8944-R1_MSA_January2025_Newsletter

The Maine Snowmobiler

January 2025 • Vol. 56 • No. 5 MSA, PO Box 80 Augusta ME 04332

Find us on Facebook

An Official Publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association

U n i t e d w

w e f a i l

i v i d e d l e a s s o c

e t r a il , d w m o b i

w w w . m

c o m

i a t i o n .

a i n e s n o

Explore Greenville

S nowmobiling in Greenville and the surrounding areas offers a spectacu lar experience with stunning winter land scapes and diverse terrain. The area is known for its picturesque views, including snow-covered forests, frozen lakes, and mountainous terrain. The backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains adds to the natu ral beauty.The frozen surfaces of lakes like Moosehead Lake and other waterways provide stunning views and opportunities for ice fishing and other winter activities. Greenville boasts numerous well-main tained trails that wind through forests, over hills, and alongside bodies of wa ter such as Moosehead Lake. This area is home to a significant moose population. Keep an eye out and you may catch sight of these majestic animals in the wild, es pecially around twilight. While you’re in the area check out the southern slope of Elephant Mountain and the crash site of a giant United States Air Force Boeing B-52C Stratofortress. The pieces of wreckage and aircraft debris cov er several acres of forest. If you’re looking for a day ride or a week long vacation, Greenville has you covered with their amazing trails and hometown hospitality.

1. Starting Point: Greenville Begin your snowmobile journey in downtown Greenville. Make sure to check in with local snow mobile clubs or rental shops for trail conditions and maps. 2. Greenville to Lily Bay State Park o Head northeast on the trails towards Lily Bay State Park. This area offers beautiful views of Moosehead Lake. Trails are typically well-maintained and suited for all skill levels. 3. Lily Bay State Park to Big Squaw Mountain o Continue onto trails toward the Big Squaw Mountain area. This section often fea tures scenic views and well-marked trails. o Look for trail markers that lead to wards the B-52 crash site, which is approxi mately 3 miles from the main trail. 4. B-52 Crash Site o Located near the top of the mountain, the crash site can be accessed via well-marked trails leading up to the summit. Respect the site as it is a historical landmark. 5. Return to Greenville o After exploring the crash site, return to the main trail and backtrack towards Greenville. If time allows, consider stopping for lunch at a lo cal restaurant or café along the way.

PARK & RIDE LOCATIONS

Attention MSA Clubs if you would like to add your local Park & Ride please visit: mainesnowmobileassociation.com and fill out the form under MSA Forms.

REGION Central Central Central

CLUB Anson-North Anson SC Lexington Hilanders SC Minnehonk Ridge Riders Norridge Sportsmen Alliance Smithfield Moonshiners SC

ADDRESS 18 High St 1453 Long Falls Dam Road Corner of North Rd & Bean Rd 444-328 Martin Stream Road 1232 Village Rd

TOWN North Anson Lexington Mount Vernon Norridgewock

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Park & Ride trail connects to the Mount Vernon trail system Trail maps are posted at Park & Ride parking lot and all trail intersections. Ashley Wing Memorial Park Direct Access to Kennebec Valley Railtrail KVT The park in ride is the paved parking lot directly in front of the ball field. Please do not block the driveway/parking area in front of the salt/sand shed. Thank you About 3/4 a mile south from Rt 25, Vacant lot and Approx 7 miles North of Limerick on Rt #5 Rachels on the green - breakfast- lunch - dinner - large parking lot for the Val Halla Parking lot. 15 minute drive from Portland with direct access to main trail system leading to destinations west and north of Cumberland. Westbrook Little League Parking lot Sunset Ridge Golf Course parking lot Prides Corner Congregational Church Parking lot will be busy Sunday mornings till about noon time. Located just north of the road crossing on ITS 111 North (Wildwoods trail) Located just north of the Jo Mary Trail on the left 1.5 miles north of Ebeemee Club House Lots of room for parking. Lunches usually served on weekends. Also the Rail Trail Parking lot off Bennoch Rd in Lagrange as well as Lagrange General Store Also, 2 miles down East Shore Rd, Lakeville, ME 04487 Large Parking Lot next to ITS 105 Very Large parking lot with direct ITS 85 trail access. Located right on RT. 7 just 1 mile from I-95. Food/Gas services available in both directions. Great take off spot for day or overnight trips. Contact Sebasticook Valley SC Facebook page for the latest grooming information. Located right at the I-95 Sherman exit Immediately off I-95 northbound exit. Located at Brooks Equipment Service . Direct access to ITS 83 Oils, parts, and services available at this site, as well as 2 gas stations located within 900’ of park and ride location (one of which has 24 hr. card service with non-ethanol gas also) As your leaving Caribou on Rt.89 heading east towards Limestone Otter St. will be on your left just before you reach the underpass. Drive all the way straight in and that is where the Park n Ride will be. As you come into Stockholm off 161 turn left onto Main St. and go across the bridge. Right after the bridge on the left you’ll see a sign for a public boat landing. Turn left into there and that in the parkn ride. There is a small maintained trail that will lead you thru the ballpark up to ITS 83 or you can ride the shoulder of Main St. from the park n ride and get on ITS 83 next to Eureka Hall. This is the location of our clubhouse. The clubhouse is not open to the general public w/o notice. There is lots of room for park ing, but please not in front of our groomer barn, “The Bullpen.” Ramp available for truckbed sleds. Please do not block garage overhead door where groomer is parked, or park in front of it. Free parking. This is a dirt road that connects east and west cottage road in Portage. There will be available parking on the west side of this road and will be marked with signs. Parking is alongside Station Rd in downtown Portage. There is room for approximately 12 rigs. Exit 286 on I-95. Heading North: take Exit 286 and take a right off the ramp. Take the first driveway on the right - big sign board out front. The driveway snakes between two homes - our log cabin Clubhouse is located in the back. Unload and you’re off and running on ITS 83! This is a private driveway located on trail ITS 81. Call 207.316.9118 for permission to park (limited space) Take Vacationland Rd, Follow Signs. Look for sign at entrance, indicating parking area for Narrow Gauge Snowmobile Club Park & Ride Located at the Lake Pennesseewassee Boat Launch/ Parking Area. Parking lot is across from the Ham Athletic Fields at 40 Brag Way. 2/10 of a mile from the intersection of Brag Way and Route 302. Easy access to ITS 89. Take a right at Andover Village (Rt. 120) just down over the hill on right Parking lot holds 30 plus trailers and direct access to ITS115. Located on the right hand side of Route 2 after entering Gilead from the west and passing the rest area or on the left side of the highway if coming in from the Bethel area. Long, thin parking lot for about 4 trucks with trailers. Kiosk and map in parking lot. Fireman’s field next to the little Androscoggin River.

