The cancellation of the Matthew Decker fifth annual benefit

The Decker family would like to apologize to all of those that donated and supported the Matthew Decker Benefit this year. Unfortunately, Bob Decker was rushed to Upstate Hospital in Syracuse, just days prior to when the benefit was to be held. Bob had to undergo emergency major surgery for a severe infection, which resulted in  gall bladder removal. After eleven days in the hospital, Bob returned home for only eight hours, to return yet again to Upstate Hospital. This time he was diagnosed with a blood clot in the aorta. The team of heart surgeons had never seen anything like this before and it was taped for medical history. They performed open heart surgery to remove the clot successfully.

Literately at a time like this, you can’t help but believe that Bob had a guardian angel, Matthew, watching over him. Bob remained in  ICU for another two weeks. Since both the surgeries, Bob has been recovering slowly at home. We want to thank everyone that kept him and our family in their thoughts and prayers during those days. The Decker family would also like to thank the Old Forge Ambulance crew for driving Bob to the hospital.

For all the area and local merchants that donated to the benefit, we will hold onto the items for next year, but thank you all for your continuous support to this event, which we  hold so close to our hearts.

We will be giving donations to The Old Forge Library, KYAC of Old Forge and this years’ recipients of the Matthew Decker Memorial Scholarship will be: Kathryn Brophy and Leif Frymire, each will receive $1,000. Donations will also be made to American Heart, St. Judes and Mayo Clinic for cancer and heart research.

Thank you once again to all for your love and support in keeping Matthew’s memory alive. We will see you all at the next benefit.

The Decker Family

HASCA says thanks

The Home Aide Service of the Central Adirondacks, Inc.(HASCA) would like to thank the following for their donations to our 2011 Fund Drive (July 28-Nov. 7).

General donations: George and Lorraine Mitchell, Dorothy Haggblom, Barb and Dennis Baron, Mary Durfee, The Gibbs family, James and Joan Christy, David and Susan Beck, Don Gooley, Robert Cooley, Edward Kowalsky, Bill and Carol Rivet, Rolf Brynilsen, Bob and Linda Kennerknecht, George Villiere, James and Janet Glasser, Gloria Conger, Joseph Piluso, Frances Finch, Gerard Dupuis, Faith Norton, Skip Oswald, Joyce Roper, Michele and Robert Hipkens, Dolores Soltys, Joan and Fred Armstrong, Howard Quimby, Lois Meade, Judith Slater, The Turner Camps, Raymond and Stella Morse, Miriam Kashiwa, Rev. James Culver, Shirley Collier, Bennie and Kathy Beauchamp, Bill and Vonnie Kinney, Edmund and Susan Girtler, Jordan and Polly Yesuras, Lynne McCormick, John and Pam Leach, Fred and Carolyn Trimbach, Jack and Margo Boylan, Beverly Burnap, Robert Euler, Wilson Tyler, Robert and Ann Hall, John and Rhoda Hubbard, Jim and Judy Denio, Karl and Patti Engelbrecht, Carole  Sarofeen, Carolyn and Frank Belknap, Sherry Goldstone, John and Paula Tormey, Alan and Ann Barnum, Jack and Barb Ball, Alan and Kirsten Down, Marjorie Bonnett, Don and Joan Whitman, Jarl and Ann Hasby, Daiker’s, Franklin and Sandra Gould, Mary Jane Hasemeier, Country Club Motel, Sue and Ted Russell, Sheila Brady, George and Madelyn Spoll, Robert Martin, Andrew and Kendra Hopsicker, Boonville Elks 2158, Marion Gibson, Wesley Smith and Diane Wolfe, Tina and Dick Olson, Adirondack League Club, Elizabeth Maio, Ron and Jill Hollister, Mary Denn, John and Bernice Drexelius, Helmer’s Fuel and Trucking, Mike and Karen Mitchell, Pete and Sharon McCarthy, Sandy Knoblock, Alice Achter, Jim and Sue Nitschke, Carolyn and Charles Wilsey, Mark and Susan Webster, The DiOrio Family, Edwin Abbott, Jr., George Schunk, Eagle Bay Vol. Hose Co., D.L. Vandervort, Christy’s Motel, Amy Villieu, Jack and Peg Flora, Jack and Betty Andrew, John Wick, Allen’s Jewelry, Charles and Madelyn Lorraine, Rosalyn Toper, Bev Taylor, Chris and Joe Pastore, Joe and Terry Rozycki, John and Christine Zimmer, Pat and Ken Raymond, Angie Williams, Leona DeLong, Charlotte Lenkowsky, Sarah Cohen, John and Ann Costello, Andrew Milnor, Paul and Kathy Rivet, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Flower, Joan and Bill Ward, Dick and Barb Hart, Eagle Bay Vol. Hose Co./Ladies Auxillary, Dimbleby, Freidel, Williams and Edmunds Funeral Homes, Ed and Heather Stafford, Big Moose Community Chapel, Thad Collum, Linda  Cohen, Art and Connie Milligan, Lance and Joanne Maly, William and Shirley Peacock, Shirley Lindsay, Robert Hollandt, Mark and Pat Salsbury, Dan and Nat Tickner, Werner Klaiber, Janice Wittner, Linda Folsom, John and Suzanne Olson, Andrew Trought, Bob and Joan Seager, Thomas Dwyer, Jane Slack, Alan and Marsey Rosenblum, Ronald Lerner, Tim and Kathi Noble, Dave and Carol Clark, Strand Theatre, Shirley and Stephen Pitela, Denis Clifford, Sharon and Lawrence Ventura, Ronald Dearlove, Stephen and Laurie Montanye, James and Elizabeth Barker, Gaston Desnoyers, Ida Winter.

