DEAR SUN SPOTS: Wendell “Chummy” Broomhall, a two-time Olympian and the oldest living member of the Chisholm Ski Club, will celebrate his 98th birthday Dec. 3. Last year, the Chisholm Ski Club sponsored a card campaign for Chummy’s birthday and he received almost 150 cards! Let’s blow that number out of the water this year and start sending him birthday wishes now. Send cards to Wendell “Chummy” Broomhall, c/o Maine Veterans’ Home, 477 High St., South Paris, ME 04281.
ANSWER: Make Chummy’s day! Send your good wishes via the U.S. Postal Service! For anyone who doesn’t know, according to his entry in Wikipedia, “Chummy” Broomhall “was born in Mexico, Maine, and became a member of the Chisholm Ski Club in the 1930s. After serving in World War II in the 10th Mountain Division, Chummy was a member of the United States Ski Team from 1947 to 1954 and competed in the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz and at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo.
He was the designer of the cross-country trails for both the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, California, and the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York and served as chief of competition.
Chummy donated 300 acres to the Chisholm Ski Club, used to create skiing facilities in the Rumford area after returning from World War II. These efforts culminated in the formation of Black Mountain of Maine, a ski resort that opened in 1962. The site has hosted numerous national cross-country skiing championships.
Chummy was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1981, and was an inaugural member of the Maine Ski Hall of Fame when it was founded in 2003. In 2007, Black Mountain started a new annual tournament for Maine collegiate skiers, named the Chummy Broomhall Cup in his honor.”
Who knew we had such a celebrity in our midst? Happy Birthday, Chummy, and thank you for all you’ve done for the sport and for Maine!
DEAR SUN SPOTS: Please help Lewiston High School’s 1953 Committee find these classmates: Dr. Robert Anctil, Theresa Bilodeau Pratt, Connie Grenier Dugave, Lillian Jordan Gabariault, Jackie Lagueux, Irene Leclair Smith, Jeanne Letourneau Fillion, John O’Neil, Shirley Shay Kavanaugh, Claire Supivitz Glovin and Shirley Ouellette Cloutier. Please call Yvette Begin Rousseau at 577-3240. Thank you!
— Yvette, no town
DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have been going to the youth hockey games at Norway Savings Bank Arena for about a month now and am wondering why the snack bar isn’t yet open. Perhaps you can find out if and when it might open. Thanks.
—Louise, no town
ANSWER: Noshing a snack or two while you cheer on your favorite team makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable! Because the folks at Norway Savings Bank Arena want to ensure they have the perfect people for the job, they sent out requests for proposals and are in the midst of negotiating a contract. Once the vendor’s licensing is in place, the snack bar will be open for business. An exact date isn’t known yet, but rest assured it will be happening as soon as possible.
May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are grateful for each and every one of our Sun Spots readers!
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