Erin Farkas Dewyea Turkey Trot returns on Thanksgiving Day

by Dan McClelland
Those here looking to lose a pound or two before sitting down for the annual Thanksgiving Day meal later might want to sign up for the third annual Erin Farkas Dewyea Turkey Trot, set for the upcoming holiday again this year.
The event was started three years ago by the friends and family members of Erin, a well-loved and dedicated elementary school teacher here who died far too prematurely here in recent years.
Key organizers this year are again Maureen Shaheen and Brian Bennett.
This year's event, which begins at 9a.m. Thanksgiving Day at the parking lot next to the downtown playground on Washington Street, features walking and running races of both 5 kilometer and 10 kilometer distances.
Organizers are very excited this year about the introduction of about $1,000 in cash prizes:  $50 for the fastest male and the fastest female walker, $100 for the first place 5-K male and female runners, $200 for each of the first place male and female 10-K finishers, $75 for the best individual costume, $25 for the best child's costume, and $100 for the best team costumes.
Last place finishers in the 5-K and 10-K events will win the honors of “the turkeys who got away” and a cash prize of $25 each.
The event will again boast a Chinese Auction, a Thanksgiving Day pie sale, a 50/50 raffle and raffles for a quilt and a wall hanging.
Anyone interested in volunteering at an aid station along the running route is asked to contact either Mr. Bennett or Mrs. Shaheen.
There are full details of the third annual event at the web site, which can be reached by searching Erin Dewyea Turkey Trot.  Runners and walkers can also register there.
All proceeds from this event will go to into Erin's account with Generous Act through the local Adirondack Trust.  From that fund and with the help of Erin's family, annual scholarships of $1,500 are produced in the memory of the popular kindergarten teacher given out to a college-bound senior headed into a career in education at high school graduation each year.
The fund has also provided a $200 cash prize each of the past two Junes at L.P. Quinn Elementary School graduation to local teachers, who like Erin, loved her job and who was very involved in the community, doing public good.  The first recipient was Julie Dukette and in 2016 the award went to Stephanie Burnham.
There is also a readingcorner in Erin's memory at the Goff-Nelson Memorial Library where the family has purchased different books and hand puppets about the Three Little Pigs for younger readers.
Donations of about $200 from the family and from the fund havealso been made each year to the Kiwanis Club for its Castle of Toys these past two years in Erin's memory.  Erin was a member of the club for a number of years.