Boaters make donation to Jaycees as COVID cancels popular regatta
LANA MUTHLER/THE EXPRESS Jaycee DuWayne Kunes accepts a check from Scott Glossner, a member of the Delaware Valley Outboard Racing Assn., on Sunday morning. At left is Scott’s wife, Jill. Tunkhannock boat racer Mark Monsey stands at right.
LANA MUTHLER/THE EXPRESS Lock Haven Jaycees, from left, Ryan McDermit, Doug Wenker and Becky Fisher man the Jaycees stand for the Labor Day Celebration, which was held in lieu of the regatta this year, and included food vendors, bands and fireworks.
LANA MUTHLER/THE EXPRESS Jaycee DuWayne Kunes accepts a check from Scott Glossner, a member of the Delaware Valley Outboard Racing Assn., on Sunday morning. At left is Scott’s wife, Jill. Tunkhannock boat racer Mark Monsey stands at right.
LANA MUTHLER/THE EXPRESS Lock Haven Jaycees, from left, Ryan McDermit, Doug Wenker and Becky Fisher man the Jaycees stand for the Labor Day Celebration, which was held in lieu of the regatta this year, and included food vendors, bands and fireworks.
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LOCK HAVEN -- The Susquehanna River in Lock Haven was calm and peaceful on this Labor Day Weekend.
No boats racing up and down the river as has been the tradition with the annual Jaycees Labor Day Regatta, which was canceled this year due to the COVID-19.
But the spirit of the boaters who call Lock Haven the best powerboat race in the country, was there.
On Sunday morning, Jill and Scott Glossner made a trip to Lock Haven from their home in New Jersey with a special gift for the local Jaycees, letting them know that boaters from the Delaware Valley Outboard Racing Association and the American Power Boat Association were thinking about them and will be back next year to help the Jaycees celebrate their 50th annual regatta and make it bigger and better than ever.
It was a check for $1,685.
"I'd like to present this check to you in appreciation for all the Lock Haven Area Jaycees have done for boat racing here in Lock Haven," said Scott Glossner, presenting the check to DuWayne Kunes and fellow Jaycees Ryan McDermit and Becky Fisher, as the group stood alongside the river in the spot where the boat racing clock is always located.
"Last year yours was the biggest boat race in the American Power Boat Association. And it would have been the biggest race in the country this year. This is the best race site in the APBA. As a matter of fact, Lock Haven was named the "Best Race Site in the APBA last year," Scott continued.
"Yes, all of Wisconsin canceled their races to come here this year," Jill added.
"To racers around the country, coming to Lock Haven to race is their goal… it's on their bucket list," Scott said.
Jill said she's been coming to the Lock Haven regatta since the races here started. She said her father was the guy who built the starting clock and as a little girl she came with him. "I was in charge," she said with a smile.
"And then I became a racer. I races here when my oldest child was a newborn baby," she continued, saying her grandson had planned to race in Lock Haven this year for the first time.
Scott on the other hand, has never raced.
But when he married Jill, he got involved.
"He's been the voice of this race for many years," Kunes said, as the two shared a laugh and Kunes imitated Scott's announcement of the "Dash for Cash," a popular race at the local event.
Scott said his first time at the Lock Haven races was 1991, but quickly added that he was born in Lock Haven and his family moved to Warren, Pa. when he was just 1 year old.
"Its always great to come back and visit. I have relatives who still live here,"Scott said.
Both he and Jill are longtime members of the Delaware Valley club which are big participants of the regatta here.
"About three months ago we got the word out about taking up a collection for the Jaycees, and this is what we came up with," Scott said. "We all know the regatta is a big fundraiser and your group does a lot of good things for the community. They want you to know they'll be back next year."
One of the donors, Mark Monsey, a boat racer from Tunkhannock, also made a trip to Lock Haven Sunday.
"I heard they were coming with the check and I wanted to come, too," Monsey said, promising to be back next year.
Kunes had a special message.
"Thank you to all you boaters out there. We miss you and we want to see all of you next year for our 50th."