DOVER-FOXCROFT SHIRETOWN HOMECOMING
Homecoming returns this weekend
DOVER-FOXCROFT — This weekend the annual Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming and Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Weekend will feature a number of events taking place Friday through Sunday.
The festivities start on Friday, July 31 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.
At 6 p.m. Foxcroft Academy will hold a special ceremony honoring the 1975 Class B boys basketball state championship team in the Pride Student Center. Following the recognition will be an East Lawn Tent Party from 7 to 10 p.m. with 1986 graduate Gerald Brann performing as Elton John with his band Yellow Brick Road — A Tribute to Elton John. More information and a full schedule on all of Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Weekend events can be found at www.foxcroftacademy.org.
A young cast, under the direction of 17-year-old Foxcroft Academy student Mitchell Chasse, will perform Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast Jr.”at the Center Theatre at 7 p.m. on July 31. The production is also at the Center Theatre on July 30 at 7 p.m., Aug. 1 at 2 and 7 p.m. and then the following weekend with shows at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7 and 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8.
A road race kicks off a day of events on Saturday, Aug. 1 with Foxcroft Academy’s 19th annual Pony Pride 5K, starting at 8 a.m. at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA (with registration beforehand).
Foxcroft Academy has a number of athletic events planned for the day, including the Homecoming Golf Scramble at the Foxcroft Golf Club starting at 8 a.m., 8 a.m. tennis tournament at the Burns-Johnson Tennis Complex, alumni boys and girls basketball games at 9 a.m., alumni boys and girls soccer games at 10 a.m., alumni field hockey contest at 10 a.m. and a slow pitch alumni softball game at 1 p.m.
The Piscataquis Republican Committee will sponsor its fifth annual Piscataquis Cruise-In on Saturday at the Pisctaquis Valley Fairgrounds on Fairview Avenue. Car registration is from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and the visitor gate opens at 9:30.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. a pair of rooms at the Maine Highlands Senior Center at Central Hall will be open for tours. The exhibit will include historic Foxcroft Academy items.
The Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society’s Observer Building Museum, at Union Square, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At the Dunham Forge, 107 Dawes Rd., blacksmith John Calderwood will conduct demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A milestone in the Riverfront Redevelopment Project at the former Moosehead Manufacturing facility will be the Mill Inn & Cafe ribbon cutting and tour, which starts at 10:30 a.m. The ribbon cutting is being conducted by the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce.
The Dover-Foxcroft Downtowners will host a hot dog cookout at Union Square from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Up the street Foxcroft Academy’s Family Day takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Later in the day will be a Founders Society and Legacy Circle reception from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. before the alumni banquet at 5:30 p.m.
Festivities move to Sebec Lake public beach in the evening, leading up to fireworks by Central Maine Pyrotechnics at approximately 9:15 p.m. Rowell’s Garage will provide free shuttle buses to the aerial display, with pick-ups at 8 and 8:30 p.m. at the courthouse and fairgrounds.
Beforehand, the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis concession stand opens at 5 p.m. and Steve Pratt provides music from 5 to 10 p.m.
Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Weekend concludes on Sunday, Aug 2 with breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. An alumni ice hockey game will be at the Alfond Arena on the campus of the University of Maine at 11 a.m. in Orono.
Nineteenth Pony Pride 5K Saturday morning
DOVER-FOXCROFT — In conjunction with Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Weekend, the 19th annual Pony Pride will be open to all and run at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Registration for the Pony Pride 5K starts at 7 a.m. at the gazebo behind the Piscataquis Regional YMCA on Park Street with rates available for those who pre-register, sign up the day of the race or who enter as families. T-shirts go to the first 80 to register.
The relatively flat and fast course goes through in-town Dover-Foxcroft. Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female runners, top Foxcroft Academy male and female alumni and top male and female Foxcroft Academy faculty finishers.
More information and registration forms are at www.foxcroftacademy.org.
