Rec Center seniors meet
Approximately 14 senior citizens and helpers visited the Washburn Soup Kitchen this past week. They were given a special visit when the kitchen wasn’t open for public meals, and they certainly were treated like royalty.
They had a buffet meal including salad, a chicken ’n biscuit and a turkey casserole, fresh brewed coffee and they finished up with a delicious chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting, as well as banana bread. They all enjoyed the meal and told the volunteer crew that they certainly did a fine job as chefs!
The crew included Mildred Bennett, Elizabeth Richardson and Alice Curtis, along with the special presence of 8-month-old Landon Bragg, a relative of Director Elizabeth Richardson, whom the ladies all enjoyed watching during the meal. They all made the group feel so welcome and gave a tour of the kitchen’s operations, including rooms full of clothing and food for food boxes.
They are currently open two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with hours from 3 to 5 p.m., and average a clientele of approximately 40 per day. They are hoping for getting enough volunteers to enable them to open three to five days a week. Volunteers can pick their own hours ranging from several days weekly to a day whenever they can.
The kitchen is in need of some special donations including covered plastic containers like butter dishes and plastic or paper bags for the take-out orders of the kitchen’s meals.
The kitchen now has a metal railing on both sides of the entry steps, with the metal donated by Gerald Easler and built and installed by Jeff and T.J. Winslow. These railings certainly make for easier access to the kitchen.
Those attending included: Eunice Carman, Glenna Bragg, Glenna Ewing, Gwen Bragg, Falicia Rossignol, Margaret Barker, Norma Baker, Marcie Barbarula, Christie Cochran, Bernadette Rossignol, Anita Tarr, Fran Dickinson, Marilyn Whitten and Lorraine Harrison.
Birthdays/anniversaries
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Tammy Berube, Marlene Tompkins, Jeremy Bard, Kim Carter, Donna Worster, Jenna Flanagin, Julie Powell, Mandy Johnston, Andrea Pesut, Alfred Easler, Ben Sperrey, Michael Gudreau II, O’Brien Bragg, Wendy Cray, Catelyn Coulombe, Chris Emery, Kyle Turner, Dana Olcott, Jim McCarty, Mike Martin, Troy Dahlgren, Tracy Baker, Jeff Cray, Paul Brown, Jim Rowbotham, Melanie Turner, Bobby Burchett, Nick Dobson, JaeLynn Doody, Norma Hitchcock, Anna Bragg, Carroll Bouchey, Judee Doughman, Nicole Ballard, Cory Olson, Holly Preston, Nicole Plourde, Marteen Hester, Rodney Wardwell, Leland Paradis, Phyllis Farley and Danielle Tardie.
Anniversary wishes go out to Gene and Andrea Bragdon, Glenn and Debra Viola, Ron and Shirley Rand.
Events/reminders
Please keep in mind the Washburn Town Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Office hours on Fridays are from 7 a.m. to noon. Also, any unpaid taxes as of Saturday, Jan. 31, will be listed in the town report. Those having any questions regarding taxes that you owe, please feel free to contact the Town Office.
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.
The next scheduled meeting of the Washburn August Festival will be held at the Washburn Civic Center at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
Dogs over 6 months old residing in Washburn, Wade and Perham need to be registered no later than Saturday, Jan. 31, to avoid a possible late fee of $15. Dog tags are available at area town offices, and all dogs must have current rabies vaccinations. Fees for dogs spayed or neutered is $6 and those not spayed or neutered is $11.
There will be a special exhibit at the Caribou Historical Society and Learning Center, which will cover lots of information on Caribou winter carnivals and sportsman shows. The exhibit will be open on Saturdays from Jan. 24 through Feb. 14 from noon to 4 p.m. For further information, please contact the museum at 498-2556. Events coming in February will include a show on Artifacts of Caribou Boy Scout Troop from Saturday Feb. 27 through Saturday, Feb. 28 from noon to 4 p.m. and Antique snowmobiles which will also include an outdoor exhibit as well as an indoor forum from Saturday, Feb. 21 through March 14.
Anyone wishing to pre-register for the annual Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby the weekend of Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 1, may do so at CC Flies, Bait and Tackle Shop on 115 Hines Street from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. or by phoning Steve Carvel at 455-8390.
The Washburn Recycling Center is featuring specials including donations going to the Project Graduation 2009, the Central Aroostook Humane Society and the Washburn Soup Kitchen. Anyone wishing to donate any or part of their returnables to these special causes is welcome to do so by telling owner/operator Gerald Carney. Pick-up services are also available through the redemption center.
Rec Center schedule
On Wednesday, Jan. 28, there will be cross country skiing from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Jan. 29, there will be rollerskating at the Melody Rink in Caribou from 5 to 8 p.m. for K-8.
On Saturday, Jan. 31, the girls’ and boys’ grade 5-6 basketball team will be playing at Caribou. The girls’ team plays at 10 a.m. and the boys’ game begins at 11 a.m.
On Monday, Feb. 2, there will be men’s basketball at the high school gym from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Also on Monday, Feb. 2, there will be cross country skiing from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m.
For further information on any Rec Center programs, please contact Marcie at the Rec at 455-4959 during regular hours.
Veteran’s raffle fund-raiser
The Oscar Dow Post 48 of the American Veterans is holding a special raffle as a fund-raising event. The prizes include: First prize – a Camoplast “ripsaw” snowmobile track 15 inch wide by 121 inch long with 1.25 inch lug height, 2.52 inch drive pitch-clipped every third pitch. The manufacturer’s retail suggested price is $623; Second prize – A special collector’s knife; and Third prize – a ceramic black bear by June Churchill. The tickets are $1 each or six for $5, and are available from any member.
Library ‘bookmarks’
The Washburn Memorial Library recently hosted a sleepover for the Middle School Book Group, and 10 girls attended, enjoying pizza and chips for supper, and for dessert, they each made their own “Ice Cream in a Bag,” complete with toppings for a sundae.
The book for the month was “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” and the group had a discussion on the novel with most telling they liked it, but a few “dissenters” deemed it boring. They each had been given a chance to see the movie version of the famous novel, and none of the girls found it interesting.
Boo, the library cat, generously shared his domain with the girls and joined in the fun, finding a particular boot he liked and spent most of the evening parading around with it on his head. Throughout the evening, they enjoyed snacks of pizza and Rice Krispie treats while playing games until bedtime. In the morning, they all enjoyed pancakes and bacon for breakfast.
Those attending included chaperones Kathy Corey and Ashley Espling, along with girls Tanya Tarbox, Kala Farley, Courtney Cannon, Mykayla Espling, Lucia Bragg, Taylor Thompson, Emily Bragdon, Catelyn Coulombe, Mikayla Churchill and Virginia Farley.
The library has two “Kill A Watt” energy detectors for patrons to sign out. These kits come from Efficiency Maine and are used by an appliance or other device used in a home or office and can tell you which item uses the most power. Knowledge of this can save money as well as the environment and the kit can be checked out for seven days.
Women, Work and Community will be meeting at the library on Friday, Jan. 23. Plans will be made for the rest of the year and workshops will be discussed. Anyone interested can phone the library or Suzanne at 764-0050. The library would also like to hold a knitting circle, and anyone interested in these or any other library programs, please contact Librarian Kathy Corey at 455-4814.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