Central Central

Smithfield

Cornish

Coastal

Cornish Sno-Cruisers

Rt #5 (Sokokis Trail) 60 Val Halla Road

Moonlite Sno-Skimmers

Coastal

Cumberland

Westbrook Trail Blazes Westbrook Trail Blazes Westbrook Trail Blazes Ebeemee SC Ebeemee SC East Branch Sno-Rovers LA Sledders

Coastal Coastal Coastal Eastern Eastern Eastern Eastern

Westbrook Westbrook Westbrook Ebeemee Twp Ebeemee Twp Medway Alton

429 Bridge St 771 Cumberland St 235 Pride St US Route 11, ITS 111 Intersection US Route 11 6 Clubhouse Dr Club House 3346 Bennoch Rd 976 Lee Rd (Rt 6)

Eastern

Quad County SC Inc.

Springfield

Eastern

Sebasticook Valley SC

238 Moosehead Trail

Newport

Northern Northern

Sherman Citgo 1160 Crystal Road

Benedicta Snow Gang Big Valley Sno Club

Sherman Island Falls

Northern Northern

Big Valley Sno Club Caribou SC

478 Houlton Road 10 Otter Street

Island Falls Caribou

Writers Wanted We’re looking for newspaper articles. Topics of interest.... All things snowmobiling!

10 Otter Street

Northern

Caribou SC

Stockholm

Chapman

94 Town Hall Rd.

Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile & ATV Club Madawaska SC

Northern

St. David (Madawaska) Madawaska

19 Fournier Road

Northern

Do you have a favorite ride that you’d like to share? Grooming or trail work tips. Product reviews. Stories of your adventures. Club events. A member who goes above & beyond. If possible, please send along pictures for your articles. This paper is created for Snowmobilers and you are the

Madawaska SC

195 Dufour Road

Northern

Portage Lake

Portage Lake SC

Northern

Station Road

Portage Lakers

Portage

Northern

Station Road

Smoki Haulers SC

Northern

Oakfield

317 Oakfield Smyrna Road

experts - we’d love to have your input! Please submit articles to editor@mesnow.com

Washburn Trail Runners SC Bog Hooters SC Crooked River SC Harrison Friendly Riders Narrow Gauge SC

Northern Western Western Western Western

48 Station Road Rte 11 661 Meadow Rd Vacationland Rd 219 North Main St

Washburn Mechanic Falls Casco Harrison Strong

Norway Bridgton

95 Lake Road Brag Way

Western Western

Norway Trackers SC Pleasant Mountain SC (Formaly Bridgton Easy Riders) Snow Valley Sno-Goers

Western

Rt. 120 Just East of Andover Village 171 Main St. Route 2

Andover

Join the MSA Snowmobile Club of your choice, by scanning the QR Code below and join the fun! MSA, PO Box 80 Augusta ME 04332 207-622-6983 Fax: 207-622-7669

Western Western

Kingfield Gilead

Sno Wanderers Wild River Riders

Know Before You Go!

mainesnowmobileassociation.com

Always Check Local Ice Conditions

2

r y 2 0

a

n u

2 5 l M a i n e S n o w m o b i

J a

l e r

Two $1,500.00 Scholarships

will be award this year by The Maine Snowmobile Association to eligible applicants.

☛ To be eligible for these awards the following criteria must be met: • Applicant and/or immediate family must be a member of the Maine Snowmobile Association for two years prior to January 1 st of 2025 • Applicant can be of any age • Immediate family members of MSA member are eligible. Immediate family is defined as legal dependents living in one household. • MSA membership can be family, individual or a business

☛ Scholarship awards are granted to MSA member or family member who is: • A recent high school graduate or holder of a GED • Any student in a one or two-year Associate or Technical School Program at a school in state or out of state • Any student in a four-year Bachelor Degree Program at a school in state or out of state • Pursuing a Master’s Degree

committee needs to raise funds. To do this we are asking clubs to consider making a donation to the scholarship fund. Some clubs in the state have held fundraising events, do a 50/50 raffle at club meet ings, send a donation directly or come up with other ways to raise the money. Whatever your club can do would be greatly appreciated and helpful. The Scholarship committee greatly appreciates your consideration to assist MSA students in reaching their higher education degree.