Memorial donations: In memory of Sally Thomas—Elizabeth Moore, Bob and Jean Risley; In memory of their parents—Dave and GiGi Hollister; In memory of Walter Zacharek—Bonnie and Larry Lawrence; In memory of Bill Apgar—Tom and Judy Thibado; In memory of Paul Christopher—Jeanne Christopher; In memory of Jack Burnett—Mrs. Jack Burnett; In memory of Muriel Cohen—Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mineker; In memory of Lorraine Stripp—Jim and Judy Herron, Ellen and Mike Wilcox, Paula and David Weal, John and Margaret Hopsicker, Louisette and Claude Lecours, Carol and Pat McCann, Mary Ann and Stuart Nelson, David and Paula Peck, Tal and Debbie Daiker, PJ and Mike Rubyor, Bill Hardy, Bob and Diane Baker, Jack and Linda Caulfield, Peg and Doug Masters, Terry and Jerry Olsen, Hazel and Bob Dellavia, Marilyn and Dave Hurlbutt; In memory of Thomas J. Eberst—Beatrice Eberst; In memory of Josephine Fiorito—Mike and Carol Susko; In memory of Mike Burke—Jean Burke; In memory of John D. and Helen L. Foley—Louise Foley; In memory of David McDowell—Elizabeth McDowell; In memory of Charles B. Winslow and Helen Michel—Theresa Winslow; In memory of Peg and Ted Payne—Mr. and Mrs. Pat Payne; In memory of Barbara Roberts—David and Ethan Ehrensbeck; In memory of Marie VanderVeer—Edgar VanderVeer; In memory of Roy Waldau—Alta Waldau; In memory of Walter and Eleanor Dennis—Patricia Ballard; In memory of Anne LaBastille—John and Marge Briant; In memory of Lois Doyle—Diane Doyle; In memory of Bonnie Russell—Old Mill Restaurant; In memory of Shirley and Ross Zornow—Butch and Ann Hartsig, Duffy and Judy Zornow; In memory of Jack And Angela Antonini—Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Jeromos; In memory of Robert Winter—B. Barnum, Jennifer Winter, Nancy Winter Traynor; In memory of George Schmelzle—Marian Schmelzle; In memory of Bobby Lutz—Bob and Jean Johnson; In memory of Donald and Betty Langham—Nancy Langham; In memory of Chris and Adela Seymour—Carol Walsh; In memory of Earl and Helen Kinch—Gary and Barbara Harrer; In memory of Archie Macdonald, Tracey Sears and Mike Burke—Gail and Bill Helmer; In memory of Madeline Fallon Case—Joan Davis; In memory of Richard C. Payne, Jr.