On behalf of the Rotary Club of Lake Placid, I am writing to thank the sponsors and volunteers who made last weekend’s Teddy Bear Picnic such a great success. It took a village to make this event happen, and we would like to thank everyone.

For starters, the Lake Placid residents who donated teddy bears and other toys! We received hundreds to give away at the picnic. The Kiwanis Club that started this tradition going on three decades ago deserves special recognition.

Community Bank and ClimeCo both provided financial sponsorships to underwrite our modest costs. G.W. Pratt Agency and Man & Beast donated gift certificates for the winning children (and “best dog”). NBT Bank, both Main Street and Outpost, and Adirondack Bank received the teddies and other toys from community members. Jim Williams of WSLP went above and beyond in promoting the picnic on the radio.

At the picnic, Rotarian Bill Flederbach was our emcee. Mayor Craig Randall led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Jessica Deeb sang the national anthem. Dean Dietrich, Hans Heimlin and Jim Honeycutt provided musical accompaniment. Students from Builders Club circulated and were helpful in a variety of ways. Karen Armstrong was there representing the library and giving away free books. Northwood School provided a microphone and amplifier, and the park’s neighbors let us plug the cord into their outdoor outlet. The middle-high school lent us their Class of 2008 grill, which students and staff from Mountain Lake Academy used to grill hot dogs.

A highlight of the picnic was the fire truck that led the parade around the block, followed by a police vehicle. The fire department was represented by Brady Hayes, and the police department by officers Langlois and Sumo. They kept the parade safe from traffic and were a benevolent, friendly presence.

Diane Chase and her family of Bloomingdale, who run Adirondack Family Time, aren’t even Rotarians but they were integral to the success of this event and we are grateful for their dedication to community.

And last but not least, the dozens of dedicated Rotarians who volunteered for this and many other community projects. They emulate Rotary’s core motto of “Service Above Self.”

Sincerely,

Martha Pritchard Spear

Rotary Club of Lake Placid past president (2017-2018)

Chair, Teddy Bear Picnic