CARRABASSETT VALLEY -– Hard to imagine it’s been 30 years since Chip Carey hired Nadine McLeod to supervise the newly formed WSKI-TV.

Six or so years later, the station was faced with challenges during Sugarloaf’s Chapter 11 proceedings. Facing adversity it rather gained support from a wide array of businesses and moved ahead as a private venture and is better then ever today.

“I’m very proud of where we have come considering we started tourist TV when nobody had ever done it before,” said McLeod. “The technology at that time was very cumbersome, we had half-of-a-shoe-string budget and North Franklin County is not by all means Vail, Colo., but in spite of all these challenges, we grow and we continue to grow,” she added.

The company and its supporters believe that they would like to think that the local resort broadcast contributes to the local economy in a positive way.

In a recent release, McLeod said it’s her ultimate objective to increase the number and duration of visitors staying in the region, and contribute to the growth of tourism through effective information dissemination. “The whole region needs more visitors; WSKI-TV can help.”

On their anniversary, they say it’s a good time to review where they are and re-frame their state of affairs to get to where they want WSKI-TV to be.

The Quadcam featured on the company’s Web site has moved which is new this year, but will still show the congregations at Sugarloaf’s most popular lift most times. Also new are new RSN programs which will feature some affiliate programs and some of their broadcasts. Likewise, WSKI-TV broadcasts may contribute to nation-wide resort programming namely called RSN Buzz.

Greg Powers will be returning again as host and part of the sales team. Mike Dentico, host and technical director and Andy Gillespie, production manager, are also returning for an anticipated awesome season.

And yes, for the third straight year, WSKI-TV will be airing again over this homecoming weekend thanks to very popular demand.

The homecoming shows will kick off with featured guests and other great footage. Bruce Miles, president of the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club is expected to be on at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday followed by John Byrne of Sugarloaf retail at 8 a.m.

Executive director of the Maine Huts & Trails Dave Herring is anticipated to be a guest at 8:30 followed by Carrabassett Selectman Lloyd Cuttler that morning.

The Annual General Meeting, featuring Sugarloaf president John Diller’s speech is expected to be aired at 10:30 and re-broadcasted at 7 p.m. that night and at the same time on Sunday.

“Absolutely, homecoming weekend is great. The energy that is felt across the resort after the past few months of quiet times at the mountain is great and is a celebration to look forward to a great season. The anticipation and looking forward to another snowy season is what keeps us all going in the ski industry.”

Also new this year, after a summer of digitizing old three-quarter-inch footage, is extended coverage of “From the Archives,” episode, McLeod said. This is expected to bring tons of laughter and remembrance from past broadcasts.

In closing during a Friday afternoon conversation, McLeod said, “Thank you for all the support of local businesses as they are the only reason that we can exist. Please celebrate 30 years with us,” she said. “Here’s to the next 30.”