Briefly

Thanksgiving service

PARIS — The Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, Nov. 22, at the First Universalist Church, Pine Street, will be led by Silver Moore Leamon. The 10 a.m. sermon title will be "Where Do We Get Our Security?" and is open to all. Music will be under the direction of organist Forest Perkins and Sunday School will be under the direction of Renee Wales. Coffee and fellowship will follow in Good Cheer Hall. Child care is available.

 Fuel assistance

Daughters of Isabella plan Christmas party

JAY — The Daughters of Isabella Circle 677 from St. Rose of Lima held their monthly business meeting on Nov. 18, at the parish hall.

New Regent Laurie Gagnepain called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Mary Ann Allen was welcomed as a new member. A short form conferral was held. 

Keep ME Warm recruiting volunteers

Two schools will give 'Helping Hands' today

FARMINGTON — W. G. Mallett School will hold its 18th annual "Helping Hands" food project on Friday, Nov. 20. Students will begin a walking rotation from Mallett School to the Farmington Community Center at 9:15 a.m. They will rotate until all the food they have collected has been delivered the Community Center.

Cascade Brook students will walk to the Community Center to deliver their food.

Raffle presentation

Leigh Welch, left, and Dennis Haszko, right, of the Franklin County Democrats, present a handcrafted photo frame and coat hanger to raffle winners Lucille and Marvin Coolidge of Farmington. The piece features a photograph by New Sharon photographer Don Waterhouse and was crafted and donated to the local Democrats by Gary Krauss of East Wilton.

Briefly

Bridge play

LEWISTON — The Lewiston-Auburn Bridge Club winners at the Multi-Purpose Center on Nov. 17 were as follows: first, Patricia Garcia and David Lock; second, Donna Bartlett and Sue Kaluzunski; third, Marta Clements and Claire Lyons; fourth/fifth tie, Anna Vitiello and Rosemarie Goodwin with Luke Merry and Mike Quinn.

Briefly

Music show

SALEM — A country music show with A&E Hill Country Music, Austin and Elaine Marden, Willie Dunham and Lew and Linda Lyman will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at the Salem Community Building.

Refreshments will be on sale and a donation box will be at the door. The event is sponsored by the Salem Pine Tree Club.

Church fair

Senior group plans Christmas dinner

LIVERMORE FALLS — The Jay-Livermore Falls Senior Citizens met at Murray Hall on Nov. 16, with 34 members present.

A Thanksgiving meal was enjoyed at noon with volunteers bringing in a variety of dishes.

Following the meal, Chairwoman Shirley Couture opened the meeting with prayer, a salute to the flag and a moment of silence for deceased members and for the men and women in the Armed Forces.

The secretary's report was read and accepted.

Reported on the sick list were Gerry Richards and Lorraine Cote.

Historical society selling wreaths

FARMINGTON — The fifth annual holiday wreath sale, sponsored by the Farmington Historical Society, is under way. The wreaths are 24 inches and double-sided. They are decorated with cones, red berries and a six-loop bow in a choice of red, country red or burgundy. 

"People have been very pleased with the quality of these wreaths and appreciate that we are supporting Maine businesses," said Taffy Davis, sale organizer. "People are already calling with this year's order."

Poinsettias for sale

The annual Rumford Hospital Auxiliary poinsettia sale order forms have been mailed to businesses in the area. Last year, more than 400 plants were delivered to local businesses or picked up at the hospital by individuals. Individuals may also have them delivered with others to their place of business. The foil-wrapped, eight-inch poinsettias are $9, due at time of delivery or pick up, on Friday, Dec. 4. To obtain an order form, which must be returned by noon Friday, Nov. 20, call Barbara Belanger at 364-3648 or Jennifer Kreckel at 364-4593.

Dirigo High School honor roll

DIXFIELD — The Dirigo High School honor roll has been announced for the first term.

Seniors

High honors: Bryce Carver.

Bryant Pond 4-H Camp matches challenge grant

BRYANT POND — The Bolger Foundation of Ridgewood, N.J. has awarded the University of Maine 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond a check in the amount of $200,000 for construction of a new four-season classroom building for teen and youth natural resource education. Last fall, the Bolger Foundation challenged the camp to raise matching donations within a year's time in order to receive the funds. The check arrived in the mail on Monday.

Decorating wreaths

Volunteers Melissa Pelletier and Bette Thibeault are busy decorating wreaths to be sold at the Holiday Christmas Fair at the Parish of the Holy Savior, 126 Maine Ave., Rumford. The fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. The event benefits the Holy Savior School.

The Children's Hour: A Christmas celebration at Washburn-Norlands Living History Center

The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center in Livermore will open for an interactive Christmas celebration that will take you back in time.
Christmas at Norlands: The Children's Hour will be held on December 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. $5 admission will benefit the nonprofit museum. Enjoy 19th-century parlor games, storytelling and holiday readings from the past, children's hands-on activities in the cozy Norlands kitchen and the simply decorated Washburn mansion.

