Thanks to the time and effort of 33 volunteers and more than 40 sponsors, the Wilmot Community Association’s (WCA) 10th annual Black Fly Blitz on Memorial Day – Monday, May 26 – was a resounding success.
The collaboration between the WCA and Kearsarge Regional High School (KRHS) track and cross-country teams and their coaches ensured the event’s success. Students assisted with various tasks including distributing numbers and t-shirts to runners, manning the water station, and packing up tables and chairs after the race.
KRHS students included Libbie Angus, Brie Burns, Kelsie Dalton, Mercedes Gorman, Emmaline Keene, Aidan Terhune, David Wallace, and Sarah Wilcox. KRHS coaches and staff included Peter Angus, Ernie Brake, MaryAnn Morcom, Ed Rehor, and Sarah Wilcox.
Members of the Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department and FAST Squad, including CJ Brim, Joe Buccheri, Scott Carpenter, Kevin Cioffi, David Herr, David Horn, Nathaniel Horn, Philip Nicholson, and Alicen Sanville, were on hand to assist with any first-aid or medical emergencies.
David White, Wilmot police chief, led the nearly 200 runners on course in a police cruiser. Tim Martin, road agent in Wilmot, made sure the roads on the race route were swept clean of sand.
Bill Burris set up his wonderful handmade games, to the delight of the young and young at heart. Rosanna Dude and Kathy Neuberger collaborated at the face-painting booth to the delight of lots of children and adults.
Mary Fanelli, Roy Finney, John Monto, Margaret Monto, and Rachel Seamans staffed the concession booth. Lindy Heim and Marc Davis assisted with sponsor recruitment.
Black Fly Blitz sponsors included Rayno Construction, the InterTown Record, Woods Without Gile, Gutgsell and Phipps Dentistry, Lakes Region Tent and Event, Vernondale Store, Pleasant Acres Property Maintenance, and Walker Automotive.
Sponsors also included Road ID, Colonial Pharmacy, KLG Architecture, Long Brothers Construction, and Northeast Delta Dental.
Other sponsors were Cherry Pond Designs, Echo Communications, Hubert’s, Kearsarge Veterinary Clinic, Pizza Chef of Andover, Scott Carpenter Construction, Sugar River Bank, FloorCraft, and Barton Insurance Agency.
Also, Belletetes, Clayton Miller, Marathon Landscaping, MJ Harrington, Mountainside Racquet and Fitness Center, Spring Ledge Farm, The Appliance Guru, and the Terhune family.
Other sponsors included Connie’s Classic Coverups, Cross Insurance Agency, Pleasant Lake Veterinary Hospital, Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate, Kayak Country Paddle Sports, Marshall’s Garage, McCrillis and Eldredge Insurance, New London Insurance Agency, Hannaford New London, and Market Basket.
The WCA, which was established in 1963, fosters a sense of community in Wilmot by bringing neighbors together.
The Black Fly Blitz is one of the annual activities the WCA sponsors. The WCA’s Board of Directors thanks all those who helped make the 10th annual “Blitz” a fabulous event.