CHINA — Neil Dodge of China is pleased to announce the engagement of his youngest daughter Abigail to Matthew Howard, the son of Murray and Clarissa Howard of Whitefield. Abbie’s mother is the former Cathy Cook from Oakland and North Belgrade, and lives in Winslow.

Matt’s grandparents live in Greenville, where Matt and Abbie were visiting and fishing. Matt proposed and gave Abbie an heirloom engagement ring. The ring had been in Neil’s family for three generations and had been given to Abbie’s great-grandmother, Mrs. Frank B. Jacobs (Elizabeth).

Abbie and Matt have been together since Erskine with the music program and pep band. Abbie went to UMO, and graduated with a major in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Music. She taught last year in Millinocket school system as an Ed. Tech. 3 in the Title 1 program. This year she relocated to Dover-Foxcroft to teach 5th grade English in the Dover-Foxcroft school system.

Matt has been hired to continue work at SAPPI after he finishes this year at UMO on a full scholarship in Chemical Engineering.

A June 23, 2012, wedding is planned at the Holy Family Catholic Church followed by a reception at the Knight’s of Columbus Hall, Old Town.