SCHOONER ESTATES ~ EST. 1989 OUR COMMUNITY IS YOUR COMMUNITY
Writers: Your Schooner Family | Editor: Theresa Nardone
🗓️ In This Issue:
- The LaChapelles 70th Anniversary
- Word Search
- New Arrivals
- Enjoying Earth Day
- Honoring Schooner Residents for Women’s History Month
đź’— Congratulations to Carmen and Don LaChapelle- Celebrating 70 years of marriage!
Carmen and Don LaChapelle’s love story started in the Lewiston/Auburn area. High school sweethearts, they both graduated from Edward Little in 1954. They had a great time going to the movies and roller skating on their very first dates.
Carmen studied nursing at Central Maine General Hospital, and Don joined the Army, being stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts.   Â
The couple lived in California for 15 years, where they had the first three of their five children. Longing for home, they moved back to Maine, enjoying visiting with relatives and friends in their free time. Carmen and Don are having a great time living here at Schooner Estates!
🎨Original oil paintings by Charles Lepage
A collage of photos depicting original artwork by Charles Lepage.
👵For Women’s History Month, we are proud to profile current and one past resident for their outstanding contributions:
- Elaine McCarty is a 1953 graduate of Edward Little High School. Her journey began right here in Auburn before taking her across the globe.
After nursing school in Boston, Elaine didn’t take the easy path. She worked in infectious disease and orthopedic units from Florida to Connecticut. But it was in 1968 that she made a life-altering decision: joining the U.S. Army.
Elaine volunteered for a year-long tour of duty at the 95th Evacuation Hospital in Da Nang, Vietnam. There, she faced the brutal reality of war wounds and the “agonizing stress” that follows such service. Her bravery in the field transitioned into a storied career back home, where she served communities in Deer Isle and Kezar Falls, worked at Maine Medical Center, and shaped the next generation of nurses as a teacher at St. Joseph’s College.
After a lifetime of caring for others—including her own aging parents—Elaine finally “gave it all up” to embrace the joys of knitting mittens, reading long novels, and collecting stamps on her passport from Paris to Argentina, China, Greece, and back to Maine. Today, she calls Schooner Estates home and looks back on a legacy defined by one phrase: “I did it my way.” - Have you ever wondered about the Ethel Meulendyke Library on the first floor of the Searsport building? It stands as a tribute to a woman who truly cherished the written word. After a career as an elementary school teacher and librarian, Ethel Meulendyke brought her library expertise to Schooner Estates in 2001.
Originally from Old Saybrook, Connecticut, Ethel spent her final decade of life here at Schooner, meticulously organizing the libraries. When Ethel wasn’t curating books, she was a devoted volunteer, a passionate traveler, and a loyal Red Sox fan. Whether enjoying summers at her Bridgton camp or sharing stories of her beloved children, Ethel’s spirit of service lives on in our community. - Tookie Clifford recalled the time she spent in Asia: Tookie served as the director of a recreational club for the Army’s Special Services in Korea. This was her favorite job of all. She facilitated entertainment and organized tours for the troops and their families.
In her time in Seoul, Korea, adventure abounded: As she was traveling as a passenger in an open Army Jeep, a man tried to climb into the Jeep to make off with some of the cargo also being transported. The driver made a quick maneuver and managed to shake the man off the vehicle, saying to Tookie, “I’ve gotta have a drink now!”
Tookie was taken aback by the gorgeous scenery of Thailand, stating that the beauty of the country was so breathtaking, it was like being in a movie.
After Tookie returned to the USA, she taught for 16 years. - Rita Melendy was born in Jay, Maine, the 7th of 8 children. With no means to afford college, Rita proudly graduated from the “School of Hard Knocks,” learning all she could in all of the jobs that she held.
Rita began her career as a bank teller, worked in physicians’ offices, and then took an exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant. She later assisted new physicians in setting up their offices, and she was also a small business owner.
Rita eventually ran for the Maine Legislature and served six terms from 1981 through 1994; then she served for the Clerk and Speaker of the House of Representatives for 4 years; and as the voice for the Clerk, who had developed ALS, thereby allowing him to continue serving as Clerk Emeritus and to be all that he could be for as long as possible. It was good training to deal with her husband’s current condition of Alzheimer’s disease.
Rita’s faith has sustained her through all the challenges of life, including medical issues and issues of people she helped throughout her life.
🙂 Schooner Tenant Profiles
Please give these folks a warm Schooner welcome!
Note: Some of our profiles do not include photographs, as it depends on a tenant’s preference.
- Please welcome our newest neighbor, “Lita” Tucker, who joined our community in mid-January! Coming to us from Livermore Falls, Lita is a proud Buckfield High School alumna with a lifelong penchant for serving others.
Lita spent her career as a dedicated pharmacy technician and was an active member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club. She also spent many years giving back as a blood volunteer. An avid crafter, you’ll often find her sewing, knitting, or diving into a new craft project. She loves staying active with daily walks and has always had a soft spot for pets—especially cats!
For Lita, a perfect day is any day spent being social. Please give her a warm welcome when you see her in the halls! - Stop by and say hello to Arnold Austin, who also joined us in mid-January! Although Arnold had lived in Florida since 1962, he is truly a man of the world, having resided in various countries across the globe.
A proud Navy veteran and Delaware alum, Arnold brings a wealth of stories to our community. You’ll often find him alongside his cousin, David Lancaster—the two are practically inseparable!
Whether he’s keeping up with the latest news, cheering on game shows, or shouting “Bingo!” in the Village Green, Arnold stays active. His next big goal? Hitting the slopes for some skiing!Â
🌍 For Earth Day, step outside: Why nature is the best remedy
Forget the pharmacy- some of the best healthcare is right outside your door!
Spending time in nature is a “triple threat” for wellness:
1)Physically, activities such as gardening or strolling keep joints flexible and boost vitamin D.
2)Mentally, the “great outdoors” acts as a natural reset button, lowering stress and sharpening memory.
3) Socially, a park bench is the perfect spot to turn neighbors into friends, clearing away the fog of isolation.
Whether it’s a morning bird-watch or a sunset walk, a little fresh air goes a long way.
🧩 Word Search: Herbs and Spices
Beware, words can go every which way!
Word List: ALLSPICE, ANISE, BASIL, CARDAMOM, CILANTRO, CLOVES, CUMIN, DILL, EPAZOTE, FENNEL, FENUGREEK, GINGER, MACE, MINT, MUSTARD, NUTMEG, OREGANO, PARSLEY, ROSEMARY, SAFFRON, SAGE, TARRAGON, THYME, TUMERIC
(A table grid of letters follows this list in the original newsletter.)