By Josh Bassett
Matthew Eaton had a great time on Feb.10, though you would not necessarily know it if you saw him
being dragged through the snow by his jeans.
Eaton, a Fair Haven high school student, was a participant in a tug of war match over the weekend as
part of the Lake Bomoseen Association’s second annual Winter Carnival on Lake Bomoseen. This year’s
event had a twist though, incorporating the first annual Bomoseen Bowl competition, which was decided
over the course of events on both days.
The bowl was won by a team led by Eaton.
“It was really cool, nice atmosphere and great music,” he said laughing on Sunday as classic rock played
in the background.
Matthew Eaton had a great time on Feb.10, though you would not necessarily know it if you saw him
being dragged through the snow by his jeans.
Eaton, a Fair Haven high school student, was a participant in a tug of war match over the weekend as
part of the Lake Bomoseen Association’s second annual Winter Carnival on Lake Bomoseen. This year’s
event had a twist though, incorporating the first annual Bomoseen Bowl competition, which was decided
over the course of events on both days.
The bowl was won by a team led by Eaton.
“It was really cool, nice atmosphere and great music,” he said laughing on Sunday as classic rock played
in the background.
Photo Credit: Josh Bassett
The carnival on Saturday featured ice sculptures, family flag designing, ice soccer, sleigh rides, tug of war
and snowshoeing, among others events.
The carnival was planned by Bob Franzoni, a member of the Lake Bomoseen Association, with help from
the organization’s Executive Director Jason Ahern.
“(Franzoni) Developed all the activities and prizes,” said association member Ellen Oppenheimer.
The ice was a popular attraction with a one-on-one hockey competition, shooting accuracy and capped by
a free skate. Oppenheimer said there were about 60 people at any of the stations on Saturday, except for
snowshoeing. Despite designated trails, no one took advantage of them, she said.
There were six flags designed by teams and families including one designed by the Peterson family with
their names on it and a blue star in the middle and another depicting the classic black and white pirate
flag.
Sunday’s events included tug of war, ice sculpture judging, sleigh rides and the awards ceremony.
The tug of war match turned into a battle of age versus experience as Eaton’s team of four was against a
team of four adults.
The adults won easily on the first round against Eaton’s team.
Then came another match, and this time it was seven against five and again Eaton’s team was
outmatched.
Eaton’s team finally overcame the elder team in the third match, but it took nine of them to beat five and
even then it was still close.
Oppenheimer jokingly offered to give the rope to her dog, Big, a 65-70 pound Newfoundland with a shiny
white coat and black markings, for anyone willing to try to get it back.
The sleigh rides were also a big hit.
The horses belonged to Dave Foley of Florence, Vt., who said he was hired by the association for the two-
day event. He said he does sleigh rides in the winter as a way to make a little extra money.
The sleigh ride began behind the Prospect Point Country Club on Lake Bomoseen, and went for about a
half-mile loop.
With the sun out and snow on the ground, passengers appeared to be loving the ride with one calling it
“awesome.”
Foley was frequently telling his horses Jackson and Cody, “good boy, good boy” multiple times over the
course of the ride.
“It would be nice to do one of these without freezing to death,” said Foley, who appeared less
enthusiastic than the riders as the sleigh would slide around and rock as it alternated between light snow
and patches of grass.
Then the results came in for the ice sculpture judging. There were only three sculptures, all made on the
lake near the Lakehouse Pub and Grille. There was a four-foot-tall wall that was evidently a tiki bar, a
foot-and-a-half-or-so-tall car with the letters LBA on it for the Lake Bomoseen Association and a boat
pulling a skier behind it.
The boat pulling the skier was the winner.
“We made the tiki bar,” said Eaton, with friend Nick Boule adding in the background that they had come
in second.
The Bomoseen Bowl was the prize after all the events.
“This year (the bowl) is a bowl filled with candy,” said Ahern.
Franzoni said there was also a 50/50 raffle, and the prizes were Louisiana Fish Fry gift box, the bowl full
of candy, and a “hearty handshake.”
Oppenheimer said the event was organized with the community in mind to simply have fun.
Eaton certainly had a good time and is already looking forward to the next Winter Carnival.
“We’re gonna repeat next year.”
and snowshoeing, among others events.
The carnival was planned by Bob Franzoni, a member of the Lake Bomoseen Association, with help from
the organization’s Executive Director Jason Ahern.
“(Franzoni) Developed all the activities and prizes,” said association member Ellen Oppenheimer.
The ice was a popular attraction with a one-on-one hockey competition, shooting accuracy and capped by
a free skate. Oppenheimer said there were about 60 people at any of the stations on Saturday, except for
snowshoeing. Despite designated trails, no one took advantage of them, she said.
There were six flags designed by teams and families including one designed by the Peterson family with
their names on it and a blue star in the middle and another depicting the classic black and white pirate
flag.
Sunday’s events included tug of war, ice sculpture judging, sleigh rides and the awards ceremony.
The tug of war match turned into a battle of age versus experience as Eaton’s team of four was against a
team of four adults.
The adults won easily on the first round against Eaton’s team.
Then came another match, and this time it was seven against five and again Eaton’s team was
outmatched.
Eaton’s team finally overcame the elder team in the third match, but it took nine of them to beat five and
even then it was still close.
Oppenheimer jokingly offered to give the rope to her dog, Big, a 65-70 pound Newfoundland with a shiny
white coat and black markings, for anyone willing to try to get it back.
The sleigh rides were also a big hit.
The horses belonged to Dave Foley of Florence, Vt., who said he was hired by the association for the two-
day event. He said he does sleigh rides in the winter as a way to make a little extra money.
The sleigh ride began behind the Prospect Point Country Club on Lake Bomoseen, and went for about a
half-mile loop.
With the sun out and snow on the ground, passengers appeared to be loving the ride with one calling it
“awesome.”
Foley was frequently telling his horses Jackson and Cody, “good boy, good boy” multiple times over the
course of the ride.
“It would be nice to do one of these without freezing to death,” said Foley, who appeared less
enthusiastic than the riders as the sleigh would slide around and rock as it alternated between light snow
and patches of grass.
Then the results came in for the ice sculpture judging. There were only three sculptures, all made on the
lake near the Lakehouse Pub and Grille. There was a four-foot-tall wall that was evidently a tiki bar, a
foot-and-a-half-or-so-tall car with the letters LBA on it for the Lake Bomoseen Association and a boat
pulling a skier behind it.
The boat pulling the skier was the winner.
“We made the tiki bar,” said Eaton, with friend Nick Boule adding in the background that they had come
in second.
The Bomoseen Bowl was the prize after all the events.
“This year (the bowl) is a bowl filled with candy,” said Ahern.
Franzoni said there was also a 50/50 raffle, and the prizes were Louisiana Fish Fry gift box, the bowl full
of candy, and a “hearty handshake.”
Oppenheimer said the event was organized with the community in mind to simply have fun.
Eaton certainly had a good time and is already looking forward to the next Winter Carnival.
“We’re gonna repeat next year.”
Photo credit: Josh Bassett
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