Lions retire lights
MAPLETON NEWS
The Mapleton Lions Club closed the Christmas holiday season by taking down the town’s Christmas lights.
According to Lion Terry Sandusky, “For more than 30 years, the Mapleton Lions have been pleased to decorate downtown Mapleton with Christmas lights. The club began lighting Main Street with the lights the club obtained from Presque Isle when the city decided to stop hanging the lights those many years ago.
“Over these three decades, the lights have been repaired and replaced as they became damaged beyond repair. Today the lights are all low energy LED lights that are highly energy efficient and require less maintenance due to the bulbs’ long life. The Club wishes to thank all who support our fundraising activities because your support makes this project and many Lions Club projects possible,” Sandusky said.
Following the storing of the Christmas lights, he said the crew had a warming breakfast at the Mapleton Diner.
The Lionskicked off 2016 by hosting a fundraising New Year’s Eve dance, enjoyed by everyone who attended. The club thanked partygoers for coming out and supporting this project. Funds raised from the dance were dedicated to adding more names to the Veterans Memorial located at the Mapleton Elementary School.
At the Mapleton Memorial Day ceremony, visitors to the monuments will see several names added to the stones. Sandusky said, “The Club continues identifying names of veterans who were missed when the memorial project started. Honoring those individuals from Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman who served during war time is major goal of the club, which has only been possible through the support of our neighbors and friends.”
Town budget meetings
The Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman 2016 budget process is underway, and the proposed documents have been posted on the towns’ website.
Select Board meetings to review and approve the budget will be held the first week of February. The Castle Hill Board meeting will be on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m., Chapman on Feb. 4 at 4 p.m., and Mapleton on Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.
For budget information prior to Town Meeting, call Town Manager Jon Frederick at 764-3754 or email townmanager@mapleton.me. If there are enough interested residents, a meeting will be scheduled. Otherwise, Frederick will meet individually with interested residents.
Public hearing
The Castle Hill Select Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed land use and barking dog ordinances on Monday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Town Office conference room. The purpose of the hearing is to hear public input on the ordinances. No decisions on the ordinances will be made at this meeting.
Swimming lessons
The Mapleton Recreation Department will run spring indoor swimming lessons at UMPI beginning March 7. Registration is now open and will remain open until the classes are full. Visit www.mapleton.me for information and registration forms.
It’s cookie time
The annual cookie sale for Girl Scouts of Maine has begun. Girls will be taking orders for cookies through Jan. 31. Customers placing orders during that time can expect their orders to arrive in Presque Isle March 5 for delivery sometime thereafter.
The same flavors will be available again this year. In fact, 2016 marks the 10th anniversary of the Lemonades cookie. Online ordering for home delivery is available; ask local Scouts for more information. Gluten-free cookies will be available only online.
Orders will also be taken for “Cookie Share,” which will benefit local Area Agencies on Aging and Meals on Wheels programs. Mapleton area cookie customers may contact Jennifer Buzza at 760-9115.
Birthdays
Happy birthday wishes this week to Tony Boucher, Neil Ewing, Jean Pelkey, Katelyn McPherson, Margaret McPherson, Tristen Woodworth, Frank Clair, David Wardwell Sr., Brooke Carney, Ernie Boykin, Brian Copeland, Emily Carter, Barrett Potter and Donald Gilson Sr.
Anniversaries
Happy anniversary wishes this week to Bob and Darcy McBay on the 15.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 760-9115 or at jbuzza@ainop.com.
