It’s almost that time of year again, folks, for the Ashland Rotary Club Dinner and Auction to be held Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Ashland Community High School. This is a huge event for the club and something everyone looks forward to. If you have never been, make this year your first – and it certainly won’t be your last! Best of all, all of the proceeds from the auction go directly back in to the community!
Rotary Club International is a worldwide organization dedicated to the service of others. Locally, they have provided assistance to non-profit organizations, they support annual scholarship awards to deserving youth, help to sponsor school-related activities, and other events that help to promote leadership and growth in our young people. The club also provides assistance at Thanksgiving and Christmas and whenever emergency needs arise to those who are less fortunate. Most recently, the Rotary Club purchased one of the (new) Town of Ashland signs, provided annual subscriptions of the Bangor Daily News and Star-Herald newspapers to Northwood Manor (a local non-profit residential care facility), provided Lifeline access to an Ashland and Oxbow resident along with providing four scholarships to Ashland High School graduating seniors annually. On a global level, they are able to support the pursuit of health and peace through international exchanges of both students and adults. The Rotary Club International has also played a vital role in providing vaccinations and medical assistance to those in need in countries around the world.
The club is currently soliciting area businesses and individuals for donations for this fund-raising auction. Many sponsors contribute products, goods, services, gift certificates and cash toward the event. The club is kindly asking for your assistance in making the auction a success by donating an item or items to be auctioned off on the big night. All who contribute are recognized in the auction program, as well as throughout the evening of the auction. The preferred deadline for solicitation is Nov. 1. This allows adequate time for the preparation of the programs. Any donation received after this deadline, but before the auction, will be recognized at the auction.
In addition to the auction, the Ashland Rotary Club will also be having its annual ring sale, but this year it will be a “bling sale!” To change things up a bit, Cathy Beaulieu, owner and operator of Wilders Jewelry Store in Presque Isle, who has so generously donated the jewelry every year for this sale, decided instead to donate a diamond and amethyst pendant and earring set valued at $430. (I have seen it, and it’s gorgeous). Club members will be selling numbered boxes for $20 each. They will also be available at the Ashland branch of Katahdin Trust Co. and, if still available, will be sold at the door. Each box will have a ring in it, but only one will include notice of the winning pendant set! Boxes will remain with the club until the night of the auction. On auction night, the boxes will be distributed to their owners, who will then open them at the same time.
The roast pork supper will begin at 5 p.m. provided by the Ashland Tillikum Chapter 99 and the Pioneer Lodge Chapter 72. Dinners will be $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
Come early to look over the auction items. There is something for everyone, and there is always something you didn’t know you wanted or needed! The auction is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. This event is open for all who wish to donate items or attend the auction; it’s not just for the Ashland area. The more the merrier. The more items, attendees and bids, the more good can be done for our community and the world. See you at the auction!
Masardis Town Office Notice
The correct date for the Masardis Town Office day closure will be Wednesday, Oct. 28. If you need any further information, please call the Masardis Town Office.
Open House
There will be an open house at the V.F.W. on the Portage Road in Ashland Saturday, Oct. 24 from 1-5 p.m. to celebrate Alice Lyons’ 80th birthday.
Ashland Senior a Shining Example of Success
Ashland High School senior Jade Tilley, the daughter of Joyce Cyr and David Tilley, did not expect to find her calling in life when she received a paid employment internship through the Aroostook County Action Programs (ACAP) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Nor did she expect it would turn into an extended session, with an open offer for an official position once she graduates high school. She certainly didn’t expect the special attention she has received.
The ACAP Summer Youth Employment Program was funded by government stimulus dollars under the “Recovery Act Fund” to allow high school students to gain work experience, work readiness skills, transition to job (after high school) or to assist in furthering their education. Students are chosen to participate by various eligibility criteria, “each varying depending on the individual student situation” said ACAP Youth Job Counselor Nicole Fournier. The program is also designed to expose high school students who are unsure of what they would like do after high school to careers they may be interested in, or have a knack for, thus Ms. Tilley’s participation in the program.
Though Jade is a high honors student and ranks third in her class, she lacked a solid direction for a career after high school.
“I was interested in possibly being a nurse, but wasn’t sure at all,” said Tilley.
“She basically had no idea what she wanted to do, and really wasn’t concerned with that,” said Nicole Poulin, job coach with the ACAP Youth Program. In the process of finding a place for Jade to intern, she wanted to stay close to home and considering her interest in health care, Northwood Manor, a residential care facility in Ashland, was suggested and asked to partner in the program. Under the direct supervision of Care Manager Susan Hopkins, Jade was assigned specific duties within the home. By design, Hopkins chose to have Jade actively engage with the residents assisting them with daily living and activities.
“I wanted to mentor her in a way that developed her natural abilities, as well as giving her a real perspective on what to expect in health care and human service careers,” said Hopkins. “There is a lot involved, and it’s not always easy. As they say, it takes a special kind of personality and compassion, and Jade has that.”
The staff and residents at the Manor would all agree.
“She fit right in, and has truly become a part of our team here,” Hopkins said.
Initially the program was set up for just the summer school break. Because of Jade’s performance and employer accolades, the officials with the program decided to allow Jade an extension through December.
“Jade is one of only a few students in Aroostook County to have been allowed this extension,” said Fournier. Adding that “her interest in attending the certified nursing assistant program” also confirmed their decision. When asked what, if any changes, she has noted about Jade since her inception into the program, Fournier said it was, “Quite profound.”
“Initially Jade had intended to enter the workforce after graduation. Now she is very focused on continuing her education,” Fournier said.
Because of this success, Jade was interviewed by Melanie Arsenault, assistant to the Commissioner of Labor, and will be featured in a video recorded by ACAP officials to be shared with Gov. John E. Baldacci and the Federal Labor Commission to highlight what the state of Maine has done with its share of the stimulus money, the success of the program, and to hopefully generate funding for this program again. Jade then was asked to participate in yet another interview, this time by Suzanne Sandusky, special projects manager with ACAP, and her story will be included in their annual report.
Ashland High School Guidance Counselor Lynwood McHatten is pleased with the success of the program.
“When Jade first signed up for this program, she didn’t have a solid direction for what she wanted to do after high school,” he said. “Now she has a focus. Being allowed this opportunity has been very good for her. It’s really nice when a student is placed appropriately.”
When asked what this program has done for her, Jade said it helped to give her “actual job experience” explaining, “Usually when you’re a kid in high school, you work in a job that has nothing to do with an actual career. With this, I was able to actually work in the environment, and see what it’s like – and I love it!” She also adds, it helped to give her “focus” saying, “There is more to life than just earning a paycheck … you should love what you do for a living.”
For more about the ACAP Summer Youth Employment Program, please contact Torry Eaton, senior manager of employment and training at 760-6300.
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.