The Maine Snowmobile Association believes that our future depends on our children, which is why we are doing our part to invest in them. If you feel the same way, please consider helping us to raise money for the fund or making a donation if you prefer? Each year the scholarship committee gives out two scholarships to students who have been MSA mem bers for the previous two years. This year we award ed two $1500 scholarships to students. In order to continue this tradition, the scholarship

All majors and /or courses of study are eligible. Essay and completed application must be received at the MSA office in Augusta by the close of business on April 1, 2025. https://www.mainesnowmobileassociation.com/msa-scholarship-fund/

3

w m o

2 0 2 5 l M a i n e S n o

b i l

e r

J

u a r y

a n

To this Incredibly Supportive MSA Family,

home staff were amazed at the “family” support from all of you in the snowmobile community as well as blood family and neighbors. As I said to many people, we had four incredible “families: blood, MSA, Eastern ME SC and the neighbor hood. Without all of you, I am not sure I could have made it through this. I know I will miss someone if I try to list every one that has been beside me, so consider this let ter a BIGTHANKYOU to ALL of you. Larry was so proud of the direction and path MSA has been on and continues to be on in these past few years. He thought many times of walking away, but stayed with it because of all of you. He has been involved in many aspects of MSA for the past 35 plus/ minus years, met many people, done so much he wouldn’t have done otherwise, but stayed because he believed in the organization. I do not know what the future holds for me, but I do know MSA will always be a part of me as well. I have not had such an amazing support group sur round me and hold me up as you all have been. If this unimaginable event in my life has taught me something it is this: hold tight the ones you love, tell them how much they mean to you every day, say the words, “I LoveYou” to them and never take for granted everything will stay the same because it can change in a matter of minutes. patiently, taking detailed notes, and assuring them she’ll address the issue with the club board. She understands that maintaining positive relationships with landowners is essential for the sustainability of the trails. After the call, she drafts an email to the trail committee, highlighting the need for clearer signage in that area. Afternoon brings a different set of tasks. Sarah might be working on updating the club’s website, posting trail updates, or creating flyers for upcoming events like safety workshops. She understands the importance of clear com munication to keep members informed and engaged. While she may not be out on the trails, Sarah’s contribu tions are invaluable. She’s the glue that holds the admin istrative side of the club together, ensuring that the hard work of the trail groomers, safety chairs, and event orga nizers can proceed without a hitch. As the day winds down, she feels a quiet sense of satisfaction, knowing that her efforts, though less glamorous, play a vital role in allow ing others to enjoy the winter wonderland. So, next time you’re out riding through fresh powder, remember the dedicated volunteers behind the scenes, like Sarah, who keep the wheels turning (or the tracks spinning) for the entire snowmobiling community. Their work, often unseen, is the heartbeat that helps keep the club, and the joy of winter, alive.

A s many of you know or have heard on Decem ber 8 th I lost my soulmate, companion and rock, Larry, very unexpectantly. These past few weeks have been the most difficult ones in my life. Beside me all the way has been you, my MSA family. You have sent me messages, cards, made donations, and offered to help in any way. The days of his services, the Pastor and the funeral

My deepest thanks and appreciation to you, my MSA family. Eileen Lafland

Behind theTrails

T he roar of a snowmobile engine, the crisp winter air, the thrill of a powder run – these are the images that often come to mind when you think of a snowmobile club. But behind the scenes, away from the trails, there’s a dedicated group of volunteers working tirelessly to keep things running smoothly. This isn’t always about revving engines; for some, it’s about spreadsheets and phone calls. Today, we’re catching a glimpse into the day of one such volunteer – the vital link between the trails and the club’s administrative backbone. For Sarah, a retired teacher and passionate snowmo biler, her days volunteering at the local Snowmobile Club are a little less adrenaline-fueled and a lot more organized. Her day usually starts with a steaming mug of coffee and a check of the club’s email inbox.This morning, it’s a mix of membership renewals, inquiries about upcoming trail con ditions, and a plea for volunteers. Sarah diligently answers each email, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Next, she dives into the club’s membership database. It’s a delicate dance of updating contact information and pro cessing payments. Sarah knows that accurate records are crucial for the club’s smooth operation and potential grant applications. She meticulously enters data, always with a focus on detail and organization. The phone rings. It’s a local landowner, concerned about snowmobilers trespassing on their property. Sarah listens

