Teams of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Pioneer Girls, and Adults took to the streets and back roads of Lebanon picking up debris for most of the morning.
Lebanon Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts who participated were; Andrew Merrifield, Ryan MacKenzie, Connor MacKenzie, Tyler MacKenzie, Eric Sirois, Dana Grover, Dakotah Grover, Kaden Fuda, Anthony Fuda, Colby Watson, Greg Sirois, Zachary Burns, Hunter Brown, Eli Teatrealt, Caleb Poulin, Kayden Spence, Ryan Upton, Colby Amidon, and Larry Abbiati.
The boys were grouped with an adult and a follow vehicle, Our thanks to Norm Sirois, Ryan Burns, Jake Teatreault, Veronica Poulin, Matt Amidon, Barry Spence, Kieth Merrifield, Jenn MacKenzie, and Adam Watson for being out there with our town's Scouts and working alongside your young men!!
Lebanon Girl Scout Troop 1908 were also in attendance with a good number of young ladies, who worked equally as hard!!
Lebanon Girl Scouts who participated were; Samantha Merrifield, Cammie Rose, Ella Shennett, and Hannah Barr, under the leadership of Scout Leaders Andrea Rose and Jennifer Merrifield.
We were also pleased to have two Lebanon Pioneer Girls working with the Scouts today!! Great job done by Marie Sirois and Sophie Teatreault.
There were also a group of younger siblings on hand, and for little folk, they did an amazing job!! Our thanks to Hali Fuda, Kristen Fuda, and Lily Watson.
The younger residents did an AMAZING job cleaning up all around the Lebanon Elementary School and the Hanson School. They raked and added mulch and picked up trash from the school grounds.
As we drove the back roads of town, we saw there were many who had left bagged debris on the side of the roads. Teresa Brooks and her husband Ed had come along to help, as did Sandy Adams and her son Jim.
Our thanks to the many residents who also went out and cleaned along the roads, leaving the rubbish neatly bagged by the roadside for pick up!
After cleaning up some of the major roadways in town, the group headed back to the Lebanon Town Office for hot dogs and macaroni salad. Grill Chef Selectman Ben Thompson and his Sous Chef daughter Summer did a wonderful job of keeping the dogs coming!
Around noon, the Lebanon Road Crew workers came with three trucks and drove the roads, picking up the bagged trash and larger debris, tires and construction debris and taking it all to the Lebanon Transfer Station.
A call to Transfer Station Head Man, Ronal Patch, at about 3:30 found that the Crew had already brought 3 full truck loads of trash, tires, and debris to the Transfer Station.
After the hot dog BBQ, the scouts were in for a surprise as their Scoutmaster, Norm Sirois had arranged to have Maine Game Warden Michael Coyne and Portland Police K-9 Officer Christian Stickney and his dogs arrive for a demonstration. Stickney who also trains dogs from his business, North Edge K-9 located in Gorham, Maine. Mr. Coyne, who has done several cameo appearances with his dogs on the television show North Woods Law, also arrived with his dog. Coyne's dog, Sheba, a 3 year old Belgian Malinois, remained in his vehicle, but Officer Stickney did presentations with both of his dogs, Blaze, a 2 year old Belgian Malinios, and Tigger, a Bavarian Mountain Hound pup.
North Edge K-9 Owner Christian Stickney and Blaze speak to Lebanon Scouts
Adults and children alike sat mesmerized as Officer Stickney put Blaze through his paces, all the while speaking about his training, what police dogs are used for, and how important they are in finding lost children and in the protection of their human counterparts.
"He's with me more than my wife, more than my kids," said Stickney of his partnership with Blaze. "I trust him with my life. I know he'll be with me. Even more than other Police Officers as he doesn't understand fear or failure."
Stickney's commands to his K-9 partner are issued in Dutch. But he assured the children that even if a criminal knew the Dutch language and was yelling commands at the dog, "he would only listen to me, I'm sure of that."
Tigger, the Bavarian Mountain Hound was brought out to sniff the woods and lawn and get some pets and adoration from all the residents. According to Stickney, there is only one other Police Tracking Hound in Maine and he is up in the northern areas. Tigger is one of two in the State, "And Tigger is the only Mountain Hound", he added with pride. Tigger comes to Stickney, his family, and his Department from Berlin Germany.
Tigger the Bavarian Mountain Hound Pup, will be one of only two Police Tracking Hounds in Maine
The Officer than showed the gathered children important parts of his uniform, and his vehicle. There is a button on his uniform and if he pushes it, the passenger side rear door of the vehicle opens, releasing Blaze. "He knows that if that door opens and I'm not there, I need him and he has to find me", said Stickney. He also demonstrated the "heat sensor" on the cruiser that sounds a siren, turns on the lights, and opens the windows should the engine fail and the temperatures become too hot inside the vehicle for the dogs.
Portland K-9 Officer Christian Stickney Shows the Scouts the Special Equipment in K-9 Cruisers
The North Edge K-9 owner, Officer Stickney, also brought North Edge K-9 T-Shirts to hand out to everyone!! That was a GREAT surprise!!
We'd like to extend a huge THANK YOU, once again to Scoutmaster Norm Sirois and all the Lebanon Boy and Girls Scouts, Scout Leaders, Residents, Road Crew, Lebanon Road Commissioner, Lebanon Transfer Station, Selectman Ben Thompson, Welches Hardware, Market Basket, North Edge K-9, Police Officer Christian Stickney, Blaze, Tigger and Maine Game Warden Michael Coyne for their hard work and community involvement today!!
SO much got done and the roads look GREAT!!
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