Senior citizens informed about possible budget cuts
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney Hopkins
Members of the Ashland Area Senior Citizens Club recently enjoyed a potluck luncheon with guest speaker Steve Farnham from the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging.
It was reported that Mr. Farnham discussed the proposed budget cuts and budget reallocations Gov. LePage has requested including program cuts for the “Medicare Buy-In” and “Drugs for the Elderly.”
He also explained the agency’s RSVP program, which supports many of our area’s senior citizens, which will be cut down to 20 percent of its current total budget (meaning 80 percent of the budget would be cut) starting Jan. 1. The RSVP program has been a lifeline for many senior citizens in the county providing transportation to medical appointments, check in visits with “shut ins” and providing Meals on Wheels to highlight just a few of their very important functions.
It was also noted the Aroostook Regional Transportation System (ARTS), as well as all other regional transportation systems statewide, will be phased out. Currently, the ARTS bus supplies transportation to handicapped residents and Maine Care clients to work places, medical appointments and to stores for shopping needs. This has been a very helpful and needed service for our community members as a whole in the county due to our rural locations. Many senior and handicapped citizens don’t have the capacity to drive themselves to appointments and/or for their shopping needs. Under the proposed cuts, a private company from Georgia would take over but apparently would be providing transportation only in Presque Isle; not to any of the outlying areas, nor would they be transporting riders to medical appointments.
This was grim news to the club members leaving them all a bit concerned for their neighbors, friends and themselves. In spite of this news, the club members enjoyed their lunch with Mr. Farnham and were pleased to be staying informed and involved!
TEACHERS ARE APPRECIATED
Photo courtesy of Ashland District School
Ashland District School teachers
were recently honored
during “Teacher Appreciation Week”
at the school.
The teachers were celebrated
for their efforts and dedication to their students
with treats provided by the Ashland PTO.
Pictured are, from left: Kim Haines (kindergarten), Lucinda Jacobs (one-one teacher) and Bonnie McNally (grade 1).
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 barbecue 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.
Portage Lake Historical Society hosting bean supper
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 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.
Ashland area Labels and Box Tops
All it takes is a little scissor action. That’s what members of the Ashland Area PTO have been preaching for the past two years as they encourage students to bring in Campbell’s Labels for Education and Box Tops for Education. The group has been sponsoring collection contests twice a year since the spring of 2009. Some contests have included challenges between classrooms, but this year has been handled a little differently. This year, the group set goals for the students of pre-K through grade 5 to work together.
Photo courtesy of the Ashland Area PTO
ASHLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL students and PTO members show off some of the merchandise earned through the Campbell’s Label and Box Tops collection program. With the hard work and efforts of the students and PTO members at the school, the children have enjoyed many new and exciting items. Pictured are, from left, front row: Kaileigh Voisine, Hailey Espling, Mia Carney, Joseph Tilley, Raegan Libby and Gabe Page. Back row: PTO Vice President Corrine Routhier, holding her daughter, Grace; and PTO President Kim Holmes.
The most recent contest saw a record target of 5,000 clips (Labels and Box Tops combined). Not only did they hit the target, they blew it out of the water with a total of more than 6,800 clips, earning them a special reward to be presented this month. Labels for Education equate to points that can be spent on school supplies and equipment. Box Tops are valued at 10 cents each and equate to cash.
This year the students have seen the fruits of their labor first-hand. Money earned from the collection of Box Tops was used to purchase VHS/DVD players for each of the two elementary grade wings and presented in March. Points earned from Campbell’s Labels for Education were used to purchase playground equipment, which was presented Friday, May 20. The gear included basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, four-square balls, a volleyball, a Wiffle ball set and a number of jump ropes of varying lengths. The contest may be over but the group continues to collect Labels, Box Tops, Coke codes, used cell phones, and used ink/toner cartridges.
The students now have a chance to get an additional 1,326 bonus points for the Campbell’s Labels for Education if they collect and submit 1,293 more labels before June 30. The PTO is asking the students, their families and community members to continue (or begin) to send in your Campbell’s labels, box tops and Coke points. The more points they collect, the more great things our local students can earn. These items can be given to a student or faculty member of the school or can be dropped off at the school office. Good luck students!
For more information on where you can send or drop off yours, please contact Corrine Routhier at 435-6854 or Kim Holmes at 435-6043.
Ashland Summer Fest model car race
Have you always wanted to participate in the Boy Scouts Pine Wood Derby but was “never” able to? Well, never say never! Your chance to race has come!
Photo courtesy of Susan Feeney-Hopkins
THE MASONIC LODGE in Ashland will be hosting the first-ever model car race featuring the Cub Scouts of America Pine Wood Derby car kits during the Ashland Summer Fest. The race is open to the public, and neighboring towns are invited and encouraged to participate! Here, Masonic Lodge members Chris Bessy, left, and Dave Basely give the racetrack a trial run.
The Masonic Lodge in Ashland will be hosting the first-ever model car race featuring the official Cub Scout Pinewood Derby racecar kits, during Ashland’s Summer Fest. The cars are the exact kits used by the Cub Scouts Pine Wood Derby and it’s up to you to design the car of your childhood dreams! Of course, there are specific regulations and guidelines regarding weight, length, appearance, etc. that you must adhere to, but the sky’s the limit!
“They can get as creative as they want,” said Mason and event organizer Dave Basely.
Photo courtesy of Susan Feeney-Hopkins
THERE WILL BE a model car race held during the Ashland Summer Fest later this month. Here is an example of the official Cub Scouts of America Pine Wood Derby car kits the participants in the race will use to build and customize for the event.
The race is open to everyone, young or old, male or female, and is shaping up for some very creative and fierce competition. There will be actual Cub Scouts in attendance competing with their derby cars so bring your best game and let the races begin!
Masonic members Basely and Chris Bessy, both of Ashland, built the racetrack, complete with an electronic finish line sensor designed and fabricated by Bessy. It’s quite a hi-tech system but it will ensure “no human error at the finish line,” said Bessy.
The race is scheduled to take place Thursday, June 30 at the Ashland Recreation Center on Station Hill in Ashland. Registration will be from 4-5:30 p.m. with the race set to begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost of the kit is $15 payable at the time you receive your model car kit. Because half the fun is in building and designing your car, you need to purchase your kit before the race to prepare. There will be cash prizes for the top three finishers. There will also be a public vote for the “best in show” with community members and spectators voting for their favorite car. The winner will receive bragging rights and a gift certificate for a large two-item pizza. This is really going to be a fun event so please come out and buy your kit and join in on the fun. You will be supporting a good cause and doing something you have always wanted to do. What better scenario is there? You might win!
To purchase your kit and secure your spot in the race, contact Dave Basely at 435-3601 or Chris Bessy.
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.
