‘Tis the season for giving
The town of Washburn is currently collecting non-perishable foods for the annual giving of Christmas boxes. You can choose to help fill a box, fill one of your own to donate or donate money for the crew to fill the boxes.
The town is also collecting new toys and clothes along with monetary donations to purchase needed gifts for the Christmas boxes to go to area children and families. Anyone knowing of a needy family or child, please feel free to contact Anne Carter at the Town Office during regular hours and she will put that family on the list. The deadline for donations to be delivered to the Town Office will be 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. If you need your items picked up, please phone Anne at 455-8485 during the 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. office hours. The Town Office hours during the holiday are as follows: They will be open on Wednesday, Dec. 24, from 7 a.m. to noon and closed Thursday, Dec. 25 and Friday, Dec. 26, reopening on Monday, Dec. 29. The office will be closed on Thursday, Jan 1, 2009.
The Washburn Soup Kitchen is going along great, with 164 meals having been served in the first four days of business, with 57 meals served the day before Thanksgiving. The kitchen is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. for anyone wishing a hot meal. Please note that there is no income requirement for the meals, and takeouts are being taken on request by phoning 455-4900. The kitchen is open to citizens of Wade, Perham and Washburn, with no age or income requirements for meals. The food boxes go through USDA requirements. There will be a special Open Tree, with some nearly-new toys and stuffed animals for anyone to take home for Christmas gifts. Another item on the “wish list” is new toys or stuffed animals and some Christmas wrapping paper.
Boy Scout trees
Troop 177 Washburn Boy Scouts will be selling Christmas trees during the annual winter fund-raising event. The trees can be seen at the home of Ron Rand on the Presque Isle Road in Washburn, just look for the lighted pole on their front lawn.
The trees are $25 for all sizes and will be delivered in the Washburn and surrounding areas. Saturday is the perfect day to choose your tree, but you may call Ron at 455-4432 to make a time to get your tree. Wreaths are also available on order at a cost of $15 each.
This is an important fund-raiser for the troop and helps them pay for their trips to Scout camp as well as many other adventures.
Birthdays/anniversaries
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Wyatt Condon, Tammy Mills, Rachel Driscoll, Robbie Kapuscinski, Nancy Conley, Harry Johnson, Dale Knowles, Sebastian Viola, JoAnne Hewitt, Bobbi Jo Pritchard, Nola Amero, Keegan Robbins, Chad Tuttle, Wyatt Carson, James Goodine, Robert Kennedy, Christopher King, Sean Robertson, Wendy Myshrall, Rena Pinette, Eric Brown, David Easler, Lloyd Baker, Don Doughman, Kelly White, Mary Laughland, Megan Farley, Graydon K. Buckingham, Sharon McPherson, Mary Baker, Jerry Tompkins, Crystal Hobbs, Kris Tarbox and Tyler Turner.
A special anniversary wish goes out to Wallace and Linda Tupper.
Events/reminders
In Washburn, thanks to the Salvation Army, there are lots of coats in many different sizes available at the Civic Center. Be sure and stop by the Town Office during regular hours to see them. There is also a kettle for donations to the Salvation Army at the Washburn Town Office.
The Washburn Rotary Calendar for 2008 features a cover page for the month of December which shows photos of the Washburn Trailrunners clubhouse. The Rotary’s 2009 Calendar will be coming out within the next few weeks, so be sure and pick up your copy of this year’s edition, as it will make a nice heirloom in years to come.
TOPS will be meeting each Monday at the Washburn Trailrunners clubhouse, starting with weigh-in at 4:15 p.m. and the meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For further information, contact Birdena Cochran at 455-8353.
In both Washburn and Perham, the new dog tags are available at the town offices.
All dogs over 6 months old must be registered before Jan. 1, 2009, and rabies vaccinations must be current.
The cost for dogs spayed or neutered is $6 and dogs not spayed or neutered is $11.
August Festival meeting
There will be a meeting of the Washburn August Festival Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Washburn Civic Center. Your help will make a difference and be greatly appreciated. Anyone wishing to volunteer, or needing further information, contact Cindy Boot at 455-8464.
