A party weekend - with a fundraiser for a teen cancer victim

WATKINS GLEN, New York, USA - After a long week of working outside - and getting the property ready for summer (should it arrive...), Admiral Fox and I went to social events Saturday and Sunday.

The Saturday night soiree was a social get together at a local winery where we swapped tales about winter and the upcoming summer. The group/event is held twice a year, an outgrowth of the former Seneca Lake Sailing Association (which is no longer active).

The Sunday afternoon event was to raise money to help a local teenager who has cancer.

Fifteen-year-old Devon Shaw, is a freshman at Watkins Glen High School. He had cancer discovered in his leg months ago. And doctors now say he has cancer in one lung and  faces surgery in June. He is already having several rounds of chemotherapy.


Devon Shaw

But this young soccer player is a real gamer, by all accounts.

While several bands played Sunday at an outdoor benefit to help cover his incredible medical costs (and show support for him), Devon hopped on a tour boat with several hundred of his high school classmates for a Seneca Lake tour and teen party in his honor.


Teens head up Seneca Lake

The community effort has been incredible, a not-uncommon occurrence in this part of rural upstate New York. The event had a chicken dinner, t-shirt sales, raffles and something called a 50-50 drawing. The bar inside did a brisk business, too, selling beer in red plastic cups. The cold beer didn't help with the cold temperatures, but it still tasted good, and for a good cause.

In many ways, the event reminded me of the way people in Arroyo Seco rally around when someone is sick or in need. Whenever someone in that village has trouble, people also come through with food or help of some kind.

The local newspapers here have been full of news about Devon, his plight, and efforts to raise money - and spirits.

Here's a short video of some of the music and dancing...

A lakeside benefit gets the dancers out on the floor

WATKINS GLEN, New York, USA - Saturdays are always pretty wild around Watkins in the summer. Yesterday, in addition to the usual boating madness, a benefit for a local youth - who is recovering from multiple organ failure - had several hundred people tapping their toes to music, munching down barbecued chicken and, of course, drinking draft beer.

A lot of draft beer.

The benefit was held outside at the Village Marina, owned by the Schamel family, who in addition to running their usual restaurant crowd through the place, also handled the barbecue - and there were a lot of chickens who sacrificed their lives.

We arrived at the benefit in style - via Cousin Roger's ski boat which got us down the lake much faster than the Spirit of Louise would have.

At one point early in the benefit, one of the organizers told me that they had already taken in more than $700 - just on the raffle. And given that the draft beers were $3, with $1 of that going to the family, well, the benefit took in a lot of money. Cousin Roger and I contributed quite heavily to all components.

Roger's son Brett Beardslee was front and center, playing his own set of songs and also jamming with other local musicians. Dancing started, early, too and went on well into the night.

And the weather? Perfect end of August temperatures.


Even the canines enjoyed the music


Enjoying the sun and afternoon


Roger, Nancy and nephew Nate