Stories by Staff Pioneer Times

To the editor:

I am writing to let the community know of the hard animal welfare work that is being done to help cats in the greater Houlton area. In December of 2014 Catherine “CJ” Virgie was the animal control officer for Houlton. She called me and was desperate to do something about all the stray and feral cats in Houlton. Our organization, Marian’s Dream/Spay Maine had just received a generous grant from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation to spay and neuter cats in Aroostook County. The timing for her call was perfect.

To the editor:

My father, Philip Bernaiche, passed away on September 17, 2016. He died in the town he loved, Houlton, Maine. He lived his entire adult life in Houlton, where he raised his six children. For more than four decades he actively worked to make Houlton a better place. He did so both as a town councilor and as a private citizen working for change with the town council.

To the editor:

Today’s busy lifestyles can make it hard to find time to volunteer, however, the benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family and your community. Finding the right organization to volunteer for can help you make an impact in the community, learn new skills and enhance your resume.

As an American Cancer Society volunteer, you also can honor a survivor or a loved one lost to cancer while helping us put an end to the pain and suffering caused by the disease. It’s a wonderful opportunity, especially as you are trying to determine a way to give back during the holiday season.