The Easton Future Farmers of America recently participated in their annual trip and headed downstate to get acquainted with southern and eastern Maine.
The first stop was the University of Maine Composites Lab on Oct. 3. Students saw new building materials and structures being developed by the UMO engineering lab. Presenters shared building techniques, cross-laminated fiber, concrete that floats, cutting solid materials with water and other interesting concepts.
At the Cole Transportation Museum, attendees met four veterans from three different war eras. The veterans described their service duties and the challenges they encountered. One of the presenters, Donald Dyer, had Easton connections. His brother Robert had married an Easton girl and had taught school here in the late 1960’s. The group then toured the museum and visited the observation tower for spectacular views of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge.
Oct. 4 featured a tour of the Maine Blueberry Research Farm in Jonesboro, where students learned about pests, diseases and pollinators, as well as new insecticides being developed that are not harmful to bees.
The next stop was the Downeast Institute, which researches shellfish and raises seed clams and lobster. Students from the Beals Island school visit the institute on Wednesdays as part of their science classes, and the Easton group enjoyed interacting with them.
A tour of the Jonesport Coast Guard facility was next, where members of the Coast Guard crew explained their jobs. The students toured two boats. At Addison, the group visited Taylor Boat Builders, which uses many of the composite materials seen at UMO. Following a baked potato bar supper at the Jonesboro motel, participants traveled to the University of Maine Machias aquatics center for some relaxation and Helen’s world-famous pie.
On Oct. 5, they traveled to Campobello Island to visit the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. Three of the group played the grand piano, and after lunch, all had “tea with Eleanor,” a presentation which acquainted students with the former first lady.
The next stop was the Passamaquoddy Museum outside Eastport. The group had the opportunity to see and touch the artifacts and hear about the Passamaquoddy peoples history and experiences. They next traveled to downtown Eastport for a chance to explore and unwind.
The next morning all boarded the bus to Eastport for a cruise around the bay, and observed pens where salmon are raised, eagles, whales, harbor porpoise and even had the opportunity to pull a few lobster traps. A few participants learned hermit crabs will bite. Once back on land, they visited Raye’s Mustard to see the 100-year-old-plus mustard mill, and then visited a working model of the Quoddy Tidal Project that President Roosevelt championed in the 1930s.
Jim Blankman, a former FFA member who grew up in California, and his wife, who hosted Easton two years ago, heard the group was returning to the area and invited everyone to their home for lunch. The last stop was St. Croix Island National Park, where attendees learned about the first French colony and the settlers’ interaction with the Passamaquoddy people.
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- Learning the ropes in MSAD#1 School Farm are Easton students, from left, Peyton Hallett, Sara Cassidy, Annie McLaughlin, Jared Coty, Jackson Dow, Makenna Beaulier, Mea Lagasse, Natalie MacFarline, Abbie Hopkins, Allison Bate, Brenna Carlow, hidden, Madisan Patterson, Olivia Hopkins, Kayla Howard, Linux Lockhart, Abigail Siddiqui, Isabella Copeland and Rylee Leavitt. (Photo courtesy of Hillary Hallett)
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- Fall Cooking camp recently came to a conclusion with this lovely group serving their grandparents and senior citizens in Easton. Taking part were Peyton Hallett, Jeremy Charette, Brenna Carlow, Olivia Hopkins, Abbie Hopkins, Jamie McKay Jackson Dow, Mea Lagasse, Christine Finnemore, Maine Cooperative Extension dietician, Gabe Legassie, Natalie MacFarline and Madisan Patterson. (Photo courtesy of Hillary Hallett)
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- Participants in a recent cooking camp at Easton Rec were Madisan Patterson, Mea Lagasse and Jamie McKay, getting the fixings ready for chicken corn chowder. (Photo courtesy of Hillary Hallett)
Soccer Shoot Out
Three Easton athletes attended the Northern District Elks Soccer Shoot. Raiden Cochran and his sister Jenna both qualified in Houlton to attend the district shoot, and Eva Callioras qualified in Presque Isle. Eva and Raiden continued to the Augusta Lodge 964 for the state competition Oct. 15, where they competed against participants from each of the 3 districts in Maine.
Eva took first place in Augusta and will represent Maine in the Area 1 shoot in Nashua, N.H. Raiden came in second in his age group, and because the first-place winner is unavailable, he will go to New Hampshire, as well.
All three have qualified for regionals in the past, Jenna and Raiden in 2016 and Eva in 2015. Good luck in New Hampshire.
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- Paul Dudley of the Easton Board of Selectmen, left, presents the Veteran’s Sword to Hughie Gray for being Easton’s oldest veteran. (Photo courtesy of Hillary Hallett)
Happy Days Club
Seven members/guests of the Happy Days Senior Citizens’ Club traveled to Mars Hill Oct. 12 for lunch at the Timberwolf Restaurant.
The next meeting will be a potluck lunch at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Recreation Room at the Manor. This will be the last meeting for this year.
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- The Easton Recreation seniors group recently visited the Mapleton Diner and stopped to view the foliage at Haystack Mountain. Taking a break for a photo are, from left, Betty Brown, Carolyne Mason, Elizabeth Martin, Lydiette Olano, Irene Dafont, Arlene Lander, Pat Fitzherbert, Joan Turner, Liana Demerchant, Paulette Garrison and Julia Allen. (Photo courtesy of Hillary Hallett)
Harvest Party
The Easton PTO will hold the annual Harvest Party for grades PK-6 on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 2-4 pm. This will be immediately followed by the Easton Wesleyan Church’s Trunk or Treat at 4 pm for those who choose to attend.
Admission for the Harvest Party will be a non-perishable item for the Friends Helping Friends Food Pantry. Notes will go home with students in the weeks prior to the event.
The PTO will host a Christmas Bazaar in December and seeks donations of new and gently used items as well as gift bags and tissue paper for any occasion. Give donations to a PTO member or leave them at the elementary school office during school hours.
Keep clipping BoxTops for Education. Visit the Easton PTO Facebook page to keep up to date. Their email address is pto@eastonschools.org.
Trunk or Treat
On Saturday, Oct. 28, the Easton Wesleyan Church will host Trunk or Treat from 4 to 6 p.m. on Center Road. There will be games and prizes. Everyone is invited to bring a vehicle and candy and join in the fun.
Contact Tony at 551-0777 for more info.
Veterans’ Day Assembly
The annual Veterans’ Day assembly will be held at the Easton Elementary School on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Breakfast will be served for the veterans at 8:30 a.m., followed by a program for the general public at 9:15.
Please RSVP for breakfast by Monday, Oct. 30, at 488-7702.
Community library
This week’s date is Saturday, Oct. 27.
Hillary Hallett is the correspondent for Easton. She can be reached by sending an e-mail to: hillary_jt@myfairpoint.net or calling 551-7737.
