Nine to compete for three crowns

Nine to compete for three crowns

MARS HILL

      The Pre-Teen, Junior and Teen Miss Mars Hill Pageant will be held on Saturday, May 1, at the Mars Hill and Blaine Community Center at 7 p.m. Admission will be $6 for adults and $4 for students age 5 and up. Tickets can be purchased from any contestant or at the door. 

       Contestants include: Kelsey Dominique, Natasha Klinger, Jordan Canney, Courtney Milliard, Brooke Cyr, Ivy Davis, Mariah Brewer, Kellie Stitham and Whitney Klein. This year’s pageant is under the direction of Janice Mosher and Sami Allen.

    CENTRAL AROOSTOOK JUNIOR/SENIOR High School was the site of an Open House on April 1. Seventh-grade winners with Science Experiments are, from left: Jordan Canney, fourth for "Hot" Coffee Cup; Carly Grass, third for Fertilizing Potatoes; Emily Pickance, first for Toothpaste Stain Remover; and Zack Grass, second for Battery Acid.

    AN OPEN HOUSE was held at Central Aroostook Junior Senior High School on April 1. Eighth-grade winners with science projects on Inventions are, from left: Megan King, fourth for Mountain Dew Ice Cream; Alexis Bradbury, third for Edible Crayons; Kennedy Day, second for Scented Tie-dyed T-shirts; and Stephanie Dame, first for a Homemade Soda Machine.

    Pageant contestants for the 2010 Pre-Teen, Junior and Teen Miss Mars Hill include, from left, front row: Jordan Canney, Kelsey Dominique and Courtney Milliard. In back, from left: Natasha Klinger, Ivy Davis, Brooke Cyr, 2009 Junior Miss Mars Hill Stephanie Dame, Kellie Stitham, Whitney Klein and Mariah Brewer. The pageant will be held at the Community Center at 7 p.m. on May 1.

      The Mars Hill Rotary Club met on Tuesday morning, April 20, at 6:30 a.m. The special speaker was Tammy Wheeler of Presque Isle. She spoke about the James School, located on the Spragueville Road in Presque Isle.
      Built in 1917, the one-room schoolhouse was used until 1948. The building was later used as a non-denominational church until the early 1970s. Then, for nearly 20 years, the building stood vacant, falling into disrepair.
      In 1985, a group of volunteers, led by the late Judge Julian Turner, began the restoration of the schoolhouse. It was returned to serviceable status by July 1987. It is now used by area grade-school teachers and students to experience “a day in a Country School.” The students are usually full of questions when they go to spend the day at the school. A book is being done with some of their questions — and the down-to-earth answers they receive. One of the things that always fascinates the students is the toilet facilities. One student wanted to know “How do you flush the hole?” 
      It is also a museum, with much of the tin wall and ceiling coverings still in place, as well as school desks and instruction books. The wainscoting around the room was refinished during the restoration.
      The original bell is also back in place after spending some years out of state with the family of one of the early teachers. Tammy likes ringing the bell during events at the schoolhouse — and watching the children tug on the rope themselves. The kids  enjoy being pulled off their feet as the rope goes up! 
      The building is also used as a picnic area, meeting place for civic groups, weddings, family gatherings and other educational activities. 
      The buildings and grounds are maintained using funds from the James School Perpetual Care Endowment. With the yearly costs of insurance, utilities and maintenance, this fund is now dwindling. If you would like to help preserve this local landmark for years to come, please call Tammy Wheeler at 227-0388 or by e-mail her at twheeler2@maine.rr.com. Any donations are welcome.

    Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached at 429-9126 or e-mail tomihen@yahoo.com.