GOUVERNEUR – The Volunteer Transportation Center Foundation’s Annual Volunteer Transportation Center St. Lawrence County Golf Tournament, which marked its 11th year, has been deemed a huge success. 

The tournament – hosted at Emerald Greens Golf Course in Gouverneur July 10 – saw 30 teams compete and raised $16,000 to help the VTC provide transportation to those in need in St. Lawrence County.  

“We are very grateful for the continued support of this tournament to help us continue transportation to people right here in St. Lawrence County,” said Jeremiah S. Papineau, the nonprofit organization’s Director of Communications and Foundation Director. “This is our 11th year of the St. Lawrence County tournament but our sixth year with our friends here at Emerald Greens. We couldn’t be more thankful for all owner John Cunningham and his crew do year after year to help make this such a success.” 

The tournament, which followed a captain and crew format, saw Team Rumble, a team led by Raine Rumble, take first place in the men’s division with a 54, followed by a team from Community Health Center of the North Country, led by Rob Boak, taking second with a 58. In the co-ed division, first place went to Team Hooper, led by Jeff Hooper, with a 59. Second place went to Staie on the Seaway, a team led by Vickie Staie, with a 62. 

This year’s tournament was underwritten by Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield, Watertown Savings Bank, and Stewart’s Shops, Advanced Business Systems, the Kinney Drugs Foundation, and OneDigital. Additional sponsors included: Eagle Level - ACCO Brands, American Legion Post 65, Clifton-Fine Hospital, Community Health Center of the North Country, Howland Pump Supply, Seaway Valley Prevention Council, St. Lawrence Health System, Staie on the Seaway/Appraisals USA and The Stadium Sports Bar; Birdie Level - Children’s Home of Jefferson County and St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union; Par Level - Atlantic Testing Laboratories, Bill Rapp Chevrolet of Ogdensburg, Gouverneur Elks Lodge 2035, Gouverneur Savings & Loan, J.C. Merriman Inc., Nicholas F. Gardner Family Dental Care, and Viking Cives USA. Additional support was provided by Gretchen E. Tessmer, Esq. Attorney at Law, and Price Chopper. 

Raffle prizes were donated by A Plus Auto, A. J. Missert Inc., AutoZone Auto Parts, Bella Brooke Vineyard, Best Western University Inn, Bowman’s Gun Shop, Burrito Bob’s, Casablanca Restaurant, Cindy’s Cake Shop, Coakley’s Ace Hardware-Diane, Dashnaw’s Pizzeria, Five Guys, Fun Unlimited, Gouverneur Collision Center, Hampton Inn, Ice Cream Bowl, In-Law Brewing Company, Jake’s on the Water, Kinney Drugs, Massena Memorial Hospital Foundation, Mrs. Beasley’s Liquor & Wine, NAPA Auto Parts, Nature’s Storehouse-Grace, NBT Bank, New York Pizzeria, Newvine Auto Parts, Pepsi-Cola Ogdensburg Bottlers, Potsdam Food Co-Op, Riverside Liquors, Silver Leaf Diner, Small Town Supply Ace Hardware, SwingTime Mini Golf, T&R Wines and Liquors, The Lobster House, The Pear Tree, Tractor Supply Co., White’s Flowers, Bonnie Hummel, Jeremiah Papineau, Sam Purington and Kay Sullivan. 

Papineau thanked the hard work of the VTC’s St. Lawrence County Advisory Committee, which consists of Ray Babowicz, Casandra Dodd, Alexa Goolden, Sommer Giordano, Rachel LaPoint, Maura Mayer, Kay Sullivan, Laurie LaPoint, Sonja Jensen, Doreen Salcido, Lisa Waite, Charisse McPherson, Greg Mastro, and Peggy Durant. 

The date for next year’s tournament is slated for Friday, July 9, 2027, at Emerald Greens Golf Course. Details will be forthcoming as the date approaches.

The Volunteer Transportation Center, Inc. (VTC), established in 1991, drives thousands of miles each year assisting community members in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties and beyond. Over the last 30 years, this essential non-profit organization has provided rides to health care appointments, food sources and other critical needs destinations for residents. 

In 2025, volunteer drivers provided 25,533 charitable trips over 783,845 miles in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Of those miles, 294,999 helped those in Jefferson County, 80,033 in Lewis County, and 408,813 in St. Lawrence County. That equated to approximately $391,923 in mileage reimbursement for our volunteers. That’s why the community’s help is so important. 

The staff, boards of directors and volunteer drivers look forward to a time when transportation to community activities and services is accessible to all North Country residents regardless of economic or specialized needs. But for now the mission drives on — striving to provide transportation to health, wellness and critical needs destinations utilizing volunteers and mobility management for anyone who has barriers to transportation. 

For more information about how you can help the Volunteer Transportation Center, about its upcoming events, or to become a volunteer driver, contact the agency in Jefferson and Lewis Counties at 315-788-0422 and, in St. Lawrence County, at 315-714-2034. Volunteers drive their own cars, set their own hours and receive mileage reimbursement but, more importantly, make a difference in the community. To learn more, visit www.volunteertransportationcenter.org.