Presque Isle clubs in the news
The Star City Seniors met Sept. 30, at the Methodist Church for their regular meeting and lunch. There were 18 members and one guest, Presque Isle City Manager, Jim Bennett.
The blessing of the food was given by President Devoe. The meal consisted of spaghetti, salads, garlic bread, pickles and pickled beets and desserts plus coffee. Everyone enjoyed the meal including the city manager.
The business meeting opened with a prayer and flag salute. No secretary or treasury reports were given.
Oct. 14, will be pizza etc. On Oct. 25, the Aroostook Agency on Aging will meet at the Presque Isle Shriner’s Club on the Houlton Rd., at 9:30 a.m. Fee will be $4 each. Everyone is welcome.
After the brief meeting, President Devoe introduced the Presque Isle City manager to the club. Everyone gave him a warm welcome. He said he would like to come back again in the future.
He began his meeting on a little bit of his personal life – wife Deb and two children, a son, Mitchell, a junior and daughter, Amanda, a sophomore, in Presque Isle High School. He’s active in the Masons and also a member of the Shriner’s Kora Kloun Unit. He also discussed his municipal career. He gave reports on Mantle Lake Park, the proposed recreation center by the Presque Isle Court house on Chapman Rd. and the Turner Library expansion. There were several questions and answers presented.
There are no birthdays for October, two anniversaries in October, include Marion and Frank Allen and Oct. 22, Donna and Donald Devoe. Congratulations!
Violet Frazier had carpal tunnel surgery. Anyone can send her a card at Violet Frazier, 34 Elizabeth St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. It would make her day. She’s 93 years old.
The monthly meeting of the Probus Club of Central Aroostook was held at Northern Maine Community College on Thursday, Sept. 16. President Karen Sweeney opened the meeting and greeted 21 members.
Pearl Carmichael read a poem entitled “The Potato Picker,” a nostalgic poem recalling memories of picking potatoes by hand. This poem told about the hard work, the rewards of earning money and even the fun times that were had in the fields.
Mel Fitzherbert, program director, introduced the guest speaker, local entrepreneur John Cancelarich, who came to The County about 60 years ago.
John spoke about his newest business of processing mustard and canola into consumable oil products. This business was started a year ago and is an ongoing venture. The farmers grow the plants in plots of about 10 to 40 acres in size. The seed is bought from firms in New Hampshire, Vermont and Idaho and is harvested by a grain harvester.
John’s company, Maine Natural Oils, currently grows and processes only canola and mustard that has not been genetically modified. The processing plant, newly licensed by the Maine Department of Agriculture, is mobile — built to be able to move to where the crops are harvested but based in Houlton.
Maine Natural Oils can be found in health food stores, organic markets and some supermarkets in Maine.
John talked about the need for young people to be entrepreneurs, to help businesses to come to The County and for teamwork within any new business that is undertaken. Hard work and the ability to try again as well as background and resources of the nature of the business, together with the location, play a huge part in the success of any business that is being considered.
A question and answer period followed and a certificate of appreciation was presented to John by Mel Fitzherbert.
The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were read and accepted.
Probus Club welcomes any who are interested to join us on the third Thursday of every month at Reed Commons, NMCC, at 10 am.
Individuals in charge of phone call members were urged to check their list and to do so prior to our October 21 meeting. Our guest speaker at this meeting will be Naldo Gagnon, chief of Police of Presque Isle.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
