Ashland Care Givers receive grant
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney Hopkins
The Ashland Care Givers Association has received a $2,000 operational grant from the Ashland Area Fund of the Maine Community Foundation. The grant will be applied to the operating budget of Northwood Manor located in Ashland. Northwood Manor is a licensed, six-bed adult family care home providing round-the-clock care and services to frail, elderly adults. Northwood Manor is the only like facility in Ashland and the surrounding areas.
The Maine Community Foundation is a statewide non-profit created by and for the people of Maine. The foundation is a philanthropic leader in building sustainable and vibrant communities for all Maine people. As Maine’s first community foundation, charitable funds are created by individuals, families, businesses and organizations and are distributed for various grants and scholarships throughout the state of Maine.
For more information, contact the Maine Community Foundation at www.mainecf.org or call (207) 667-9735.
Ashland resident celebrates birthday surprise
Photo courtesy of Felicia O’Clair
ASHLAND RESIDENT Salina O’Clair recently celebrated her 90th birthday with many family and friends with a party thrown in her honor. Here, Ms. O’Clair is shown with her children and special friend. They are, from left, front row: Laurie Jacques, special friend Hubert Boulier, Salina O’Clair and Robert O’Clair. Back row: Jean McPherson, Felicia O’Clair, Rick O’Clair, Mary Gerow and James O’Clair.
A surprise 90th birthday party was held for Salina O’Clair at the VFW Hall in Ashland June 29. Many family and friends came to share this special day with her. Ms. O’Clair was born in Frenchville June 29, 1923 and has lived in Ashland for most of her life.
Known for her kind and friendly nature, Salina is also a strong and independent woman, who single-handedly raised her nine children after being widowed at a young age. As she proudly likes to recall, she “did it myself even when they said I couldn’t.” Besides raising her children, she also worked to support them and bought a house for her family in a time when women typically did not have that much independence or the resources to do so.
It is a compliment to her that each of her children are also kind and good natured and “turned out well” she says. They are a close family and any time the family is together, laughter can be heard and fun times are had. Salina is the tie that binds them together with each new generation.
Salina loves music and is a talented musician. At any given time (literally, even in the wee hours of the morning!) she enjoys playing her CDs, most typically old time country classics and is always singing right along. She can play several instruments such as the guitar, keyboards and harmonica, which she continues with to this day! Most days you will find her crocheting gifts for family and friends, as well as playing card games.
Family members attending her party included daughter Felicia O’Clair of Presque Isle, daughter Jean and son-in-law Herb McPherson of Portage Lake, their daughter and granddaughter, Veronica and Shanna of Pittsboro, N.C.; daughter Laurie Jacques along with her husband, George, and daughter, Jessica, all of Garfield; daughter Mary and her husband, Richard Gerow of Ashland; son Rick O’Clair of Portage Lake along with his friend, Wendy Smith and his daughter, Megan O’Clair, with her newborn son, Zachariah; son James O’Clair with his children, son Felix of Georgia, daughter and son-in-law Jaymie and Brad St. Peter of Portage Lake and their children, Sidney and William; and daughter Marcy Whipple with her daughter, Amanda. Last but not least, Ms. O’Clairs son, Bobby O’Clair, made a ‘surprise’ visit from Texas. All together Ms. O’Clair has nine children (including the late Donnie and Anne), 15 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Also attending her party was her very special friend Hubert “Hubie” Boulier of Caribou along with many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Ms. O’Clair enjoyed a cake made of half chocolate with peanut butter frosting and the other half white with white frosting. The cake was decorated with yellow roses and “Happy 90th Birthday” written on top. Everyone mentioned how delicious the cake was! Snacks included a veggie and fruit tray, cookies and squares, chips and punch. Passing along her musical genes, the O’Clair family band provided the entertainment with family members Felicia, James, Felix, Rick, Jaymie and William playing music and songs, much to Salina’s delight. Salina would like to thank her family and many friends for making her birthday such a special day.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 227-7760 or Feenhop@aol.com.
