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Brenna Levasseur, Rotary Spirit Student of the Year

The club was honored to recognize its 2018-2019 Rotary Spirit Student of the Year (SOY) Brenna Levasseur at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School (FFMHS) Honors Night program. Tracy Copeland, club President and Rotary Spirit Program Chairman, introduced the 2018-2019 school-year Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) recipients Colby Giberson and Jessica Halsey (Sept/Oct 2018), Cammi King and Skyler Ouellette (Nov/Dec 2018), Brenna Levasseur and Jonas Armstrong (Jan/Feb 2019), and Autumn Sawyer (Mar/Apr 2019).

The RSSA program seeks to recognize one girl and one boy student each school-year quarter from among those nominated by the FFMHS faculty/staff and selected by the club’s RSSA Committee. Recipients are selected based upon their achievements in academics, citizenship, and personal development for the specific period. The SOY is then selected by the club’s RSSA Committee from among the RSSA recipients.

Each RSSA recipient is honored at a regular club breakfast meeting and receives a certificate and an iTunes gift card. The SOY receives a mounted recognition certificate, a $500 award, and their picture is presented along with an engraved label on the SOY perpetual plague displayed in the FFMHS lobby. 

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Brenna accepts Student of the Year plaque and certificate
from Tracy Copeland, club President and Rotary Spirit Committee Chair 

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Brenna with family 

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2018-2019 school-year Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) recipients Colby Giberson and Jessica Halsey (Sept/Oct 2018), Cammi King and Skyler Ouellette (Nov/Dec 2018), Brenna Levasseur (Jan/Feb 2019), and Autumn Sawyer (Mar/Apr 2019). Jonas Armstrong (Jan/Feb 2019) unavailable for photo. 

Plaque 01 600Rotary Spirit Student of the Year perpetual plaque 

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Tracy Copeland , club President and Rotary Spirit Committee Chair
introduces Rotary Spirit Student Award recipients
and announces the Rotary Spirit Student of the Year 

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Autumn Sawyer was recently honored at a club meeting as the club’s March/April 2019 Rotary Spirit Student Award recipient. Autumn was nominated by Fort Fairfield Middle High School, Director of Guidance, Jacquie Martin, and is now eligible to be selected as the Rotary Spirit Student of the Year for school-year 2018-2019. 
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Larry Plant, Rotarian, presents Autumn's certificate 
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Autumn with family members and Tracy Copeland, RSSA Program Chair (back left) and Jacquie Martin, Fort Fairfield Mioddle High School nominator (back right) 
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Autumn with family members, guests, and Rotarians listen as club President, Tracy Copeland, describes the Rotary Spirit Student Award program

Fort Fairfield Rotarians unloaded 8,500 pounds of SWEET Vidalia Onions this morning. This means that these beauties will be delivered all over The County from Houlton to Fort Kent and all points in between during the next few days.

The club wants to give a big shout out THANK YOU to Hillside IGA and K-Pel Industries for much appreciated assist getting the onions to us, and another Thank You to our many Annual Vidalia Onions Sales fundraiser supporters.

ENJOY!!! 

Rotarians Wayne Troicke, Kevin Murchie, Larry Plant, Carl Young, Amy Dubay - Photo by Tracy Copeland


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With all the snow still hanging around I know it is hard to believe, but it is Vidalia Onion Sales fundraiser time. Oh my! I can hardly wait for these sweet beauties to arrive. So here’s the scoop: still $25 for a 25 pound bag, order by 30 April for delivery around the second weekend in May. As usual the delivery date is somewhat fluid since it depends upon when the farmers can harvest in Vidalia, Georgia. If you ordered in the past you should be hearing from a friendly Fort Fairfield Rotary Club Rotarian but if you don’t please give Dianna, (207) 540-8818, or Carl, (207) 551-1495, a call. Also, please don’t forget that not only will you be enjoying these beauties you will also be supporting a wide variety of community and regional needs. We are all volunteer Rotarians so proceeds go towards helping others. Order now, ENJOY, and a big in-advance THANK YOU!

