Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met at the Aroostook Health Center on Tuesday, May 27, at 6:30 a.m. The special speaker was John Cote of the Healing Hearts Ranch. He spoke of the facility and the animals that they use in therapy sessions. They currently serve 70 families. In 2007, they logged over 1,000 therapy sessions with individuals and families.
They have six miniature Shetland ponies that are bred for hands-on interaction, as well as sheep, goats, chickens and cats. They also have a large garden that is used when they work with some individuals.
The ranch is part of the Northern Lighthouse and is a non-profit facility. They rely on donations to take care of the expenses at the ranch. They have some feed and hay donated, which is much appreciated. Their main fund-raiser is a Carnival Day, which saw over 500 people in attendance last year. It helps cover some of the regular costs of running the ranch, although donations are always appreciated.
One major goal that they have is to build an enclosed arena for use in the winter and during inclement weather. The 4-H program that was started at the Ranch a few years ago currently has 25-35 kids per week. The participants come from around Aroostook County – from Houlton to Caribou. They work in the garden, help with local food boxes and help with Operation Christmas Child boxes. They also are able to take home some of the vegetables that they helped grow.
FMI, visit online at: www.HealingHeartsRanch.org.
ACI/CAHS Reunion
Plans for the ACI/CAHS Reunion for 2008 are under way. Among the events planned are Wind Farm Tours, Chicken BBQ, Sock Hop, Variety Show, Breakfast, Antique Car Show, Parade, Wagon Rides, Motorcycle Demonstration, Bean Supper, Maine Army National Guard Band Concert, Dance and Robinson School Get-Together. Make plan now to be around on July 24 – 26 for all the activities!
Reading Hour
The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library is pleased to continue with Co Co’s Reading Hour for children ages third grade and up on Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. This program will run every Thursday at the library.
Library
The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library is continuing with an ongoing Book Sale. Cost for the books is .50 for hard cover and .25 for paperbacks. There are also bags available to fill for $5. Old and new copyrights for adult and children are available. Fiction, nonfiction, 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 summer reading! Monetary donations will also be accepted.
Bridgewater Community Club
As part of Bridgewater’s Sesquicentennial celebration, the Community Club will sponsor a fashion show of fashions throughout history. Anyone who is willing to loan fashions from the past – men’s, ladies’ and children’s – and/or who would like to model fashions for the show is asked to contact Cheryl Porter at 429-8002. The club will keep the clothing until after the show, held July 24.
The Community Club has been organized to promote friendship among women of all ages and to undertake projects that improve the community. Membership dues are one dollar per month, and all interested women are invited to attend.
Bridgewater Creative Crafting
On the first and third Thursdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Community Center in Bridgewater, crafters are encouraged to join together to work on various projects. Bring your own supplies and projects as you share your knowledge of various crafts. Work together or individually with quilting, knitting, sewing, embroidery, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc. Everyone is welcome! FMI, contact Chris Finemore at 425-6606 or Melody Goff at 420-4002. Come relax and enjoy yourself as you socialize with other crafters.
BHA
The Bridgewater Historical Association is kicking into gear with their live music on Thursday evenings from 6 – 9 p.m. The musicians are there to have a good time. They play old-time rock and roll, country, standards, originals, etc. So grab your dancing shoes on and come on down to the BHA Hall (formerly Odd Fellows Hall).
The BHA would like to say thank-you to all veterans, past and present, for their dedication in making this country as great as it is today and for keeping it that way.
There are still copies of Annie Rideout’s book, “The History of Bridgewater,” available. Copies are $29 plus $6. S/H.
All proceeds from the music events go toward a new PA system for the hall. The BHA would like to extend their sincerest thanks to all who support their efforts. It is very appreciated. To contact the BHA, mail: PO Box 341, Bridgewater, ME 04735. The president is Denis Gagne (429-8290), secretary is Jann Votaw (425-7901).
Sesquicentennial events
The Bridgewater Sesquicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Building in Bridgewater. The Committee is comprised of members of the general public, the BCA Reunion Committee, BHA, Bridgewater Fire Department and Bridgewater Recreation Department. The Committee is in the final planning stages for the July 24 through 26, 2008, celebration of Bridgewater’s Sesquicentennial, and anyone who is interested is invited to attend the meeting. FMI, please contact Mike Crawford, 764-0202 or e-mail dcrawford@maine.rr.com.
To enhance the festivities, the Committee encourages everyone to dress in 1850s’ period costumes during the celebration. The Committee will also hold a beard-growing contest during the celebration for the men. Those who don’t normally sport a beard may want to throw away their razors until the celebration is over. A display of quilts and quilted items is also being planned. This event, “Quilts Old and New,” will be held on Saturday, July 26, at the Bridgewater Free Baptist Church from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Everyone is the area is invited to provide new or vintage quilts, wall hangings, quilted apparel and quilted bags for the show. The Quilt Show Committee wants to create a display that is rich in history and, to that end, requests that all items submitted for display, especially vintage quilts that have been passed down in a family, include as much as is known of the item’s history. The Quilt Show Committee invites your participation in the planning and hopes that the event will result in a group of people who are interested in meeting on a monthly basis to encourage and support both new and experienced quilters. FMI, or to get involved, call Rita Hersey at 425-4492.
The Bridgewater Sesquicentennial Committee has received copies of “The History of Bridgewater, Maine,” written and originally published by Annie E., Rideout in 1953. The cost of the book is $25 plus $1.25 sales tax plus $5.25 S/H for a total of $31.50. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy, e-mail Diane Clough at e&dclough@ainop.com, Rita Kingsbury at rmkme@ainop.com, or call Rita Kingsbury, 429-9359.
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.