Eighty years and counting
Ella Drost, of Washburn, recently celebrated her 80th birthday at home with friends and family. There were nearly 100 guests attending, at the home of Adrian and Lorraine Drost which was listed as “standing room only.”
Ella was born in Ashland’s Frenchville District on Nov. 17, 1928, to Dennis and Delena Michaud. She had seven children of her own: Perry Drost of Keyser Falls, Adrian Drost of Washburn, Lester Drost of Washington state, Roger Drost of California, Rosa McIntosh of Westfield, Donella Nichols of Limestone and Timmy Drost of Germany. All her children were able to attend except for Timmy. Ella has 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and they were well represented at this special party.
Ella and her family thank all their friends and family for bring food and coming. The “gift” was a money tree which was to pay for a new lift recliner which she is truly enjoying. She also enjoyed reading the many cards and all enjoyed a birthday cake with their favorite family matriarch. She was presented with a royal tiara and sash, and posed for photos. The family took lots of photographs, shared many memories and visits together. They got her out of the house saying that her sister wanted to spend the afternoon with her, and when she came back, the home was decorated to the fullest, including balloons, ribbons, bows and photo collages for all to enjoy. Ella noted that it “took her two days to get over it,” and she was “absolutely speechless.” Ella’s father lived to see his 101st birthday and her aunt lived to be 103, so she has a long life ahead of her, so they’d best plan a few more birthday parties.
Perham Christmas plans
The Christmas Angels are at the Perham Town Office and post office for anyone who would like to make a child’s Christmas a little brighter. Please return the gifts to the Town Office no later than Dec. 16.
The town will also be taking donations of new toys and non-perishable food items at both Perham’s Town Office and post office. They may be dropped off during regular business hours, or for further information phone 455-5887 during regular business hours.
The Perham Town Office will be closed on the following days: will close at 12 noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5. 2009.
Winning ticket
A basket donated by Leslie Taylor was raffled off on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Perham Town Office. The proceeds of this raffle went to benefit the Salmon Lake Trail Project.
The value of the donation exceeded $100 and Henry Nutting of Perham drew Jane Dow’s lucky ticket. She in turn donated the basket to the Washburn High School Varsity Club supper and auction.
Library ‘bookmarks’
Seven girls braved the cold to come to the library for the Middle School Book Group. The book this month was “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift, and most of the girls liked the story and there was a very lively discussion. Each girl was given the chance to watch a movie and none of them thought that the movie was as good as the book, because so much of the story was left out of the movie.
Pizza was served and everyone had a great time. Girls attending included: Kolby Koch, Virginia Farley, Darbie Koch, Tanya Tarbox, Lucia Bragg, Catelyn Coulombe, Mikayla Churchill and visitor Ellie Saucier. The next book group will be on Friday, Jan. 2, and the book they’ll be reading will be “The Wizard of Oz.”
The library will hold its monthly story time on Dec. 22. It will be their annual “Christmas Story Time.” There will be the usual stories, prizes and refreshments, and maybe a special guest too!
The library is going through quite a few changes. If you haven’t been in, come see what they are up too. For further information on library programs, please contact Kathy Corey at 455-4814.
Holiday hours for the library are as follows: Dec. 24, the library will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; closed on Dec. 25 and 26; and open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 31. The library will also be closed on Jan. 1, 2009.
And the winner is …
Randy Belmain has claimed the $30 November prize, drawn by Ruth Woodman, from the many tickets submitted to the Washburn Redemption Center. The contest is ongoing, so be sure and fill out a ticket stub for your chance to win the December prize. The winning entry will be drawn at 4 p.m. on the last day of each month, and those eligible to put a ticket in the jar are those customers who bring in at least $5 worth of cans and bottles per time. The prizes to choose from are a $30 gift certificate at either the Washburn Food Mart, White’s Service or $30 cash money.
The redemption center is also accepting donation of cans or bottles for the benefit of the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle and the Washburn Soup Kitchen, having already gotten a few donations. Stop by and see Gerald or Darcy or phone them at 455-8148 or 227-7514 for further information. The new operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
