The Ashland Summer Fest is celebrating its fourth year with a music festival. As in the past, many traditional activities such as a parade, softball tournament, bingo, car show, drive-in movie, and beach ball race will be held throughout the four-day event. There will be many opportunities to satisfy your hunger and new activities for young and old to partake in.
This year’s slogan for the Summer Fest is, “The Woods Are Alive With the Sound of Music,” and the committee has worked very hard to coordinate a variety of musical talents to perform. Flyers containing all of the activities and music scheduled for the Summer Fest are available at businesses throughout town. Please be sure to pick one up and make your plans early for Ashland’s weekend celebration.
Following is a list of musical performers/performances that will take place during the Ashland Summer Fest. Please note that all musical events will take place either at the high school or the bandstand with the exception of the Street Dance and one performance at the Advent Christian Church. On Friday, July 4, from 2-3:30 p.m., Sheldon Wright and Friends will perform at the high school. This band hails from Presque Isle and has performed at the Mapleton Farm Days; 4-5:30 p.m., Stunt Machine, a modern rock and roll band with a sprinkling of original tunes will take the stage at the high school. All members of Stunt Machine are Presque Isle residents and have performed at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on numerous occasions. They include: Zeb Kelly, drums; Mike McLean, guitar and vocals; Chris Pelletier, bass guitar and vocals; and Adam Umphrey, guitar. At the Bandstand from 6-7:30 p.m. will be Larry Jenkins. Larry is a music teacher in Washburn who plays many styles of music with many different instruments. Ending Friday’s musical offerings at 8 p.m. will be Randy Michaud, a musician from Mapleton who will be singing all of our country favorites.
On Saturday, July 5, from 2-3:30 p.m., The Blue Jets, a high energy, rock and roll dance band, will be at the high school. Members are Darren Thiboutot, drums and vocals; Cliff Bradshaw, guitar and vocals; and Ashland’s very own Rick McLennan (Class of ‘65), bass and vocals. From 4-6 p.m., Two & A Horn, an easy listening jazz band, will perform during a cabaret spaghetti supper, sponsored by the Ashland Ski Club at the high school. Members of Two & A Horn include Houlton music teacher, Paul LaPointe; former Ashland music teacher, Charles Nason; and Kyle Green, a well known keyboardist from Presque Isle. At the Bandstand from 6-7:30 p.m. will be Bob Frame, playing classic rock and roll. Bob has played in many local bands including “Too Far North” and hails from Houlton. On Main Street, in front of Daigle Oil, the Nadeau Family band will provide the music for the Street Dance. Sponsored by the Ashland Fire Department, the dance will begin at 8:30 p.m.
On Sunday, July 6, from 10-11 a.m., the Covenant Sons, the Casey family of Oakfield, will be on hand at the Advent Christian Church performing Christian rock selections. This is a great opportunity to witness some musical talent! From 2-4 p.m. at the high school, Larry Hall and the Just Folk Singers and Friends will put on their third reunion concert. This singing group was formed 40 years ago and entertains with classic ‘60s music. Members of the group include sopranos: Patty Cyr, Charlotte Cross, Pat Rafford and Melissa Hall; altos: Anne Hall, Debbie Maddi and Cynthia Wilcox; tenor and baritones: Larry Hall, Toby Hall and Rick McLennan; guitarists: Joel Hall, Kevin Bushey and Rick McLennan; keyboard, Sherri Calhoun; and percussionist, Chad Cyr. Directing the whole gang is Mr. Larry Hall, retired music director of Ashland Community Schools. Mr. Hall was largely responsible for putting together the musical extravaganza for this year’s Ashland Summer Fest and for that we thank him very much. Sunday’s music will conclude at the Bandstand with Chris Morton and Bernie Howes of Ashland singing gospel favorites from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and then Wendel Hudson, another gospel music performer, from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Portage Summer Round-Up
The Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club will be holding a Summer Round-Up in Portage Saturday, July 12. Events are as follows:
• Noon – Parade
• 1 p.m. – Softball game and Cow Chip Bingo
• 3 p.m. – Motorcycle Rodeo, sponsored by Pine State Motorcycle Club
• 4 p.m. – Pig Roast
Summer Fest Parade
The Ashland Summer Fest Parade will be held this year Saturday, July 5 at 11 a.m., with line up beginning at 10 a.m. at the High School. Anyone interested in participating can pre-register by calling Bobbi Jo Condon at 435-7160, or by e-mail at btcondon@msn.com.
Parade entrants are encouraged to have a music theme to their submissions because of this year’s Summer Fest being a music festival.
Fitness race/walk scheduled
The Ashland Summerfest Committee will be sponsoring a community fitness race/walk Saturday, July 5 at 8 a.m. with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. It will start at the bandstand and cover 3 miles around town. We are hoping everyone who likes to run or walk will join us in this celebration of fitness. For the race, there will be ribbons for male and female racers in three different categories. Kids take note: there will be prizes for you at each mile marker to encourage you to keep it up and finish the 3 miles. Afterwards, there will be watermelon for all participants, young, old, and in between. Cost is just $3, so please join us in this community event. Contact Linda Milligan to pre-register at 227-9135.
Vacation Bible School
There will be an Egypt Expedition-themed Bible school program at St. Mark’s Church. The program is scheduled for Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 18 and will run from noon-2 p.m. each day. Any questions may be directed to Corrine Routhier at 435-6854.
Tag & Bake Sale Rescheduled
Originally scheduled for June 13-14, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary will now be holding its annual tag and bake sale Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28. The sale will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days and will be at the VFW Hall on the Portage Road. For more information, you can call 435-7137 and speak to Julie.
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).
