Big fun for a good cause

TALKEETNA — A record was set for funds raised in the 2016 Talkeetna Bachelor Society’s (TBS) annual Wilderness Woman contest and bachelor’s auction and ball. The two-day event brought in just under $25,000 which is earmarked for charitable causes with a focus on supporting victims of domestic violence.

TBS President Todd Basilone said this year’s event brought in more than $24,300. He said the organization will meet tomorrow to divvy out proceeds to charitable causes. Half the proceeds go toward domestic violence programs while the other half has been used to support a multitude of programs and groups. The two-day event started out with a Friday evening parade and followed that with the annual Wilderness Woman event Saturday afternoon down Main Street and the adjacent park.

Temperatures hovered close to zero and a strong north wind blew off the Alaska Range as for the second straight year, Trina Pastarr of Anchorage claimed bragging rights. As a large crowd braved the elements along with the contestants, she hauled water, chopped wood, snowshoed, shot “ptarmigan” and fished better than any of her fellow 30-plus contestants. The other four finalists included Nicole Clements, Jill Jackson, Mackelifa Berry and Hazel Blum.

Basilone said the number of ladies vying for the title varies from 25 to 50 each year. He said given the cold conditions, the Society was pleased with the turnout. Basilone said the annual auction and ball at the Sheldon Community Arts hangar later that evening, once again drew a capacity crowd.

“I’m always amazed by the many people who support (the event) and how much they give,” Basilone said. “We had an amazing outcome from the auction.”

Basilone said a lot of effort, volunteer time and planning goes into making the event as successful as it has become for more than three decades. He said meetings for the annual December event begin in August with weekly meetings until the start of October.

“Then we start meeting a couple of times a week up until the auction,” Basilone said. “Every year, it seems a few more people get involved. That makes it easier. It used to be a scramble as the (event) got close.”