Rotary ‘wheels’
Washburn Rotary is proud to be able to assist the towns of Washburn, Perham and Wade by providing a total of five food boxes for those in need at Christmas. The Washburn club is also collecting new toys from the Rotarians to be donated to the town of Washburn to assist in making Christmas for several less-fortunate local children a little brighter and happier.
Please note that there will be no Rotary meetings in Washburn on Wednesday, Dec. 23, and Wednesday, Dec. 30, due to the holiday season.
Boy Scout tree sales
Members of Washburn Boy Scout Troop 177 are in the last week of selling Christmas trees. They can be seen on the Washburn Rd. at the home of Scout Leader Ron Rand and arrangements can be made for choosing your tree and setting a delivery date. Sizes and prices vary, and delivery is free within the Washburn area. This is a fund-raising event for the boys, and all purchases are appreciated. For further information, contact any Boy Scout or troop leader.
Birthdays/anniversaries
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Graydon K. Buckingham, Sharon McPherson, Mary Baker, Jerry Tompkins, Crystal Hobbs, Kris Tarbox, Tyler Turner, Mike Brooker, Jill Maynard, Lindsey McKeen, Carl Pinette, Roger Herrick, Leon Tarbox, Breen Bagley, Gloria Doody, June Churchill, Rena Drost, Madisyn Umphrey, Robert Mette, Mavis Carter, Betty Connor, Emilia Churchill, Abram Dow, Laurie Blackstone, Ernest Bragg, Gerald Carney, Autumn Tuttle, Greg Anderson, Wade Willett, Anna Springer, Jana Shaw, Chuck Cunningham, Brent Tardie and Jenalee Bragg.
Special anniversary wishes go out to Wallace and Linda Tupper.
Town notes
All dogs 6 months old or older must be registered in the municipality where the dog is kept by Jan. 1. Dogs can be registered for the year 2010 at the Washburn Town Office and the Perham Town Office during regular business hours. Please be sure and bring the spaying or neutering certificates if applicable, last year’s registration and a current rabies vaccination certificate. The cost for registration is $6 for dogs spayed or neutered and $11 for those that are not.
Also at both communities, the town offices have a good supply of winter coats for free for all ages. Be sure and stop in during regular business hours. Perham hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Washburn hours are from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 7 a.m. to noon.
The scheduled pick-up date for Friendly Co Op is Friday, Dec. 18, and please note this is the last order for this year. For further information you can contact the Co Op by e-mail at bunny@ainop.com or phone Brenda McCoy at 455-8421.
Library ‘bookmarks’
The cookbooks are in! Be sure and stop by the library to pick your copy up, and also get a few for Christmas gifts. They are also available through any of the trustees, and you can phone the library at 455-4814.
The hours for the library during the holidays will be Thursday, Dec. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the library will be closed on Friday, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1.
Civil Rights Team at work
Students at WDHS involved in the Civil Rights Team are currently holding a “pet drive.” They are collecting supplies including cat and dog food, cat litter, newspapers, towels and other items. This drive will be ongoing throughout the month of December and items can be dropped off at the high school. Items collected will benefit the animals at the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle.
Rec Center holiday schedule
There is still one more opportunity for students in grades 1-5 to make some special holiday gifts at the Rec Center on Wednesday, Dec. 16, from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m.
There will be basketball for grades 3 and 4 on Thursday, Dec. 17, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the elementary school gym.
On Friday, Dec. 18, there will be a movie at the Rec Center for grades K-4 from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m.
There will be men’s basketball on Monday, Dec. 21, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 22, will be the last day for K-2 basketball held at the elementary school from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.
On Wednesday, Dec. 23, there will be the Elks Hoop Shoot for both girls and boys, ages 8 to 13, starting at 5 p.m.
Historical Society notes
The Salmon Brook Historical Society has made a monetary donation to the town of Washburn to help purchase gifts, wrapping paper or other items needed to assist in the town’s efforts to provide Christmas presents to the children of some of the needy families in Washburn.
The Salmon Brook Historical Society and the Caribou Historical Society, working jointly, also have a new brochure available covering the history of the Aroostook Valley Railroad from its conception in 1902 through its demise in 1966. Included are two photographs, one taken on July 1, 1910, during the grand opening celebration in Washburn, and the other of a freight train passing through Crouseville.
The Caribou Historical Society’s version shows Trolley Number 51 in Presque Isle and also on Main St. in Washburn, in front of the I.O.O.F. building. This was taken sometime prior to 1928 when the tracks were moved from Main Street to the west side of town beside the Bangor and Aroostook tracks.
A second brochure briefly discusses the history of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad from Albert Burleigh’s “Scheme” in 1890 through its takeover by the Iron Road Railway in 1995.
Being in the final production phase, and because of the great amount of material which needs to be included to do the subject justice, it is uncertain if any photographs may be included.
Both the Caribou Historical Society version and the Salmon Brook Historical Society version should be available sometime in January and further information can be obtained by phoning Dennis Harris at 455-8279, or at the Caribou Museum on the Presque Isle Road on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. or by phoning them at 498-2556.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
