April 29, 2012 Lady Gertrude has arrived and is sitting on her nest here in Addison and I have noticed that there are several other Canadian geese nesting on the salt marsh.. A student on my bus said that she saw two eggs in Lady Gertrude’s nest. The students have been worried what with all of the rain that she might get cold or flooded out of her nest. Every day as we travel by in the bus they check her out. I attended a meeting Tuesday evening for the 150 celebration of Columbia Falls and learned that there will be a parade, fireworks, a contra dance/ball, and many more activities next year 2013 for this celebration. They have a long ways to go to get it all organized. I am sure if anyone has ideas or an interest to help them out they would be grateful. Many hands make light work. A reminder to everyone that returnable bottles and cans may be taken to Delia’s’ Branch Grocery and credited to the Columbia Falls 150 Celebration. They also will have on sale May 5th between 2-4 pm at the Former Community Room / Fire Station Student desks and chairs from the Columbia Falls Elementary. The cost is $10.00 a set. The proceeds will be used to support the Columbia Falls 150 Anniversary Celebration June 28-June 30 2013. There will be a local Pee Wee 3rd & 4th girl’s & boy’s basketball tournament this coming weekend May 4th & 5th at the D.W. Merritt school gym to benefit the celebration. This should be a good time for all participants. When I took my grandson Konner to his nursery school I was able to dig a huge box of dandelions there. On my way home I delivered several messes of them to five older folks that were unable to dig any for themselves, plus I got to visit with them a bit. I did keep enough for myself for several meals. While I was out and about digging these greens I picked a bouquet of daffodils for my home and found some May flowers all in blossom. I remember that my dad always picked my mom some May flowers as they were the first flowers in the spring to be found. I received an email from a distant relative this week with a photo of my husband’s great grandmother Rebecca Ann Beal Church; she was married to George Mifflin Dallas Church of Jonesport. I do so love to get photos and more information on our ancestors. Thursday evening Cathy Fonda and I attended the Jonesport Historical Society meeting at the Peabody Memorial Library. I would say over thirty folks attended this meeting on the three churches that are celebrating an anniversary this year. The Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church is 125 years old, the Jonesport Wesleyan Church is 100 years old, and the Community of Christ Church is celebrating 100 years at the site of its current church. A representative from each church spoke on their church history along with a picture slide show. Get well wishes go out to Al Moore and Fred Prince of Columbia Falls, Jack Baquinha of Texas and Justin Thompson of Addison.

April 22, 2012 Maynard Tucker with his great grand nephew Konner Strout Hula hoop contestants Maynard & Wesley Tucker of Baldwinville, MA was here on Sunday April 15 visiting with family. He visited with us, Ruberta Plummer, Charlene and Ronald Gray, and then stopped over Monday evening in Augusta to visit his sister Susie Brewer on his way back home. We are so glad that his son was able to take the time and bring him to Maine for this visit. Maynard turned 90 this year and I was happy to get a photo of him and my grandson together. I almost missed seeing them as I was on my way out to drive my daughter home to Boston that day. Diadem and I arrived at her place at 4 in the afternoon. We both were tired after the long day of driving. Molly Uklu arrived shortly after us to stay overnight. On Monday the temperature in Boston was close to 100 degrees. It was quite a change in the temperature for us. We did get out but only to take a walk in the park and then for an ice cream before we returned home to watch movies. Molly left early in the morning to go to New York to pick up my son Zebadiah Strout as he had arrived from his ship in the morning. When they arrived back at Diadem’s we all went out for a lovely meal. On Tuesday morning Zebadiah, Molly and I headed for Maine after doing several errands. We arrived in Addison just in time for a meal prepared by Carroll Strout. Of course we called ahead and asked if he could whip something up for us. The four nights that Molly and Zebadiah were here we held family gatherings as they left on Saturday morning for Minneapolis and they drove through to arrive at her home Sunday afternoon. Zebadiah will be flying out to Hawaii on Wednesday hopefully for a job that will be available for him. On Saturday the professional drivers of SAD #37 held a karaoke/fun day at Milbridge Elementary. Students from the local schools that attended had a great time with the activities. School vacation is now over, the week went just too fast for me and now I think I need a vacation from the vacation. I know the parents will be glad their youngsters will be back in school this week. Heard this week that both Barbara and Irving Plummer of Zephyrhills, Florida formally of Addison are not well, they both could use some prayers sent their way. Glen Crowley of Columbia is home from the hospital. Get well wishes go out to Loyce & Paul Worcester, Al Moore and Fred Prince of Columbia Falls

