ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney Hopkins
Boy Scout Troop 179 recently attended the Spring Camporee in New Sweden, hosted by Troop 186 at the Hildebrand Family Farm.
While Friday night camping was warm, Saturday night was quite different with temperatures near freezing!
Saturday was a full day of events for the Boy Scouts including cooking lunches on the trail, singing an original Boy Scout song composed by Peng Cheng, lashings, first aid, map and compass, trail markings, tree identification and the history of New Sweden, all while hiking along the way. The day started off with a misty rain that soon cleared up allowing the Scouts to enjoy the pleasant weather.
Tours of historic New Sweden were also provided with the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and leaders being bussed to each location to learn about the history of New Sweden. The tour included stops at the Blacksmith Shop, one of the first homes built in New Sweden, a history lesson at the Pavilion in Thomas Park, the old school house and visiting the Museum. Several residents of New Sweden were on hand to answer questions and provide details of the local history.
Troop 179 came home with several awards including second place in singing, first place in first aid, second place in map and compass, and second place in the New Sweden history.
A few special awards to be proud of were also earned by Troop 179. The boys earned “Top Patrol” which is an accumulation of how the boys did in the diverse competitions. They also earned second place in “Campsite Reviews” and were the top Troop for this year’s Spring Camporee, which means the Troop brought home the treasured “In Honor of Ed Chase, Spring Camporee Award.” The boys worked very hard to achieve this award, but they also had a lot of fun over the weekend, playing manhunt each night after dark with other Troops from around the County, as well as completing several requirements needed for advancing.
Boys attending the Spring Camporee were Malcolm Milligan, Garrett Graham, Zach Carr, Peng Cheng, Wyatt Carr, Steven Bellanceau, Otis Nelson and Daniel Rafford.
Portage Lake Historical Society hosting bean supper
Don’t forget — The Portage Lake Historical Society is celebrating its first-ever annual meeting with an old-fashioned bean supper with all the fixins’. Held at the Portage Lake Town Hall Saturday, June 18 at 5 p.m., the supper is open to everyone. You do not have to be a member of the Historical Society to come out and enjoy good food and company!
Donations to the Historical Society will be accepted at the door. There will be membership forms available to anyone wishing to become part of this wonderful organization. The Historical Society is interested in recruiting new members, as well. After the dinner, the society will be having their “first-ever” annual meeting and everyone is invited to stay after dinner to join them. Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in the history and the preservation of Portage Lake’s history whether a resident or not. Many of our communities’ histories and its people are intricately intertwined so the history of one town is usually commingled with another. The interesting things we could find out about our forefathers and mothers!
A year’s membership is $10 per person and membership does not come with the obligation to attend to regular meetings (just the annual meeting). Why not come out and see what the Historical Society is up to. Who knows, you may just find out some interesting history about yourself while you’re there! For more information, contact Corrine Routhier at 435-6854 or arouthier@roadrunner.com.
Man with local ties graduates with dual degree
Kendell Clark, son of Tony Clark of Nashville Plantation and Julie Clark of Peru, N.Y. and the grandson of Milton and Dawn Clark of Ashland and Pat Goodblood of Portage Lake, recently graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology receiving a dual degree from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the school. Clark received his bachelor of science and master of science degrees with high honors and was also in the honors program. Clark will be working for Lutron Electronics Co. in Coopersburg, Pa.
Indoor flea market, craft fair and food sale
The Tillikum Chapter 99, Order of the Eastern Star, will be holding an indoor flea market, craft fair and food sale at the Masonic Hall on Plum Street in Ashland Friday, June 24 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (rain or shine) and Saturday, June 25 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. There will also be a BBQ luncheon on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. There are still a few spaces (for rent) available to sell your yard sale items or crafts. For more information, please contact Andrea White at 435-6363.
Ashland District School celebrates pre-K and kindergarten classes
On Wednesday, June 1, the Ashland District School pre-K and kindergarten classes held their annual end-of-year celebrations. Julie Cyr’s morning and afternoon pre-K students performed songs and received their certificates. Kim Haines’ and Denise Campbell’s kindergarten classes also sang and were interviewed about their school year. Congratulations students!
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.
