Local MD delivers 950 babies over years

7 years ago

The Mars Hill Rotary Club met Tuesday morning, Nov. 7, at 6:30 a.m. at the Aroostook Health Center.   

Rotarian Dr. Eric Nicholas spoke.  Born in Canso, Nova Scotia, he decided at age 10 that he wanted to be a doctor.  He wanted to help people like the local doctor had helped him after a run-in with poison ivy.  He graduated from medical school in Dalhousie in 1962 and moved to Fort Fairfield to begin his practice.  

After spending lots of time in the lab, he persuaded Georgia Gardiner to become his bride and they married on September 27, 1963.  They have four children, Camilla, Chas, Cathy and Christopher and 7 grandchildren.

They moved to Mars Hill and he worked in the 10-bed hospital.  Eventually it became a skilled unit with a nursing home wing added to the facility.  He was a family practice doctor and delivered over 950 babies over his years working.  He was also the medical examiner for 45 years.  He closed his office in 2007 and totally retired in 2015.  

He remembered his mother telling him that it wouldn’t be his good works or “looks” that would get him to heaven and he dedicated his life to the Lord in 1977.  He spends his time now volunteering with several ministries.  They spend a lot of the time in the summer at their camp in Benedicta.

Blood Drive

Rotary will help sponsor a blood drive on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The drive will be held at the Mars Hill and Blaine Community Center.  Please donate.

Bottle Drive

The Central Aroostook High School Spanish Club is raising funds for a trip to Ecuador in April 2018.  They are collecting cans and bottles to raise funds.  To donate, take your items to the Mars Hill Redemption Center and designate the funds for the Spanish Club or call the school at 425-2811.

Operation Christmas Child

The challenge is out to the Central Aroostook area to join in the effort to fill 1,000 boxes to send out this year for Operation Christmas Child.  Folks are invited to help by either filling a box, buying things to go into boxes or by donating funds to help with the shipping costs of $9 per box, which is the first increase in a number of years.  To see a list of suggested items, go to www.samaritanspurse.org/occ.

The drop-off location for this year is 24 Military Road (Route 1) in Blaine, the former Faith Baptist Chapel.  Dates and times are Nov. 13-18, 8-10 a.m. and 6-8 p.m.; Nov. 19, 12-2 p.m.; and Nov. 20, 6-8 a.m.  

For more information, or to donate items please contact Ami Pierce at 227-2017 or Erica McCrum at 227-7678.  

Library Happenings

A special happening in Mars Hill is “Our Library Rocks”.  Colorfully painted rocks are hidden around town for others to find.  Once found, they post a picture on the library’s website or on Facebook and then take the rock to hide somewhere else.

Regular happening include Toddler Time on Tuesdays at 10, and Craft Club on Mondays from 5:30 to 7:30.  Bring your favorite cross stitch piece, knitting, crocheting or other craft to work on in the company of others.

Aroostook Health Center

Upcoming events for the week of November 15-21 include: Wednesday will feature Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., iPad Fun at 9:30 a.m. and Shopping and Lunch at Walmart at 11:00 a.m.  Thursday will feature Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m. and Horse Racing at 1:30 p.m.  Friday will feature Thanksgiving Jingo at 9:30 a.m. and Lunch at Gram Russos at 11:30 a.m.  Saturday will feature Karaoke with the Deschesnes at 1:30 p.m.  Sunday will have televised church available in the day room.  Monday will feature Nails with Shallie and Melissa at 9:30 a.m. and Communion at 1:30 p.m.  Tuesday will feature Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m. and a Tea Social 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 will host Bingo on Saturday evening beginning at 7 p.m. at the Post. There are cash prizes. Refreshments are available.

Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached at 551-6791 or e-mailing tomihen@yahoo.com.