Dozens participate
in annual OTC Fun Day festivities
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The Shriners’ Building on the Houlton Road was filled with laughter March 7, as over 100 sponsors and participants of the annual OTC Fun Day spent the day enjoying some great food and rides on various machines — from snowmobiles to toboggans hauled behind all-terrain vehicles — as they made the loop on the snowmobile trail adjacent to the facility.
ALL ABOARD 
— A tote designed by Fred Haines of Presque Isle allowed for multiple passengers, including those with limited mobility, to enjoy a ride on area snowmobile trails. Pictured in the tote from left are: Lane Trombley, Danill Hobbs and Wayne Sharp. Pictured in the baseball cap is Haines helping to secure Sharp’s wheelchair.
Inside the door, those in attendance were greeted by ladies from United Methodist Women’s organizations, representing communities including Mapleton, Presque Isle and Castle Hill, who presented hand-made scarves in teal and blue to anyone who wanted one.
“The ladies made 127 scarves using knitted and crocheted patterns of their choice. We had made some for last year, but Fun Day was cancelled, so we just added more to those,” said Marie Bagley, a member of the organization.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
KITCHEN STAFF for this year’s OTC Fun Day festivities at the Shriners’ Building were, from left: Spragueville Homemakers Extension members Betty Rider, Mona Cyr and Sylvia Harper; Sandy Bartley, member of the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club; and SHE members Ann Knight and LaVone Walters.
Bagley said the group got the idea from a similar program downstate.
“Special Olympics participants have been the recipients of scarves downstate, so we thought we’d do the same for OTC clients here,” said Bagley.
Freddie Haines has been a regular at these events for years and is responsible for several of the toboggans used to provide rides.
“I build tote sleds for events like this. This is what it’s all about,” said Haines.
OFF WE GO 
— Joe Powers stands as he prepares to head out with a full tote and a passenger aboard his snowmobile, during the March 7 OTC Fun Day held in Presque Isle.
Members of the Mapleton Fire Department, the Maine Warden Service, the Maine Forest Service and other volunteers gave of their time, some bringing their own machines to provide rides. Despite a bit of a chill in the air, laughter and smiles were abundant. No sooner did a passenger get off a snowmobile, than another was ready to get on and head out.
Thanks to Haines’s ingenuity, even those in wheelchairs were able to enjoy the day. Haines has designed totes with ramps at the back, allowing a chair to be wheeled into the tote and secured.
Participant Rena Young, of Caribou, said she was enjoying herself.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
ALL SMILES — Cindy Doody, with the Work Opportunity Center Day Program, and Presque Isle resident Kent Stevens pose for a picture during OTC’s annual Fun Day.
“It’s fun but my ears got cold,” said Young.
Kent Stevens, of Presque Isle, looks forward to the event each year.
“I get to see friends. The rides are fun,” said Stevens.
Kitchen help this year included members of the Spragueville Homemakers Extension and the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club.
“It’s always fun. We look forward to doing it every year. We bake goods, make coffee and hot chocolate and serve people when they’re hungry. Everyone has such a good time,” said Ann Knight, member of the SHE.
Cindy Doody, of Washburn, works with the Work Opportunity Center (WOC) Day Program. She too said she was having a great time.
“I’ve worked there for a couple years — love it and the people I work with. It’s great how community members come together to provide a fun activity for our clients. This makes everyone smile,” said Doody.
Pam Powers, supervisor for the OTC staff, said this is one of the most popular activities on their calendar.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
FREE SCARVES were handed out by members of the United Methodist Women organizatoin to participants of OTC Fun Day activities, held March 7 at the Shriners’ Building. Pictured from left are: Marie Bagley, Jamie Kemper and Kathy Swanson.
“This program has been going on for over 23 years. They come in, warm up and go back out. It was so thoughtful of the ladies to make the scarves,” said Powers.
Ted Roberts, a member of the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club — the club has hosted the event for over two decades — said in the early days, the event was held at the Opportunity Training Center in Presque Isle.
“It’s great how participants relate and remember certain people. They mark every day off on their calendars until the event,” said Roberts.
