Fire Dept Auction Draws Large Crowd

The annual Ludlow Fire Department's auction drew a very large crowds this past Saturday as bidders and buyers sought bargins.  Firewood, in particular, seemed to draw considerable attention.  Truckloads of wood, cut and split by members of the department, sold for $285 a cord.  Above is a scene of the actual auction while, pictured below, are some of the people looking at various items outside the auction.

Freelance Family Singers Prepare for Holidays

Submitted by Sara Norcross

On Tuesday, Sept. 23rd, the Freelance Family Singers will begin rehearsals for December 6th and 7th holiday concerts in Woodstock, VT.  The weekly Tuesday rehearsals are held at Woodstock's Little Theater, just west of the green.  All ages are welcome to participate and there are no auditions.  Sponsored by the Woodstock Recreation Department, Freelance is directed by Ellen Satterthwaite.   There is a $15.00 participation fee with scholarships available.  Ring in the holiday season by singing a mix of sacred and secular music with old and new friends.  Contact Sara Norcross   (802) 484-5097.

Mt Holly Democratic Caucus August 30

Submitted by Mt Holly Democratic Committee

Saturday, August 30, 9:30 a.m.
Mount Holly Town Office

The caucus will nominate candidates for the Justice of the Peace.  The caucus will be followed by a short meeting to discuss plans for the upcoming election. 
WE PROMISE TO KEEP THE MEETING SHORT SO WE CAN ALL ENJOY THE LAST OFFICIAL SUMMER WEEKEND!  Please email (‎David‎: [email protected] or ‎Janet: [email protected]) or call (David: 259-2274 or Janet: 259-2007) if you have any questions.

Mt Holly Jazz Cabaret August 31

Submitted by MHCA

JAZZ CABARET with

JOEY SOLOMON

On the String Bass
&
ALEXA FILA
Vocalist

Sunday, August 31st - 8:00 pm

Free and Open to the Public
at Mt. Holly Community Center & Library
Save Room for Decadent Gourmet Desserts and Refreshments
Available for Purchase
Mount Holly Community Association Event

Okemo Golf Championship

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Okemo Valley Golf Club Championship winners. (l to r) Head Professional - Michael Santa Maria, Ladies’ Senior Champion - Stephanie Staub, Ladies’ Champion- Leslie Gordon, Men’s Champion - Cole Skinner, Director of Golf - Jim Remy.

Okemo Valley Golf Club's annual Club Championship took place August 23 and 24. The scores were as marvelous as the course conditions, which played up to championship caliber. The Men's Championship was won by Cole Skinner with a two-day total of 152. The Men's Senior Championship was won by Rick Marasa with a two-day total of 152. The Ladies’ Championship was won by Leslie Gordon with a two-day total of 157, and the Ladies’ Senior Championship was won by Stephanie Staub with a total 180.

Men's Division: 1st net - John Smith, 143; 2nd gross - Dave Higley, 164; 2nd net – Ken Weinstein, 148.

Men's Senior Division: 1st net - Larry Plumb, 129; 2nd gross - Andy Bishop, 156; 2nd net - Stu Schmidt, 133; 3rd gross - Ken Tedford, 158; 4th net - Bob Higgins, 136.

Ladies’ Division:  1st net - Betsy Mckeever, 145; 2nd net - Marty Harrison, 151

Ladies’ Senior Division: 1st net - Rita Krett, 143; 2nd net - Christina Fuller, 152.

Mt Holly Gallery Opening

Black River Clean-Up Set For Sept. 20

Submitted by Kelly Stettner

Join the fun at the Comtu Clean Sweep on Saturday September 20th on the Black River in downtown Springfield .  The Comtu Falls area will be abuzz with activity from 10am till 2pm.  Volunteer to help clean trash from the calm shallows above the Comtu Falls or get involved in the family fun activities being planned. River-shoes and "messy clothes" are a must; trash

bags and other supplies will be provided. Check in and register at the Parks & Woolson building at 33 Park Street , overlooking the falls.

 

On 7/7/07, Jessica Larivee, Christopher Mason, and Kelly Stettner organized the Black River Festival. The trio is at it again, celebrating the Black River with the Comtu Clean Sweep, an opportunity for people of all ages to have fun and lend a hand in cleaning up the river.

 

Help support the Comtu Clean Sweep by “adopting a trash bag” for only $10, or purchasing a limited-edition coin for just $20. You can purchase the commemorative coin at the following local business; in Springfield at Bryant Credit Union, Connecticut River Bank, Curves, Springfield Savings and Loan, Merchants Bank, Lawrence & Wheeler; and in Ludlow at Java Baba’s and North Fork Bagel Company. All proceeds benefit the Black River Fund, supporting projects to improve or maintain the health and quality of the Black River .

 

To find out how you can help at the Comtu Clean Sweep, contact Jessica Larivee of Simply Everything at [email protected] or 885-1963 and Kelly Stettner of the Black River Action Team at [email protected] or 885-1533.

 

This event is a Take Pride in America project and is also registered with American Rivers' National River Cleanup Week.  Find out about these programs at www.takepride.gov and www.americanrivers.com.

RWSU Schools Start August 27

Submitted by RWSU

Judith Pullinen, Superintendent of Rutland Windsor Supervisory Union, announced that all RWSU schools will open Wednesday, August 27.  She noted that school opening and closing times have changed:

Black River High School            7:45-2:32
Ludlow Elementary School        7:45-2:32
Mt. Holly School                       8:10-3:00
Plymouth                                 8:30-3:15

Hot Lunch Prices for the school year will be:

Black River High School

            Breakfast                                    1.50
            Reduced Breakfast                       No Charge
            Lunch                                         2.50
            Reduced Lunch                            .40       

Ludlow and Mt. Holly Elementary Schools

            Breakfast                                    1.50
            Reduced Breakfast                      No Charge
            Lunch                                          2.25
            Reduced Lunch                            .40       

                                    Milk  .50

Letter to the Editor - Prices and Big Oil

(The following is a letter to the editor. Black River Today publishes responsible letters dealing with current affairs and events at its discretion. Publication does not represent endorsement of the contents of such letters.)

To the Editor,

With gas prices continuing to hit record highs, Americans are feeling the pinch. While regular American families are struggling to figure out how they'll afford to pick up the kids and drive to work, the oil industry recently celebrated record quarterly profits in the billions. Again. It's no coincidence that as gas prices surged to record highs, the largest oil companies in the world reported more than $40 billion in 2nd quarter 2008 profits.

The demands for more oil drilling should not drown out the fact that the beneficiary of increased off-shore and domestic drilling will be the oil companies, not us.

A recent poll reported that 80% of Americans believe that we should end the billions of dollars in oil subsidies and instead use the money to invest in clean, renewable energy sources. Instead of the failed policies of the past, it's time to break our addiction to fossil fuels by shifting our priorities -- and our policies -- toward creating the clean energy economy. It's time to take back the giveaways to Big Oil and invest that money in clean, renewable energy and efficiency.

Denis Rydjeski
Member of the Executive Committee, Vermont Chapter
SIERRA CLUB

BRAM Tower Construction Progresses

Photo by Anita Alic

Shown above is the framework to support the fire stairway in the new elevator tower being constructed by Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) as part of its capital improvements program. The tower, being erected by Wright Construction, will enable everyone to have access to all three floors of the BRAM exhibits and programs. It will comply with all ADA access requirements. Capital fund chairperson Anita Alic indicated that the basic tower should be completed by October. She noted that the fund raising efforts to underwrite the elevator itself are in progress. Progress on the construction status and information pertaining to donations to the capital improvement fund may be found at BRAM's web site, www.bramvt.org.