Hundreds turnout for trail-blazing teacher and coach

JAY – Several hundred walkers and runners turned out for the Running for Randy benefit on a snow-dusted Sunday afternoon. But, before a single fund-raising step was taken in honor of Randy Easter, who is fighting cancer, members of the Board of Selectpersons  surprised the longtime teacher, coach and community activist by dedicating the new trail equipment building to him.

The 14-foot by 28-foot building to house trail-grooming equipment was completed recently by an all-volunteer crew that included town officials. The six to seven miles of pedestrian and snowmobile trails were created, along with skidder trails to access the wood lot, over the last years on the 180-acre, town-owned parcel. The hemlock and pine for the new building was taken off the recreation lot and used to construct the building. Money for the new snowmachine and used drag groomer also came from the wood harvested and sold in various selective cuts on the parcel over the years. The trail project was the latest of several on the town’s recreational lot that has involved many students at the nearby schools, volunteers and trail-blazing experts.

Easter, a recreation committee member, who was very involved with creating the network of trails, sparked the idea of a building to house new trail grooming equipment. The building is located at the end of Lavoie Street where the trails converge at an easy access point.

On Sunday, a group gathered that included family, friends and selectpersons that hadn’t told Easter about the dedication honoring him. Selectperson Tom Goding climbed a ladder to reveal a sign over the garage door facing the street that read: “This building is dedicated to Randy Easter for outstanding service to the children and residents of the town of Jay.”

“We wanted to do something for you; for all you’ve done,” said Board of Selectpersons Chair Steve McCourt said. Later, he noted Easter’s years of work, especially for the benefit of the kids in the community.

Easter smiled and said afterward he didn’t have “a clue” and today’s dedication “was a well kept secret.” He pointed to a trail that led up into the woods behind him as having “an unbelievable view” at the top. “Now, hopefully, everyone will use the trails,” he said.

Just before the 1 p.m. 5K cross country trail run and 1K family run/walk start, a massive reunion took place as Easter’s former students, athletes he coached, many friends from local ski areas he worked with, colleagues in education, town officials and more jammed-packed the cafeteria at Spruce Mountain High School.

As people took turns autographing a big sign made of ties that said: “Randy ties our community together,” others were busy bidding on items set on tables around the room. A very long series of tables groaned under the weight of lots of food brought to feed the masses as Easter and his wife Jennifer greeted and hugged the large community of people that had gathered in his honor.

Earlier this year, Easter was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and had surgery on Sept. 24. He smiled when he told well wishers who asked that he was “feeling pretty good.”

A former math and science student of Easter’s who also ran on the cross country and track teams, Kristin Cook-Center, grinned as she signed in and handed out t-shirts to race participants. A little before the 1 p.m. race start, Cook-Center said 567 people had signed in to participate in the walk or run.

“He’s so involved in the community,” she said, noting the people around her were former students with many wearing their old training jackets with the years they raced for Coach Easter emblazoned across the back.