Ricker Rumblings
By Lois Downing
What a beautiful day it is, calm, temperature even, what more can we ask!
The town was just abuzzing this week for the Potato Festival. Hope everybody had a good time.
The band concert in the park on Thursday for the last performance of the summer was wonderful. The band always plays well and the crowd was the largest of the season. Many awards were handed out. Refreshments were given at intermission, which worked out well. Thanks for that! And thanks for the wonderful music every week. You’re the best.
Several of the ladies are planning to attend the Lunch and Learn Series on Wednesday afternoon in the community room. This series is sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Our poster states new recipes, win a door prize, learn something new, and the number to call is 532-6548. Bring a friend and share the fun.
Sympathy is extended to Paul and Jeannie Armstrong in the loss of her sister in New York. Paul and Jeannie went to see her last week and were gone for three days. The deceased was in Troy, New York.
Betty Britton is home from Houlton Regional Hospital.
Norma Bates’ son and his wife are traveling from Texas to relocate in Houlton. Norma and her family are happy about their plans.
Some wonderful conversations on the swing in the afternoon. It’s a great place to be.
The flower bed near the front door is really thriving, thanks to the care of Sylvia Thompson and Lavina Byron. They really look after it thoroughly and give it a drink when necessary.
Blaine Johnson spent the weekend in Lubec visiting friends.
Our Friday afternoon lunch consisted of grilled hot dogs, courtesy of the Houlton Pioneer Times. The staff had open house and we certainly enjoyed it. Thanks guys!
Bible verse for today is: “The greatest among you must be your servants.” (Matthew 23:11)
Angels provide a resting place for weary souls on their way to heaven.
See you next week and have a good one — safe and healthy.
I am a recycler. Are you? I have a supply of clean envelopes, never used; the printing is on the front, but one could find a use for them perhaps. Also I have a big supply of 8 x 11 paper, printed on one side. Can anybody out there use this paper. If so, please call 532-2125 and I will gladly give it to you. Thank you very much.
I was sorry to learn of the death of Monique Beaulieu in Portland. She lived here many years, she and her husband had a store on North Street. Rita McDade is her daughter and our sympathy is sent to her and her family. Monique was 101 years of age.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly 0233, Houlton
By Lois Downing
Take Off Pounds Sensibly Chapter 0233 of Houlton met at the Wesleyan Church for its Aug. 19 meeting. It was at this location for this week only.
Seventeen ladies attended including six KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) members.
Denise Clark was present and conducted the meeting. Loser of the Week was Brenda Lacostic with Aileen Smith as runner-up. Donna Parent took home the skinny dish.
Denise revealed there will be a new contest starting in September. Her talk was “When, What, How Food Diary.” We were advised to keep a journal to keep track of our intake of food and how we feel. One needs to measure and learn how to exchange foods.
Charlotte Marley will have charge of the meeting next week. Membership will pay a dollar less in dues starting next week; voted on by the group.
The rest of the meeting was devoted to practice for our Fall Rally, headed by Barbara Grant.
Each Friday the weigh-in is from 8-8:45 a.m.; the meeting starts at 9 o’clock and usually ends an hour later.
If you need more information on the chapter, you may call Marley at 757-8483 or Betty Ivey at 532-9653. Everyone is welcome.
Island Falls
Cheryl (Varney) Sandquist and son Derek, from Humble, Texas and Calvin Varney of Concord, N.H. have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Varney at the Varney cottage on upper Mattawamkeag Lake. When they leave on Aug. 22 the senior Varneys will accompany Cheryl and son to Boston and from there they will fly to Texas where they plan to make their home permanently. The Varneys will be missed by their many friends and relatives here in the area, but we wish them well in their new surroundings.
Mr. and Mrs. Alan Chamberlain and Pauline Robbins have returned to their home in Virginia following a visit to the Chamberlain cottage on lower Mattawamkeag Lake. While here, they enjoyed the Summerfest activities and also toured around the area since the weather we all had was quite good.
The end of the summer is upon us and it seems that it has gone all too fast. Leaves are beginning to fall from my big birch trees. The corn at Binotto’s is now ripe and that always marks the end of warm weather, or so it seems. I have been out mowing a lot lately since the rain has abated some and found many holes that have been dug by the skunks, and they apparently have many relatives helping them as I filled up dozens of places all over the acre and a half of my lawn. I still have the large crows who arrive faithfully every afternoon to forage for what ever they find on my back lawn. I haven’t seen any in my blueberry bush lately, though — probably because I have picked most of them. I will start putting out birdseed before long and hopefully, my chickadees and finch will return. I am hoping the deer will return and start feasting on the wild apples around my place.
Also, a disposable camera was found at the municipal building during the cleaning up following the Alumni Banquet on Aug. 7. Rebecca Drew is holding it and can to contacted at her home or at the library.
