Page 4 Tupper Lake Free Press Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The Tupper Lake Free Pressand Tupper Lake Herald

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Another Snow Ball has passed, but the fifth version of the ARISE Big Tupper Ski Center benefit chaired by Shawn Stuart and yours truly easily lived up to all expectations this year.

This year was the third time the big party was held at the ski area lodge, the fifth one overall. The first two were at the train station.

The place was packed with over 300 supporters of the continued operation of the hometown ski area. The mood was joyous, as we collectively greeted the arrival of another ski season.

-And judging by the winter wonderland outside that evening, with snow bending every branch on every tree, an early start of skiing and a much longer ski season were very much in prospect. People were excited.

This year’s crowd contained many new faces- signs, perhaps, of both the wide support of Big Tupper and the popularity of the annual Snow Ball

Noticeable in the crowd again was the Long Lake element- a group of nearly 30 good folks who were intent on having a good time. The Town of Long Lake’s little bus was their way of arriving and getting home safely, and the Long Lakers took full advantage of it. It’s a great service town leaders provide for public and private parties.

Long Lake’s Tourism Director Alex Roalsvig again handled the arrangements for the outing and our applause to her for that.

The decorating of the place was again first-rate and the product of weeks of work by Kathy Cavallaro, Maureen Peroza and Joni Stuart, who have creatively transformed the place for that one night each of the last five Snow Balls.

The decorating this year wasn’t perhaps as elaborate in detail as the year when the local trio received the help and guidance of Professional Decorators Shawn Parker and Tim Coughlin, but it was every much as creative. It was our favorite.

The ladies and their helpers reinforced their theme of “Red”- effectively using tartans and plaids in table settings and elsewhere around the entrance area below and two large rooms on the main floor.

On each table too were candles and evergreens in antique boxes- some homemade, some of them antique milk boxes and some wooden dresser drawers. It was pretty imaginative stuff. They all came from the basements and attics of the decorators.

Hanging in the place that night in a heavy air of nostalgia- brought to life by over 100 of black and white photographs of old Big Tupper scenes and the people through the decades who enjoyed it in its early years. The photos by Kathleen Bigrow hung from every wall and sat on every table. The late “Brenda Starr” would have been proud.

It was the work for the most part of Tupper Lake’s Jim Lanthier, who holds Kathleen’s collection and who cares for it like they were his own photographs.

Jim’s contribution to the event this year was nothing short of incredible- and people loved looking at the old photos of the ski slope in its hey days.

He also brought along a small TV and CD player for the bar area where more of Kathleen’s

editorialAnother wonderful Snow Ball

photos tumbled forth, one after another.The overall transformation of the lodge that

evening was as imaginative and as meaningful to many of the attendees as any these past five years.

A half dozen or more robust Christmas balsam trees, as nice as can be found anywhere, exuded a Christmas flavor to the Snow Ball, complimenting the other decorations. The excellent conifers were obtained from Larkin’s Deli this year.

Wayne LaPierre donated his truck and his time to haul the trees to the mountain, and his crew member Matt Marconi, trimmed the bottoms of each and erected them in the lodge.

Helping the decorators this year were Joe Cavallaro and Maynard Peroza, who lugged and toted as they were told, plus Lynn Goldman, Beth Johnson, Cindy Platt, Andrea and Alex Stuart and Dori and Jack Patry. Bridget Brown helped with ticket sales.

Magnus Stalhammer was back this year as the man in charge of the food- and he again delivered in spades with a tasty and creative assortment of hors d’oeuvres that pleased the palettes of the merry-makers that evening. Magnus was helped by several of his staff members at Bima’s Pizzeria and Restaurant and from several of the food preparers like Zach Hockey at Well Dressed Food. Magnus’ place two doors down is currently undergoing kitchen renovations so Dave and Rusty at Well Dressed Food offered their kitchen to help prepare all the goodies for the Saturday evening affair.

Dave and Rusty, who are both on the ARISE board, were also at the lodge in time to take tickets and greet patrons at the door that evening.

Jane and Donald Whitmore, who have ably catered past Snow Balls, pitched in again this year- generously sharing their organizational talents again and overseeing the servers. Through Donald’s vast business contacts, much of the Snow Ball food is donated by the major food purveyors in the north country, who are all eager to see Big Tupper flourish and grow in the years ahead.

Five local college students were the serving team again- working the crowd with bright smiles and trays full of tasty things prepared by Magnus and his staff. The young gals also kept several food stations full.

The enthusiastic team this year again included Page Luton, Katie Stuart, Alexa Shumway, Skylar Trivieri and Madison LaVigne.

Throughout the evening they also bussed tables, hauling away the cups and plates and making clean-up much easier the next day.

I turned my wife, Judy, loose on the lodge at 9:30a.m. Sunday and within a couple of hours most of the mess was in check. Faith Bedore, Mike Salamy and his friend, Allison, also pitched in with the clean-up Sunday.

Volunteer Bartenders Fred Short and Scott Bell were moving steady all evening as they poured gallons and gallons of wine (in a half dozen flavors) and multiple kegs of draft beer to a non-stop line of patrons at the bar. Maynard also showed us how he was good at pouring draft beer for several hours.

Like everything at this year’s Snow Ball, the entertainment was first rate. As always the performers this year all donated their time and talents to help ARISE get the mountain open this year.

Very skilled Blues and Rock Guitarist Kirk Gagnier welcomed the crowd to the lodge that evening, accompanied by Wayne Davison, whose saxophone licks and runs are always welcome sounds wherever he plays. Kirk and Wayne both did a great job as the opening act, setting a great musical hour-long start to the evening.

Five other local musicians, brothers Ben and Andrew McClelland, Jay Martin, Micah Tyo and Long Lake’s Ryan Gillis immediately picked up where Wayne and Kirk left off. Their popular tunes of the seventies immediately brought the crowd to the dance floor. The floor stayed full as the band members rocked for nearly an hour and a half.

Business partners and local DJs Pat Bedore and Andrew McClelland kept the dance fever going with a large smattering of hip hop which saw everyone bouncing up and down song after song. We’re not sure what that’s all about, but young people seem to love that style of music.

Snow Ball 2014 was a great event for a great purpose. Speaking for Co-Chairman Shawn Stuart, we are deeply indebted to everyone who played a part in its success Saturday. You should all be very proud.

-Dan McClelland Our very able decorating team- Joni Stuart, Mau-

reen Peroza, and Kathy Cavallaro.

Faces of the Snow Ball