BRAM Auctions Maple Syrup Buckets

In keeping with the crafts and arts fairs in the Black River area, Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) closed its silent auction on its artistically enhanced maple syrup buckets.  Winners of the various buckets were announced at a Mini Park award ceremony (next to the chili cook-off site) by BRAM Director Georgia Brehm.  Pictured above, from left to right, are Sharon Combes-Farrar and Linda Tucker with some of the many buckets being awarded based on the auction results.  Also pictured is Marion O'Connor of New Jersey and Vermont who won the raffle for another bucket.  These original maple syrup sap buckets were used by Mike Stone from West Windsor, VT back in the 1950's, 60's, and 70's. Mike also taught his grandson, Scott Washburn, the art of sugaring. Scott used "Gramps" buckets during the 80's and 90's until he switched to using the pipeline, at that time this bucket was retired.  Proceeds from the sale of these buckets will go towards installation of a much needed elevator at the Black River Academy Museum. This will allow bus tours and seniors to visit and enjoy all three floors of the Museum. It will also allow more programs for the local area schoolchildren. 

Ludlow Sets Water Bond Hearing Dates

The Village of Ludlow Water Commissioners have set three dates for public information and discussion hearings on the proposed $3.5 million bond issue for a water improvement project covering new storage and transmission and distribution components to upgrade the existing water system.

The hearings will begin at 7 pm in the Town Hall Conference Room.  The dates are:

     Wednesday, October 15, 2008
     Thursday, October 23, 2008
     Monday, November 17, 2008

The vote on the proposed bond issue is set for Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Town Hall from 10 am to 7 pm.

Town Readies Dam Takeover

Following a lengthy history of discussion between the Ludlow Selectboard and Ludlow Village Trustees, a formal public notice was issued by the Trusteees that will begin the formal transfer of ownership of the Lake Pauline dam from the Village to the Town of Ludlow.

At its Oct 7 meeting, the Trustees voted to convey all rights and ownership to the Town, effective at the December Trustee meeting.  This action is subject to possible petition action by Village residents to force a vote on the matter.

The dam was originally constructed by the Village to provide a power source for the electric lighting in the Village in the early 1900's.  Subsequently, basic maintenance of the facility was assumed by the Town.

BRAM Holds Silent Auction Oct 11

Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) will hold its silent auction of the maple syrup buckets artfully painted by local artists on Saturday, Oct 11, from 11 am to 2 pm, in the Ludlow mini park next to Town Hall.  At the end of the program, there will be a raffle drawing for one of the painted buckets.  BRAM will also participate in the Harvest Fair program at Black River school campus that same day.  Additionally, Alice Suojanen will be at the museum from 12-3 to take people on tours of the Finnish area.

Other future activity plans for BRAM include:

- a bus tour for Black River Middle School students is scheduled for Nov 3.  The tour will cover Plymouth, Mt Holly and Ludlow and is designed to aid students in gathering documentary information about historic people who lived in these areas.

- on Nov. 13, at 6 pm, at the Black River Senior Center in Ludlow, BRAM will host its annual meeting and covered dinner event.  Nancy Tanzer will be the featured speaker.

- a Christmas event is planned in December.

Museum Director Georgia Brehm noted that, following the Oct 2 through 11 special foliage season, the museum will be closed except for special visits by appointment and school groups.

Wu Headlines FML Thursday Program

Submitted by Dianne Krupp

Third Thursday Program:

The Friends of the Library’s Third Thursday Program for October will be presented by John Wu, former Assistant Secretary of Education in Washington, D.C. under the Reagan Administration.  Wu was born in China and came to the United States at the age of 14 ½.
Wu became a U. S. citizen and served in the U. S. Army.  He taught at Riverside School in Springfield and at Green Mountain Union High School in Chester.  Wu was the school principal at Weathersfield Middle School in Ascutney.  Please join the Friends of the Library on October 16th at 7 pm in the Community Room of Fletcher Memorial Library, Ludlow.  All programs are free to the public and handicapped accessible.  Please enter from the rear parking lot of the building.

Book Discussion:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. will be the focus of the Friends of the Library’s Book Discussion Group.  To quote Publishers Weekly “with its spotlight on elephants, Gruen’s romantic page-turner hinges on the human-animal bonds that drove her debut and its sequel (Riding Lessons  and Flying Changes) but without the mass appeal that horses hold.  The novel, told in flashback by nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski, recounts the wild and wonderful period he spent with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, a traveling circus he joined during The Great Depression.  When 23 Year old Jankowski learns that his parents have been killed in a car crash, leaving him penniless, he drops out of Cornell veterinary school and parlays his experience with animals into a job with the circus, where he cars for a menagerie of exotic creatures”.   The Book Discussion Group will meet October 23 at 7 pm in the Community Room of Fletcher Memorial Library, Ludlow.  Please enter from the rear parking lot of the building.

