Video above Wellsville of a Sunday morning flight, photos from the awards brunch
By JOHN ANDERSON
As an experienced crew member and part of a balloon team, Kevin Gentile of Wellsville knows the right time to get great photos before a launch.
When he asked his girlfriend, Lauren Onisk, to get inside one of the envelope of an Endless Mountain Hot Air Balloon as it was on the ground inflating, it was a perfect photo opportunity.
The sun was just right that evening at the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally last weekend. Kevin took Lauren in the balloon as it was partially inflated on the ground and they posed for a photo. Kevin had his arm around her and even the crowd, some who didn’t know what was going on, thought it was a perfect shot.
When the photo ended, Lauren went to put her sunglasses back on, but Kevin dropped to his knee and pulled out an engagement ring. The sunglasses came off and Lauren grabbed her head in joyful disbelief before saying, “Yes.”
On her Facebook, Lauren said, “Tonight was PERFECT!!!!! I GOT UPGRADED TO FIANCÉ! I SAID YES!”
At the wrap up brunch for balloonists at the American Legion in Wellsville, Balloon Rally Chairman Brad Thompson presented Kevin and Lauren a special bottle of wine.

Thompson usually gives out a committee member award. This year, with the success of Stitched Ink providing the Great Wellsville Balloon Rally merchandise and an online store, Thompson awarded each committee member with something they could pick out from the site.
“As you know, we have a website with a place to get shirts and hoodies and coolers as well as fleece jackets,” Thompson said. “The entire committee will be getting an award, an item from the online store.”
Story continues after this Wellsville Sun video of a flight over Wellsville:
The thank you’s continued.
“Thank you to the pilots and crews, without you, we couldn’t do this,” said Thompson to an ovation for them all. “We have a lot of major sponsors, and one is brand new, Kevin Clark from Trout Run Campground where some of you stayed. He provided the (all-terrain) vehicles for us to use and co-sponsored the fireworks, the largest fireworks display we’ve ever had.”
Thompson noted, “We had a great rally, 3-for-4, and the night we didn’t fly, we got them up (for an afterglow). The three flights were beautiful.”

He also thanked Short’s Convenience Stores who contributed the propane for the rally once again.
“Frank and Harold Short, without you, we could not have a balloon rally,” said Thompson. “We can’t wait for next year!”
As for the committee, Thompson said, “Finally, the committee. I have a wonderful committee. We all work very hard. I get a lot of thank you’s but I let them know, it’s not me, it’s 15 to 20 people who start working in January to make this happen.”
And with that statement, Thompson and the committee received a standing ovation from the pilots and crew.

Thompson also honored Balloonmeister Tony Saxton and presented him with a bag of balloon items made locally by Deb Quinn. He also recognized Lindsey Flick, who has been to the rally in Wellsville but as a new private pilot, Friday night was her first flight as a pilot.




