Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
Hello everyone again! We are now in our second week of January in the new year of 2012. My wish is that you and everyone take good care of themselves healthwise and do a good deed for the day. Helping someone always gives one a boost and besides it is the right thing to do.
What about the weather! If you don’t like it, wait a minute. Nasty underfoot, not too cold for January, not much snow yet and some sunny days. The days are longer—have you noticed a change yet?
The ice underfoot is still treacherous. One of our tenants, John Duda, fell a few weeks ago and bruised his face. I haven’t seen him yet, but luckily he didn’t break his glasses or any bones. Be careful on the ice. Lots of sand in our dooryard so that helps.
We had a smaller Bingo than usual this past week. Appointments are always an excuse but one has to keep them. Eye doctors, foot doctors, dentists, counselors, specialists, rehab, etc, the list goes on.
Attended two funerals this past week, Leigh Cummings Sr. and Michael G. Brown. Leigh was a hard worker, a family man, and to quote his son, Leigh Jr., “If you don’t need it, don’t buy it, or go without.’’ Leigh and his wife Sylvia were regular diners when Meals on Wheels was busy here. We missed them when they were unable to come. Mike and I worked at Saint Mary Church—he was sexton and I was secretary. He was always very kind, efficient and a perfect gentleman. The community and the church will miss these two men, both in their 80s. Sympathy is extended to their families.
Our office liasion Charlene Henderson has a really bad cold and her voice is weak too. Jeff Thibodeau was here one day last week but his stay was a short one.
My tidbit on angels: ‘’Look for the silver lining around any dark cloud, and you will see a circle of angels reflecting rays of hope and circles of joy.’’
Happy New Year 2012! May the New Year bring you love, joy, and peace with lots of blessings as well.
Sunday, Jan. 1, was a gloomy day, overcast a little and with the freezing rain of the day before, it is a little bit treacherous underfoot. I was fortunate to have rides to and from church, right to the door too, so that was an extra for me.
We had a little party in the third floor community room. We had lots of good food, shrimp, home baked beans and meatballs, plus other goodies. Paul Armstrong and son Paul Victor played several selections on his many instruments and Paul also sang, as did Lillian Stairs. Lillian has lots of little ditties she remembers from years past. Connie Barry accompanied Paul first and then we all lent our singing voices. George Garnett also did some playing and it was fun to learn he has that talent. Some dancing was done and yours truly received three Hawaiian leis in honor of her hula dance! Now don’t you wish you were there!
Lots of feedback on the talk at the Educational Center on Military Street, Houlton on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Many of our elderly were there to represent themselves and hear what Gov. Paul LePage and his constituents had to offer. Steve Farnham, our RSVP representative, ably addressed and kept us informed both before and after the forum. Our strongest hope is that the legislature will find in their heart not to cut back on what the elderly are receiving and find another way to balance the budget.
Lavina Byron and Norma Bates have had lots of company lately, but then they always do. Norma is busy with her treatments and always has a family member help her. Good for Norma. Lavina’s door is decorated with some nice pictures of family and friends.
Tom Vasko, our third floor tenant, who has been hospitalized, is still at Houlton Regional Hospital. He is feeling better now, and we hope will return to Ricker Plaza soon.
Nacie Fowler moved on the weekend. She went back to Oakfield after being here several months. Nacie we hope you like your new environment and are happy there. We, the Bingo group, surprised her on Wednesday by having a little get-together in her honor—we had a special peanut butter-chocolate cake in her honor. Good luck to Nacie.
Our Southern Aroostook area is in need of volunteer medical drivers. Several factors combined make self-transportation to medical appointments difficult for many elderly, disabled and children. RSVP has been working with A.R.T.S. to expand their pool of drivers. A shared need makes a much lighter need. If you are interested in being a driver, please call Bonnie Pratt (RSVP coordinator for Southern Aroostook) at 757-8355. You may also call the RSVP office at 1-800-439-1789 or 764-3396 Gini Garrett is in that office. Tammy Gagnon is your contact there. ARTS reimburses 41c a mile if you use your own vehicle. They are also working on the purchase of mini vans. If you use your own vehicle, ARTS carries an umbrella of insurance over yours.
If you know Helen Cunliffe from 95 Military St., she is celebrating a 99th birthday this week—Jan. 6, or nearby. Happy birthday to a beautiful lady!
Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? I’m trying a few, but on the whole, just want to be a better person and I mean that sincerely.
See you next week, God willing. In the meantime, here’s the quote from the Bible taken from 1 John: 37: “The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as (God) is righteous.’’
Keep well, warm and do a good deed for someone. You’ll be glad you did.
