Fourth Strawberry Jam Festival begins Friday

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Most of the events related to the fourth annual Stacyville Strawberry Jam Festival take place in, on and around the VFW post in Stacyville.

Sponsored by Sherman VFW Post 2299 and its Ladies Auxiliary, numerous activities are planned from Friday morning, July 9, through Sunday evening, July 11.

Colleen Guiggey informed me the VFW facility is located on Route 11, opposite the Stacyville Town Office.

Among the activities you will enjoy Friday morning is a townwide yard sale for anyone who wants to participate. A hot dog booth, for lunch and munch, will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

New this year is a strawberry jam-preserves contest at noon at the VFW. A roast pork supper with all the fixins’ begins at 5 p.m.

After supper, at 6:30 p.m. Paul Smithkey and Friends will entertain.

Saturday’s events start with a parade at 11 a.m., and auctioneer Jim Pratt will bang down his gavel at noon for the auction. From that time until 3 p.m., you can visit the hot dog booth again.

A good, old-fashioned Maine bean hole bean supper with strawberry shortcake for dessert will be served beginning at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by live music at 6 p.m.

Fresh, homemade muffins and coffee will be ready at 7 a.m. Sunday at the VFW to get you ready for the horseshoe tournament at 9 a.m.

The strawberry pie contest begins at 11 a.m. and includes entries made with cultivated or wild berries.

Open mic music is scheduled for noon Sunday, followed by performers Don Tardy, and Jackie Pratt and Friends at 2 p.m.

Serving of the festival’s chicken barbecue starts at 4:30 p.m. Concluding the three days of activities, Allison and Peter Roy entertain at 6 p.m.

For your planning purposes, the cost for all meals, including dessert and drinks, is $7 for adults and are all-you-can-eat.

For more information, call Errol Hunt at 365-7293.

Brewer Hometown Band director Jan Cox wrote that the band “had a very successful R.B. Hall Day” Saturday, June 26, “in spite of the rain.”

Although the final two bands, including Brewer’s, were forced to move inside the Brewer Auditorium, “the audience came right along with us,” she continued.

“In fact, we had great numbers of spectators” from morning until night, she wrote.

She added that band members “appreciate Brewer businesses and friends for supporting us financially, and with their attendance at our events.”

The Brewer Hometown Band’s schedule includes a concert at 7 tonight in Sunset Park on Parkway South.

Additionally, the band has scheduled concerts at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 22, at Indian Trail Park; 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, in the Brewer Auditorium parking lot; and 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, at Doyle Field.

Cox reports band followers can expect “a very special concert, in October, to celebrate our 25th year.”

It was one week ago my dear friends David and Susan Carlisle of Bangor lost their eldest son.

Christopher A. Carlisle was just 35 when illness unexpectedly took his life, leaving those who knew and loved him with hearts torn asunder and souls filled with anguish.

I have many fond memories of Chris, a loving big brother to Jon, Ben and Nick.

He was a graceful downhill skier who became a powerful state champion swimmer.

Chris was a quiet, unassuming teen, and I was thrilled when his peers demonstrated their admiration for his ability and leadership by electing him captain of the Bangor High School swim team.

When Ben and Nick followed him into the pool, skiing played second fiddle to swimming, and Carlisle family winters became warmer than expected with everyone poolside rather than mountainside.

He was equally admired, and respected, by the many young swimmers he later coached.

Chris was so polite.

I smile remembering that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t convince him as an adult to call me by my first name or even a nickname. He always called me Mrs., but as he grew older, he had a twinkle in his eye letting me know he was using the term fondly and just for fun.

Our spirits dipped low as we absorbed the reality of his death in the prime of life, but today we are in the process of healing, lifting our chins, looking ahead and walking gently in the spirit of this gentle man.

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