An 80th birthday celebration for Elinor Savage was held Saturday, May 27, at the V. F. W. Hall in Island Falls. More than 70 family, friends and co-workers past and present gathered to surprise Elinor.
The family wishes to thank the community for keeping the secret and helping it to be a true surprise. A buffet of refreshments was served and a cake was cut and shared. The hall was decorated with banners, bouquets of pansies and large cut-out pansy faces. Elinor received a large basket of cards and in lieu of gifts, guests brought donations to the Agape Food Pantry, a local pantry supported by area churches.
Family attending were daughters Beth Savage, Rebekah Anselm and Tom, and Suzanne Brewer and Steve, grandson Dan Brewer and friend Meredith Brockinton, nieces Nancy Fogg Pullen, Annette Michaud Stevens and Mait, Carolyn Nightingale Khanna, and Carlista Winters, niece-in-law who also was matron of honor for Elinor at her wedding as well as great nephew Nathan Stevens with Rebekah and sons Oliver and Ben and great niece Hannah Stevens with Dustin Mayer. Cousins were Pamelia Townsend Mooers and daughter Linda Butler and Thurston Townsend and son Mark, and Donald “Spike” Savage. Additional family were Shannon Butler, Lucas and Esther Butler, Almon and Ruth Townsend and Gilly-Lynn Townsend Sharpnack with Rick and daughter Amy.
Elinor worked at Milliken Memorial Hospital and for Visiting Nurses-Aroostook for many years and several co-workers were in attendance as well as many neighbors and community friends. Great-great nephew Ben Stevens shared the birthday date with Elinor and a Happy Birthday was sung to him also.
The Island Falls Historical Society will open the Tingley House for tours on Wednesday, June 7, from 1-3 p.m. The Tingley House is a 1900-era restored home with many artifacts from 1900 through the 1960s. An annex holds military items, tools from the woods working eras and an exhibit of old hospital supplies and memorabilia. These are the regular hours through September. Tours may also be requested by contacting Ava Joy at 463-2816 or stopping at the library on Mon, Tues or Thursday or by email at rdrew@katahdin.lib.me.us or belvedere173@icloud.com. Katahdin Public Library summer hours will be Monday 9-12/1- 6, Tuesday 1-3 and Thursday 9-12/1-5. The library offers public computers and wi-fi.