To the editor:

There is no better glory than to watch a child smile in the face of wisdom, of achievement.

For the past six Thursdays, 80+ children from the Ski- Skate program have relished in “bluebird” days upon Sugarloaf, with lending temperatures and sunshine, grey windy days and snow falling upon them. Soft set luminous snow with pine trees wrapped in cocoons of white whipped cream, opened their world to a whole new realm of “winter wonderland,” with a vast landscape before them, their smallness accentuated, but their eyes bigger!

And yet at their next visit, the once wrapped pine trees exposed and seeing their green piney branches, windy elements and a slightly less comfortable breeze with skis, snowboards and skates on, and that soft set snow, looking more blue than white.

These children from the Ski-Skate program were a true joy to watch. From the moment they stepped off the bus upon the Sugarloaf mountain, their eyes bright and ready for this magnificent challenge. Their small patience waiting in anticipation, as I watched them booting up, I was amazed at their focus and absolute wonderful behavior. Each and every one seemed to truly respect the “task at hand”!

Great job all of you wonderful children of this area! You should be proud of yourselves and proud of your teachers, the volunteers, the Sugarloaf employees, Sugarloaf and the bus drivers, to everyone who makes Ski-Skate happen.

A big, big thank you to the “visionaries” of Ski-Skate, and to all those who help make it happen and to Sugarloaf for helping and providing such a fundamental foundation for the richness of our “environment,” for giving each child the confidence in learning a new challenge within themselves within environmental elements. This not only exercises their physical abilities but nurtures confidence in each life, in turn giving these children the tools, the lessons for a more fruitful future.

It is a true blessing to live in such a beautiful and majestic place, where society’s pushing are replaced by liquid rivers and lakes, tall pines, mountains and trails and trails of nature’s quiet lessons. Where in peace we can grow to the fullest!
With much, much gratitude,
Tina Chase
Kingfield