March 13, 2025
By Zana Lacka
Staff Writer
A tricky tray fundraiser at the Senior Citizen Center on Feb. 13 raised over $7,000 to support the renovation of the LHS fieldhouse weight room.
Admission to the event, organized by a committee of six LHS coaches, cost $35. The minimum age to enter the event was 18, as there was gambling.
The event included a sheet of tickets that attendees put toward themed baskets filled with items related to board games, pasta-making, winter weather and more. The baskets and their contents–which were divided into four levels based on their value–were donated by LHS clubs and sports, with contributions from local businesses. Attendees could purchase additional tickets to put toward these baskets.
The grand prize raffles required a $10 ticket, which could be purchased at the event. These prizes included jewelry and a $500 gift card to Chandel Jewelers and Austin’s Fine Diamonds and Jewelry in Lyndhurst, a Lenovo laptop, a 40-inch Amazon Fire TV, a Keurig coffee machine and a medium-sized Kate Spade purse.
In addition to the tricky tray, approximately 75 attendees were provided with various desserts.
Special education teacher Ms. Hykey, who is also the head coach of the varsity girls soccer and winter track teams, is a member of the committee that planned the tricky tray. She said Student Services Department secretary and winter cheer team Coach Montillo, who is also on the renovation committee, came up with the idea for the fundraiser.
“People love tricky trays… and [Coach Montillo] runs them all the time,” Hykey said. “She had a lot of experience, so she [thought] this could be good.”
Hykey said the money raised is for a good cause since the renovation will make the fieldhouse weight room more functional.
“We are going to have a whole bunch of racks [for weightlifting]. So, now, all the lifts that we do, we’re going to have more space to do it,” Hykey said.
PHOTO BY MS. HYKEY A variety of baskets were raffled off at the tricky tray fundraiser at the Senior Citizen Center on Feb. 13. Tickets for the grand prize raffles were $10 each. These prizes included jewelry and a $500 gift card to Chandel Jewelers and Austin’s Fine Diamonds and Jewelry in Lyndhurst, a Lenovo laptop, a 40-inch Amazon Fire TV, a Keurig coffee machine and a medium-sized Kate Spade purse.
She said the committee hopes the Board of Education will contribute money toward the fieldhouse renovation, which is estimated to cost about $100,000. Construction could begin at the end of June so it does not interfere with fall sports. However, the project may be delayed for financial reasons.
The renovation will include installing a new floor and replacing weights and equipment. Additionally, many sections of the fieldhouse will be repainted.
Health and physical education teacher Ms. Balaskovitz, who coached girls junior varsity basketball and is the junior varsity coach and assistant softball coach in addition to being a renovation committee member, said once the updates are completed, she hopes all LHS students consider using the weight room. She said it will be available to them daily after school as long as a teacher or coach is present as a chaperone.
“We are going to have a whole bunch of racks [for weightlifting]. So, now, all the lifts that we do, we’re going to have more space to do it.”
“Being that [it will be] updated and [have] newer equipment, the kids will look at it [and say], ‘Hey, this is beautiful.’ Most schools don’t have it. Let’s take advantage of it,” Balaskovitz said.
She said she was happy to win five baskets at the tricky tray.
“I was really excited, and I was the one saying the [winning] numbers,” Balaskovitz said. “I plan to clean my house and make nice amounts of coffee with the things I got.”
Wendy LaCorte, mother of three-sport athlete sophomore Logan LaCorte, said having newer equipment in the weight room will help students get in better shape.
“It will be very motivating to them and [make] them want to push harder,” LaCorte said.
She said she enjoyed attending the tricky tray with her friends.
“It was run very well, and I think [the attendees] contributed and did a fair share,” LaCorte said. “The community really comes together at these events, and continuing these events will contribute to that.”
