Located behind the Recreation Center building, the Ashland Food Pantry has been up-and-running for many years, serving those in need within our community.
The Pantry is open twice each month; every second Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. and every third Thursday from 2-4 p.m. The purpose of the Pantry and the people who work there is to help those in need and also to provide relief in times of emergency. Individuals that operate the facility are more than happy to modify the times/days that the Pantry is open to accommodate those in dire need.
The Ashland community has been struck with several challenges in the last couple of months and the Pantry is here to help our friends and neighbors. If you or someone you know needs a little extra help during these difficult times, please contact Polly at 435-6340.
Ashland Scouts Attend Winterama
Boy Scout Troop 179 had two patrols (AAA and Coyote) attending the District Winterama at the University of Maine at Presque Isle Saturday, March 8. Events started with a Snowshoe Relay race in the morning. The Klondike Derby began after lunch and included many events to test each boys’ Scouting skills, such as map reading, tying knots and lashings, preparing for disasters and emergency situations, identifying animal tracks, making a fire and compass reading. After the scheduled events, the boys enjoyed climbing the rock wall, swimming and playing in the gym at Gentile Hall.
ACHS to Host USM Chamber Singers Concert
March is Music in Our Schools Month, and it is being celebrated with flair in Ashland. On Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m., the University of Southern Maine School of Music Chamber Singers will give a concert at the Ashland Community High School Gym.
The Chamber Singers are gearing up for another European tour, but this 28-member select group from Portland will be traveling to Ashland to perform before they leave the United States. Under the direction of Dr. Robert Russell, the group will perform vocal works ranging from classical, spirituals, folk songs and popular tunes. This group will also be doing an assembly in Ashland to promote vocal music in our schools. The Ashland Middle School Chorus, under the direction of Benjamin Potvin, will combine with the Chamber Singers to perform the spiritual, “Wings of a Dove.”
This concert is made possible by a generous grant from the Maine Community Foundation to support high quality musical performances in rural areas of Maine. All donations from this concert will go to support the SAD 32 Music Program in Ashland. Hope to see you March 27 at 7 p.m. at the Ashland High School Gym for this amazing vocal concert!
Drama Club
Follow the yellow brick road all the way to Ashland Community High School as the Drama Club, with piano accompaniment from Kyle Green, puts on the classic musical, “The Wizard of OZ.”
For those of you not versed in this childhood fantasy, here is a brief synopsis: the story tells the tale of Dorothy Gale (played by Miranda Donovan) who travels by hurricane over the rainbow into the mysterious land of OZ with her dog Toto (played by Snickers Flint). When she first arrives in OZ, Dorothy is greeted by the Munchkins and the Good Witch of the North (played by Debi Beckler). Unfortunately, she also makes an enemy of the Wicked Witch of the West (played by Sara Morton). In order to return to Kansas, she must travel to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of OZ (played by Conner McFarland). As she travels down the road, she teams up with many lively characters including the Scarecrow (played by Bethany Wardwell), the Tin Man (played by John Wilson), and the Cowardly Lion (played by Britany Soucier).
Not wanting to spoil the ending, you will have to come and see what happens to Dorothy and her friends as she desperately tries to find her way back home.
Two performances will take place at the Ashland High School at 7 p.m. The first Friday, April 4 and the second Saturday, April 5. Costs for the show are $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and students; and $13 for a family ticket (immediate family members only). Tickets can be purchased at the door. This evening is suitable for an audience ranging from the very young to the young at heart, so come and enjoy a great night of entertainment.
Project Graduation to Host Bluegrass Concert
A bluegrass concert will be held Saturday, April 26 at the Ashland Community High School gymnasium. The show will start at 7 p.m. and feature Wilf Clark and the Misty Mountaineers, as well as the Aroostook County Bluegrass Band. Cost for the concert is $10 per person. All proceeds will go toward ACHS 2008 Project Graduation. Please come and enjoy an evening of fun and entertainment.