April 14, 2012 Grace Peterson with the Boston Post Cane The Town of Columbia on March 19, 2012 held their 216th town meeting. Joseph Tibbetts was elected as the Moderator for the evening. Chester Grant was the only one that ran against Mark Howe who was reelected as Selectman for a three year term. Mary Ann Nichols was reelected as Administrative Assistant, Brandon Lovejoy was reelected as Road Commissioner for the ensuing year and Lisa Norton was reelected as SAD #37 Director for a three-year term. The town had 49 Articles to vote on with all but one that was tabled. The meeting was short and two the point with only two Articles that had some discussion on them. During the intermission, Grace Peterson was presented flowers, a certificate & the Boston Post Cane in honor of being the oldest person in Columbia at the age of 93 years old. The Professional Driving Team of SAD#37 will be hosting a KARAOKE/FUN DAY at Milbridge Elementary for ALL the students in our district (grades 3-8) on Saturday April 21, 2012 from 10am-2pm. We will be having karaoke, knockout, half court shots, hula hoop, & limbo contests. Prizes awarded. Also a door prize and a bike raffle. FREE ADMISSION. Contests are $1.00 each to enter and refreshments will be sold. Hope to see LOTS of students there! Friends and family gathered at the Strout’s home on Addison Ridge for a baby shower for Diadem Washburn. Games were played, gifts opened, onesie decorated and hung by the bay windows. Guests wrote down what they thought the baby might be, guessing the weight, length and name. One of the unusual items at the shower was a belly band that was used probably 100 years ago that I used as a guessing game. Refreshments were a beautiful cake in the shape of a baby bottle made by Michelle McLaughlin sister of the mother- to- be. Sandwiches, chips & dips, pickles & cheese were all delicious. Those that attended the shower were: Ashley Smith, Old Town, Jenny Tuttle, Bangor, Michelle McLaughlin, Tiffany & Konner Strout, Ruberta Plummer, Harrington, Abby Plummer, Jonesboro, Dotty Caldwell, Jane Crosen, Penobscot, Ronie Strout, Addison, Maine & Molly Uklu, Minnetonka, Mn. At our Eastern STAR Alcyone Chapter #71 meeting Thursday evening we had the pleasure of Worthy Grand Patron John Cousins of Darmiscotta in attendance. This was our first meeting for the year 2012-2013 with twenty two in attendance. Rest of the news: Well, because I had the shower at my house it got me up and going to clean, clean, purge and more sorting. But the bad news is there is still more to be done. But I must say it all looks great in the down stairs rooms. I will be heading for Boston with my daughter to help with driving her back, then catch a ride back home with my son Zebadiah that will be getting off his ship in NY Monday. So I will not have much time in the City visiting with my daughter. It was great seeing her, and we are now awaiting the arrival of the little one in May. Carroll's Uncle Maynard and son Wesley Tucker are coming to visit on Sunday, and probably I will be already gone with my daughter as we will be leaving early. Can't be help I guess. School vacation is this coming week so I don’t have to think about driving the bus which is good. Hopefully the weather will start and warm up a bit so that we will enjoy getting out and about more if the price of the gas would be cheaper. It was $4.02 at Irvings in Harrington today. Catch you all later, have a great week. Ronie

April 8, 2012 Saturday afternoon the Order of the Eastern Star Milbridge Alcyone Chapter #71 installed their new officers for the insuring year and in the evening Jonesport Rumery Chapter #46 installed theirs. At both of the installations were folks from: Presque Isle Lunar Chapter #126, Bangor Tuscan Chapter #148, Guilford Almeda Chapter # 149, Lake View Chapter #179, Machias Chapter # 83, and Ellsworth Irene Chapter #97 are ones that I can remember that were there. The side lines were full at both of the Chapters. Michelle and David McLaughlin, and Zachary, Tiffany and Konner Strout all from Harrington were at our table for our Easter dinner. Konner told us he had been to quite a few birthday parties lately and several Easter egg hunts. Next week Konner registers for kindergarten at the Harrington Elementary School. Get well wishes to Glendon Crowley of Columbia and Jack Barquinha of Texas. Be on the watch out for a golden eagle that has been sighted over the river in Columbia Falls. They are very unusual for our area. On April 5th a dolphin was stranded on the banks of the river, a call went out to the College of Atlantic staff. They had hopes that they could have saved the dolphin but it died in route to the Allied Whale Lab. Check at your local town office to see when the rabies clinics will be held for your town. There will be one on April 14 for Columbia Falls from 11-12. The Downeast Salmon Federation Annual Smelt Fry will be happening April 20, 2012 5-9pm at the Columbia Falls Fire Department and Wild Salmon Resource Center in Columbia Falls. Pleasant River Fish & Game Conservation Association will be having a Appleseed Rifle Marksmanship & Heritage Clinic on Saturday & Sunday April 21 & 22 at the clubhouse in Columbia. They also will be having a NRA Basic Handgun Course on Saturday April 28 at the clubhouse. This course is accepted by the Maine State Police for issuing concealed carry permits. There is a fee of $95 for the course. Contact Wayne 963-2163 if you’re interested.

