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Lake Placid’s Winter Carnival is Friday

Eight Lake Placid High School seniors, who were named as candidates for king and queen of the school's annual Winter Carnival, pose wearing masks and social distancing. From left are Ellie Bousquet, Evan Brenner, Karis Hudson, Matthew Brandes, Deirda Kellerman, Anders Stanton, Dylan Bashaw and Jack Lawrence. (Photo provided)

LAKE PLACID — The 78th Annual Lake Placid High School Winter Carnival will take place on Friday. This year’s theme is “Blast from the Past.”

While the school is still maintaining traditions, the Winter Carnival activities have been modified to accommodate the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. Opening ceremonies will be held in the morning, when the king and queen will be crowned. The school is unable to accommodate guests for this event, but it will be streamed live on the internet. The coronation and Sno-Ball Hop will not take place this year.

In 1944, Romeo Proulx, supervising principal of the Lake Placid High School, along with Bob Connelly, Doris Keane, Isabelle Warner Farrell, Gertrude Powers and Howard Page, initiated the LPHS Winter Carnival with the volunteer assistance of faculty, parents and local residents. It was complete with sculpturing, ski races, coronation and the “Icicle Hop.”

Much has changed in 78 years, but the school still gathers the students and faculty for intramural competitions among grades 9 through 12. Each class has been given an event card and can choose activities to complete for points. Many new activities have been added, with some of the activities taking place outside of the school day.

Students will participate in a COVID-friendly relay race, trivia competitions, volleyball, ping-pong, badminton and a basketball shootout. While the high school students enjoy their Winter Carnival games, the middle school students will skate, ride the toboggan chute, play games, snowshoe and go sledding. The state Olympic Regional Development Authority and the village of Lake Placid donate their facilities and help coordinate these activities for middle school students.

Donna Moody will serve as the 2021 Lake Placid High School Winter Carnival archbishop. She grew up in Ontario, California, and graduated from Chassey High School. She went on to receive degrees from Illinois State University and SUNY Plattsburgh. She moved to Lake Placid in 1986 and started her career at the Lake Placid Middle-High School in 1987. She spent 30 years teaching physical education for grades 7 to 12, with 12 of those years as the athletic director. She devoted 31 years to coaching modified and junior varsity soccer, modified and varsity track and field, JV and varsity volleyball, JV basketball and varsity softball. She also took on the role of class advisor for three different classes. She is also a volunteer coach for youth volleyball and LPHS track and field, and a member of the Education Opportunity Fund Committee.

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