Richardson honored at Augusta ceremony
MARS HILL NEWS
by Tomi Henderson
Maine First Lady Ann LePage recently joined the Maine Health Care Association (MHCA) to honor the accomplishments of 36 people living in the state’s long-term care facilities, including Rena Richardson, 90, a lifelong County resident who currently resides at the Aroostook Health Center in Mars Hill.
Rena Richardson 
The First Lady offered opening remarks at the 10th annual ceremony and photography exhibit, entitled “Remember Me,” which featured the black and white photographs and biographies of these citizens in nursing homes and assisted living facilities statewide. Mrs. LePage also helped present Certificates of Lifetime Achievement during the ceremony held in the Hall of Flags at the State House.
Residents are decorated War heroes, mothers and fathers, and community leaders such as nurses, teachers, pilots and small business owners. Richardson was honored for her widespread civic achievements, including her role as co-founder of the Opportunity Training Center.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
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| Marine Pvt. Matt Amnott, right, son of Phil and Lori Amnott of Mars Hill, visited CAHS, on May 17 with SSgt Lagasse, at left, the Presque Isle recruiter. Amnott, a 2011 graduate of CAHS, recently graduated from boot camp at Parris Island, S.C. He will be going for a month of combat training in North Carolina before going to communication school in California. Following two to three months in California, he will find out his duty station. |
Students of the Month
In a continuing effort to recognize outstanding student citizenship, the faculty of Central Aroostook Junior-Senior High School has announced that Kiley Eckstein and Shannon Todd have been selected as the March Students of the Month and Karli Levesque and Rachael Grew have been selected as April Students of the Month. They were selected in recognition of their commitment to the pillar of character.
Kiley Eckstein
is a member of the Seventh Grade and lists gym and social studies as her favorite classes. A member of the softball team, she is the daughter of Dawn and Shannon Eckstein. Outside of school, Kiley enjoys reading, drawing, swimming, sleeping, cheering and water-tubing. In the future, she plans to go to college for a four-year degree in nursing, get married, have a family and work part-time while raising her family.
Shannon Todd
is a member of the Senior Class and lists chorus and anatomy as her favorite subjects. Shannon is a member of the soccer, softball and math teams, chorus, Anatomy Club and is class secretary. Outside of school, Shannon enjoys soccer, softball and hanging out with her friends whenever she can. The daughter of Perrin and Wendy Todd, she plans to go the UMPI to major in history or law.
Karli Levesque
is a member of the Eighth Grade class and lists science and English as her favorite subjects. She is a member of the basketball, soccer, softball and travel teams. Outside of school she enjoys playing sports, hanging out with friends and writing. The daughter of Heidi and Joe Levesque, she plans of becoming a writer, playing in the USA Girls Soccer Team as a striker and owning a beach house in Florida.
Rachael Grew
is a member of the Senior Class and lists anatomy as her favorite subject. She is a member of the basketball, soccer and softball teams and enjoys playing sports and hanging out with friends and family outside of school. The daughter of Glen and Tracie Grew, Rachael plans to attend UMFK to study nursing, while continuing to play basketball.
United Methodist Women
The May meeting of the Mars Hill UMW met in the church vestry at noon on May 14. This was a special Mother’s Day meeting with 12 guests and 14 members present. The vestry was decorated in fresh spring flowers. The table blessing was given by Pastor Sue Brown. Along with sandwiches, there were chips and pickles to enjoy with hot and cold drinks. Apple pie with ice cream was served by co-hostesses Frances Banks and Clara Hussey. Assisting in serving were Donna Brewer, Diane Ketchum, Joan Boone, Jan Beals and Mary Valadez, a special guest visiting her sister Elaine Bailey.
After an hour of socializing, President Donna Brewer turned the meeting over to Program Chairpersons Frances Banks and Clara Hussey. Clara read a very appropriate scripture pertaining to the Proverbs 31 woman. Frances then gave a short talk on the origin of Mother’s Day and displayed a picture of the famous painting, “Whistler’s Mother.” It was very interesting and amusing to hear each one give a brief talk about her mother, taking us all back a few years. Frances ended the program by having all repeat the first prayer our mothers taught us, “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.”
After the guests left, President Donna conducted a short business meeting. She led all in the Purpose Pledge and Prayer. The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were read and accepted as read.
An invitation was received from the Presque Isle UMW to attend a tea on May 22. Plans were made for those planning to attend.
The June meeting is “Out-to-Lunch” day. Tentative plans were made. President Donna will make calls about the time and place. Members will be notified once plans are finalized. After the benediction the meeting was adjourned.
