The community will welcome summer next week, along with a new director for the season’s Rec Program. Melanie Mowbray has been hired as Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill’s rec director. Melanie graduated cum laude from the University of Maine at Presque Isle during the University’s 100th commencement May 16 with a bachelor of science degree in recreation.
Melanie comes to the position with an extensive athletic background, participating in a wide variety of sporting activities during her years at Fort Fairfield High School and, most recently, her collegiate years at UMPI. She enjoys outdoor sports, specifically, skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. While attending UMPI, she participated in a 100-mile wilderness hike, extending from Maine to Georgia. She proudly noted that she hiked 40 miles of that strenuous trip!
Besides having a love of sports, Melanie comes to this position with experience working with young children and teens. She was part of the “21st Century” afterschool program with the Rec Department in Fort Fairfield and served an internship at UMPI in conjunction with the TRIO Upward Bound program. Her responsibilities there included serving as tutor, counselor and coordinator for the recreation activities for high school aged students. She is also Belay Certified to work at the rock wall inside Gentile Hall on the UMPI campus.
Melanie’s immediate goal for the summer includes increasing the participation numbers for the upcoming recreation activities. Looking toward the future, Melanie would love to see our community adopt a year-round recreation program to include winter sporting events to keep children active during the colder months. She has aspirations of landing a full-time job in her field of choice, but in the meantime, looks forward to this summer and bringing new ideas to the towns’ existing programs. She states that, “I enjoy working with young people and motivating them.” Melanie will be supervising and working with 17 other staff members hired for the upcoming summer.
There is still time to register your child(ren) for the summer’s programs. The program is scheduled to begin Monday, June 22. There are currently openings in all programs at all age levels. Please contact the Town Office at 764-3754 with any questions or to register.
Melanie is truly excited about the summer and feels the “parents and rec director need to work together to improve our programs.” We welcome Melanie to our community and wish her well as she embarks on this new challenge!
Birthday wishes this week go out to Graydon Warner, Riley Kenney, Bernard Ayotte, Clinton Goheen, Amanda Scott, Cody Boucher, Dakota Fox, Annice Boyles, Taylor Lane Thompson, Cheryl Scifers, David Bernier, Sue Powers, Violet Gregg, Stephanie Stephenson, Marilyn Brewer, Angela Boucher, Keith DeLong, Kendall Robbins and Penny Robinson.
Happy Anniversary this week to Bub and Penny Nadeau on the 18th, Steven and Angie Kennedy on the 19th, Taylor and Mandy Putnam, Kathy and Walter Scott, and Carl and Andrea Ritchie all on the 20th, Dan and Nancy Charette and Lee and Jackie Putnam on the 22nd, Charles II and Anita Currier and Gedeon and Debbie Martin on the 23rd.
Sunday, June 21 is Father’s Day. Small or large, creative or traditional, whatever gift you select for the special man (or men) in your life, each will truly appreciate being honored on this holiday! My family would like to wish all the special men in our lives a very “Happy Father’s Day!”
Mapleton Daisy Troop 1133 held its closing awards ceremony and Daisy Bridging ceremony June 11. To open the ceremony, each of the 10 troop members were introduced, followed by the flag salute and Girl Scout Promise. Each Daisy recited one part of the Girl Scout Law and briefly explained what the troop did to earn that particular petal. The audience had an opportunity to view a projected photo of each activity during the individual presentations.
The girls entertained their family and friends with the “Baby Bumblebee” song, then Daisy member Taylor Stephenson played a solo on the piano. A DVD presentation, compiled by Nancy and Willie Winslow, was viewed, outlining the year’s activities, played to numerous familiar Girl Scout songs.
During the awards ceremony, each girl received a large paper daisy displaying their petals and patches earned. The Daisies received their Honest and Fair petal, Respect Myself and Others petal, Make the World a Better Place petal, and patches for going roller skating, attending the Coast Guard tour, the build-a-buddy workshop, and participating in the Memorial Day parade.
Several families received their Family Star patch at the Court of Awards ceremony in March and two families were honored during this ceremony. Brooke and Paige Trask, along with their mother, Laura Trask, and Taylor Stephenson and her mother, Ann Stephenson, all received their Family Star patches and the mothers received certificates of appreciation.