Portage Lakers ATV Club Raffle
Members of the Portage Lakers ATV Club are currently selling raffle tickets. The grand prize will be a mini ATV, second place will be a $25 gift certificate and third place is a $20 gift certificate. Certificates were donated by The Sled Shop and Harry’s of Presque Isle. The winners will be drawn after the Memorial Day Parade at the Portage Town Hall. Tickets can be purchased from any club member. For more information, please contact Kathy Gagnon at 435-4361 (work) or 435-6223 (home).
Looking for Recipes
The Portage Lake Cookbook Committee is in need of recipes for our centennial cookbook, which will be available in 2009. We are looking for favorite family recipes, both old and new. We would love to hear from past residents of Portage Lake, as well as current residents. Look through your recipe collection for recipes for snacks, smoothies, desserts, main dishes, soups, salads, etc. Please be as specific as possible with measurements, directions and the size of cans, packages and pans so that others can successfully make your recipe. The deadline for sending recipes to be included in the Portage Lake Centennial Cookbook is May 1, 2008. Recipe forms will be available at the Portage Town Office, or send your handwritten or typed recipes to Lou Sandy Boutot, P.O. Box 4, Portage, Maine 04768. Thank you.
Ongoing Events
The Ashland Area Senior Citizens group meets every Thursday at noon at the Ashland Rec. Center. Any senior citizens wishing to participate in the potluck lunches and meetings are always welcome.
The Portage Lake Seniors’ Lunch is held on the last Tuesday of every month at 11 a.m. at the Town Hall. All seniors are invited to attend and can bring a potluck dish to share or give 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 and have a great meal and a great time, too! For more information, contact Rachel Stevens at 435-6358.
If you can help plan for Portage Lake’s Centennial Celebration, please contact Barb Pitcairn at 435-2368 or Grace Nason at 435-6373.
Ladies, are you interested in crafts or have some that you’ve started and just can’t seem to finish? If so, take yourself over to the Portage Lake Municipal Building for Girlz Night every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy the company and the satisfaction of finally completing a project!
(Julie Graham-Berry is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and surrounding townships. She can be reached at 435-7137).
Photo courtesy of Polly Libby
BOY SCOUT TROOP 179 attended the District Winterama March 8 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Pictured in the gymnasium at Gentile Hall are, from left: Andrew Libby, Mickenzy Ronco, Isaac Wortman, Henry Milligan, Brett Stratton and Adam Sessoms.
Photo courtesy of the Ashland Drama Club
MIRANDA DONOVAN (Dorothy), Debbie Beckler (Good Witch of the North), and Snickers Flint (Toto), will be starring in “The Wizard of Oz.” The Ashland Community High School Drama Club will present the classic musical April 4-5 at Ashland Community High School. The show begins at 7 p.m. on both nights.
Photo courtesy of Polly Libby
MEMBERS OF THE AAA PATROL of Boy Scout Troop 179 in Ashland, from left: Malcolm Milligan, Jayme D’Ozier, Mickenzy Ronco and Isaac Wortman, also tested their map reading skills at the Topo Trail station in the Klondike Derby. Not pictured but also participating were Brett Stratton and Adam Sessoms.
Photo courtesy of Polly Libby
HENRY MILLIGAN in the Snowshoe Relay race. The Coyote Patrol placed second in this event.
Photo courtesy of Polly Libby
COYOTE PATROL MEMBERS of Boy Scout Troop 179, from left: Andrew Libby, Henry Milligan and Sean Robertson, tested their map reading skills at the Topo Trail station.
Photo courtesy of Polly Libby
SEAN ROBERTSON, left, Henry Milligan, center, and Andrew Libby, members of the Coyote Patrol of Boy Scout Troop 179, hold their awards from the recent District Winterama held March 8 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. They placed first in four of the stations of the Klondike Derby race, which were called Vista Views, Great Bear Lake, Yukon Rescue and Three Forks. They placed second in two of the stations called Titanic Revenge and Topo Trail. The boys also received first place for overall points in this race.
