FARMINGTON — The Homestead Bakery has donated its restaurant and staff for a pasta buffet and entertainment Sunday to benefit the Titcomb Ski Club fundraising campaign. 

The June 5 buffet will feature fresh sauces and breads.

“We are thrilled to be able to help in our own special way,” said Laurie Danforth, manager at the Homestead. “The whole staff is so excited to be a part of this. Who doesn’t love Titcomb? I started skiing when I was 4 at Titcomb and raced all through high school. It’s a great part of history for me and I want it to be there for all of our families.”

Entertainment will be provided by The South Strong Road Crew & Friends, aka Doug and Sherry Walrath.

“It’s so exciting to see the community come together to help the ski slope, which itself is one of our most precious community assets,” said Shelley Deane, member of the Titcomb Ski Education Foundation Board of Directors. Franklin Savings Bank, Western Mountain Financial Services, Dick Bjorn and Kyes Insurance have come forth to help Titcomb raise $120,000 by offering to match up to $60,000 in donations. “That incentive will help us reach our goal in half the time,” she said.

There will be two seatings for dinner, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to make reservations early. The dinner price is $25 per person and $10 for 12 and under.

“Of course, we would embrace additional donations to the ski slope that will help us meet our goal” said Deane. Donations are tax-deductible.

Tickets are available at the Homestead Bakery, Franklin Savings Bank’s main office in Farmington or by emailing TitcombFundraiser@gmail.com. For more information, contact Deb Aseltine at 491-4263.

The capital projects represent improvements over the next six years to replace expensive equipment that have reached the end of their useful lives, including imminent replacement of the number two T-bar lift cable, two snowmobiles used for rescue, maintenance and grooming, and both the Alpine and Nordic trail groomers. Other projects include gravel for the parking lots, replacement of the 12-year-old carpet in the base lodge, drainage improvement for both Nordic and Alpine trails and a new air cooler for the snow-making air compressor.

“These are expensive items that are outside of the normal budget,” said Deane. “Our mission is to keep skiing affordable at Titcomb and not have to turn people away.”

The Farmington Ski Club owns and operates the community ski area that serves thousands of people each season. It provides affordable skiing and snowboarding for all ages, sponsorship and coaches for the Mt. Blue Middle School Ski Team, racecourses and grooming for the Middle School, Mt. Blue High School and University of Maine at Farmington ski teams and scholarships for youth skiers and snowboarders. Titcomb also serves as host to Winter Fun Days for local school children and Special Olympians.

Donation checks should be made out to: Titcomb Ski Club Educational Foundation c/o Deb Aseltine, PO Box 493, Wilton ME 04294.