Several events planned
for Ashland Summer Fest July 1-4
ASHLAND NEWS
The Ashland Summer Fest will be held beginning Thursday, July 1 and will run through Sunday, July 4. The Summer Fest Committee has spent countless hours planning another grand town celebration. There are scores of fun and entertaining events planned and 2010 may be the best Summer Fest yet! Please obtain a program of events (available at locations around town) to plan your fun-filled weekend.
The theme chosen for this year will be “Spark Your Spirit”. The theme was chosen “because it’s on the Fourth of July, the Firemen’s Muster and the spiritual service and to just get everyone involved and get out and have a good time,” says Kathi Beaulieu, who serves on the Summer Fest Committee.
In keeping with that theme, the committee will sponsor an Ecumenical Church Service on Sunday, July 4 at 9 a.m. This service will be held in the field and bandstand area at the Fish and Game Club on the Aroostook River. Each of the four churches in town will be represented with the spiritual leaders from each providing a 10-minute address. Each church will also select one person to give a short prayer.
Represented will be the Advent Christian Church, St. Mark’s Parish/Catholic Church, the Union Congregational Church and the Pentecostal Assembly. The music will feature traditional hymns that will hopefully be recognized by all who attend. It is the hope that for this one time, on the Fourth of July, that everyone can set aside their religious differences and become aware of what we all have in common. It is the hope that an event such as this will “Spark Your Spirit” of acceptance and tolerance as the base of all religion is love and peace.
Bring your own chairs, your Bibles, your Missalettes and Rosaries, to join in worship and song together. In the case of bad weather, the service will be held in the Ashland Central School Gym. The committee hopes all will attend!
There is an abundant selection of activities scheduled and there is something for everyone. This year , “buttons” will be available to access different events and can be used for various items and discounts at participating vendors. They will also be used to enter the grade school on Friday night and the street dance on Saturday night.
Programs are available around town with all events and schedules listed. I can not stress enough the importance of getting a program! There are many things going on so be sure to get your program.
Musical performances are an ever popular attraction and there are many planned and being held at the bandstand. Considering their popularity, they are listed below.
Concerts at the Bandstand (in Ashland) are free of charge. So come on out and dance, see your friends and neighbors and enjoy some good music!
Friday July 2: 4 p.m., Bob Frame will sing and play guitar. Bob is a well known Country musician who has played in many bands including “Too Far North”. This will be Bob’s third appearance at Summer Fest and many are looking forward to his performance. A great night to come out and dance to some classic rock and roll!
At 5:30 p.m., Doug Drew, a relative newcomer, will entertain with a wide variety of music styles. Being an unusual craftsman, Doug has made many of the instruments that he plays. Doug will perform on banjo, fiddle and guitar.
To finish the evening, Sheldon Wright will perform his own brand of country and folk music. Many tunes will be original since Sheldon is a prolific singer-songwriter. Sheldon is a Vietnam veteran and many say the influence of that era can be found in his music.
Saturday July 3: Debuting at 4 p.m. will be Melissa Hall. Melissa is a solo artist and has sung and played with several bands throughout the County. At present, she is the lead vocalist in the band “Miss Demeanor.”
Larry Jenkins takes to the stage at 5:30 p.m. Once again, this one-man show will perform a variety of styles including patriotic melodies, gospel, broadway tunes and a wide mix of popular songs. He is a very fine musician who plays the trumpet, saxophone and flute.
At 7:30 p.m., local country group “Better Late Than Never,” led by Rodney Carney, will be entertaining at the bandstand. This is the second year that this group will be performing and many are looking forward to their return!
At 9 p.m., “Miss Demeanor” will be the background sounds for the street dance
Sunday July 4: Sunday will be the scene of gospel and religious music. At 4 p.m., a crowd favorite, Wendell Hudson will take the stage. Wendell has entertained audiences for over 50 years! There are those who say he only gets better with age. Looks like we are all in for a treat!
At 6:30 p.m., the Morton Family Singers will once again bring their talents in their rendition of gospel music. Led by Donald, Chris, Sam and David Morton, this group promises to be entertaining and inspirational.
At 7:30 p.m., the final performance will be a group for the Congregational Church. They will be led by Bobbi-Jo Condon and Chad Junkins. They will be performing a mix of traditional hymns and gospel tunes.
Miscellaneous events of interest include an all-day softball tournament at the ball field held on Thursday, July 1. Call Lendall Tarr for more info at 435-6893.
A movie at the grade school will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 2. The movie feature will be “Firehouse Dog starring Rex”.
A Pig Roast at the Ashland Fish and Game Club will be Saturday, July 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Firemen’s Muster on Main Street starting at 12:30 p.m. Come out and see County Firefighters compete against one another in the ever exciting muster events. Raffle tickets will also be on sale for a wooden bench in memory of Ashland Firefighter Donald O’Clair, Sr.
The ever popular Street Dance will be on Saturday night starting at 9 p.m. and going to midnight. Band “Miss Demeanor” will be providing the dance tunes.
Once again, the Just Folk Singers will be featured in a concert at the Ashland Central School Gymnasium at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 4. These folks are a bunch of talented musicians and put on a great show. Come out and enjoy a variety of vocal and instrumental music centered around the 60s and 70s.
Fireworks at the Fish and Game club on Sunday July 4th starting at dusk.
The Ashland Summer Fest Parade will be held on Saturday, July 3 at 10 a.m. Lineup will begin at 9 a.m. at the Ashland Community High School. Anyone interested in pre-registering can contact Bobbi Jo Condon at 435-3992 or 435-7160. The theme for this year is “Spark Your Spirit” and all groups, individuals, queens, etc. are invited to participate in the parade.
