Ashland man traveling to Haiti on mission trip
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney Hopkins
Matt Libby of Ashland will be traveling to Haiti from March 1-11 with members of his local Wesleyan Church to help build a church, which will also be used as a community center, for the local Haitians.
Photo courtesy of Matt Libby
MATT LIBBY of Ashland will be traveling to Haiti in March on a mission trip to build “safe haven” buildings for the locals in an effort to help rebuild their communities and spirits after the devastating earthquake one year ago.
Since the earthquake one year ago that destroyed most of the country, the citizens of this nation, especially the small towns, “Do not have even one safe building for the locals to go to during or after an earthquake,” said Libby. The project, headed by a local Wesleyan church, will include 13 other men, skilled carpenters, from northern Maine.
“The team of men are all special and all very experienced carpenters and good Christian men. Pastor Bud Fancy is leading us,” said Libby, noting that the group is set up by Global Partners. “I heard about it in church on Christmas Eve at the Wesleyan Church in Presque Isle. I feel like I can make a difference in missions if I can do what I do best and carpentry, especially in remote areas, is my specialty. How could I refuse?”
They will fly out of Boston into Port au Prince and then be shuttled to an area where they will hike in about nine miles into the back country to build an earthquake proof, pole barn-type building. The locals are now fearful of block and concrete buildings after having witnessed the damage and loss of life caused by masonry construction. A pole barn-type structure will offer durability being built to earthquake and hurricane codes, flexibility in design and layout, as well as being economical and quick to build. Their food and materials, “Will arrive by mule hopefully before we do,” explained Libby. “Most of my family says I’m nuts, but I think I will have more problems taking (the required) shots than living hard in the wilds. I don’t like needles.”
Libby’s “biggest concern” is raising the money to pay for the materials. Libby has “received a tremendous amount of support from customers and friends. The Advent Church in Ashland is also a sponsor.” The men involved have been raising money for the mission by picking up metal to recycle, asking for donations and cutting timber on the weekends. Each had to raise $1,200 for their own expenses as well as $1,100 for building costs for a total of $31,500 for the whole project. “Quite an undertaking,” said Libby, adding that “many of the men going have young families and not a lot of money and of course they had to take 11 days off from work.”
What an inspiration. May you all have safe travels. Work hard, rest easy and God speed.
If you wish to offer your support to this effort, please send your checks to The Presque Isle Wesleyan Church/Haiti Project, P.O. Box 763, Presque Isle, Maine 04769 or call 764-5187.
Ashland Area PTO
The Ashland Area PTO will have its next meeting March 14 at 6:30 p.m. All community members are welcome to attend. You don’t need to be a “traditional” parent to become involved. Grandparents, guardians, aunts and uncles and community members are encouraged to participate. The election of new officers will be held at this meeting so it’s a great time to step in and become involved in the organization and your community!
Cub Scout news
Photo courtesy of Julie Graham-Berry
CUB SCOUTS from Ashland Pack 179 that received trophies in their recent Pinewood Derby are, from left: Graham Berry, first place; Reece Deabay, second place; Alex White, third place; and Dakota Sutherland, fourth place. All four boys will continue on to compete at the District Pinewood Derby at the Aroostook Centre Mall March 12.
Since last September, Ashland Scouts have been hard at work, but having fun, too! To kick off the Scouting year, the boys, who are in grades one through five, took to the streets selling popcorn. Proceeds from this annual money-raiser help to fund the many activities that the Scouts do throughout the year and to pay for their advancement awards. The Scouts did a great job, sold more popcorn than last year, and got lots of neat prizes for their efforts.
yPINEWOOD DERBY – Cub Scouts from Pack 179 in Ashland that participated in the 2011 Pinewood Derby are, from left, front row: Graham Berry, Clark Condon, Lukas Deabay, Alex White, Dakota Sutherland, Dane Driscoll and Mason Ginn. Back row: Daniel Rafford, Colt Ginn, Chandler Pratt, Otis Nelson, Reece Deabay and Hunter Ginn. Also participating, but not pictured, were Mason Moro, Sean Montpetit, Tristin Perreault and Blayne Boutot.
In December, the Cub Scouts once again had a successful Christmas tree sale. The Pack would like to thank Dick and Midge Jimmo once again for generously donating the trees to sell and also all those that bought trees or gave monetary donations. Also in December, the boys, leaders and parents decorated the Orion Timberlands window on Main Street for the community to enjoy and went caroling at the Northwood Manor, Ashland Public Library and Ed & Marilyn Chase’s. Most recently, the Pack hiked to Kevin and Jennifer Paradis’ home for an afternoon of sliding. What a good time and super exercise for all! Our Pack was also represented at the Biathlon Opening Ceremonies on Feb. 3 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Chandler Pratt, a Webelo II, marched out with other Cub and Boy Scouts from the North Star District as a flag bearer and did a super job. Thank you Chandler for your desire to participate in this historical event.
Photo courtesy of Julie Graham-Berry
SIBLINGS OF CUB SCOUTS can also participate as “fillers” in the Pinewood Derby. This year, three sisters of Ashland Scouts wanted in on the action. Displaying their cars are, clockwise from left: Kassandra Nelson, Vanessa Rafford and Samantha Nelson. Kassandra Nelson had the fastest car at this year’s derby with a time of 3.202. Way to go girl!
On Feb. 5, Mapleton Pack 170 was the host for Ashland’s Pinewood Derby at the Mapleton Lions Hall. Pack 179 is grateful to Mapleton for allowing us to join them for the past three years and for the use of their terrific derby track. Four Ashland Scouts will be continuing on to the District Pinewood Derby race to be held at the Aroostook Centre Mall Saturday, March 12. Those boys are: Graham Berry, first place; Reece Deabay, second place; Alex White, third place; and Dakota Sutherland, fourth place. Congratulations to them and thank you to all the Scouts, parents, leaders and siblings that participated.
For the remainder of the year, the Scouts will work in their dens towards advancement and take part in many more Pack activities such as Pack 179’s on-going recycling project, Scout Skills Show, annual bottle drive, Spring Camporee, marching in the Memorial Day parade, etc.
ADULTS ALSO GOT in on the action racing their own cars between the Ashland and Mapleton Pinewood Derbies Feb. 5. Here, Art Sutherland of Ashland places his car on the track.
Going back to September 2010, Cub Scout Pack 179 welcomed five new Tiger Scouts (grade one): Clark Condon, Lukas Deabay, Alex White, Dakota Sutherland and Dane Driscoll. Since then, their number has grown to seven with the addition of Mason Ginn and Caleb Cray. It is wonderful to have such a great bunch of ambitious boys, eager to learn all about Scouting! The Pack has only one Wolf Scout (grade two), our “Lone Wolf,” Blayne Boutot. For Bear Scouts (grade three) there are five boys: Graham Berry, Colt Ginn, Sean Montpetit, Hunter Ginn and Reece Deabay. Webelos I (grade four) has three boys: Dylan Haley, Segdrick Orr, Tristin Perreault and Webelos II (grade five) has five: Mason Moro, Otis Nelson, Daniel Rafford, Steven Bellanceau and Chandler Pratt. Leaders for the dens are: Michael Montpetit (Wolf and Bears), Linda Milligan and Polly Libby (Webelos I and II), and the Tiger parents are collectively guiding their boys through their first year of Scouting. Julie Graham-Berry is the Cub Master for Pack 179 and Ginger Nelson is a committee member along with the other leaders listed above. Leblanc-Junkins VFW Post 9699 continues to be the Charter Organization for Pack 179 and Dennis Beaulier is the Charter Organization representative.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 435-8232 or Feenhop@aol.com.