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Fort Fairfield Middle High School (FFMHS) students Brenna Levasseur and Jonas Armstrong, Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) recipients for school year-quarter January/February 2019, were recently honored at a club breakfast. Brenna, nominated by Kelly Koziol, and Jonas, nominated by James Smith and Jacquie Martin were recognized for their achievements in academics, citizenship, and personnel development. Each recipient received a recognition certificate and an iTunes gift card, will have their photo displayed at FFMHS, and is now eligible for RSSA Student of the Year selection and recognition during Honors Night at school-year’s end. 

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Brenna and Jonas receive their RSSA certificates from Rotarian Larry Plant. 

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Brenna and family with Kelly Koziol, FFMHS nominator (front-second from right) and Tracy Copeland, President (back-left)
 
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Jonas with family and James Smith, FFMHS nominator (back-center) and Tracy Copeland, President (back-right)
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Family and freinds enjoy presentation ceremonies 

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Tracy Copeland, President, explains the Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) program to the audience. 

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Cammi King and Skyler Ouellette were honored at a January club meeting as the club’s Nov/Dec 2018 Rotary Spirit Student Award recipients. Cammi and Skyler were nominated by Fort Fairfield Middle High School faculty members Kelly Koziol and Garrett Martin respectively and are now eligible to be selected as the Rotary Spirit Student of the Year for school-year 2018-2019. 


Cammi with family and Kelly Koziol, faculty nominator (front left) and Tracy Copeland, club President (back left) 


Skyler with mother Shelly and Garrett Martin, faculty nominator (left) and Tracy Copeland, club President (right) 
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Jessica Halsey, FFMHS NHS President, presents project support check to Tracy Copeland, Rotary Club President. 

Fort Fairfield Middle High School (FFMHS) National Honor Society (NHS) members Colby Langner, Colby Giberson, Olivia Langner, Jessica Halsey (President), Caijsa Benson and Faculty Advisor Garrett Martin attended the club’s recent breakfast meeting. During the meeting Jessica, on the NHS’s behalf, presented a $100 check to Tracy Copeland, Club President. These funds will be passed on to the Fort Fairfield Elementary School (FFES) faculty/staff as part of the Rotary club’s warm winter clothing project for youngers at the FFES who might not otherwise have mittens, caps, gloves or the like.

This NHS and Rotary club partnership has its genesis at the November 2018 Rotary club meeting where Jessica and Colby Giberson, Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) recipients (see "RSSA Sept-Oct 2018" ) first heard about the club’s FFES warm winter clothing project. Jessica and Colby introduced the project at a subsequent NHS meeting and the club felt that it would like to partner with the Rotary club in this project. Upon receiving a very enthusiastic welcome-to-the-project the NHS members presented their funds. These NHS funds together with the “Happy Dollars” raised during the Rotary club’s annual Christmas/New Year’s seasonal meeting held at FFMHS (see the "2018 Annual Christmas Program"), now brings the total project funding to $400.

The Fort Fairfield Rotary Club wishes to thank the FFMHS NHS members and faculty advisor for your desire to partner with our club in this project. Many more FFES youngsters will enjoy the winter with warm mittens, caps, gloves and the like thanks to your Service Above Self spirit. 

 
Far left: Faculty Advisor Garrett Martin 
Front Row: Olivia Langner, Jessica Halsey (NHS President), Caijsa Benson 
Back Row: Colby Langner, Colby Giberson, Tracy Copeland (Rotary Club President)

Amy Dubay (left) and Dianna Leighton are the club's newest Rotarians. 

The club inducted new Rotarians Amy Dubay and Dianna Leighton during its annual Christmas/New Year’s meeting held at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School. Cliff Rhome, District 7810, Area 1, Assistant Governor (AG) presented the inductions citation. Rotarian Effie Murchie pinned Amy with Rotary’s membership pin and Rotarian Josie Lopez performed Dianna’s pinning. Debbie Rhome (Limestone club Rotarian) together with Floyd Rockholt, former Area 1 AG and Presque Isle Rotary club member visited with us for the ceremonies.

Rotarian Effie Murchie pins Amy with her Rotary International membership pin. 

Rotarian Josie Lopez pins Dianna with her Rotary International membership pin. 

