Last week the Mapleton and Castle Hill town meetings began with special recognition for residents.
Mapleton
Town Manager Sandra Fournier opened the March 14 Mapleton town meeting with the presentation of two special recognitions. The first recognition was a Maine Spirit of America Foundation Tribute, which was given to Mapleton Girl Scout Troop 1133 for their commendable community service. The Joint Select Board of the Towns of Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman prepared a resolution recognizing their many community service projects that included donating to animal shelters, homeless shelters, volunteering for local community clean ups, placing flags at cemeteries, purchasing lights for the Main Street cemetery, and purchasing Christmas gifts for the local foster children.
At the Town of Castle Hill Annual Meeting, Dana Allison, town resident, was presented with Boston Post Cane by the Town Select Board signifying that she is the oldest resident of the town. From left are Town Manager Sandra Fournier, Allison, and Select Board Members Shari Cheney, Allan Michaud, Gerald McGlinn and Maylen Kenney. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Additionally, the troop created a Memorial Flower Garden honoring the late Town Manager John Edgecomb, assisted with development of an E911 system for the Unorganized Township of T11 R4 (ScoPan Lake), created a “Teen Mental Health First Aid” brochure for Presque Isle High and Middle School students, installed three Little Free Libraries throughout town, donated over 850 boxes of cookies to various local non-profits in the last 13 years, and as a final act of kindness, donated a bench at the Memorial Flower Garden as a “thank you” to the Towns of Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman.
The Mapleton Select Board presented the Maine Spirit of America Tribute to the Mapleton Girl Scout Troop 1133 in recognition of their 13 years of community service they proved. Shown here from left to right are: Troop Leaders Nancy Winslow and Jennifer Sawyer, Girl Scout Maddie Buzza, Town Manager Sandra Fournier and Select Board Members Barry Buck, Matthew Gregg and Dave Dunlavey. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Members of the troop earned Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, which are the top three Girl Scout awards.
Following the reading of the resolution, select board members congratulated and thanked troop leaders Jennifer Buzza and Nancy Winslow and member Maddie Buzza, who were present.
The evening’s second recognition was the presentation of Mapleton’s Boston Post Cane to Lyle Kenney, as the town’s oldest citizen. Lyle was born in 1928 and has lived all of his 94 years here. At 21, Lyle purchased his farm and remained a local potato farmer for 42 years before passing the reins to his son, Steven Kenney, and grandson Ryan Kenney.
Just prior to the Town of Mapleton Annual Meeting, Town Manager Sandra Fournier presented Mapleton resident Lyle Kenney with Mapleton Boston Post Cane now that he is the oldest town resident. From left are Town Manager Sandra Fournier, select board members Barry Buck and Matthew Gregg, Kenney, and board member Dave Dunlavey.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Kenney has been endlessly dedicated to his community, serving as a select board member from 1970-1972 and as a member of the SAD 1 School Board.
Castle Hill
The town meeting of Castle Hill was opened March 15 by Town Manager Sandra Fournier’s presentation of the Town’s Boston Post Cane to longtime resident Dana Allison, who prepares to turn 90 in a few weeks.
Dana and her late husband, Horace, a pediatrician, moved to Castle Hill 46 years ago looking for land for their animals in the county. Over these many years, she has been a community-minded resident who served 25 years as a director on the SAD 1 board. She was moderator at town meeting around 40 years ago. In addition to her civic volunteering, Dana continues as an active founding member of the Haystack Historical Society and its museum located in the Old Mill School in Mapleton.
On April 1, 2022, she will be the First Friday artist at the Aroostook Agency on Aging gallery, located at 260 Main St., Presque Isle. She will display and talk about the elegant and beautiful quilts that she has made. Everyone is invited to the art show to meet her, see her quilts and learn about her craft.
Town report dedication
Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman experienced some losses of residents who actively involved with the civic life in the three towns. The 2021 Town Report was dedicated to Jeffrey Owen Smith, who passed away in September. He was a fourth-generation farmer who immensely cared about the farming industry. He served as chairman of the Mapleton Select Board, a member of the Maine Potato Seed Board Executive Council and a director of Maine Potato Growers. His support for family and community will be missed.
The Town Report remembered four other individuals who contributed to making life better in the three towns.
Steven “Steve” Kennedy Jr. was an employee of the three towns and was described as a man of many talents.
Dale McHatten, a lifelong resident, local business owner and longtime member of the Mapleton Lions Club, was active in the construction of the original community pool, Lions eyeglasses collection and development of Mapleton Little League.
John Dufour, a businessman who had a personality larger than life, had a large heart for the community he worked in. He was honored for having a heart that was kind, genuine and selfless.
Finally, as a civic-minded person, Larry James served on the Chapman Zoning Board of Appeals from 1999 to 2020. He farmed for an number of years before joining Farm Service Agency where he continued to work and help other local farmers.
The towns’ combined 2021 report has information on municipal operations, activities and financial statements. Anyone interested can get a copy at the Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill Town Office, 103 Pulcifur Rd., Mapleton, or see it online at mapleton.me.
It’s spaghetti time
This Saturday, March 26, is the Mapleton Daze drive-thru spaghetti dinner at the Mapleton Lions Hall, starting at 4:30 PM and will run until the food is gone or 6 p.m., whichever comes first. A $10 donation is suggested. Proceeds will fund Mapleton Daze. FMI: www.facebook.com/events/654137689278343.
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.
