HOMECOMING

Celebrate ‘Northwoods Heritage’ at D-F Shiretown Homecoming

        DOVER-FOXCROFT — This weekend the Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming will celebrate “Our Northwoods Heritage” with events taking place Friday through Sunday.
    The festivities start on Friday, Aug. 1 with the annual Piscataquis Observer and Zone Radio free hot dog barbecue cookout from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Media Central on East Main Street. The cookout will include a raffle and other giveaways.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom

HORSING AROUND IN TOWN — Foxcroft Veterinary Services gathered a group of horses and riders to take part in the 2013 Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming parade. This year’s route begins at 10 a.m. at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds then travels from Fairview Avenue to Summer and North streets, East Main Street (above) and then Essex Street back to Fairview Avenue.

    Over the weekend the Center Theatre will screen “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” at 2 and 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
    Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Weekend is held in conjunction with Homecoming, and the school will dedicate its new electronic campus sign at 5:30 p.m. with an east lawn tent party to follow from 7-9 p.m.
    A pair of road races kick off the day of events on Saturday, Aug. 3, starting with the Piscataquis Regional YMCA’s Pony Trot 1K for ages 5-12 at 7:30 a.m. At 8 a.m. the Foxcroft Academy Pony Pride 5K starting gun will fire, with runners taking off by the PRYMCA on Park Street.
    The downtown street festival begins at 8 a.m. and runs through 2:30 p.m., with a bounce house, train rides and free games for kids and numerous vendors, crafters and food. Also at 8 a.m. will be a tennis tournament at the Foxcroft Academy courts — please call Hal Chase at 564-2944 to register.

Observer file photo/Mike Lange

    DICKERING OVER THE FLOATS — The Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming parade on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 2 will have a panel of celebrity judges. Judging the procession participants will be Nate Knight, left, Clint Rohdin and Bruce Thomas (not pictured) from the History Channel program “Downeast Dickering.”

    The Thompson Free Library book sale begins at 9 a.m., and will run until 1 p.m. Over the same four hours will be tours of the ongoing construction at Central Hall.
    The Homecoming parade starts at 10 a.m., with the procession departing from the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds on Fairview Avenue, traveling to Summer and North streets, then East Main Street and back to the fairgrounds. Judging the parade participants will be Clint Rohdin, Nate Knight and Bruce Thomas from the History Channel’s “Downeast Dickering.”
    The Dover Cove Farmers’ Market at the corner of South and Pine streets will be open on Aug. 3, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the band Half Way Home performs at the market space.
    Foxcroft Academy alumni can take part in basketball games, for both men and women at 12:30 p.m., or soccer games, also starting at 12:30 p.m. Please contact Rob Stevens at 343-1182 for more information on the basketball games and Josh Chase at 650-2365 for more on the soccer contests.
    The Foxcroft Golf Club hosts a Homecoming Golf Scramble, with prizes awarded in various golfing competitions. Times are at 8 and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., please call 564-8887 for more information.
    At 1 p.m. the Atlantic Clarion Steel Band performs downtown by Central Hall.
    In the evening the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club will be selling concessions at the municipal beach on Sebec Lake from 4-10 p.m. Steve Pratt will be providing music.
    Foxcroft Academy hosts a Founders’ Society and Legacy Circle reception at the Peakes House from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., with the Foxcroft Academy Alumni Jazz Band playing a concert in the east lawn parking lot from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The reception and alumni banquet will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m.    
    Parking is very limited for the fireworks display, and free shuttle bus rides are available to bring spectators down to the lake. The pick-up schedule is at Foxcroft Academy and the courthouse at 7:45, 8:15 and 8:45 p.m.
    The shuttle bus rides will get spectators down to the water in time for the spectacular fireworks display, presented by Central Maine Pyrotechnics, at 9:15 p.m. over Sebec Lake to conclude the 2014 Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming.
    Foxcroft Academy finishes up Alumni Weekend on Sunday, Aug. 3 with a breakfast at 8 a.m. and then an alumni ice hockey game at the Alfond Arena on the University of Maine campus in Orono at 11 a.m. — please contact Anthony Phillips at 564-8471 for more information.

