Energy, stimulus payments
The Easton Happy Days Senior Citizens Club met at the West Ridge Manor on Thursday, with 12 members present. After the regular potluck lunch, Rebecca Legassie from RSVP spoke to the group mainly to remind them about the cost of heating their homes this winter and that they should sign up for LIHEAP help through ACAP if they are eligible.
She said that oil dealers have changed their delivery and payment policies and even long-established good customers are affected by minimum-delivery and cash-on-delivery changes. She warned that one should check with their oil supplier now to see how they are affected. One must study all aspects of keeping warm this winter, from home insulation and alternatives to heat the home. There is help available through low-interest loans from several sources for weatherizing and converting to less expensive heating alternatives. If you’ve never had an energy audit of your home, ACAP and Maine Public Service Co. have energy auditors on staff that may be able to help you out with this. Just give them a call and check it out. To get more homeowners help for energy savings, call ACAP for information.
Legassie also informed the group that there are 30 people in Easton who have not signed up for the economic stimulus payment available to them. The deadline to apply for this special payment is October 15, 2008. If you received Social Security, Railroad Retirement or Veteran’s Compensation payments in 2007 of a total of $3,000 or more in the year, you can file for a payment of $300 for a single individual and $600 for a couple. Even if you didn’t make out an income tax form for many years, you are eligible. Just go to the IRS office and make out the IRS form they will give you. They will also help you make it out if you wish. If you know someone who has not applied, please encourage them and help them do so. If you can’t get to the office, the Aroostook Agency on Aging office in Presque Isle has these forms and if you can’t get to them they will send someone to your home to help you apply. Call them!
Legassie also told the group that there is a great need for RSVP volunteers, especially men.
Church hosts youth event
The Easton Wesleyan Church’s mid-week programs are revving up for the fall with a special kick-off event this evening, Wednesday, Aug. 20, beginning at 6 p.m., called “The Incredible Race!!” This is put on by the Awana Clubhouse and Awana Tweeners for the entire family. This family night will be filled with race-themed activities, crafts, games and snacks. When students first arrive, they will register for their Awana program. The Awana Clubhouse is for pre-K to grade 2 and Awana Tweeners is for grades 3 through 6. They will have their picture taken in our “Race Car Corner” and will receive a copy of their picture to take home. Using puppets and skits they will introduce the new Awana Program and the Qualifying Box Car Race to everyone. Then it’s off to the races as children race in box cars they have created. The evening will end at the Winners’ Circle with lots of prizes and with the encouragement that they are all winners with Jesus.
Food distribution
The Easton branch of Friends Helping Friends will hold their next food distribution at the Odd Fellows Hall on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. Any Easton resident who has already signed up may pick up their food at that time. Other residents who would like to apply for assistance may come and complete an eligibility form. Will you have a surplus of vegetables from your garden this year? If so, would you like to share some of it with those participating in our food distribution program? Friends Helping Friends invites you to make a donation. Simply drop your vegetables off at the Odd Fellows Hall any time between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Aug. 23. Donations will be distributed to those participating in our food distribution on that day. For more information about Friends Helping Friends or to receive an eligibility form by mail, please call Bryan Lawrence at 488-2481.
Recipes needed
The Easton Parent Community Organization will be collecting recipes from students in all grades, ECP through grade 12, to create a school-wide cookbook. Please send them into school with your child. We would also like to be sure that every student gets at least one recipe into the cookbook. The deadline for this project will be Sept. 19. We hope the cookbook will contain all kinds of foods, from appetizers to desserts. Thanks in advance for your help!
Collections benefit education
The EPCO will also be collecting General Mills Box Tops for Education again this year. The bright colored tops can be found on a variety of General Mills products. The group asks that if they are to go toward a child’s BoxTop award, please put them in an envelope labeled with the child’s name and grade and leave it in the school office. Still saving those Hood SoxTops? The ECPO is helping Mr. Evan Graves collect bottle caps from certain Hood milk products. The money earned will be used toward fitness equipment. There is a collection jug in each classroom. There will be a surprise for the classroom that collects the most SoxTops by the end of October. Used ink cartridges and cell phones can be recycled for profit to the school. There is a box in the elementary school office for this collection. The next Easton Parent Community Organization meeting will be held Sept. 2, at 6:30 p.m., in the Easton Elementary School library. Thanks so much.
Seniors plan fall events
The senior citizens’ meeting convened after the speaker left. The salute to the flag was said and “Happy Birthday” was sung for Rena Richardson and Regina Thomas. The roll call was given by Treasurer Lindy Fowler and those present were: Margery Niblet, Ida Doak, Rena Richardson, Regina Thomas, Joann Johnson, Vera Cullins, Ezalee Smith, Eldora and Clair Carter, Edith Fuller, Marie Hewitt and Lindy Fowler. Lindy also reported on the bank statement and it was accepted. Secretary Eldora Carter reported on the last meeting in June and that was accepted as read. The president, Marie, reminded the seniors about the Senior Farm Shares and the Property Tax and Rent Refund. She also reminded those there who were in the Senior Recreation Program that they would be going to the movies on Wednesday, Aug. 20, and out to lunch. They will carpool from the manor at noon to attend the movie “Mamma Mia” (PG13), which starts at 2 p.m.
