The Catskill Chronicle

Story by Carol Montana, Photos by Leni Santoro and Stephen Lavelle

MONTICELLO, NY – To paraphrase an old song “Thunderheads built this city on country music.” The city was Monticello, the country music courtesy of Thunder 102 radio and The Town of Thompson along with other corporate sponsors, the place was Monticello Casino and Raceway, and the event was the 5th Annual ThunderBash held on Saturday, May 8.

ThunderBash featured the music of Somerville with Alyssa Startup, Elissa Maliss, Iron Cowboy and Valory recording artist, Jimmy Wayne.

Thousands of Thunderheads (the station’s nickname for their legions of fans) came ready to party, with many dressed for the occasion in cowboy hats, boots and bandanas. A requested donation of $1.02 went to benefit the St. Jude  Children’s Research Hospital and the YMCA of Sullivan County.

“Thunder Country has been very supportive of the YMCA, and helping to bring one here to Sullivan Country,” said Linda Cellini, Financial Development Director for the YMCA. She beamed as she talked about the recent donation of 155 acres of environmental property with a lake bordering the Town of Thompson and Mamakating on Wild Turnpike Road. The YMCA is  looking for about 12 acres of land for building in Sullivan County. “So if anyone has some land they want to donate … it should be about 15 minutes off Route 17.” The money that they raised from ThunderBash will go to the YMCA building fund.

Ann McGuire of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was thrilled to be the other beneficiary of ThunderBash. St. Jude is located in Memphis, TN and is a children’s hospital that focuses on research.

“When the hospital opened in 1962, the overall survival rate for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia – the most common form of childhood cancer – was 4%, today it’s 94%,” said McGuire. In addition to cancer research, St. Jude also researches and treats pediatric aids, sickle cell and other childhood diseases. And any treatment or cure that they find is shared freely with the rest of the medical community at large.

St. Jude never turns away a family because of their inability to pay. “We pay for their trip to Memphis, their housing, we give them a food card from Kroeger’s to go grocery shopping. The only thing they have to worry about is their kid,” McGuire said as she thanked Thunder Country and the community for their generosity.  “Everyone has been so kindhearted.”

In addition to the two charities benefiting from the event, performer Jimmy Wayne talked about a charity that he has started for to raise awareness of homeless teens and young adults who age out of the foster care system.

Wayne is walking halfway across America encouraging people to become foster parents or volunteer for an organization for a local organization that helps troubled youth.

Before and during the concert, guests were treated to a variety of vendors featuring everything from Silpada jewelry to party planning by Spencer Daniels Agency, and from Provident Bank to Sullivan County First Refuse and Recycling. Most of the vendors were giving away items or holding raffles. There were also charities handing out information about the American Cancer Relay for Life, the Monticello Panthers Youth Football and Cheerleading Organization and the Families of Iraqi and Afghanistan War Veterans hoping to get some volunteers for the annual Radiothon.

While the U.S. Army, the Marines and the Sullivan County Civil Air Patrol continued to showcase their stuff in the hall, the crowd of thousands was going wild for music. Thunderous cheers ended every song and each artist was welcomed warmly and enthusiastically.

Also in the hall, several lovely ladies graced the crowd with their crowns and banners. North Branch resident Kathryn Miller is Mrs. Thunder County, Anna Rose Mongiello from Monticello is Miss Teen Thunder Country, Callicoon resident Jessica Goins is Miss Sullivan County, Jennifer Ferris from  Mountaindale is Mrs. Sullivan County, Wurtsboro resident Felicia Ramos is Miss Catskills, and 10-year-old Dara Schiff from Liberty is Miss Sullivan County Pre-teen.

The older ladies have platforms ranging from polycystic kidney disease awareness, to volunteerism, and from bullying prevention to preventing teen pregnancy. But adorable Dara is just enjoying the spotlight. “I like all the attention, cause my dad (Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff) usually gets all the attention, and it’s usually all about him, so I like it being about me now.”

For more information about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital visit www.stjude.org or call the Albany office at 518-453-6800.

The Sullivan County YMCA can be reached at 807-1273, www.MiddletownYMCA.org.

For more information about Jimmy Wayne’s “Meet Me Halfway” initiative, visit http://meetmehalfway.jimmywayne.com/.

All donations are tax deductible.

And to find out more about Thunder Country radio station, go to Thunder102.com.

To view more photographs or to purchase prints from ThunderBash 2010, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.