Tillikum Chapter 99 Order of the Eastern Star held its Installation Ceremony on Saturday, March 24, at the Masonic Hall in Ashland at 2 p.m. The installing officers for the afternoon were as follows: Phyllis Blakely, W.G.A.C.; and Vernal (Mac) Blakely, P.G.P. of Molunkus Valley 85 of Sherman as Installing Matron and Patron; Charlene Buzza P.M. as Installing Marshall of Lunar Chapter 126; and Karen McNally, Installing Organist, of Molunkus Valley Chapter 85. Mary Hews P.M. was installed as the Worthy Matron and Roy Clark was installed as the Worthy Patron. Other elected officers installed were as follows: Irene Klei P.M. and Herb Klei P.P. as Associate Matron and Associate Patron; Rosemary Coffin P.M. as Conductress; Heather Clark as Associate Conductress; Frieda Dickenson P.M. as Secretary; and Art Coffin P.P. as Treasurer. Appointed officers were also installed: Star Points – Judy MacDonald P.M. as Ada, Shiela Buckingham P.M. as Ruth, Rhoda Thombs P.M. as Esther, Jody Reese as Martha and Janice MacDonald P.M. as Electa; Warder, Cheryl O’Clair; and Sentinel, Peter Martin. A farewell program was presented to outgoing Worthy Matron Janice MacDonald, and Worthy Patron Greg MacDonald. Worthy Matron Mary Hews P.M. presented the new officers with angel pins. Musical selections were presented by Sister Patricia Rafford and Nathan Gardner. Tom Brown of Houlton recited poems by Holeman Day and played a piano selection. After reciting the Mizpeh Benediction, refreshments were enjoyed in the dining room.
Portage Lake townwide tag sale
The annual Portage Lake Townwide Tag Sale will be held on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Municipal Building on School Street. Crafters are welcome. There are still spaces available for $10. Bring your own table or rent one for $2. Call Jean Clark at 435-8034 to reserve a space. Many families in town will also be having yard sales at their homes. This is a great opportunity to drive out to beautiful Portage Lake for some real bargains!
Ongoing events
The Ashland Area Senior Citizens Group meets every Thursday at 12 noon for a potluck lunch and meeting at the Ashland Rec Center. Everyone is invited to attend weekly.
The Portage Lake Seniors’ Lunch is held on the last Tuesday of every month at 11 a.m. All seniors are invited, the meal is a potluck so bring your own dish or bring a cash donation. For more information contact Wilza Robertson at 435-6211 or Grace Nason at 435-6373.
The Red Hat Loonies of Portage Lake meet the second Thursday of every month at Dean’s Motor Lodge. Membership dues are $2. Come have a great time and meal. For more information contact Rachel Stevens at 435-6358.
An infant to pre-K play group meets every Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Ashland Rec Center. For more information call Andrea White at 435-6363.
Portage Lake Centennial Celebration Planning Meeting – There has been no date set at this time, but if you are interested in the planning please contact Barb Pitcairn at 435-2368 or Grace Nason at 435-6373.
Ladies, are you interested in crafts? Or maybe you have some you’ve started and not yet finished? Every Thursday evening at the Portage Lake Municipal Building is Girlz Night starting at 6:30 p.m. Bring those crafts you’ve been neglecting and enjoy.
Help needed
Anyone who is interested in taking over the writing of this column for the Ashland Area News, please contact Bobbi Jo Condon at 435-3992, 435-7160 or btcondon@msn.com. The Ashland Area News is an important part of the Star-Herald showing the wonderful things we have going on in our community, it just needs someone who can put more time into it than I can. I will continue to do the column because it is a necessity, but if someone else is interested in writing for the Ashland Area News, please call or e-mail.
Bobbi Jo Condon is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and surrounding townships. She can be reached at 435-3992 or 435-7160 or by e-mail at btcondon@msn.com.
