Main Street, Downtown Old Town. Join us Thursdays at the Elks lodge (inset picture).
 
Club Information

Small club. Big aspirations.

We meet Thursdays at 6:15 PM
Elks Lodge
37 4th Street
Old Town, ME  04468
United States
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Home Page Stories

Rotary Golf Tournament successful
 
 

19 teams enjoy perfect day for golf; club raises close to $6,000 for Rotary charities

    The team of Chris Kauppila, Wes Kauppila, Dillon Leland, and Ed Lanigan won the $400 first place prize in the Old Town Rotary Club’s annual Charity Golf Tournament September 15 at Hidden Meadows Golf Course in Old Town.
    The winners completed the 18-hole 4-person scramble with a score of 58, 13 strokes under par and three strokes ahead of the second- and third-place teams, which finished with scores of 61.
    The second-place team of Matt Shannon, Jevon Owens, Don Powers, and Ed Ripley received four $75 gift certificates to Hidden Meadows Golf Course, while the third-place team of Buzz Simpson, Peter Stewart, Jason Bennet, and Brian Hears received four $50 gift certificates to Hidden Meadows.
    The Shannon team won the tie-breaker, which was based on individual hole scores starting at a hole that was selected at random.
    The team of David Saucier, David Thibodeau, Tom Harris, and Rick Gilman  placed 4th, while the team of Frank Greenleaf, Allan Gray, Fran Riva, and Gary Greenleaf placed 5th. Both teams had scores of 62., but the Saucier team won the tie-breaker. The 4th place prize was four certificates for 18 holes of golf with cart at Hidden Meadows; the 5th place prize was four certificates for 18 holes of golf with cart at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.
    The flag event winners each received two sleeves of Titleist Pro VI golf balls. The winners were:
    •    Straightest drive (closest to the rope), Hole 1/10: Ken Mitchell, 0’0” 
    •    Longest drive, Hole 5/14, men 64 and younger: Bill Simpson.
    •    Longest drive, men 65 and older: Nick Carparelli.
    •    Longest drive, women: Stacey Hussey.
    •    Closest to the pin, Hole No. 4: Chris Kauppila, 7’1”
    •    Closest to the pin, Hole No. 8: Gary Greenleaf, 7’2”
    •    Closest to the pin, Hole No. 13: Kathy LaFontaine, 3”
    •    Closest to the pin, Hole No. 17: Lance Fenimore, 9’8”
    Golfers were able to participate in a drawing for 36 prize packages with a total value of over $3,200 by purchasing tickets on Hidden Meadows’ par 3 Hole 8/17. Golfers whose tee shot landed on the green received double the amount of drawing tickets.
    The drawing prizes included certificates for golf at nine area golf courses, including Traditions (Holden), JaTo Highlands (Lincoln), Hermon Meadows (Hermon), Dexter Municipal, JW Parks (PIttsfield), Barnes Brook (West Enfield), Palmyra, Bucksport, and Lucerne.
    Ben Smith was the tournament chair for the Rotary Club of Old Town.  He said a full slate of 19 teams participated in the tournament, which raised about $6,000 for the many charities that are supported by Rotary.  He thanked the golfers and pointed out that 100% of the net proceeds will be used for charity, as the club maintains separate accounts for operating expenses and fund-raising.
    The Rotary cooking crew of Linda Bryant, Dave and Sherrie Wight, Jay MacDonald, and Tess Greene provided the golfers and volunteers with hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and hot and sweet sausages with onions and peppers, along with water, soft drinks, cookies, and LaBree’s whoopie pies and donuts throughout the tournament.
    Other Rotary volunteers supporting the event were DJ Whitmore, Bugsy Bryant, Dave Wollstadt, Joe Cyr, Phil Barb, Frank Greenleaf, Steve Johnston, and Bruce Shirland.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

August 30--UMaine 35, UNH 7
Rotarians and friends watch at Maine overpowers UNH, 35-7, at Alfond Stadium
 
The Old Town Rotary Club went on a road trip to Alfond Stadium at the University of Maine to watch the Black Bear football team play UNH in the season opener.  Although UNH was ranked in the top 10 in all three national polls (Football Championship Subdivision), the Bears overpowered the Wildcats and romped to a 35-7 victory.
 
