8924-R1_MSA_December2024_Newsletter

MSA Club News

freak out sledders) and by the end of Novem ber will be hosting a craft fair (no word on whether anyone in the club wants me to make a birdhouse out of popsicle sticks or anything like that. Me . . . I’m not very crafty . . . the last craft I think I made was a Nutcracker toy soldier out of a clothespin (do folks even hang laundry anymore?) that my Mother hung on our Christmas tree . . . in the far back where no one would see it. ) In December we’ve got a visit with Santa planned and a Club Christmas party on the 21st. Word on the street is that at least one Member intends to make a 2025 Smoki Hauler Groomer Operator Beefcake Calendar as a gift – 12 months of various Groomer Operators in seductive poses while wearing monosuits, snowmobile bibs and thick winter jackets. In January we’re planning a Breakfast on the 4th – if folks leave the Clubhouse hungry after chowing down on one of these breakfasts, I am pretty sure they need to see their doctor as they most likely have a tapeworm. February vacation will bring two Family Fun Nights. After a brief respite in March, we return in April with our annual Pie Sale, Easter Egg Hunt and a Spring breakfast. Like last year we’re also hoping to have the Clubhouse open on the weekends – at least on Saturday – to provide riders with a place to warm up and fill their bellies with hamburg ers, hot dogs, and brownies a la mode as this seemed to be a big hit last year. If you would like to join the Club, we’re always happy to have new Members. Our regular meetings are the first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. For more up-dated informa tion you can check us out at our Facebook page . . . which can be a bit confusing as there are at least one or two older versions of the Facebook Page – to find the newest page just look for our new black and white logo. We have had a change in leadership this year as former President Brent Stover stepped down due to a new employment opportunity. Thank you, Brent, for your time and com mitment to the Club . . . and welcome aboard Makayla Crandall who was voted in as the new President. Our VP also stepped down for unrelated reasons and so we elected Laurie Clark as our new VP. Finally, the Treasurer resigned and so the Membership elected Maia Crandall as Treasurer. We seem to have caught a bit of a break this year in terms of trail work as last year we were on a bridge rebuilding and building frenzy . . . this year only one or two bridges need some minor work. We will however need to brush and re-sign a portion of the ITS which was closed and re-routed due to logging a few years back and will be back up and running this year. Finally, mark your calendar as Katahdin Area Snowmobile Trails will be hosting their second annual Poker Run which you may have read about in the September issue of this very publication. It’s a good time, there are some decent cash prizes and perhaps one of the only poker runs in Maine which spans two counties! Irreverently submitted, Jason Johnson, Secretary Hi Gang, Setting here on the 24th of November, wait ing for some snow but ~~~~~~~ NOPE, not yet!! We haven’t even had a hard frost yet. I know the guys have been out staking and sign ing, I hope they are driving them deep, so the winds don’t blow them over, hate doing things twice. We have had some 40-50 mph winds in the last few days, so I would imagine we have more blowdowns to deal with. I am certain our trail crew is on it. Municipal Trail #70, Benedicta/Whetstone Falls, was completed, but then the landowner pulled a 28’ bridge out to put on another project of theirs, so we are in the process of replacing that bridge as I type. The bridge should be completed in a couple weeks, so we should be able to let traf fic through with no problem. I believe ITS#83 ~~ Sherman/Whetstone Falls and ITS#81 ~~ Sherman/Benedicta/Mattawamkeag Cutoff ~~ are all ready to go at this time. I sure hope things freeze down before we get any amount of snow!! BENEDICTA SNOW GANG Benedicta, ME

The clubs annual Caribbean Cruise Raffle will be in the books before you guys read this, so I will let you know who won in next month’s newsletter. Speaking of raffles, how about one with 150 tickets @ $100 per ticket ~~ 1st prize $3000, 2nd prize ~ $2000, 3rd prize ~ $1500, 4th prize~ $1000.00 !!!!!! The Snowgang has it going on right now!!!! The drawing is going to be held at our annual _Plunkett Pond Fishing Derby on Feb. 16th. If you read this and would like a ticket, call me @ 207.365.7276 or club President Randy Bates @ 207-532-8036. I do have some really sad news to report before I go::::::::::::::::: Phil Knowles, long time Snowgang club member, and former Trailmaster and groomer, passed away sud denly on Nov. 19th! Phil was a dedicated club member and adviser; he will be missed greatly!! Our sincerest condolences to his wife Sue, children, family and friends. In closing, I hope you all have a safe and blessed Christmas ~~ remember to hold your loved ones close! Jim Splan, Reporter@ Large P.S ~~ Celtics rule! P.SS ~~ Santa is riding a Ski-Doo! P.SSS ~~ I hope your nose has healed Nadine P.SSSS ~~ For more info on the nose ~532.8036 By the time you read this, hopefully there will be a white landscape and the music of snowmachines will fill the air. Our construc tion on our lodge is hesitantly going forward and we are hoping to be open on schedule, aiming for January 1st but our fate lies in the hands of carpenters and the snow gods! More to follow next month, I promise a total update at that time. Kim Ouellette ST. FRANCIS SNO ANGELS St. Francis, ME Rumor Has It— The first snowfall is due this weekend!! I wonder if it will stay? November’s Pot Luck meeting was a great success - my favorite part of the meal was Laura Kenney’s fresh baked rolls. Our first club raffle was greeted with cheers for the members whose name was drawn as a winner. Member ship is as follows; business - 28 and Regular - 54. We are looking for more members to help our club grow. If you are a snowmobiler and use our trails, we need you. Important updates for the club - The bridge work for the bridge over Peasley Brook (Peavey Corner) and Fish Stream will be com plete by the time this newsletter hits the MSA paper. A special thanks needs to be inserted here for those who gave up their time to help up with this challenge; Craig and Jeanie Morse, O’Neil Boulier, Josh Slauenwhite, Mike Hanson, Dawson Pelletier, and the Lin neus Snowsled club with the charge led by Jordan Landry. Another great shout out goes to Travis Libby - who knew he was so video friendly! Check out his videos on the bridge repair via our webpage. Thank you for all the time and work you provided our club to complete these bridges that will allow Patten, Sherman, and Shin Pond to connect. There is still a lot of money to be collected to complete the payment of these bridges and any and all donations are appreciated. The club has a donation box on the Club page as well as a Go Fund Me on the Facebook page. Please help us with a donation!! Another bridge that needs sharing is the bridge over Webb Brook. This bridge was completed by a great group of people who took on the challenge and the cost on their own. Justin “Holiday” and “Matt” with a crew of their wives and friends repaired the bridge. What a great looking bridge it is!! Thank you for all of your hard work. Shortly after the bridge’s completion, “Holiday” passed away. In memory of this great gentleman, there will be a ride held on February 1, 2025 named the Justin Holiday Memorial ride. Once I have more details on this great ride to show our appreciation, I will post it in this paper. Please keep your eye out on our webpage and Face ROCKABEMA SNOW RANGERS Patten, ME

