Nordic Heritage Center Hosts Annual Himie Towle Ski Frolic
By: David Deschesne
Fort Fairfield Journal, March 18, 2015
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine—The 13th annual Himie Towle Memorial Ski Frolic was held at the Nordic Heritage Center on Saturday, March 7. Around 100 people participated in the family event. Rather than focusing on speed, racers were told the secret to winning was simply to have fun.
Racers from 5 through 13 years of age raced in a Youth Frolic with courses designed for each age group. Racers 14 years of age and up had the opportunity to participate in either a 5k or 10k course.
The Frolic, which raises funds for the Nordic Heritage Sports Club’s youth program, is held in remembrance of Himie Towle. Tom Towle, frolic co-organizer remembers his father as one who was an avid supporter of sports, especially skiing in Fort Fairfield. Around 1978, Himie organized the first ski frolic that was held at Munson pond. It was a combination Cross-Country ski event and snowshoe event. “At that time we had a large contingent of cross country skiers as well as snowshoers,” said Tom Towle.
“Dad was a member of the Fish and Game club who were sponsors of that event back in the day. Here we are today, 35 years later and we have continued the frolic in memory of Himie Towle.
Paul Towle, co-organizer of the frolic, says this year’s participation is on par with previous years.
“We had just shy of 100 people. We do both the 10k and 5k for those that don't want to go the extra distance and also the kids races with age-appropriate lengths of the race. It gives a little something for everybody to do,” Towle said. “We've done this for fourteen years in a row now. We kind of look forward to it. We begin planning a year in advance and look for ways to make the event a little better for the community each year.”
Best overall times for the frolic were completed by Paul Stone and Lydia Streinz. First and second place ribbons were awarded to male and female entrants from each age category.
A door prize of an Amish-made rocking chair was awarded to .
Cary Medical Center was the primary sponsor of the Himie Towle memorial ski frolic and have been participating in that capacity since it began.
“Cary Medical Center has been with us from day one. They were our first sponsor to get onboard. They have provided many, many things over the years from logoed T-shirts to hats, water bottles, and with food as well and this year is no exception. Almost everybody went away with a door prize of some sort and they provided the meals, a delicious chicken stew some nice biscuits, fruit, all sorts of things. They've been a great sponsor over the years.”
To view a Fort Fairfield Journal television news video of this event, click here.
Himie Towle Ski Frolic First Place winners for their age division. Front, kneeling (from left): Paul Stone, Hannah Streinz, Abigail Streinz, Connie McClellan. Back row (standing): Brent Jepson, Patricia Hebert, Lydia Streinz, Sherry Dubis, Bob Sprague, Riley McDuffie, Justin Foreshetian, Caleb Streinz. Below: Overall Winners for the male & female divisions were Lydia Streinz (left) and Paul Stone. photos/David Deschesne
