Special election planned in Perham
WASHBURN NEWS
Michele McLaughlin, town administrator, has announced that the town of Perham will be holding a special election on Thursday, Aug. 12, with the polls open from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Perham Town Office, 206 High Meadow Road, to vote by secret ballot to fill a vacancy on the Board of Selectmen with the term to end March 2011. There will also be voting to see if the town will appropriate $787 from surplus for a partial stipend for the incoming selectman. A sample ballot and the warrant are posted at the Perham Town Office and the Perham Post Office.
On Saturday, Aug. 14, Perham residents are invited to join in conversations with candidate for State Representative Rudy St. Peter and candidate Danny Deveau for state senator. They will be interested in what ‘you’ want for your County. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Perham Town Hall. Refreshments including coffee, tea and sweet snacks will be served.
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Benton Plante, Eric Corey, Kassy Belk, Barb Drost, Tabitha Blakney, Kathy McLaughlin, Mariah Morris, Jeanne Adams, Mary Bragdon, Eunice Carman, Glenn Condon, David Heald, Deno Aegerter, Derek Libby, Trudy Clark, Brandon Carlow, Brett Baker, Paul Umphrey, Paul Wilcox, Debra LaPlante, Lois Pike, Amy Farley, Sheldon Cunningham, Bob Pribble, Nicholas Crouse, Troy Heald, Cheryl Bolstridge, Bruce Turner, Christina Barnes, Kristen Durost, Terry Paradis, Melinda Farley, Terry Grant, Rick Castonguay, Kori Tupper and Carroll Bragg.
Anniversary wishes go out to: Charlie and Heidi Currier, Bill and Helen Hause, Brad and Alice Bragg, Richard and Phyllis Farley, Stephen and Patti Irving, Rodney and Cheryl Sperrey, Kevin and Holly Tompkins, Donnie and Julee Maynard and Tony and Ginny Sellars.
Brad and Alice Bragg and siblings Mariena and Carley Bragg welcome Journey Marie Bragg to their family. She was born on Saturday, July 17, weighing in at 9 pounds, 2 ounces and was 22 and one-half inches long. Journey has beautiful blue eyes and lots of dark hair. The family is more than proud of their new addition and Carley and Mariena are very helpful with their new sister.
Her proud grandparents include Merle and Linda Bragg and Danny and Nancy Fletcher. She also has great grandmothers Gwen Bragg, Margaret Allen and Joyce Fletcher.
There is only eight days remaining until this annual event, and the theme for the 30th Washburn August Festival is “The World of Adventure.” There are many activities for the young along with those who will always be young in their hearts, and the date for the special weekend is Aug. 20-22.
The following are contact people for various highlighted events: Barb Turner, Bike and Baby Parade, 493-4405, and August Festival Chairman Cindy Boot at 455-8464 or cindyboot@live.com.
Two very special events are being held on Saturday, Aug. 21, and donations raised will be used to help members of our communities in crisis.
The Children’s Carnival will be hosted by the faculty and staff of SAD 45 and scheduled to take place at the post office lawn from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be many activities and games for all ages. Proceeds from this event, along with any donations, will go to benefit Rachel Driscoll who has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The rain location will be the high school gym.
Starting at 2 p.m. there will be a “Hearts for Heaven” balloon release at Story Park. This is being sponsored by Ryan’s Heart, a non-profit organization for grieving families. There will be baked goods available and donations are welcome to support this wonderful cause.
On Friday at 6:45 p.m. there will be a scavenger hunt at Story Park. And at 5:30 p.m. there will be registration for the Bike and Baby parades, with the Bike Parade being held at the town parking lot at 6 p.m. and the Baby Parade immediately following, with the rain location at the Washburn Rec Center.
There will be some food booths open at the municipal parking lot starting at 5 p.m.
Another Friday night favorite is the Family Movie Night sponsored by the Washburn Rotary Club and the “theatre” will open at 8:30 p.m. The “feature attraction” will be “How to Train Your Dragon” and will be shown on the wall of the Historical Society barn. Take advantage of the view from the elementary school soccer field. The Washburn Rotary Club will be serving refreshments. The rain location will be at the high school gym.
Sterling Haynes will be giving his famous mini tractor rides at the elementary school parking lot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be a boys’ and girls’ soccer game at the elementary school soccer field at 1 p.m. Washburn will be playing Limestone Jr. High and MSSM.
Washburn Rotary will be holding its annual Rubber Ducky 50/50 Derby with the Mill Pond foot bridge as their launch point at 4 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit the Mill Pond Project.
The final event for Saturday will be a giant fireworks display on the hill behind the high school, starting at 9:30 p.m. Rain date will be same time and place on Sunday evening.
ATV riders and their machines are pictured at the Thomas Brewer Boat Landing July 24. A total of 75 machines and approximately 100 riders enjoyed their break at the park and boat landing during the Star City ATV Club’s annual Ultimate Ride.
Washburn’s Thomas Brewer Memorial Park and boat landing was on the route recently covered by the Star City ATV Club’s fifth annual “ultimate ride.” About 100 riders, including seasoned and novice trail riders hailing from Southern Maine, Canada and several U. S. states enjoyed the ride, hosted by the Presque Isle club.
The group left Arnold Brook Lake and headed out through the Presque Isle to Washburn route on the Aroostook Valley rail bed and took a short break at the Washburn park before heading to Mapleton across the former Bangor and Aroostook rail bed. There were a wide range of vehicles representing all brands even Bombardiers, “Cats” and Kymcos, and several varieties including the popular “Mules” were also sharing the trail.
They also went the “mountain loop” trail near Squa Pan and Chapman, returning to Arnold Brook Lake where the SCATV Club has their clubhouse.
Several riders noted that they’ll likely be returning for regular visits at the park in Washburn.
The Wednesday, July 28, meeting of citizens held at the Viola farm, with discussions including improving life in Perham, was deemed a success by the 23 residents attending, including two Perham selectmen. The group consisted of a cross section of the community and inroads were made towards working together for the common good.
It was decided to continue with these grassroots meetings, with the next scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 17, at the Viola farm on the Nutting Road from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The Perham Recreation and Events Committee will begin meeting and will hold a new member recruitment drive this fall. Workers and volunteers are needed, and for more information call Leslie Sadler at 493-7846 or Debra Viola at 498-3433.
The Perham Ladies group has received new items for the Welcome Baskets from Nancy Mandeville and Wendell and Phyllis Blackstone. Anyone wishing to donate items for the “Welcome to Perham” program may phone Ellie Snyder-Jordan at 455-8016 for pick up or drop off arrangements as well as further information.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
