Island Falls news
Tom Hawkes and son, Chris, have been recent guests of mine and while here they both did a lot of outside work, such as trimming trees along the border of the lawn so that I can mow without branches hitting me in the face, and also trimming trees on the front lawn. Everything now looks quite ship shape.
The rummage and bake sale held last week at the Whittier Congregational Church was very successful with many people attending. The raffle of a basket full of handmade and homemade goodies was won by a young man from Smyrna, John White, who also happens to be a friend who enjoys the pool at Vacationland Estates with me several times a week.
Had a nice letter from Clayton Varney last week and was happy to hear that both he and Priscilla are fine and really enjoying the nice warm weather there in Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Palmer are now on their way to spend the winter months at their home in Englewood, Fla. They did get to see some snow just before they left as that freak October snowstorm left us with about 4 inches on Oct. 30 and they departed on Oct. 31. Since the weather has gotten cooler I now have quite a selection of birds at my feeders, and also a couple of red squirrels. I watched one the other day as he was busy eating all the peanut butter mixture I had put on the tree limbs. He certainly cleared those limbs of every bit of that mixture so I went out and put out a bit more so the birds could enjoy it too.
Still have several crows that continue to eat up a lot of the bread that I throw out to the deer. Haven’t seen any deer lately, but am sure they are still around as the apples I throw out disappear during the night — crows don’t like apples so they ignore them.
Also I now have no more pigeons flocking to my roof as I have a new metal roof that makes it pretty hard for them to get a purchase on for roosting and no more of them eating up the bird seed meant for the small birds.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly ME 233, Houlton
by Lois Downing
Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Chapter 0233 of Houlton, met at the Aldergate building on High Street for its Friday, Nov. 4 meeting. Eighteen ladies were in attendance; five were KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly). A guest was Valla, sister of Shirley Eithier of Brewer, who is a rejoining member.
Loser of the week was Lois Downing with runners-up Barbara Grant and Barbara Whited. Shirley Eithier won the skinny dish. Janette Nelson gave a monthly report on finances.
Denise Clark led the meeting. Her program consisted of a reading from Rick Danforth, one of our representatives.
Dec. 2 is the date for the Christmas party in Oakfield at the Smoki Haulers Snowmobile clubhouse. The program consists of bringing a wrapped gift not exceeding in value of $5.00, paying for the delicious meal they will provide.
Charlotte Marley supervised a poem called “November Next.” Ladies reading different notes were Aileen Smith, Margaret Hagerman, Joyce Estey, Denise Clark, Brenda Lacostic, Barbara Whited and Barbara Grant.
For the contest just ending Charlotte Marley for KOPS had the greatest number of stars; for TOPS, Margaret Hagerman.
The next meeting is Nov. 11, Veterans Day, and our leader said it will be a short meeting. Weigh-ins are every Friday at 8-8:45 a.m. (there is no one weighed after 8:45 a.m. The business meeting starts at 9 a.m. and usually ends at 10 a.m.
For more information about the chapter you may call 532-9653, Betty Ivey, or Charlotte Marley at 757-8483. Come, join and have fun!
Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
Another beautiful and sunny Sunday here in Houlton, Nov. 6, the Sunday Daylight Savings time ends. Friday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, a holiday. Let us all honor all veterans, all ages and color, no matter where they go or where they are from. My late husband, Dr. Milton Downing, was a veteran, I had four brothers all veterans, (one living), several uncles (too numerous to mention), nephews too!
I visited my friend, Ruth McGillicuddy, at Madigan, where she is a tenant. Before Ruth retired she was a hairdresser. Friday, November 4, was Ruth’s birthday. She was 92. Rita Benn, her sister, also a tenant at the same facility, was there to help her celebrate, is 82. Happy birthday to Ruth.
We had a storm on Friday, late afternoon and early evening. Snow was coming down hard in Hodgdon, hail in Houlton and rain and snow too. It was a brief storm but hazardous at the time. Mr. and Mrs. Keith Brennen of Island Falls was among the group of friends and family who recently visited with Priscilla Brownlow.
Our Bingo group, small in numbers, gave a goodly bit of bills (green) to the local Salvation Army recently. It was well received and will be put to good use. Joyce Bryant supplied us with candy suckers as our treat at Bingo. Thanks, Joyce. Norma Bates is walking in the halls now and is doing nicely. Her sister, Lavina Byron, assisted with the Trunk or Treat project during Halloween at Wesleyan church.
Doris Hogan has our sympathy for losing to death an angel, her granddaughter. Our sympathy is extended to her and family. Macie Fowler, our first floor tenant, was in Presque Isle on Monday. Another note on angels: Angels often speak to us in dreams, when the intellect is asleep and the intuition is turned in to the frequencies of the spirit. Have a wonderful holiday weekend, get out to vote and do your duty. Keep safe and smile. We love you.
