The days are getting shorter and the nights colder. If I could just get my snow bunny to cuddle up to me at nights. Hey, here’s wishing you and your whole families a very thankful and enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday. Eat, drink and be merry while enjoying the company of family and friends.
Before getting started with the newsletter this month, I’m afraid I have some disturbing news to report. My truck was severely vandalized while I was out at the clubhouse the other day. Fortunately there were several other club members around, so they should be of tremendous help when the police start their investigation. The police have already been to the ‘crime scene’ and collected a lot of evidence. They have taken plaster impressions of tire tracks and footprints. They commented on the "tractor like" quality of one set of tire prints. They have also dusted my truck and taken numerous fingerprint samples. I am still waiting for authorization from my insurance company to make an appointment so I can go ahead and get the Ski Doo license plate on the front of my truck turned back around like it is supposed to be. Where’s the humanity?
What’s happened since last month? Oh yeah, our Cruise In. It was the 3rd one and from comments I heard, the best yet. We had three snowmobile dealers’ show up and one four wheeler-dealer. Joe’s Sport Center from East Canton, PA, Country Classics from Nichols, NY, and the new kid on the block, Brinks Motor Sports from Rome, PA. Two Arctic Cats and a Ski Doo dealer. What happened to Polaris and Yamaha? If those are your brands, ask your dealer where were they? Would like to see them next year. The four wheeler-dealer was Rolling Acres. Too bad they had so far to travel. In fact, Jim brought over a used sled he had to sell. When getting ready to take it back over, the roll back truck he used to bring it there was gone. So he just started up the sled, rode out the back of the restaurant parking lot and drove it back to Rolling Acres (just across the street). So looks like our riding season has started with Jim getting in the first ride of the season. Back to the Cruise In. There were about 50 sleds which showed up during the course of the day with the oldest one being a 1972 Sears and Roebuck and the newest a ’00 MXz 700 Millennium not even together a week yet. Some thank you's need to be handed out here. Let’s start big with Doug McLinko and Stewart’s Family Restaurant and Drive In. Again they donated the space we could use to set up and display both the dealers and those of you who brought your sleds out. In addition, they donated all the soda for those who did bring their sleds out and the dinner for the Safety Class participants and the instructors. Speaking of the Safety Class we had eight participants graduate with flying colors, two adults and six youngsters. Thank you to our instructors, Harrison Langely and Dick Roloson. We were also able to give away some door prizes due to the generosity of Corey & Yvonne Sickler, owners and operators of the local Sears Retail Dealer Store in Towanda-Wysox. The door prize winners were; toolboxes: Ron Bailey of Monroeton, PA, ¼" drive standard deep well socket set: Lisa Tesluk of Mehoopany, PA, ¼" drive metric deep well socket set: Jim Brown of East Towanda, PA, and for the screwdrivers set: Kevin Barnett of Towanda. Corey and Yvonne also donated the use of a 36" color TV for the day to watch the videos on. I was in charge of the weather and ordered spectacular sunny skis and mild temperatures for the day. If you missed it this year, too bad. You’ll have to wait till next season.
At the last meeting a work bee was put together real quick. Several of us got together out at the clubhouse on Sunday October 24th to get some things ready for winter. Thanks here go to Ken and Bob Murphy for taking Saturday to pour the concrete for the generator shed. A shed was constructed on Sunday by a couple of master carpenters that should stay there through flood, famine, hurricane or any other natural disaster. Thanks to Mike Perry for donating and bringing out the wood used to make the generator shed. Also that day, the trail from the road to the clubhouse was cleared out and graded. We will now be able to drive our vehicles back to the clubhouse without driving through Bob Murphy’s front lawn. Had to get right of way permission from a private landowner to make it all the way back. Glen Hurd had his new backhoe there and did a nice job of making the roadway smooth. This will also be the way to drive your sled back to the clubhouse, again making it so no one has to drive on Bob’s front yard. The inside of the clubhouse was cleaned thoroughly and the food cooked out there for lunch was real good. Take it from an expert. Did have a little trouble with the generator though. Could not get it to operate properly so we have to take it back to the dealer for some preseason work. The only other problem that day was the vandalism to my truck, see top story at the beginning of the newsletter.