The Rotarians served a pot-luck supper in the tailgate area next to the stadium.
 
Tamara Saarinen, Phil Barb, and the Larsens.
 
The Shirlands, Clair Shirley, and Past President Doug Marchio.
 
Don and Jane Sturgeon, and visiting Rotarian Bill Brown and his son Bobby from Ohio via Cold Stream Pond.
 
Linda Bryant, Tess Greene, and David and Sherrie Wight.
 
Buggsy buys the last open spots in Dave Wight's Polio Plus Monday Night Football drawing.
 
Keri Denis (right) with her aunt, KC Crean, who was visiting from California.
 
Steve Greenleaf and Tess Greene.
 
Rotarians and friends in the stands at Alfond Stadium
 
President DJ and family.
 
At the end of the night, a very happy group of Black Bears posed with the Brice-Cowell Musket, symbolic of Maine-UNH football supremacy.
 
August 16 - Ray Ruby, Maine Cancer Foundation

August 16 - Ray Ruby, Maine Cancer Foundation

President Elect Lisa Gallant with Ray Ruby of the Maine Cancer Foundation, who spoke to the club on August 16 on Reducing the Impact of Cancer in Maine
July 26 - 5 Rotarians named Paul Harris Fellows

From left: Past President Doug, Linda and Buggsy Bryant, Mischelle Adams, Steve Russell, Ben Smith, Robin Merchant, and President DJ.
 
Five Old Town Rotarians have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows.  They were presented with their Paul Harris pins and medallions at the club's Thursday night meeting on July 26.  The Paul Harris Fellows are Mischelle Adams, club treasurer; Steve Russell, House committee chair; Robin Merchant, Assistant District Governor; and Linda and Buggsy Bryant--two club members who don't hold a formal office but get lots of different things done.  The fellows were nominated by Past President Doug Marchio.  Assisting in the presentation were President DJ Whitmore and Foundation Chair Ben Smith.
 
 

June 14th - Road Trip to Sarah's House

Old Town Rotarians enjoy dinner, camaraderie at Sarah's House

CHECK PRESENTATION--After dinner, the club presented a check  for $13,500 to Delores Landry, Executive Director of Sarah's House.  From left, Old Town Rotary Club President Doug Marchio, Sarah's House Campaign Chair Judy Collier, Delores, and Rev. James Haddix, President of the Board of Directors for Sarah's House.  In the foreground is Ian Whitmore, son of incoming President DJ Whitmore, who brought in a sack full of money (about $50) that he requested in lieu of birthday presents so he could donate it to Sarah's House.
 
The meal was a buffet with several salads and half a dozen pasta dishes, followed by strawberry shortcake.  All were delicious.
 
President Doug tried to skip the usual Happy and Sad Dollars, but the club wouldn't let him.  The resulting commentary demonstrated how much fun we have as a club and how much we enjoy each other's company.  It also raised an extra $181 for Sarah's House.
 
Executive Director Delores Landy gave a report on the usage of Sarah's House, and how much it has meant to the people who stay there.  This point was underlined by a very emotional presentation by Cathy and Carl Sjogren of Ashland, ME (about 2½ hours north of Bangor), who have been frequent visitors during the three years that Cathy has been battling cancer.  She said the Shogrens are planning to move to the Bangor area this summer, and Cathy will be a 20-hour-a-week assistant.
 

More photos . . . 

 
 
 
DJ introduces his son Ian, who raised about $50 for Sarah's House in lieu of birthday presents.
 
 
Joining the Rotarians for dinner were Cathy and Carl Sjogren (left), who have been frequent visitors to Sarah's House while Cathy has been battling cancer.

