International couple visit
with Perham family
Washburn news
by Christie Cochran
Recently, the Viola family of Perham was sad to say good-bye to Donal and Marie Callanan, visitors from Ireland who came to help them at the farm. Unfortunately, their stay was cut a week short by an unforeseen family commitment, but they promised to return soon.
Some Perham residents may have noted Donal on a scaffold, installing the cedar shingles and priming the house. His wife Marie helped with the Viola children and put great effort into helping Debra get her housework done and her life organized. Marie is a very brave and amazing woman to take on such an assignment, and both quickly became like family. They also shared the fact that perhaps another week in this area, they might never leave. Both of them loved meeting the people of Aroostook County and thought them all wonderful.
Donal and Marie are going to Mexico in the near future to work with a botanist and then they’ll be working in South America with street children before heading to Australia to visit their son.
The Viola family has also had two other travelers visiting them, Sean Murphy of North Carolina and Hannah Rubin of Larchmont, N.Y. Sean also spent a few days working at the Knot-II-Bragg Farm. They assisted the Violas with haying over 160 acres, and Hannah seemed to truly enjoy herself, amazing some of the experienced Viola sons.
The Viola family enjoyed this great experience, keeping in touch with all their guests on Skype and Facebook. This “adventure” is certainly something they plan to do again in the very near future, as more farm visitors/helpers are planning to arrive soon.
Washburn’s Fire Department won the second-place trophy in the Maine State Federation of Firefighters Convention parade, held Sept. 11 in Presque Isle. In the Un-restored Antique Class, Washburn’s 1927 American LaFrance was Washburn’s first motorized fire truck and was driven by Kevin Goodine.
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Bruce Richardson, Courtney Vaughn, Devin Maynard, Greg Thompson, Tony Dumais, Hillary Griffith, Norma Sperrey, Nicholas Pesut, Jillian Ziegler, Stacey Griffin, Joe Whitten, Austin Hicks, Larry Whipkey, Sheryl LaBarrie, Ericka Tupper, Barb Bragg, Brian Morris, Cassandra Rogers, Carolyn O’Donnell, Dapheen Creasey, Danielle Durost, Dale Howe, Gary Blackstone, Leland Caron, Ryan Bard, Nichole Humphrey and Nicki McCrum.
Anniversary wishes go out to Lloyd and Shirley Bragdon, John and June Churchill, Jim and Karen Wilson, Daren and Laura Churchill and Milton and Pam Haley.
The deadline for removing memorial items from Washburn area cemeteries — Thursday, Sept. 30 — has passed. More information or further arrangements may be made by contacting Adam Doody at 455-8485.
The next scheduled Washburn Town Council meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 18. Note that this is a change of schedule date due to Columbus Day.
The next scheduled food sale put on by the Lidstone Memorial Methodist Church will be held on Saturday, Oct.16, at the Washburn Civic Center. The sale will be from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and the menu consists of a full array of traditional Aroostook County Saturday night supper foods, all homemade by local cooks.
Friendly Co-Op delivery date is Friday, Oct. 8; please be sure and pick up your order by this date. For further information, phone Brenda McCoy at 455-8421 or e-mail her a bunny@ainop.com.
Washburn residents wishing to take part in Make a Difference Day will be meeting on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Washburn Civic Center to combine their abilities in order to make a few quilts for those in need. Volunteers are needed and include quilters, cutters, ironing and pressing of fabrics, laying out the square and quilt tacking. The volunteers can set their own hours ranging from one hour to all day. For further information, contact Mildred Bennett at 455-4054 or e-mail her at mbennett@mfx.net.
On Wednesday, Oct. 6, there will be soccer practice for grades 5-6 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
On Thursday, Oct. 7, there will be gymnastics from1:45 to 4:15 p.m. There will also be a soccer game at Mars Hill at 5:30 p.m. for the grade 5 and 6 teams.
On Friday, Oct. 8, there will be swimming lessons at the Presque Isle Indoor Pool from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. There will also be a soccer game vs. Ashland for grade 3 and 4 teams at 5 p.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 9, grades 5-6 will be participating in a round robin held in Madawaska.
On Tuesday, Oct. 12, grades K-2 will play from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.
On Wednesday, Oct. 13, there will be soccer practice for grades 5-6 starting at 5:30 p.m.
On Sunday, Sept. 19, a short Court of Honor for Washburn’s Troop 177 was held at the Washburn Elementary School.
Scouts and leaders, who traveled to the annual Jamboree this past summer, earned achievements and badges during their adventure. Leader Ron Rand earned advancement rank. Bryce Roix earned his communications bands, while Parker Thompson attained Life Scout status.
The troop members worked on the Citizenship of the Nation Merit Badge, and it was noted that this year marked the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouting in America.
The boys also worked on their historic Trail Awards, including the Presidents Trail, Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial and Mount Vernon while in the Washington area. Traveling to Philadelphia, they toured the Bicentennial Trail, Ben Franklin and Freedom trails, as well as the Valley Forge Trail.
Also in Pennsylvania, they earned their five-section patch which included tours of trails, museums and five stars for the Eisenhower home and farm tour.
Jenesa Charles Ingraham, of Washburn, celebrated her second birthday on Saturday, Aug. 28, with a lawn party at her Nana and Pampe’s home. Her Nana presented her with a round cake decorated with a number 2 on top with an Elmo face. Her parents, Barry and Jana Ingraham, also attended.
On Saturday, Sept. 4, Jenesa was the guest of honor with a party at her home and the decorations featured her favorite character, Elmo. Many family and friends attended and she opened several cards and gifts including a motorized John Deere tractor complete with wagon.
Lunch was served by her parents and included Elmo-decorated cupcakes made and decorated by her mom and an Elmo birthday cake made by her grandmother, Ardis, was served with ice cream.
Guests included Jenesa’s parents Barry and Jana Ingraham, sisters Jenica and Jayden, grandparents Charles and Linda Ingraham and Raymond and Ardis Humphrey, Uncle Bryan and Aunt Stacy Bubar, cousins Gage and Delaney, Aunt Jody Morin, Uncle Joel Humphrey, Rhonda Chamberlain, Robert Smith, Norma Smith, Jessica Aube, Christine Turner, Brianna and Mitchell Turner.
Inadvertently overlooked in the winners of the Car Show during the festival were trophy recipients. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Results included Best in Show, John Trask; First Place in Street Rods was attained by Scott Ashby; Second Place, Gene Cyr; and Third Place was won by Carl Sharp. The 2010 People’s Choice Award went to Scott Ashby.
Fundraising events for Project Graduation 2011 are in the works and the nearest one will be a delicious Stew Night to be held at the Washburn Trail Runners clubhouse. The meal will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a variety of homemade soups and stews, rolls and desserts, including warm brownies with ice cream, apple or cherry crisp and an assortment of pies, along with a beverage of your choice. This will be a fun family night with the cost of $6 for adults and $3 for those 12 and under. There will be a 50/50 raffle and the senior students will be selling raffle tickets for a Thanksgiving basket from the Food Mart to be drawn on Wednesday, Nov.15.
Coming on Saturday, Oct. 30, there will be a Haunted House event held at the Rec Center.
There is also an account set up at the Washburn Redemption Center, and all you have to do is let Gerald know to put your donation on the Project Graduation account.
Workers, volunteers and a farm crew mowed hay at the Viola farm in Perham recently. Pictured seated, from left, are: Sean Murphy, Brennan Viola, Hannah Rubin, Sebastian Viola, Daelin Viola. Seated on the beam, in back, at left is Anthony Viola. Standing is Salvatore Viola.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