How are we making out on renewals? I’m glad you asked. Running out of fingers and toes, we are in the 60% to 70% renewed from last year. This month we will send out hate letters with another application and no newsletter to those that have not renewed yet. Hopefully they will take the time to send it back in right away. Last year we ended up with over 90 dues paying members from four different states. Not bad for only starting our fifth year eh? Thought what I might do now is mention we have several "newbies". Want to welcome to our group the following: Marlene Barrett from Wyalusing, James Brown (no not the singer) ((that joke for those of you old enough to remember the real James Brown)) from Towanda, Michael Perry from Sayre, William Perry from Athens (could they be related?), Tom Tesluk from Mehoopany, and Jack Thorton from Philadelphia.
Have you booked your room for the ‘New Millennium Ride’ at the Steelhead Lodge yet? Better hurry as it is filling up. Last I heard there were not very many rooms left. What are the details? You have to reserve a two-night package, Friday Dec 31st and Saturday Jan 1st. Cost is $20 plus tax per person per night. Make your reservations directly with Steelhead Lodge at (315) 298-4371 as they are on a first come first served basis. Ask anyone who went last year, we had snow, cold weather, great riding and good fellowship. Roger Turner is chairing this event. And Roger sits in a chair better than anyone else I have ever seen.
What else is coming up. Next will be the regularly scheduled membership meeting. That is where the think tank comes together to plan the intricacies of the club’s activities. Meetings are held at Steward’s Family Restaurant located on the Golden Mile in Wysox, PA right off Rt 6. We meet in Doug’s back room the second Wednesday of every month year round starting at 7:00 pm. That makes the next meeting November 10th. Come on out and join the fun. We are always looking for new and fun ideas.
Calendar of Events:
Nov 10th Next regularly scheduled meeting of the club at Stewart’s Family Restaurant. Starts at 7:00 pm in their back room. Getting close to the riding season now. Come on out and voice your opinion on what you would like to see your club do this year.
Dec 31st thru Jan 2nd New Millennium Ride, Steelhead Lodge in Pulaski, NY. Two night package only with a cost of $20 plus tax per person per night. Reservations on a first come first served basis. Telephone (315) 298-4371 and talk with Big Earl to make your reservation. See more info in this newsletter.
Jan 15th Feb State Game Land trails open and Fun Run starting at the Clubhouse.
Feb 5th thru Feb 6th Winterfest Aught Aught (’00). We will again be involved with this great snowmobiling event by selling a little bit of food. The Winterfest Committee of Alparon Park is hard at work setting the stage for another great festival. More surprises being planned for this year. Radar Run will be back bigger than ever.
What else is important to us? Oh yeah trails. Franklin and Leroy Townships have been contacted about the ordinances they were nice enough to pass to allow snowmobiles on some of their township roads. From what can be gathered, the ordinances need to be advertised, then they are part of the township’s rules and regulations. Not being one of their priorities I would guess, we have some one who is going to go to at least one of the meetings to learn what needs to be done to finish the process up. We would like to get the signs ordered, delivered and put up very soon. A lot of questions have been asked about the bridge at Masten that is not there. Our club has not done anything in that direction yet. If I were to guess, I would doubt there would be any change there this riding season. Another question is about the road from Sunfish Pond to Laquin that is labeled Forest Road on your map. It is a designated snowmobile trail by the State Game Commission. It was gated off earlier this summer. The road is in terrible shape as it has had no maintenance on it for several years. I have heard rumors about the road being repaired before winter starts. But that is only a rumor. Starting with this newsletter, Rich Lupinsky will again be receiving them. It was voted on at the last meeting that we should try and keep the lines of communication as open as possible. Rich is the head guy in our area for the Game Commission. Not sure of his proper title but I believe he is the Land Manager for our area. Maybe he can shed some light on these questions by contacting any one of the officers listed at the end of the newsletter.
To finish off this month’s news, please take notice of our advertisers. Our list has shrunk considerably from last year. This is the month that ads got pulled if we had not received payment yet. This time of year, I assume these dealers have much more important work to be doing than worrying about our newsletter and us. You can help here. If you are going to be seeing your dealer in the near future and don’t see their ad here, let him or her know you are not happy and would like to see them support our club again this year. Also, take note of those that have chosen to advertise with us. I hope you give them special consideration when you start spending your winter recreation monies. Don’t be afraid to tell them you saw their ad here and that is why you are shopping there. Thanks to those of you that are supporting us again this year. Remember, our offer of putting some text in the body of the newsletter that you write still stands. Get us some wordage about your business or upcoming event and we’ll make sure it gets in here.
Till next time. I expect everyone is doing their snow dance every night. Keep up the good work
