By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
The Caribou Lioness Club’s annual Ladies Night Out once again provided an evening of relaxation, food, fun, friendship and laughter with 83 ladies purchasing tickets to attend the Feb. 9 event held in the Tikki Lounge of the Jade Palace Restaurant in Caribou.
Louise Brescia, right, was all business as she helped her pal Alma Jackson get outfitted to compete in the Ladies Night Out Cupid contest.
This “Cupid” wasn’t talking at the Caribou Lioness Club’s Ladies Night Out held in the Tikki Lounge at the Jade Palace.
With Lioness members Jan Tompkins and Sara Brown at the helm as co-chairs, the two navigated their guests through an evening that brought a number of surprises along with a seemingly endless number of prizes given away.
Tables were decorated in a Valentine’s Day theme but the ladies were warned not to speak the words love, husband or boyfriend — nor were they to use their cell phones — no calls and no texting. Those found in violation of these rules would find that they would be forced to forfeit the beads they were gifted at the beginning of the evening. It was easy to identify if one broke the rules as a roar would go up from a specific table and beads would be seen being transferred to another.
At the end of the evening, after several unusual contests, the lady with the most bling was deemed winner of a free ticket to next year’s event. After all was said and done (and that included a lot) Yvonne Theriault had managed to make her way through the evening without breaking the rule, gathering almost 40 bead necklaces.
Cuppy Johndro was called before Keystone Kop Judge Dean Rauch for being too rowdy at the Ladies Night Out evening held on Feb. 9.
Each year the event features a “Love Basket” raffle. The money raised from this raffle all goes to fund the Lioness Scholarship given to a Caribou High School student. This year the sale of raffle tickets totaled $497. Winner of the Love Basket, containing items valued at $627, was Desiree Kish while Jenny Coon was the lucky winner of a smaller basket valued at $345. All items in the raffle baskets (and those given during other drawings) are donated by businesses or Lioness members.
Throughout the evening random drawings were held with gifts awarded to those in attendance ranging from everything from gallons of anti-freeze, yard sticks and candles to fresh flowers and massage gift certificates. One very special door prize is given each year and Judy Corey was the lucky winner on Feb. 9, when her ticket was drawn to claim a black and white diamond necklace from Kay Jewelers.
Overall the annual Ladies Night Out provides a few brief hours for the women of the community to relax and enjoy the companionship of others in a setting where it’s OK to laugh, be silly and marvel at the extraordinary strength and energy that is created by womankind.
The Caribou Lioness Club is continuously seeking new members and those interested in learning more about the organization can contact any Lioness.
2011-12 Lioness officers include: Joan Dube, president; Jan Tompkins, vice president; Shirley Dumas, secretary; and Vicki Labrie, treasurer.
Michelle Albair, left, and Sharon Pelletier get ready to create the perfect Cupid costume for one of their table mates at the Feb. 9 Ladies Night Out.
Judy Corey was the winner of the door prize at the recent Ladies Night Out, sponsored by the Caribou Lioness Club. The coveted prize was a black and white diamond necklace from Kay Jewelers.
Caribou Lioness Karen Thibodeau, in back, congratulates Desiree Kish on winning the large “Love Basket,” valued at $627, during the annual Ladies Night Out, sponsored by the Caribou Lioness Club.
