The winter sports season is now in full swing, which means on a nightly basis, gymnasiums across the area are likely to be filled with young athletes dribbling balls up and down the court for their respective teams.
Basketball season also means a time where parents and siblings are usually sitting in the stands, often times during dinner hours, working up an appetite.
Over the years, I have sampled offerings from a multitude and of schools and what I have found is each seems to have their own specialty. Sure every school serves popcorn at games. It’s hard not to since it is so inexpensive to make and easy for folks to eat while watching a game.
Some schools, however, kick it up a notch with their popcorn. For a time, Southern Aroostook Community School had a bottle of butter you could pour yourself, which put their popcorn at the very top of the list. I have already been to a couple games there this season, but no butter was available those nights. Hopefully it makes a return at some point.
In Hodgdon, they have an entire room devoted to popcorn, located just outside the door of their gymnasium. It’s a brilliant marketing tool as the aroma of freshly popped corn fills the air inside the gym. The Hawks also have a nifty selection of flavorings one can add to their popcorn ranging from garlic salt, to nacho cheese, and my personal favorite, Cajun spice.
Hodgdon’s concession stand also wins top honors in my book for its variety of food choices. Noplace else can you find pizza slices, breadsticks and baked potatoes for your dining pleasure. Whenever I have to cover a Hodgdon game, I usually skip supper at home so I can dine at the Hawks’ Nest.
At Houlton it is all about grilled cheese sandwiches and grilled hot dogs (the red ones, of course) when watching the Shires. The sandwiches are extremely popular with the younger crowd.
School concession stands are a good way for people to grab a quick snack during games and are also a great way for the school’s sports booster programs to raise money for their programs. Boosters Clubs are often charged with helping purchase new uniforms or warm up suits or various other gear that is needed for students.
So why are some schools having such a hard time finding people to work at their concession stands? In SAD 70, finding parents to man the stand has become increasingly difficult in recent years, according to Lori Lenentine, a member of the SAD 70 Sports Booster Club.
The club has essentially been a trio for the past year with Lenentine and Joel and Lynn Oliver working the window. Lenentine said she often has to call parents on game night to see if anyone is available to help out. Any parent interested in assisting can signup by emailing her at lorilenentine@msad70.org.
Basketball is by far the biggest sport in Maine and there are a number of great teams waiting for people to come watch them. So get on out and support your local squad, and while you are there, be sure to visit the concession stand.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at 532-2281 or by email at jcyr@pioneertimes-me.com
