Lapeer East, Lapeer West soccer teams hold fundraiser for new varsity field

A dinner catered by E.G. Nick’s and a live and silent auction that starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 15th, at Lapeer East High School will raise money to furnish the new varsity soccer field shared by the Lapeer East and Lapeer West High School soccer teams.

Mackinac Island vacation packages, furniture, Tiger and Shock tickets, white water rafting trips, golf packages, painting services, portrait packages, dinner, auto, spa, flowers and animal service gift certificates, along with lessons in wakeboarding, karate and much more will be offered during the silent and live auctions.

Dinner, which includes pasta with marinara, salad, bread, dessert and beverage will be served for $8 for advance tickets and $10 at the door.

Tickets are available at Burke’s Flowers, 148 W. Nepessing Street in downtown Lapeer at the athletic offices at Lapeer East and Lapeer West High Schools, or by e-mail at mebkenny@msn.com.

New Optimist tennis courts dedicated for current, future generations of Lapeer athletes

It's official. The Lapeer East and Lapeer West tennis teams finally have a home court and beautiful ones at that.

On Thursday, April 23rd, under a clear, blue sky Superintendent Debbie Thompson and Lapeer Optimist Club President Andy Shango officially dedicated the new 8-court facility next to Lapeer West High School.

The new courts, which were first used this girls' tennis season, brought an end to four years of nomadic playing for the two teams after the old courts were condemned.

Made possible by a $280,000 gift of the Lapeer Optimist Club, the courts were constructed early in the fall of 2008.

Thursday's ceremony included remarks by Board of Education member Gary Oyster; Superintendent Debbie Thompson; Lapeer Optimist Club President Andy Shango; Lapeer West tennis coach Sue Pittsley and two of her players, Casey Spooner and Jessica Delange; and Lapeer East tennis coach Oscar Rodriguez and three of his players, Ashley Crump, Victoria Snoblen and Janine Widzinski.

For the first time in years, and due to the new courts, both teams had enough people try out to field both varsity and junior varsity squads.

"It's true, build it and they will come," said Mr. Gary Oyster.

Following the ceremony the two teams faced off on the new courts for their first match on the new home courts. Lapeer West won the first ever meeting on the new courts.

The Lapeer Optimist Club has funded a number of major recreation projects for the schools and for the community in the past. Recent Optimist projects include about $435,000 in work on the soccer fields near Lapeer East, including a recent expansion of the fields, which now include a concession stand, restrooms, a playground and a lighted varsity field.

The Optimists also donated about $130,000 to school playground equipment and additional donations that helped with city recreation projects, many of them dating back many years.

Lapeer Optimist Community Tennis Court dedication Thursday, April 23rd 4 p.m.

Just a reminder that the formal grand opening of the Lapeer Optimist Community Tennis Courts will be held at 4 p.m. today, April 23rd at the courts, next to Lapeer West High School, 170 Millville Road.

The ceremony will take place just before the Lapeer East vs. Lapeer West High Schools girls' tennis match and the public is invited.

In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will be held at the same time and place the next day, Friday, April 24th.

Lapeer Optimist Community Tennis Courts to be dedicated 4 p.m. April 23

A dedication ceremony for the official grand opening of the Lapeer Optimist Community Tennis Courts is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the courts next to Lapeer West High School, 170 Millville Road in Lapeer.

The dedication will precede the tennis match between home town rivals Lapeer East and Lapeer West High Schools.

For the first time in more than four years, high school teams from Lapeer East and Lapeer West have home courts to play on.

The new courts became a reality after the Lapeer Optimist Club donated $280,000 for their construction.

Demolition of the old courts was done last summer at the same time the West parking lot was resurfaced.

In the event of inclement weather, the dedication ceremony will be held at the same time and place the following day, Friday, April 24th.