—Mary Carter Frackelton; In memory of Lynette Ellsworth Buhler—Isabel and Phil Ellsworth; In memory of Alvin Chambers—Joan Smith; In memory of Sara McRoberts Yoder—Phil and Sue Freese; In memory of William Brodock—Geraldine Brodock, Bonnie Petty; In memory of Bill Santangelo—Josephine Santangelo; In memory of Ed Draper—Mary Draper; In memory of Bob McAleese—Doug and Bonnie Bennett, Jack and Linda Caulfield; In memory of Dutch Pylman—Tim and Cynthia Pylman; In memory of Jimbo Compson—Roxanne and Dick Bird; In memory of Fran Lepper—Betty Harwood; In memory of Riley and Phyllis Parson—Patricia McNamara; In memory of Mary Ann Hardy—Valerie Gaudin; In memory of Terry Ledger—Harold and Denise Lockwood; In memory of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Thorpe—Bruce Thorpe and family; In memory of Kevin P. Kane—Eileen Roberts; In memory of Leroy and Una Deis—Terry Lehnen; In memory of Jane and Bud Kopp—Michele and Scott deCamp; In memory of Kay Smith—Hal Mahaffy; In memory of Mary Roach—V. Robert Roach; In memory of Ed and Tina Schmalhofer—George Hiltebrant; In memory of Lois Langworthy—David and Deb Langworthy; In memory of Noreen, Robert and Scott Crounse—Elmer Crounse; In memory of Raymond Hanlon—Dr. and Mrs. Charles Marchetta, Henry Wightman, Trudy and Bob Cushing, Robert and Susan Kisselback, Paul and Maureen Cagino, Holly Long Harrison, Charles Adams, Douglas and Linda Adams, Margaret Ott, Lucy and Al Popkess, Robert and Nancy Jones, Donald and Sarah Dew, Jeff and Annette Mahoney, Lois Murphy, Ellen and Stephen Tempest, Carmen Mastroianni, Donald Lux, Christopher and Karen Bruyn, Robert Hanlon, Thomas and Carole Durie, Linda and Bill Keener and family, Eugene and Susan Sneeringer, Dave and Christy Wightman, Betty and Mark Benedetto,  John and Kathleen Vero, Kevin Hanlon, Edna Hill, Marc and Marcia Hancox, Lewis and Franca Stein, Frank and Brenda Romeo, Sage Computer Associates, Phillip Frierman, Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer O’Connell, Gael and Karen Coakley, Peggy Ervin, Partners Healthcare, James and Gail Watson, Frank and Trish Zamperlin, Suzanne Mahoney, Thomas and Susan Dowling, Clare Bridge; In memory of Ruth Emerson—Helen Macdonald; In memory of Linda and Angus Macdonald and Clayton Gribneau, Jr.—Donald and Ruth McKenna; In memory of Claire Cameron—Deke and Carol Morrison; In memory of David Murdock—Dr. and Mrs. Mervin Murdock; In memory of Betsy Kress—Carol Hornick; In memory of Charles Barrett—Susanne Barrett; In memory of Ethel Gokey—Linda Gokey Burdick; In memory of David Herlehy—Shirley Lindsay and Faith Norton; In memory of Mildred Evans—Gary Evans; In memory of Michael J. Nackley and Russell Matthew — Eagle Bay Park Association.