book page for details and reservations to ride. Well that is about it for now - Happy Trails Everyone Carilynn Hanson MOLUNKUS VALLEY SNODRIFTERS Sherman, ME Hello from MVSD! Well, here we are writing Dec news already this year has flown right by... Oct we at MVSD participated in a Trunk or Treat in the park out town lots of children and adults having a great time n proud to say we was well represented by MVSD! November has been very busy for us getting things ready for another great season. When you visit our area, you will Notice our Trail Markers are Pink you can’t miss them this color. It was chosen as our club President Deb Long and several other members that have fought Breast Cancer and are Survivors! Deb & Heather have been very busy painting back ings and stakes and even Donation boxes there will be no mistake who’s trails or boxes this year hopefully always nice to change things up! Deb also has been helping a few area clubs with questions as we need every club and vol unteers as they are getting harder and harder to come by! We at MVSD are very Blessed to have the great turnouts at our potlucks and meetings also work details our memberships are not just a number we appreciate each and every one of you! Memberships are still coming in we are the club where there are no strtangers. Only friends you haven’t met ! We also done a benefit supper for Stacyville Fire Dept where they lost everything to a fire. We donated to Temple Theatre in Houlton so they can continue free matinees for the Christmas Season to Community !watch for more happenings coming you never know what Deb has up her sleeve :) Dec 1 st is our 20 th annual Christmas Parade in our little town of Sherman starting at 3pm Santa also is Coming to Town and our very own Sno Queen! Dec 7 th club Christmas Party not a pot luck we provide a nice meal not a Yankee swap monetary donations will be given to someone in need! Hopefully we get snow by January paper ....Until next time Keep On Keeping On! Deb MEDUXNEKEAG RAMBLERS SNOWSLED CLUB Littletonh, ME Well, it is that time of year again. Everyone is anxiously awaiting snow. The clubs have been working hard to get all the trails ready for the groomers and sleds to be running. We did receive so much need rain, now for the ground to freeze then the snow and we will be all set. I am sure all the hunters would like some snow also. Club meeting was held on the 19th with good attendance, and the next meeting has been moved to the 11th of December with a bring your favorite desert and share while meeting is held due to holiday activities. You can still join the club on our webpage or contact an officer for an application. also have super raffle tickets for sale but must be returned soon as they have to be in to MSA by the 10 th of December. Our breakfasts will be starting on January 4th with serving from 6-10 am with our usual fare please come and join us for good food, friendship and lots of laughter. All trials lead to the clubhouse on the Wiley Rd in Littleton. Hope to see you there. Hi Folks, As I sit and write this article, we are so excited and enthusiastic about the current Moosetown Riders Allagash snowmobile club. We would be remiss not to mention and thank all past club officers, spouses, families and members for all the years of dedication and hard work. This club is moving forward on the backs of our forefathers. Hopefully by the time this gets out we will have snow on the ground and we will be BRAPPING in the GASH. We reached out with a Facebook post needing volunteers to help clean up fallen trees and branches on MOOSETOWN RIDERS Allagash, ME

Deadlines for club news is the 25 th of the month prior to the publications. Please submit articles to editor@mesnow.com

NORTHERN REGION

SMOKI HAULERS sc Oakfield, ME

It’s mid-November and I’m already seeing some signs that point to a possible return to a snowy winter. No, I’m not talking about the large black band on the wooly bear caterpillars or even how high the wasp’s nests are this year . . . I’m talking about how low the farm ponds look right around now. Now I know we all swear by certain signs and portents – whether it be the forecast from The Old Farmer’s Almanac or what the latest and greatest European meteorological forecast is calling for in terms of El Nina – but me . . . I go with what my grandfather always said about the farm ponds. Pamp (so called because the first grandchild could not say “Gramp”) said if the farm pond was full in the Fall there wouldn’t be a very snowy Winter, but if the farm pond was low we could expect heavy snow. I know, I know . . . it sounds crazy, but I swear it seems to work out that way.

In any case we here at Smoki Haulers in Oakfield have a full schedule this coming Fall, Winter and Spring. By the time you read this we’ve already hosted not one, but two Hunter Breakfasts, a Trunk or Treat (the decorated Primoth “monster” groomer looked awesome – I personally think we should vinyl wrap the teeth and purchase some googly eyes for it and drive it like that during the Winter to really

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