Oakfield Senior Citizens
As the 22 members of the Oakfield Senior Citizens met on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to visit and enjoy a delicious luncheon, there was Music in the Air.
Betty Burpee provided the music and the reading of two poems written by her family.
Naci Fowler was the lucky winner of the 50/50.
Earl Doughty asked the blessing on the food.
The business meeting was called to order by reciting the Lord’s Prayer and the Flag Salute. There were lots of birthdays this month and everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to celebrate these days. The usual reports were read and accepted.
Beautiful sunflowers were the decorations provided by Marie Gillotti for this first meeting in fall.
Verna Boone asked for any coupons that are not wanted at home to be brought to our next meeting for a project her club is collecting for a charity.
Attending were: Iona Nadeau, Sherry Shaw, Wanetta Townsend, Thelma Flowers, Earl and Lottie Doughty, Bernice Campbell, Verna Boone, Arlene Friel, Bob and Delores Locke, Sharon Anderson, George Barrow, Kathleen Boutilier, David Burpee, Betty and Alton Burpee, Marie Gillotti and Don and Charlotte Marley.
The Oakfield Senior Citizens meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at the Smoki-Haulers Snowmobile Club in Oakfield. All seniors are invited to join us in a potluck luncheon followed by entertainment and business meetings. For more information, call Delores Locke at 757-8478.
Our next meeting will be on October 21 and we will be celebrating Halloween, so come in costume and a prize will be awarded for the best (or maybe the worst) costume.
Island Falls Notes
By Riva Hawkes
Mr. and Mrs Rodney Webb have returned to the Bangor area after visiting with relatives in Island Falls and Patten and Oakfield. Rodney is the son of Donald Webb, who was born in Island Falls, to Nick and Fanny Webb.
While here Rodney and his wife visited with his cousins, Roger and June Webb, and with his aunt, Gertie Webb, in Patten, and, as the weather was sunny and warm, they enjoyed a picnic lunch at the Webb cottage on Pleasant Pond before returning home.
I have received a nice letter from a former resident of Island Falls, Clayton Varney, now living in Texas. and he reported that all was well down his way and he was enjoying the warm climate they have in Texas, as compared to fluctuating temperatures here in Maine.
I have discovered that a gray squirrel has arrived in my area, as I saw him loping around on my front lawn the other day. I still put out a few sunflower seeds for my little birds, and sure hope he won’t eat them all.
There have been two small woodpeckers sitting in my cedar tree, so I mixed up some peanut butter and lard and put it out on a limb and the next day it was gone. They dearly love that mixture so hope they are happy.
I still have the deer arriving just at dusk and the four young ones are still having fun chasing one another around while the grown-ups calmly graze. I had some old bread and a wizened apple in the fridge, so I cut up the apple, tore the bread into pieces and put it out by the barn and the next morning it had disappeared, so I think the deer found it.
A friend at Mountain Heights, Margaret Duffy, likes to hear about the wildlife around my house, so when I visit her and my other friend there, Gertie Webb, we chat about the deer and the birds.
Senior Citizens
Members of the Island Falls Senior Citizens met at the municipal parking lot on Oct. 1 for their semiannual outing.
The group traveled to Millinocket and had lunch at the Schoodic Inn. The restaurant received mixed reviews by the group, but all agreed that the camaraderie was well worth it.
Members attending were Rich Camire, Mary Butcher, Mary Pipes, Verna Boone, Ursula Levesque, Donna Furrow, Dennis Boone, Mary Lawler, Gloria Noyes, Donna Baker, Terry Dwyer, Jeanne Clements, Ellie Peck, Edith Dwyer, Marilyn Noyes, Leon Botting and Judy Botting.
The next meeting will occur on Oct. 15 with a potluck lunch at 11:30, and members will play Bingo following the lunch and business meeting.
The welcome mat is always out for new members.
Happy Losers
By Shirley Sides
On Oct. 7, the first Wednesday of the month, the weight-loss group The Happy Losers held their weekly meeting.
Jackie Pratt, the leader, opened the meeting and welcomed members, followed by the pledge and roll call.
