Patten Pioneer Days organizer reflects on successful event

    PATTEN, Maine — Patten Pioneer Days was a very exciting and busy week. Our 2012 theme “Pirates Paradise” turned out to be a fun theme with lots of different pirate activities. I would like to thank every single person who helped during the 2012 Patten Pioneer Days. Without all of you and all the other volunteers, Patten Pioneer Days wouldn’t happen.
    Monday was a busy day for the children, starting out with Patten Pentecostal VBS. The children always seem to have so much fun there. Next the children went to the town office for a Coloring Contest and Sundae Decorating. We had 50-plus children who participated. Coloring contest winners were Bryten Hartsgrove, Alexis Gardner and Brady Breton. The next event for the children was the Frog Jumping Contest. Craig Hartsgrove from Craig’s Clam Shop, who sponsors and heads up this event, has his work cut out for him each year because this event gets bigger and bigger each year. Winners with their frogs were Seth Tucker, Joshua Russell, Blake Howes and Autumn McGraw.
Families also received their list of tasks for the Week Long Family Treasure Hunt. This is an event we added this year, which we hope will get more participants each year. There were around 80 different tasks that each team had to do. Some tasks involved only one or two members per team and some involved the whole team. Stephanie McNally, her three children, two nieces and nephew were the only team to complete every task. They won a $50 gift certificate from Craig’s Clam Shop. To finish up the day’s events, a blood drive was held at the Methodist Church and sponsored by Katahdin Valley Health Center, Find your Treasure at Debbie’s Deli and Pizza and Bingo at the Patten Rec.
Tuesday’s events included a Free Heart Saver CPR Certification sponsored by Ed Noyes and the Patten Ambulance Service. Fifteen people attended the training. The children enjoyed the Bird Show at the Patten Rec. sponsored by Art and Sandy Mann and their two birds, Casey and Edgar. This year we had at least 75 people attend. We would like to say we appreciate the Mann’s for bringing their birds.
Following the bird show was a Watermelon Eating Contest and Hula Hoop Contest. Watermelon eating contest is a hit with the children every year. We had close to 60 children who participated and we love having those numbers. A big thank you goes out to Ellis Family Market for donating the watermelons and cutting them up for us. Winners for this event were Jayden Locke, Victoria Hawkins, TJ, Blake Howes and Bailey Campbell. Hula Hoop is a new event we tried this year. We had a lot of children for this event, but we need to work on something harder for them next year because the children were so good at it.
Next events were a Car Hop at Craig’s Clam Shop and Family Movie Night in the Park. The movie “Pirates of the Caribbean-Curse of the Black Pearl” was shown on a 10-foot screen starting at 9 p.m. and finishing up around 11:25 p.m. This is an event we will look forward to every year and we may even try to do this a few different times during the summer and have it in the rec during the winter.
Wednesday’s events started out with a Teddy Bear Picnic for children 7 and under. Val Nason is our talented person who puts this event together and what an awesome job she does. The children along with their teddy bears played games and earned prizes. Smokey The Bear was also there to have his pictures done with the children. Mt. Heights Health Care Facility held a pirate treasure hunt at their facility and finishing the days events was our Patten Pioneer Days Pageant. Kelly Birmingham and Melissa McGraw did a great job with decorating and working with the girls. The little ones did a dance routine and the older ones had a talent they had to perform. Winners were Josie Qualey (Little Miss Patten Pioneer Days), Isabelle Brownlee (Jr. Miss Patten Pioneer Days) and Eryca McGraw (Miss Patten Pioneer Days). Danielle Cole and her Zumba kids put on a wonderful performance while the judges were making their decisions. Thank you goes out to the pageant judges, DeAnne Matthews, Kim Sawyer and Janice Charette.
Thursday’s events included a Cancer Awareness Walk to show support for those who fought or are fighting this battle. The walk was a little over a mile and we had about 40 people attend. A book sale was held at the Veteran’s Memorial Library and also on Friday as well. Next event was our Children’s Field Day in the ball field. This event brings many children who enjoy the different games. The United Methodist Men held a Spaghetti Supper at the church and the Lumberman’s Museum also had a few different activities during their event. Danielle Cole, who teaches Zumba in our town, held a Zumba Dance Party for all ages. She attempted to have it in the basketball court, but due to rain she had to move it to the rec.
