Halloween activity
It is time once again to start thinking about Halloween and the Rec party. We are trying to get notice to everyone early this year so that your donations may come in sooner so we can plan appropriately for the party. If anyone is interested in helping plan or work at the party, please contact Dave at either the Rec office or by cell at 227-0485. Thank you for your help and support. The 2007 ‘No Trick or Treat’ Halloween Party, sponsored by the Mars Hill Recreation Department, is just a week away. This year the party will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 31. This is the 16th annual ‘No Trick or Treat’ party for children in grade 6 and under. The party will be held at the Mars Hill/Blaine Community Center gym from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m.
The party will resemble a penny carnival with no admission or charge to play the games. Just by playing a game, the kids will get a piece of candy, and the more they play and win, the more candy and prizes they will get. Every child attending should bring a bag or jack-o-lantern to collect their candy in. Supper will be available, such as hotdogs, chips, popcorn, soda, punch, etc. All is free for the children, the only fee charged will be a $5 fee to have your child’s picture taken in one of the Halloween cut-outs we have designed if you would like one. We will have a few new games this year as well as a 50/50 drawing for the adults at 7:30 p.m.
The party is set up so no children have to go door to door trick or treating. Everything for the kids is free, because everything given away at the party is donated by area citizens, businesses and organizations, from Mars Hill to Presque Isle.
We are hoping this will not be the last year for the party, as the donations have been getting smaller and smaller the last few years. The party does cost quite a bit due to all the candy that has to be purchased to be given out.
Please make your donations at the Mars Hill Town Office during business hours. Candy donations only can be dropped off at either the Mars Hill Town Office or Fort Street Elementary School.
We would like to take this opportunity to request a donation from you for our party. Your help is greatly appreciated by all the children attending(usually around 300-400).
Library news
The Walter T. A. Hansen Memorial Library is looking for volunteers. They would like to find someone that would be willing to write grants for the library and one who would coordinate the activities that take place at the facility.
There are also other ways that one can volunteer – sign up to decorate the library for the month or to read and review a book. There are many things that need to be done that volunteers can do to help out the facility.
Upcoming activities include a Medicare Part D informational meeting / sign-up. Information will be provided when a date is set for this.
The library now has wireless Internet available.
The library hours are: Mon., Tues., Thur. – 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Wed. – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. – 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The phone number is 429-9625.
Book club
The Tuesday Evening Book Club will hold an organizational meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Walter T. A. Hansen Memorial Library. It is expected that the group will meet monthly at the library.
All are welcome and encouraged to bring their ideas and enthusiasm to the first meeting. Those who choose to participate will be expected to read a chosen book each month and attend the monthly meeting prepared to discuss the book. Each person will have an opportunity to select or help select a book for the group to read and lead the discussion of the chosen book.
For more information, please contact Rita Kingsbury at 429-9359.
Annual Craft Fair
The Episcopal Church of Mars Hill will hold their annual craft sale on Saturday, Nov. 3. There are opening for crafters to display their crafts. Please call Cherry Cowen at 429-9892 after 5 p.m. to reserve a space.
Community Cupboard date change
Due to Thanksgiving and Christmas falling after the regularly scheduled second distribution date in each month, the dates will be changed to Nov. 20 and Dec. 18 respectively. The cupboard is open from 6-8 p.m. on these dates.
The cupboard’s usual distribution dates and times are the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. The second Tuesday is open from 1-3 p.m.; the fourth Tuesday is open from 6-8 p.m. The cupboard services the towns of Easton, Westfield, Mars Hill, Blaine and Bridgewater. For more information, please contact Cathy Cropley at 429-8043.
Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met on Tuesday morning at the Aroostook Health Center.
Special guests were the CAHS Golf Team and Coach Ryan Guerrette. This year’s team has 10 members. With a 9 – 1 record, they won the Aroostook League for the sixth year in a row! They participated in the State Championship, with several members qualifying to play at the State Individual Competition.
This year’s team averaged between 44 to 58. They play nine holes for a possible 13 points. There is both stroke and match play.
Westfield breakfast/supper
The ninth annual Hunter’s Breakfast will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 5-8 a.m. at Campers Paradise, Inc in Westfield. Cost is $5. The menu includes eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, home fries, pancakes, muffins, toast, coffee, hot chocolate, tea and juices.
To get to Campers Paradise, go to Westfield four corners. Take the Shorey Road to Simpson Road and follow the signs to the campground.
There will also be a baked bean supper that evening from 5-7 p.m. with live music following. For more information, call 429-8178.
Bean supper/auction
William Cousins Post 0118 of the American Legion in Mars Hill will be hosting a bean supper on Saturday night, Oct. 20, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Central Aroostook High School Cafeteria on Pleasant Street in Mars Hill.