 

Mari-Jo Hedman, FFMHS Music Department, accepts "Happy Dollars" donation from club President, Tracy Copeland 

The club held its annual Christmas/New Year’s seasonal meeting at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School (FFMHS) recently. Rotarians are very happy at this time of year and raising $300 during “Happy Dollars” donated these funds to the Fort Fairfield Elementary School to purchase warm winter clothing for youngsters who might not otherwise have mittens, caps, gloves or the like. School staff being very much aware of needs administer the winter clothing program for the club. Mari-Jo Hedman, Music Department, accepted the donation on the school’s behalf from club President, Tracy Copeland. During the meeting a FFMHS choral group, under Mari-Jo’s direction, provided seasonal musical selections with club members joining in on several selections. The school’s cafeteria staff provided an excellent breakfast. Cliff Rhome, District 7810, Area 1, Assistant Governor (AG) and wife Debbie (both Limestone club Rotarians) together with Floyd Rockholt, former Area 1 AG and Presque Isle Rotary club member visited with us for the festivities. 

The club wants to thank all these members who volunteered to provide seasonal selections at the meeting. 

Delightful seasonal pieces provided by the coral group. 

Mari-Jo accompanies the coral group. 

Jessica Halsey and Colby Giberson were recently honored as the September/October 2018 Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) recipients at the club’s breakfast meeting. This kicked off the RSSA program’s eighth year at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School (FFMHS).

Each school year-quarter the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School faculty/staff provide girl and boy student nominations for the RSSA. The club’s program committee then selects recipients from amongst these identification redacted-nominee write-ups. The program’s evaluation criteria recognizes that in order to be a productive member in the community the student must be well-rounded in academics, citizenship, and personal development. Each recipient receives a recognition certificate and an iTunes gift card. 

At school year's-end the Rotary Spirit Student of the Year (SOY) is chosen from amongst the eight quarterly recipients. The SOY recieves a monetary award and their name is displayed on a perpetual plaque at FFMHS. All RSSA recipients and the SOY are recognized during the FFMHS Honors Night event. 


(left to right) Garrett Martin, FFMHS faculty nominator: Amanda Halsey, sister: Jessica Halsey: Tracy Copeland, RSSA Program Lead: Jamie Selfridge, FFMHS Principal.

(left to right-front) Garrett Martin, FFMHS faculty: Miranda Giberson, sister: Colby Giberson: Sare Giberson, mother: (left to right-back) Tracy Copeland, RSSA Program Lead: Jamie Selfridge, FFMHS Principal. (Not pictured- Renee Felleni, FFMHS faculty nominator.)

The club recently held an Open House function and we want to thank those who came out to visit with us and learn more about Rotary and the club. Here are the slides from the revolving presentation provided which show many of the organizations/projects supported by our generous fundraisers supporters. As you will note the club is very active in the community, region, and internationally celebrating 40 years of “Service Above Self”.

If you live or work in Fort Fairfield, we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us. Currently we meet the second and fourth Wednesday of each month 7-8AM, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Annex, 170 Main Street, Fort Fairfield. May we ask that if you would like to join us but these meeting times don’t fit into your busy schedule, please suggest a more preferable time(s) in the Comments or more privately via an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

 

Fort Fairfield Misses — with Little Miss Fort Fairfield Addie LevesquePre-Teen Miss Fort Fairfield – Cady June StairsJunior Miss Fort Fairfield – Skye Elizabeth StridMiss Teen Fort Fairfield – Meghan Louise Schupbach and Miss Fort Fairfield – Leigha Ruth Langley

Although temps were a bit “warm” spirits were high and it was a refreshing ride for Fort Fairfield’s Maine Potato Blossom Festival (MPBF) royalty. Miss Fort Fairfield – Leigha Ruth Langley, Miss Teen Fort Fairfield – Meghan Louise Schupbach, Junior Miss Fort Fairfield – Skye Elizabeth Strid, Pre-Teen Miss Fort Fairfield – Cady June Stairs, and Little Miss Fort Fairfield Addie Levesque were greeted by smiles, cheers, and waves from friends, family, and well-wishers as the Misses’ Rotary float made its way along the MPBF parade route. Many thanks to Crown Equipment for its New Holland tractor which piloted by Rotarian George McLaughlin provided a smooth ride for the Misses. 

