Mapleton Daze started right on time last Wednesday, June 26, and the first event began with a real rush hour and traffic jam.
At the Mapleton Elementary School the bike rodeo in the school yard kicked off the five-day celebration. Kids received instruction in several areas of riding a bicycle, including safety, technique, on/off road riding, and the proper way to wear a helmet. The kids were turned loose on a rider course where they practiced their bicycle riding skills. There were many young children with training wheels on their bikes as well as some slightly older youngsters trying out the course, which made for considerable “rush hour traffic” on the course.
The Woodie Waddell Memorial Cribbage Tournament is frequently a quieter event compared to the Bingo game upstairs at the Mapleton Lions Hall. It was especially quiet, as seen here, when Anita and Charlie Currier squared off against each other in the game.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Family Movie Night at the Mapleton Lions Hall featured the uplifting “A Dog’s Way Home.”
Thursday brought games night, with Bingo and the Woodie Waddell Memorial Cribbage Tournament. A nearly full house for Bingo and a large number of cribbage players filled the Mapleton Lions Hall. Lots of laughter could be heard as individuals won at Bingo and cribbage players made skillful plays. Again hot dogs, chips and drinks were available to all players through the sponsorship of Impact Auto.
On Friday, the weather gods smiled on Mapleton and allowed the Lions Club to host a successful chicken barbecue, where they sold all of their available chicken and hamburger/hot dog dinners. The Mapleton Methodist Women’s homemade pies and the Mapleton Baptist Youth’s homemade ice cream sold equally well. Later in the evening the fireworks show was delayed due to rain, which ended two minutes before the show. Spectators reported the fireworks show was best one in the 30-year history of Mapleton Daze.
The rainy weather Saturday morning dampened the two free breakfasts put on by the Aroostook County Action Program and the five churches of the three towns. ACAP sponsored breakfast on Haystack Mountain, while the churches gave away free breakfast sandwiches downtown in Mapleton. While these events had lower participation, the parade that followed was enjoyed by large crowds as the rain ended just prior to start of the parade.
As has been the longtime custom, youngsters on their decorated bicycles led the parade. Following the parade, a car show, Haystack Historical Society homemade pie and ice cream sale, Molly the Trolley historical rides of the tri-community, horse rides, and many other activities at the Mapleton School got underway. The Mapleton Daze committee was pleased with the large crowd of children and parents attending all of the events.
The Mapleton Daze Bike Rodeo in the School Yard was so well attended that rush-hour traffic and a few jams occurred on the bike rider course. There were many young children with training wheels on their bikes as they began to learn how to ride.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
The highlights of the evening were the Lions Club’s baked ham and bean dinner and the Mapleton Daze first-ever “Got Talent” show. Emcees for the evening were Jamie Guerrette and Jacob Graham. Judges were Eric Williams, Sharon Roix and Cheryl Lyons. The hall was filled to capacity with standing room only.
The audience was treated to a talent show consisting of 12 contestant acts divided into four age groups. The winner of the 12 and under group was the MoonDance Tappers, consisting of Danica Beaulieu, Jane Mautz and Fiona Wu. The age 13-17 group was won by Samantha Boulier who sang “I Can’t Love You In the Dark.” Logan Chandler and Troy Coty sang “Patience” to win the 18-49-year age group. Finally, Yvette Stephens and Eric Nordin won the 50-plus award singing “White Bird.” Each winning act received a trophy and a cash prize of $100.
Sunday was the last day of Daze. Two events were held starting with a Sunrise Service at the Lions Hall. Rev. Jim Ackerson, pastor of Mapleton Baptist Church, led the service. The second event was a free dessert and magic show, billed as “a gift to the community from the 5 churches of Mapleton, Castle Hill, and Chapman.” As a result of a grant from the Cecil B. Day Foundation, the churches were able to bring the “Brad Brown Magic Show.” With comedy and magic, Brown, an internationally known Christian magician, engaged and entertained the audience while clearly presenting gospel truth.
Attendees agreed the event was a terrific closing for the 2019 Mapleton Daze celebration.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
Mapleton Daze’s very first talent show was enjoyed by a full-house audience. The evening’s winners by age group are, from left: Age 12 and under, The MoonDance Tappers (Danica Beaulieu, Jane Mautz and Fiona Wu); ages 13-17, Samantha Boulier; age 50-plus, the duo of Yvette Stephens and Eric Nordi; and ages 18-49, the duo of Logan Chandler and Troy Coty.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
The closing event of the 30th Mapleton Daze consisted of desserts and magician Brad Brown, center. Brown combined magic and comedy with a gospel perspective. Assisting Brown are Robert Reed and Michael Ireland.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
