Take Off Pounds Sensibly ME 0233, Houlton
by Lois Downing
Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Chapter 0233 of Houlton met at the Aldergate building on Friday, Sept. 23, for its weekly meeting. Eighteen members were weighed including six KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly).
Denise Clark led the meeting. Janice Shaw was the loser of the week with Lois Downing and Brenda Lacostic as runners-up. Denise read a letter from Rick Danforth, Maine Coordinator, about membership. An October 7 officers meeting will be held.
Margaret Hagerman won the skinny dish. The subject of the program was apples, red apples, pink apples, green apples containing calories, fiber and nutrition. Apples were brought to the United States from the Pilgrims in 1612. The proverb, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” comes from the old saying, “Eat an apple before going to bed, keep the doctor from earning his bread.”
The next meeting is Sept. 30. If you need information about the chapter, you may call Charlotte Marley at 757-8483 or Betty Ivey at 532-9653. Weigh-in is every Friday at 8-8:45 a.m. every Friday; the meeting starts at 9 a.m. and usually ends an hour later. No weigh-in is performed after 8:45 a.m., to give time for the members to figure their books. Everybody is welcome. Come and enjoy and take off weight.
Oakfield Seniors meet
A total of 23 members and three guests met Sept.21 for the second monthly meeting of the Oakfield Senior Citizens at the Oakfield Snowmobile Club. Lunch was served and the blessing said. The Lord’s Prayer and the flag salute were given. Don Marley took over for Bob who was in Presque Isle. The treasure’s report was read and accepted.
Don’t forget the friendly visitors training on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Snowmobile club in Oakfield from 9 a.m. to noon with lunch included. It was decided to go to Bangor on our fall trip on the 8th of October. Attending was Linda Bartlette, Katherine Boutlier, David Burpee, Merle and Evelyn Burpee, Bernice Campbell, Martha Chaspados, Roger and Shirley Ethier, Thelma Flowers, Arlene Friel, Mildred and Clayton Gagnon, Marie Gillotti, Sandra Holmes, Mary Lawler, Ursula Levesque, Charlotte and Don Marley, Joe and Doreen Messina, Larry and Peggy Sanders, Wanetta Townsend and her guest George Barrows, guests Joe and Lucill Mitchell.
Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
Hello everyone. Another week is starting. Where does the time go? Keep writing, someone said to me the other day, so here goes. Joyce Miller is a patient at Houlton Regional Hospital. Get better, Joyce.
Our cooking school, sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension has been cancelled for a couple of weeks for various reasons. Another session will be starting soon. Please call the office for the correct date.
Donna Burns had company from Connecticut last Sunday, a friend from way back. Aldyne Friel from Biddeford was visiting in the vicinity for a few days. She looks great and enjoyed her visit.
Isn’t the weather good? We should feel grateful for this favor. Have you seen our flower bed besides the front doors? It is very colorful and still in full bloom, thanks to the efforts of several of our tenants who look after it daily.
Bill Cogswell, brother of Norma Bates, Lavina Byron and Gerry Dunn, has returned to New York after visiting here for several months. Bill always enjoys his visits and we hated to see him leave. He was a frequent visitor at Ricker Plaza.
According to Dr. Oz of television fame and otherwise, one should not drink soda or carbonated beverages — it helps to prevent pancreatic cancer.
Had a nice conversation with Collen Tardie’s daughter, B.J. recently. She asked about all the Ricker tenants. Said it was four years since her father died. Many will remember Cole.
The annual rummage sale at St. Mary of the Visitation Church will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6, 7 and 8. The sale is for everyone and many look forward to it every year. Come and see what we have to offer.
Kathryn Hall of Bangor recently spent an overnight with her mother, Lois Downing. Some facts about angels — we are never truly alone. Angels wipe away our tears; they tend the tender human hearts, our pain, our grief, our fears. Have a wonderful week, safe and healthy too.
Joyce Miller is spending some time at Crest View Manor on Calais Road. Lavina Byron spent a couple days visiting her son and family in Benton. She watched a grandchild play soccer and had a super time.
Island Falls News
Several people in the area have already closed their summer cottages and returned home. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Pankratz are homeward bound to their home in Manhattan, Kan. after spending five months here. Dean and Jane Fitzgerald will soon be leaving for their home in Millinocket.
Ed Wood, who has been doing a lot of work repairing his cottage on Upper Mattawamkeag Lake, has returned home to Wilton, N.H. with plans to return in the spring and maybe finish the repair job. Don and Marion Burton, former residents of the area, have now returned to their home in Rancho Cordova, Calif, after a summer at Mattawamkeag Lake.
