VOLUME 1, ISSUE 7: CELEBRATING A GREAT WEEKEND!

Anyone looking for proof that we live in a wonderful community only had to travel to Alexandria Bay this past Friday and Saturday to watch Community Betterment
Weekend in action. The sun was shining, skies were blue, and a gentle breeze provided some relief from the heat, as people came together to play tennis, golf, and paddle for a
wonderful cause.

On Friday, July 11th, the 16th Annual Golf for Betterment took place at the Alexandria Bay Municipal Course, with 88 golfers participating. Everyone had a great day playing in a 2-person scramble, with both new and old friends on the course. There were many opportunities to win hole-in-1 prizes as well as other special prizes and contests.  The famous lemonade stand and putting contest also had many youth volunteers helping throughout the day. The extra effort put forth by everyone involved to make this a special day for all is truly appreciated. Thank you to the children, parents, volunteers, sponsors, and participants who contributed to making this a successful
event. It truly takes many hands and hearts to make this happen each year and it is so appreciated. A special thank you to the Alexandria Bay Village Golf Course for all of
their help and continued support. 

Here are the results from the day’s golf events: Men’s Division winners: 1st- Reecy Gionet & Dan Gionet; 2nd-Dave Hirst & Ticky Millett; 3rd-Craig Garlock & Howard
Demmick.  

Women’s Division winners:1st- Jen Garlock & Nancy Henry; 2nd-Robin Martin & Lucy Gionet; 3rd -Teagan Ward & Robin Martin 

Co-ed Division winners: 1st-Tom & Lori Turgeon; 2nd-Kyle Gionet & Susie Erck; 3rd- Reisha Rieder and Ty Gray. 

Individual Hole Prizes won by Ticky Millet, Robin Martin, Brian Frazier, Amanda Rydberg, Darrell Banks, Julie Forger, Tyler Turgeon, Sue Hoffman, and Floyd Wood.

Most Fun: Twyla Webb and Julie Forger.

Putting Contest winner:Ticky Millet

Congratulations to all of our tournament winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to play and support Betterment.

Golfers gather to listen to a welcome speech given by Lori Turgeon before heading out to play.

​The tennis event kicked off at 9:00 am on Friday at the Village of Alexandria Bay Tennis Courts. There were 7 women’s pairs and 9 men’s pairs, for a total of 32 people.
Matches took place throughout the morning and into the afternoon, with players taking advantage of cold refreshments and shade when they were not playing. The tennis courts recently received an upgrade, with the installation of 10 matching benches. The benches were made possible through a combined donation from Betterment and community members, making the courts one of this year’s recipients.

Jeffry Weldon, Carolyn Weldon and Dick Stockton take advantage of the shade during the tennis event.

Following the golf and tennis events, the Betterment Weekend Welcome Party took place at Bonnie Castle Manor, where golf and tennis awards were presented.  This reception was a lively and fun gathering for all golf, tennis and paddle participants, sponsors and volunteers.
Everyone enjoyed the time to gather and relax with wonderful hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, live music, raffles and a silent auction.  The highlight of the evening was a special announcement and information about our upcoming 25th Betterment Anniversary of the Alexandria Bay Chapter in 2026.  The ripple effect was definitely flowing and this in turn created another immediate and incredible heartfelt show of support and commitment.

Additionally, Kathy Folino and Ann and Bud Garlock
were recognized for their time and commitment to Betterment. They have been involved with the Alex Bay Chapter since its beginning 24 years ago. What an exceptional day and night of celebration for this wonderful cause.

The Paddle for Betterment took place on Saturday the 12th, with 95 people participating. It was a perfect morning to be on the river, as people set off on kayaks,
canoes, paddle boards and skiffs. As they traveled through the calm waters, they made planned stops at locations along the route to pick up playing cards. The collected cards created a poker hand, which could be turned in once back on land for an opportunity to win prizes. Prizes were also given to 1st , 2nd and 3rd place finishers in adult and youth categories.

In the adult category, Mary Ann Ramm finished in first place, Christine Swalgin in second, and Catherine Wheeler in third. In the youth category, Maddie Curley finished in first place, followed by Finn Tower in second and Katelyn Curley in third.

Paddlers get ready to head out onto the river for this year's Paddle for Betterment.

In addition to a focus on fun, the safety of all participants is also a priority. Boats were assigned to specific areas of the route to protect the paddlers along their journey.
Each of these boats had a bag of safety equipment on board and a protocol for reporting incidents if they were to occur. The stops mentioned above were clearly
marked with signs and colored flags to ensure that paddlers stayed on course. A future Ripple Report will provide more details about the safety committee that worked together to put this plan into action.

Once paddlers returned to Scenic View Park, they enjoyed a delicious breakfast,with doughnuts from Nav’s Popcorn, breakfast sandwiches from the Big M Supermarket,
an assortment of hot and cold beverages, fruit and other snack items.

The Recipient Ceremony began at around 11:00 in the pavilion. It has been mentioned in past articles
that this ceremony is truly the highlight of the weekend. Raising funds to help people and organizations in our community is the reason why Betterment Weekend exists. This year, several individuals were acknowledged, including the scholarship winners that
were mentioned in a previous article. In addition to recipient recognition, raffle prize winners were drawn and announced. The lemonade stand also made its final
appearance of the season, with The Lemonade Ripple author Paul Reichert signing copies of books purchased. This ceremony was the culmination of a wonderful weekend of fun and philanthropy. The ripple effect was evident throughout the event, as past recipients were seen volunteering, and generations of families were there to participate, help out and support one another.

Caroline Reichert and her dad Paul Reichert pose at the Recipient Ceremony with a copy of Paul's book, The Lemonade Ripple.

​Community Betterment Weekend was a true success from start to finish. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who played a role in making this meaningful, multi-faceted event possible. From our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers to the enthusiastic participants, supportive families, and the wider community—you are all part of the ripple effect that helps spread kindness, connection, and positive change. Together, we’re not just making
memories—we’re making a difference.We can’t wait to build on this momentum and come together again next year. Until then, let’s keep the spirit of community alive in everything we do.