Memorial Day Parade

Old Town Rotarians cook hot dogs, serve lunch to veterans and others celebrating Memorial Day

The Rotary cooking/serving crew--Jane and Chuck Veeder, Corina Larsen, Steve Russell, Steve Johnston, Tamara Saarinen, Izzy Larsen, and Josh Hamilton. Not present for photo: Lisa Gallant and her sister Terri and Frank Greenleaf. Photo by Dave Wollstadt.
 
      The Old Town Rotary Club cooked hot dogs and served ribs, pulled pork, and other delicacies at the Memorial Day parade at Old Town's Waterfront Park on May 28. The barbecue was cooked by Rick and his crew from Big Dawg, a catering group from western Maine. The Rotarians mixed several vats of cole slaw by hand--literally, using finger-powered latex gloves to combine finely sliced cabbage and carrots and salad dressing to make cole slaw.  Also on the menu:  chips, LaBree's mini-cupcakes and whoopie pies, bottled water, and soft drinks.
      Veterans ate free; the cost to the public was $5 per person or $15 for a family.
      In addition to the parade, the Memorial Day event included a very fine rendition of the National Anthem, ceremonies led by local veterans' groups with the flag at half staff, and the playing of Taps to honor veterans of all wars.
      
 
Steve Russell and Steve Johnston (they call themselves "Steve Squared") cook hot dogs.
April-May meetings

April-May Meetings

May 17 - Deb Boyd, Old Town-Orono YMCA

Joe Cyr, Doug Marchio, and Ben Smith present Rotary check to deb boyd, executive director, Old Town-Orono YMCA
 

 

May 10 - LtC darryl lyon, Maine national guard

Chuck and Jane Veeder with LTC Darryl Lyon
 
 

april 19 - lori Smart and bobbi fowler, animal orphanage

Doug with Lori Smart and Bobby Fowler of the Animal Orphanage
 
 

Busy Spring Capped by Visit to Casella Sugar Shack

 
   Old Town Rotarians have enjoyed a busy winter and early spring, which was capped on March 29 by a visit to the Casella Sugar Shack, where members and guests enjoyed steak and chicken, along with maple taffy and ice cream topped with maple syrup.  The event was hosted by Rotarian Wayne Boyd, who serves as manager of Casella's Juniper Ridge Landfill in West Old Town, where the Sugar Shack is located.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Earlier, the club heard several very interesting programs on a variety of topics, including:
 
     •  March 22--Jeffifer Lloyd of the EMHS Medical Foundation, who told us about the "Champion the Cure" fundraising project.
 
     •  March 15--Jack Brown and Melissa Ladenheim of the University of Maine, who talked about the UMaine Day Meal Packing Project, which the club and a number of individual members have supported, both financially and through their volunteer efforts.  Last spring, the students and other volunteers packed more than 100,000 meals, which were distributed to a food pantries and other charitable organizations in the local area, including Old Town.
 
     •  March 1--Allison Kanoti, forest entomologist, who talked about the browntail moth problem in Maine.
Corina Larsen with forest entomologist Allison Kanoti
 
     •  February 22--Mike Seile of "Our Katahdin," an economic development group that has been focusing on the former Great Northern Paper mill facilities in Millinocket. 
 
President Doug, Mike Seile of "Our Katahdin" and Steve Lane
 
     •  February 8--Kristi Kimball of the Bangor Breakfast Rotary Club, who talked about their Bangor Area Champion for Charities project.
 
     •  January 25--Scott Wilcox, Public Safety Director for the City the Old Town, who talked about the police department's bear program, which the club has supported, along with other law enforcement topics. 
 
President Elect DJ Whitmore, Chief Wilcox, and Dave Walker with bears.
 
Read more...

Tamara Saarinen's Classification Talk
If you missed Tamara's talk, you're going to want to hear her amazing story of overcoming adversity and trusting in humanity to achieve her goals... despite the incredible odds!