Square Mile of Hope committee is thankful for support

On behalf of the One Square Mile of Hope Committee, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the community for its support of the incredibly inspiring and successful event that took place on Sept. 24, on Fourth Lake in Inlet.   

The event’s success was not only reflected in the gathering of over 1,900 boats on Fourth Lake to (unofficially) retake the Guinness Book World Record, but also the contribution of over $80,000 that has been given thus far to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation.

From a more universal perspective, literally hundreds of people came together to make all of this happen—without thought of monetary reward or recognition for themselves, but to be a part of something much bigger, something from the heart.  

From the over 150 volunteers who assisted in every conceivable way on the day of the event; from set-up and registration duties; to those who helped to get everyone to and from the water and those who kept us all safe on the water; to the generous landowners who opened their property as launching points to strangers; to the great number of sponsors who offered donations of money, three terrific boats for our raffle, in-kind products/services needed to actually set up and run the event, and a vast array of products and services for the silent and Chinese Auctions; to the myriad of health and wellness fair exhibitors , including reiki, drumming, massage, tai chi, yoga and Zumba practitioners as well as counselors, writers and poets who generously shared their special skills with others; to the extraordinary musicians; to the American Canoe Association for providing  event insurance; to Ann Melious and Hamilton County for helping to provide advertising funds for the event; to the many local and state-wide media sponsors who helped to get the word out; and to all those others who contributed their valuable efforts—you were each noticed and appreciated by the committee as well as the hundreds of visitors who joined us for a very special day.

Special thanks go to Carol and Herb Schmid and the Kalil’s crew, who put together an incredible meal without power, which was no small feat, and who donated much of the food and labor costs for the meal and all of the profits to the cause. Thanks also to Diane Doyle and Paul Ryan of the Red Dog for both donating and procuring food ingredients to help defray costs of preparing that meal; also to Dan’s Food Store for baking the cookies to top off the meal.

Many thanks also to photographer Nancie Battaglia and pilot Don Dew for the donation of their services in creating the most incredible aerial photos we could possibly imagine, which have not only become iconic, but also have now yielded an official event poster to further benefit the Komen Foundation; also, to Barry Lobdell and Lori Diemer for their donations of hundreds of land and water photos and a time lapse sequence of the event; and to the team of Jim Payne, and Dave Scranton/Colden Hippisley for providing videography for the Guinness Book of World Records.

We extend our gratitude also to Tickner’s , Payne’s, Woodcraft Camp, and Palmer Point for the donation of the use of their kayaks and canoes to get participants out on the water who would otherwise not have been able to join us. These boats also generated almost $800 in rental fees that we were able to send to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Thank you to Jennifer Potter-Hayes and Jody Pritchard for hosting the forum through which we found our logo, created and donated by Brian Bledsoe. We appreciate all of your support.

Thank you, Town of Inlet, for being one of the few, small towns on the face of the earth that could come together to make something this big happen. Pittsburgh has nothing on us.

We would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of our Core Committee Members Carolyn Belknap, Adele Burnett, Mitch Lee, Dale Huebner, Margie O’Hara, Betsy Dirnberger, Mary Denn, Ken Nelson, and Penny Stuart in creating and putting together this event.

Our thanks also to team members Joan Armstrong, Mary Ellen Bennett, Joanne Kelly, Bryan Bennett, Alexis Russell, Art Brockner, Nancy Jennings, Fred Johnson, Kathy Queen, Ken Sikorski, Amanda Miller, John Frey and Debbie Graydon for doing anything and everything from soliciting sponsors to selling raffle tickets, putting together the auctions, helping with registration and many other tasks that just needed to get done.

Thanks to you all and congratulations on an amazing job that touched so many people’s lives in very significant ways and is continuing to do so.

Most sincerely,

Connie Perry

and Paula Stanton