MARS HILL NEWS
by Tomi Henderson
ACI/CAHS Homecoming Days slated for Aug. 8-11
The town is gearing up for the ACI/CAHS Homecoming Days. Final plans for “Welcome Home 2013”for ACI and CAHS alumni is scheduled for Aug. 8-11 in Mars Hill. ACI and CAHS alumni will join together for four days of special programs, food and family entertainment. Joe Shaw, co-chairman, stated that, “Over six major reunions, there have been around 3,400 ACI graduates that have attended.” Scheduled activities begin on Aug. 8 and 9, with registration from 1 to 4 p.m. at the high school music room.
Activities for the event start out on Thursday evening at The Aroostook Health Center from 6:30-8 p.m., with Music by Wendell Hudson and Friends. Refreshments and the W.O.W./ TAMC Mobile will be on site.
Friday has alumni registration taking place at the high school from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be historic bus rides around town for interested alumni. Friday from 4:30-6:40 p.m. will be the Rotary ‘50s and ‘60s Car Hop Supper in the parking lot near the fire station. There will be a Kids’ Bike Parade from 5–5:15 p.m. on Main Street. From 5-7 p.m. there will be ‘50s and ‘60s music playing. BINGO will be featured from 7-9 p.m. in the fire station and a Teen Dance will take place from 8:30 to 11 p.m. in the fire station parking lot. Music for the Car Hop and the Teen Dance will be done by the CAHS Communications Club.
Saturday will start off with a Breakfast at the Snowmobile Club from 6-8 a.m. Plane rides will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. by Walt Mosher at the Mars Hill Airstrip. A Junior High Soccer Tournament will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the high school. The big parade will begin at 10 a.m., with lineup starting at 8:30 a.m. At noon, there will be Vietnam Artifacts displayed at the American Legion. From 12-3 p.m. there will be an Antique and Classic Car Show at the high school.
From 12-3 p.m. at the high school, there will be various booths set up for reunions, crafts, food, art exhibit and sales, a farmer’s market, a petting zoo and a book sale by the library. There will also be inflatable games and a bounce house from 12-4 p.m. A baked chicken dinner, sponsored by the CAHS kitchen staff, will be served from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at the high school. Music by the Countrymen will be played from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the gym and a family outdoor movie will be shown on the back wall of the high school from 8:30-10 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket for sitting.
Sunday will start out with registration for the 5K Road Race at 9 a.m. The Kiddie K race will be at 9:45 a.m., the Walkers start out at 10 a.m. and the runners’ race will head out at10:30 a.m. A family Golf Tournament will be held at the Mars Hill Country Club from 12-3 p.m. Gospel Music will be featured from 2-4 p.m. at the high school.
Make plans now to enjoy as much of the weekend as you can!
Donations sought
The Bridgewater Recreation Department is seeking donations for a planned Yard Sale to benefit Colby Scott. Please drop off household items, toys, kids clothing and more (no adult clothing please) at the Bridgewater Community Building from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 31 or at the Bridgewater Town Office during regular business hours.
The Yard Sale will be held on Aug. 3 and 4 and on Aug. 9 and 10. Thank you for your support and please pass the word about this benefit for Colby.
Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met on Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. at the Aroostook Health Center. On July 23, the special speaker was Rotarian Roger Shaw. He spoke about the changes in education taking place with the state requiring schools to go to a “common core” curriculum without offering to help schools offset the additional costs.
Shaw quoted education historian and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch who went from initially supporting the standards to opposing them. The effort is “fundamentally flawed” in part because it wasn’t tested first, Ravitch wrote in a February post on her education blog. “(The standards) are being imposed on the children of this nation despite the fact that no one has any idea how they will affect students, teachers or schools. We are a nation of guinea pigs, almost all trying an unknown new program at the same time,” Ravitch wrote. “Maybe the standards will be great. Maybe they will be a disaster… Would the Federal Drug Administration approve the use of a drug with no trials, no concern for possible harm or unintended consequences?”
Shaw went on to talk of the importance of learning the basics of reading and math in the early years as they are the building blocks to further education. If a student doesn’t know the basics in their early years, they must work even harder in later grades to catch up.
On July 30, the speaker was Rotarian Dick Watson, who spoke about the changes in the Rotary District website.
The Club will enter a float in the upcoming parade focusing on “Polio Plus” and Rotary International’s goal of eliminating polio from the world. There are only three countries that continue to have outbreaks of polio; with everyone’s help, we can stop this virus.
Lemonade stand
The ninth annual Cropley Family Alex’s Lemonade Stand will be set up on Aug. 10 at the corner of Main Street and IGA Road from 9 a.m. until the end of the parade, then from 12-3 p.m. at Central Aroostook High School. It is hosted by Cathy and Jessica Cropley.
Thank you for your attention. If you have any questions, call 429-8043 or visit Alex’s website: http://www.alexslemonade.org/.
After The Bell
On Thursday, Aug. 8, there will be family kayaking and paddle boarding in Bridgewater from 6-8 p.m. This outing is free thanks to a generous donation by Huber Engineered Wood. Equipment is provided. This will be the last chance to participate in this. Meet at the community center in Bridgewater.
On Friday, Aug. 9, will be the kids’ bike parade on Main Street. Meet at 5 p.m. with bikes decorated. The parade will be on Main Street at 5:15 p.m. Prizes will be awarded. No cost to enter.
On Sunday, Aug. 11, the After The Bell 5k registration is at 9 a.m. There are both walkers’ and runners’ divisions. A minimum $15 donation is requested to participate, with proceeds to support the scholarship fund. Children under 12 free. T-shirts go to the first 50 participants. Race will start and end at BigRock.
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, school resumes. Information regarding after-school programming will be sent home with the students.
Bridgewater Historical Society
The BHA would like to welcome everyone to come and enjoy the sounds of Outside In Thursday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. There is no cover charge, however, donations are greatly appreciated as they help keep this event and the hall in operation. Refreshments are available at the hall.
Aroostook Health Center
Upcoming events for the week of Aug. 7-13 include: Wednesday will have the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Moving and Memories at 9:30 a.m. and Residents Council at 1:30 p.m. Thursday will have the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m., Card Games at 1:30 p.m. and Outdoor Country Hoedown with Wendell and Friends at 6:30 p.m. Friday will feature Board Games at 9:30 a.m. and a Patio Social at 1:30 p.m. Saturday will feature the APC Church Service at 3 p.m. Sunday will be a free day. Monday will feature Table Tennis at 9:30 a.m., Nail Beautiful at 10 a.m., Karaoke with Larry and Larry at 1:30 p.m. and Gospel Group at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will feature the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m. and Card Games at 1:30 p.m. All of these activities are subject to change.
If you would like to volunteer to help with any of these activities, call Connie or Vicki at768-4915.
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached at 429-9126 or e-mail tomihen@yahoo.com.
