Annual Winterfest has great weather, full slate

MANNSVILLE — A mild winter day on Saturday made for a pleasant exposure to a variety of activities involving sleds, skis and sculptures.

The third annual Winterfest was held at the Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Winona State Forest, just east of Mannsville. The festivities began with a cross-country ski race and ended with dog sled rides and cups of hot cocoa.

"We wanted to have an event that had a little more activity to it than just a ski race," said Carolyn K. Rees, president of the Winona Forest Recreation Association. "We wanted to get more of the community involved."

Winterfest already has expanded outside the immediate community, and this year welcomed visitors from as far away as Millville, Pa., and New Fairfield, Conn., and from throughout New York state.

Jennifer K. and Don H. Locke brought their daughter Kassadi S., 6, and their skis from Syracuse for the weekend.

"We have a camp here," Kassadi said.

"Yes," said her mother, "we're going to try and do some cross-country skiing while we're up here."

The Lockes did not take part in the race, but Kassadi said that if she had, she would have won.

If she's right, next year, Randall McGarvey, Fairport, and Audrey Balander, Cortland, will have to watch out. Mr. McGarvey was the first man to complete this year's 121/2-mile race, with a time of just over 40 minutes. Ms. Balander was the first woman to cross the finish line, with a time of just under 50 minutes.

Russ W. Myer, race director, said there were about 55 competitors in the race, which was geared toward people of all ages and of all fitness levels.

Kassadi and her parents also checked out the ice sculptures during the event. Kassadi said her favorite was the "monkey one in the middle."

There were three different sculptures: An unfinished one at the time resembled what would be a person driving a dog sled, the second one resembled a gargoyle — or a monkey, in the eyes of a 6-year-old — and the third was a toboggan with two riders.

Ross L. Rabetoy, Rodman, created the latter.

"I do this stuff in my front yard for my grandkids," he said. "It's a good way for grown-ups to play in the snow."

Grandson Hunter L. Merrill, 14, Mannsville, was there to lend Mr. Rabetoy a helping hand. Hunter said he thought it was pretty cool that his grandfather could sculpt things out of snow. He said his favorite was the football team Mr. Rabetoy made a few years back.

The event was a fundraiser for the Winona Forest Recreation Association, which grooms the multiuse trails in the forest during the winter.

Ms. Rees said that each year, the event has grown. This year, a wood carver who uses a chain saw was added to the lineup.

"The sculptures he creates, he donates to us and we sell raffle tickets to help with the fundraiser," Ms. Rees said. "It would be great to have an ATV sponsor or a snowmobile sponsor to donate something big to raffle off."