Happy Losers Meet
By Shirley Sides
By popular demand the Happy Losers will give their weekly news! On the first Wednesday of January, the Happy Losers held their weekly meeting.
Jackie Pratt, the leader, opened the meeting with the pledge and roll call. Eight ladies weighed-in and six ladies attended.
Ann Morse was the loser of the week, and Brenda Raymond was runner-up. Great job ladies!
Reports for the week were given by the secretary and treasurer. Judi MacArthur was the loser of the months of November and December.
The leader led the program for the week on an article called “Pick Simple Foods.”
Meetings are interesting and informative. Please feel welcome to the group every Wednesday 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. weigh-ins and meeting starts at 9 a.m. Call 365-4884 for more information. See you there!
Island Falls News
Mrs. John Stevens has returned home after spending a week in Winthrop with her family there, and I am sure her six Pomeranians were very happy for her return as was husband, John. Beth Savage of Manchester, N.H. and Suzanne (Savage) Brewer , husband, Steve and son, Dan of Sydney have returned home after spending the Christmas holidays with their mother, Elinor Jane Savage.
Clayton and Charlene Webb have returned home after being holiday guests of their niece and family, Greg and Darlene Kenny, and Matthew, Shawna and Trey, all of Bangor.
I am very happy to report that I have had some deer in my side lawn, although I did not see them. Discovered their hoof prints in the bit of snow by the barn and also on part of my front lawn, and the apples and bread I had put out had been eaten. Then a couple of days after that I had a quick glimpse of two as they ran across my back lawn towards the woods. I am still keeping the bird feeders full despite the efforts of the gray squirrel to keep them all empty! He still clings to the big feeder upside down with his nose stuck in the small holes where the seeds are. He has this position down to a tee and I have given up trying to discourage him. The nuthatches and chickadees, blue jays and woodpeckers are getting their fill, too, so my wild life is striving, apparently, and keeps me on my toes to fill all the feeders.
Sherman Seniors meet
The Sherman area Senior Citizens had a nice dinner even though there were only eight members present: Fran Gorman, Bonita Staples, Paul and Sandra Qualey, Annie Atkinson, Donna Grass, Linniea Perry and Ester Greenier.
Four members went to Elm Tree Diner for lunch: Fran Gorman, Donna Grass, Annie Atkinson and Linniea Perry. They attended a meeting after lunch at the College about taxes and MaineCare.
As part of their meeting, members said the Lord’s Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Sympathy and get-well cards were sent. The meeting was adjourned and members played Bingo.
The next meeting will be on the third Wednesday of the month which is Jan. 18.
TOPS 0233 Houlton
by Lois Downing
Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Chapter 0233 of Houlton met at the Aldergate building on High Street for its Friday, Dec. 30, meeting. There was a smaller attendance because of the holiday season and other reasons.
Betty Wyman and Marsha Reed are new members and were present for this meeting.
Loser of the week was Diane Folsom with Charlotte Marley as runner-up. The skinny dish was won by Kay Grass. There is only one more week for our pledge contest, we were informed by leader Denise Clark.
Barbara Troy will have charge of the new contest, Snowman.
The program headed by Denise was ‘’Feeling the crunch of rising food.’’
At the Jan. 6 meeting, 11 TOPS and four KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) attended. Folsom conducted the meeting. Marley gave the secretary’s report and Joanne Scott also gave a report.
Two new members signed up: Bonnie Wotton and Darren Lyons. Loser of the week was Betty Wyman with Janette Nelson and Marcia Reed as runners-up.
Barbara Troy gave a report on the new contest, ‘’Snowman’’; for 1/4 pound lost constitutes coloring one snowball, 1/2 pound 2 snowballs, etc. The contest will conclude at the end of January.
The skinny dish went to Donna Parent.
Diane shared her success with the Dakum diet, members had questions and she answered them.
Charlotte Marley headed a program called “Setting goals today.” Her facts were: The more weight you lose, the harder it will be to lose; the closer you get to your goal, the harder it is to reach it; the weight you can maintain may not be the weight you want to be. Then she gave each person a tape measure to measure neck, waist, hips, etc. At the end of the year, each person present and measuring will find out how close she/he is to goal. Each person was assigned a buddy to measure. The program was clever and will be nice to see how close we are to our measurements at the end of the year 2012.
The next meeting is Jan. 13 at the same location. Weigh-in is at 8-8:45 a.m. and a meeting is started at 9 a.m. The meeting usually ends an hour later. If you need more information on the chapter, you may call Betty Ivey at 532-9653 or Charlotte Marley at 757-8483 or any of the other members. Come, enjoy and take off weight; you’ll be glad you did!