4

r y 2 0

a

n u

2 5 l M a i n e S n o w m o b i

J a

l e r

From The Executive Board

From the President

dedicated hours so many families would not be able to enjoy snowmobiling in Maine. The snowmobile community is AWESOME, and I am proud to be part of it. Please invite a new friend or acquaintance to your next meeting or workday. We all can use some new helpers and there is no better way to get them hooked than to show them the rewarding work we do. You do not need special skills, there are so many ways to help, some of you probably haven’t thought of yet. CLUBS: Please respond to offers of help, even if the answer is “not right now”. SNOMOBILERS: Step up, reach out & help. The work to prepare for and make great trails is never ending and getting more expensive. The MSA has been working throughout the summer and fall on legislation to improve funding to the trail maintenance & capitol equipment funds. It has been about five years since the last legislation added to these accounts from the last registration increase. We are going after a portion of the sales tax that is paid when purchasing a snowmobile. A similar bill was introduced last session to fund the Dept. of Transportation with a portion of automobile sales tax. Thanks to everyone for all the ideas that have been shared on ways to increase funding. We have not forgotten any of them and will continue to push forward to make sure clubs are well funded for trail work. focus on the holidays and family, the whole time recharging our batteries for January 1 and the unofficial beginning to the “Post Snow” activities. When I say we can take a breath that in no way means that MSA lacks for things to do. It simply means that our direction and focus changes as our big events like the MSA Snowmobile Show and Super Raffle, not to mention the out of state Snowmobile Shows, Club events, grass drags, regional and State Directors meetings. As well as numerous informational Trails Workshops wind down to a dull roar as the MSA office and Membership Chair prepare for membership processing. The MSA funding committee has been working with our lobbyist James Cote and Joe Higgins at the Dept. of A.C.F. Snowmobile Division on different avenues to help get more funding back to our Clubs, as well as staying at the forefront of facilitating the passing of question 4, the 30 million dollar Trails Bond. This time of year Liz and Al at the MSA office are also very busy running the day-to day duties and answering incoming phone calls and emails each day. Our Regional V.P’s and Regional Director’s along with various members of the Trails Committee are in constant contact with Clubs assisting with landowner relations, helping with reroutes and acquiring materials, They are the boots on the ground liaisons between the MSA and its roughly 285 Clubs from Waterboro to Fort Kent. There are many more pieces to the MSA puzzle like updating the Facebook page, the MSA Website, producing the Maine Guide 4 funds should roll out in June. We’ll have more information as it becomes available, the application process is currently being worked out. I also found a very nice lady to help with writing these grants. I would like to have some meetings; maybe we could Zoom or meet in person at area clubs. The money should be available for next fall. All the Raffle prizes have been delivered. We made lots of people very happy! After a tragic month, it was wonderful to give away snowmobiles, trailers, and many gift certificates. It’s always sad to lose a true friend, Larry LaFland was my real friend. When I took a left turn for the bad, he picked me up and got me back on the main line. My tea-drinking buddy, my coach, my advisor, I respected him so much and will miss him dearly. I’ve been interviewed many times about the MSA and snow conditions throughout the State also I was invited to a podcast interview with legendary Maine Guide Bob Howe. It

and putting together this paper each month which keeps our Editor/Treasurer busy most nights. Now I know that I’m forgetting other facets and people that make the MSA run. But believe me when I tell you that it takes a team of passionate snowmobilers to make it run like a well-oiled machine and I am more than fortunate to have just that team and I cannot thank them enough for all of the work that they do! So back to this snow thing… At the end of the day ALL of our efforts are to get people out on the trails and enjoy the fruits of our labor and to produce the best possible product for our sport and I feel that we accomplish that with great success. As we travel to other neighboring States we keep hearing the same thing over and over again, and that is that Maine is the “GO TO” place and has the best trail system hands down, something we should all be proud of! At this time, I would ask each one of you that if you have a specific Snow Dance that you do, please do it now so that we can get on with what we ultimately set out to do and that is RIDE. Our sport brings in a tremendous amount of revenue to the State’s economy each year and we cannot do it without snow, so let’s get dancing! That is all for now from your President, and remember if anyone has a question, concern or just wants to talk snowmobiling I would love to hear from you, my door is always open. Thank you once again. Mark I hope you are as anxious as I am to get out on the trails, but please be safe. The MSA’s “Ride smart today, ride again tomorrow” is how we should all think when firing up the sled & heading out. Take the time to talk to others about snowmobile safety and trail etiquette while stopped along the trail, everyone approaches trail safety differently and we can all learn from other experiences and stories. Please heed signage along the trails, the club members who install & maintain them put them up for a reason, to direct you or share information with you. This is especially true of “Caution plowed road/logging”. Clubs gather information from landowners on where they can be, where landowners do not want us and following that signage make the difference of keeping that trail open. Where snowmobilers interact with logging & trucking operations the landowner & clubs have worked together to allow us to continue access through the active job. We must be respectful of the workers there. We (snowmobilers) are out having fun, recreating, but those folks are working. We must follow signs, wait for operators to motion us past, ride slow & to the right, yield to vehicles, etc. If we don’t, access could be lost not just for that section, but for other locations and years as well. Landowners often own more than one parcel and if shared access was lots of fun and should be aired in early January. Many events this month check on the MSA website for details. If you have special fun things going on let us know so we can post them.

Treasurer’s Report

Lori Hemmerdinger (207) 890-5455 544 Plains Road • Poland, ME 04274 Treasurer@mesnow.com Respectfully Submitted, Lori Hemmerdinger, Treasurer

Mark Chinnock, President 207-754-9874 544 Plains Road, Poland, ME 04274 napadude66@hotmail.com

H ello Everyone, Well hopefully by the arrival of this paper Mother Nature has done an about face and invested us with some bountiful snowstorms! All Clubs that we have talked to by and large are ready and eagerly waiting for groomable snow, it will come I’m sure of it. Typically by the middle of December and after the Super Raffle, our last big event of the year end, we can take a deep breath and From the Executive VP

Monthly Income Monthly Expense

$ 60,443.95 $ 49,880.28 $ 10,563.67 $ 85,600.00 $178,171.00 $157,204.47

Net Revenue

Short Term CD (12/31/24)

Checking (12/31/24)

Dedicated Account (12/31/24)

