As temperatures drop, energy help heats up

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The Southern Aroostook Vocational Education students in Dave Libby’s Region 2 forest management class got a couple of lessons last week. One was the hands-on experience of cutting wood; the other, how to help some Aroostook County residents stay warm.     They came to Houlton to further their education. Libby’s’ assistant, Ted Wright said: “It gives the kids a chance to use chainsaws before they cut down trees.” He was supervising Chris Anderson as the young man sharpened his chainsaw.
    Libby said he and his students “generally do a few community projects each year. It gives them a chance to hone their skills, practice safety measures and do something good for the community.”
    The students knew the wood they cut last Thursday and Friday was going to area residents who needed help to heat their homes. The Operation Wood Heat Program is one of the volunteer-supported programs of Friends of Aroostook. The umbrella agency — Empowering Life — is an outreach and counseling agency based in Houlton.
    Wood is donated by local contractors who pay for it and deliver it to Empowering Life’s lot on Military Street. Among the wood donors are Mark Boutilier and Chris Putnam of Forrestmark Firewood Services in Hodgdon who delivered two and one half cords of cut and split wood at the end of the summer.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/ Elna Seabrooks
CLASS ACTION — Dylan Willette, left, a Region 2 forest management student in Dave Libby’s Southern Aroostook Vocational Education Program cuts donated wood that will be given out to residents in need through Operation Wood Heat. Instructor Dave Libby shows Willette where to cut for the 16-inch lengths that will be split later.
    “There are people out there who could actually use some help. And, over the years, people have helped me,” said Boutilier who explained why he donated wood he could have sold for profit. “Somebody could probably heat their house for a couple of months with that wood. Yeah, it’s a fair bit. It always feels good to give something back to people.”
    Other contractors, “Bruce Warman and Mike Lane dropped off about 16 cords of wood last year and more again this year,” said Dale Flewelling, program director of Operation Wood Heat. Flewelling added that his program “has helped families in Presque Isle, Washburn, Weston, Crystal and the towns in between. This year’s goal is to have 20 cords of wood on hand to assist those in need throughout the entire county.”
    Ian Crane, another one of Libby’s students said while he was cutting wood: “It’s for a good cause and it’s good practice. I don’t know too many people who buy wood, cut it, split it and give it to people.” Well, now he does know those kind of people.
    For information on donating or receiving wood, contact: Dale Flewelling, 532-9906 or visit the Web site:  www.empoweringlife.org.