Super Bowl raffle to ‘Raise the Lights!’

By SANDY LONG

ELDRED, NY — The Eldred Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) has begun raising money to install permanent lights at the Eldred Central School’s athletic field. And with the help of local resident Joan Ryan-Canu, who works with the New York NFL and secured the coveted prize, they hope to raise at least $20,000 by selling raffle tickets for a two-person package to the 2008 Super Bowl.

“We have to operate portable lights run by generators, which are noisy and cost money,” said Kim Lust, co-chair of the “Raise the Lights” campaign. Lust researched sports lighting featuring green technology and learned about Musco “Light Structure Green” lighting. The lighting system’s environmental features include improved photometric efficiency, resulting in reduced operating costs, as well as a 50 percent reduction in light spill to shield against light pollution.

According to Eldred’s athletic director and K-12 administrator Al Wojtaszek, the lights will add an important dimension to other improvements that will be made to the field during the more comprehensive building and renovation project. It will also improve safety considerations since lights will be added to walkways leading to the field.

High school principal Scott Krebs said the project is slated to begin in summer 2008 and will take approximately two to three years to complete, although the timeframe can be affected by required approvals from the NYS Education Department.

Tickets sell for $50 each and are limited to 500 tickets. The winner will receive a package valued at more than $5,000 per person, including two tickets to Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix, AZ on February 3, 2008, two tickets to the pre-game “NFL Experience Party,” a four-night stay at a nearby hotel, assorted NFL memorabilia and $1,000 in cash for airfare. Runners-up will choose between Tom Brady- or Jon Bon Jovi- autographed footballs and other items. The final drawing will be held at the Eldred Homecoming football game on October 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are available now and will be sold at fall athletic events, and can be purchased directly from Donnelly (845/557-3339), Lust (845/856-7398), Krebs (845/557-6014) or Wojtaszek (845/557-8039).