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The
Livingston Manor Rotary Ice Carnival has been a tradition for
close to five decades. Weather permitting, the carnival has
taken place on the weekend of the third Sunday of January for
the past 52 years. This year’s event is scheduled for January
14th & 15th, 2012. The annual event takes place in a setting
directly out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Children and adults
of all ages belly-flop and silhouette on the smooth ice rink
with a background of the Catskill mountain foothills, churches,
Victorian houses and beautiful native blue spruces. The
organization of the event involves every member of the LM Rotary
Club as there is a committee structure that runs the event (see
committee list). The organizing of the event involves more than
150 individuals and cooperation and collaboration between
numerous entities within the Livingston Manor vicinity including
the Town of Rockland Highway Department, the LM Fire Companies,
the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Patrol, the New York State Police
Troop F, The LM Volunteer Ambulance Corp, the Livingston Manor
Central School Student Council, Rolling V Bus Company (shuttle
busses), Price Rite RV Center, Internet Solutions, Sullivan
County Visitor’s Association, Sullivan County Democrat, Times
Herald Record, Catskill Shopper, River Reporter, local radio
stations, and Cable 6 News. All events at the carnival are free
as local businesses are solicited to fund the event. This year
we anticipate raising close to $8,000 which includes being
partially funded by grants from the Lazare and Charlotte Kaplan
Foundation, the
NYS Office of Children and
Family Services, the
Sullivan
County Youth Bureau,
and the
Town of Rockland as well as sponsorships from numerous local
businesses and community members.
Events of the Ice Carnival weekend include a snow sculpture
contest on Saturday morning between grades 9-12 from the local
school. Community residents and businesses also are encouraged
to participate by making snow sculptures in front of their
stores and on their front yards. Prominent VIPS from the
community and media judge the snow sculpture contest. On
Saturday evening a dance for the youngsters is held and the new
Ice Carnival King & Queen are crowned. On Sunday, events shift
to Rotary Park where there are professional and amateur skating
exhibitions by national and world-renowned figure skaters as
well as local youngsters. Past Olympic Medalists and National
Champions Elaine Zayak, Jo Jo Starbuck, Arik & Akop, Charles and
Beata, Dmitri Gromov, Emily Hughes and Rohene Ward have been
featured skaters in past years. Amateur skaters of all ages who
train at Kutsher's Country Club, Ice Time Skating Rink in
Newburgh and other skating venues in the Tri-State area provide
entertainment delighting crowds of over 2000 with outstanding
performances.
There are races for kids and adults alike, with Olympic type
gold, silver & bronze medals awarded to the winners.
Dogsledders mush around the ball field throughout the day and a
horse drawn sleigh is also available for riding. Snow shoeing
is available for those who want to venture off around the scenic
park. Hot dogs and hot chocolate are provided to all of the
children to fill bellies and warm hands. All events at
the carnival are free as local businesses are solicited as major
sponsors for the event.
The First Annual Livingston Manor Rotary Ice Carnival was held
on January 18, 1959 at Scudder’s Pond. The carnival consisted of
racing events limited to the local children. A few years later
the event was moved to the Livingston Manor Central School
grounds. Rotary Park has been the location of the ice rink and
annual ice carnival since 1986 with the same traditions
continuing under the chairmanship of Gary Siegel. Figure
skating lessons and a hockey instructional program were added as
part of the youth programs the Livingston Manor Rotary
provides. The skating lessons are sanctioned by the United
States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) and open to all
Livingston Manor residents ages 5 to 16.
The Ice Carnival provides a terrific family weekend in the fresh
Catskill air. It also provides a feeling of camaraderie,
friendship and great conversation through the months of December
and January while residents wait in anticipation. Under the
direction of park commissioner’s past and present, Rotarians
continue their work bees. Ice making crews make ice at the rink
every evening in the winter, and with the cooperation of Mother
Nature the ice carnival continues. |
