Mapleton Elementary School will host an open house from 4:30-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for the 2026-27 school year.
Pre-K students starting the year in the morning session will meet with their teachers from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., and the Pre-K students starting the year in the afternoon session will meet the teachers from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m. Regular classroom teachers for grades K to 5 will be in their classrooms for students in these grades from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Also mark your calendars for the first day of school, when the school body will celebrate the new school year together with a parade from the playground to the flagpole, starting at 8:10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8. All students, faculty, and family members are welcome.
Haystack Historical events
At the Aug. 24 Haystack Historical Society board meeting, final approval was given to proceed ahead with two special events at the Haystack Historical Museum. The first event is the society’s annual fundraising dinner. The second event is a special first-time event that involves collaboration between the Society and Seniors Achieving Greater Education at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Residents are encouraged to attend these two special events.
Annual ham dinner
At the Aug. 24 meeting of the Haystack Historical Society, plans were finalized for their annual baked ham dinner to be held on Sept. 19.
The dinner is a longstanding tradition that has been enjoyed by many residents of Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill. This year folks will be able to dine in the museum or do a drive-thru and take their meals home.
The traditional menu will incude honey baked ham baked by Ivan Pratt, fresh-made potato salad, baked beans, dessert squares and soft drinks or water. The charge will be $15 for adults and $7 for children under age 12.
A special children’s roasted hot dog meal will available for children and youth under the age of 12 for $7 that will include hot dog, potato salad or chips, dessert and soft drinks or water.
As always, all funds raised will support the operations of the museum.
A Night at the Haystack Historical Museum
The university’s SAGE program will host a history-filled evening from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Haystack Historical Museum located at 1565 Main Street, Mapleton.
The evening will start with a museum open house followed by a presentation on the history of the Town of Mapleton by Dr. Dena Winslow. The museum will open at 4:30 for visitor exploration and program will begin at 5:30 pm. After the Mapleton history presentation, a light supper will be served, which will be followed by a presentation by Dr. Dena Winslow on the “Aroostook War: The Untold Story.”
Participants will dive into the explosive real history behind the 1839 Aroostook War, when Maine and New Brunswick stood on the brink of international battle. This high-energy program uncovers the actual people, places, and political tensions that pushed the U.S. and England toward a third war.
Based on Winslow’s 30 years of deep archival research, participants will hear never-before-told stories, surprising discoveries, and dramatic events unknown to earlier historians. Experience the gripping truth of the conflict that reshaped the region forever, and leave with a whole new understanding of northern Maine’s past.
Winslow grew up in Mapleton, and her latest book was published earlier this year.
SAGE provides educational and travel events for people 50 years of age and up. To attend this special evening, preregistration is required. To register, go to https://sageumpi.coursestorm.com , or write to SAGEatUMPI@outlook.com or call 207-768-9501 and leave a message. There is an additional fee of $10 to help cover the cost of the meal.
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.