Jannette Parady, director of the Agape Food Pantry, has moved the Pantry from its former residence in the Catholic Rectory to the basement of the Baptist Church, which is just across the street from the Rectory and easily accessible. Despite the fact that September is about gone the mosquitos are still with us. Was bitten a couple of times lately while working in my flower gardens and also while mowing the lawn. Do they ever give up? Also found an area on my lawn where the pesky skunks really had a field day digging for the grubs they enjoy. Had to spend quite some time filling in the area so it would make mowing less bumpy. Put out a few bird seed and the chickadees and nuthatches made short work of them — a lot of pigeons are in this area, but hope they don’t spot the bird seed as I am not anxious to have them around.
Happy Losers gather
The Happy Losers held the meeting on Sept. 21st at the Congreational Church vestry in Island Falls. Jackie Pratt, the leader opened the meeting with the pledge and roll call.
Eleven ladies weighed-in and nine attended the class. Mary Shaw was the loser of the week and Riva Hawkes was runner-up. Great job ladies!
Our new contest starts this week between the Pumpkins and Leafpeepers. May all do well. Reports were given by the secretary and treasurer for the week.
Jackie Pratt led the program with a quiz with interesting answers. Everyone enjoys them. Meetings are always informative. Please feel welcome to our group every Wed. 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. weigh-ins and meeting starts at 9:00 a.m. Call 365-4884 for more info. See you there!
Silent Auction in Bridgewater
by Jann Bonkowski Votaw
The Bridgewater Historical Association will hold a Bridgewater silent auction at their hall on Main Road in Bridgewater, Saturday Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. The style of auction they use was formerly known as a Chinese auction. No one seems to know why they were called this; however, not wanting to offend anyone, the BHA has renamed it to Bridgewater silent auction. In the past the BHA has held a few of these style auctions. The auctions are a lot of fun and the BHA has many items up for auction. There is still time to make a donation of items for the auction. If you would like to do so please contact the BHA.
On Oct. 14 and 15, the BHA will be holding its final Yard Sale of the year. This one will not include items from the hall. Some of the BHA members have rented tables and it will be those items on sale.
Don’t forget the Halloween Dance is coming up soon, so get those costumes ready. It is planned for Oct. 29. We are hoping that everyone will come in costume this year. Last year we only had a few guests out of costume. There will be door prizes and costume prizes so come on out and have a good time. Music will be by “Outside In”.
There are still a few weeks left to enjoy the sounds of “Outside In” on Thursday nights. So make sure you take the time and come to the hall. Fun is always had by all. Music runs from 6-9 PM. Our musicians are all volunteers and the BHA sincerely appreciates there time, talent, and dedication. Refreshments are available at the hall.
Sherman Seniors convene
The Sherman Senior Citizens club met at the Sherman gymnasium on School Street with 10 members and three guests present for a potluck lunch at noon. The guests were Bonita’s daughter Carmen and husband George Marquis, who are visiting from West Palm Beach, Fla., where they own a home in their retirement years.
Our RSVP representative and a friend were also guests. She informed us about an informational meeting to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 28 in Oakfield from 9 a.m. to noon on the topic of “Dementia”. If you get to read this in the Houlton Pioneer Times today, you may be able to get there.
Present were Annie Atkinson, Bonita Staples and her guests, Frances Gorman, Esther Greenier, Donna Grass, speaker Bonnie Pratt and her friend Tessy Barrett.
Patten seniors meet
Patten Senior Citizens met at Meadowbrook Manor on Sept. 6, with eight members and two guests present.
The Lord’s Prayer was recited before the potluck meal.
After the meal, the business meeting was opened by President Annette Noyes who also led the flag salute. Secretary and treasurer’s reports were read and accepted.
Cards were signed and sent to Laurel Boynton, Corris Giggey, Pearle Main, Kay Rideout and Jackie Palmer.
Bonnie Pratt, RSVP coordinator, spoke of the meeting of the Friendly Visitor training to be held in Oakfield on Sept. 27. Dottie Sines from the Aroostook Agency on Aging will present a program on dementia.
The fall foliage trip will be the day of our Oct. 4 meeting. Members are asked to meet at Meadowbrook Manor at 10 a.m.
Members present were Marge Heath, Mary Cox, Marilyn Somers, Mary Lawler, Gloria Noyes, Joyce Harvey, Annette Noyes and Nettie Shorey. Guests were Tess Barrett and Bonnie Pratt, RSVP coordinator.