The bridging ceremony began with Ann Stephenson reading the “Brownie Story.” Three Daisies were pinned with their Brownie pin – Rebecca Rider, Taylor Stephenson and Katelyn Amero. As each Daisy crossed the bridge to Brownie Girl Scouts, they were greeted by current Brownie Leader Eva Shay and two of her Brownie Girl Scouts, Molly Shay and Brittany Wilson. Molly and Brittany, along with their leader, Eva, will be Junior Girl Scouts in the fall. Ann Stephenson removed their daisy crowns and welcomed the three girls as new Brownies. The three girls each received their Brownie Bridging Patch, new pieces for their Brownie uniforms, a Bridging Certificate, and a mini scrapbook commemorating their year as a Daisy Girl Scout. Rebecca, Taylor and Katelyn then sang the “Daisy Bridging Song” to their younger Daisy friends and the audience.
All of the girls returned to the stage, Daisies and newly bridged Brownies, to sing their final song, “Make New Friends.” The evening concluded with brownie ice cream sundaes in honor of the three new Brownie Girl Scouts!
The Mapleton Fire Department will be hosting the Aroostook County Fire Muster Saturday, June 27 from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The muster events will take place in the Mapleton Elementary School yard. Participating departments are invited to have trucks and marching units in the Mapleton Daze parade being held Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. There will be a pig roast following the parade hosted by members of the Mapleton Fire Department, and the muster events begin at noon.
The Boy Scout Troop 170 is accepting donations of bottles and cans, which will help raise money to attend summer camp. Please drop off your returnables at the Parsons Street Redemption Center and let the employee know they are for Mapleton Boy Scout Troop 170. You can also call Scoutmaster Peter Starr at 764-8189 or 551-5196 to schedule a pickup.
The next regular meeting of the Haystack Historical Society will be held June 22 at 7 p.m. at the museum. All members are urged to attend and guests are welcome. Don’t forget our homemade pie and ice cream sale Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The museum will be open all day. We have a great selection of pictures of schools in the Mapleton area for your viewing pleasure.
Only one more week to pre-register for the annual Mapleton Daze parade! Please contact parade organizer Grenda Stephenson at 764-0452. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 27. Unlike previous years, Mapleton Daze Committee has decided not to award trophies this year. Thank you for registering prior to the Saturday morning parade!
The Mapleton Class of 1949 will be holding its 60th class reunion Thursday, June 25 at 5 p.m. at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center. All classmates and guests are invited to attend and encouraged to bring photos and other memorabilia to share. Those in attendance will be ordering dinner from the restaurant’s menu. For more information, please contact Arnold Carter at 207-873-1334 or Catherine (Smith) Wallace at 207-745-8680.
The Society has voted to offer a couple’s lifetime membership for $150. If two people from the same family would like to join, this option would save $50, rather than purchasing one lifetime membership for $100.
The Grange Hall is available for rent May 1-Nov. 1. Please contact any member if you are interested in renting the hall for your event. The Society meets one night a month from February through November and welcomes new members. Please consider helping the Society preserve a piece of local history.
The United Methodist Church luncheon will be held Friday, June 19 at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115, or by e-mail at jbuzza@ainop.com.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Buzza
THE COMMUNITIES of Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill will have a new director for their summer program scheduled to begin June 22. Melanie Mowbray, left, a recent graduate of the University of Maine at Presque Isle, has been hired to oversee the upcoming recreation activities. Welcoming her to the community and her new position is Town Manager Martin Puckett.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Buzza
MAPLETON RESIDENT Forest Chandler recently celebrated his 100th birthday with his family. Attending the birthday party to honor their father and father-in-law, who is seated in front, were back row, from left: Darrell Chandler, Marilyn Chandler, Emilie Lovley, Carl Lovley, Alice Chandler and Don Chandler.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Buzza
MEMBERS OF MAPLETON DAISY TROOP 1133 recently planted flowers around the Living Easy Apartment complex on the Pulcifur Road to earn their “Make the world a better place” petal. The girls, along with help from several parents, planted flowers around the complex sign and, with the residents’ permission, in front of many of the apartments. Participating in the project were, front row, from left: Madelyn Buzza, Alexis Getchell, Amanda Winslow and Paige Trask. Back row: Delaney Alward, Taylor Stephenson, Rebecca Rider, Katelyn Amero, Brooke Trask and Bethany Baker.
