Ricker Rumblings
By Lois Downing
What a wonderful week this has been. The sun is shining, the leaves are falling and fall is upon us. What more can we ask!
Joan LaFland is still a hospital patient at the time of this writing.
Janice McCarthy has left a note on the bulletin board in thanks for everyone’s help while she had a big, and I do mean big, cast on her leg, due to surgery. Janice has had it removed and is doing nicely.
Our plaza is all decorated with Halloween pumpkins, ghosts, dolls, and other ghoulish objects. Attended a Halloween party last week and it was fun. Some of my friends said it is their favorite time of the year. Long ago we used to dress up and go from door to door. Sometimes, if we were lucky we would get a quarter instead of candy. The stores had “shelly out” and it was fun but unlike now. My grandmother used to have a large tub of water with apples and we would dunk for them. Those were the memories.
If you want to send a ballot in the mail for the upcoming election, just call the town office, 532-7111 and they will put one in the mail for you. One is asked for her/his name, address and birth date. It is so easy, no lines to wait in, no parking and going out into the cold. An absentee ballot will do the trick and you can figure it all out at home at your leisure.
Congratulations to the crew at the Pioneer Times in their most recent award. I first saw it in the Bangor Daily News, Monday, October 13 — the Houlton Pioneer staff was awarded best newspaper for a weekly supplement. Good work, guys and gals. You deserve it.
Our sympathy goes to the family of Robert Armstrong, who died recently in an accident. Robert was young and was a student at Hodgdon High School. His family and friends will surely miss him. Peace be with him and with his family.
Here are some notes on the right way to recycle. Don’t deposit recyclables in plastic bags. The bags tend to clog up machinery and must be removed manually. Instead, empty the contents directly into the recycling bin. Another tip is save your drain: pouring hazardous waste (such as medicines, used oil and cleaning products) down the drain sends those contaminants into the water supply. Old computers and other electronics can leach lead and mercury into the soil and water supply. Several major chains such as Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot and other stores, recycle computers, ink cartridges, cell phones and more. Next give old items a new owner. Your non-recyclable “trash” may be someone else’s treasure. Sell it via a classified ad or give it away. Good luck recycling, redo.
My thought for the day is taken from I John 5:14: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.”
Patten Seniors
Patten Senior Citizens held their regular meeting at Meadowbrook Manor on October 8 with eight members present. Gloria Noyes gave the prayer before the potluck meal and the Lord’s Prayer was said by all. The business meeting was opened with the Flag Salute.
A boiled dinner is planned for the next meeting. The club will pay for the ham, which Jackie Palmer will pick up and cook. Members will bring in the vegetables.
Cards were signed and sent to Rosanne Dauphinee, Shirley Merrill, Elizabeth Bates, Iola Giles, Helen Palmer, James Peavey, Gail Glidden, Frances Porter and Marjorie Heath.
The Game was played. Members present were: Nettie Shorey, Annie Lord, Annette Noyes, Joyce Harvey, Jackie Palmer, Gloria Noyes, Rubenia Botting and Jean Tarr.
Oakfield Senior Citizens
Oakfield Senior Citizens met at the Smoki-Haulers Snowmobile Club in Oakfield on October 15 with five guests and 30 members attending.
After the parade of those in Halloween costumes the judges awarded the prizes to Marie Gillotti and Wannetta Townsend. Others participating were Mildred Gagnon, Doreen Messina, Joseph Messina and Charlotte Marley.
Mystery gift winners were Marie Gillotti, Mary Lawler and Nacie Fowler. Mildred Gagnon told highlights of the Fall trip of October 4.
Carol Fitzherbert and Brenda Barker of the Agency on Aging in Presque Isle were guest speakers for the day. Carol told of her experiences as Money Manager Coordinator for Seniors. This service is provided by the Agency for seniors that are having a hard time to manage their finances and is available by calling Agency on Aging in Presque Isle at 1-877-353-3771.
Brenda told of changes to the Medicare D insurance plan for 2009, be sure and check this out. Open enrollment dates are Nov. 15 to Dec. 31.
Also that the fuel assistance program has changed for this heating season. The Patient Navigator program has seven volunteers for newly diagnosed cancer patients. Also please be aware of the Medicare Buy-in program for help with your health insurance. If you have any questions be sure to call the Agency at 1-877-353-3771.
There will be a meeting on Nov. 6 at the Snowmobile Club in Oakfield from 9-11:30 a.m. hosted by the Agency on Aging from Presque Isle about help to get through the coming winter. Be sure to attend and learn what is available. If you know of anyone that needs this information be sure and pass this on. Everyone is welcome.
Attending the Oct. 15 meeting were Tessie Barrett, Alma Clark, Jackie Kennedy, Evelyn Burpee, Peggy Sanders, Larry Sanders, Joe Messina, Doreen Messina, Arlene Friel, Bob Locke, Delores Locke, Charlotte Marley, Don Marley, Gini Garrett, Althea Lloyd, Mary Lawler, Wannetta Townsend, Marie Gillotti, Bernice Campbell, Jenefine Stevens, Kathleen Boutilier, Naci Fowler, Roger Ethier, Shirley Smith, Sandra Holmes, Wendell Holmes, David Burpee, Thelma Flowers, Arnold Roach, Evelyn Johnston, Clyde Johnston, Brenda Barker, Carol Fitzherbert, Ursula Levesque and Mildred Gagnon.
The next meeting of Oakfield Seniors will be on Wednesday Nov. 5. Oakfield Senior Citizens meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Smoki-Haulers Snowmobile Club in Oakfield. For more information please call Marie Gillotti 757-8481.
