It was a joy to visit longtime Kingfield historian Beulah Moore last week and see all the wonderful flowers and cards she had received in observance of her 95th birthday. Beulah was overwhelmed with so many cards which took up all the space in her comfortable living room. Sitting with Beulah was Dena Darnell, a home health care worker, who Beulah is teaching to make one finger mittens. “You just come over and I know I can teach you to knit,” Beulah told me. I have my doubts about that!

What would I have done without all my wonderful friends to help me the past two weeks after having surgery in Lewiston? Pete and Lorraine Ristano went with us watching over Howard for the day. Then Dick and Lorraine Chandler made dinner and brought it here along with Bruce Marcoux and Pat Franz, Lorraine Savage and Bert and Alice Dyer. We even had the dinning room set up in the bedroom for five days while I was in bed... now that is service. I think it’s back to the real world now! I do thank everyone for the many cards and good wishes as I learn to make this foot walk again without the nine bolts and rod.

If you’re looking for a good local cause, then please help Terry Handrahan who is the fundraising chairman for the 488th Family Readiness Group that will benefit the families of our soldiers from the county to the coast serving in the Maine Army National Guard. Terry is selling $10 calendars with wonderful prizes ranging in value from $18 to $280, for white water rafting to ski lift tickets, an overnight stay at the Samoset Resort, campgrounds and dinner at many places. The money raised will be used for a Family Fun Day to keep the families connected. Anyone who would like to purchase a calendar for the month of June when prizes will be awarded daily should contact Terry at 20 Tannery Bridge Road in New Portland 04961 or at handrahan@tds.net or 628- 5641.

Sylvia Holbrook, 94, of New Vineyard was one of 36 honored last Friday at the State House by the Maine Nursing Home Association. Sylvia had lived on the family 480-acre farm in New Vineyard until she entered Edgewood Nursing Home in Farmington in 2008. Sylvia was honored for the impact that she has made on the State of Maine in a ceremony called “Remember Me” and was honored for her life and accomplishments. Everyone remembers the wonderful homemade butter that Sylvia made, the vegetable garden and the fields of mouth-watering strawberries. I especially remember going there and picking the strawberries. Sylvia has six children, 18 grand-children, 33 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

It was nice to see many of my bingo buddies back in the area especially Jenny Miller of New Portland who has been in Arizona this winter and Howard and Dee- Dee Myers who have been in Pennsylvania with their children for the winter months.

I spoke with Jean Ferris who said she had a great time in Canada last weekend when her children, Marla Ferris and Tom and Cassie Ferris and daughter, Sophia, took her to the Hotel Frontenac in Quebec for the weekend to celebrate her birthday.

Katherine Winter would appreciate cards from her many friends in town. Kay is at the Maplecrest Nursing Home in Madison recuperating for a couple more weeks and then will be at home.

It was so nice this week to get a photo of my “buddy” Scottie Nichols in Afghanistan. Of course you could tell who he was out of the three soldiers, “the one with the big gun,” as his dad, Scott Nichols, noted.

Has everyone ordered their Kingfield Days tee shirts? The forms for obtaining them are at the Kingfield Town Office, the Woodsman Restaurant, Camden National Bank and at Longfellow’s Restaurant. You can also find the form on the Kingfield Days Facebook or for more information call Sarah Churchill at 265-2428. Orders should be received by June 1. The next meeting of the Kingfield Days Committee will be on May 13 at 6 p.m. at Longfellow’s Restaurant. Volunteers are needed to give a hand during the busy three-day event, said chairman Myra Coffin.

It was sad to see the sugaring off season in Canada come to a close on Sunday. Eight of us made our way up for all the special treats you can’t beat especially those warm crepes with maple syrup.