WASHBURN NEWS
Joe and Germaine Whitten recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their children, Connie Markham, Bill Whitten, Al Whitten and Jana Whitten, honoring their parents with a special golden anniversary celebration. This was one effort that made Joe and Germaine very proud of their four offspring.
The couple was married on Monday, Aug. 29, 1960, in Van Buren with Germaine’s brother Rosaire Rossignol as their witness. The couple moved to Crouseville and lived at the Flewelling Apartments for four years prior to buying the home on Flewelling Drive which they still live in.
The Trail Runners clubhouse in Washburn was nearly full to capacity with friends and family wishing to give the couple their congratulations and share some grand memories with the family. One guest — the couple’s nephew, 6-year-old Eric Rossignol — noted that he was “security” for the event and welcomed those coming through the door. Eric met Washburn’s Police Chief Doug Conroy which he enjoyed very much. Guests came from as far away as California, New York, Connecticut and all over Maine, as well as local friends and family.
The guests enjoyed a white wedding cake adorned with double rings which was made by their sister-in-law Arlene Rossignol and received many cards, gifts and phone calls. All eight of the Whitten grandchildren attended the get-together and included: Bobby Burchett; River, Rayne and Thyme Winter; Zachary, Willow and Dawson Whitten.
It was certainly a more than enjoyable day for the family and all those attending.
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Caleb Brown, Mark Kelley, Natalie Doody, Jerry Thompson, Lesha Fitzherbert, Hillary Brown, Tony Searles, Kevin Burtt, Greg Libby, Stan Smith, Virginia Farley, Maddie Bither, Barb Churchill, Eric Sperrey, Pam Tompkins, Jessica Henderson, Chrissy Myshrall, Justin Clayton, Edward Woodman, Sylvia Chapperon, Morris Bragdon, Ron Ericson, Richard Russell, Debbie Drost, Andrea Turner, Carolyn Rossignol, Debbie Bard and Lori Beaulieu.
Anniversary wishes go out to: Bill and April Fox, Lyman and Velma Sperrey, Gary and Louise Cole, Gil and Marie Berube, Sheldon and Sandi Cunningham, Mark and Becky Doody, Mark and Kim Carter, Dale and Marci Driscoll, Glenn and Cynthia Condon and Richard and Phyllis Farley.
This week, special up-to-date information for the large parade, food availability, varieties of music, and arts and crafts is being featured. The following is a list of contact people for these events including: the Alumni Supper, Diane Gabriel, 764-0955; Gospel Concert Chairman Matt Palmer, 455-4341, cindyboot@live.com; Parade information, Mike Umphrey, 455-4836, or lynnumphrey@yahoo.com; Arts and Crafts in the Park, Paul Carter, 455-4714, or carterscraftsme@yahoo.com; Food Vendors, Dennis Harris, 455-8279, or drharris@juno.com, and August Festival Chairman Cindy Boot at 455-8464; and Class of 1960 reunion, Helen Crouse Hause, hhause@maine.rr.com.
The theme for the 30th Washburn August Festival is “The World of Adventure,” and the date for the special weekend is Aug. 20, 21 and 22.
The 2010 king and queen are Sterling and Sandra Haynes and the very special grand marshall is Washburn’s own Arnie Devoe.
The big parade starts at 9 a.m. with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m. at the high school parking lot. This year’s event promises to be a great one with participants coming from throughout the County.
There will be arts and crafts at the Story Park, with setup time at 7 a.m. and booths open to the public at 8 a.m. A wide array of local and County-wide artisans will be showing their talent with many items available for viewing and sale.
The SCA Medieval Troupe will have a display at the front lawn of the Salmon Brook Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Foods available: The Washburn Food Mart will be doing their annual “carry-out pizza,” with crew members taking pizza throughout town on Saturday, selling by the slice, and good deals on drinks, including water and sodas. Special festival T-shirts and hats are also available.
There will be a free hotdog roast at the Katahdin Trust parking lot starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 20. Also on Friday, the annual Alumni Supper will be at the high school gym starting at 5 p.m. Included in the evening is the 1960 class reunion. Please bring a salad, casserole or dessert and your own place settings. On Friday, there will also be food booths open at the municipal parking lot starting at 5 p.m.
On Saturday, Aug. 21, the Washburn Trailrunners will be holding their annual breakfast from 6 to 9:30 a.m. at the Station Road clubhouse. The cost is $6 per person and the menu includes scrambled eggs, home fries, French toast, bacon or sausage and coffee or juice.
Also on Saturday, the Washburn Fire Department will be holding their annual Chicken Barbecue from 11:30 a.m. until they run out. The dinner includes generous portions of chicken, coleslaw, potato salad chips, rolls and a drink. The charge is $6 per person.
The Washburn Rotary Club will be hosting a baked bean supper at the Civic Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday evening. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for ages 12 and under.
On Sunday, Aug. 22, the Perham Ladies Brunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Washburn Civic Center and fire bay. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12 with no cost for children under 5.
For your musical entertainment, on Friday, Aug. 20, the Aroostook County Blue Grass Band will be performing at Story Park starting at 6:30 p.m. with bluegrass and bluegrass gospel favorites. The rain location is the high school gym.
On Saturday, the band Sound Friendship will be performing at Story Park from 7 to 9:30 p.m. with the rain location at the high school gym.
Also on Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Randy Michaud will be performing his old-time country music at Story Park. Donations will be accepted and the rain location will be at the high school gym.
The annual Sunday crowd favorite Gospel Concert will be held at the high school gym from 2 to 4 p.m.
There will be a special Farmer’s Market along with a Flea Market on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mapleton United Methodist Church in Mapleton. This is to help the church youth group go to Indiana where they will be taking part in the National Methodist Youth Rally, which takes place every four years. The funds will benefit both Mapleton and Washburn youth.
The local fund-raising event will be held rain or shine, and you can reserve your table for $12 by phoning Mike Eaton at 764-3762 or Lisa Reed at 493-0989.
Members of the Washburn Rotary took part in the club’s annual recognition dinner which was recently held at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. Rotarians attending included: Larry Harrison, Keith Brown, Stu Turner, Barb Turner, Charlotte Griffin, Dennis Harris, Peggy Bugbee, Cindy Richendollar, Kermit Fuller and Steve Boddy. Guests attending included Nathan Brown, Sue Fuller and Beth and Johnathan Boddy.
On Saturday, Aug. 14, Perham residents are invited to join in conversations with candidate for State Representative Rudy St. Peter and candidate Danny Devaeu for state senator. They will be interested in what ‘you’ want for your County. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Perham Town Hall. Refreshments including coffee, tea and sweet snacks will be served.
Members of the Lidstone Memorial Methodist Church in Washburn will be holding a series of food sales. They will be holding these fund-raisers at the Washburn Civic Center on Saturday, Aug. 7, Sept. 4 and 18 and Oct. 2 and 16 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Menu items will include homemade beans and bread, green salads, cole slaw, cookies cakes and lots of pies. You can pick up your Saturday night supper complete at one place while helping the church at the same time!
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
