It was so good to see Howard’s classmate and former longtime Kingfield resident Roscoe “Mickey” Durrell this past week. They both graduated from Kingfield High School in 1949, although the circumstances that we met under in Farmington were not the best. We had gone to the memorial service for “Libby” Parlin. Of course everyone is very familiar with the Libby and Ashley Parlin who were known as “The Twig Snappers” when they performed. “Libby” and Mickey’s late wife, Lillian, were sisters. Mickey left his home in Largo, Fla. and flew to Connecticut from where he and his daughter, Karen Dunlevy, drove to Farmington. Just before arriving in Connecticut, Mickey learned that his son, Denis, who lives in Stafford Springs, Conn., had lost his home and all his possessions in a fire. Mickey said he was glad to get home after a weekend of flying some 3,000 miles.

Roscoe “Mickey” Durrell of Largo, Fla., and Howard Dunham, both graduates of Kingfield High School in 1949, recently had a chance to get together in Farmington. (Laura Dunham photo) What a wonderful turnout on Saturday night at Carrabec High School where over $10,000 was raised for cancer victim Vicki Anderson of New Portland. One of the organizers, Terry Handrahan, said that over 300 dinners were served. A Chinese auction was held with over 65 donated items being bid on. One of the most exciting parts was two Kingfield residents, Diane Christen and Chris Taliadoros, won the over night stay and meeting Country Western super stars Tim McGraw and Keith Urban in Connecticut. Diane said that both tickets were sold at the Kingfield Woodsman’s Restaurant and she was so excited to win and be able to give it to her son, David, and his wife, Bridget, for their anniversary in September. Also entertaining those attending the supper was columnist and author Karen Pease.

What a busy night; I understand there was a big party for Gardiner Defoe for his 75th birthday at Sugarloaf the same night. Happy Birthday Gardiner!

My friend Ruth White said that her grandson, Sgt. Joseph Norman Corson who lives in Colorado with his wife, Sarah, and two children, Ryan and Natalie, will leave this month for Iraq —his third tour of duty in that war-torn country.

It’s Happy Anniversary time for Peter and Sharon Farnsworth as they celebrate their 35 years together. Now I heard through the grapevine that Peter “is going to bite the bullet” and take Sharon on the road for a few days of “looking at quilts.”

On Monday, April 19 there will be a Kingfield Community Acupuncture session on Main Street with licensed acupuncturists Kim Verstringhe and Christi DeMarco. The treatments will cost $10 and will take place in a group setting with people sitting fully clothed. Anyone who plans to attend should call 624-2383. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Acupuncturists Without Borders who help to bring acupuncture to people in disaster areas.

I hear that Dillon Ristano, grandson of Pete and Lorraine Ristano of New Portland, is famous again! Not only has he been featured on the front page of the Irregular while visiting his grandparents here, but Thursday night he was attending the Mets and Marlin baseball game when cameras zeroed in and there he was on television. His dad, Jimmy, said people were calling him even before they got back to their home in New York that night.

In New Portland on Thursday, April 15, the New Portland Knitters and Crafters will meet at 1 p.m. at the New Portland Community Library. Bring what ever you’re working on. “We knit, talk and laugh a lot,” said Pete Bearor.

It was noted that April 22 is Earth Day and in anticipation of springtime, a copy of Peterson’s First Guide: Caterpillars has been donated to the library. “Fly In and Check It Out, it’s a beautifully illustrated pocket field guide to 120 common North American caterpillars and their counterpart butterflies,” said library volunteer Kay Michka.

At the New Portland Selectmen’s meeting it was voted to hold an additional meeting on the third Monday of each month to sign the warrant and to take up any important issues that can’t be handled on the regular first Tuesday of the month meeting.

The first New Portland Community Church supper will be held on Thursday, April 15 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the West Village. The menu will feature roast chicken and all the fixings.

Rev. Scott Planting is urging anyone in the area who is unable to afford repairs or additions to their homes, to call his office at 778-4705 for an application for volunteers to work this summer. Applications must be submitted to the North Parish Housing Ministry and in his office by May 31.

Mary Hopson of Rangeley, a former Stratton resident, told me on Sunday that at age 77 she is skiing as a handicap skier in the Maine Handicap Program having two artificial hips, a knee replacement and an artificial shoulder... what a woman!