Forest Ridge Academy to roll out the log run again

This year’s event will take place Saturday, June 7 at the former tourist bureau site next to the Barrington River from 12 to 4 p.m. Rain date is June 8.

The creative fundraiser involves the sale of 500 numbered mini-logs made from cut dowels, which are dumped into the Barrington River by the old woolen mill. The first one to go past the finish line wins $500 for its owner.

“It was a very good idea that they came up with last year,” said Mike Smith, who took over from Wayne Mullins as principal.

“It was well attended too as we lined it up with the lobster festival,” he said.

The logs (tickets) are being sold for $5 each and are now available at the school. Students will also be sent home with tickets for sale.

Last year there was a carnival atmosphere on the sunny, warm afternoon of the event. Kids leaped in the bouncy tents, a canteen operated a brisk business and visitors took part in several games.

At 4 p.m. the crate full of dowels was upended into the river. Spectators lined the Barrington Hwy 3 bridge and watched as the numbered logs flowed beneath, circled lazily in the bay then slowly floated into a cove.

And there they bobbed en masse, until gradually the logs washed back to their birthplace – terra firma.

Organizers combed the shoreline to discover the log that had made it closest to the finish line in the actual race.

“We’re going to try and shorten up the route this year,” said Smith.

“We had trouble with the logs. They just kept on spinning around and didn’t want to cross the finish line,” he said.

Close to $2500 was raised last year for the Forest Ridge Home and School Association through the event.