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Submitted Photo: Jennifer McCormack welcomes the crowd
Community turns out at Moose Alley to support Rangeley Health and Wellness with an evening of fine food, music, and shared generosity.
While temperatures hovered well below freezing on Saturday, February 7, Moose Alley was transformed into a glowing winter scene as nearly 100 guests gathered for the inaugural Snow Ball fundraiser benefiting Rangeley Health and Wellness (RHW). What might have been just another snowy February night became a warm and memorable celebration of community, generosity, and midwinter cheer.
Guests arrived dressed in elegant winter finery and were welcomed with champagne, passed hors d’oeuvres, and live guitar music by Jeff Beam. The relaxed but festive atmosphere set the tone for an evening centered on connection and support for RHW’s programs and services.
The venue was beautifully transformed with frosty white and icy blue table linens, candlelight, and winter-inspired décor, designed and arranged by the Black Bear Trading Post team, Katie Jordan and Elora Ryder. Birch-branch and snow-covered-tree arrangements, baby’s breath, twinkling lights, cut-glass vases, and softly glowing lanterns and votives created an inviting snow-globe ambiance that complemented the winter landscape outside.
Dinner, prepared by chef Justin Walker and the talented team from Walkers Maine, was a highlight of the evening. The thoughtfully curated menu featured slow-roasted prime short ribs, Maine peekytoe crab cakes, wood-smoked pork shoulder, winter chicories with queso fresco, frenula pasta with littleneck clams, and what many declared the standout favorite – a rich pomme aligot with Alpine cheese and cultured butter. The meal concluded with a classic tiramisu dessert.
During dinner, RHW Board President Lizzy Reinholt welcomed guests and expressed appreciation for the strong community support before announcing the winner of the Surf & Turf Trip Raffle, Tasha Cooper.
Following dinner, the celebration moved to the dance floor as The Dirty Gems band, later joined by Moose Alley’s own Nancy Bessey, kept the energy lively well into the evening. Volunteers and staff from both RHW and Moose Alley worked together behind the scenes to create an atmosphere many guests described as festive, welcoming, and magical.
A small silent auction featured items including fine wine, a golf simulator experience, an RHW concert poster, and a snowboard. Particularly meaningful were the contributions directed toward RHW’s senior programs and summer camp scholarships for local children, reflecting the community’s generous spirit.
The evening was made possible through the extraordinary partnership of Nancy Bessey, Sam White, and the entire Moose Alley team, whose hospitality and support extended from concept creation through final clean-up. Event coordination by Vanessa Santorelli of Your Maine Concierge helped ensure the evening ran seamlessly from start to finish, while décor design, direction, and setup from Katie Jordan, Elora Ryder, and John Parker transformed a bowling alley into a winter wonderland.
Special appreciation also goes to RHW’s dedicated Snow Ball committee led by Laura Reynolds and Patti Butler, whose creativity, time, and behind-the-scenes work helped make the event both successful and memorable.
Most importantly, heartfelt thanks go to everyone who ventured out on a freezing cold February night to support Rangeley Health and Wellness. Events like the Snow Ball help sustain RHW programs for residents of all ages, and the generosity shown throughout the evening was deeply appreciated. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the health, wellness, and vitality of the Rangeley community year-round, RHW relies on this kind of support to continue serving both residents and visitors alike. And for those who missed this year’s celebration, there is good news: thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response, plans are already underway for Snow Ball 2027.