New flagpole on Monument Hill in Leeds

It has been years since visitors to Monument Hill in Leeds have been greeted by an American flag when they reached the summit, but this changed in October with the culmination of a Leeds Historical Society project, spearheaded by Charlie Barker, to replace the flagpole.

Dirigo High School Student of the Month

Dirigo High School Principal Michael Poulin named Kirstin Blood, a senior from East Dixfield, as the school's student of month on Nov. 6.

MLK Day 2010 video exhibit at Bates College calling for submissions

Each year, Bates College celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by hosting lectures, discussions, and arts/cultural events to encourage reflection on Dr. King's legacy, the Civil Rights Movement, and the struggle for Social Justice as it exists today. During the entire day there will be a looping video exhibit in the Perry Atrium of Bates College, featuring movies by local filmmakers about issues that affect Maine people. The event will take place on Jan. 18, 2010, and is free and open to the public. This year, the day's theme will be "Faith in the Public Sphere."

Officer installation

Auburn-Lewiston Kiwanis installed new officers on Oct. 28. They are, from left, Mike Meservier of UPS, past president; Dan Goff of Goff Agency, presiding president; Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor Keith Wass; Jan Dwinal of Coldwell Banker/Millett Realty, vice president; Craig Phillips of Common Ties Mental Health Services, secretary; and Larry Lauze of Federal Distributors, treasurer. The board of directors, not pictured, are Dan Goff, Patti Gagne, Andrew Choate, Doug Dwinal and Mike Meservier as past president. All were installed by Wass.

Operation Lifesaver Volunteer Appreciation Day held in Auburn

On Saturday, October 24, the Great Falls Model Railroad Club of Lewiston/Auburn hosted the Annual Maine Operation Lifesaver Volunteer Appreciation Day at its newly renovated club house at 144 Mill Street in New Auburn (the former Jake & Andy's Donut Shop). The gathering included railroad safety volunteers from locations throughout Maine, Federal Railroad Administration officials, and railroad representatives.

Essay contest

The Optimist Club of Oxford Hills is encouraging local 0students to contemplate the question, "The Internet: Today's Evolution or Tomorrow's Menace?" as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest for 2010.

The Optimist Club will judge the essays and determine the winners who will receive medals. The winning essays will be sent to the district level. Each district will send top entries to the international level. College scholarships are available for top winners at the district and international levels.

Wal-Mart Supports Local Youth Program Police Explorers Receive "Good Works Grant"

AUBURN — The Auburn PD Regional Explorer Post #333 received a generous "Good Works Grant" from the Auburn Super Wal-Mart.

"Wal-Mart believes in operating globally and giving back locally," says Auburn's Deputy Police Chief Jason Moen. "Through this Good Works funding, Post #333 will help outstanding young adults in this region to truly make a difference in their community, while they develop skills that will serve them well throughout their careers."

Otten receives Spirit of Dirigo award from Boy Scouts

On October 22, the Abnaki District of the Pine Tree Council, Boy Scouts of America recognized Les Otten with the Spirit of Dirigo Award.

Otten received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America in 1996. This year's award honored Otten for his dedication to Scouting in Maine.

The Pine Tree Council serves more than 11,300 young people annually through the dedicated efforts of more than 3,200 adult volunteers.

Awards presented at annual meeting

LEWISTON — Tri-County Mental Health Services honored the Sexual Assault Crisis Center and Dr. Owen Buck with its highest awards during the agency's annual meeting, held in Auburn on Oct. 20. The crowd of more than 130 people gave standing ovations for both awardees in recognition of their extraordinary work in the community.

The Sexual Assault Crisis Center, currently celebrating 25 years of working on behalf of women and men who have experienced violence, received The Giving Voice Award.

Toy donation

As a community service project, members of Androscoggin Junior Grange 185 in Greene donated 18 new stuffed toys to the Greene Women's Club for their "Share So Others Will Know You Care" Christmas program. Pictured with the toys in front from left are Riley Parmenter, Savannah Hallowell, Brianna Goldrup, Dalton Dulac; back, Aidan Parmenter, Kaitlyn Bouchard, Ariel Goldrup and Cheyenne Dulac.

Annual harvest supper

The West Auburn Congregational Church will host it's 10th annual Harvest Supper on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the church vestry, 811 West Auburn Road. All are welcome to join at either seating, 5 and 6 p.m. Guests are urged to come early as there is limited seating. The buffet style dinner will include oven roasted turkey and baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, squash, turnips, carrots and cabbage, rolls with butter, pies, coffee, tea, milk and punch. The annual event is a fundraiser for the historic building's ongoing maintenance and improvement.