ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney-Hopkins
The town of Ashland will be hosting its annual Summer Fest beginning Thursday, July 3 and running through the weekend ending with a fireworks show at dusk on Sunday, July 6. Flyers with a schedule of events are available at various locations in town. These family-friendly events provide plenty of opportunity to enjoy the best of summer in northern Maine. Below is the list of events; please refer to the flyers for more details.
On July 3, an All Day Girls Softball Tournament is being held. Contact Lendall Tarr for more details. The Katahdin Valley Health Center (KVHC) will host a Customer Appreciation and Eye Care Open House from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the health center. Muffins, fruit and coffee will be served in the morning and hotdogs and hamburgers will be served at 11:30 a.m. There will be door prizes and giveaways, displays of dental services, blood pressure checks and the official opening of TAMC Eye Care Services.
The popular Model Car Race also takes place Thursday. Registration is at 5 p.m. with the race immediately following. For more information, contact Dave Basely or Chris Bessey. There will also be a free barbecue at 5:30 p.m. at the softball field to celebrate Girl Scout Silver Awardees.
Friday, July 4 features an all day Outdoor Flea Market at the Fish and Game Club. Spots are still available for $10. Contact Rita Morgan at 435-4201 for more information. From 2-5 p.m., there will be Kiddie Bingo at the Ashland Diner sponsored by Girl Scout Troop 1151 and the Ashland Diner. A $5 or food donation entry fee is required and will benefit the Ashland Food pantry. For more information, contact Ginger Nelson at 227-3852. The Advent Christian Church will be holding its Summer Fest favorite, Annual Salad Supper, from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Church. A variety of salads will be available along with beans, cold cuts, rolls and desserts. Eat in or take out, by donation.
The Bandstand events for Friday will include Fairy House Building from 4:30-6 p.m., Karaoke with Gerard Charette from 5-8 p.m. and the announcement for Ashland Citizen of the Year will take place at 6:30 p.m.
The Outdoor Flea Market at the Fish and Game Club will also take place all day Saturday, July 5. The Masonic Hall on Plum Street is having a Pancake Breakfast from 7-9 a.m. The fee is $5 for adults and $2 for children. The parade will begin at 10 a.m., with line up beginning at 9 a.m. Cookies for the Cure will be set up on Main Street during the parade with all proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen For The Cure fund. There will be a Kids Carnival on Saturday. There will be lots of kids’ games, bounce obstacle course, raffle tickets for a Nintendo 2 DS, clowns, cotton candy, a hot dog cookout and much more! There will be an admission fee to the carnival. The Adventure Race will take place again this year, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Ashland Logging Museum. This race is open to all who have a sense of adventure and don’t mind working hard and getting dirty! Contact Linda Milligan for more information.
Bingo at the VFW will take place from 1-4 p.m. A Spaghetti Supper at the Ashland Logging Museum, sponsored by the Ashland Ski Club, will be from 4-6 p.m. The fee is $5 per person and will benefit the ski club. A Street Dance will begin at 8 p.m. on Main Street featuring the favorite local band, Too Far North, and is sponsored by the Ashland Fire Department. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
At 9 a.m. Sunday, July 6, there will be an Outdoor Ecumenical Service at the Ashland Fish and Game Club with music by the Aroostook River Voices. Come join your friends and neighbors for this uplifting service. (Attendees should bring their own chairs). The Classic Car Show will take place at 11 a.m. All years and models welcome. Cheeseburgers and hotdogs will be available, and Cow Chip Bingo will be held in the back field. The Duck Derby is at noon with the finish at the bridge by the Fish and Game Club. Winners will receive half the funds from the sale of ducks. The Masardis Gospel Express will perform from 1-2 p.m. along with Amber Philbrook from 2-5 p.m. at the bandstand behind the Fish and Game Club. Closing out this year’s Summer Fest will be the fireworks show at dusk. All events are subject to change without notice.
Ongoing events
The Portage Lake ATV Club will meet every first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Office. All are welcome to attend. Contact Rena Belanger for membership or more information at 435-2780.
The Ashland Area Senior Citizens meet the first and third Thursday at noon for a potluck luncheon at the LeBlanc Junkins VFW Post 9699 on the Portage Road with a meeting to follow. This active and growing club of senior citizens also takes trips to various restaurants throughout The County, hosts cookouts, enjoys guest speakers and entertainment such as musicians. For more information, contact Roberta Savary at 435-6422.
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 Jean Clark at 435-8034 or Donna Martin at 435-7108.
The Red Hat Loonies of Portage Lake meet every third Thursday of every month at Dean’s Motor Lodge. Membership dues are $2. Come and have a great meal and a great time, too!
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 227-7760 or Feenhop@aol.com.
