The Peru Gazette

Thanks to the record-breaking number of people who came to Dozerfest in June and the numerous sponsorships from local businesses, the Kiwanis Breakfast Club of Plattsburgh recently awarded during a reception at Harmony Golf Club over $23,000 in grants to North Country organizations that support local children in need. This includes funding for the following:

·         Adirondack Coast Basketball Camp: to help with costs for a free summer camp.

·         Adirondack Regional Theater: to help pay for the youth director series.

·         Clinton Essex Franklin Library System: to purchase four educational language kits.

·         Dannemora Free Library: to purchase stencils to create a storywalk.

·         Fermata Nowhere: to help pay for the costs of traveling to competitions.

·         The Foundation of CVPH: to purchase chair and sound machines for the nursery.

·         JCEO Backpack Program: to purchase back-to-school supplies for low-income families.

·         JCEO Summer Camp Tuition Assistance: to help pay for tuition for summer camp for low-income families.

·         Journey Into Reading: to purchase books to give away for free at Champlain Centre.

·         Literacy Volunteers of Clinton Essex Franklin Counties: to purchase books to distribute to local children.

·         Plattsburgh 4H Robotics Team: to help pay for equipment and competitions.

·         North Country Center for Independence: to help pay for an adventure-based learning program at Beartown Ski Resort for grades 5-12.

·         NCCS Leadership Academy: to help pay for leadership training experience at Lake Luzerne.

·         Ted K. Center: to support various youth programs at the center that serves Plattsburgh Housing Authority.

·         Youth Advocates Program: to help pay for discharge backpacks.

In addition to presenting the organizations with checks, the Club also thanked Leon Blair and James “Shimmy” Mussaw for all their efforts for almost 15 years to make Dozerfest a success and a highlight for families across the North Country. Assemblyman Billy Jones also presented the men with New York State Assembly Citations for their leadership.

“I am still shocked at the number of people who came to Dozerfest this year and the number of local businesses who supported us during this event,” said Club President Connie Mandeville. “Unfortunately, we could not hold this event during the pandemic, but it was great to be back again this year and to raise so much money to help local kids in need. This is truly a community effort, and we could not do this without the help of Leon Blair of Leon Blair Construction and James Mussaw, formerly of Upstone Materials, and all the operators, volunteers, and participants who donate their time on a Saturday to provide such a hands-on experience for kids and their families. It also wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our sponsors and Mike Perrotte of Airborne Speedway. Thanks to all of you, we were able to give away over $23,000 this year to local kids in need and they truly deserve recognition for supporting our event year after year.”

Sponsors of the event include: Airborne Speedway, Upstone Materials, Leon Blair Construction, Apple Country Cabinets, Fuller Excavating, Harmony Golf Club, Hellboy Mega Truck, Wanted Mega Truck, the Hired Gun Mega Truck, Charlebois, Kubricky Construction Corporation, Warren Tire Service Center, Rafferty Sand & Gravel, Mike Carson and Sons Trucking & Logging, Della Auto Group, Sade & Brand Co., Hey I’m Kim, The Sun Community News, Laware Construction, Palmer Veterinary Clinic, Polsinello Lubricants, Luck Brothers, Inc., United Ag & Turf, Perkins Trucking & Excavating, Brunell Asphalt, Nokian Tyres, Plattsburgh Paving Company, Northline Utilities, Morrisonville Construction, Bruno Racing, Casella, Morrisonville Septic, AES Northeast, Riley Ford, Branon Construction, Brennan Buick, Goss Chevrolet, Dragoon’s Farm Equipment, F.W. Webb Company, Chazy Orchard, Be Cool, and Bearcom.

The event would also be impossible without all the participants and donations from businesses. Participants included Pipsqueak the Clown, NYSDEC, Clinton County Sheriffs Department, Morrisonville EMS, South Plattsburgh Fire Department, New York State Police, and the Army National Guard. The Food Dudes, Tammy’s Lunch Box, and Bunz on the Run provided refreshments, and Stewart’s provided free ice cream until they ran out of supplies. Hynes Electric, Pepsi, and JCEO donations also helped with the event.

“This was my first Dozerfest and I was truly impressed by the community support that made this possible and I cannot thank everyone enough,” said Mandeville. “I cannot wait to put this on again next year!”