Light Our Field Project

Easton is small town in Northern Maine with a thriving community spirit.  Citizens pride themselves in supporting the students at our local school.  Over the past few years several community members have recognized a need and have decided to pitch in and do something about it.  The lack of a lighted field in the community limits the activities that can be held.  Our school soccer teams are at a disadvantage for a couple of reasons.  The boys and girls teams must play both of their games at the same time early in the afternoon due to limited daylight hours.  This presents a couple of issues for parents and community spectators of both the home and visiting teams.  Many people cannot attend the games due to the 3:30 start times due to their work schedules.  Another issue that has arisen many times over the years is when a parent has a daughter and son that are both playing at the same time on different fields.  They must choose which child to watch.  We are also one of the last schools to take a three week break for students to help local farmers harvest their crop of potatoes.    Easton does not schedule soccer games during this period.  Many players cannot make a practice over those three weeks due to working on the farms and daylight being gone when they finish.  Once harvest break ends, there is one week before the playoffs begin.  It creates a tremendous disadvantage when competing against teams that have been playing games and practicing for the entire season.  A lighted field would allow our students to play back-to-back games, so that we create a great community atmosphere where people do not have to make decisions about which child or team to watch.  Our players would be able to attend more practices over harvest break if we were able to practice at night.  It would provide opportunities for our recreation department to have night events.  

After seeing the need and knowing the financial constraints that the Town of Easton and the Easton School Department function under, some caring community members have spearheaded a grassroots effort to make the dream come true.   A little over $60,000 has been raised so far.  We are hoping to raise an additional $60,000 to install efficient and quality lights and poles with a long warranty.  

One important aspect of this project is to honor two very special people that were extremely influential community members.  Clair Carter was a caring, committed and beloved educator at Easton High School.  He was a teacher, coach, principal and true friend to everyone he met.  He, along with his wife Eldora, who was the local correspondent for the area newspaper, cared deeply about the whole community of Easton.  Since their passing, it has been the desire of the their family and other community members to honor their memories in the town they loved among the people they cherished.  

The "Clair and Eldora Carter Memorial Field" will be a community gathering place to watch our youth engage in sporting activities and allow the general public to utilize the area for various activities.  

Donors will be honored on a "Donation Board" displayed prominently in our town.  

Please consider helping with this project honoring two wonderful people that will benefit our community for generations!