state grants

TALIA CLARKE INTRODUCES US TO THE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS WHO MADE THESE COURTS POSSIBLE. DEB ROBERTS HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS OVER THE YEARS.. AS THE FOUNDER OF HOLLAND STRONG ICE FISHING DERBY. ROBERTS STARTED THE FISHING DERBY, IN MEMORY OF HER SON MICHAEL HOLLAND. HE IS ONE OF 33 CREW MEMBERS WHO DIED WHEN THE EL FARO, A US FLAGGED CARGO VESSEL, SANK DURING HURRICANE JOAQUIN IN 2015. 15;25;04 “THE IDEA CAME TO MY MIND WHEN THEY CALLED OFF THE SEARCH FOR THE CREW, INCLUDING MY SON.. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED TO HOW DO I MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE EVERFORGETS MICHAEL AND HOW DO I HONOR HIM.” SINCE THEN, ROBERTS HAS GIVEN SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATING SENIORS AND ORGANIZED A TOY DRIVE. ROBERTS SAYS HER SON WAS AN AVID ATHLETE.. SO SHE IS WORKING TO REFURBISH THE RSU 73 ATHLETIC COMPLEX.. STARTING WITH 3 BRAND NEW TENNIS COURTS AT SPRUCE MOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN JAY. 15;25;29 “THEY’RE A LIFELONG SPORT, WELL USED BY THE COMMUNITY. THEY’RE OBSOLETE THEY CAN’T USE THEM RIGHT NOW.” THE RSU 73 TENNIS COURT PROJECT IS FUNDED SIGNIFICANTLY BY A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION GRANT THROUGH THE NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE.. AS WELL AS FUNDS RAISED BY THE HOLLAND STRONG FISHING DERBY. THE CONTRACTOR, RAY LABBE AND SONS IS DONATING SOME LABOR. PHASE 1 WILL BE COMPLETE THIS FALL.. AND PHASE 2 IS EXPECTED TO WRAP UP EARLY NEXT SUMMER.. BUT MORE MONEY IS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. 15;15;58 “I HOPE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THIS PROJECT MEANS TO ME, MICHAEL WAS ONE OF MY STUDENTS I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE HIS MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR 4 YEARS AND IT MEANS A LOT THAT HIS NAME IS GOING TO BE CONNECTED WITH THIS PROJECT.” 15;28;14 “LIFE GOES ON AND PEOPLE FORGET BUT I’LL NEVER FORGET AND ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO THAT ALLOWS ME TO SAY MICHAEL’S NAME AND HONOR HIM AND HAVE OTHER PEOPLE SAY HIS NAME.. THEN I’M DOING MY JOB AS