MARS HILL NEWS
by Tomi Henderson
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met on Tuesday, May 26, at 6:30 a.m. at the Aroostook Health Center. The guest speaker was April Flagg, executive director of Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI). She spoke of the program and how it strives to work together to grow Aroostook from within.
In 2014, there were 13 scholars that received scholarships through the program. AAI stays connected with each student by mentoring, encouraging and supporting them. This year, there will be 23 scholarships given.
By working with area businesses, individuals and schools, AAI is striving to reduce the outward migration of area youth. They are developing partnerships and internships with local businesses to help youth see that there is a future for them in Aroostook.
Of the original group of over 100 scholars, 97 percent completed their education and 75 percent of them have stayed in Aroostook County.
For more information, email info@gauvinfund.org or call 760-0558.
New addition
The family is pleased to welcome a boy, Vincent Alan, born to Pat and Katelyn Saucier of West Gardiner. He weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 21 inches long. Maternal grandparents are Kim and Alan Field of Blaine. Paternal grandparents are Richard and Diane Saucier of Caribou.
Aroostook Health Center
Upcoming events for the week of June 3-9 include: Wednesday will feature the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Young At Heart Senior Fitness at 9:30 a.m. and Resident’s Council at 2 p.m. Thursday will feature Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m., and BYF Potluck Dinner at 11 a.m. Friday will feature Five Card Bingo at 9:30 a.m., and Music by The Countrymen at 1:30 p.m. Saturday will feature Girl Scout Bingo at 9:30 a.m. Sunday will be a free day. Monday will feature Coffee Chat at 9:30 a.m., Nail Beautiful at 10 a.m., an M & M Social at 1:30 p.m. and Gospel Group at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will feature 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, call Connie or Vicki at 768-4915.
Bingo
The William Cousins Post 118 of Mars Hill is hosting Bingo every Saturday evening from 7 p.m., until done. There are cash prizes. Refreshments are available. Come on out and enjoy a fun evening with friends!
Supporting higher education
Dead River Company is teaming once again with Maine College Circle to support efforts to make college part of the plan for all Maine students.
On Friday, May 29, at Fort Street Elementary School in Mars Hill, Maine College Circle (MeCC), with support from Dead River Company, awarded 35 students Future of Maine College Aspirations Scholarships.
For more than 15 years, Maine College Circle has conducted workshops and reached more than 64,000 students in 124 Maine communities. The College Aspirations Scholarships are awarded to grade-school students based on an essay about college and career aspirations. Scholarships are redeemable upon enrollment in any post-secondary educational program.
This year, MeCC held workshops for third- to sixth- graders from Fort Street Elementary, where students discussed the idea and value of higher education, the opportunities that are available for everyone, and why college or any kind of education after high school is essential.
“Our goal is not to send more kids to college, it is to develop more kids who want to go to college,” said Bob Stuart, executive director for Maine College Circle. “Knowledge and education have the greatest potential to build a brighter future for our children. With early aspirations and motivation, all students can succeed in college. What holds most students back from success in education is not ability, it is desire, motivation and lack of information.
The purpose of Maine College Circle is to help more students make more of the opportunity of higher education, with a special focus on rural Maine communities. By providing equal access to information on the opportunity of education, particularly higher education, MeCC provides real world information, inspiration and energy to build aspirations.
“As a local, family-owned business and one of the larger employers in the state of Maine, Dead River Company understands and values the importance of higher education,” said Mark Wilcox, area Manager for Dead River Company. “We value our most important resource: our children. Because we want them to have a bright future, we’re eager to support the work that Maine College Circle does, which is just outstanding. The inspiration they get from writing their essays and winning these $100 scholarships changes a child’s whole outlook on life”.
“The Future of Maine Scholarship efforts in Mars Hill have had a tremendous impact on our students and our staff”, said Elaine Boulier, superintendent for S.A.D 42 which serves Mars Hill. “Maine College Circle, Dead River Company and the local businesses have worked collaboratively for the past FOUR years to make this a successful endeavor in raising student aspirations, prioritizing student growth and goal setting, and unlocking the power of motivation. Fort Street School is thankful to the community for its continued support in educating our most cherished resource — our students.”
“We insist on community engagement,” Stuart added. “We promote community conversation about the opportunity of higher education, we help celebrate educational aspirations within the community, and we emphasize the value of effort and initiative in education to help make higher education an opportunity for all. Dead River Company’s financial and personal support has been critical. As part of the community, their presence provides an example that I hope others will follow.”
In 2014, Dead River Company provided community and financial support for 280 of the 344 scholarships awarded to students in Aroostook, Hancock, Washington, Somerset, Penobscot, Kennebec, Oxford, Piscataquis and Franklin.
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached by emailing tomihen@yahoo.com.
