Portage Lake book to be reprinted
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney Hopkins
Back by popular demand, the Portage Lake Historical Society will be reprinting the “Portage Lake: History and Hearsay” book. Pre-order forms will be available for anyone interested in ordering a copy. The price has yet to be determined but is expected to be around $20 per copy. In the meantime, the Society will be accepting donations to help with the associated reprinting fees. The first printing was a huge success and all copies sold out. This is such a neat book full of historical information about the town and its people. Contact the Portage Lake Town Hall for more information.
The historical society will be holding its next meeting Thursday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the town hall. The meeting is open to all current members, anyone who is interested in becoming one and for anyone with an interest in Portage Lake history.
Portage Lake invites all to Can-Am festivities
The town of Portage Lake would like to invite community members, visitors and neighbors to come to town Saturday, March 3 to help them in welcoming the Can-Am 250 mushers and their teams as they reach their first check station. This is a very exciting time in the town. Portage Lake serves as a designated rest area for the dog sled teams and offers a unique opportunity for spectators to experience the sport up close and personal.
Welcome the teams with a hoot and a holler as they come in to town. There is nothing like watching the teams approach town from across the lake — adrenaline and spirits are high. The Can Am 250 is a big deal race in the dog sledding sport. Many of the teams racing here have and/or do also race in the more celebrated Yukon Quest and Alaska Iditarod. Because it is a required time of rest for the teams, you aren’t allowed to directly interact with (i.e. pet) the dogs, but you can observe the teams fairly close, take some great photographs and just experience the spirit and the beauty of this wonderful sport.
Portage Lake’s very own musher Jessica Holmes, who is competing in the Can Am 30 race, is expected to be in town at some point. This provides a wonderful opportunity to show your support for Jessica and her team, while getting the chance to rub elbows with a local celebrity!
There is ample parking in town and vast opportunities to view the teams as they are arriving or while they are at rest. Dean’s Restaurant will be open serving a full menu, specials and cocktails — not to mention hot soup and coffee to help keep you warm. Coffin’s General Store will also be open with a variety of snacks, drinks and deli menu items.
Typically the teams begin arriving by mid-late afternoon and continue throughout the evening and nighttime hours. Dress warm, wear comfortable shoes and don’t forget your camera! Hope to see you all there!
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 435-8232 or Feenhop@aol.com.