April 1, 2012 Saturday the Destination Imagination teams from Harrington and Addison traveled to Orono for the State Competition. Harrington’s team came in first place by default as they were the only one that competed in their division. Even so they all did a great job on their division anyway. Saturday the band members of SAD #37 were in Woodland for their spring concert. This was an all day of practice with other schools in Washington County ending with the concert in the evening. Congratulations to the winners of Downeast Idol that took place Saturday evening at Narraguagus High School. I was unable to attend but heard that all of the performers did a great job. The following are the winners in the Younger Division: 1st--Will Somes, 2nd--Elexis Dubose, and 3rd--Mystie McManus. In the Adult Division they were: 1st--Kyle Stanley, 2nd--Alora Felix, and 3rd--Dayna Smith. Peter Sawyer and Judy Sprague were our dinner guests Sunday evening. Judy has been here visiting Peter for a few weeks and will be returning to her home in Texas on Friday. All genealogists are looking forward to getting into the 1940 U.S. Federal Census that will be open to the public as of April 2, 2012. This will give genealogist a chance to find out more information on their families they are researching. The programs Who Do You Think You Are and Finding Your Roots seem to be a hit with most folks. I myself enjoy watching them. It looks so easy the way these famous folks get to find out about their ancestors, but us down to earth folks know that it is not quite that easy. We do our own research the hard way. Good news that Jack Barquinha of Plano, Texas formerly of Columbia has returned to his home following a stay in the hospital and rehab center. Get well cards would be welcome; his address is 7100 Chase Oaks Blvd, Apt 4204, Plano, Texas 75025. Maple syrup season is now over for the year, it was not a good year due to the weather but I have all that I need put away in my cellar for my use. Now I must wait for dandelion season to come, which could be early this year if we can get some more warm weather. We have turned our coal stove off for the winter hoping the weather will continue to warm up. I have started in on my spring cleaning and getting rid of all of that winter dust is a chore. I am plugging along one day at a time in hopes that it will soon be done before I need to be outside cleaning up from the winter season. Get well wishes go out to Al Moore of Columbia Falls, hopefully he will be on the mend and back to driving the bus soon.

March 25, 2012 On Thursday evening fifteen members attended the Jonesport Historical Society first meeting for the season at the Peabody Memorial Library. President Don Woodward spoke on the ongoing restoration of the Sawyer Building that will house the artifacts that they have collected. Almost 100 photos were shown on the before and after work on what has already been done to restore this building. When all is said and done this building will have an artifact room, a meeting room to hold our meetings and a computer room where the society has three data bases: one data base each for genealogy, cemeteries, and artifacts for all to use in any type of research. John Vassar Sawyer, II donated to the Jonesport Historical Society many items that have been in the building since the 1800’s. As soon as the renovations are completed and given the time of their volunteers everything will be inventoried, scanned and documented and put into their archives data base. Many, many volunteer man hours have already gone into this building to ready it for the open house in late June. The dedication of Barbara & Bill Plaskon, Andy & Arlene Hutnik, Steven Perry and Don Woodward will be definitely seen along with others that have help in one way or another to make it all possible. These folks that are working their hearts off to save this history for us are really special folks and we all should let them know that we appreciate their time and energy. Stop by and lend a hand or encouragement to them the next time you happen by the Sawyer Building. If you have not been to one of their meetings you have missed out on a lot of our history of the area. This is not just Jonesport history it is all of ours as we all have ancestors that come from Beals Island, Jonesport, Head Harbor Island and the surrounding areas that were in the sea faring. All meetings are held on the fourth Thursdays of the month from March to October starting at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments are served after the meeting. The April meeting will be on the Three Churches Celebrating Anniversaries in Jonesport by church officials. On Saturday evening I spent the evening with friends in Bangor enjoying dinner out and then we all attended, the 7th Annual Performance at Peakes Auditorium at the Bangor High School, Music Off Broadway Music from the Movies presented by Rotary Club of Bangor, Maine. I was pleased to find that I actually knew someone in this. Ben Layman formerly of Columbia Falls sang two numbers. A great evening out on the town followed by attending the Maple Syrup Sunday gathering at the Trott’s camp in Exeter, Maine. On March 25 over 60 friends gathered at the Trott’s Camp in Exeter for their annual Maple Syrup Sunday spring gathering with a pot luck lunch consisted of bake beans, yeast rolls, cole slaw, Caesar salad, dump can turkey, spare ribs, French fries, maple candy, homemade chocolate & maple ice-cream, blueberry pie, mincemeat squares & pumpkin bars. Attending from Washington County were Zachary, Tiffany & Konner Strout of Harrington, Ronie & Carroll Strout of Addison & Jonathan & Daniele Plummer of East Machias.. We all enjoyed the food, company and conversations and best of all brought home freshly made Maple Syrup