Pay Pal (12/30/24) 0 Special Events Account (12/31/24) $ 4,987.53 Credit Line (12/31/24) $ - Building Fund (12/31/24) $ 54,994.37 Brian Wass Safety Fund (12/31/24) $ 3,997.00 Scholarship Savings (12/30/24) $ 7,380.37 Scholarship CD (12/30/24) $ 60,563.56 doesn’t work in one location, they are likely to say no the next time. There are many events planned by clubs this winter, check out the calendar in the paper and follow club news where you ride or plan to vacation for information on these events so you can make them part of your winter. I personally love starting my ride days with a club breakfast. Every month in the winter there are regional rides & directors meetings planned. If you have not attended one they are good time, led by folks from the region and are a great opportunity to learn more about the area and to meet some of the local club folks. January is Western, February is Eastern, March is Northern region. Check out the regional VP articles for more information. If you have a question, problem, concern, or idea on snowmobiling in Maine, please get in touch with me. You can contact me at the phone # or email located below my photo to the left. Matt The office is ready to serve you, just let us know how we can help. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Thanks for all your hard work. AL $

Matt Stedman 207-557-1921 (call or text)

H appy New Years’ fellow snowmobilers, I hope you took the opportunity to spend time with family and friends over the past few weeks and enjoyed the Christmas season. This December did not allow for any early season riding, but that does not mean clubs across the State have not been busy. There have been thousands of hours of volunteer work done already. It takes so much effort just to get ready. I thank each and every one of you for the effort you put into the snowmobile trail systems. If it was not for all your PO Box 621, Ashland ME 04732 Stedman.matt@jdirving.com

Director of Operations

MSA CLUBS: TO ORDER NEEDED ITS & JCT SIGNS Contact Mike Grass Sr., MSA Trails Committee 252 Condon Rd • Plymouth, ME 04969 207-368-4914 home • 207-745-2745 cell Grasslands252@gmail.com TO ORDER CLUBTRAIL SIGNAGE Candice Pinkham, DACF/Snowmobile Program 207-287-4957 Office • 207-878-8111 Fax Candice.M.Pinkham@maine.gov

Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com W elcome 2025! This year will be a great year! The grant process for Question

5

w m o

2 0 2 5 l M a i n e S n o

b i l

e r

J

u a r y

a n

From The Executive Board Secretary’s Report - Betsy Watson Directors Meeting - Augusta Civic Center - Augusta, Maine - December 10, 2024

year. I would like to thank the folks the made it happens. Brain Dailly from Polaris, Chad Dow from Nitro, Dan Mills from Alcom, a Ski-doo from Mountainside and the Daigle family, the Polaris came from Cove-side in Newport, We have many prizes from gift cards from dealers and bed and breakfast from across the state. Liz does a fabulous job. Safety: Al Swett – Take some of the safety posters and put them up. There has been a lot of fires lately. Check your smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Be careful of the icy conditions. Don’t silp and fall. We do have safety classes coming up. Give us a call. January 25, 2024 is the next Director’s meeting. It is going to be at the Leeds Stump Thumpers at the Asylum Lodge located at 27 Route 219 in Leeds. Jerry is hoping for snow so Brad can map out a ride in the AM. Social hour at 5 PM, Dinner at 6 PM and the Meeting starting at 7 PM. Funding Committee: Matt – Legislature is back in session, bills have to be in by Jan 10, 2025. Mark, James Cote, and I have been putting some thought into a bill. James is drafting legislation as we speak, to get some trail funding from a portion of the sales tax on snowmobile sales. We are also working to understand and educate ourselves on how the trails bond will be going through the grant process, what that will look like, and how the people can get their hands on that money. Calls and meetings have been scheduled within the next couple of weeks to go over that information. We are really trying to figure it all out. There will be newspaper articles as well as training sessions to help educate you all to get that trails grant money. Membership Committee: Read by Liz – Currently we have 5,573 members. There are approximately 400 left to enter in the office. Numbers are: Central Region = 769, Coastal Region =652, Eastern Region = 1,517, S nowmobile Safety begins with you! It’s a brand-new season, let’s make it a safe one. So, to start with, how’s your clothing? Does it fit like last year? Helmet, ok? Gloves, boots googles? 1. Is your snowmobile ready to go? Have you or someone like a dealer checked it over for you? Carbides, skis, track wheel bear ings, lights, windshield, and any cuts on the track? Did anything break from last season? How about the motor oil and some fresh gas? Any issues with the steering and suspension/ shocks? Check these items over it’s no fun breaking down on the trail. 2. First Aid and survival kit, do you have one? if not, you should have them along with some snacks, a flashlight, and a tow strap, duct tape, and a fire starter. These items will help you get out of a bad situation. 3. You should be inspecting your trailer. Look for cracks in and on the framework. reetings from Brewer, Hope you all had a great holiday season with your family and friends. As I write this the day after Christmas, there is a few inches of snow in my front yard. As you read this, I hope we have kept it and the season is underway. If conditions permit, clubs should start seeing inspection reports from the trail committee members. As many of you know, my primary club, Eastern Maine Snowmobiler’s, lost its trail master when Larry Lafland passed away. Besides his contribution to the MSA, Larry was the “wheel” of our club and we members were the spokes. Larry managed projects, trail work, grooming, grants, and landowner rela tions with very little help except from his wife, Eileen. He also participated in every aspect of the club including fundraisers, building main tenance, and rentals. His passing has, indeed, left a void that won’t be easy to fill. The club members have rallied, and we are doing our G

