Nearly 200 vehicles lined Main Street in Mapleton on Saturday, July 11, to stop at the Mapleton Lions Hall parking lot to purchase freshly grilled barbecued chicken with all the fixings.
Working three hot grills, the experienced Mapleton Lions Club grilling team of, from left, Adam Nicak, Jon Roark and Tim Graham grill and sauce chicken breasts. Some 350 pieces of chicken were assembled into full meals in two minutes or less and delivered to diners in their vehicles.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Approximately 350 dinners were sold in a period of two hours to help support the activities of the Mapleton Lions Club. There was lots of smoke coming from the club’s grills as they grilled the chicken breasts, which were placed in a serving line in the hall as dinners were assembled and sealed.
Club chefs Jon Roark, Adam Nicak and Tim Graham grilled and sauced the marinated chicken, while drivers circled the hall to collect their dinners from Lions Bruce Guerrette and Kevin Nightingale. Myka Graham dispensed beverages courtesy of a local business. The downstairs serving and packing crew consisted of Lions Bob McBay, Steve Hanning and his wife Ann, Roark’s wife Debbie, Eric Rodd and his wife Linda, and Ron Leonard, Dennis Hoffses and Wes Buck. Paul Grendell was the club’s greeter and cashier.
At the Mapleton Lions Club drive-thru barbecue chicken dinner, Myka Graham and Lion Bruce Guerrette pass the dinners, shortcakes and drinks through vehicle windows. Not seen is Lion Kevin Richardson. Over a two-hour period, approximately 350 dinners with shortcakes and drinks were dispensed by this delivery team.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
A tasteful addition to this year’s dinners was provided by the Mapleton Daze committee, who contributed strawberry shortcake for dessert. The dessert was an expression of appreciation from the committee for the Lions’ support of the three towns’ residents and youth. The shortcakes were prepared by Cheryl Grendell, Pam Pendexter, Debbie Roark and Darcy McBay.
The Lions Club thanked the committee for their support of the dinner.
Shown here is the Mapleton Lion Club Chicken BBQ dinner serving and packaging line. From left to right are Lions Bob McBay, Steve Hanning, Wes Buck, Ron Leonard and facing away Lion Eric Rodd.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
While conducting a drive-thru dinner will not make up for the loss of the fellowship and fun that diners have had at previous barbecues, the diners’ support of the club is a display of the ongoing support and appreciation from Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman residents.
Scholarships awarded
The Haystack Historical Society annually awards scholarships to graduating Presque Isle High School seniors. This year the society was pleased to award three scholarships to outstanding graduating seniors.
The 2020 scholarship winners are Zachary Fletcher, Anna Trombley, and Caleb Wheaton. The society congratulates them for their achievement and wishes them the best in their collegiate careers.
Haystack Historical Society update
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Haystack Historical Museum board of directors decided to cancel all spring and summer activities and events. The society’s September premium baked ham and bean dinner is still scheduled for Sept. 12, although this date is dependent on the pandemic recovery status of Aroostook County.
The board will be alert to changing conditions and resulting restrictions of the pandemic. The date may be pushed out to October if there are positive improving conditions which will allow for safe serving of this fundraising dinner.
Please be watching for any updates regarding this delicious fall dinner.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and