March 18, 2012 Just found a day book that my grandmother Ronie gave to her future husband my grandfather Ralph Eben Worcester. On the first page it is written Oct 29, 1896 Ronie D. Leighton, Epping Maine, U.S.A. On the opposite page says Property of R. E. Worcester Columbia, Me. U.S.A. They married three years later on February 1, 1899 and he worked the logging camps a couple of years after they were married than returned to Columbia and had eight children. Ralph died 1924 from Malaria that he had contracted in Nicaragua. My grandfather kept a record when he worked in Bluefields, Nicaragua at several of the logging camps. I found that he worked in these camps No. 9, No 10. In 1894 he was at camp No. 13 which was on the Wa-Wa River then in camp No. 5 of October of 1898, and Camp No. 14 on Feb 18, 1901. The information looks like he traveled from his home in Columbia, to Ellsworth, then to Boston where he then went by steamer to New Orleans. I suppose he than got onto another steamer to get to Nicaragua. I see that in 1901 he was still in Nicaragua as he sent $50.00 home to his mother via the Chelsea Office of Geo. D. Emery. Also in this same book in the back I found a pocket with a lock of hair tied with a ribbon. I believe this was my grandmothers’ hair that she had given him along with the day book to carry with him while he was away. I do have a copy of a letter that she received from him while he was away saying he missed her very much. How sweet. I never knew them as they both passed away before I was even a twinkle in my Dad’s eyes. On another note I have a new picture that was found at the Transfer station just tossed aside of an older lady. It is so sad that folks toss out their families like this. If anyone can identify her please let me know, it has to be someone’s grandmother, aunt or sister and I would love to find out who she is. I am posting this photo onto the genealogy groups that I belong too in hopes that she will be identified. Get well wishes to Peter Sawyer of Milbridge and Corey Worcester of Columbia Falls. Happy birthday to the following folks that will be celebrating a birthday this week: March 19 -Lorraine Whary Thompson, Hulda Peterson; March 22 – Wayne Merritt, Linda Alley; March 23-- Clara Driscoll; March 25 –Paula Scott, Richard Farnsworth Jr. and Charlene Gray. March 25, 2012 On Thursday evening fifteen members attended the Jonesport Historical Society first meeting for the season at the Peabody Memorial Library. President Don Woodward spoke on the ongoing restoration of the Sawyer Building that will house the artifacts that they have collected. Almost 100 photos were shown on the before and after work on what has already been done to restore this building. When all is said and done this building will have an artifact room, a meeting room to hold our meetings and a computer room where the society has three data bases: one data base each for genealogy, cemeteries, and artifacts for all to use in any type of research. John Vassar Sawyer, II donated to the Jonesport Historical Society many items that have been in the building since the 1800’s. As soon as the renovations are completed and given the time of their volunteers everything will be inventoried, scanned and documented and put into their archives data base. Many, many volunteer man hours have already gone into this building to ready it for the open house in late June. The dedication of Barbara & Bill Plaskon, Andy & Arlene Hutnik, Steven Perry and Don Woodward will be definitely seen along with others that have help in one way or another to make it all possible. These folks that are working their hearts off to save this history for us are really special folks and we all should let them know that we appreciate their time and energy. Stop by and lend a hand or encouragement to them the next time you happen by the Sawyer Building. If you have not been to one of their meetings you have missed out on a lot of our history of the area. This is not just Jonesport history it is all of ours as we all have ancestors that come from Beals Island, Jonesport, Head Harbor Island and the surrounding areas that were in the sea faring. All meetings are held on the fourth Thursdays of the month from March to October starting at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments are served after the meeting. The April meeting will be on the Three Churches Celebrating Anniversaries in Jonesport by church officials. On Saturday evening I spent the evening with friends in Bangor enjoying dinner out and then we all attended, the 7th Annual Performance at Peakes Auditorium at the Bangor High School, Music Off Broadway Music from the Movies presented by Rotary Club of Bangor, Maine. I was pleased to find that I actually knew someone in this. Ben Layman formerly of Columbia Falls sang two numbers. A great evening out on the town followed by attending the Maple Syrup Sunday gathering at the Trott’s camp in Exeter, Maine. On March 25 over 60 friends gathered at the Trott’s Camp in Exeter for their annual Maple Syrup Sunday spring gathering with a pot luck lunch consisted of bake beans, yeast rolls, cole slaw, Caesar salad, dump can turkey, spare ribs, French fries, maple candy, homemade chocolate & maple ice-cream, blueberry pie, mincemeat squares & pumpkin bars. Attending from Washington County were Zachary, Tiffany & Konner Strout of Harrington, Ronie & Carroll Strout of Addison & Jonathan & Daniele Plummer of East Machias.. We all enjoyed the food, company and conversations and best of all brought home freshly made Maple Syrup.