With end to polio in sight, vaccination gets creative

From NBC News, 12/20/2017

by MAGGIE FOX

Could the world be about to eradicate polio? Only 17 cases were diagnosed last year and they were all in two countries with the last hard-to-reach corners: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The public health groups trying to put the squeeze on polio have started to get more creative in their last push. The latest: turning vaccination into a circus.

The circus enables the children who join, often from internally displaced communities around Kabul, to learn new skills while continuing their education. Nadia, seen here, is 14 years old, and one of the best girl-performers in the country. Ashley Hamer / UNICEF

“We are trying to build trust and momentum around why we need to vaccinate our kids,” said Melissa Corkum, UNICEF team leader on polio eradication.

Read more...

Rotarians, children, grandchildren enjoy Christmas party
 
Santa and Mrs. Claus visited the Elks Lodge in Old Town on December 7 to help Rotarians, children, and grandchildren get into the holiday spirit.
 
The evening started off with a Gingerbread House decorating contest.  Six teams of children and grandchildren, assisted by parents and grandparents, applied copius amounts of frosting to gingerbread houses that had been constructed by President Doug and his grandson, an engineering major at UMaine.  The frosting served a dual purpose--as a decorating material in and of itself, and as something that other, more colorful confections--jelly beans, gum drops, sparkles, sprinkles, etc.--would attach to.
 
While the decorating teams did their thing, the rest of the club enjoyed an extended happy hour and time for fellowship until the dinner bell sounded.  After dinner, Santa and Mrs. Claus came through the door and gave presents to all the children and grandchildren present.
 
Rotarians also brought several dozen extra presents which are being donated to the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots campaign.
 
Click more to see photos of the gingerbread house decorating contest!
Read more...

Ben Smith highlights Rotary Foundation's role in eradicating polio
Ben Smith (third from left) poses for a photo after giving his Rotary Foundation Month presention, which included a progress report on Rotary's participation in the drive to eradicate polio worldwide.  Sherrie Wight (left) and David Wight (standing next to Ben) traveled to Old Town from Frankfort to make sure that Ben would have an audience.  Also in photo: Robin Merchant, Steve Russell, and President Doug. 
 
November is the month every year when Rotarians remember--and celebrate--the Rotary Foundation, which was started 100 years ago.
In the last three decades, Rotary International and our foundation have been particularly prominent in the worldwide effort to eradicate polio.  The Global Polio Eradication Iniative (GPEI) started in 1988 as a joint effort of UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Rotary International. In that year, WHO estimated there were 350,000 new cases of polio worldwide--but few, if any, in the U.S.
 
But Rotary was more than just a partner.  The GPEI was inspired by Rotary's 1985 pledge to raise $120 million to immunize the world's children against polio.
 
*  *  *

Some of you here probably remember Jonas Salk, who discovered the polio vaccine. I remember lining up in 1954, with all the other children in my school, to get my first polio shot. What you may not know is that Salk refused to patent the vaccine because he wanted it to be widely available. 
 
When Salk died in 1995, his obituary in the New York Times reported an opinion poll which ranked him between Churchill and Gandhi as one of the most revered figures in modern history. 
 
Salk once said, "There is hope in dreams, imagination, and in the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality." Sounds like he might have been a Rotarian!
 
*   *   *

From 350,000 new cases of polio in 1988, the number has dropped more than 99%--to 74 new cases in 2015, 37 new cases in 2016, and through Nov. 7, a total of only 14 cases this year--five in Pakistan and nine in Afghanistan.
 
WHO estimates that more than 16 million people have been saved from paralysis during the last 30 years. 
 
We are getting very close to eradicating polio in the world. Doing so would represent only the second time in history that we've done that.  The first was smallpox.
A few numbers about Rotary and the effort to eradicate polio:
 
•  Since 1988, the GPEI has spent more than $15 through June 30, 2017.
•  Rotary has spent $1.8 billion, and by the end of next year, that number will increase to $2.2 billion.
•  In 2000, the Gates Foundation launched its Global Health division. So far, they have contributed $685 million to eradicate polio, and within two years, that number will exceed $1 billion.
•  The Gates Foundation has also agreed to match every dollar donated by Rotarians with two dollars from their foundation.
 
