Scholastic achievement
Melissa Cray, a senior at Ashland Community High School, was recently chosen by the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) to receive one of the two $500 scholarships awarded by MIAAA at the annual banquet and recognition night. Ron Grover, Ashland Community High School athletic administrator, had the honor of presenting Melissa with her award. Melissa is the daughter of Douglas and Lori Cray, of Ashland. Melissa, her parents and a friend, Vincent Oullette, all attended the banquet as guests of the association at the Samoset Resort in Rockland. Melissa is a three-sport letter winner in soccer, basketball and softball, as well as a member of the National Honor Society and class valedictorian. She also drew many oohs and aahs at the banquet when it was announced that her community service time, of which 40 hours is mandatory to graduate, was 100 hours and counting over the requirement. Melissa has been accepted at Husson College, the University of Maine at Fort Kent, Ohio State University, the University of Findley and the University of Maine at Orono where she plans to attend in the fall of 2007.
Oxbow Town Wide Yard Sale
Oxbow will be holding a town-wide yard sale on Saturday, May 26, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. It’s a great time to take a ride to the beautiful town of Oxbow and see what treasures you can find.
Ashland Summer Fest Parade
It’s time once again to plan for the Ashland Summer Fest Parade. The parade will be held on Saturday, July 7, at 11 a.m. Anyone interested in entering a float, car, band, truck, equipment, horses, groups, clubs, anything at all can contact Bobbi Jo Condon to register. The theme for this year’s Summer Fest is Celebrating Ashland’s Heritage, so put on your thinking caps and let’s make this year’s parade one to remember!
Northwood Manor events
Northwood Manor, a non-profit adult residential care facility located on Walker Street in Ashland next to the Ashland Health Center, will be holding a yard/bake sale to raise money for the Activity Program of the facility on Friday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone willing to donate clean items suitable for a yard sale or donations of baking supplies can drop items off at Northwood Manor between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. seven days a week. A raffle will also be held; tickets are $2 each or three for $5. Prizes for the raffle include gift certificates to local business, tanning sessions, pizza and crafts. Tickets can be purchased at Northwood Manor from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week or at the Ashland Food Mart June 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winners will be drawn on July 1 at 3:30 p.m. and winners will be notified by mail.
Portage Lake Tag Sale
The annual Portage Lake Town Wide Tag Sale will be held on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Municipal Building on School Street. Crafters are welcome. There are still spaces available for $10. Bring your own table or rent one for $2. Call Jean Clark at 435-8034 to reserve a space. Many families in town will also be having yard sales at their homes. This is a great opportunity to drive out to beautiful Portage Lake for some real bargains!
Ongoing events
The Ashland Area Senior Citizens Group meets every Thursday at 12 noon for a potluck lunch and meeting at the Ashland Rec Center. Everyone is invited to attend weekly.
The Portage Lake Seniors’ Lunch is held on the last Tuesday of every month at 11 a.m. All seniors are invited, the meal is a potluck so bring your own dish or bring a cash donation. 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 have a great time and meal. For more information contact Rachel Stevens at 435-6358.
An infant to pre-K playgroup meets every Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Ashland Rec Center. For more information call Andrea White at 435-6363.
Portage Lake Centennial Celebration Planning Meeting – There has been no date set at this time, but if you are interested in the planning please contact Barb Pitcairn at 435-2368 or Grace Nason at 435-6373.
Ladies, are you interested in crafts? Or maybe you have some you’ve started and not yet finished? Every Thursday evening at the Portage Lake Municipal Building is Girlz Night starting at 6:30 p.m. Bring those crafts you’ve been neglecting and enjoy the company.
Help needed
Anyone who is interested in taking over the writing of this column for the Ashland Area News please contact Bobbi Jo Condon at 435-3992, 435-7160 or btcondon@msn.com. The Ashland Area News is an important part of the Star-Herald showing the wonderful things we have going on in our community, it just needs someone who can put more time into it than I can. I will continue to do the column because it is a necessity, but if someone else is interested in writing for the Ashland Area News, please call or e-mail.
Bobbi Jo Condon is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and surrounding townships. She can be reached at 435-3992 or 435-7160 or by e-mail at btcondon@msn.com.
