Members of the Syracuse Area Outdoor Adventure Club, who raised $1,190 for the Polar Bear Plunge event, take off for the chilly waters of the Seneca River. According to Meteorologist Wayne Mahar, who was present at the event, the air temperature was 30 degrees (20 degrees considering the wind chill) at the start of the plunge, which was kicked off by Baldwinsville Mayor Joseph Saraceni and Fayetteville Mayor Mark Olson, who were the first two to charge into the freezing waters of the Seneca River.
In addition to the Polar Bear Plunge, which was part of Baldwinsville’s Big Chill weekend, other events included a Wine, Cheese and Chocolate tasting event Friday evening and snow shoe races, best in bowl competition and a poker run Saturday. Proceeds from the weekend will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Ronald McDonald House and the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce.
The Baldwinsville Fire Department kept a bonfire going throughout the day for Big Chill participants Saturday at Mercer Park.
