Community Notebook

Sherman Seniors gather
The Senior Citizens’ club of Sherman met on Nov. 17 at the Sherman gym with only a meager seven souls attending. The potluck lunch meal was, as usual, delicious. I am awed that no matter how few attend, the quantity and variety of edible selection of food appeared on our table.
    We voted on the important issues concerning the festive dinner merging Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations which will be held on the December 2nd meeting. On Dec. 16, the Katahdin Elementary third grade students will be our guests and will exchange letters before that date as we have enjoyed in past years.
Please mark your calendars of these special endeavors to make each occasion a big success.
Present were Annie and Fred Atkinson, Donna Grass, Bonita Staples, Sandra Qualey, Teresa Albert and Mary Lawler.

Patten Senior Citizens meet
Patten Senior Citizens met at Meadowbrook Manor on November 7, with eight members present.    The Lord’s Prayer was recited before the potluck meal.
After the meal, the business meeting was opened by President Jackie Palmer, who also led the flag salute.
The secretary and treasurer’s reports were read and accepted. A Thanksgiving reading was given by Maxine Brackett. The birthday cake was made by Annette Noyes.
Cards were signed and sent to Linda Goodall and Frederica Daniels.    It was decided to buy a new coffee pot.The next meeting will be on December 1. Members are asked to bring in non-perishable items for the food pantry. The Game will be played.
Members present were Nettie Shorey, Annette Noyes, Jackie Palmer, Joyce Harvey, Mary Lawler, Gloria Noyes, Maxine Brackett and Rubenia Botting.

Island  Falls Seniors convene
The Island Falls Senior Citizens met on November 19, at the Municipal building.
After the Lord’s Prayer and flag salute, the meeting was called to order by President Terry Dwyer.Secretary and treasurer’s reports were read and accepted.
Tom Clark provided the entertainment. A Thanksgiving dinner was served with all the fixings. Next meeting will be held on Dec. 3. The “game” will be played.
We will hold our Christmas party on Dec. 17.
Members present were Gladys Ferguson, Helen Sherman, Mary Lawler, Gloria Noyes, Gini Garret/RSVP Coordinator, Verna MacArthur, Ursula Levesque, Ellie Peck, Edward Dwyer, Jim and Shirley Angelo, Gladys Corneil, Jean Clements, Marjorie Nicholson, Mary Pipes, Terry Dwyer, Tom and Heidi Clark/guests and Edith Dwyer.

TOPS ME No. 0233, HOULTON
By Lois Downing
Take Off Pounds Sensibly Chapter 0233 of Houlton met at the Aldergate building on High Street for its Friday, Nov. 20 meeting.
Eighteen members attended; five of these were KOPS (Keep Off Pounds Sensibly). Jackie Reizo was a visitor.
Loser of the week was Gerry McAfee; runner-up was Melva Folsom. It was a good weight loss week for the chapter. Joyce Estey, leader, was present and conducted the meeting. Elinor Harvey was the official greeter. Winner of the skinny dish was Linda Bartlett.
Reports were given by weight recorder Joanne Scott and secretary’s minutes by Lois Downing.
After roll call, Charlotte Marley told us that the Christmas contest is going well. Manuals will be ordered for officers, as discussed by the group. Barbara Grant gave a report on the Christmas party saying she made reservations at Grammy’s Country Inn in Linneus Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. An exchange of gifts will be made. A gift for the Salvation Army will be brought before Christmas.
Aileen Smith’s program was taken from a 2008 TOPS magazine, called the Divine Ms. S. It was warmly received. Ten minutes of exercises were led by Barbara Troy before we departed for the day. The next meeting will be Dec. 4 at the Aldergate building before leaving for Grammy’s. Members not present should get a call from other members as to when the party is taking place.
Meeting are at 9 a.m. after weigh-in which closes at 8:45. Everyone is welcome. Come and enjoy and lose weight.

Island Falls Happy Losers
The Happy Losers held their weekly meeting Nov.18th at the Congregational Church vestry in Island Falls. Jackie Pratt our leader opened our meeting with our pledge and roll call. We had 12 ladies weigh-in and ten attended our class.
Jackie Pratt was the person who lost the most weight for the week, and Joan Sides was runner-up Great job ladies. Reports were given by our secretary and treasuer for the week. The Harvest Moon team is the winner of our contest. Great job ladies. Joan Sides led the program for the week. Her topic was an article by Dr. OZ. Please feel welcome to our group every Wed 8 to 8:45 a.m., weigh-ins. Meeting starts at 9 a.m. Call 365-4884 for more information.

Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
Aren’t we having some beautiful weather! We are blessed. Attended the show at the new auditorium on Friday night. What a fantastic job they have done. Congratulations. And the show was super. Congratulations to all involved in bringing all this talent to the community.
From the BDN: a campaign is underway in Maine to encourage shoppers to get in the habit of bringing reusable bags to stores. I have been trying to do this for some time now. Many of the plastic bags used normally by consumers end up in landfills on the streets and in lakes and streams.
We are partaking of our annual Thanksgiving dinner here at Ricker on Sunday afternoon. Always delicious and we thank Charlene and her family for bringing this to us.
Hello to Dot Campbell of the second floor. Haven’t heard much from you lately, Dot and wanted to say “hello” and how are you. Our Healthy Living class taking place in the community room is going well. Thank you.
Visited Marion Hogan at Gardiner Nursing Home one day. She says to say hello to all her friends here. We extend our sympathy to Dot Armstrong’s family. Dot was a participant in the Meals on Wheels here at Ricker when she visited. Often saw her at the band concerts too. She was lively and a go-getter. We will miss you Dot.
Our Bingo games are going well. Come and join us each Wednesday afternoon, tenants and have fun. Hello to Florence Hanson at Madigan Nursing Home. We miss you, Florence. She fell a while back and that is where she is now. Paul Armstrong is still entertaining wherever he can with his talent. He usually has some ladies attend the various gigs with him.
Shirley Nason has been visiting her brother, recently hit by a stroke. He is at the Gardiner facility now. Get better brother.
We wish all our readers a happy Thanksgiving. May your prayers be with our troops that they may come home safely and soon. Enjoy your meal and be happy and grateful.
Our thought for the day is from Colossians 3:13: “Forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.”
See you next week, God willing.