The East Ridge Union Church of Mars Hill invites everyone to a Christmas Melodies Singspiration Sunday, Dec. 23 at 3 p.m. This concert was originally planned for Dec. 16, but was rescheduled to Dec. 23. Featured singers will include East Ridge special singers and friends, Julie Shaw, Stan Harris, Gail Watson, Eric and Marla Mean, the Kinney Trio, local 4H kids and the Calvin Shaw family.
All are welcome to enjoy the music and refreshments to follow. This will be a wonderful event to enjoy to mark the true reason we celebrate Christmas.
United Methodist Women
The monthly meeting of the UMW of Mars Hill was held in the church vestry, which was all decorated in the Christmas motif. A delicious “potluck” luncheon was served to 12 members and two guests. After the luncheon, President Janice Footer opened the meeting by welcoming all. She led in the Purpose Pledge and Prayer.
The secretary’s report was read and accepted as read.
Thank you notes were read from the local Food Cupboard, from the Battered Women of Aroostook, and from Barbara McCrum, who is part of the “Circle of Life” mission.
The treasurer’s report was given and accepted as read. Joan Boone reported on buying special gifts for residents of the local nursing home.
The names on the prayer chain were updated. There was discussion about the kitchen countertops. Donna Brewer volunteered to contact someone who might do the job.
Donna also reported on the new slate of officers for the new year. They will be: president, Janice Footer;
vice president, Goldie Folsom; secretary, Clara Hussey; and treasurer, Diane Ketchum.
It was suggested that each member visit a shut-in and maybe take some home cooking or a Christmas plant.
The word for the January meeting is “Resolution.” Be prepared to give your New Year’s Resolution.
The benediction was repeated before all enjoyed an exchange of gifts in the form of a Yankee Swap.
Guests present were Betty Mahan and Shirley Fletcher.
Members present included Janice Footer, Joan Walsh, Joan Boone, Winnie Anderson, Cindy Anderson, Gladys Long, Ruth Sylvester, Diane Ketchum, Donna Brewer, Elaine Bailey, Goldie Folsom and Clara Hussey.
Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club enjoyed their Christmas party Tuesday evening, Dec. 11. Members and their special guests enjoyed a meal and musical entertainment provided by Adam Metsler, band director for SAD 42.
Rotarians each brought gifts for the high school students group to distribute in the community for Christmas.
Book Club
The Tuesday Book Club has selected “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver as its current reading selection. The voices of four sisters and their mother tell the story of their lives in the Congo from 1959-1998. All are caught in the Rev. Nathan Price’s determination to “enlighten the savages and rule his family with strict biblical sanctions” in a remote village of the Congo.
The Tuesday Book Club will meet next Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library.
All are welcome as we continue to take turns making book selections. For more information, please contact Rita Kingsbury at 429-9359.
Reading Hour
There will be a Reading Hour for children ages third grade and up on Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. The first book will be “Goosed” by Bill Wallace. This program will run every Thursday at the library.
Book Sale
The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library is having a Book Sale. The cost for a book is 50 cents for hardcovers and 25 cents for paperbacks. There are also bags available to fill for $5.
Old and new copyrights for adult and children are available. Fiction, non-fiction, westerns, science fiction, and romance are among those currently on hand.
There are also children’s books for sale, so plan to stop and check things out. Stock up now for your winter reading! Monetary donations will also be accepted.
Bridgewater Historical Association Book Sale
Would you like to give something special this Christmas? How about a copy of “The History of Bridgewater?” To raise money for their Sesquicentennial events, the Bridgewater Historical Association has copies of the book by Annie Rideout for sale. The book has a hardcover and sells for $35 each ($29 plus $6 for shipping and handling). To avoid the shipping costs, books can be picked up at a BHA meeting.
During the winter, the BHA meets the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center on Main Street in Bridgewater. Only prepaid orders will be accepted. For more information, contact Denis Gagne at 429-8290 or Jann Votaw at 425-7901. Orders with a check for $35 can also be sent to: Bridgewater Historical Association, P.O. Box 341, Bridgewater, Maine 04735. Information on the BHA can also be found at www.bridgewatermaine.org.
Birthday Calendars
The Rotary birthday calendars have arrived and are available for purchase. Due to the increased cost, the price of the calendars is $6 this year.
Calendars will be available from any Rotarian, at the Mars Hill and Blaine Town Offices, and at the Mars Hill Katahdin Trust Co. If you received your calendar last year through a Rotarian, they may be contacting you again this year.
For any corrections or additions, please contact Tomi Henderson at 429-9126.
‘The History of Bridgewater’
The Bridgewater Sesquicentennial Committee has just received copies of “The History of Bridgewater, Maine,” written and originally published by Annie E. Rideout in 1953.
The Henrietta Bradstreet family and Helen Rideout, heirs to the copyright of the book, graciously granted
written permission to the Sesquicentennial Committee to have the book reprinted as part of the town’s celebration activities planned for July 21-26, 2008.
The Committee received the permission just before Henrietta’s death this fall, and an acknowledgement to the heirs of Annie Rideout has been included in the reprint of the book.
Net proceeds from the sale of this copy of “The History of Bridgewater, Maine” will be donated to a charity designated by the Rideout heirs in memory of Megan Bradstreet, Henrietta’s great-granddaughter, who died in a tragic accident in 2005.
The cost of the book is $25, plus $1.25 sales tax, plus $5.25 for shipping and handling, for a total of $31.50. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy can e-mail Diane Clough at e&dclough@ainop.com, Rita Kingsbury at rmkme@ainop.com, or call Kingsbury at 429-9359.
Though the Sesquicentennial Committee can’t guarantee mail delivery by Christmas, they will gladly deliver within the central Aroostook area in time for Christmas.
