Place your bets!

VERNON — Hidden Valley Ski Patrol recently held its successful casino night to raise funds for the patrol. Funds raised from the event go towards the purchase of training supplies and equipment. Guests had the opportunity to try their hand at craps, blackjack, roulette and poker card games including Texas Hold’em on professional casino tables with professional dealers and table staff.

According to event organizer JC Cowell, if you got lucky while helping a great cause, you had the chance to win some of the tricky tray-type auction prizes that were displayed on the main stage at Tavern on the Mountain.

Cowell also had great praise for the new staff and management at Tavern on the Mountain. In particular he noted what he felt was an exceptional buffet that included items from the restaurant’s new menu.

Each player started with $200 in play money. Music for the evening was supplied by composer/guitarist John Sheehan. Sheehan is widely known for his finger-picking style on a wide variety of stringed instruments.

“Ski Patrol is all about team work whether it’s responding to an accident on the Hill or putting a fund raiser together so in the end a very small team of Ski Patrollers made it happen," said Cowell.

Powell said each patrol members pay their own dues as well as cover the costs of training, uniforms and personal equipment. "The ski patrol runs fundraisers to cover the some cost of purchase and maintenance of their rescue equipment and training," said Cowell.

Patrollers are on call year round and volunteer for the New Jersey Search Council to help find lost persons in the state and provide first aid support for many other non-ski events like charity bike rides and races.

The Hidden Valley Ski Patrol is currently looking for new members and donations to help them continue their support of the local community. If you would like to volunteer or support the Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, contact Cowell at 973-764-1594.