JAY — More than a dozen people gathered Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 9, for the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Hollandstrong Tennis Courts rebuild and expansion next to Spruce Mountain Elementary School in Jay.

Deb Roberts of Livermore at left speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 9, for the Hollandstrong Tennis Courts rebuild and expansion next to Spruce Mountain Elementary School in Jay. Also seen from left are Regional School Unit 73 Superintendent Scott Albert, James Martin with Ray Labbe and Sons Inc., and architect Craig Boone. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

“To say this has been a long time coming would be an understatement,” Deb Roberts of Livermore said, whose son Michael Holland was aboard the El Faro when it was lost at sea in October 2015. “The vision of this project was first created in my head on the day the U.S. Coast Guard called off the search for the 33 El Faro crew and my focus turned to a lifetime of honoring Michael.”

Noticeable physical progress on the project since then has been accomplished with herculean efforts behind the scenes to create drawings and specifications as well as seeking grant funding and in-kind donations of labor and materials, Roberts noted. “It has truly taken an entire village to get to where we are today,” she stated.

Business representatives, members of Spruce Mountain High School tennis teams, town officials from Jay and Livermore Falls and family members are among those attending the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 9, for the Hollandstrong Tennis Courts rebuild and expansion next to Spruce Mountain Elementary School in Jay. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

Roberts thanked Craig Boone for the many hours he donated for the architectural work needed, and Toby Kachnovich from Kachnovich Land Surveying Inc. for donating surveying along with the contours of property conditions. She also thanked James Martin, with Ray Labbe and Sons, Inc,; Kevin Cornish, Maine Track and Tennis Association; Mike Carlton, IEC Electrical and Data; Tyler Kachnovich, T & T Landscape and Masonry; Carter Frost, R S Pidacks, Inc. and Jackson Pitcher, Pitcher Excavation and Landscape.

Mat Henion from the Land & Water Conservation Fund, the contact worked with by Regional School Unit 73 and the Hollandstrong Community Foundation was recognized. The fund awarded significant grant funding to RSU 73 for the project.

TOTE Inc. was thanked for its cash donation. The RSU 73 communities of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls were thanked for approving project funding of up to $45,000 while the Spruce Mountain High School tennis teams were thanked for their fundraising. Androscoggin Bank and OTIS Federal Credit Union’s cash donations were noted along with grant funding from the US Tennis Association.

Those who supported the project in any way were also thanked by Roberts.

“We have secured the funding necessary at this point to do phase one of the project which includes some sitework,” Roberts stated. “Grading, gravel installation, retaining wall, slope protection as well as electrical and lighting prep for three brand new tennis courts. Phase two of the project will be completed once remaining funding has been raised.”

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 9, for the Hollandstrong Tennis Courts rebuild and expansion next to Spruce Mountain Elementary School in Jay. Pictured from left are Deb Roberts of Livermore, mother of Michael Holland for whom the courts are named; RSU 73 Superintendent Scott Albert; James Martin with Ray Labbe and Sons, Inc.; and project architect Craig Boone. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser

“This is a wonderful project,” Scott Albert, RSU 73 superintendent said. “Not only will this benefit the RSU 7 students but it will benefit our three communities of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls. I have been so impressed with the companies who have been involved, their in-kind donations. It just tells you what our community has. I appreciate Deb Roberts and Hollandstrong. If it wasn’t for them this project would have never got off the ground.”

Albert noted they were the driving force.

“Lastly, I hope people understand how much this project means to me as well,” he stated. “Michael was one of my students. I was lucky enough to be his middle school principal for four years and it means a lot that his name is going to be connected with this project.”

Roberts then thanked her husband, Robin, “who cringes every time I say, “hey, hon, I’ve got another idea for a fundraiser,” and her youngest son, Ron, “for supporting all my crazy ideas and helping out as well.”

Roberts, Staples, Martin and Boone then each dug a shovelful of dirt from the area where the courts will be built.

The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by several others. Among them were representatives from businesses assisting the project, town officials from Jay and Livermore Falls, former and current Spruce Mountain High School tennis teams, and representatives from state departments and organizations.

At the RSU 73 board of directors meeting on Thursday night, Staples said Ray Labbe and Sons, Inc. was expected to start work next week.