Community abounds at Island Falls craft fair

Perhaps there is nothing more telling – or more typical – of what life in a rural Maine community is all about than the 22nd annual Christmas Craft Fair in Island Falls, which will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the municipal building on Main Street.

The reason is simple: This fair is absolutely a community event. All proceeds are divided among several organizations in the community and the craft fair is not sponsored by any specific organization or association.

“We’re just a group of ladies who enjoy the craft fair and do it each year,” said the contact person, Florence Hardy, when asked who sponsored and organized the event.

And she told me it has always been this way.

“Some area local people did it” in the beginning, she said, “and then it was going to dissipate about five years ago, but there were more people who didn’t want to see it go,” so they just stepped up and said they would continue it.

“The unique thing about this fair,” she added, “is that the whole idea behind the event is that everything is homemade. We don’t allow any resale of anything,” Hardy said. “For example, you can’t go out and buy candles, and then resell them. But you can make candles and sell them. You just can’t resell anything. It all has to be new.”

Through the years, Island Falls’ annual craft fair has supported the local library, helped with needed items for local Boy Scout troops, and benefited the playground and ambulance service.

When the local food pantry “was down on supplies,” Hardy said, it got a boost in funding from the fair.

Many local students have been beneficiaries as well through donations to area Dollars for Scholars chapters, Hardy said.

In addition to shopping for new, homemade items at the fair, the women of the community will also serve you a soup luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. while you take a break from your shopping.

For further information about this commendable community event, call Hardy at 757-8550.

Efforts by town of Hampden employees to help with expenses incurred by Pat and Kristin Ready Lessard during her treatment for cancer continue with the announcement of another fund-raiser for the couple.

I spoke this week with Hampden assessor Vivian Gresser, who said a benefit spaghetti supper and auction is planned for 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the VFW Hall on Canoe Club Road in Hampden. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

And while many items and gift certificates have been donated already, more are welcome.

If you would like to donate an item for the auction, call Gresser at 862-4500 or Hampden Fire Department Lt. Frank Coombs at 862-4586.

If you are unable to participate, but would like to help the young couple, you can make a donation to the Kristin Ready Lessard Fund at any branch of Peoples Heritage Bank.

Earlier this month I spoke with Lisa Bologna, a senior account executive of Dunkin’ Donuts, who told me about that company’s partnership with the consumer Product Safety Commission in a national “Mind your Munchkins” Halloween Safety Program.

Bologna told me that participating Dunkin’ Donut stores are providing customers with tip sheets on Halloween safety and trick-or-treat buckets for kids that also include the safety tips.

She also supplied a list of the safety tips the company is distributing.

The tips include recommendations that all costumes be made of flame-resistant fabric and be light-colored or decorated with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.

Or, you can create a costume using makeup rather than a mask. Costumes should fit well and not drag on the ground so youngsters won’t trip.

It is recommended that you accompany young munchkins on their trick-or-treat route. If older trick-or-treaters go without an adult, they should travel in a group and let you know their route.

You are urged to decorate for Halloween, but keep candles, luminarias and jack-o’-lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.

Make sure the treats are wrapped and sealed and carefully inspect your children’s treats before letting them eat.

Remind your children of everyday safety rules such as not going in strangers’ cars or homes and follow traffic laws, looking left, right and left before crossing the street.

Those at home should be friendly and keep your lights on, both inside and out, but don’t invite trick-or-treaters inside, and help keep the neighborhood safe by reporting any suspicious activity.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.