ImageTown Council notes
The Washburn Town Council held their regular meeting on Monday, May 14, at the Washburn Civic Center at 7 p.m. During the public participation segment, the Council members and Municipal Officers were thanked for their professionalism in the daily operations of our community.
The Council signed forms enabling the Trail Runners to apply for some grant money, and it was noted that the Trail Runners had been recognized by the state of Maine for being in the Top 10 for Largest Membership. The Washburn club ranked eight out of approximately 280 clubs statewide. The Council reviewed and approved meeting minutes from the April 9 and May 8 and 9 emergency Council meetings. They also reviewed and voted to approve financial figures through April 30.
John Edgecomb, town manager of Mapleton, attended the Council meeting and answered some questions on a new consolidation project being considered by Washburn, Wade and Perham. Also present were municipal officials Donna and Andy Turner and Jerry Dow, from Wade and Perham. Edgecomb shared some information and will assist our three communities to perhaps get a head start on ideas to do the best job possible on this new program. The idea is to exchange and share duties and equipment in areas such as road maintenance and plowing, fire protection and code and assessing work. The project would end in a variety of cost savings for each of the three communities.
More information and meetings along with a public hearing will be arranged in the near future. During the meeting, the Council also agreed to sign a letter to be sent to the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce supporting their application to go from a permit port to a commercial port. The June Council meeting has been re-set to June 18 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. Rresidents are urged to attend.
Birthdays and anniversaries
A special belated birthday wish goes out to Gabi Ingersoll. Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Dave Levesque, Winston Bragg, Lena Fournier, Karen Wilson, Shirley Everett, Kristen Bodecker, Colleen Plumer, Russell Woodman, Mason Sargent, Alice Bragg, Julie Tisdale, Steven Pesut, Ardis Humphrey, Lona Henderson, Philip Burchett, Randy Plissey, Athena Sargent, Sylvia Wardwell, Debbie Smith, Louise Cole, Laura Brown, Louise Cole, Gil Berube, Drucilla Turner, Ryan Huston, Roger Fitzgerald, Lewis Tuttle, Justin Bell, Kent Cunningham, Jerry Findlen, Gary Milton, Katie McIntosh, Donna Tilley, Linda Dahlgren, Tyler Belk, Brad Corey and Freida Thibodeau.
Anniversary wishes go out to Neil and Trudy Clark, Harold and Virginia Whitney, David and Tammi Easler and Pete and Laura Slay.
Upcoming events/reminders
TOPS meet each Monday at the clubhouse and for further information, contact Birdina Cochran at 455-8353.
The next scheduled planning meeting for the August Festival will be held on May 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center.
On May 23, there will be a scrapbooking class at the library at 5 p.m.
Washburn’s Paul Clayton and Friends play at the K of C building in Presque Isle on the second and last Saturday of each month. Their next scheduled session will be held on Saturday, May 26.
Municipal offices will be closed on Monday, May 28, to observe Memorial Day and will reopen on Tuesday, May 29.
Tuesdays are Bingo Nights at the Trail Runners clubhouse starting at 7 p.m. The games are open to those ages 16 and older, and there is one setup fee of $12 for an evening’s worth of fun. Snacks will also be available for purchase.
The Washburn Beaver’s ATV Club will be holding a Poker Run and Hotdog Roast on Sunday, June 3. Registration will be held at 9 a.m. and the run will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the starting point at the clubhouse on Gould Street. Prizes will be: First-$100, Second-$50, Third-$25. There will also be a 50/50 drawing as some other prizes.
Friendly Co-Op will be taking orders the week of June 4 through June 8. Scheduled delivery will be held on June 15, and all orders should be sent or phoned in no later than June 8. Email to bunny@ainop.com and telephone Brenda at 455-8421.
Ladies of the United Methodist Women’s group will be meeting at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center on June 13, at 6 p.m. and this will be their last meeting until September.
Special Notice from the Salmon Brook Historical Society. Please note that this is a change in the date from most Society meetings, being a week earlier than usual. There will be a potluck supper followed by a business meeting. The Barbershoppers will be providing entertainment after the meeting. Please bring a main dish, salad, dessert or rolls and your place setting. Bring a friend, all are welcome.
Baccalaureate Service will be held on Sunday, June 3 at 7 p.m. at the Washburn High School, and Graduation for the Class of 2007 will be held on Friday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at the high school.
Husson graduate
Lindsay McKeen Neagle recently graduated as valedictorian of her class at Husson College. She also graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree as a paralegal. She is the daughter of Jim and Lori Duncan McKeen and the wife of Joshua Neagle. Her grandparents, Hanford and Ruth Duncan, along with her Aunt, Janet Peary, traveled to Bangor to attend the graduation exercises on May 12. Lindsay is also the granddaughter of the late Elwood McKeen and Anne McKeen of Presque Isle. She is currently working at a law firm in Bangor and will be going on in her studies to become a lawyer.
