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Month: November 2023

2023 HUNGER TREES FUNDRAISER

Dear Friends, Neighbors and the Paris Hill Community: 

As we all come together in the Christmas spirit and celebrate another beautiful year on  Paris Hill, we all have wonderful memories for which to be thankful. However, this has  been and will continue to be a difficult year and winter for so many families in our area.  There will be so many families wondering how to put food on their tables, buy warm clothes for their children and heat their homes. So in the true meaning of Christmas,  perhaps we can all dig a little deeper and offer comfort to those families who ask for so  little but need the very basics of a hot meal, warm clothing, and oil for their furnace.  

I’ve been busy creating the “2023 Hunger Trees” from a newly found source of  cardboard cones. All proceeds from the sale of the “2023 Hunger Trees” will benefit the  food pantry sponsored by and located at Stephen’s Memorial Hospital in conjunction  with Maine Health and the Good Shepherd Food Pantry. The director of the Stephen’s  Food Pantry, Carl Costanzi, assured me that the donations will go directly to purchasing  needed items for residents of our local communities. Mr. Costanzi was very grateful for this donation effort on behalf of the Paris Hill community.  

The Hunger Trees will be available at Becky and Peter Roy’s Christmas Tree farm or by  emailing Linda Richardson at cozycider@gmail.com. There is only one size tree this  year and they are $20.00. Supplies are limited. If you would like to make a donation and  not receive a tree that is also possible. My goal is a $500.00 donation to the Stephen’s  Memorial Food Pantry. Make checks payable to: Stephen’s Memorial Hospital and write  Food Pantry on the note line. Together a few can feed many.  

My heart breaks when I think of ‘what could’ be or ‘should be’ and ‘what is’ for so many  families trying to provide for their children. Let’s make the true meaning of Christmas  shine in our community.  

My Christmas Blessings to all: 

Linda Richardson

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are a community of neighbors, friends, families,   children, volunteers, business men and women, entrepreneurs, artists, writers and retirees…did I leave anyone out. However,  for as long as I can remember, Paris Hill has always had a unique way of bringing people together. Whether old or new to the area, in my case very old having grown up on the Hill and my ancestral history, everyone seems to find their niche and settles into the Hill’s peaceful lifestyle.

Other than Native Americans, Paris Hill was founded by outsiders who came from a Massachusetts colony. Throughout the years, decades and centuries ‘settlers’ have traveled here and made Paris Hill their home. Many of the original buildings remain although some have been repurposed from county municipal buildings into generational family homes. Some have been lost to fire or decay and others have sprung up out of the ashes. Families and names have come and gone but a true community spirit remains. A handful of original buildings and homes have  survived to remind us of those who came before and insure that generations to come will enjoy the peace and tranquility of this exceptional historic village. 

This past winter we lost our 200 year old pasture pine that graced our back field. I’ve seen photographs of it when it was slightly more than a sapling. I would gaze upon it from my kitchen window and envision the memories of the past two hundred years held in its branches. It survived two house fires on the corner lot of Lincoln and Paris Hill roads as well as many severe blizzards,  summer droughts, the occasional tornado and the scourge of the white pine weevil infestation. A testament to the survival of this centuries old beautiful village we all call home. Many of us have left the confines of this village looking to embark on our life’s journey only to return ‘home’ to live out our days enjoying the cherished peacefulness of Paris Hill. 

We go out of our way to welcome newcomers, rekindle old friendships, mend differences, embrace challenges and support our community. We take care of one another, running errands for  an elderly neighbor, being quick to lend a helping hand, shovel snow, mow a lawn, walk a dog or just watch a neighbors house while they are away. But most of all we are dedicated to preserving this village we call home. 

We come together for community dinners, holiday breakfasts, fairs, entertainment and celebrations of all kinds. We lower the flag on the Common when a neighbor passes away and welcome the births of the next generation. Everyone shares their hidden talents and their hopes for a bright future we can all appreciate. 

Some of us are walkers, runners, bikers and some of us are just porch sitters. We wave, chat, engage, share a story, offer an invitation and sometimes just try to figure out who walked past our house. Seems many ‘outsiders’ like to partake of our serene environment. People feel safe walking around the Hill and enjoy the beauty at every turn: the old houses, gardens, mountains, sunsets and occasional rainbows. 

