Proceeds from the contest will be used to fund the 4 scholarships that the Palmer Rotary Club gives to local students each year.
The Republican photo by Lori Stabile – Alan P. Fauteux, president-elect of Palmer Rotary Club, stands next to the snow pile at Depot Plaza on North Main Street in Palmer that is the subject of the club's latest fundraiser. The club is sponsoring a "snow melt" contest and will award $500 to the person who can correctly guess the date and time the snow pile will melt. Tickets are $5 and proceeds will fund the club's annual scholarships that it gives to area students.PALMER – The pile of snow at the Depot Plaza on North Main Street is the subject of the Palmer Rotary Club’s latest fundraiser, and the club will give $500 to the person who can guess the date and time that the massive pile will melt.
Palmer Rotary Club President-Elect Alan P. Fauteux said the club is selling tickets for $5 each, or five tickets for $20, for the fundraiser.
Proceeds will be used to fund the scholarships it gives out each year to four students – two at Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, and two at Palmer High School.
Fauteux was inspired by similar snow melt contests held around the country, and said he happens to drive by the snow pile at Depot Plaza every day on his way to his business, Fire Fighting Equipment at 2146 Main St. in Three Rivers.
“This is something new and different that we haven’t tried before,” Fauteux said recently.
He said it is one of the largest piles in town, adding the ones that are larger are off the beaten path. He liked this snow pile because it overlooks busy Route 20, and has the most visibility. Fauteux got in touch with the plaza’s owner, Century Investment Co., to let officials there know about his idea – and so they wouldn’t remove the snow.
“We’re supportive of efforts of a civic group to raise money. We’re happy to leave the snow pile there,” said Robert P. Dashevsky, Century’s property manager for Depot Plaza.
Fauteux said tickets are available from rotary members, or from Palmer Package Store and Capitol Cleaners, the two businesses that sandwich the snow pile. Fauteux said tickets are also available at Fire Fighting Equipment, or by calling him at (413) 531-9033. The last day for ticket sales will be April 1.
If there is a tie, the winnings will be split between the two people, he said. He said they have secured a “judge” who will determine when the snow pile melts, but his identity will remain secret. Melting will be observed only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Fauteux estimated that the snow pile is 120 feet long, and 50 to 60 feet wide. Its average height is 8 feet, but there are some areas that are smaller, and some that are taller, he said.
“There’s 18,000 to 20,000 cubic yards of snow there. It’s as solid as a rock,” Fauteux said.
Information about the rotary can be found at the website www.palmerrotary.org