Car wash and bake sale
The Washburn Pentecostal Church Youth Group will be having a Car Wash and Bake Sale on May 26, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. The cost of the car wash is on a donation basis and bake sale items will include bread, rolls, macaroni and potato salads, beans and sweets such as cookies, brownies, whoopee pies and fudge. All proceeds will be going toward a youth trip in August. In case of rain, the bake sale will take place in the church gym accessed by the back parking lot. For further information, contact Sally at 455-4805 or Angela at 764-4086.
Get Caught Reading Month
From Monday, April 9, through Friday, May 4, the four classes at Washburn District High School were embroiled in a Battle of the Books. The class who succeeded in turning in the most book reviews was rewarded with a pizza party in the teacher’s room on May 10.
Books were chosen by the students and approved by the English teachers and Mrs. Brown in the library. The reviews were then posted online on the library’s Get Caught Reading links. Students were able to see what everyone was reading at this link and the reviews contained a rating which helped others to decide if the book would be appealing to read. The Battle links can be found at: www.msad45.net/Library/Getcaughtreading/readingbattleguidelines.htm. The sophomore class had several members reading feverishly, but in the end, the juniors pulled ahead with a total of 68 books. “My motto since I have started as a library media specialist has been ‘kids who read, succeed.’ Reading is a habit that is so important throughout life and this was a fun way to reinforce that concept,” Londa Brown, librarian at Washburn District high School.
Municipal news
The town of Washburn now has the stickers needed to register ATVs, and they will have an expiration date of June 30, 2008. Fees include resident renewal-$34, new resident-$35and non-resident-$70.
The Town Office and municipal departments will be closed on Monday, May 28, to observe Memorial Day and will reopen on Tuesday, May 29, at 7 a.m.
There is a generous amount of women’s clothing available at the Civic Center. The clothes are nearly new, with some of them having never been worn. Items include coats, dresses, skirts, sweater and pants, all ranging in size from extra small to extra large. Anyone interested in looking them over can stop into the Town Office and there is no charge for any of the items.
Rec Center schedule
The Washburn Recreation Department Summer Programs information will be ready around the middle of May. Informational sheets and signup forms will be sent home by students. For further information, contact Marcie at the Rec at 455-4959. On May 23, there will be a special Noah’s Ark Build a Bear Workshop for grades 1 – 4 from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. On May 25, there will be a movie at the Rec Center for grades K-4 from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. On May 31, there will be Arts and Crafts at the Rec Center for grades 1-4 from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. For any further information on Rec Center programs, contact Marcie Barbarula at 455-4959.
Piano notes
Students of Carolyn O’Donnell’s piano class held their annual recital on Friday, May 18, at the Dunntown Advent Christian Church. A crowd of nearly 90 people attended, and they were delighted by the talents of the very young and ‘older’ high school age students. Students participating included: Elizabeth White, Abigail Currier, Alyssa Sweeney, Aaron Swanson, Karlee Bernier, Kassy Belk, Nick Silver, Clarissa Buck, McCall Turner, Macey Currier, Shannon Sweeney, Anna Cannon, Nicole Olson, Madeline Cannon and Maegan Fitzpatrick. Cameron Huston, Adam Curtis, Rebecca Campbell, Abram Bartlett, Zachary Fowler, Paige McEachern, Kayla Schurman, Jackie Abar, Nolan Gagnon and Seth Swanson. The audience enjoyed some special musical offerings including a duet done by Kayla Schurman and teacher Carolyn O’Donnell and a very impressive rendition of “The Successor” by a first-year student, high school senior Nolan Gagnon. Two students also played their own compositions. Seth Swanson, doing “For the Love of the Music,” offered it in honor of all the efforts of his teacher, Carolyn O’Donnell. Madeline Cannon also wrote her own music, “Rain Storm.” Clarissa Buck put words to her recital piece, accompanying herself with the music of “It Was Almost Like a Song.” Three senior year students, Jackie Abar, Nolan Gagnon and Seth Swanson, were given graduation gifts and appreciation applause from the audience. Carolyn O’Donnell was presented with a beautiful bouquet of fresh-cut flowers, gifts and cards as well as thanks from the students for all she had done for them. Musical scores ranged from the classical to religious and movie theme favorites to several renditions of the ever popular ragtime and patriotic offerings.
Pastor George McLaughlin gave the blessing and the group enjoyed light refreshments and fellowship after the recital, including two cakes made by Ardis Humphrey, decorated with the names of all the piano students.
Dental health poster winner
Cameron Hartford has recently won a poster contest in several areas to celebrate Dental Health Month. Cameron won first place for the Washburn Elementary School in his grade level and went on to win first place for grades 1 and 2 in the ACAP Aroostook County contest. His poster then was submitted to the State of Maine Oral Health Poster Contest, and out of 109 entries, his poster won first place again. His poster was displayed in the Maine Center for Disease Control along with other winners. Cameron is the son of Michael and Beth Hartford and the grandson of Richard and Audrey Hartford and is a second grade student in Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s class. Cameron was awarded a variety of prizes, certificates and a certificate to Barnes and Noble.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn and the surrounding communities. She can be reached at 455-8034 or e-mail gramchristie@yahoo.com.
