Dexter Public Health Association quilt raffle at Maine Red Hot Dog Festival
DEXTER — This summer, you could win a beautiful, handmade quilt at the Maine Red Hot Dog Festival on Saturday, Aug. 11. The Dexter Public Health Association will raffle this colorful, unique work-of-art that will add beauty to your life and comfort to your body.
Rosemarie O’Toole of Dexter and Lorraine Novak of Harmony pooled their talents to create the contribution of the quilt for the Dexter Public Health Association raffle. O’Toole pieced the queen-size quilt top in the St. Lucia’s Star pattern, and Novak did the actual quilting in a meandering river design using her long-arm quilting machine.
O’Toole moved to Dexter in November 2016 from New Jersey, quickly becoming immersed in the activities of the Dexter and Dover-Foxcroft communities. She is a member of the Abbott Memorial Library’s book club and serves on the board of the Dexter Public Health Association. She leads the Quilting Club at The Commons at Central Hall in Dover-Foxcroft with Cathy Flockton on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. O’Toole began quilting in 1978.
Novak moved to Corinna and then on to Harmony in 1978. She raised her five children in the Maine highlands. In 1990 she began quilting seriously after many years of sewing for her home and family. Her quilts are for sale in shops in Greenville. Novak and O’Toole became friends in New Jersey in 1969 when they were neighbors as young mothers.
Raffle tickets to win the gorgeous quilt can be purchased at Snowflakes in Dexter, the Abbott Memorial Library and from members of the Dexter Public Health Association’s board. Tickets may also be purchased on red hot dog day at the Dexter Town Office where the nurses will be stationed. The winning ticket will be selected at the town office later in the day on Aug. 11. All proceeds will benefit the Dexter Public Health Association. Cost is $1 per ticket or six tickets for $5. Take a chance to help Dexter’s free nursing program.