Clinton Files for VT Prexy Primary

Vermont House Speaker Gaye Symington and former Vermont Governor Madeleine M. Kunin today filed the petitions of Senator Hillary Clinton in accordance with the standards and practices for presidential candidates who seek access to Vermont’s Presidential Primary Ballot.

Senator Clinton’s petitions were submitted to the Office of the Vermont Secretary of State with signatures far exceeding the 1,000 minimum requirement mandated by the State of Vermont’s ballot access rules and procedures.

“I’m proud to deliver these petitions to place Hillary Clinton on the ballot in Vermont,” said former Governor Kunin. “I'm supporting her not only because she is an incredibly qualified woman, but also because she has the experience and vision to change this country."

“Hillary has the right combination of determination, experience, and heart to pull our country together and move our national priorities in a new direction,” said Speaker Symington.

January 21, 2008 is the last day for presidential candidates to submit petitions to gain access to the Vermont Presidential Primary ballot.   

The Clinton campaign submitted its presidential petition along with the state’s required filing fee and administrative document.

Okemo “Cares and Shares” Food Drive Collected 1500+ Items

The spirit of the holidays prevailed during Okemo Mountain Resort’s annual “Cares and Shares” Food Drive Nov. 25. Skiers and snowboarders visiting the resort donated food, clothing, toys and money to help those in need throughout the Okemo Valley area.

Pictured above is Okemo Mountain Resort Vice President and General Manager Bruce Schmidt as he presents a check for money raised during the resort’s annual “Cares and Shares” day to Black River Good Neighbors President Marty Quinlan and Thrift Store Manager Audrey Bridge. (photo courtesy Okemo Mountain Resort)

Okemo ambassadors, in their telltale red ski parkas, accepted donations throughout the day. They collected more than 1,500 food items and $730 in cash donations. The Black River Good Neighbor Services will use the money to assist local families with heat and other necessities this winter and the organization’s Christmas Basket Program will help distribute the donated items to 125 families in time for the holidays. Additionally, Okemo donates 50 frozen turkeys to the Christmas Basket Program. Another 50 turkeys go to families in Springfield and the Chester/Andover area.

When skiers and riders presented at least three non-perishable food items, a new child's toy or a new clothing item, their generosity was rewarded with an entire day of skiing and riding at Okemo for just $25.

Black River Good Neighbors operates a thrift store and food pantry located on Main Street in Ludlow. More information may be obtained by calling (802) 228-3663.

TW3 Special Explores Background and Future of VT Ed Funding

TW3, "That Was The Week That Was", plans a special hour-long TV production on Thursday, Dec. 20, that will review the history and possible future of education funding in Vermont by two of the legislators who were there when much of this happened.

According to Ralph Pace, co-anchor of TW3 with Leo Graham, "This will be a special program to place the current state educational funding policies in some perspective.  It may not satisfy current tax-payers but it will certainly give them some idea as to how we reached this point." 

He noted that John Murphy of Ludlow, who represented that town in the state legislature before Act 60, and Michael Obuchowski, current chair of the House Ways and Means committee, and a member of the house during the Act 60/68 legislation, will provide both the historical back drop of education-based taxation legislation as well as what alternatives are currently on the legislative table in Montpelier.

The program will be broadcast live from LPC studios in Ludlow from 5 to 6 pm.  Pace said that the program will accept phone calls during the live broadcast, at 802-228-8807.  For those unable to view the live broadcast, the program will be rebroadcast throughout the remainder of the month.  Viewer questions and comments may also be sent to tw3@brreporter.com.

BRGN Offers $500 for Break-In Info

Following the forced break-in at Black River Good Neighbors' (BRGN) Thrift Shop in Ludlow, concerned citizens have donated $500 as a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the Thanksgiving break-in and robbery.

According to members of the BRGN Board, the break-in focused on stealing personnel records plus a donation jar estimated to contain $60.

According to Ludlow Police chief Jeff Billings, no hard evidence has been found as to the perpetrators other than "innuendo", referring to last year's accusations by the "Take Back BRGN".  This group accused the BRGN of mismanagement after the dismissal of the Thrift Store manager by the BRGN Board.

BRGN Board member Jean Eggleston indicated that the Board was "grateful for the donations for the reward so that BRGN would not have to use funds it needs to provide aid to area families in need, especially during the holiday season."

Any information regarding this crime should be communicated to the Ludlow Police Department, 802-228-4211.

Champlain College Offers Digital Filmmaking

Champlain College is rolling out a new degree in Digital Filmmaking. This fall, 30 students have switched into the new major as part of a “soft launch” of the new program—a full year before the program’s official start in Fall 2008.