Friday’s events went really well considering the weather forecast. The rain seemed to hold off for each event, which made us happy! Starting the day was the Progressive Lunch. We had around 160 -170 people take part in this. We are very grateful for all the businesses that work towards making this successful.
The girls at the Patten Town Office (Terri Conklin, Carolyn Roy and Chris Lucka) along with Diane Peck, Paula Smallwood, Jen Hartsgrove and Krista McGraw all worked hard getting the pirate treasure chest maps and game pieces ready for each business to hand out. Raffle winners were: Ken Smith who received the adult raffle, a picture frame with different Baxter State Park scenery pictures donated by Beth Somers and the children’s raffle was won by Daniel Arnts which included different pirate games and accessories.
Next event was the Children’s Parade and Decorative Bike Contest. Winners were as follows: 1st place float was Connor Edwards / Calculations. Second place float was Ship Wrecked with Jocelyn McGraw-Lane, Libby Anderson, Hunter Anderson, Grace Anderson, Bradley Swallow, Bradley Hotham, Eryca McGraw and Devin McGraw. Bike winners were: first place Samuel Boone, second place Mickenzie Landry and third place Joey Grant. After the Children’s Parade a Foul Shooting Contest for grades 2-6 was held at the rec. and sponsored by Patten Drug Co. The children also enjoyed snow cones made by Marty Arbo and Josh Guiggey.
The Patten Historical Society and Patten Woman’s Club talked of some women who lived in Patten years ago and life of doctors long ago. Patten Pentecostal Church had its closing ceremony Friday evening and to finish up Friday’s events an adult dance at Shin Pond Pub, Chicken barbecue, Silent Auction and Fireworks were held at Shin Pond Village. Thank you to the Mt. Chase Fire Dept. for a great display of fireworks.
Saturday was a rainy, but still successful day. The rain stopped while our Main St. Parade was happening. I heard from a few different people that they felt this year’s parade was one of the best parades we had here in Patten. I do agree that we had a lot of participants for the parade and what a very hard decision for the judges but we did come up with some winners. First place was McNally Farms “Arrr” idea of Paradise. Second place was Pack 205 Boy Scouts. Third place Shin Pond Village and Best Theme winner was Calculations.
The Patten Play Ground Committee had the hot dog stand open selling hot dogs, sausage, chili dogs and drinks. We had a really good turnout of flea market/ crafters. I was worried with the rain that we would lose some people but they put their tents up and sold their merchandise in the rain. Fireman Fred was there in the gazebo singing for the crafters and the public. He does such a good job and while I was at the Children’s Carnival I could hear some young kids singing karaoke with him.
MacDonald’s Farm Petting Zoo is a hit with the children every year. Next event which has gone on for many years and people look forward to it every year is the Bean Hole Bean Dinner at the Lumberman’s Museum. There are many hard workers and cooks who make that so successful. Richardson’s Hardware held a Cow Patty Bingo on Saturday. Congrats to winner, Vicki Nanni. Ark Animal Sanctuary and crew sold pulled pork and nachos. All proceeds go for the animals. Another big event we have had the last few years is the Children’s Carnival. Again, we thought the turnout wouldn’t be like it has the last few years because of the weather but we had a good group of children attend. I would like to say thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the carnival. You all are why we are able to make this happen for the children. There are a lot of 3rd – 12th graders who played in the foul shooting and 3-on-3 contest.
The Masons had a steak dinner and the Patten Rec. held an Adult Dance Saturday. We also were able to purchase 12 bikes to raffle off for the children. The children were able to collect pirate coins and a golden ticket when they attended different activities, won an event or helped out at an event. This is one reason why we get the attendance that we do. The children are able to have lots of fun and also get the chance to win a bike. Bike winners were: Matthew Gould ,Teri Hanson, Kyle McNally, Jacob Matthews, Samuel Boone, Raven Shields, Chandler Smith, Cassie Shaw, Grace Anderson, Libby Anderson, Olivia Bowman and Jack Allen.
The home run derby was won by Jared Anderson and to finish Saturday’s events was an adult dance at the Patten Rec. Dept.
Sunday’s events included a Community Church Service and a Coed Softball Tournament. We had six teams this year, which I haven’t seen in a very long time. Congrats to the winning team, Mud Dogs.