5K, Family Run Benefit Somers Library

SOMERS, N.Y. – More than 150 people turned out Sunday for the Somers Library Foundation’s 5K Trail Run and the 1-Mile Family Run, which snaked through the parks and fields of Somers in brisk fall weather with the leaves turning color.

“Much credit should be given to Somers High School Cross Country Coach Roy Arneson,” Foundation Vice President and event organizer Matthew Parisi said. “He designed a challenging course.” It ran through Reis Park, the Reis Homestead and Van Tassel Memorial Park as well as through the grounds of Primrose School and Somers High School. Refreshments were provided in Reis Park. More than 30 volunteers helped.

At the end of the race, state Sen. Greg Ball presented a ceremonial check to the Somers Library, representing a $50,000 grant from the state to be used toward replacing the building’s roof and air-conditioning system.

“The Somers Library does an incredible amount for the community,” said Ball. “I’m so happy we were able to secure this grant for these much-needed repairs.”

Library Director Pat Miller was appreciative. “I would like to thank my mother, who approached Senator Ball to help us secure this grant, and also the town board for all their help,” she said.

The Somers Library Foundation is an independent fundraising group that works with the library to enrich services. This event’s goal was to raise capital to enhance the Somers Library Community Meeting Room. 

The overall winner of the 5K race was David Mitzi, 48, with a time of 20:21. The first female runner to finish was Alyssa Passarelli, with a time of 22:42. The youngest runner was Ella Kittredge, 8, and the most senior was William Schlosser, 65.

School Board President Sarena Meyer was also among the 77 runners who finished the 5K. “I was admiring the phenomenal job they did of marking the path with white paint and then a snake caught my attention and I fell,” she said. “It was just a little garter snake. It was kind of funny. In the end I was full of mud and blood.”

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