MEXICO – The women of Stephens High School Class of 1956 will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Chicken Coop for a social gathering. For more information, phone Muriel Shurtleff at 562-7550.

Red Hat meeting

MEXICO – The Red Hat Mommies of Western Maine met Sept. 24 at the Chicken Coop 28 members were in attendance. Red Hat pins were won by Carol Freeman, Donna Bernard and Sylvia Touchette.

Upcoming trips are:

• Tuesday, Oct. 14 visit to the Maine State Complex. A State House tour is at 11 a.m. lunch at 11:45 a.m. and Blaine House Tour at 2 p.m. A carpool leaves from behind the Dixfield Post Office at 9 a.m.

• Thursday, Oct. 16, Tea at Louise Horne’s at 2 p.m. Bring tea cups.

• Tuesday, Oct. 21, Tasting Party at Murdock Country Creations in Turner. Carpool leaves Blaisbell’ Store in Peru at 12:15 p.m.

The next meeting is at 5 p.m. Oct. 29 at Sam’s Italian Sandwich Shoppe on Route 2 in Rumford for a hat decorating contest.

Alumni lunch

MEXICO – Members of the Stephens High School Class of 1945 and their spouses are invited to attend the monthly luncheon at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Chicken Coop. To make reservations, phone Connie at 364-8785 or Muriel at 545-2709.

Snowmobilers

MEXICO – The Mexico Snowmobile Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Town Hall.

Author program

RUMFORD – The Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the conference room of the Municipal Building. Jean Hersey will present a program on Maine author Holman Day. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited.

Author program

RUMFORD – The Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the conference room of the Municipal Building. Jean Hersey will present a program on Maine author Holman Day. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited.

Snowmobilers club

MEXICO – The Mexico Snowmobile Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Town Hall.

Site plan review

RUMFORD – The Planning Board will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, in the jury room at the Town Hall for a site plan review. This is an approval meeting for the Fire Department’s proposed temporary structure at the municipal parking lot at the east end of the Memorial Bridge.

Straw poll picks

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was the winner of an Oxford County Democrats’ free raffle and straw poll.

The poll was conducted from Sept. 28 through Oct. 5 at the Fryeburg Fair. More than 800 people participated, according to Cathy Newell, county chairwoman, in a press release.

Dean received 33 percent of the balloting, followed by retired General Wesley Clark with 20 percent and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry with 18.

A smaller poll was held at the River Valley Expo in Rumford on Sept. 26 and 27. In that event, Wesley Clark garnered 27 percent; Howard Dean got 22.

Polls earlier in the season, at events in Bethel, Andover and Buckfield found Dean and Kerry in the lead, either tied or very close, according to the press release.

Newell described the poll as “intentionally unscientific and nonbinding, a good way to start conversations, to welcome people to the event and to heighten interest in the 2004 race.”

Winners of the raffle items were from Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Anniversary show

RUMFORD – The Rumford Area Association of Performing Arts is presenting its “35th Anniversary Spectacular” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, in the Mountain Valley High School auditorium.

Tickets are available from RAAPA members and at Bartash, Port to Port, Hannaford, Log Cabin Craftsworks, Larsen’s Electric, Andover General and Mills Market in Andover.