The Sylvia Lake Association Picnic began around 1977, when Mario Pistolesi was President of the Sylvia Lake Association. He and his wife, Maybelle, loved a good party and had been hosting an annual picnic at their camp for years. When Mario became president of the Association, the Pistolesi Picnic morphed into an annual Association event.

Mario and Maybelle were very successful local restaurateurs. They owned the Clearview Restaurant in Gouverneur. The Clearview's famous sausage and peppers was always a staple at the Association Picnics. For many subsequent years, the Pistolesi family (namely Mona Allen) headed the picnic's organization. This year Maybelle Pistolesi will be the Grand Marshall of the Boat Parade and the guest of honor at the community picnic.