*   *   *

Some of you know that part of the reason I feel so strongly about polio is that my grandfather contracted the disease when he was 2 years old. He lived to be 97, but he walked with a limp his whole life because of polio.
 
As I said at the beginning, November is Foundation Month for Rotary. The first gift to the Foundation was from the Rotary Club of Kansas City--$26.50 in 1917.
My first ask of you tonight is that you consider writing a check to the Rotary Foundation for $26.50, for Rotary's Polio Plus Campaign, before the end of the Holiday Season.
 
The world really is really close to eradicating polio, and we are all part of an organization that's been instrumental in getting there. Please help make polio a thing of the past.
 
My second ask is that each Rotarian consider becoming a regular Foundation supporter. Rotary does a lot of good things in the world, and the Foundation is the vehicle that supports many of those efforts.
 
About 20% of our members support the Foundation each year. But I think it's significant that 75% of our members have donated to the Foundation at some point in their Rotary careers. That suggest to me that, as a group, we appreciate the Foundation's value.
 
The two simplest ways to support the Foundation are EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) and Rotary Direct, a program that is growing in popularity and that five of our members already use.  Rotary Direct allows Rotarians to donate directly to the Founcdation via bank draft or credit card. Donations may be one-time or recurring (e.g., an automatic monthly donation from your credit card).


EDITOR'S NOTE:  A belated Thank You Dollar for Ben's presentation on the Rotary Foundation.  He took what could have been a really boring topic and presented his report with passion and conviction--and made it interesting for all of us.  Thank you, Ben!

Rotary takes ROAD TRIP to Wicked Good Gourmet in Old Town
 
On Thursday, Nov. 16, club members went on a road trip to the Wicked Good Gourmet shop at 1168 Main Street, Old Town (between St. Joseph's Cemetary and the Orono town line), where we heard Mark Kent, the proprietor of Wicked Good Gourmet, talk about his business and his background.

Wicked Good Gourmet provides an easy way for shoppers to order high-quality food items from Maine and elsewhere in New England and have them shipped to friends or relatives, particularly in states outside of New England. Mark says a number of his customers who want to purchase food items that they used to buy in Maine--either when they lived here or were on vacation--but can't find the items at their local Whole Foods store.

He describes his business as follows on his website (www.wickedgoodgourmet.com):
     "Wicked Good Gourmet was founded by Mark Kent to bring the finest artisanal specialty foods made by farmers and chefs around New England to your door.  These products are usually sold in Farmers Markets and local stores across New England. When you subscribe to the Taste of New England Box you are not only receiving the best specialty food products that New England has to offer, you are also supporting the farmers and chefs that are striving to grow their small businesses.  We champion the small businesses and artisanal producers across New England.  We connect with small businesses that are growing and supporting local jobs and small towns.  We find the best products from the best people and deliver them to your door so that you can enjoy celebrating the best of what New England has to offer." 

Mark currently offers two subscription plans--one for $19.95 a month plus shipping and one for $39.95 a month plus shipping (only the $19.95 plan was offered when I checked the website on the morning of Nov. 17), where he selects a variety of Maine and New England gourmet items with a different theme each month and ships them to the address you selects.  However, he's in the process of offering shoppers the option of filling their own basket on line and then shipping it.

Shoppers can also visit his store and either purchase items to take with them or fill a box for shipment.  The store is currently open on Fridays and Saturdays, but will be open additional days during holiday periods.
 
 

Rotarians install wheelchair ramp at home in Orono
     A team of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Old Town have installed a wheelchair ramp at the home of Jim Martin of Orono, who has ALS.
 