The Senior Happenings for this week will be the movie on Aug. 20, and on Thursday, Aug. 21, there will be a Game Day at the West Ridge Manor. You know the drill; bring your bag lunch and a competitive spirit for an afternoon of friendly competition. On Friday, Aug. 29, there will be a Summer Gathering to celebrate the season with a hotdog lunch and we’ll have ice-cream in homemade ice-cream cones. The next day will be the Fall Craft Program. Let’s see how creative you can be. Bring a sandwich filling to share with the group. The fall activities will include a Hunters Brother’s Farm trip, a trip to King’s Landing, a Harvest Potluck and a Halloween Party. The exercise classes will resume on Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
Visits
Joann Johnson went by bus recently to visit her daughter, Lori and Derek Silvia’s, in Taunton, Mass. for overnight, then the next day she and Lori flew to Michigan where they attended the funeral services of Joann’s late husband, Edward Johnson’s mother, in Hastings, Mich. They stayed for several days and were able to visit with many of Ed’s relatives whom they hadn’t seen for years. Joann came home the next day after getting back to Lori’s.
Vaughn and Cheryl Carter spent a few days in Bangor to celebrate Vaughn’s birthday, shopping and visiting Harley stores and just resting at poolside. Vaughn had just returned the day before from a three-day tour on his motorcycle in the southern part of the state.
Ron and Judy Nadeau and daughter, Amanda, of St. Cloud, Fla., spent a few days week before last visiting with their son, Matthew and Julie Nadeau, and children, Cole and baby Callie. They drove back to Portland and visited with Ron’s sister before flying back home.
Amish barn raising
Many residents of Easton drove the Forrest Avenue Road last Tuesday, some parking beside the road to watch in amazement at the barn raising going on at the Amish farm belonging to the Yoder family. A number of Amish men from out of state also arrived to help with the building of the enormous structure. This kind of neighborly work used to go on many, many years ago in Aroostook County with barn raisings and potato house raisings followed by suppers and barn dances in the newly-built buildings. Does anyone remember those days?
Easton Rec calendar
Wednesday, Aug. 20 – Junior activities at the hall from 9:30-11 a.m. This program is up to children ages 2 through ECP students. Senior outing to lunch at “Mamma Mia” at the Braden Theatre. We will carpool from the Manor at noon. Participants will be responsible for their own lunch and admission to the movies. “Come and Play” after school at the hall until 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 21 – Seniors’ Game Day at the manor at 11 a.m. Please bring a bag lunch. Grade 3 and 4 soccer from 3-4:15 p.m. on the recreation soccer field.
Friday, Aug. 22 – Junior activities at the hall from 9:30-11 a.m. Senior exercise at 1 p.m. at the manor recreation room.
Monday, Aug. 25 – Seniors’ Seasonal Sensations starting at 11 a.m. at the manor. The cost is $2 food. Grade 3 and 4 soccer from 3-4:15 p.m. Our field is between the high school and elementary school, behind the playground. Please be sure children have sneakers, a water bottle and shin guards.
Tuesday, Aug. 26 – Grade 1 and 2 soccer from 3-4 p.m. on the recreation field. Sneakers, shin guards and water bottle are required.
Wednesday, Aug. 27 – Junior activities at the hall from 9:30-11 a.m. Senior exercise at 1 p.m. at the manor recreation room. Arts ‘n Crafts after-school until 4:30 p.m. at the hall.
Eldora Carter is the correspondent for Easton. She can be reached at 488-5961.
Photo courtesy of Eldora Carter
VAUGHN CARTER and his granddaughter, Kylee Carter, made many young kids happy with their donation to their candy bags at the Easton Field Days Parade, as they enjoyed traveling Main St. together.
Photo courtesy of Eldora Carter
WAYNE PATTERSON with his horses and a wagon full of exuberant young people make their way through town in the Easton's Field Day Parade. Patterson went on to give rides for those who wished them during the day, up on the grounds of the Easton Elementary School.
Photo courtesy of Eldora Carter
A GROUP of young ladies pose with Fireman Tony Brown in front of the Family Safety House from the Presque Isle Fire Department. Pictured, from left: Bailee Getchell, Tayler Brown, Tony, Cecelia Ferris, Cecilia Morin, Isabelle Morin and Miranda McLean.
Photo courtesy of Eldora Carter
FOUR GENERATIONS of Carters joined together for a Fourth of July cookout at the home of Vaughn and Cheryl Carter. From left: Great grampa, Clair Carter; father, Troy Carter, and little son, Logan, of Presque Isle; and Grampy Vaughn Carter.
