Dozer Day an unusual, intriguing event

June 23, 2010 in the Press Republican
http://pressrepublican.com/0200_opinion/x336267002/EDITORIAL-Dozer-Day-an-unusual-intriguing-event

Call it the ultimate sandbox.

It was the fourth annual Dozer Day at Airborne Speedway June 12. For those unfamiliar with the event, local contractors bring just about every piece of modern earth-moving equipment used in the North Country to the local speedway to push and dig dirt for the day. And it's just for kids. What an experience.

Coordinated by the Plattsburgh Breakfast Kiwanis Club and co-sponsored by Nortrax Equipment and Graymont Materials, the event annually attracts 3,000 or more people. This most recent one was no exception, despite overcast skies.

With professional operators at the controls, kids were able to drive bulldozers and push dirt, dig holes with backhoes, sit in cement trucks, tiny tractors and dump trucks, along with a haul truck and rock drill. They were also able take the 110-foot-high ride on the boom of a line truck. There were lines of kids to try out the activities all day.

Also at the site were firetrucks, U.S. Army vehicles and a Homeland Security helicopter for kids to clamor onto. Takeoffs and landings of the chopper were well attended by wide-eyed youngsters.

Airborne Speedway officials provided a concession stand, along with the venue to hold the event, and let kids and adults drive the go-karts. For two years, Dozer Day was held at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, but the move to Airborne in South Plattsburgh last year pushed attendance to the 3,000 mark, obviously a good move.

And drivers from Huntley Trucking were responsible for hauling all the dirt that was pushed around that day and the construction equipment to and from the speedway, a yeoman task.

Dozer Day was not only a fun, family-oriented activity, all the proceeds of the event will benefit local children's charities, such as the CVPH Mental Health Unit for Children and Adults, Clinton County Child Advocacy and the Ted K Center in Plattsburgh. Following last year's event, CVPH charities were the beneficiaries of the $14,000 raised at the event. This year, $16,000 will be doled out to the selected agencies.

Events like Dozer Day, where volunteers, businesspeople and local organizations come together to put on a real family day to benefit special agencies serving local people, is what the North Country is all about. We've seen it time and time again. And this event broadens the menu of activities North Country residents and visitors can enjoy, very likely for the first time.

We look forward to next year's edition with much anticipation. And for those who didn't make it this year, plan on it for 2011. For those who did, your kids won't let you forget when it is.