By Mindy Rowlands

200-3997

morrillnews@gmail.com

On Oct. 27 a variety show benefit was held for Alcyone (Littlefield) Cross, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cancer. The benefit was a great success. With more than 170 people in attendance, the donations were generous.

The benefit started with a story written for Alcyone and read by Mother Goose, Kathy Littlefield. The story was read to the children who were dressed as “worker bees,” some of whom included Alcyone’s own granddaughter and great-granddaughter. There were numerous singing acts, some poems, and even an Abbott and Costello routine. The closing number was put on by Alcyone’s sisters and sisters-in-law, who sang, “We Are Family.”

Alcyone said she was just overwhelmed and touched by this event and by all those who attended. She wanted me to make sure to say to everyone, “A big thanks to all the friends and neighbors who attended the benefit/variety show. The love and support is truly appreciated.”

On Oct. 31 the rainy weather wasn’t able to dampen anyone’s Halloween cheer at Morrill Baptist’s annual Fall Festival (a.k.a. Trunk or Treat). There was a fantastic turnout of approximately 500 children and adults! As always, Sue Young put together a wonderful event with lots of food and activities. There were many great volunteers cooking food, working game and craft areas, and passing out candy at their vehicles. The kids had a great time and there were so many creative and adorable costumes to see. Two of the best costumes of the night went to Cliff Littlefield and his son, Tom, who dressed as game wardens. (Cliff is a recent graduate of the Maine Warden Service Advanced Academy.) Tom and Cliff made a truly picture-worthy combination.

In my humble opinion, the cutest kid/costume (it was a close race) went to Matt and Roxie Walker’s little ladybug, Rylynn. When a kid is barely 2-1/2 feet tall, wearing a ladybug costume, and walking, the cuteness just goes into overdrive.

Besides all the adorableness, the evening seemed to be a success in all other ways, too. The rain was even kind enough to hold off until about 7, so we were still able to get in a full evening. I know I’m not the only one who is already looking forward to next year. My boys might even be down from their sugar highs by then.

My in-laws, Roger and Brenda Rowlands’ new house was supposed to arrive Nov. 1, but, as with most things of this nature, the expected date of arrival and the actual one haven’t matched up. The house has been delayed because of Connecticut’s storm-damaged roads from Hurricane Sandy. As of this writing, though, Connecticut has finally given permission for the house to be on the road again, so it may be here by the time this article is printed.

Roger and Brenda, however, have been fortunate enough to have Roger’s sister, Joy, providing them with a home for however long they may need it. I’ve been fortunate with this arrangement, also, to have Brenda babysitting at my house on Tuesdays while I’m at work, which means not only do I get a delicious homemade supper delivered to the Town Office every Tuesday evening, but I also get to come home to a clean kitchen — including the cat dishes and butter dish. (I love teasing Brenda about her aversion to my greasy butter dish and dirty cat dishes.)

So, while I’m happy that Roger and Brenda will eventually have a new house, I will miss my clean kitchen. I will, hopefully, still get my Tuesday suppers, though, which are made even more enjoyable by the cup of tea and conversation Brenda usually stops to have with me after dropping off my supper.

Now that you are aware that Roger and Brenda no longer live in their old house, you are probably wondering who is living there. Well, Josh and Erica Staples purchased the home at the end of August. They didn’t have a lot of time to get settled in, though, before they were blessed by the arrival of a new family member, Elias Staples, who was born on Sept. 21. He is an absolutely adorable little guy and they are very proud parents! I wish them the very best as they make new memories at a place where many wonderful memories were made for my family, too.

It doesn’t seem possible, but Christmas is not too far away, so I wanted to mention an opportunity to be part of a needy child’s Christmas this year through Operation Christmas Child. Each year this program (a part of Samaritan’s Purse Ministries) sends thousands of shoeboxes full of toys, toiletries, and other needed items to children throughout the world who may never have received a Christmas present.

The program is simple: you fill a shoebox (or a box of equivalent size) with items for a child. You decide what age child you want to create the box for — ages 2-4; ages 5-9; or ages 10-14 — and whether your box will be for a boy or a girl. You then pick items that are appropriate for the child’s age and sex and fill up the box. (Don’t worry, they give you a list of suggested items to buy and what not to buy, too.) There are a few more details, like how the box is to be wrapped and labeled and an optional donation envelope, to cover the cost of shipping, which you can include with your box. If you would like to find out more about this program or if you would like to bring in a box or boxes to be included with those that the Morrill Baptist Church will be sending out, go to this website: www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/or call Sonja Salvatore at 342-2190. Boxes may be dropped off at the Morrill Church until Nov. 18.

I just wanted to say that my thoughts and prayers go out to all those hit so hard by Hurricane Sandy. It’s hard to know what to say, but I pray for strength for all those touched by this event and for the needed resources for a full recovery to be provided.

The Waldo County Fiddler’s Showcase and Contradance benefit will be held at the American Legion Hall in Belfast (across from Duval’s Service Station) on Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. This benefit will help fund scholarships to the Maine Fiddle Camp. I’ve heard a rumor that Morrill’s own Loell Rodgers will be participating.