     Rotarians who worked on the ramp construction were Stan Peterson, Buggsy Bryant, Steve Russell, Don Sturgeon, Doug Marchio, and Pat Cummings. They were joined by Dr. John Gaetani, and Joe Cyr stopped by to lend a hand (immediately after his surgery).
 
     Rotary got involved last month after Jane Veeder saw an item about Jim's GoFundMe page that had been posted by a friend of hers on Facebook.  She asked Robin Merchant if this was something the club could help with, and Robin, in turn, contacted Stan. Stan called Jim, took some measurements at his house, and got the crew together to install the ramp on November 11.
 
     Rotarians (and others) who are interested in Jim's battle with ALS can follow this link to his GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/jim-scott.  Jim said he wanted to thank Stan and his crew for installing the wheelchair ramp, but before he could get outside, they had left.
 

 

Nov. 9 - UMaine students speak at Rotary


President Doug with Payden Stanton and Laurel Cookson.

 
Payden Stanton and Laurel Cookson, who traveled abroad through programs sponsored  Office of International Programs at UMaine, talked about their experiences at our Thursday night meeting November 9.

USA Today highlights Rotary effort in World Polio Day article.

 

The following appeared in USA Today on World Polio Day, October 24:

Bill Gates: Polio will be eradicated this year

Ray Sipherd, CNBCPublished 3:39 p.m. ET Oct. 24, 2017

 
 
 
Tuesday marks Rotary International's fifth annual World Polio Day, co-hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and there is much cause for celebration: It is very possible that 2017 may see the end of the wild poliovirus — nearly two years earlier than Bill Gates predicted.
 

"What we're looking at now is sort of the endgame of polio eradication," says Dr. Jay Wenger, who leads the Gates Foundation's polio eradication efforts. "We are closer than ever, and we're optimistic that we can see the end of wild poliovirus disease by as early as this year," he said.

Read more...

Nov. 2: Road trip to 'Dough Raiser' at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Bangor
Rotarians, guests, and friends sit down for dinner at the "Dough Raiser" at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Bangor/
 
Old Town Rotarians, guests, and friends traveled to Bangor Thursday night for a "Dough Raiser" at Uno Pizzeria & Grill opposite the Bangor Mall in Bangor.  The club will receive up to 20% of the proceeds from club members and others presenting Dough Raiser coupons at Pizzeria Uno that day, depending on the total dollar amount from the coupons.
 
Club members, guests, and friends ordered from the Uno menu. About 45 members, guests, and friends attended that evening.
 
Two more views from the "Dough Raiser" at Pizzeria Uno.
       

67th annual Hunters Breakfast!
The Hunters Breakfast tent at 3:50 a.m. Saturday.
 
The dining area in the back of the tent was full around 6:45 a.m.
 
The Old Town Rotary Club held its 67th annual Hunters Breakfast from 4 to 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Waterfront Park in Old Town.  Rotarians served the usual Hunters Breakfast fare--ham, eggs, Golden Beauty pancakes, and home fries with or without onions--along with home-cooked beans from the Alton Methodist Church, Tim Hortons coffee and hot chocolate, and LaBree's donuts. 
 
Joe Cyr, Jack Larsen, Stan Peterson, Linda Bryant, Don Sturgeon, and Steve Russell (not in photo) did most of the cooking.
 
Everything went well, and attendance totaled 470, or about the same as last year.  The biggest difference was there were a lot fewer politicians--just State Senator Jim Dill from Old Town, who isn't running this fall.  Two Rotarians are on the Old Town municipal ballot this November--Stan Peterson running for re-election to the City Council and Dave Wollstadt running for re-election to the RSU 34 School Board--but they weren't handing out any campaign flyers.
 
Kudos to DJ Whitmore for getting everything organized and making sure all the i's were dotted and the t's were crossed.  Outstanding job--and he'll be a wealth of knowledge to help next year's President-Elect.
 
