$79,005
Raised At Easter Seals Ride-In
by Edith Tucker
Coos County Democrat
February 7th, 2007
LANCASTER — A Friday night snowstorm brought smiles to
snowmobilers' faces, and the 35th anniversary Easter Seals Ride-In 2007 was
declared a success at Sunday morning's closing ceremonies when a check for
$79,005.29 was presented to the nonprofit organization that provides outdoor
camping adventures every summer to nearly 100 Granite State youngsters at Camp
Sno-Mo.
The Lancaster Snow Drifters were the local hosts for the event. Their president,
Keith Kopp, said on Monday, "Mother Nature bailed us out Friday night with the
"perfect storm.'" Though only a few inches, the snowfall added a nice white
covering to what was already on the ground, and made for better riding as well.
Fireworks following opening ceremonies on Friday night could be seen all over
town. Keith said that although many thought they would be difficult to see with
the falling snow, it just "made it more beautiful. People were lined up on North
Road and all over to watch." The show lasted 18 minutes and was put on by Atlas
PyroVision Productions based in Jaffrey.
Each year, the Common Man restaurants puts on a free spaghetti dinner the first
night in their support of the Easter Seals, which always draws a big crowd.
Later in the evening two comedians and a hypnotist entertained a crowd of 260 in
the Banquet Room. The show was sponsored by Dalton Mountain Motor Sports, and
Keith said "it was an absolute hoot." Many who attended said they laughed all
night.
The daytime parade got underway just after 9 a.m. on
Saturday with snowmobiles taking off from behind the Cabot Motor Inn, where the
Ride-In was based. They traveled through the woods to Main Street. Down Main
Street they drove on a thick carpet of white, most of which had been trucked in,
then groomed, prior to Friday night's snow.
Kids got in the action too, with a water balloon toss and an obstacle course on
Saturday. Coming in first place with the best water balloon arm was Patrick
Runnals, and Matthew Kopp got second. There was a tie for third place in the
obstacle course between Caleb Rainville and Alex Drago, each with 21 seconds.
Eli Williams was second at 13 seconds, and coming in first was Tyler Runnals.
All who placed received trophies.
The Methodist Church's chicken pie supper was quite a hit
with 286 suppers served. The Jefferson Waumbek-Methna Snowmobile Club served 165
steaks at their feed on Saturday afternoon.
The Radar Run had the fastest sleds competing for first place
on Munce's field. There were over 100 participants, who each paid $12 to
register. The top place winners came together as friends, each with modified
sleds. Coming in first was Frank Edmonson, of Gorham, who registered 93 miles
per hour. Second was Justin Nadeau of Gorham, who made it to 90 mph, and then
Joshua Drown of Berlin got it up to 89 mph.
The Torchlight parade was a huge success. Last year, the snow wasn't firm enough
for the snowmobiles to ride at night, but this year was perfect. More than 54
snowmobiles rode in the parade, between the sidewalk and 500 luminarias that
were placed at the edge of their path. Each paper bag of sand contained a lit
candle, and they had been decorated during the day by the kids. It was a sight
to behold riding down Main Street, and especially welcome as each luminaria cost
their donor $10. Trailing the parade were seven groomers, an unusual sight as
they're usually busy in their own terroritories. Groveton sent two groomers,
which joined one from Lancaster, one from the American Thunder Riders in
Vermont, one from Dalton, one from the state, and two from Jefferson.
A dance, also sponsored by Dalton Mountain Motor Sports, topped off the weekend
on Saturday night in the Banquet Room, with live music and refreshments.
The New Hampshire Snowmobile Association had hoped to reach the $2 million mark
this winter but that threshold will undoubtedly be reached next year over the
first weekend in February at the 36th Ride-In to be held at the Beacon Hotel in
Lincoln.
Executive Councilor Ray Burton spoke briefly, pointing out that snowmobiling "is
part of our culture" in New Hampshire. "How proud we can be of this event,"
Councilor Burton said, referring to the way that money is raised through
volunteer efforts so children and their families can benefit from one-, two-,
and three-week stays at Camp Sno Mo.
"I salute you," Councilor Burton said, lightly touching his right eyebrow in a
jaunty gesture of respect.
Easter Seals of New Hampshire president Larry Gammon and others associated
directly with Camp Sno Mo thanked everyone for their ongoing support of the
program.
Trails Bureau chief Chris Gamache thanked all the dedicated volunteers who care
for the state trails system and especially those who had laid out a thick bed of
snow to create a Ride-In parade route on Main Street. He also commended all the
efforts of District 1 Trails Bureau chief Clint Savage and his stalwart crew as
well as the year-round efforts of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association.
Col. Jeffrey Gray, Fish and Game's Chief of Law Enforcement, said that it was a
pleasure to see something other than green grass on the ground and called for
safe riding. In other parts of the state, the weekend had been marred by two
fatal snowmobile accidents, he said.
Col. Gray also apologized for the fact that this year's state snowmobile decals
had a tendency to fall off, which he blamed on the low-bid process. Riders can
replace any lost but paid-for decals at absolutely no cost.
Snow Drifters president Keith Kopp praised his Ride-In committee, especially the
trailmaster who started grooming at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday and basically
continued that day's efforts non-stop.
The Snow Drifters were among the top 10 clubs from all across the state in the
dollar amount its members raised for the Easter Seals' Camp Sno Mo. Also in the
Top Ten were the Pittsburg Ridge Runners.
The Snow Drifters also had 31 members participating in the event, the most of
any snowmobile club in the state.
Mr. Kopp said that the energy of Dean Walts, who died of carbon monoxide
poisoning in Dec. 2006, would be sorely missed. He was the "king of marketing,"
the club president said. Town officials were also showered with praise: town
manager Ed Samson; Police Chief John Gardiner; Fire Chief Randy Flynn; and
Highway Department manager Dennis Donnelly as well as NHDOT District 1 engineer
Greg Placy, the Cabot Motor Inn owners and chef Glen Dow, the owner of Glendon's
Restaurant.
Pictures
John Letson, of Dalton, Coös County's Director for the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association, rode his sled in Saturday's parade down Main Street in Lancaster. It was all part of Easter Seal's annual Ride-In, held in Lancaster for the second year in a row, and hosted in part by America's oldest snowmobile club, the Lancaster Snow Drifters. Directly behind John is Samantha York. (Photo by Tammy Letson) [Click Here for Picture]
Lancaster's Dave Lufkin drove his 1970 Skidoo Olympic 12-3, and pulled a friend in a 1970 Mark II Ski-Boose in Saturday morning's snowmobile parade through town as part of the Easter Seal Ride-In. (Photo by Tammy Letson) [Click Here for Picture]
Alex Drago, and Paxton Williams, representing Easter Seals, hold up a check totaling $79, 005.29, the amount raised at last weekend's annual Ride-In. (Courtesy John and Tammy Letson) [Click Here for Picture]
This Arctic Cat Jaguar was driven by Cheryl Spillane and her grandson Thomas in the Torchlight Parade held Saturday night in Lancaster for the Easter Seals Ride-In. ( Tammy and John Letson) [Click Here for Picture]
The New Hampshire Snowmobile Association set up an easel of photos of the late Dean Walts, a proud sponsor of the Easter Seals Ride-In, who was very active in last year's events. Dean died on Dec. 20, and was mentioned in the weekend's ceremonies. He was owner of Dalton Mountain Motor Sports, who sponsored Easter Seals Ride-In 2007 as well. [Click Here for Picture]
