Maple Festival and Sports Show Andover Central School April 5

2008 details will feature different speakers and schedule. Update will appear in this space as soon as details are confirmed.

“It’s a community institution! And the Andover Lions Club welcomes everyone to the 36^st annual Maple Festival and Sportsman’s Show!” according to Andy Kahl, club president. “Once upon a time, every local farmer gathered sap to make syrup for the next year. But fewer are active producers. Nonetheless, we celebrate the Maple Festival which attracts many to Andover every Spring. We work all year to create a program that will be of interest to attract lots of our friends to come back again.” This year’s festival will again be held at the Andover Central School on Saturday and Sunday, April 1^nd and ^rd. The events will be open to the public from 9 a.m. both days and will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Autumn Hill Alpacas

Another feature of this year’s Sportsman’s Show will be a special seminar presentation by Kip Adams, Wildlife Biologist, Regional Director, QDMA (Quality Deer Management Association). Kip will discuss how QDM differs from traditional and trophy management and how it may improve herds, habitat and hunting. The Quality Deer Management Program is a non-profit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting sustainable white tailed deer populations. The Seminar will show how to improve High-quality, whitetail deer population, wildlife habitats through research, education and management with hunters, landowners and natural resource professionals. This will be held in the Auditorium at 1 pm on Saturday. Other displays in the Sportsmen’s Show will include trapping, fishing, turkey calling and sporting vendors.

For the 9th consecutive year there will be an Antler Round-up with judging by regional members of the Big Buck Club. Sportsmen of all ages are invited to bring their deer mounts or antlers for a display area in the main gymnasium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. Judges will be present and participants will be able to get them officially scored – FREE! Cash prizes will be given out for those with the highest score and the Best of Show. Scoring time will only be between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday; however, mounts will be on display both days. A secured display area will be provided in the school gymnasium.

Once again this year’s show will bring back many of the same old favorites of past Maple Fests – including the daily pancake and maple syrup breakfast sponsored by the Andover Rod and Gun Club. Maple products and pancake flour will also be available in the Maple Room hosted by the Lions Club. The sugar shack will be in full operation on the adjacent property at Blessed Sacrament Church. More than 60 vendors and professional craftsman will display their trades and handwork.

Antler Roundup

Antler Round-up

All day pancake breakfast

Free health clinics will be available as in past years, including eye tests, diabetes testing and blood pressure screening. A new feature this year will be – courtesy of the Maple City Lions Club – photo eye screening. The results of this screening indicate whether a child is at risk for an ocular problem. If the parent is not notified, then the child has passed the screening. The MAPLE CITY LIONS CLUB provides the screening as a community service with the MTI Photoscreener, a very sophisticated scientific, clinical instrument. This may produce both false positive and false negative results; therefore, it is intended to assist in identifying significant ocular conditions, which may lead to amblyopia (Lazy Eye). If the patient passes this screening but the parent/guardian still has concerns, or there is immediate family history of amblyopia, the child should receive a comprehensive eye examination by an eye doctor. This screening is not intended to substitute for a comprehensive eye examination.

These health evaluations are in line with the Lions focus on improved vision and responsible testing. Again this year there will be an ear testing clinic to evaluate for hearing deficiencies. Volunteers from the Andover Lions Club as well as the Andover Rescue Squad will assist local professionals in the health clinic activities.

For more than thirty years the Maple Festival has been a function of the Andover Lions Club to feature and promote its community service. The local Lions sponsor numerous community service projects. Its involvement and support for the Journey for Sight and special holiday baskets for shut-in’s and seniors demonstrate its interest in caring for others and improving the quality of life for those with special needs. The club sponsors both a high school Thanksgiving Weekend Basketball Tournament and a junior high Basketball Tourney. The local Lions also show appreciation for the special contributions of local community members in its Citizen of the Year recognition. Annual scholarships are presented to deserving students and other community organizations to advance and recognize their achievement to excel. In all the Andover Lions seek to encourage service-minded men to serve their local community without financial reward while promoting high ethical standards.

Diabetes screening in the Lion's Health Room

Many other community groups and local businesses also will present displays and informational material about their work. Everything from school class groups to local church groups to other regional clubs will add to the festive atmosphere throughout the school again.

Handicap parking will be available at the Andover Medical Center parking lot and shuttle bus service will transport persons from there to the school.