Happy Losers gather
by Shirley Sides
The first Wednesday of August, the Happy Losers held the weekly meeting at the church vestry in Island Falls. Jackie Pratt, the leader opened the meeting with the pledge and roll call. Ten ladies weighed-in and attended the class.
Loretta Bouchard was the loser of the week and Dotty Rand was runner-up. Great job ladies! The secretary and treasurer gave reports for the week. Jackie Pratt led the program for the week with a eight question quiz which was informative and interesting.
Diamonds are leading in our contest so far. Please feel welcome to our meeting every Wednesday from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and meeting starts at 9 a.m. Call 365-4884 for more info. See you there.
Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
Ah, the weather. It is overcast this morning, Sunday, Aug. 7. The summer days are moving right along. Enjoy while you can. Attending the combination meeting at the park on last Thursday for the band concert were representing the Red Hats: Odette Ouellette, Ruth Levesque, Pat Chase, Priscilla Munroe, Elva Coburn and Queen Mother, Barbara Grant. Representing the Purple Hat ladies were leader Charlotte Marley, Peggy Sanders, Delores Locke, Arlene Friel, Marie Gillotti, Wannetta Townsend, Doreen Messina, Sandy Wyman, and Lois Downing. Some of us signed the black book that was traveling around and all in all we had a super time. It was ice cream night and some of us enjoyed two ice creams. The concerts for the season will be coming to an end soon.
Shirley Nason is enjoying her sister Ruth, who is to return to Florida soon. Shirley on Saturday attended a family reunion. Most of us are enjoying the outside swings. It is a nice way to socialize and to enjoy the outdoors.
Dorothy Campbell with her daughter was in Bangor on Thursday. Enjoyed An Afternoon of Barbershop at Island Falls a week ago. The chorus is made up of doctors, bankers, carpenters, postal workers, auditors, teachers, insurance men, farmers, and retirees among others. The only requirements are the desire to sing and the ability to learn and carry a part. It was formed in 1938 and has approximately 35 men.
Betty Britton is a patient at Houlton Regional Hospital. Jeff Thibodeau of Portland was here one day this week. Priscilla Brownlow had her nephew from Texas visiting recently. School is on the agenda now and the students will be returning to their studies as well as the college ones.
Robin Chambers is our newest tenant and we welcome her. A group of church people from St. Mary of the Visitation in Houlton left Houlton on Friday, Aug. 5, for Presque Isle, Madawaska, Frenchville, Lille, St. Agatha, and many more little towns. Our pastor, the Rev. David Raymond, led us and attending were Betty Childers, Alfreda Albert, Linda Cassidy, Marcella and Leonard Michaud, Jeannine and Joe Bossie, Lynnette Dobbs, Louise Guillette, Rita McDade and Lois Downing. We stopped at Ste. Agathe Historical Society where Rev. Raymond had spent many hours volunteering in the past and was president at one time. Our destination was Mitzah, a beautiful place to worship. We attended Mass, as did approximately 200 others. One had to take a golf cart to observe the grounds. One could not take it all in one day but well worth the drive. A person whose health was deteriorating started the beautiful place about 15 years ago.
How is your garden? I’m ready for ripe tomatoes, one of my favorites.
I can’t resist telling you this: a certain lady had a towel that was given to her and her husband for a wedding gift. She is still using it, 60 years later. Bible quote: Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 1624)
At the moment of birth, angels gather to welcome you into the world. At the moment of death, they meet again to escort you into heaven. Have a safe and healthy week.
Island Falls News
Ed Wood has been at the Wood’s cottage on Mattawamkeag Lake enjoying the weather and kayaking and working on repairing some of the cottage. He plans on leaving soon to return to Wilton, N.H.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Delong, former residents of Island Falls, have returned to their home in Brooksville, Fla., after spending a month here visiting friends and relatives here in the County. Joyce and Diane Curry, also former residents, are at the Curry homestead during the Summerfest activities and are also visiting with many friends and relatives in the area and enjoying all the goings-on during the 10 days of the Summerfest. Gail (Sewall) Kennett and husband, John, have returned home to Scarborough after spending several days here last week.
