By Amy Halsted

Back for its third year, ‘Cause for Laughter’ will be held at Mt. Abram on Jan. 24. Established to raise funds for local needy families, ‘Cause for Laughter’ is spearheaded by Kathleen (Kate) Carroll, supported by an active committee and provides a truly entertaining evening of comedy and fundraising with auction and raffle items of both rare and unusual nature and a 50/50 raffle.

The doors open at 6 with the show beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and include a $10 voucher toward a 2015 lift ticket at Mt. Abram. Dinner and drinks may be purchased at the Loose Boots Lounge. Attendees must be 21 years and older to attend.

Cause for Laughter announces that Mark Turcotte of Comedy Fix and one of Maine’s truly funny guys will co-emcee the event with Carroll. Comedy Fix is an independent fundraising organization bringing some of New England’s best stand-up comedians to Maine to benefit local charities.

“Really the only serious thing about ‘Cause for Laughter’ is its purpose. Aside from this, the event is great fun,” says Carroll. “It also represents the best of the local community in the level of support from committee work to donations to our audience.”

Items in the Live Auction paint a good picture. In addition to perennial (three-years thus far) donations from the Omni Hotel (a two-night stay), a six-hour Salt Water fishing trip with Peter Fallon and a three-hour private skiing session with Gould’s Matt Erickson, donations to Cause for Laughter for the auction and raffle represent the best of local artists, those willing to donate time, and treasures from private homes and collections.

A centerpiece of the auction, local artist Gary Polonski—who holds a Bachelors of Fine Art from the University of Massachusetts where he studied under renowned American Expressionist John Grillo—has donated his painting, Flyin’ Monkeys.

“In 2013, I began a skiing series of which Flyin’ Monkeys is the fourth work. My hope is to capture the unique characteristic of each Sunday River slope for which each work is named. So far, Risky Business, White Heat, Obsession and Flyin Monkeys have made it to the canvas.” Polonski’s work may be viewed in his studio (by appointment) or on his website at http://garypolonski.webs.com.

A partial list of other items includes Two-Nights at any Omni Hotel in North America (except Philadelphia and Mexico); Dinner for Four at the Top Shack at Mt. Abram with Owner Rob Lally; a Three-Hour Private Ski Lesson with Gould’s Matt Erickson; Retired Sunday River Trail Signs donated by Steve Boulanger; First Tracks and Breakfast with Sunday River Mountain Manager, Jake Treadwell; Two Quilts donated by Mary Ann Griffith, RN and Alan E. Rothberg, MD from Bo’s Bags; and, a White Water Rafting Trip for Four donated by Mike St Laurent of Dead River Expeditions. There are many more items in the auction and raffle.

Rooster’s Roadhouse, Loose Boots and the Cause for Laughter committee members have tickets for sale; tickets will also be for sale at the door. Steve Etheridge is the Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer while the Cause for Laughter committee works on all aspects of putting on the show and includes: Barbara Brooks, Bethel; Angie Carroll, Bethel; Kate Carroll, Bethel; Ron Carroll, Bethel; Sue Dunn, Gorham, Me.;Amy Halsted, Newry; Laurie Knowles Herron, Bethel; Linda Michaels, Bethel; Ross Michaels, Bethel; Jeannie Rahilly, Bethel; Sheila Reardon, Hanover; Jeff Watts, Hanover; Lynn Watts, Hanover.

Carroll noted that additional businesses are involved. She extends particular thanks to Mt. Abram Ski Area, Rooster’s Roadhouse and Royal River Graphics for their support.