 

Miss Fort Fairfield – Leigha Ruth Langley

Miss Teen Fort Fairfield – Meghan Louise Schupbach.

 Junior Miss Fort Fairfield – Skye Elizabeth Strid.

Pre-Teen Miss Fort Fairfield – Cady June Stairs.

Little Miss Fort Fairfield Addie Levesque.

Many thanks to Crown Equipment for its New Holland tractor 

New bikes await raffle winners 

The club hosted the annual Bike Rodeo during the recent Maine Potato Blossom Festival. Youngsters ages 2-12 came out to receive new helmets, bike riding safety instructions from retired Officer Jim Cerrato (many thanks Jim for coming out), a chance to win a new bike, and a hot dog with all the fixin’ lunch. 

Rotarians Kevin Murchie, Carl Young, Effie Murchie, and Larry Plant are ready 

 

Chief Newell checks that all is well 

Waiting for practice runs 

On the riding safety course 

Officer Jim Cerrato provides safety instructions 

New bike winner Brock Everett

New bike winner Kaiden Lay

New bike winner Jayden Corey 

Ready for escorted ride down Main Street 

And we're off 

Riders show that they can properly stop with brakes 

Officer Jim recognizes a good stop 

Winners one and all 

 

 

Rotarians Paul Towle, Kevin Murchie, Wayne Troicke, Larry Plant, Tracy Copeland, Carl Young with guest Karen Reynolds, and District 7810 Governor Silvana Bosca display the "WE ARE Rotary" banner. 

At a recent a meeting the club welcomed Silvana Bosca, District 7810 Governor, Rotary-year 2018-2019. Silvana, a Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada native and Rotary Club of Bathurst member, provided an upbeat presentation centered on Rotary’s 2018-2019 theme, “BE THE INSPIRATION”.

Silvana presented the club a congratulatory certificate recognizing the club’s 40 years of active service in the community. Also recognized were the many organizations and projects supported by the club. These may be visited on the club’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Fort-Fairfield-Rotary-Club-201228719900441/?ref=hl or select Archives  (here, or the tabs menu above). 

Silvana presents a congratulatory 40 years of community service certificate to Tracy Copeland, President. 

Tracy presents Silvana a commemorative Fort Fairfield Rotary Club tote bag. 

The club honored its Rotary Spirit Student of the Year (SOY) Alex Sprague, and recognized Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) recipients for the school-year 2017-2018 at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School (FFMHS) Honors Night function. RSSA recipients recognized are Chelsea Ouellette and Malcolm Langner (Sept/Oct 2017), Hunter St. Pierre and Sam Butler (Nov/Dec 2017), Dixie Grady and Solomon Daigle (Jan/Feb 2018), and Ali White and Alex Sprague (Mar/Apr 2018).

The RSSA program seeks to recognize one girl and one boy student each school-year quarter from among those nominated by the FFMHS faculty/staff and selected by the club’s RSSA Committee. Recipients are selected based upon their achievements in academics, citizenship, and personal development for the specific period. The SOY is then selected by the club’s RSSA Committee from among the eight RSSA recipients.

Each RSSA recipient is honored at a regular club breakfast meeting and receives a certificate and an iTunes gift card. The SOY receives a mounted recognition certificate, a $500 award, and their picture is presented along with an engraved label on the SOY perpetual plague which hangs in the FFMHS lobby.

Alex receives his SOY certicate from Tracy

Alex is presented with the SOY perpetual plague which hangs in the FFMHS lobby

Alex with his recognitions

Alex with proud parents, Linda and Sam Harvey

2017-2018 RSSA recipients (left to right) with Tracy Copeland, RSSA Committee, Ali White and Alex Sprague (Mar/Apr 2018); Dixie Grady (Jan/Feb 2018); Hunter St. Pierre and Sam Butler (Nov/Dec 2017); Chelsea Ouellette and Malcolm Langner (Sep/Oct 2017). Not in photo - Solomon Daigle (Jan/Feb 2018)

Tracy addresses the audience, explaining the RSSA program

Banners at the FFMHS Honors Night function

That sweet aroma across The County is from the Vidalia onions delivered by club Rotarians and being used by our faithful Vidalia Onions’ fundraiser supporters, families, and friends. 450 twenty-five pound bags were recently delivered from Houlton to Fort Kent, Fort Fairfield to Ashland and numerous communities in between.

