center, but decided to concentrate their efforts on redoing the locker rooms.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Junior Girl Scout Troop 59 in Mars Hill received their Bronze Awards on Saturday, April 30. Pictured are, front from left: Kassidy Levesque, Olivia Pelletier, Ashlee Harris, Kayla Decker, Lydia Miller, Lillie Mahan, Michaela Pelletier, Holly O’Leary and Caitlyn Harris. In back: Leader Brianne O’Leary, Jillian Tweedie, Natalie Gillen, Jessica Thomas, Isabelle Wright, Keara McCrum, Allisa Hatt, Alysha Decker and Leader Angela McCrum. The girls are posed in front of the wall they painted in the girls’ locker room at the Mars Hill and Blaine Community Center.
With much help, they have repaired the walls, painted them, replaced the fixtures, installed lockers and cubbies, and much more. Each Scout has put in more than 15 hours of work on the project under the leadership of Angela McCrum and Brianne O’Leary. The Bronze Award is the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can achieve.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
Lydia Miller, at left, is pinned with her Bronze Award by Leader Angela McCrum while Leader Brianne O’Leary gets ready to pin Lillie Mahan, with Natalie Gillen waiting her turn. Jillian Tweedie, who had already received her pin, is partially hidden by Lydia. All 16 members of the troop received their Bronze Awards, the highest available for a Junior Girl Scout, for all the work they did in rejuvenating the locker rooms at the Mars Hill and Blaine Community Center.
The troop held an open house following their Bronze Award ceremony at the Community Center and proudly showed off their efforts. They presented a special flower to each one that helped them with this project as part of the ceremony.
They want to thank several people and organizations for their help: Dave Collins for opening the building as needed, Steve Fletcher for patching the holes in the walls, John York and Tyler Rusby for making and painting the cubbies for the boys’ locker room, Ned Ketchum for making and painting the lockers for the girls’ locker room, Tracey O’Leary for helping with the finishing touches, County Super Spuds and JDR Transport for purchasing the new sinks and toilets, The Sign Place for signs, and Dan McClung and the Town of Mars Hill. Thanks also go to Jay and Sue McCrum, Mr. and Mrs. Ketchum, and the Mars Hill Rotary Club for their financial contributions. A very special thank-you goes to Dayna McCrum for all her help, smiles and encouragement.
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached at 429-9126 or e-mail tomihen@yahoo.com
