MECHANIC FALLS – Some 25 residents from Mechanic Falls, Poland and Minot have joined to start the Tri-Town Optimist Club, which is affiliated with Optimist International, one of the world’s largest and most active service club organizations.

The Tri-Town Optimist Club – like its 3,500 counterparts across the U.S., Canada and other countries – will work on service projects to benefit area youth and the community.

Major Optimist programs include substance abuse prevention, oratorical contest, essay contest, communications contest for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, Youth Appreciation Week and International Junior Golf Championships.

At one of their first meetings, the Tri-Town Optimists honored Alyssa Baril of Minot Consolidated School as their first Student of the Month. The club meets the second Friday of every month at the Rail Station Restaurant.

Officers elected are Vicki Dean, president; Ginny Colby, vice president; the Rev. Michael Ring, vice president; Eileen Hotham, treasurer; and Terri Arsenault, secretary. Other board members are Dave Griffiths, Mary Martin, Dana Lee, Linda Camire, Joy Beaupre and Carl Beckett.

Area Optimists are selling raffle tickets to win a canoe valued at $600. Tickets are $1 apiece or six for $5. The drawing will be Sept. 6. For more information, contact Dave Griffiths at 345-9835.