Portage seeks to fill board vacancies
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney Hopkins
The town of Portage Lake is seeking to fill several vacancies on the Planning Board. This is a very important job and individuals must be committed to attending the meetings as scheduled. In order for town residents to get building permit approvals, the law requires the board to have a ‘quorum’ (an established number of members voting and approving) to make it a legal meeting. If there aren’t enough members seated, then an applicant will not be able to get a building permit approved. (What a hassle that would cause for any resident looking to make a home improvement!)
The positions are on a volunteer basis. All members have to be residents of Portage Lake and must be willing to learn about the town’s land use ordinances. Interested volunteers should contact the Portage Lake Town Manager Francis Grey at 435 – 4361.
Au’revoir 2010!
Whew, another year has flown by! It’s true what our parents have been telling us for generations, the older you get the quicker the years go by. Indeed. I feel it more and more every year. Looking back over the past year, I have been blessed with much love and many magnificent moments. It has been a year of great friendships, old and new. Of course I have suffered hardships and emotional days just like any one, but I prefer to ponder the best moments. They are what sustain us. They are what matter.
I have enjoyed what turned out to be a year-long 40th birthday celebration! My closest girlfriends and I all turned 40 in 2010 and each of us were treated to parties and get-togethers. (As you may remember, I was surprised by their visit on my birthday weekend). Between the five of us, our birthdays are evenly spread throughout the year so we ended up having a grand celebration every few months, the last one being in November. Whatever will we do in 2011? Though we were close before, something magical happened this year that none of us can quite explain, just that we are closer than ever and so much more deeply connected. It’s wonderful beyond words to have these woman in my life. They are the heart and soul of who I am.
2010 found me continuing with my position as the Ashland correspondent, which I get a great deal of personal enjoyment from. Doing so has led me to meeting so many new people and friends whom I probably wouldn’t have met or bonded with otherwise. It is always amazing to me how sometimes when you meet someone, instantaneously you know you’re going to be good friends. Fate? Who knows, but I welcome them with open arms and an open heart.
I have also found a lot of satisfaction in being able to bring our neighbors to all of you on a more personal level. I enjoy nothing more than telling someone’s story. There’s a lot going on with the people in our communities we may not have known otherwise. I think it helps to tie our communities together and being a part of that is special to me. I may not have grown up here (though my family did spend time here when I was growing up) but Portage Lake is my home town and I have a lot of pride and affection for the town and the people living in it. I thank all of you for reading my column every week and for all the positive words and e-mails of encouragement.
You never know where a year will take you. If you look at it with the right attitude, it’s all part of the adventure of life. The unexpected twists and turns — all of which lead you down the road you’re meant to travel. If you sit quietly and pay attention, you will understand what life is saying to you.
I wish you and your family health, love and happiness in the coming year. A bit of adventure too.
(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.)
