“I love it!” enthused Kathleen Szostek of the Livermore Falls Downtown Betterment Group (LFDBG), which organized the event. “It’s exciting to see so many people visiting and kids playing. We have so many great fund raisers.”
The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center was holding a fund raiser for its barn-raising project. This was Norlands Director Sheri Leahan’s first time attending the Sled In, and she was amazed at how many people came out to see the various events.
“I think it’s a great community event,” she said. “It’s great to see people out after this cold spell. It’s a good fund raiser for different organizations.”
Roughly 600 people showed up this year, tripling the total from the Sled In’s first year, said organizer and LFDBG President Bob Berry.
“It was way better. Beyond expectations,” he said on Monday. “The success story in my mind was the new events, the snowshoe relay and snow sculpture, which did better than expected.”
There were prizes for the top three snow sculptures. The Spruce Mountain Lego League team took first place, while The 4-H Adventure Seekers were second and the Smiling Stars placed third.
The sliding hill, where children had a choice of three different courses to slide on, and snowmobile-drawn sleigh rides were also popular, said Berry. On the field, antique snowmobile enthusiasts opened up the throttle and took part in radar runs to see who could get the fastest time in an informal competition.
“I was thrilled we got more snow,” said Berry, referencing the six or seven inches that fell in a mid-week storm. “That helped a lot. The local clubs have done a fantastic job getting their trails in order.”
A total of $1,200 was raised to be split amongst the Livermore Trail Blazers, the Andy Valley Riders, and the Jug Hill Riders.
On the field, a flurry of different events were taking place while in the vendor tent, local businesses had displays. The Jay-Livermore Falls Lions Club served visitors and so many people came in that they ran out of hamburgers. Also serving food were the Livermore Falls Fire Department and Andy Valley Riders.
Susan Parker Papillon, of the LFDBG, said that the spirit of community was on full display at the Sled In.
“It brings us together,” she said. “It provides something for the area to look forward to each winter.”
“Businesses like to come to a place that’s vibrant,” added Szostek. “And also, the recreation is important to people.”
Berry thanked the following individuals, businesses, and groups for helping out with the Sled In:
Kathleen Szostek – Maine Real Estate Network, LFDTBG
Susan Parker Papillon – LFDTBG
Michelle Coates, CMP
Roger Kay – Kay Advanced Dental Concepts, LFDTBG
Merry Carver – LFDTBG
The Town of Livermore Falls Selectboard and Kristal Flagg, Town Manager
Bill Nichols and Rodney Lake – Livermore Falls Public Works Department
Chief Tim Hardy – Livermore Falls Fire Department
The JLLF Chamber of Commerce
Brian McMullen– PalletOne
Barry and Brady Romano– Barry’s Garage
Christine Fournier- Crayon Country Childcare, JLLF Chamber
Kathy Young- Androscoggin Land Trust
Bruce Adams – Group Adams Propane Service
Tim Fournier – The Jug Hill Riders Snowmobile Club President
Clayton Jewett – The Andy Valley Riders Snowmobile Club President
Mike Perry – The Livermore Trailblazers Snowmobile Club President
Josh Michaud – Expenet
Donnie Foster – NEV Solutions, JLLF Chamber
Esther Bizier – Main-Land Development Consultants, Inc..
Rick Dunton – Main-Land Development Consultants, Inc.
All of the local businesses that donated to this year’s Raffle.
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- Radar runs were among the new events at the second annual Spruce Mountain Sled In, held last Saturday. Many of the antique snowmobiles participating, such as this one here, became partially airborne briefly as they accelerated down the course.
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- Children enjoyed sliding down a mountain of snow at the Sled In.
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