About 25 club members cooked, served, cleaned, and did all the other chores required for a successful breakfast, and for the 4th or 5th year in a row, Corina Larsen's son Jack joined the cooking crew.  Also assisting were five Interact members from Bangor (students at Bangor and John Bapst high schools), who helped serve, and Dave Wollstadt's daughter Rachael and her friend Erica, visiting from Connecticut, who cleaned tables.
 
Interact students on the serving line with Clair Shirley (center), the club's oldest member.
 
Frank Greenleaf, Steve Johnston, and President Doug Marchio.
 
People of all ages enjoyed our breakfast!

Rotarians volunteer at Juniper Ridge Landfill Open House

A group of 11 Old Town Rotarians assisted at the Juniper Ridge Landfill Open House on Saturday, Oct. 7.  Rotarian Wayne Boyd is general manager of Casella Waste Systems, which operates the landfill.

The Rotarians had two primary tasks--assisting the caterer, Steve's Stagecoach Express, by cooking french fries, and greet incoming visitors, including directing traffic, telling people where to park, and handing out raffle tickets for drawings that were held during the open house.
 
In addition, we set up a Purple Pinkie table, where people attending the open house could donate $1 to support Rotary International's Polio Plus program, which seeks to eradicate polio worldwide.  A total of $115 was raised for Polio Plus by people who had their pinkies painted purple.
 
Buggsy serves french fries as Linda and Stan cook more to feed happy customers.
 
Above: Stan loads a basket with french fries so Linda can cook them. 
Right photo: Rachael Peterson displays the cupcakes, which were provided by Stan's sister.
 
The french fry team included Linda Bryant, who cooked the french fries; Buggsy Bryant, who served them; Stan Peterson, who prepared baskets of fries for Linda to put in the deep fryer; Joe Cyr and Dave Wollstadt, who put the raw potatoes through a machine that sliced them into fries; and Peter Bosse, who helped direct traffic around the serving area.
 
The greeters included Doug Marchio, Pat Cummings, Steve Johnston, and (later in the day) Peter Bosse.
 
The Purple Pinkie crew included Ben Smith, Steve Russell, and Tamara Saarinen, along with Mike Timpson, a member of the Bangor Rotary Club (noontime).
 
In addition, Rachael Peterson and some of her OTHS art students did face painting for children (and adults, too) who attended the open house.
 
Tamara and Ben with Purple Pinkie donors.
 
Steve, Tamara, Mike Timpson, and Ben display their purple pinkies.
 
 
It was a beautiful day.  Above, the open house area as seen from the top of the landfill, which was also a good place to view the fall foliage.

ROAD TRIP . . . and First Corporate Member!

Tim Hudson, superintendent of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, speaks to the Old Town Rotary Club at the River Drivers Restaurant in Millinocket.
 
Instead of meeting at the Elks Lodge, Old Town Rotarians and guests boarded a Cyr bus for a road trip to the River Drivers Restaurant in Millinocket, near the entrance to Baxter State Park, on Thursday, Oct. 5.  
 
Our speaker was Tim Hudson, superintendent of the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, which was created by order of President Obama to encompass 87,000 acres that were purchased by Roxanne Quinby in the area east of Baxter State Park and donated to the federal government.  Before dinner, while we still had daylight, club members gathered by the fireplace outside the restaurant to induct our first corporate member, Tim Magoon, general manager of the Old Town Canoe facility in Old Town.  Tim is a full-fledged member of Rotary International, but several other Old Town Canoe employees will assist him in fulfilling his attendance and participation responsibilities.  We are anxious to meet Tim's associates at Old Town Canoe and welcome them into the fellowship of our club.
 
Club President Doug Marchio (left) inducts Tim Magoon (center) as a member of the Old Town Rotary Club.  Looking on are David Mahan (second from left), membership chair for corporate/organizational members; Clair Shirley, former member Amos Orcutt, and official greeter Becca Wollstadt.
 