Northern Region = 1,233 and the Western Region = 1,395. Scholarship Committee: Barry – The Scholarship Checking account has $5,405. The Scholarship CD has $60,563.56. These funds come from the generous donations from clubs and individuals like you. Thank you. If you have any questions regarding the Scholarship Fund, please reach out to anyone on the committee. Trails Committee: Brent – We have concluded all the mapping dinners. I have been to four different venues across the state. Let’s talk about Bingham, which has been in play for over a year. The Southern portion of the trail has been temporary solved. A judge made a ruling to allow traffic to pass through that section. We are not completely out of the woods yet, there is a 140-foot bridge that has not been repaired, as of tonight. There is a military style bridge that has been staged and is onsite. They hope to have it in place before the riding season begins. This is a major artery to Jackman. The only way out of town is 88, logging has shut down other routes. A member asked about Roxbury. He said that Roxbury has to replace a 30 FT bridge to a 60 FT bridge. Brent replied that he did not know about the bridge and that we just brought on an inspector to that section. They are getting him up to date. Mark read about the services for Larry. Brent had a Save-The-Date from Eileen. Eileen has saved the weekend of May 24th at the Eastern Maine Snowmobile Club for a Celebration of Life for Larry. Hall of Fame Committee & Hospitality Committee: Gail Ryan – Still need members for the Hall of Fame. Gail told a funny joke. Old Business: Mark – Al hit on the Super Raffle a little earlier. Lori is doing some research on getting us a good interest rate for the Super Raffle CD. The January directors meeting has Wheel bearings need grease and check for any movement. Are there any cracks on your tires? If so it’s best to replace them. All your lights should work. Is the hitch that connects to the vehicle, ok? And make sure you lock it into place and secure it with the safety pin. Do you have extender mirrors on your vehicle? These help a lot. 4. Ride right, stay on the trail, don’t ride alone, and be careful at night, watch out for wildlife. Ride safe out there and remember to respect our landowners. Stay on the marked trail we lose lots of valuable trails when folks disrespect landowners, liter, and riding off trail is the biggest reason we lose mileage. Over 95% of our system is on private land owners’ property. Many pieces of the trail puzzle are major arteries that connect South to North and East to West we need to stay on the good side of the landowner and keep them happy all the time. Does your club have that one “Go To” mem ber that is always there and has the answer to most any question? The person with expe rience and wisdom that makes it look easy? First and foremost, be vocal about your appre ciation for their efforts. Secondly, think about what would happen if he or she wasn’t there. Are there tasks and procedures that should be shared with at least one other member for the sake of continuity? Is there any documenta tion on how things work? It’s easy to sit back and let that one person do it because they’ve always done it, but if you take that for granted, you may find yourself asking, “What do we do now?” Evaluate your club and make a contin gency plan—just a thought. All for now, Brent best to make Larry proud, but it got me think ing about other clubs.

been covered. It will be on 1/25/25 in Leeds. The E-Board talked about possible date changes on some of the Directory’s meeting. Switching from a Tuesday to a Saturday to try and get more participation. Matt – The E-Board would like to get some feedback from the clubs on the possible date change. It would not be for all the meetings, because some of them are already on a Saturday. The last thing we have is the contract for James Cote the lobbyist. James is worth every penny that we pay him. Approval was sought for the execution of a one year contract extension. The contract has not changed from last year. Ron made a motion and a second came from Jerry. Motion carried. Lucky Dog – the top three selling clubs from the raffle. Central Region 1) Lexington Highlanders SC @ $1,817 2) Sno-Devils SC @ $825 3) Town and Country Trailriders Inc. @ $826 Coastal Region 1) Ossipee Mountaineers @ $667 2) Saco Pathfinders @ $577 3) Southern Maine Sno-Goers @ $680 Eastern Region 1) Moosehead Riders, Inc. @ $888 2) Quad County SC Inc. @ $438 3) Wassookeag SC @ $1,774 Northern Region 1) Big Valley Sno-Club @ $1,174 2) Easton Trailbreakers @ $623 3) Washburn Trail Runners @ $1,589 Western Region 1) Bouncing Bogies @ $835 2) Fryeburg Are Snowmobile Asso. @ $6,519 3) Pleasant Mountain SC Inc. @ $2,405 Pot of Gold - $400 Good Time Riders, Benton, ME 50/50 – $113 – Winner gave back the money to the Scholarship Fund. Meeting Adjourn 5. Safety courses are available from IF&W. Look for the dates and times in the MSA paper. 6. If anyone would like me to speak with your clubs or area school, please let me know. I’m filling up for January. I go over every day snowmobiling topics from clothing to riding. We have a great time and most importantly hear some good stories from the kids. 7. We have ITS maps at the office; let us know if you’d like some. In addition, we have 2025 calendars left for sale. 8. For home use please check your smoke and CO2 alarms have a fire route out of your home, and learn how to use a fire extinguisher. 9. Be careful underfoot and watch out for slippery conditions and obstacles under the snow. Don’t overdo it shoveling. Take a break! Let’s make it 2025 a fatality-free year. Be safe out there! AL CLUB MEMBERS Once grooming begins submit your trail reports to: EDITOR@MESNOW.COM Please include your name and club affiliation

Secretary’s Report Betsy Watson – No errors or omissions. Motion carried. A copy was placed on file. Treasurer’s Report was read by Barry Ryan. No errors or omissions. A copy was placed on file. President’s Opening Comments: Mark Chinnock – I’ll keep it short because of the supper raffle. Executive Vice-President: Matt Stedman – It’s been a sad week for us at the MSA. Northern Region Vice-President: Nick Morrill – Panning of the trails but because of the sun we are going back to square one. Central Region Vice-President: Ron Nunes – Not much to report because of the weather. Western Region Vice-President: Jerry Major – Not much to report because of the weather. Director of Operations: Al Swett – Even though we will be ending the Super Raffle tonight, we will be having discussions for next Betsy Watson, Secretary 207-205-1559 412 Roberts Ridge Rd, East Waterboro, ME 04030 watson.betsy29@gmail.com

