The Presque Isle Recreation Center was the topic of Presque Isle Rotary Club’s March 26 meeting and the guest speaker was Chris Beaulieu, recreation director.
Beaulieu explained the ongoing process to site and build a new Community Center for Presque Isle. “This endeavor seeks to be more than a sports facility for youth,” he said.
Beaulieu gave information about the current facility, the Haskell Center, on Main Street and its limitations and problems. Its location on Main Street certainly limits parking, it has a very limited space for the gym, it has maintenance issues, minimal spectator seating, and they cannot offer more than one program at a time due to the size of the building.
The proposed facility is still in the early planning stages. Committee members are looking at land options and seeking input from an engineer to make sure they have enough space to accommodate this new building and its mission, plus room to grow into the future as needs arise. This new facility ideally would offer a multitude of programming such as senior citizen programs, teen center, and really be a community hub for everything from educational programs, to cultural activities, to voting, and a venue to promote healthy lifestyles for children to adults of all ages. The new center would be a minimum of 5,000 square feet in gymnasium space, have sufficient spectator seating, storage, a stage for performances, and space specific for activities for youth and adult activities.
The committee has hosted two public hearings, but have not had a lot of public input, said Beaulieu. The rec director encouraged listeners to call him at 764-2545 to become involved in the process.
The club inducted two new members — Derik Smith, a fourth generation Rotarian and owner/manager of KFC/Taco Bell in Presque Isle, and Randy Campbell, who has been hired to manage Slopes Restaurant and Brewing Company.
The mystery Rotarian this week was Susan Grove-Markwood and her favorite charity is Heifer International and they will have $50 sent in her name from the PI Rotary. For more information on this charity see www.heifer.org
The Rotary Club named two Paul Harris Fellows March 19 — Brian Hamel and Max Saenger.
Saenger was honored for his tireless work to promote the life of skiing and ultimately the economic development of Aroostook County using natural outdoor resources. He has worked tirelessly for the community and serves on numerous boards including ACT, LEAD, the University Board of Visitors, BigRock, the Carrabasset Valley Academy/Alfonds Scholarship Committee, SAD 20’s 21st Century Program, Rotary Scholarship Committee and Exchange program. A member of the Rotary Club in Caribou, Saenger and his wife Karen will soon be relocating to British Columbia where Max will work with the Vancouver planning committee for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Hamel was also honored for his dedication to community in his role as former president and CEO of Loring Development Authority. Due in large part to the efforts of Hamel and his team, the former Loring Air Force Base has been transformed into a vibrant economic engine, bringing much needed jobs to northern Maine. He is also active in his church and with the Central Aroostook Mentoring Program and on boards such as Maine Community College System, Maine Winter Sports Center, UMPI board of visitors and the Aroostook Medical Center.
Hamel, a member of the PI club, is a partner in the Thompson Associates financial services firm. He and his wife Gail, a grade five teacher at the Mapleton School, have three daughters.
Before the meeting, the board of directors approved several donations: $2,000 from the World Community Service fund to do a matching grant project for 250 children suffering from AIDS in conjunction with Perth Andover, Caribou, and Warm Baths, South Africa clubs; $100 to Limestone Project Graduation; and $300 to PIHS Project Graduation. Also the Golf Tournament Committee recommended the second leg of Megan Bradstreet Foundation as a beneficiary of the second annual Golf Tournament.
The mystery Rotarian was Don Zillman and his favorite charity is University of Maine at Presque Isle who will have $50 sent in his name from the PI Rotary.
Rotarian Steve Freeman took the podium March 12 and addressed members in his capacity as executive director of the Presque Isle Water District on the subject of groundwater protection. He also discussed ongoing and completed projects involving the water district.
The mystery Rotarian this week was Nancy Fletcher and her favorite charity was the Logan Graves Memorial Fund who will have $50 sent in her name from the PI Rotary.