BRGNS 2ND ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE A HUGE SUCCESS

Submitted by Christine Fuller

Black River Good Neighbor Services held its 2nd annual Rummage Sale at Fletcher Farm over the weekend of October 3rd.   The results exceeded everyone’s expectations.

“A huge success” is how Audrey Bridge, Executive Director of BRGNS Thrift Shop and Food Shelf, described the event.  “The flow of customers was brisk from the doors opening on Friday until just before closing on Sunday.”

The Board of Directors and the staff of Black River Good Neighbor Services want to thank the community for the many donations of clothing, house wares and furniture.  Thanks you to the many volunteers who worked long hours and to the volunteers from Windsor County Youth Services and Beakman House.  Thank you to the several Ludlow restaurants that kept all of the volunteers’ energy level up by providing healthy tasty food.  Those who donated food were, The Hatchery, Ludlow Country Store, Sam’s, DJ’s, Village Pizza and Shaws.  Thank you to the individuals who baked goods and donated them for sale.  Thank you to Broadwell & Sons Roofing Company for driving many miles to run errands for us.  The Board would also like to thank Okemo Mountain for providing clothing racks for the sale items.

But, said Audrey, “none of this could have happen without the generous donation of the buildings by the Fletcher Foundation and the Fletcher School of Arts and Crafts.  We have the best volunteers who donated an amazing number of hours and we appreciate all of those in our community that believe in and support our mission”.

All the money that was raised will help cover fuel, food and rent assistance for those who qualify in Ludlow, Mt. Holly, Proctorsville, Cavendish and Plymouth.  To make donations, or if you have any questions, please call Audrey Bridge at 802-228-3663.

ACCOLADES ABOUND FOR OKEMO

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

A perennial favorite with subscribers to ski and snowboard magazines is the reader survey results, published in the October issue of top periodicals. Okemo Mountain Resort earned accolades and high honors with the readers of SKI, Skiing and Transworld Snowboarding magazines.

In its annual Top 50 Reader Resort Survey, SKI named Okemo Mountain Resort one of the top ten resorts in the East, and one of the best in North America for grooming (sixth), family programs (fifth) and terrain parks (seventh).  Ranked eighth in the East overall, the popular southern Vermont resort also made the top-ten list in 11 of the Reader Resort Survey’s categories: snow, grooming, lifts, service, weather, access, on-mountain food, lodging, dining, family programs and terrain parks.

New to the resort-ranking game, Skiing introduced resort awards that included Okemo in the Readers' Choice for Best of the East! Okemo placed ninth, and was one of seven Vermont resorts to make the grade.

In this year’s Transworld Snowboarding Resort Poll, the magazine gave special East Coast props in three categories. Okemo ranked second in Top Five East Coast Resorts. Okemo grabbed the second spot again in Top Five East Coast Pipes, and took fourth place in Top Five East Coast Parks.  All three magazines are on newsstands now.

Autumn in Ludlow

On a lovely Fall day, it's hard to ignore Ludlow's singular reminder of the beauty of foliage.

BRGN Rummage Sale Attracts Large Crowd

The recent Rummage Sale sponsored by Black River Good Neighbors (BRGN) at Fletcher Farm drew a very large group of interested buyers according to BRGN board member Christine Fuller.  The sale, the second such annual sale by BRGN, included clothing, housewares, tools, skiing and other sports good, as well as furniture and jewelry.  Judging from the number of cars parked outside the Fletcher Farm facility, it was a huge success.

BRAM Village Walk Draws 25 Strollers

Pictured above are some of the 25 visitors and area residents who joined in the second Ludlow Village historic homes walk sponsored by Black River Aceademy Museum (BRAM) this past weekend.  The group is seen as they observe one of the 18 historic homes.  BRAM started the tour with a lecture on the history of the village by Jackie Hunt.  Fortunately for all concerned, the weather cooperated.  Following the tour which included interior walk-throughs of the library, United Church of Ludlow, Town Hall, and the Ludlow Baptist Church, ice cream and snacks were provided to the hearty strollers at BRAM.