Tim Hudson with a map showing the lands of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The monument includes both the light green parcels (on the map) west of the East Branch of the Penobscot River and the dark green parcels east of the river.  Hunting and snowmobiling are generally prohibited on the light green parcels.  On the dark green parcels, hunting will be allowed, except for bear hunting using bait or dogs. 
 
Pat Cummings took photos and created a Smilebox photo album, which can be linked to below.  NOTE: you have to click on the link below the image.  Clicking on the arrow in the Smilebox image won't get you anywhere.  Thanks, Pat, and happy viewing.
 

Site Pages

 
Upcoming Events
 

The 4 Way Test

 
Directors
President
DJ Whitmore
President-Elect
Lisa Gallant
Secretary
Keri Denis
Treasurer
Mischelle Adams
Past President
Douglas Marchio
Foundation chair
Ben Smith
Club Administration chair
David Wollstadt
Public Relations chair
DJ Whitmore
Membership chair
Peter Bosse
Service Projects chair
Corina Larsen
House Committee chair
Stephen Russell
 
Photo Albums
OTR at the Sugar Shack
Stan & Rachel Go To India
End Polio Now Float Festival Of Lights Parade 2015 PART 2
Old Town Rotary Christmas Party 2015
End Polio Now Float Festival Of Lights Parade 2015
Crossroads Ministries Work Party 11-21-15
Stan's Window Insert Build 2015
Hunter's Breakfast 2015
Purple Pinkie Project Celebrates at the Sea Dog!
Purple Pinkie Project Goes to Old Town High School!
Purple Pinkie Project Goes To UMaine 2015!
Purple Pinkie Project at Old Town Rotary 2015!
Old Town Riverfest 2015
Forest Bioproducts Research Institute Road Trip
Old Town Rotary Charity Golf Tournament 9-19-2015
Thank You Dinner at Sarah's House 9-18-2015
MYFGA Clean-up with UMaine Students 08-29-15
Float Building With UMaine Students 8-29-15
Meeting with Congressman Poliquin
District Governor's Visit 08-13-15
President Sandy's First Meeting 07-02-15
Old Town Rotary Installation 6-25-15
Maine Youth Fish and Game Association 6-18-15
Uno Pizzaria TRF Fundraiser
Old Town Rotary Charity Auction 2015
 
Home Page Download Files
 

Local Make-Up Meeting Opportunities

 
Links
 
 
Speakers
Bill Mayo, City Manager, Old Town
Sep 20, 2018
state of the city
DG Marcel Noel
Sep 27, 2018 6:15 PM
District Governor Visit
TBD
Oct 04, 2018
View entire list...
 
Video Library
 
Meeting Responsibilities
September 13, 2018
Door Duty
Mahan, David
 
Door Duty
Merchant, Robin
 
Door Prize
Marchio, Douglas
 
September 20, 2018
Door Duty
Saarinen, Tamara
 
Door Duty
Shirland, Bruce
 
Door Prize
Peterson, Stan
 
September 27, 2018
Door Duty
Sturgeon, Donald
 
Door Duty
Veeder, Jane
 
Door Prize
Veeder, Chuck
 
 
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2019-20 Rotary president selected

Mark Daniel Maloney selected to be 2019-20 Rotary

Rotary gives millions in grants to fight polio 2018

Rotary announces US $96.5 million to end polioEVANSTON, Ill. (August 15, 2018) — Rotary today announced nearly $100 million in grants to support the global effort to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that once paralyzed hundreds of

Gladiator stars reunite at End Polio Now event

‘Gladiator’ stars reunite at End Polio Now

Rotarian helps clean rivers around the world

A challenge to clean the world's riversIn 2009, Salvador Rico stood in the waters of the Russian River in Northern California with other members of the Rotary Club of South Ukiah. They were there for a river cleanup, during which they

Rotary partners with Mediators Beyond Borders

Rotary partners with Mediators Beyond Borders to bring local solutions for lasting peaceEVANSTON, Ill. (Aug. 17, 2018) — Preventing conflicts from escalating into violent crises is 60 times more cost effective than intervening after