The menu will include baked beans, hotdogs (red and brown), rolls, potato salad and beverage. The cost is $5 per person. Children under 6 are free.
There will be an auction following the supper from 7-8:30 p.m.
Tickets will be available in advance and at the door. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Proceeds will benefit the American Legion Post 0118 in Mars Hill.
Gun raffle/breakfast
The Bridgewater Recreation Department is holding a couple of fund-raisers. First is a gun raffle together with a $150 MAC’s Trading Post gift certificate. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Northern Maine Truck Stop or at the Bridgewater Town Office. The gun can be seen at the truck stop. The drawing will take place on Nov. 3 at the Hunters Breakfast.
A Hunter’s Breakfast will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Northern Maine Truck Stop from 4:30-9 a.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $5 per plate or $6 at the door. Advanced tickets are available at the Northern Maine Truck Stop or at the Bridgewater Town Office. Door prizes will be drawn every half hour during the breakfast. You must be present to win! All proceeds will benefit the Bridgewater Recreation Department programs.
Harvest Supper
The Bridgewater Historical Association will hold a Harvest Supper and Dance at the hall on Oct. 27, beginning at 4:30 p.m. The main course will be ham. Tickets will be $7 for adults and $3 for children under 10. For more information, call Denis Gagne at 429-8290 or Jann Votaw at 425-7901.
Bridgewater Music Jam
Bridgewater’s music jams take place each Thursday evening, during warm weather, from 6-9 p.m. and feature old time rock ’n roll, country, oldies and standards.
For more information about the BHA, contact Denis Gagne at 429-8290 or Jann Votaw at 425-7901 or check out the website at www.bridgewatermaine.org.
Bridgewater Historical Association
The Bridgewater Historical Association meets the first and third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Odd Fellows Hall on Main Street. For more information, please call Denis or Gloria Gagne at 429-8290, Jann Votaw at 425-7901 or at www.bridgewatermaine.org.
Ladies’ Stitch & *itch Group
The Bridgewater Recreation Department has formed a Ladies’ Stitch & ‘itch Group. The group meets every other Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at the Bridgewater Civic Building. Ladies of all ages are invited to attend. There is no charge to attend. The group will meet on Oct. 30, Nov. 13 and 27.
This is an opportunity to bring whatever you are working on: cross-stitch, embroidery, scrapbooking, sewing, etc., and share good conversation while working on your favorite project. If you do not have anything to bring, that’s OK too, as others will be willing share and teach.
All are welcome – you don’t have to be a Bridgewater resident to participate, so bring your friends, too! For more information, contact Chris Finemore at 425-6606.
CORRECTION – Due to using dated material, the story about the Graves siblings 50th anniversaries is redone.
Siblings celebrate milestone
The Graves siblings are certainly a rare item in the area of marriage. The four sisters and one brother, children of John H. and Viva York Graves, were born and raised in Mars Hill and have each been married for over 50 years. In fact, George “Buddy” and his wife Norma will celebrate their 60th anniversary on Oct. 31! The siblings all got together with friends and family on Sunday, Sept. 23, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Frances and David McKay.
Frances Graves married David McKay on Sept. 16, 1957. They had one son, Andrew David, who is deceased. They reside on Yale Street in Presque Isle.
Joyce and Carl Stearns, who reside in Bangor, were married on Aug. 31, 1954. Their daughter Jan and Danny Umphrey reside in Virginia and their son Jon resides in Bangor. They have two grandchildren.
George “Buddy” Graves married Norma Ginn on Oct. 31, 1947. They now have a home in Florida and spend the summers at their residence on the Houlton Road in Presque Isle. They have six children. John H. Graves of Presque Isle; Ronald and Nancy Graves, Robert and Linda Graves, Ralph “Jimmie” and Paula Graves, Mary Jayne and Woodrow Woodside, and Debra and Barry Littlefield, all who reside in Florida. They have 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
The two youngest Graves girls had a double wedding in November of 1953. Elizabeth Graves married Jim Merkel on Nov. 10, 1953. They live in Mars Hill, spending time each year in North Carolina and Texas. They have three children: James and Robin Merkel of Fayetteville, N.C., Sue and Gordon Anderson of Mars Hill, and Harold and Kara of Houston, Texas. They have nine grandchildren.
Sara Ann Graves married Larry Smith on Nov. 10, 1953. They live in Mars Hill. They have one son,
Larry Scott Smith and three grandchildren: Derek and Brooke and Bryce.
In this day and age, this is truly an accomplishment and says a lot about the family and how they were raised.
Congratulations to all the couples on reaching this milestone. May they enjoy many more anniversaries together!
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached at 429-9126 or e-mail tomihen@yahoo.com.