Hackett and Meader to receive awards at FA Alumni Banquet

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — One of the highlights of Foxcroft Academy’s annual Alumni Banquet on Saturday, Aug. 2, will be the presentation of plaques to this year’s alumni award winners: Matthew Hackett and Betty-Jane Stanhope Meader. The Foxcroft Academy Board of Trustees has chosen to announce the winners in advance so that alumni have time to make plans to attend if they’d like a chance to congratulate these well-deserving recipients.
    The Tillson Thomas Award is given annually to a former faculty or staff member who, in the opinion of his or her former students, served the students of Foxcroft Academy with the highest degree of professionalism. Hackett, who was the assistant head of school at Foxcroft Academy from 1987-2003 and just this year retired as principal of Penquis Valley High School, will receive the award, which is named in honor of Tillson Thomas — who served as headmaster at Foxcroft Academy from 1947-72 and became synonymous with order, rules and professionalism. Hackett and his wife Rachael will be attending the Alumni Banquet
    Meader will receive the Dr. Mary Chandler-Lowell Award, which is given to an alumnus of Foxcroft Academy who has distinguished himself or herself professionally. A member of the Class of 1964 and the daughter of long-time Trustee Murray Stanhope ’37 and Elizabeth Smith Stanhope ’38, Meader joined the faculty at Thomas College in 1971 and retired in 2012 as an associate professor of retail management.
    The award is named in honor of Dr. Mary Chandler Lowell, who graduated from FA in 1881 and went on to become one of the first American women to earn the degrees of Doctor of Medicine, Bachelor of Law, and Doctor of Jurisprudence.
    To register for this year’s Alumni Banquet or see a full schedule of Alumni Weekend events, visit www.foxcroftacademy.org.

Pony Pride 5K set for Saturday morning

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — The annual Pony Pride Alumni 5K road race will take place at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2 in conjunction with Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Weekend. The course is relatively flat and fast as it travels through downtown Dover-Foxcroft.

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom

PONY EXPRESS THROUGH DOVER-FOXCROFT — Runners take off down Park Street during last year’s Pony Pride 5K as part of Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Weekend. The 18th annual edition of the road race begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, with registration beginning at 7 a.m. by the Piscataquis Regional YMCA.

    The first 80 registrants will receive a free race T-shirt. The first male and female competitors will receive either $50 in cash or a $100 savings bond. Gift certificates will be presented to the winners in the various race categories.
    The road race is open to all who want to compete. The race individual divisions are based on age and gender. The age divisions are as follows: 10 and under, 11-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 and over.
    The registration begins at 7 a.m. at the gazebo at Kiwanis Park behind the Piscataquis Regional YMCA on Park Street.
    The race begins at 8 a.m. and the Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming Celebration parade follows.
    Entry forms should be sent to Foxcroft Academy c/o George Rolleston, 975 West Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.

PRYMCA hosting Pony Trot Kids 1K

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis Regional YMCA is kicking off the Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 a.m. with the annual Pony Trot Kids 1K race. The race, open to all children between 5 and 12 years old, is a fun way to get the kids active and introduce them to the fun of running.

Photo courtesy of PRYMCA

YOUNG RUNNERS — The children running in the PRYMCA’s 2013 Pony Trot get ready to race. This year’s 1K for ages 5-12 will take place on Aug. 2 at 7:30 a.m.

    Medals will be given out in two age brackets: ages 8 and under and ages 9 and up.  There is a registration fee and kids can register at the Y or by calling the Y at 564-7111.
    The PRYMCA is a cause-driven organization that is committed to the community and dedicated to promoting healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, through programs and services grounded in Christian heritage and the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Blacksmith demonstration at museum

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — A blacksmith demonstration by John Calderwood of Etna, a blacksmith who also makes decorative ironwork, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 2 at the Blacksmith Shop Museum — 107 Dawes Road, Dover-Foxcroft. The event will include refreshments and articles for sale.

PARADE MARSHAL

Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom

Last year’s Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming Parade Marshal was Tim Merrill. Merrill was joined on the boat float by his grandsons Mason, left, and Carter Merrill. This year’s Homecoming will feature events from Aug. 1-3, with the parade through town mid-morning on Saturday, Aug. 2.

Library book sale

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — A “Come in the Front Doors” 10-cent book sale will take place at the Thompson Free Library on East Main Street Saturday, Aug. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both the front rooms of the library and the basement meeting room will be open for the sale of pre-read and weeded hardcover and paperback books, children’s and teen books, videos and audio books and puzzles. This sale benefits the library’s children’s programming. For more information, please call 564-3350.