Photos courtesy of Tomi Henderson
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| Holding back tears, Betsy York was touched to be named an honorary member of the National Honor Society at the Central Aroostook Jr./Sr. High School Academic Recognition Night. She was recognized for her 32 years of service to the district. NHS Advisor Mrs. Drost also pictured. |
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| Members of the Seventh Grade recognized at the Central Aroostook Jr./Sr. High School Academic Recognition Night on May 10 include, front from left: Lyndsay Fuller, Sarah Gerritsen, Halee Rusby, Jadeyn Giberson, Kiley Eckstein and Sage Braman. Middle row: Brandon Cushman, Zachary Crouch, Logan Grass, Cameron Mosher, Gavin Miller, Chandler Garrison and Clark Bradbury. In back: Erica Watson, Emilee Durost, Kelsey Dominique and Dayna McCrum. Absent from the photo are Jonathan Gebhart, Madaline Johnson and Haley Rowe. |
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| Members of the Eighth Grade recognized at the Central Aroostook Jr./Sr. High School Academic Recognition Night on May 10 include, front from left: Victoria Brewer, Dayna Collins, Jessica Cropley, Molly Anthony, Kailyn Stitham, Karli Levesque and Noelle Bailey. In back: Dustin Pryor, Nicholas Dominique, Tyler Barber, Ethen McKenney, Brooke Cyr, Nicole Gebhart and Abigail Boyce. Absent from the photo is Tucker Fletcher. |
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| Members of the Freshman Class recognized at the Central Aroostook Jr./Sr. High School Academic Recognition Night on May 10 include, front from left: Kennith Bell, Emily Pickance, Jordan Canney, Carly Grass and Shannon Scully. In back: Sean Brock, Alexander Folsom, Chandler Brewer, Zachary Grass and Whitnie Bradbury. Absent from the photo is Ethan Bradstreet. |
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| Members of the Sophomore Class, at left, recognized at the Central Aroostook Jr./Sr. High School Academic Recognition Night on May 10 include, from the left: Kennedy Day, Briana Dyer, Mason Davis, Cory Richardson, Matthew Williams, Megan King, Jacob Canney, Stephanie Dame and Spencer Garrison. |
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| Members of the Junior Class recognized at the Central Aroostook Jr./Sr. High School Academic Recognition Night on May 10 include, from the left: Breanne York, Marissa Smith, Kayla Cushman, Whitney Cote, Michaela King, Sarah Grass, Olivia Garrison and Dylan Murray. Absent from the photo are Heather Bell, Connor Boulier, Page Fletcher and Darrin Murray. |
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| Members of the Senior Class recognized at the Central Aroostook Jr./Sr. High School Academic Recognition Night on May 10 include, from the left: Joshua Barton, Brendan York, Jenna Cousins, Devon Dionne, Patricia Donovan, Daniel Brewer, Victoria McIntyre, Olivia Cyr, Whitney Klein, Lindsey Watson, Rachael Grew, Zechariah Sargent, Heather Bradstreet and Landon Jackins. Absent from the photo is Shannon Todd. |
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| Special recognition was given at the Central Aroostook Jr./Sr. High School Academic Recognition Night to five members of the Senior Class that had been named to the honor roll for 23 consecutive quarters in school. Pictured from the left, at left, are: Brendan York, Patricia Donovan, Rachael Grew and Landon Jackins. Jackins was recognized for making the highest honor roll for 23 quarters. Absent from the photo is Shannon Todd. |
Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met Tuesday morning, May 22, at the Aroostook Health Center. A special welcome was extended to Rotarian Milton Adelman on his return home from Florida.
The special speaker was Ryan Guerrette, athletic director at CAHS. He spoke about the baseball rule changes this year. The bats used by the baseball teams have changed in order to create more balance between the batters and pitchers.
Allowable bats are made of aluminum, aluminum composite, wood or bamboo. The school, with the help of the Boosters Club, purchased 15 new bats this year for use in the junior and senior high teams. They hope to get five to eight years of use from each bat.
Aroostook Health Center
Upcoming events for the week of May 30 through June 5 include: Wednesday will have the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Wii Bowling Challenge at 9 a.m., and Crossword Puzzles at 1:30 p.m.; Thursday has the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m., Horse Racing at 1:30 p.m. and Faith Baptist Chapel at 6:30 p.m.; Friday, June 1, will feature Moving to Music at 9:30 a.m. and Crossword Puzzles at 1:30 p.m.; Saturday will feature Bingo with Velma at 1:30 p.m.; Sunday will be a free day; Monday will feature Coffee Chat at 9:30 a.m., Catholic Mass at 1:30 p.m., Piano Music with Judie Saucier at 2:15 p.m. and Gospel Group at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, June 5, will have 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, contact Connie or Vicki at 768-4915.
Library news
The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library will be holding a tag sale on Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Anyone willing to donate items for the sale is asked to call the library at 429-9625 or Ione Dixon at 429-8790. Arrangements can be made to pick up any saleable items that you are willing to donate.
Bridgewater Historical Association
On Thursday, the Bridgewater Historical Association will have live music by the BHA house band, Outside In, from 6-9 p.m. There is no cover charge, but donations are welcome and greatly appreciated. We hope to see some of our old friends in the audience as well as new ones. We thank everyone for their support.
Just a reminder, June 8 and 9 will be our first yard sale of the year. So come and see what we have for sale. The sales will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We look forward to seeing all of you at our events.
Summerfest
Plans are under way for a summer festival on Aug. 3-5. Various activities will take place on Friday evening in town, on Saturday with a parade in town followed by activities at the high school, and on Sunday at the Community Center.
Please call Dave Collins at 429-8429 or 227- 0485 to “claim” an activity or to suggest your own ideas for the weekend.
Community Cupboard
The food pantry serves the communities of Westfield, Mars Hill, Blaine, Robinson, E-Plantation and Bridgewater.
The cupboard is open the second Tuesday of each month from 1-3 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at the Mars Hill and Blaine Community. If you have questions, call Cathy Cropley at 429-8043.
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.