In Champlain’s program, students will earn a bachelor of science in Digital Filmmaking, unlike the bachelor of fine arts with a concentration in filmmaking this is common in other film programs. Students will also choose to focus in one or more of four genres of filmmaking: narrative/dramatic, documentary, experimental or industrial/educational.

With a programmatic emphasis on hands-on learning and production experience, first-year courses include Digital Artwork, Introduction to Digital Filmmaking, Digital Image and Electronic Media Writing. In the second and third years, students will complete Film History, Video Communications, Screenwriting, Fundamentals of Acting, Video Composting and Special Effects, and Advanced Audio Production and Sound Design.

Program co-directors Karen Klove and Dr. Nancy Kerr say Champlain’s program provides a deliberate mix of traditional filmmaking theory and hands-on technical skill development that is distinctive in New England. “While there are other filmmaking programs out there, most remain in a traditional format with limited access to equipment in the freshman and sophomore years. This is due in part to the prohibitive cost of cameras, film stock and developing,” Klove said. “The digital format, however, allows students to explore freely without such concerns. Our students dive in immediately. From day one they discover, they experiment, they develop as artists because every semester they are expected to apply theoretical inquiry to their individual filmmaking practice.”

Because students are learning the same technologies as professionals in the industry, their skill set will be current and relevant. Graduates from the Digital Filmmaking program may choose to start careers in traditional filmmaking on the East and West coasts; among the many jobs available to graduates they can work as producers, directors, editors, gaffers, cinematographers, art directors, special effects artist, screenwriters and sound designers. They’ll also be ripe for jobs in corporate media, experimental media and documentary filmmaking.

To learn more about Champlain’s new program, visit http://www.champlain.edu/majors/digitalfilm.

Stuff-A-Bus Dec. 1 to Benefit Area Families

On December 1st you’ll see an empty bus parked in Shaws Parking Lot in Ludlow. Black River Good Neighbor Services is counting on the support of all shoppers to help fill this bus with non-perishable food for the 2007 Christmas Basket Program.

It is estimated that 125 area families will be helped this season. Items needed to help fill 125 baskets include: canned fruit, cranberry sauce, pickles, olives, mac & cheese, hot chocolate, cookies, frozen turkeys, carrots, peas, corn, green beans, yams, gravy, soup, stuffing mix, tea, cereal (oatmeal), coffee, candy, and margarine.

For those who would rather let BRGNS do the shopping, donations of money are always accepted and greatly appreciated. It is the goal of Black River Good Neighbor Services to see that no adult or child goes hungry over the holidays and that every child has a gift to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Your help is vital, every contribution makes a difference.

Please call Audrey at the Thrift Shop 802-228-3663 with any questions or if you can volunteer a few hours of your time during this very busy event. All the food and money raised goes to benefit those in need in Ludlow, Proctorsville, Cavendish, Mount Holly and Plymouth.

Okemo Sets Nov. 16 As Opening Day

Okemo Mountain Resort is slated to open for the start of its fifty-second skiing and snowboarding season on Friday, November 16 - one day ahead of its targeted opening day. With snowmaking teams working diligently at every possible opportunity, the mountain is ready to welcome skiers and snowboarders with intermediate and advanced terrain on up to a dozen trails.

Okemo anticipates having five lifts running on opening day: F-10 Carpet, Sachem Quad, Glades Peak Quad, Northstar Express Quad and Green Ridge Triple.

Lift tickets will be $45 for adults, $38 for young adults and seniors, and $29 for juniors and super seniors. Special early-season lift ticket rates, determined daily by availability of terrain, will be offered through the weekend. Lifts will begin running at 9 a.m. on opening day.

"Okemo's top-ranked snowmaking team has been working around the clock as temperatures permit," says Okemo VP and General Manager Bruce Schmidt. "It's amazing how quickly they are able to lay down the snow for our expert groomers to turn it into corduroy. We are fortunate to have them out on the mountain making the "Okemo Difference."

On Okemo's first day of the season, all accessible terrain will be located on the upper part of the mountain. Guests will ride the Sachem lift to access terrain and they will download on the Northstar Express to return to the base area. No top-to-bottom skiing is expected for opening day, but snowmaking operations will continue at every opportunity to add trails and to provide top-to-bottom skiing and riding as soon a possible.

Base 68, The Sitting Bull Lounge and Summit Lodge will be welcoming skiers and riders. The Okemo Express Rental/Repair Shop, Penguin Playground Day Care Center, Okemo Snowsports Shop and Mountain Services Office will also be open.