Safety Committee

Alan Swett 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com

Trails Committee Chair Report

Brent Spaulding, MSA Trails Chairman 207-944-7762 41 Madison Ave Brewer ME 04412 msatrailchair@gmail.com

6

r y 2 0

a

n u

2 5 l M a i n e S n o w m o b i

J a

l e r

From The Executive Board

positions throughout the MSA and his club. Larry was an absolute trooper on our commit tee; he wanted nothing more than to make sure the scholarship program was the best it could be. He demanded that everything we did be above board, with integrity and always trying to raise more funds so that we could give out as much money as possible. On top of that, he wanted to make sure we reached out to as many families as we could. When scholarship applications numbers started to decrease Larry was the first to ask how we could find more ways to get our message out, forever challeng ing us committee members to think of more opportunities to get our message out to our MSA members. Larry was very passionate about his feelings that anyone who wanted to go on to higher education should be able to! Larry’s family made it very clear that Larry had a strong desire to support the scholarship cause and they in turned wished that any dona tions in Larry’s memory go to the MSA Schol arship or a snowmobile club of their choice. We have already seen some very generous donations come in and I am sure Larry would be very proud. Speaking of donations, the scholarship committee is discussing plans on how best to distribute funds in 2026. Our awards for 2025 have already been set and plans are in the works to name the awards in memory of T-Bone after outpouring of support we received from Matt Baron and the Limerick club fundraisers. As always, the committee is looking for sup port, ideas, questions and concerns. Thanks for all your past support and here’s to a safe and Happy New! about the ride and the time for the dinner and start of the meeting in my article next month. I’ll kick my list of fun and excitement off with clubs throughout the region serving breakfast from now through the month of March. * Washburn Trail Runners Clubhouse Grill is open now until March on the weekends and will be open daily February school vacation week. * Chapman Ridge Runners will be serving breakfast on Jan.18, Feb. 8 and March 8 from 7-1 at their clubhouse * Meduxnekeag Ramblers Sno sled Club will be serving breakfast every Saturday now until March 29 from 6-10 am at 235 Wiley Rd. in Littleton * Fort Fairfield Snowmobile Club will host a breakfast at their clubhouse on Sunday Feb.9 from 7-10 am. On the event side of things there is a lengthy list so I’ve done my best to cover them all. All these events listed be sure to check out their Facebook pages for more info as the events come closer. Kicking things off for events we have: * North Star Motorsports along with Presque Isle Snowmobile Club on Jan.18 will be hosting the Star City 100 at Arnold Brook Lake in Presque Isle. Check their Facebook page for more info. * Caribou Snowmobile Club 5th Annual Larry Doody Memorial Scholarship Radar Run on Jan.19 in Caribou at 228 Lombard Rd. Gates open at 7am and racing starts at 10am. Location may be subject to change due to snow conditions. Check their event page on Facebook for current details. * Tame Track Tour Snowmobile Races on Saturday Jan.25 in Island Falls. Check their Facebook page along with Big Valley Snoclub Facebook page for more details. *Moosestompers Weekend 2025 in Houlton the weekend of Jan.31- Feb.2. Check their social media for more info. *Spud Speedway in Caribou from now until March will have their new Northern Lights Attraction. It’s the first drive thru snowmobile light tunnel featuring “Snowman Alley” with 10 tire lit snowman and a 70’ vibrant light tunnel. Check out their social media pages for more details. *Oxbow - Masardis Snowmobile Club Winter Carnival on Saturday Feb. 15 from 10:30AM

and Agriculture Conservation and Forestry- the two committees that MSA deals most directly with. Members include: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Senator Joseph Baldacci, Penobscot (Chair) Senator Anne Carney, Cumberland Senator Stacey Guerin, Penobscot Representative Tiffany Roberts, South Berwick (Chair) Representative William Bridgeo, Augusta Representative Sally Cluchey, Bowdoinham Representative Jim Dill, Old Town Representative Mike Lance, Paris Representative Rick Mason, Lisbon Representative Parnell Terry, Gorman Representative Jim Thorne, Carmel Representative Stephen Wood, Greene Representative David Woodsome, Waterboro Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Senator Rachel Talbot Ross, Cumberland (Chair) Senator Russell Black, Franklin Senator Henry Ingweresen, York Representative Bill Pluecker, Warren (Chair) Representative Stephen Bunker, Farmington Representative Mark Cooper, Windham Representative Dean Cray, Palmyra Representative Jim Dill, Old Town Representative Sharon Frost, Belgrade Representative Timothy Guerrette, Caribou Representative Randy Hall, Wilton Representative Allison Hepler, Woolwich Representative Caldwell Jackson, Oxford If you know any of these legislators, or live in these communities, I encourage you to reach out to them to introduce yourself and your local club, and educate them about the impor tance of snowmobiling in Maine. Local con nections can often make a world of difference when it comes to winning over the support of legislators. Until next time- I’ll keep praying for snow! James Cote, MSA Lobbyist *Portage Lakers Snowmobile Club will be hosting a club ride and hot dog roast on Saturday March 8 th . They will be meeting at their groomer shed at 9am and heading out from there. Check their Facebook page for more details as the date gets closer. * Gateway Snowmobile Club Gala 2025 will take place on Saturday March 25th. The event will be held at the Van Buren American Legion Hall. The Gala will begin at 5pm with a social hour followed by a dinner and dance with music by DJ James Lapointe. Follow their Facebook page for more details. *Lastly the Town of Van Buren the weekend of March 14 - 16 will be hosting the Northern Maine Ice Busters in town as they work to break the world record for the largest international ice carousel. Be sure to mark your calendars for all these upcoming events. Lastly I’d like to end my article by saying that the snowmobiling community here in the State of Maine lost a great member and advocate for our sport with the passing of Larry Lafland. Larry held many positions within the MSA and with the Eastern Maine Snowmobile Club. His dedication to snowmobiling and his influence on not only myself but on many others will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to Larry’s wife Eileen along with their family and friends. Everyone keep doing your snow dances and hope that old man winter will bring us some much needed snow in the coming days and weeks so we can get the riding season underway. All ways remember to ride right, ride safe and ride sober. Until next time!! Nick Morrill, Northern Region V.P.

