Mrs. Christi Doyen meets with her new student, Nyah Langley, and reviews with Nyah some of the plans for the class this year. Mrs. Doyen recognizes fifth grade has two challenges – the challenge of fifth grade learning as well as the preparation of her students for promotion to middle school. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
On Thursday September 14, the Haystack historical Society will be hosting a presentation on apple growing by two experts on apples. First John Bunker who is affiliated with FEDCO, Maine Heritage Orchard at MOFGA and Out on a Limb CSA will speak on the topic of heritage and unknown apples. He is looking forward to discussing the history and cultivation of little or unknown apple varieties. People attending are encouraged to bring their unknown apples to challenge Mr. Bunker’s ability to identify them. He say, “I may not know every variety brought in, but I do like to see new varieties that I have not seen before.” Please feel free to bring your apples with you for him to identify and to speak to their care and attention.
Following Bunker’s presentation, John Hoffses, School Farm Manager for Maine School Administrative District 1, will speak on the program and activities of the school farm and its orchard and apple cider program. MSAD 1 School Farm has the largest active apple orchard norther of Bangor. There are approximately 2500 trees with 15 different varieties of apples in the orchard. The farm’s cider mill produces cider through the fall into mid-winter. Cider is sold to school districts from Ft. Kent to Bangor.
School Open House a Success
Mapleton Elementary School held its Open House on August 30. Dan Duprey, school principal, greeted and spoke to each student and parent as they arrived. Many students and their parents roamed through the school to see the facelift given to the school over the summer. They were pleased to see the updated front and multipurpose entrances as well as the complete floor replacement in the school’s common area.
The evening’s fun activity was a school scavenger hunt. Each student was given a items and places to find, such as how many computers are in the computer lab. Students were quizzing their teachers and staff to find all the answers for the hunt.
The highlight of the evening for all of the students was meeting with their teachers who showed each of them their assigned seats and the textbooks they would be using this year. Parents had the opportunity to speak with the teachers, but most of the time was used for the students and teachers to become acquainted.
Besides seeing their teachers, the students were eager to see some of their friends and chums that they had seen over the summer. They eagerly greeted each other and began making plans for school start and caught each other up on their short summer activities.
As the open house wound down, Duprey explained that “holding the open house before school starts is very helpful to the students when they arrive on opening day.” All in all he assessed the evening as a success. He said, “Our teachers and staff are looking forward to school opening”.
Balloon Photo Contest
The Mapleton Lions reminds all amateur photographers who snapped photos of the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest the photo contest can enter photos until September 22, 2017. There are two age divisions – age 18 and under and age 18 and older. Rules of the contest are online at the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest Website www.crownofmaineballoonfest.org/balloon-photography/amateur-photography-contest/ or at the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce. There are cash prizes as well as the publication of the winning photographs in next year’s Crown of Maine Balloon Fest 2019 Calendar.
Snowmobile Club to Hold Yard and Craft Fundraising Sale
Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club will be hosting a yard/craft/food sale on Friday and Saturday, September 15th and 16th, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the clubhouse at 94 Town Hall Road in West Chapman. There will be something for everyone, including homemade foods, unique items and lots of snowmobiling supplies. Donations are gladly accepted for the sale. All proceeds benefit paying down the mortgage. Please call Sue Maynard at 764-1236 or Carolyn Hanlon at 762-3702 to arrange a drop-off. Please come and support your local club.
West Chapman Church to Hold Special Services
Maralee Gardiner of the West Chapman Advent Christian Church is pleased to announce that the church will be having special services with Rev. Brenda Cross from Brunswick on September 22-24. The weekend’s theme will be “Unlocking God’s Treasure”.
Friday’s and Saturday’s sessions will be special services for women only. Area women are invited to these two services. Friday’s session will be start at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday’s session will be at 9:00 a.m. Refreshments will be provided.
Additional services later Saturday evening, September 23rd at 6:00 p.m. and then Sunday, September 24 at 10:45 a.m. are for everyone. Gardiner says, “This is a weekend that you don’t want to miss.”
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.
