ELLENBURG CORNERS -- A tremendous turnout for the Gibson Brothers bluegrass concert Sunday in Darcy Manor's memory has given the scholarship in his name a huge boost.

"We are just a few dollars, less than $75, shy of $10,000," said William Scott, secretary for the Ellenburg Kiwanis Club, which organized the event.

The final count had yet to be made, so he expected the total might just hit that figure.

"It was amazing to us," he said.

Darcy Manor, an Ellenburg Depot businessman, Northern Adirondack Central School bus driver and father of two young sons, was shot and killed May 10 at a Mooers camp. His accused murderer, Glen D. Race, is in Clinton County Jail, awaiting grand-jury action.

The Gibsons, Eric and Leigh, attended school at NACS with Darcy and traveled from another gig in southern Vermont to remember their friend with the concert, held in the High School auditorium.

"I think they did not leave Weston until 3 in the morning," Scott said. "They were here at 9:30 (a.m.), setting up."

COMMUNITY HELP

About a dozen Kiwanians and other volunteers arrived early as well, cleaning up after Friday night's commencement exercises, returning tables and chairs to the cafeteria and supplementing auditorium seating with 75 or so folding chairs.

Close to 800 attended the show, said Scott, who is also superintendent of schools.

"The crowd was so large we had to get more tables" for the cafeteria.

All the refreshments for the event were donated, Scott said, from the water and soda from Coca Cola to michigan sauce from Rainbow Wedding and Banquet Hall in Altona to hot dogs and rolls from LaBarre's market in Ellenburg Depot.

"That produced a profit of $663," Scott said.

NACS bus drivers ran the concession stand, two cafeteria workers helped out in the kitchen, and the Kiwanis crew handled the rest.

"It was very efficient, because the Kiwanis Club has done this a number of times for fundraisers for scholarships," Scott said. "They've got it down to a science."