MSA Lobbyist Capitol Report

Scholarship Committee

James Cote MSA Lobbyist

H

Harvey Chesley, 207-314-0637 25 Hillcrest Dr, Clinton ME 04927 harv.chesley@gmail.com W elcome friends to 2025, let’s hope the New Year finds us all happy and healthy. Since we have turned the calendar page to January it is a great time for families with children currently in either post high school programs or going to be in the coming year to consider applying for the MSA scholarship. The MSA awards two scholarships annually and the awards have recently been increased to $1,500 each. With the ever-increasing cost of education, our program is sure to help. All the information needed can be found on the MSA website and either the office or any of us committee members would be glad to help with any questions. It’s with heavy hearts that we mention the passing of Larry Lafland, longtime member of the scholarship committee and countless other

appy New Year, MSA! A quick report from the Capitol, this month. The Legislature returns to normal official business on Wednesday, January 8 and expects to adjourn in June. MSA leaders have been at work on crafting a piece of legislation that will be sponsored by Senator Russell Black of Wilton, that seeks to dedicate a portion of the sales tax on snow mobiles to the State’s snowmobile program. Details are still being ironed out, but we are anxious to have this policy discussion with the Legislature. More details will be shared with the membership in coming weeks and we hope to have many members and clubs present at the public hearing to show support for enhanced funding for our clubs and trail network. Since my last article the Legislature has named the new members of the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - 8PM at Homestead Lodge in Oxbow. Checkout their event page on Facebook for more details. *Molunkus Valley Sno - Drifter’s Annual Poker Run on Saturday Feb. 15. Poker run begins at 9 am starting at 58 North St, in Sherman *Portage Lakers Pie Auction on Saturday Feb.15 from 7pm- 12am at 20 School St. in Portage. There will be live music following the auction by the band Guilty Pleasure to cap Snowmobile Championship Racing oval ice racing will be taking place the weekend of Feb.14 - Feb.16 at Connell Park Raceway in Woodstock, New Brunswick Canada, Follow their Facebook page for details and info. * Frenchville Snowmobile Club 2nd Annual Antique Winter Bash on Sunday Feb.16 in Frenchville. Check their Facebook page for more details. *Benedicta SnowGang Plunkett Pond Fishing Derby on Sunday Feb.16 Derby goes from 7am - 3pm and will be located at 6 Robinson Rd. in Benedicta *Limestone Snow Hawks 4th Annual Poker Run will be held on Sunday Feb.16. Poker Run begins at 10am and starts at their clubhouse. Check their Facebook page for more info as the date gets closer. *Caribou Snowmobile Club Annual Trailside Hot Dog Roast will be held on Saturday Feb.22 at Axle Siding in Stockholm. They will be grilling dogs starting around 10:30 and going until sometime midafternoon. Check their social media for more details as the date approaches *2nd Annual “Ryde” with Mike will be taking place on Saturday Feb.22 The event will begin in Fort Kent at the Fort Kent SnoRiders Snowmobile Club groomer garage and end in Wallagrass at the former school. Event is being hosted by Michael’s Active Recovery and benefits 1st Mile Recovery Center. Check out their event page for more details. *Spud Speedway will be hosting their 3 rd Annual Snowbowl from Feb.23 rd - March 2nd. This year’s event will have different events taking place throughout Central Aroostook County. Be sure to check out their Facebook page or go to Spudspeedway.com to get all the latest details on the events and for ticket information. off the night. *MSCR2025: Maritime

Northern Region VP

Nick Morrill 207-554-0074 406 Main Street, Stockholm ME 04783 landscaper9791@gmail.com G reetings from the northern portion of the state!!! I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and a happy new year as well. While mother nature doesn’t know what season she wants to be from day to day or week to week, she was kind enough to bless the north with a white Christmas but still not enough to get out and start playing on. Clubs throughout the region have been taking advantage of the warmer weather by getting out and brushing trails, working on or improving signage and completing some bridge repairs. Even though things may be a little slow on the trails and riding side of things throughout the region, clubs along with area groups and organizations have been planning breakfasts and events for the upcoming season. With not much going on in the riding world I thought I would take advantage of this month’s article and came up with a list of events and breakfasts that will be going on the remainder of this month as well as in February and March. The first event I’d like to talk about is the Northern Region MSA showcase ride and director’s meeting which will be taking place on March 15 th and being hosted this year by our good friends of The Benedicta Snow Gang. They will have a ride planned around the area with a lunch stop and later that evening they will host a dinner and director’s meeting at the Benedicta Parish Hall. The address to the hall is 1063 Benedicta Road in Benedicta. Lodging in the area is limited; a couple of recommended places for lodging would be Vacationland Estates in Island Falls or Gateway Inn in Medway. I’ll have more details

7

w m o

2 0 2 5 l M a i n e S n o

b i l

e r

J

u a r y

a n