Library book sale this weekend
DOVER-FOXCROFT — An “Alumni Weekend”10-cent book sale will be at the Thompson Free Library on 186 East Main Street. The sale runs two days only: Friday, July 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, and Saturday, Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included in the sale are weeded and donated pre-read hardcovers and paperback books, children’s and young adult books, audiobooks, videos and DVDs, cookbooks, and jigsaw puzzles. Proceeds benefit the children’s programs held in the library. Call the library at 564-3350 for more information.
PONY PRIDE 5K
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
The 19th annual Pony Pride 5K, held as part of Foxcroft Academy’s Alumni Weekend, starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA on Park Street in Dover-Foxcroft. Registration begins at 7 a.m.
FA adds Family Day to Alumni Weekend
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Foxcroft Academy Family Day is a new Alumni Weekend event to which all alumni and friends are invited for an afternoon of fun and games. Stop by campus between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, to join the fun, free of charge. There will be something for everyone. Oakes Field will be overrun with inflatables, face painting, balloon animals, potato-sack races, cotton candy, concessions, music and more.
Academy alumni award recipients
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Foxcroft Academy alumni banquet, which begins Saturday, Aug. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the gymnasium, is perennially highlighted by the presentation of Alumni Awards. This year’s award winners are John Glover, Douglas M. Smith and Cathy Cody.
Glover is the Tillson D. Thomas Award winner. The award, which is named after former Headmaster Tillson Thomas, is presented annually to a past faculty or staff member who served Foxcroft Academy with the highest degree of professionalism. Glover, who was revered by his students and colleagues, joined the Foxcroft Academy faculty in 1954 and retired as the history department head after 30 years of distinguished service.
This year’s Dr. Mary Chandler-Lowell Award, which is given annually to an alumnus who has distinguished himself or herself professionally, is awarded to Smith. A member of the Class of 1965, Smith went on to graduate from the University of Maine in 1969 with a BA in International Affairs/Political Science and from the University of Maine Law School in 1974 with a Juris Doctor degree. Smith later practiced law for more than 30 years and served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives and Maine State Senate.
The James S. Holmes Award, which is presented by the trustees to a community member who is not an alum or a trustee but who has distinguished himself or herself in their service to Foxcroft Academy, is awarded to Cody, RN. Cody, a parent of a 2012 and 2015 graduate, is an integral member of the Sports Boosters, Project Graduation and the Parent Advisory Committee.
Downtowners cookout Aug. 1
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Dover-Foxcroft Downtowners collaborate among residents, downtown businesses and town government to support a vital and inviting Main Street area. On Saturday, Aug. 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Dover-Foxcroft Downtowners are hosting a cookout at Union Square.
The goal of the cook out is to increase community support for a gathering spot at Union Square. Goals for the Union Square area are to equalize pedestrian uses and vehicle needs; provide service and customer access to shops and businesses; allow for fire truck movements; and develop a sense of pride and community.
Dover-Foxcroft was awarded Downtown Network status in 2010 by the Maine Downtown Center. Previous activities by the Dover-Foxcroft Downtowners include a sing-along at Union Square on July 4 and “So You Think You Know Dover-Foxcroft” game night in 2013. Dover-Foxcroft Downtowners future goals include trash and recycling receptacles along Main Street.
Photo courtesy of Dover-Foxcroft Downtowners
A VITAL AND INVITING DOWNTOWN — On Saturday, Aug.1 the Dover-Foxcroft Downtowners are planning a cookout from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Union Square. On the Fourth of July the Dover-Foxcroft Downtowners held a sing-along at Union Square, pictured.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PISCATAQUIS CRUISE-IN — The Piscataquis Republican Committee will sponsor the fifth annual Piscataquis Cruise-In on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the ballfield at the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds on Fairview Avenue in Dover-Foxcroft. Car registration is from 8:30-11 a.m. with the visitor gate opening at 9:30 a.m.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HOMECOMING FIREWORKS OVER SEBEC LAKE — A fireworks display is scheduled for around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 over Sebec Lake as part of the annual Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming festivities. During the evening the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis concession stand will be open, and Rowell’s Garage is providing free shuttle bus service to and from the lake for the fireworks display with pick-ups at 8 and 8:30 p.m. at the courthouse and fairgrounds.