Melissa York promotes family sports options

Since 1999, the organization has worked to establish a new economic and cultural model geared at solidifying families and encouraging personal well being through winter recreation. Moreover, by establishing community-run, non-profit ski areas, the center hopes to attract businesses to the region looking for a higher quality of life for their employees.
In Aroostook County, the Maine Winter Sports Center has worked with residents to establish the 10th Mountain Ski Club in Fort Kent. This venue hosted the World Cup Biathlon in 2004, bringing an estimated $1.3 million into the St. John Valley by athletes and spectators.
Also part of the Maine Winter Sports Center, the Nordic Heritage Ski Center in Presque Isle offers cross-country ski trails in the winter and mountain bike trails in the summer and fall. Big Rock in Mars Hill is the center’s alpine venue, offering world-class skiing in our backyard.
York works as a community development leader for the center and spends most of her time on the road visiting local schools. Towing a trailer filled with skis behind her vehicle, she has the equipment to expose numerous students to the world of cross-country skiing at no charge to the schools.
Though most of our snow is gone, York continues to focus on skiing in the County. She hopes to fuel community support in Houlton for the creation of trails behind the high school and that will in turn bring ski rentals to the Civic Center.