The club wants to give a big shout-out Thank You to our many supporters and we are looking forward to another successful year for the many local organizations supported by these fundraiser monies. 

Ali White and Alex Sprague were recently honored as Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) recipients at a recent club meeting. Ali and Alex were nominated by the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School faculty/staff based upon their academic, citizenship, and personal development during the March/April 2018 school-year period. Ali and Alex are now eligible for consideration as the Rotary Spirit Student of the Year (SOY) recipient.

The Rotary Spirit SOY is chosen by the club’s RSSA committee from amongst the eight school-year RSSA recipients. All spirit recipients and the SOY are recognized at the school’s Honors Night program. The SOY receives a recognition certificate, a monetary award, and their name is engraved on the Rotary Spirit SOY perpetual plague that is mounted in the school’s lobby. 

Ali accepts her certificate from Wayne Troicke, club President 

Alex accepts his certificate from Wayne troicke, club President 

Ali with family and Kelly Koziol, FFMHS nominator (front right), Wayne Troicke, club President (back left) and Tracy Copeland, RSSA Committee (back right)

Alex with family and (back row) Jacquie Martin, FFMHS nominator, Tracy Copeland, RSSA Committee, and Wayne Troicke, club President 

Tammy Clavette, Sexual Assault Services, Aroostook Mental Health Center (accepting tote bag from Tracy Copelend, Vice President) was the guest speaker at a recent club meeting. Tammy noted that while there are Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) in southern Maine there has not been a CAC in The County. 

So, for the last two years Tammy and others have been diligently working to open a CAC somewhere in the local area so that those requiring services will not have to drive more than an hour to access these services. These efforts have now been rewarded as facility space has been donated, and community organizations and volunteers have provided renovation materials and labor which will result in a CAC being opened in the Fort Fairfield TAMC facility (28 High Street) in the very near future.

For those who are not familiar with the CAC mission, purpose, and processes, material is presented at the following online location: http://www.cacmaine.org/

Rotary Spirit Student Award (RSSA) recipients Dixie Grady and Solomon Daigle were recognized at a recent club breakfast meeting. Having been nominated by the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School faculty/staff, Dixie and Solomon were selected by the club’s RSSA program committee based upon their academics, citizenship, and personal development during the school’s January/February 2018 school-year quarter. 

Dixie surrounded by family Stephen, Jennifer and Daisy with Kelly Koziol, faculty nominator (second from right), and Tracy Copeland, RSSA Program Lead (far right). 

Solomon with family Tiffany, Mike, and Micah, with Kelly Koziol, faculty nominator (second from left) and Tracy Copeland, RSSA Program Lead (far right).

It’s the week before tournament and all through The County;
Visions of scoring hoops abound aplenty.
Offense will be swift,
Defense will be stiff,
Must remember to move their feet and not to reach
Or surely they’ll hear the ref’s whistle tweet.
 
Hopes are high as they wave good-bye,
Down the highway they fairly fly.
And Moms with tears held back,
Dads knowing they have to pack,
Will follow to Bangor that’s for sure
Wondering what is truly in store.
 
Life is put on hold
Thinking of the ball of gold,
No one knows for sure
What the final score,
But of one thing there is no doubt or fear,
They will play their hardest of the year.
 
Onto the court they rushed with anticipation
Happy to just be there for participation.
Up and down they ran
Hearing the cheering fan,
Under the baskets they blocked the shots
Very early they knew the three point shooter was hot.
 
Soon it is over, some lost, some won,
But most importantly, they all had fun,
New friends have been made,
Memories will never fade,
They played in Bangor at the Cross Center,
Nothing at this point could ever be better.
 
Oh; what of the gold ball for which they played?
 
Funny thing that, it grows dimmer,
Hard to remember who was the winner,
All the new friends that have been made,
And the memories that will never fade,
Live in their hearts and that best of all,
Is each hard player’s, true gold ball.