What a gala event it was at Heidi Murphy’s 50th surprise birthday bash Friday night at Nostalgia Tavern in Kingfield. As she said to me, “I can’t believe they put this over on me.” The best part of the evening was Heidi in her “red hat” regalia. Well, I’ve been waiting for this day “for years.” It seems like every time I would bring in news about the Red Hatters into the paper I would tell her, “Look, your day is coming,” and she would have that wistful look on her face like “I can’t wait.” Now we will see how long it takes for her to be one of us!

I spoke with Judi Wills in New Portland who told me the town was gearing up to lift the spirits of the community with their big winter celebration on Saturday, Feb. 6 at noon at the New Portland Town Community room next to the fire station.

There will be ice skating, and turkey bowling (well how about Cornish hens where you strike a coke bottle filled with kitty litter?), there will also be golf, a snow ball game with first place winners being given to the three highest scores.

A non fire will be held out side the fire station. And there will be ice sculptures. Anyone who would like to reserve a pile of ice should call Alicia Wills at 628-3630. Judy said the ice sculptures must be completed by noon on Saturday. Already about nine people have signed up to make soup or stew for the tasting contest. At 3 p.m. the soup and /or stew will be served to the public with hot bread and apple crisp at no cost.

Be sure you get your tickets for the Healthy Community Coalition Winter Windfall. They are available at the HCC offices at 105 Mt. Blue Circle in Farmington. By donating $10 per ticket to the HCC, the donor will be eligible for 31 prizes which will be drawn daily through the month of February. Prizes include a mini vacation to the Saddleback Ski Resort for four (a $950 value) fitness memberships, restaurant certificates and much more. Proceeds from the raffle will allow HCC staff to expand health screenings, health promotion and education and mobile unit services, said Janis Walker from HCC.

The Dead River Area Historical Society pictorial 2010 calendar are now available. The cover features graduates from 1960 Stratton High School. The calendars can be picked up at Pine’s Market, Northland Cash, Fotter’s Market and Arnold Trail Quality Fuel and Sports Center. The calendars can also be obtained by sending $8 which includes postage to Dead River Historical Society PO Box 15, Stratton, Maine 04982. Pictorial calendars from previous years are also available for $2.50 along with cookbooks for $6 or two for $10. For more information you can contact Mary Henderson at 246-2271.

Postal authorities have closed the contract post office at the West Village in New Portland. For many years Vicki Anderson has operated the post office just like her late mother-in-law, Ivy Anderson, did, but after Vicki got ill it was decided by the postal authorities to close the post office, which had about 102 rented boxes. Those box holders are now forced to go to either the North Village in New Portland or the New Vineyard Post Office where they can keep their same box number and address. According to town manager Staci Rundlett, it is an in convenience to have to make the trip some 20 miles round trip to get the town mail every day at the North Village Post Office. Staci said that a petition is being circulated asking for an extension on the Chick Road and Wire Bridge Road. At this time the Bennett Hill and Atwood Hill service will not be extended but postal authorities hope to accommodate them with the possibility of putting in boxes at the beginning of the roads as a rural delivery and if that happens, then the households would be responsible for maintaining the boxes.

The Stratton Strutters Red Hat members will meet at noon at the Stratton-Eustis Community Center —bring your lunch. Brandi Farnsworth will be showing the group how to make professional greeting cards.

Stratton-Eustis Lion’s Club members Marge McHugh and Janet White are trying to get a Lion’s Club started in the Phillips area and will be holding a meeting on Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Camden National Bank. “I am so proud of them for taking on this venture,” said Lion’s Club member Pat Franz. Pat was featured in an article on the Stratton-Eustis Lion’s Club in this month’s Lion’s Club International magazine. Several of the Lion’s Club members were in Lewiston on Sunday attending the Maine District #41 Conference.

Don’t forget the Polar Blast activities being held this coming week-end throughout the Stratton-Eustis area.