Ashland news
By Susan Feeney-Hopkins
Is your garage band ready for the big time? Tune up those guitars, sharpen your drumsticks and enter your band in the Ashland Fish and Game Club’s first ever Battle of the Bands scheduled for Saturday, June 20. The event will be held on the outdoor stage on the club grounds.
Misty Robinson, club director, said they are “hoping to sign on at least 10 bands.” When asked why they are choosing this type of venue for the club, Robinson said, “In our area, there isn’t much going on and in light of all the layoffs, we thought this was a good way to get everyone’s mind off of things, get out of the house and enjoy some fun.”
They are also hoping to generate interest in the club with the “younger generation” in the area. The battle is open to any band interested no matter your home base. Though rock-themed bands are the main interest, all other genres of music are welcome. The competition is open to beginners, as well as seasoned veterans. The entrance fee is $50 per band with all the entrance fees going to the winning band, therefore the total amount is dependant upon how many bands enter the competition. The more bands involved, the more money involved!
Further details of the concert will follow as interest is generated. Please contact Misty Robinson for more information and/or to register at 435-7998.
The Portage Lake Playground Project will be hosting a Pampered Chef party at the Municipal Building Friday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Come enjoy a night out with friends and food while supporting this worthwhile project.
A warrant has been posted in Nashville Plantation for a special town meeting at the Town Hall Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. Voters will consider articles to transfer monies from surplus to pay for tax map updating and mill assessing.
The Ashland Area Cross Country Ski Club is happy to announce they are the recent recipients of a grant from the Maine Community Foundation. The club has been active for the past six years and this is the second grant they have received from the foundation.
The club would like to express its appreciation for the Maine Community Foundation’s financial support of the club. The funds will be used to help with all of the expenses that are incurred to maintain groomed cross-country ski trails in the community.
This past winter season, approximately 45 students in grades K-8 rented skis as part of the “Healthy Hometown Winter” skiing program.
The students skied every Thursday after school from the beginning of January until April. This year also included several new adult volunteer participants. It was a nice treat to have more adults on the trails skiing with the children. A number of the participants have skied with the club since the program began and they are now quite accomplished skiers. The club is looking forward to another successful ski season this coming winter.
Please mark your calendars for their annual Spaghetti Supper July Fourth as part of the Ashland Summer Fest celebration. This has been a very successful fund-raiser for the club and they wish to thank all who help to make it the success that it is. Hope to see you on the Fourth. If you have any questions regarding the club, please contact either Kim Haines at 435-6576 or Linda Milligan at 227-9135.
The office of U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) will be holding office hours from 1-3 p.m. Friday, June 5 at the Ashland Town Office, located at 17 Bridgham St.
For questions, please contact the office of Senator Snowe toll-free at 1-800- 432-1599.
Ashland Central School will be holding its kindergarten graduation Wednesday, June 3 (tonight!) at 7 p.m. at the school. Congratulations to all the graduates.
Beginning June 15 and running every Monday through Thursday until July 30, there will be a free lunch served to all under the age of 18 at the Ashland High School Cafeteria. For those over the age of 18, the cost will be $2.75. Lunch will be served from 11-11:30 a.m. The menu will be as follows – Monday: chicken or cook’s choice, potato, hot vegetable, dinner roll, fruit and milk; Tuesday: burger or hotdog with bun, hot vegetable, fries, fruit and milk; Wednesday: deli sandwich with ham, turkey or bologna and cheese, pickles, veggie sticks, chips, fruit and milk; and Thursday: pizza, salad, fruit, dessert and milk. Peanut butter sandwiches will be offered this summer as a second choice. Items are subject to availability. Hope to see you there!
* Federal regulations require meals to be eaten on school grounds. All meals are prepared for immediate consumption. Please remind your children to properly dispose of trash. Any questions or concerns may be addressed to: Nan Belskis, food service supervisor at Ashland Nutrition Program, P.O. Box 289, Ashland, Maine 04732 or call 435 – 8423.
The Portage Lake Congregational Church will open for summer worship beginning this Sunday, June 7 through the end of September. Worship is ecumenically centered within the framework of a traditional Protestant service. Holy Communion will be offered on the first Sunday of every month. Church begins at 10 a.m. with refreshments following. All are welcome! For more information, please contact Wes Lavigne at 764-1630.
The Ashland Area Senior Citizens group meets every Thursday at noon at the Ashland Recreational Center. Any senior citizens wishing to participate in the potluck lunches and meetings are always welcome to attend.
The Kids Club will meet again Thursday, June 11 at the Masardis Pentecostal Church. If your child needs a ride, please contact the Rev. or Mrs. Donald Morton at 435-6983. The group meets every other Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Portage Lake Historical Society – Individuals from Portage Lake (and surrounding communities) are in the process of establishing a historical society. This group will meet each Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Portage Lake Town Hall. Anyone who has an interest in preserving Portage Lake’s history, and becoming a charter member is welcome to join.
The Portage Lake Over 50’s Club lunch is held on the last Tuesday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at the Town Hall. All individuals 50 and over are invited to attend and can bring a potluck dish to share. For more information, contact Wilza Robertson at 435-6211 or Grace Nason at 435-6373.
The Red Hat Loonies of Portage Lake meet the second Thursday of every month at Dean’s Motor Lodge. Membership dues are $2. Come and have a great meal and a great time, too! For more information, contact Rachel Stevens at 435-6358.
There is an exercise group every Monday night at the Portage Lake Municipal Building at 6:30 p.m. There is no cost for participants. Just a group gathering to keep exercise motivating and fun! Please contact Kim Holmes at 435-6043 for more information.
Portage Lake Centennial Celebrations – There are still events in the works and assistance is still needed to help plan and participate in the celebrations. Any help you can provide is both needed and appreciated. Please contact Corrine Routhier at 435-6854.
Centennial Commemorative Items Available For Sale – Coins, key chains, slide show DVDs, calendars and cookbooks available at the Town Hall. T-shirts and mugs available only at Dean’s.
There is a Centennial Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. on June 8 at the Town Hall.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and surrounding townships. She can be reached at 435-8232 or feenhop@aol.com.
Photo courtesy of Susan Feeney-Hopkins
Pauline Craig, pictured seated in front, celebrated her 90th birthday recently with family and friends. Pictured standing behind Craig are her children, from left: Nelson Craig, Marion Dunham, Ella Weeks and Lois Howes.