I have been putting very little birdseed out now, but plan to refill the feeders as soon as it begins to get cooler. The gold finch are still around and also the purple finch with only an occasional chickadee. My one lone blueberry bush is producing many unripened berries and what has ripened so far I have picked. Have about six big crows who arrive every afternoon and saw one of them in the blueberry bush and sure hope he wont eat all my berries. Saw one hummingbird in my beebalm flowers, and was happy that he was enjoying a good feed. Still no deer to be seen, but hope springs eternal.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly ME 0233 of Houlton
by Lois Downing
Take Off Pounds Sensibly Chapter 0233 of Houlton met at the Aldergate building on High Street for its Friday, Aug. 5 meeting. Eleven TOPS members and two KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) attended with leader Denise Clark.
Loser of the week was Janice Shaw with Joanne Scott as runner-up. The skinny dish was taken home by Joanne Scott. Winners of the “Catch a Falling Star” contest were announced: TOPS, Janette Nelson and Aileen Smith; KOPS, Lois Downing and Charlotte Marley.
Plans were made for the fall rally to be in Presque Isle in September. If you wish more information about the chapter, you may call Charlotte Marley at 757-8483 or Betty Ivey at 532-9653.
Weigh-in is every Friday morning at 8-8:45; the meeting starts at 9 o’clock and usually ends an hour later. Everyone is welcome. Come and enjoy.
Sherman Senior Citizens meet
The Sherman Senior Citizens Club met on Wednesday, Aug. 3, for a potluck lunch at the Sherman Gym and played several games of Beano to enjoy the ending of the planned get-together at the date.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 17. The head count has been low this summer, but not lacking in enjoying each other’s presence. Labor Day is coming up and we shall be happy to see an increase in attendance once more.
We planned our Fall Outing Trip when the leaves will be sporting their brilliant colors in early October. Do come and enjoy that!
Present were: Annie and Fred Atkinson, Donna Grass, Eva Perry, Bonita Staples, Linniea Perry, Mary Lawler and Frances Gorman.
Red Hat Border Belles gather
The Red Hat Border Belles enjoyed the month of July by attending a garden picnic at the home of Leola Bishop on the afternoon of July 10. Leola not only opened her home to the Border Belles, but if one quietly viewed her flower gardens, we could spot the presence of tiny gnome homes, fairy castles and frog hallows. Our ladies had their choice of sitting under shady trees by the brook or enjoying the warmth of noontime sun while indulging in yummy food and chilled punch.
Attending the picnic were: Leola Bishop, Joyce Blake, Linda Cassidy, Elva Coburn, Barbara Grant, Barbara Holston, Joan Logan, Marge Melvin, Lois Morin and her sister Beverly Benford of New Mexico, Marge Panell and her guests, Doreen Stewart of Houlton and Martha Mattis of California, Marilyn Tidd and her 3-year-old great-granddaughter Avayah Norton, and Jean Wiley.
The Red Hat Border Belles also attended a community event on the evening of July 29. Barbara Grant, Priscilla Monroe, Elva Coburn, Pat Chase, Ruth Levesque and Odette Ouellette gathered as a group to join the Purple Hatters, Charlotte Marley, Lois Downing, Peggy Sanders, Delores Locke, Arlene Friel, Marie Gillotti, Wanda Townsend, Doreen Massina and Sandy Wyman to enjoy the music at Monument Park provided by the talented McGills Band.
We also enjoyed the extra treat of ice cream that was donated by Houlton Farms Dairy. Barbara Grant, Queen Mother of the Border Belles also surprised the Red and Purple Hatters with cranberry flavored ginger ale poured in stem glasses, and shared her cheese and pretzel snacks as everyone enjoyed a summer evening of friendship in Houlton.
The Border Belles next gathering will be at the Blue Moose on Aug. 11.
