Mapleton Daze starts a week from today on Wednesday, June 26, with events planned through Sunday, June 30. Here are some highlights.
Wednesday, June 26 — The opening event of Mapleton Daze is the annual bike rodeo at the Mapleton Elementary School parking lot. Tom Chasse from Bike, Board & Ski and the Bike Coalition of Maine will be on hand to assist kids with bike safety and how to ride properly. Free hot dog combos will be on hand for the participants and their family members (1 hot dog, a bag of chips, water and fruit). This event is sponsored by the Maple Daze Committee.
Starting at 7:00 PM on Wednesday night, “A Dog’s Way Home” will be shown inside the Mapleton Lions Club Hall. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, pillows to enjoy a great movie for the whole family. Northern Light A.R. Gould will provide free popcorn and water.
Thursday, June 27 — A free doubleheader game night will occur at 6 p.m. at the Mapleton Lions Hall. Upstairs, the Mapleton Daze Committee will host the annual Bingo game with prizes. Downstairs, the annual Woodie Waddell Memorial Cribbage Tournament will be held. Woodie was one of the most well-known Mapleton Lions Club cribbage players in town. There will be hot dogs and goodies available, a 50/50 raffle and more. There has been an increasing attendance at both of these events over the past three or four years. Everyone encouraged to attend game night this year.
Friday, June 28 — Mapleton Daze has two large events on Friday that include the Lions Club chicken barbecue and the fireworks show later at dusk. In addition to these events, there will be homemade pie and coffee by the Mapleton Methodist Church Women and homemade ice cream by the Mapleton United Baptist Church Youth.
Saturday, June 29 — Start Mapleton Daze Saturday with three special events. For the daring and more energetic folks who like to work for their breakfast, there will be a Mapleton Daze Breakfast with a View, a sunrise hike up Haystack, from 7 to 9 a.m, sponsored by the Maine Health Let’s Go 5-2-1-0 in partnership with Aroostook County Action Program.
Please join the group at 7 a.m. in the parking lot at the bottom of Haystack to climb as a group to the top of the mountain. At the top hikers will enjoy a healthy breakfast before descending. Come and take in the breathtaking beauty of Mapleton on top of our landmark mountain. All ages are welcome to attend and this event is free of charge.
From 7 to 10 a.m., the five churches of the tri-town community invite everyone to have a free breakfast sandwich and drink next to the Mapleton Post Office. This breakfast is being provided free of charge by the churches. This is the second year for this delightful breakfast.
Finally there is the unique event to help start your day: “Pop Pilates with Ashley Nadeau.” This free one-hour class is brought to you by The Mapleton Daze Committee. Last year was the first year for this class, which attendees thoroughly enjoyed.
The Mapleton-Chapman-Castle Hill Senior Citizens ended their year of activities with a special guest presentation by Rick Duncan on the Aroostook House of Comfort. Looking on in this photo is Wayne Kennard, a member of the group.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
The Mapleton Daze Committee will host their annual Fun Daze Saturday at Mapleton Elementary School. Starting at 9 a.m., the Craft/Vendor Fair will open as well as the various food vendors. At 9:30 a.m. the annual Mapleton Daze parade will form on the Dudley Road, begin marching at 10 a.m. and end at the school. Children riding decorated bicycles in the parade will form up on the road to Mapleton Pool and join in as the parade comes by.
Other activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., including inflatables, a photo booth, kids’ games, demonstrations, Molly the Trolley rides, a car show and more.
The annual Mapleton Daze Car Show will be located in the parking lot of the Mapleton Baptist Church. Sandwiches and drinks will be available at the show. Anyone interested in entering a vehicle(s) should contact Josh Clayton at (207) 768-1007 OR jclay15@gs.nmcc.edu.
Later in the day there will be bike and wagon drawings for the kids. Check with committee members to see how to enter.
Sunday, June 30 — This year the five churches of Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill invite everyone to enjoy a sunrise worship service with Rev. Jim Ackerson at 7 a.m. at the Mapleton Lions Hall.
The churches invite folks to enjoy an evening of inspiration and fun for all ages featuring desserts and the magic of Brad Brown. Brown is an internationally known Christian magician who has a heart for ministry. His show combines his side-splitting comedy and mind-blowing magic to engage and entertain audiences while clearly presenting gospel truth. The show is free and doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
On Saturday, June 29, Mapleton Daze will feature its annual parade led by children on decorated bicycles will end at the Mapleton Elementary School, where there will be lots of activities including inflatable bounce houses and games. Activities are free and open to all children.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Seniors luncheon
The last regular Mapleton-Chapman-Castle Hill Seniors Lunch for the year featured a special presentation on the Aroostook House of Comfort. The featured speaker was one of the founders of the hospice home, Rick Duncan.
The group presented him with a check for $350, proceeds from their Memorial Day food sale.
Duncan reviewed how individuals in this area were inspired to start the journey to develop the House of Comfort. This new residential house is a six-bed inpatient hospice service, developed by and supported by volunteers. The home serves Aroostook County residents who are terminally ill and no longer can be managed through hospice care at home and do not wish to spend their final days in a hospital or nursing home. Clinical care and services at the house are managed by Northern Light Home Care & Hospice.
The first patient was admitted one year ago in May 2018.
Soon after this opening, the staff realized the need for another service, on a shorter term than regular admission — inpatient respite care, which is a service provided to individuals and their families when the stress of caregiving mounts and they need some relief from daily caregiving. These five-day stays help both the patient and family by providing time for relaxation, renewal, making appointments and attending special events.
Duncan encouraged members to consider volunteering. Volunteers help provide a caring and homelike atmosphere by doing various activities such as staffing the reception desk, providing supportive conversation and visitation, making coffee and assisting with snacks, aiding with personal care, sitting vigil at the bedside and even baking cookies and muffins. There is an application process and training classes required of each potential volunteer.
He thanked the group for their donation, and added there are still projects ahead that will help improve the services provided at the house. Every donation, large or small, is important in supporting the Aroostook House of Comfort fulfill its mission to the residents of Aroostook County. He invited everyone to come and visit the house to see what was happening.
Caroline Ballerstein, Senior Citizens president, thanked Duncan for his presentation. She then reminded everyone that this luncheon was the last one of the year. The group’s first meeting of the new year will be the first Monday of October, 2019. She wished everyone a pleasant summer break.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
