by Jennifer Buzza
The Mapleton United Methodist Church congregation honored Gertrude Iris Hudson Hughes Oakes with a 95th birthday celebration following the Feb. 5 church service. “Gertie,” as she is affectionately know to her family and friends, was born Feb. 5, 1917. She had four brothers and three sisters. Her only surviving sibling is her sister, Pearl Williams of Mapleton, who will turn 90 in September.
Gertie has attended the Mapleton United Methodist Church since the age of four and became a member April 24, 1949 when Herman Grant was the pastor.
Attending the party was Gertie’s only child, Alice Littlefield of Mapleton. Also attending were two granddaughters-in-law and two great-grandchildren. Gertie has three grandsons and eight great-grandchildren, most of whom live in the Mapleton and Presque Isle area. One grandson and one great-grandson recently moved to Texas.
Gertie enjoyed some birthday cake, opened numerous cards from well-wishers and listened to some musical entertainment compliments of her niece, Sherry Thibodeau and her husband, Bob, from Washburn.
During the celebration, Gertie was heard saying, “This is the best birthday party I have ever had!”
Birthdays
Birthday wishes this week go out to Amy Michaud, Sean Bushey, Paul Bushey, Harvey Brown IV, Shawn Ireland, Keith Flannigan, Jeff Brown, Mason Langille, Taylor MacFarline, Savannah Smith, Levi Simpson, Brandon Tenney and Tabatha Brake.
Anniversaries
Happy anniversary this week to Harvey IV and Julie Brown on the 11th, Tim and Lori Bard and Carl and Wilma Winslow on the 12th, and Allen and Mary Michaud and Steven and Andrea Smith on the 14th.
Date correction
The Mapleton Lions Club announces the continuation of the Family and Friends Night which has been the first big event of the Mapleton Daze Weekend. The Lions Chicken BBQ will be held Friday, June 29 (not June 22 as originally reported) starting at 5 p.m. The Club has a commitment from the Mapleton United Methodist Women’s group (known as the Pie Ladies) to be present and ready to sell you the pie and coffee to go with your chicken. The Presque Isle High School FFA will also be present to sell hot dogs and hamburgers. The Club is hoping other clubs and churches will join in the festivities.
Terry Sandusky, club secretary, is also announcing that the Club will continue its sponsorship of the Maple Meadow Farm Festival which has been held in conjunction with Mapleton Daze. The farm festival will run June 30-July 1. The Club will be cooking and selling its famous sausage sandwiches, as well cheeseburgers and hamburgers. There will also be excellent desserts available made by the Gregg family.
Also on Saturday, the annual Mapleton High School Reunion Dinner will be held. The Club hopes the Haystack Historical Society will hold its annual Pie and Homemade Ice Cream sale. Additionally, the club is looking for organizations to put on the Saturday breakfast and evening bean dinner.
The Mapleton Lions Club is committed to working with any groups or individuals who would like to work on developing other activities for the weekend. The club will host an open meeting in the near future for all those who would like to see Mapleton Daze continue. Be watching for date, time and place of this meeting. The Club encourages all who are interested to attend.
Fat Tuesday supper
The Mapleton United Methodist Church will be hosting a Fat Tuesday pancake supper Tuesday, Feb. 21. The meal will be served at 5 p.m. and will feature a Mardi Gras theme. Watch this column for more details as the date approaches.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115, or by e-mail at jbuzza@ainop.com.
