MARS HILL NEWS
by Tomi Henderson
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 6:30 a.m. at the Aroostook Health Center. The special speakers were Rotarian Mitch Ross and Darrell McCrum. They presented a slide show on the missions trip they were part of in November.
There were 10 area individuals that were part of an 18-member team that journeyed to Jamaica from Nov. 1-8, 2014, with Teams for Medical Missions. Each team is made up of builders, doctors, nurses, teachers and helpers. The November team had members from Pennsylvania, Iowa, Maryland, Maine, New York and Ohio.
Mitch was part of the medical and teaching teams. There were 650 people seen by the medical team over a four-and-a-half-day period. They had 2,400 prescriptions to give out that were donated by various companies and doctors’ offices in the United States. While people waited to see the doctor or nurse, the teachers and helpers worked with them or their children with crafts or stories.
These clinics are done four times a year in the same area, so people have some consistency with their health care. Most suffer from high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Darrell was part of the building team that built a 12-foot by 20-foot home with a 4-foot porch for a family of four. The family had been living in a 5-foot by 8-foot shack that most Americans would think was a dump site. Each team will raise enough money — around $3,000 — before their trip to buy the building materials needed to construct a 12-foot by 20-foot home for a selected family.
During the homes’ dedication ceremony at the end of the week, a Bible was presented to the mother — who was as happy with it as she was the home for her, her husband, son and daughter. The team had built a set of bunk beds for the kids, who were delighted to have a bed and mattress for themselves.
While government workers in Jamaica are well off, and some people have businesses that earn them a living, most people on the island live in poverty. They speak a language that is a mixture of others but also speak heavily-accented English.
Library temporarily closed
For the safety of the patrons, the Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library will be closed for approximately three to four weeks beginning the middle of January 2015. This will be while the ceiling and lighting replacement is being implemented.
Library staff apologizes for this inconvenience and look forward to seeing everyone when the library reopens.
Be sure to stock up on your reading materials before the library is closed! Any books checked out prior to the closing will not be due back until after the library opens again.
Aroostook Health Center
Upcoming events for the week of Jan. 7-13 include: Wednesday will feature the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Wii Bowling challenge at 9 a.m., Morning Stretch at 9:30 a.m. and Resident’s Council at 2 p.m. Thursday will feature Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m., Horse Racing at 1:30 p.m. and Bridgewater Free Baptist at 6:30 p.m. Friday will feature Five Card Bingo at 9:30 a.m. and Karaoke with Larry and Larry at 1:30 p.m. Saturday will be a free day. Sunday will feature Sunday Service with Jonathan at 1:30 p.m. Monday will feature Morning Stretch at 9:30 a.m., Nail Beautiful at 10 a.m., Devotions with Velma at 2 p.m. and Gospel Group at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will feature the Beauty Parlor at 8:30 a.m., Bingo at 9:30 a.m. and Card Games 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.
Christmas party
The William Cousins Post 118 of the American Legion in Mars Hill held a Christmas Party for area children on Saturday, Dec. 20. Over 70 children attended and enjoyed refreshments, gifts and a visit with Santa.
The event was sponsored by the members and Ladies Auxiliary of Post 118 and the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. Everyone enjoyed the day of fun.
BINGO
The William Cousins Post 118 of Mars Hill is hosting BINGO every Saturday evening from 7 p.m., until done. There are cash prizes. Refreshments are available. Come on out and enjoy a fun evening with friends!
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached by emailing tomihen@yahoo.com.
