Mollyockett Day thanks

To the Editor,

Mollyockett Days 2010 was a celebration of our community and everything that makes this place a great place to live, operate a business, and visit. The Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce is honored to be the new organizer of the event, and it is our hope that everyone in the area enjoyed the music and entertainment, the parade, the food, the arts and crafts, the road races, the fireworks and the many other activities that were offered over the course of the weekend. Congratulations to Melanie Ellsworth of Greenwood for finding the Mollyockett Day Medallion and to her niece, Ashley Swan for being selected as this year’s Miss Mollyockett.

No event of this magnitude happens without the support of sponsors, donors and tons of volunteers. This letter is being written to acknowledge the donations of funds and time of so many. Our presenting sponsor for the event was Dead River Company who had a presence on the common all weekend. Hopefully many of you had the opportunity to dunk the oilman on Saturday. The entertainment over the course of the weekend was made possible through the generosity of the following businesses: Mountain River Property Services, The Rotary Club of Bethel, CB Kenworth, River View Resort, Rooster’s Roadhouse, Franklin Savings Bank, TransCanada, Northeast Bank, Good Food Store, Key Bank, and Stephens Memorial Hospital. Chainsaw carving was sponsored by SkiEsta. Vicki and Pete Rackliffe sponsored the annual frog jumping contest which was organized by Allen and Mame Connors. Joe Gaidis supplied the auctioneering services for both the Mahoosuc Arts Council’s ARTirondack Chair Auction and the new Mt. Mann Jewelry and Gem Auction. The Pleasant Valley Bible Church organized the children’s carnival games. Dance demonstrations were provided by Toe, Tappin’ Jazz Dance Studio, Patti Truman’s Zumba Ladies and Belly Dancing by Imari. The town of Bethel and Bethel Firemen donated the use of the Firehouse for Old-Fashioned Bingo, which was organized and sponsored by Rooster’s Roadhouse. The Mollyockett Day Road Races, Walking Events and Diaper Dash/Derby was sponsored by Kennett Realty, Michael T. Steven & Associates, All Sports Events, Stephens Memorial Hospital, Pepsi Beverages Company, Bennett Automotive, All Doyles Cleaning Services/Harvest Carpentry, and River Valley Healthy Communities, with prizes being donated by True North Adventureware, Mt. Abram Resort, Homeslice Pizza, Casablanca Cinema, BIG Adventure Center, Bethel’s Best Pizza Grille & Dairy Bar, S.S. Milton, and The Bethel Citizen. Our Broadcast Sponsor was Gleason Marketing Services, our Print and Mollyockett Day Medallion sponsor was The Bethel Citizen and website services were supplied by Tourmaline Media.

Many thanks to all who participated in the parade – which was a wonderful show of community. Hats off to chamber board member Matty Leach from Mountain River Property Services, who was the parade coordinator and did a fantastic job. Thanks also to our parade judges Mark Mallory, Amy McLaughlin and Michele Peredja.

Equipment donations of coolers were provided by Sunday River Resort and CN Brown Co., and the tables, chairs and sound system were provided by Gould Academy. D & E Sanitation Services provided the dumpsters and Savage Portable Toilets provided the porta-potties.

Everyone loves fireworks! Raising the $3,000-plus to put a nice show on comes with much work though – so I would like to ask everyone to consider putting a small donation to the Mollyockett Day Fireworks in your budgets for next year. Many thanks to the following for “stepping-up” this year and making it happen: The Bethel Inn Resort, Sudbury Inn, AMEC Earth & Environmental, A.E. Hodsdon Consulting Engineer, Gould Academy, Oxford Federal Credit Union, United Insurance Western Maine Agency, Susan Duplessis, Hanley & Associates, P.A., Maine Street Realty & Rentals, Northeast Bank, The Glen House, 22 Broad Street at Gideon Hastings House.

A special thanks to the generosity of Jim Mann of Mt. Mann Jewelers. Jim donated 30 beautiful and unique pieces of jewelry, gem specimens and fossils to the new Mollyockett Days Jewelry & Gem Auction. A portion of the proceeds are being donated to the following area organizations: Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, Project Opportunity, Mahoosuc Kids Association, Mahoosuc Community Band, The Bethel Garden Club and the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Four Seasons of Fun Raffle was made possible by working with four business partners. Many thanks to Carter’s XC Ski Center, Bethel Bicycle, True North Adventureware and Sun Valley Sports & Guide Services/Old Town Canoe & Kayak. Thanks also to all who purchased tickets. The lucky winners were drawn on Sunday and they are: Steve Aug of Bethel won the two bikes; Trish Breazeale of Locke Mills won the two kayaks, Linda Birge of Bethel and Livermore won the two sets of Nordic skiing equipment and Mark Rochelle of Portsmouth, R.I., won the camping gear.

Volunteers are like gold – valuable! Thanks to the following who were integral to the success of the weekend: Kevin Rosenberg, our emcee for the weekend, Steve Etheridge, Harry Harding, Scott and Cheryl Mills, Lynn Wilson, Susan Isham, Matty Leach, Shirley and Bruce Powell, Hiram Towle, Amy Marshall, Bill Strauss, Colleen and Greg Files, Lynn Saxton, Darlene Ginsberg, Jonathan, Kate, Rose, Abbie and Rachel Goldberg, Read Dickinson, Mike Steven, Michele Perejda, Julie and Dan Hart, Nancy White, Ed Kennett, Lloyd Sweetser, Jim Reuter, Ellie Andrews, Beth Clarke, Chuck Scheffreen, Mary Stryker, Dillon amd Paula Gillies, Mary McPheters-Scanlon, Deb, Dave, Edie, Hope, and Hattie Doyle, Paul Legault, Dave Freiday, Lauren Gailitis, Eric Rowley, Karen Saito, Heather and Joel Speakman and family, Aranka Matolcsy, Laurence Austin, Fred Nolte, Katie Casey, Sarah Southam, Michelle Mador, Brian and Ethan Phelps, Gary Haines, Dan Figueroa, Kelly Blaiczak, Kevin and Kerry Burgess, Rosemary Laban, A J Carey, Al and Jackie Cressy, JoAnne Best, Joyce and Pat Roma, Stacey Blodgett, Punky Davis, Doug Zinchuk and Carol Savage, our photographer.

Thanks to all!

Robin Zinchuk

Executive Director, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce