Winterfest raises money for Gordon playgrounds

By Maria Lockwood

mlockwood@ superiortelegram.com

For a single night, the town of Gordon offers visitors both Booya Soup and The Twerps. They are part of the town's Winterfest celebration Jan. 31 to raise money for playground improvements.

The evening of auctions, music and food -- at its heart -- is all about kids.

"It's about bonding as a community as well as doing something for the greater good," said Ree Ann Hoyt, a member of the town's parks and recreation committee.

While the town has about an acre of park, children have a limited choice of activities there, Hoyt said.

And the number of families with young children living near the site has increased.

"Now all of a sudden there are lots of kids around town," said Town Supervisor Ted Flamang.

The current town park has an aging pavilion, a ballfield overrun with crabgrass and bathrooms in need of new roofs, Hoyt said. The playground equipment, installed about six years ago, is showing wear. The highway department sets up sandbags to form a skating rink every year, which the volunteer fire department floods. But there are no warming shacks and insufficient lighting.

"It's in pretty good shape," said Flamang, but "there's more things we'd like to do."

Hoyt listed the committee's top priorities -- a basketball court with benches and lighting that could double as a skating rink in winter, and a warming shack. Flamang also pointed out the need to repair the pavilion.

Work started on the site last summer. More than 20 people spent a day repainting the bathrooms, picking up garbage and installing new picnic tables and a new teeter-totter.

"We do as much volunteering as we can," Hoyt said.

But funds are needed. Instead of looking for town tax dollars, the committee set up Winterfest.

"They're doing a good thing here," Flamang said.

The evening kicks off with an open fire Booya Soup dinner from 3-6 p.m. at the Buckhorn Bar, right across the street from the Town Hall. All proceeds from the dinner will go to the Parks and Recreation Committee.

At 4 p.m. the town hall opens with silent and Chinese auctions until 7 p.m. Items up for bid include hotel stays, spa packages, an autographed Green Bay Packers football, savings bonds, wine baskets, a log bench, season tickets to Lucius Woods, home decor and more. Pizza and drinks will be available for sale as well as free coffee and hot chocolate.

From 8-12 p.m., the Twerps take the stage. The Chetek-based band's playlist spans decades, from "Great Balls of Fire" and "Help Me Rhonda" to "Stacy's Mom" and "Kryptonite," as well as party favorites like the "YMCA."

"The band is phenomenal," Hoyt said, whether you plan to get up and dance or just enjoy the show. "They're fun to watch."

There is a $3 cover charge to attend the events in the Town Hall.

Flamang plans to be there. He said he hopes the event goes over well and grows.

"If nothing else, it's a night of fun," Hoyt said.

For more information on the event and the items up for bid, check online at: www.myspace.com/gordonparksrecs