Frostys nearly ready for this year's display

It may be hard for some people to believe that the holiday season is just around the corner, but that concept is an easy one to grasp for the nearly 20 members of the Lakeside and Somers community who have been working on the annual Frostys project.

Frostys are snowmen cutouts that are created by volunteers and used to decorate the side of U.S. Highway 93 from Somers to south of Lakeside. The project originated in 1999 as a way to liven up the West Shore, and has been going strong ever since thanks to the volunteers.

“It think it really does something nice for the community and everyone really enjoys it,” said Claudia Potts.

Potts is one of about a dozen volunteers who has been contributing her time to paint the Frostys at the Lakeside Merc in a room donated for the occasion. In addition to painting, Potts also created the templates for the Frostys this year using ideas she found in magazines and catalogs, which she then transposes onto wood using a projector and a pencil.

Although many of the ideas come from the volunteers and community members, businesses also approach the Frosty crew with requests to sponsor particular designs to be created.

This year the group is creating at least 18 new Frostys, and may add up to another 15 if time permits. That is all in addition to refurbishing Frostys from years past. That process includes fixing broken pieces and giving each one a new paint job so they all look new.

“It’s a fun volunteer job,” said Debbie Spaulding. I like the spirit here. Everyone is having a good time. It’s a fun atmosphere.”

Not only do the volunteers enjoy their time together, but they also help one another out.

“It’s a very supportive group,” Potts said. “If I need help on mine I can ask if anyone has any ideas or if something I thought of would work. It’s a wonderful community thing.”

The community aspect is what encouraged Ed and Susan Repa to not only get involved with the Frostys project this year, but to lead the effort.

“We’re fairly new in the community. We’ve been here about two years, and we’ve met more people in the past month and a half, two months than we have the past two years,” Ed said. “It’s sort of a social thing. You meet one person and then they introduce you to another, and another. It’s a great way to meet people.”

Ken Tintinger and Kay Hopkins co-chaired the Frosty project for the past two years, and when they were unable to do so again this year they put a call out to the community for someone to fill their spots. Susan said she has been able to do so thanks to the help of the other volunteers, without which it would be a much tougher task.

“It’s so easy for me because of all the help I have gotten from all the volunteers and all of the past people who are all still here helping and working,” she said. “This was a joy for me.”

Enjoyment is the ultimate goal, and that’s the reason people like Margaret Davis continue to be involved with the project.

“It kind of gets me in the pre-holiday mood,” Davis said. “I always admired them so much, so I though ‘I can do that.’”

Although the painting portion of the project will be wrapped up by the weekend, volunteers are still needed to help put the Frostys out alongside the highway. Those willing to help should call 844-6044.

Also, the community is encouraged to attend the annual Frosty parade and spaghetti dinner from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 in the Lakeside Elementary School gymnasium. The cost of the dinner will be $5 for adults or $20 per family, and children under five are free. While at the event, attendees can also purchase one of the Frostys to sponsor. All proceeds help keep the Frosty project going and to give the West Shore some holiday flare.