How much wood could a woodchuck chuck
THE WOODCHUCKS. Pictured from left, back row: John Underwood, Tim Utley, Seth Barker, Greg Holton, John King, Allan Strouss, Maurice Landemare, Henry Rowe; front: Bill Smith, Dottie, the dog, and Barclay Shepard. Courtesy of Sally Bullard
THE WOODCHUCKS. Pictured from left, back row: John Underwood, Tim Utley, Seth Barker, Greg Holton, John King, Allan Strouss, Maurice Landemare, Henry Rowe; front: Bill Smith, Dottie, the dog, and Barclay Shepard. Courtesy of Sally Bullard
We all know that the answer to this childhood riddle is none — but a group of dedicated volunteers are disproving the rhyme.
The Woodchucks, a group of senior citizen woodsmen who provide low-income families with firewood, are busy all year round gathering, splitting, stacking and delivering wood to folks in need on the Boothbay peninsula.
The town of Boothbay has signed a lease agreement with Boothbay Region Community Resources Council President Susan Wilson, designating an area in the town's Public Works space for use by the Woodchucks.
This provides a comfortably large space to receive, process and store a large quantity of firewood. The Woodchucks are most grateful to Boothbay Town Manager Jim Chaousis and the selectmen for their support in making this possible.
Maurice Landemare has graciously donated the framework of a large Quonset hut in which seasoned firewood can be stored. Rebuilding Together has generously donated a large, new state-of-the-art tarpaulin that will be placed over the frame, thus protecting the seasoned wood from the elements during bad weather conditions.
This will be a great improvement in the ability to make regular and emergency deliveries. In the past it was very difficult to impossible to make deliveries when the wood was covered with snow and frozen in place.
The number of Woodchucks continues to grow. There are now about 15 regulars, many of whom meet regularly each Tuesday and Saturday mornings at the designated site. Some spend the time cutting logs into stove-sized lengths while others split them and stack them in an open area to season.
Still others get their exercise stacking the already seasoned wood under the Quonset hut frame. On these mornings the buzzing of chainsaws and splitters fills the surrounding air all the way from the Country Club to the recycling area and perhaps beyond.
A couple of weeks ago, the regulars were augmented by a large number of high school students who were doing their Community Day service. Their boundless energy and enthusiasm were both infectious and productive. Their assistance was much appreciated.
One of the students, John Lucas, returned the following Saturday to lend a hand. It's hoped that others may follow his example.
It's a good way for these younger folks to see what teamwork can do to help others; and that they can still have a good time working side by side with some older folks.
If you are in need of firewood, please contact Susan Wilson at 207-633-6320.
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