Portage Lake Playground
takes shape with hard work
ASHLAND NEWS
Thanks to the great weather the Portage Lake Recreation Department, with the help of some hardworking volunteers, were able to get the new town playground at the Town Office a step closer to completion.
PLAYGROUND CONSTRUCTION — Some of the Portage Lake Playground volunteers take a break from working on the playground project. They are, from left: Corrine Routhier, Andrea White, Mark Benson, Kenny Fones, Martha and Peter Haskell, Christy Dicker, and Taunja and Steve Jandreau.
Thanks to the vision and extraordinary efforts of Portage Lake Recreation Department Director Taunja Jandreau, enough money was raised through fundraising efforts and grants awards, to purchase a playground’s worth of equipment for the local children (and adults) to enjoy for years to come.
“Over the past four years I have been busy getting donations both from individuals and businesses, applying for grants and holding different fundraisers to make the playground all possible. Part of these funds went to purchase the Cedar Works playground that is now at the Pavilion” said Jandreau.
Jandreau had visualized a safe, in town play area once she began raising a family and realized she could be the one to make it happen. “It has been my intention to create a family friendly park which will allow hours and hours of creative play” says Jandreau.
Many volunteers were involved in making this possible and the Recreation Department would like to recognize them and say “thanks!” Those individuals were; Corrine and Arthur Routhier, Christy Dicker, Mark Benson, Kenny Fones, Ray Wakefield, Andrea White, Steve Jandreau, Maggie and Dave Pierce, Peter and Margaret Haskell, Darey Gagnon, Sarah Brooks, and “Beech” Kinney. Also, Portage Construction for the donation of material, and to Christy Dicker and Mark Benson for the use of their personal tractors. Coffee and donuts were donated to the volunteers by Christy Dicker and the pizza dinner was supplied by the Portage Lake Recreation Department. Betty Benson provided a wide spread of tasty food for the Sunday volunteers and all the workers greatly appreciated all the yummy items!
“I have to thank my husband Steve for driving to Rockport and picking up this playground kit (which saved us the delivery expense) and also for assembling it” added Jandreau.
“I look forward to all these projects being completed and seeing the children using the playground equipment. This wonderful park will give kids a chance to get outside and get physically active and I am glad I had a part of creating that. Thank you to all of you for all the help and support,” she added.
The 2010 graduating class of Ashland Community High School participated in the Project Grad sponsored trip to Boston. Leaving after a banquet in the cafeteria of the high school following graduation ceremonies, 18 students and 9 chaperones loaded a school bus driven by Lendal Tarr and drove to Bangor. Chaperones were Roberta and Paul Belanger, Tracy and Kevin Baker, Christine Condon, Ned Labelle, Sammi Jimmo, Lori Belanger and Michelle Ellis.
Arriving in Bangor at 1 a.m. the students loaded on to a chartered Cyr bus for the ride to Boston. Greeted by their “Driver Seth”, the students would have the bus for themselves the entire weekend, as well as “Driver Seth”, who was also their tour guide. “Still wound for sound, the kids bought a 24-pack of Red Bull at Dysart’s for the ride” laughed chaperone and Project Grad Committee member Roberta Belanger. Belanger also noted the students excitement on learning the bus was “all theirs” for the ride and for the weekend. To avoid ending a tradition, Belanger, who has participated in Project Grad trips with her two older sons, again this year, for the second time, “forgot” her luggage! The first year, her husband Paul, in the hustle of getting things together, left their luggage at home in Ashland Of course the next year she made sure it was on the bus. This year, it made it’s way to Bangor, but got left at the bus station! She did get a shopping trip out it, so perhaps it was planned?
Considering the excitement and the Red Bull, the kids stayed up all night for the ride arriving in Boston about 6:30 am. They enjoyed a “healthy” breakfast at a popular fast food restaurant and began a full day of touring, shopping and lots of fun! First stop was Fenway Park for a tour and some shopping at the Red Sox Store. From there the graduates loaded the bus to Long Wharf and New England Aquarium. By 2 p.m. they were off for a ride on the “Codzilla” boat which is a thrilling high speed boat ride around Boston Harbor.
After such a fun-filled day (and previous night!) the bus headed to the Clarion Hotel in Springfield. The students and chaperones were all excited to make use of the indoor pool and hot tub! Most of the students went to the pool the minute they arrived at the hotel! Belanger and the other chaperones set up a pizza party for the students during which each student and chaperone were presented with a t-shirt designed by classmate Andy Pelkey just for the occasion. Robert and Irene Flint, grandparents of Senior Marcas Belanger, generously donated the funds for the T-shirts. Because of all the fund-raising efforts of the Project Grad Committee, there was enough money raised to give each of the students $100 cash for spending, which was also presented to them with their T-shirts.
The rest of the night was spent with the kids going to the mall for shopping and incidentals and the chaperones enjoying a soak in the hot tub and pool. Belanger took the time to mention that all the students were “well behaved and polite” and “good about asking permission to go some where and checking in. We wanted this trip to be fun and not try to load them with rules, rules, rules. They have that all year long and it is nice just to unwind and relax which is what they did.”
The next morning after what I suspect was a good night’s sleep, everyone met for breakfast at the hotel. All wearing their new T-shirts they headed to Six Flags at 10am for the day. The students were allowed to travel within the park at their own discretion as there are many rides and things to do. Leaving the park and loading the bus at about 7:30 p..m. they were headed for home. Greeted at Dysart’s about 3 a.m. with a pre-arranged buffet, the group returned to Ashland for the morning, again with Mr. Tarr driving the bus.
Belanger said “it was a little different ride back, it was quieter, they were sleeping. I think they were just totally exhausted from having so much fun. This group of seniors was on their best behavior and we had no problems. I think if you treat people with respect you will get it in return.”
Ashland Community High School’s Class of 2010 recently enjoyed a class trip to Boston made possible by Project Grad support. Here the classmates get ready to enter Six Flags Theme Park for a day of fun. They include, from left, front row: Kelsie Belanger, Jade Tilley, Leslie Stickney, Ashley Morton, Macey Pelkey, Elena Reynaga, Jessica Jimmo and Taylor Baker. Back row: Marcas Belanger, Brandon Labbe, Logan O’Clair, Lucas Hafford, Andy Pelkey, Duncan McFarland, Casey Cobb, Kyle Spooner, Andrew Libby and Taylor Condon.
The Ashland Summer Fest Parade will be held on Saturday, July 3 at 10 a.m.. Line up 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 years Summer Fest is “Spark Your Spirit” and all groups, individuals, queens, etc. are invited to participate in the parade.
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.