Late at night I fall asleep to the solemn ring of the church bell and train whistle in the distance. It’s a lullaby I’ve experienced most of my life and has washed over this community for centuries. 

So as you go about your day and prepare for the holidays take time to enjoy the peacefulness that surrounds you and be mindful of the treasures God has bestowed on our small community. As fall transitions into winter yet again, we accept the falling leaves, the inevitable snowstorms, piercing cold, bare landscape and brisk moonlit nights. We huddle in our homes by the fire and relive summer’s memories. Some neighbors have closed up their summer homes and  left for warmer temperatures. The rest of us hunker down and count our blessings by the hearth with family and friends. 

‘HAPPY THANKSGIVING’ to all my friends and neighbors who help make this community so very special. And a very special thank you to all of you who support my fundraising projects throughout the year.

Linda Richardson

2024 Commemorative Paris Hill Egg!

Since the ‘Annual Commemorative Paris Hill Egg’ fundraiser has become so popular the ‘2024’ egg, third in the series, has been hatched early and is now available for purchase. They will  make great stocking stuffers, hostess gifts or a holiday gift for those difficult to buy for on your  list. The eggs are now being shipped to collectors coast to coast and internationally.  

The ‘2024’ egg features the Old Oxford County Jail which now serves as the Hamlin Memorial  Library and Museum on Paris Hill. The image depicts the jail as it appeared in 1822. The Old Oxford County Jail has survived many architectural transformations over the years but still retains the original granite blocks quarried in Oxford and dragged up Paris Hill over frozen ground in the winter. The iron bars, doors and strappings are original to the jail. The second  floor is dedicated to a collection of Paris Hill historical artifacts and the first floor serves as a  public library.  

One hundred percent of the money raised by the sale of this year’s eggs and handmade cherry  stands will support yet another major historical restoration project slated for the Paris Hill  Academy. Last year’s Egg helped finance the new Academy roof. Now that the roof of the  building is secure restoration can begin on the inside of the building. The leaking roof caused  damage to the second floor ceiling, walls and stage requiring ceiling repair, new drywall and paint. These repairs, while necessary, will also showcase the privately funded restoration of the  circa 1892 Grand Drape adorning the stage, a truly historical masterpiece.  

Wells Wood Turning & Finishing, located in Buckfield, manufacturer of the White House Easter  Eggs is the same company that makes the Paris Hill eggs for this fundraiser. It’s an added  bonus to purchase the eggs locally and support a local business.  

For a donation of $10.00 to the non-profit organization, ‘Paris Hill Community Club’, you will  be presented with the 2024 “Paris Hill Egg”, the third egg in the collectible series. Handmade wooden egg stands are available for $2.00 to showcase your commemorative egg. Eggs and stands can be purchased at Speedway Inc in Oxford.

Place your orders early so the eggs can be delivered before  Christmas.  

There are still 59 2023 eggs left – and when sold will benefit the Paris Cape Historical Society as they continue to protect the many Paris Hill artifacts in their possession. Please visit the Paris Cape Historical Society at 77 High Street in South Paris. You will be amazed at their collections and displays. 

I want to thank everyone who has purchased eggs in the past. I also encourage those of you who haven’t purchased eggs to consider this small donation as the sale of each egg/stand combined makes a huge financial impact on the restoration of our beautiful village. If all 250 eggs and stands are sold the donation reaches a total of $3000.00

Last years eggs and ‘All Things Paris Hill T-Shirts’ combined provided a community donation of $3865.00 for the Academy roof project. I personally cover the $900.00 purchase of the eggs as my donation to the fundraiser. 

I look forward to personally delivering your eggs locally and mailing any out of state eggs in time for Christmas.  ‘All Things Paris Hill’ t-shirts are always available for purchase at $15.00 each. Medium/Large/Extra-large always available in Coral/Yellow/ Light Gray. 

To purchase a 2023 egg or T-Shirt, please reach out to Linda at cozycider@gmail.com – and stay tuned for the 2024 egg launch next week!

And the Paris Hill Community would like to express our thanks to Linda for her gracious efforts and her egg-cellent ideas to raise funds for the historic buildings on Paris Hill!