Coinciding with opening day, Okemo Mountain Resort's Annual Ski and Snowboard Sale, located in the Clocktower base lodge, offers a huge variety of equipment and accessories with some of the best deals in ski country. The three-day sale of new and previously owned ski and snowboard equipment, clothing and accessories kicks off Friday, November 16 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 18. A portion of every sale benefits students attending Okemo Mountain School and helps provide scholarships for athletes with financial needs. Last year's sale raised more than $18,000.

For more information contact Mariel Meringolo at 802-228-1512, or visit okemo.com. Skiers and riders can check up-to-date lift ticket rates, weather and surface conditions by visiting okemo.com or by calling Okemo's 24-hour snowphone at (802) 228-5222. For more information, please call (802) 228-1600.

Vermont Ranks #1 in Health Care - But . . .

In a recently released national study, Vermont came out as the number 1 state in the Union in terms of healthcare.  However, the state's ranking in terms of binge drinking placed it at 37th in the nation.  The state also saw a rise in obesity.  Vermont ranked 41st in per capita public spending for healthcare, spending $93 per person. 

The study covered 1990, 2000, 2006, and 2006.

To see the details of the state's scores in this study, click HERE.

Friday, Nov 9, BRHS Championship Day

TOWN OF LUDLOW

Resolution

BLACK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL Girls & Boys
SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONS

WHEREAS: The 2007 Black River High School Girls and Boys Soccer Teams won the Division IV Vermont State Soccer Championships on Saturday, November 3, 2007 in Proctor, Vermont; and
WHEREAS: The 2007 Black River High School Girls and Boys Soccer Teams have established a tradition of success and achievement in athletics; and
WHEREAS:  The 2007 Black River High School Soccer Teams featured seven All-State selections and seven All-League selections: and
WHEREAS: The 2007 Black River High School Girls and Boys Soccer Teams displayed outstanding excellence in sportsmanship and preparation; and
WHEREAS:  The 2007 Black River High School Soccer Athletes and Coaching Staff and their accomplishments are a true credit to the school and community; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Howard Barton Jr., Chair of the Select Board for the Town of Ludlow, with unanimous consent of the Ludlow Select Board, do hereby congratulate the 2007 Black River High School Boys and Girls Soccer Teams for their outstanding victories and the acknowledge the season-long support from the citizens of the Town of Ludlow.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WE have signed this RESOLUTION officially and caused the Executive Seal of the Ludlow Select Board to be affixed this 5th day of November, 2007.
Howard Barton, Jr., Chair
John Neal
Bruce Schmidt
Brett Sanderson
Earl Washburn


Friday, November 9, 2007 Shall Be:

Black River High School Girls & BOYS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP DAY

In The Town of Ludlow, Vermont. 

We encourage the citizens to support our Champions
by wearing maroon and white on Friday.

BRGN Plans for Busy Holiday Season

Several important events are coming up for the BRGN Thrift Shelf and Food Shelf.

• November 19th – is the 20th anniversary of BRGNS service to the community and it will be celebrated by a day long sales event at the Thrift Shop. All items in the store will sell for 20cents, or a full bag of purchases for just $2.00. Complimentary Tea and home baked goods will be served through out the day.
• Chances to win a hand made queen size Log Cabin style quilt are being sold outside of Shaws on Friday November 9th and 16th from 1pm to 4pm. Tickets are also on sale at the Thrift Shop. The winning ticket will be drawn at 12 noon on November 19th by Municipal Manager Frank Heald in front of the Thrift Shop.
• Qualified persons or families that are interested in receiving a Christmas Basket from BRGNS should have their applications submitted by December 1st. Applications are available at the Thrift Shop or for those unable to get to the shop, by calling Audrey Bridge at 802-228-3663
• Stuff A Bus, which helps fill a significant need in our community will be held on December 1st at Shaws shopping center parking lot in Ludlow. Please be sure to help by donating food/money or by volunteering to sort food as it come in. A list of special items needed will be posted at Shaws on the day of the event or in advance at the Thrift Shop
• Okemo Mountains annual Food Drive to benefit BRGNS Food shelf will be held on November 25th. Skiers are encouraged to bring nonperishable goods to the ticket windows in exchange for reduced priced lift tickets.

Please remember that the Thrift Shop is located at 105 Main Street in Ludlow and that Black River Good Neighbor Services serves the following communities: Ludlow, Cavendish, Proctersville, Mt. Holly and Plymouth.