Thanks to the generosity of several businesses, students at the Ashland High School Industrial Arts Program will benefit in their training process using the valuable material products donated to them for their use. The materials ranged from sheet metal, steel, framing lumber finish pine and safety equipment. The students, teacher and principal of the Ashland High School sincerely want to acknowledge and thank the following people for their generosity in helping the industrial arts program: Bob Morin and Pat McCormack, Fred Haines, Mike Kelly, Paul McKinley, Jim Tripplet and Ray Chasse.
Ashland PTO seeks volunteers
Beginning the week of June 28, the Ashland Area PTO will begin the task of removing the gym floor at Ashland Community High School. This is the biggest project the PTO has ever done and they need your help. The members of the PTO are asking for any help they can receive, even if it’s only an hour or two. It is a huge project as you can imagine so the more man power the better! Though the district is purchasing playground equipment for the new school, all proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to enhance those playgrounds.
Starting at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 28, volunteers will begin tearing up the gym floor. The PTO needs volunteers as well as tools and equipment such as crow bars, hammers, etc. They are also anticipating the need for a pick-up truck to haul the floor boards to the Central School.
Remember the PTO motto “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.” If you have any questions, please contact Corrine Routhier at 435-6854 or Kim Holmes at 551-7120. Your support is greatly appreciated.
The Ashland Community High School graduated its class of 2010 on Friday, June 4. The graduates, their post secondary plans and scholarships received are as follows:
Taylor Baker – UMFK; King-Thomas Trust, Four Sisters Memorial, Levesque Family, Ashland Rotary Youth Merit, Ricker Endowment and the Mitchell Scholarship.
Kelsie Belanger – UMFK; The Khambatty Scholarship, King-Thomas Trust, The Edward and Geneva Morin Service Award, Town of Portage Lake and the Levesque Family.
Marcas Belanger – Wyoming Technical College; The Khambatty Scholarship, the Ira Hersey Memorial, the RL Fournier Memorial, Town of Portage Lake, Levesque Family and the King-Thomas Trust.
Casey Cobb – UMaine; Town of Masardis Scholarship.
Taylor Condon – NMCC.
Lucas Hafford – National Guard.
Jessica Jimmo – UMFK; King-Thomas Trust.
Brandon Labbe – NMCC; Travis Grover Memorial, Ira Hersey Memorial, RL Fournier Memorial, King-Thomas Trust, Portage Hills Country Club, Levesque Family Scholarship, the Nikki Beaulieu Memorial, Ashland Rotary and the Masonic Pioneer Lodge #72 Scholarship.
Andrew Libby – United States Military.
Duncan McFarland – UM; King-Thomas Trust, Levesque Family, Pete and Irene Sawyer Memorial, The Ashland Area Teachers Association and the LK Tilley Family Scholarship.
Ashley Morton – Entering the work force.
Logan O’Clair – UMFK; Larry Lyons Memorial, King-Thomas Trust, Levesque Family and Ashland Rotary.
Andrew Pelkey – Northwestern Ohio University.
Macie Pelkey – UMPI; Pete and Irene Sawyer Memorial, Bobby Goding Memorial and the King-Thomas Trust.
Elena Reynaga – UMaine; Bobby Goding Memorial, King-Thomas Trust, Levesque Family Scholarship, University Top Scholar Award.
Kyle Spooner – UMKK; RL Fournier Memorial, Nikki Beaulieu Memorial, King-Thomas Trust and the Levesque Family Scholarship.
Leslie Stickney – NMCC; King-Thomas Trust, Levesque Family Scholarship and Ashland Rotary.
Jade Tilley – NMCC; Elsie G. Jones Memorial, Levesque Family, Town of Ashland, Ira Hersey Memorial, RL Fournier Memorial, King-Thomas Trust and the NMCC Presidential Scholarship.
Justin Willey – UMPI; King-Thomas Trust, Levesque Family, Ashland Alumni Association, LeRoy and Nancy Farris Memorial, Mel Mac Education Foundation and Keeping Maine’s Children Connected Award.
Additionally, King-Thomas Scholarships, in the amount of $550 each, were awarded to 26 alumni. The King-Thomas Scholarships were established by the late Barbara King-Thomas of Masardis and are available to all alumni and residents of MSAD 32 .
The Portage Lake Historical Society will be meeting on Tuesday, June 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Hall. Anyone interested in preserving the history of the town is welcome.
SAD 32 is participating in the ‘Summer Feeding Program’ again this year. Meals will be provided at the Ashland Central School starting on June 21 and will run through July 30. They will be available Monday through Friday from 11-11:30 a.m. These meals are free of charge to children aged 18 and younger. No names will be taken, no forms need to be filled out. Adults are invited to participate also at a cost of $2.75 each meal.
Federal regulations require meals be eaten on the school grounds. All meals purchased are for immediate consumption. Cycle menus will be used; items are subject to availability. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.
Any questions or concerns may be addressed to Nan Belskis Food Service Supervisor, Ashland School Nutrition Program, PO Box 289, Ashland, Maine 04732 or call 435-8423.
Sending my wishes for a very happy birthday and anniversary to my husband Steve. We are celebrating each of them today, June 23.
The Ashland area VFW Ladies Auxiliary will hold its annual “Tag and Bake Sale” on Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at the VFW on the Portage Road. As always, there will be a great variety of scrumptious home-baked goodies for sale as well as tag sale items. There is always something for everyone and a horde of things you didn’t know you needed until you saw them!
They are still accepting donated items to be sold. If you have something to donate – baked or otherwise –please contact Julie Graham-Berry at 435-7137.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and surrounding townships. She can be reached at 435-8232 or feenhop@aol.com.