Twelve members weighed in and 10 attended the meeting.
Joan Sides and Riva Hawkes lost the most weight for the week. Brenda Raymond and Loretta Bouchard were runners-up. Great job, ladies.
Reports were given by the secretary and treasurer.
The leader led the program for the week. Her topic was on an article called “Restaurants.” They may not be as healthy as fast foods shops. Linda Banks also read an article that her daughter wrote about her struggles with losing weight. The meeting was interesting and very informative.
All are welcome to the group every Wednesday at the United Baptist Church vestry in Island Falls. Weigh-ins are from 8-8:30 a.m. and the meeting starts at 8:30.
Ricker Rumblings
By Lois Downing
This editor of Ricker Rumblings has tried to get a column in Houlton Pioneer Times several weeks ago but it did not happen. My health comes first, as it should, but I apologize to all my readers for being so delinquent.
Bonnie Lukehart, a tenant who lives next to the office, is a patient (when this is written) at Houlton Regional Hospital. She was awaiting surgery on Friday. So, Bonnie, if you are reading this, we hope everything is better now.
Attending Gerry Dunn’s funeral service on Friday were Shirley Nason, her sister Ruth Ercolani and Lois Downing. Please forgive me if I have left out other names but this is all I have.
Gerry Dunn had a sweet countenance and we all loved her while living at Ricker Plaza. Her stay here was a short one after falling and breaking her hip. Then she went to Madigan Estates where her sister, Norma Bates, was already living. It was a family affair and Lavina joined them visiting from Ricker Plaza when she could. My remembrance of Gerry was on the Ricker swing out front. She loved the swing. May she rest in peace.
Barbara Watson is taking care of Denise Hitchcock’s dog while she is away from her apartment. Barbara loves the dog and feels it is not “a chore.”
Visitors of Lois Downing two weeks ago were her daughter Kathryn Hall of Brewer, Cameron and Victoria Murphy (granddaughter) of Malden, Mass.; also, Chris and Toni Polk and daughter Emma and Skip and Heather Polk of Calais. They all enjoyed their dinners at Grammy’s Country Inn.
At the time of this writing, Shirley Reardon, a retiree of Key Bank, is a patient in one of the Bangor hospitals with heart problems. Get better, Shirley.
Sympathy is extended to Barbara Conlogue in the loss of her brother, James Cloney, 91, of Calais. Barbara and I were transplants from Calais and I remember her brother well.
Margaret Drew brought me an odd tomato. It was like a mother/daughter thing. Reminded me of a contest my daughter Kathy was in years ago when someone sponsored odd potatoes, and she won a prize.
Margaret had visitors recently from New Jersey, Tim and Thelma Roberts. The last time the Robertses were in Houlton was about 40 years ago.
Thomas Vasko, a third-floor tenant, is on dialysis now, in Presque Isle. Peggy Robinson, and others are helping him.
Kim Dunlop, one of my neighbors, has returned from the hospital a second time after surgery. Kim is feeling better and up and about. One of our efficient neighbors has been checking on Kim.
Alfred McCluskey has obtained a used car. We all are happy for Al, a wheelchair user, to see him get out and do his own errands. Hooray for Al.
My angel verse is: “If you love with the pure love of heaven, angels cannot be restrained from being your companions.” Love from your editor, and good health and peace.
TOPS
By Cheryl Driscoll
The Take Off Pounds Sensibly Chapter 0233 of Houlton met at the Aldergate building on Kelleran Street for its Oct. 9 meeting.
There were 12 TOPS and 2 KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly) members attending.
The person who lost the most weight was C.J. and the runner up was Brenda Lacostic.
The skinny dish was won by Charlotte Marley.
The program was “Eat your way to brain health,” given by Pam Richardson.
In the last three months, from July to September, the group lost a total of 58 pounds. This shows that the TOPS program really works and costs a fraction of other programs. Several members are very close to reaching their goal.
TOPS meetings are held every Friday morning. Weigh-in is from 8-8:45 a.m. in private. The program starts at 9. The first meeting is free to see if you like it. Dues are $1 each week. New members are very welcome to join this support group which offers encouragement and fun.
