OKEMO OFFERS SWEET TREATS FOR VALENTINES

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort’s snowmaking and grooming teams have been working in concert with Mother Nature to provide skiers and snowboarders with some very sweet conditions for Valentine’s Day. To enhance all that powdered-sugar goodness on the slopes, Okemo will celebrate Feb. 14, with a Sweetheart Scavenger Hunt and a Find-the-Liftie-with-a-Heart contest.

Ten red hearts will be hidden along trails throughout the resort on Valentine’s Day. When a skier or rider finds a heart and takes it to Okemo’s Learning Center Desk at the Okemo Clock Tower Base Area, they’ll win one of ten fabulous prize packages. 

Because Okemo loves its lifties, otherwise known as lift attendants, the resort wants skiers and riders to recognize that the hearty men and women who keep chairlifts running smoothly and safely, have a lot of love for resort guests. On Valentine’s Day, one of Okemo’s lifties will be wearing a bright red heart on his/her uniform. Skiers and riders who report the name of the lovable liftie to the Okemo Clock Tower Base Area Ski + Ride School desk, will win a sweet treat from M & M Mars.

Hopeless romantics who would like to gaze into each other’s eyes over a delicious meal can enjoy lunch at Epic, Okemo’s eclectic, slopeside eatery located (appropriately enough) at the base of the Solitude area. Colman Brook Tavern, located at Okemo’s Jackson Gore base area, is the spot for a romantic candlelight dinner followed by a starlit stroll to the outdoor firepit in the Jackson Gore courtyard.

Ambitious couples can join a guided Moonlight Snowshoe Tour. Hour-long tours will traverse fields, pass historic sites and wind along a wooded trail surrounding the Inn. A $20 charge, per person, includes the guided tour and snowshoe rental. Call (802) 228-1419 to make a reservation. Tours depart from The Jackson Gore Springhouse at 5, 6 and 8 p.m.

Nitka's Notes from Montpelier

By Senator Alice Nitka, Windsor County, January 31, 2009

 

Railroad supporters filled room eleven, the largest meeting room in the Statehouse recently to speak positively before the House Transportation Committee members on the issue of keeping in the state budget the Ethan Allen Express.  This is the train that runs from New York City to Rutland via Albany, NY, Saratoga and various other points along the Hudson River. The Ethan Allen’s name with its destination of Rutland shows up on the big board in the center of Penn Station in NY City for thousands to see. I’d like to see them add “VT” so all those people would know for sure where Rutland is and we would get a little more advertising. This isn’t unreasonable since the train is financed and operated in a partnership with Amtrak and the State of VT.

 

Railroad service on the Eastern side of the state, which is served by the Vermonter was also discussed but wasn’t on the table for a possible loss of funding.  The Vermonter runs from Washington, DC via NY City to St.Albans, VT. It is a part of the Amtrak and National Park Service Trails and Rails partnership highlighting natural and cultural attractions. There is a cross section of travelers who use the rails from business people to tourists and at this time of year many of the tourists are skiers. The geographic areas served by the trains go far beyond their actual corridors so whether it is funded impacts our economy. The committee is waiting for more information about the federal stimulus package before making a final decision.

 

Another issue concerning the traveling public is the closing of rest areas on Interstates 89 and 91. There are currently 20 Information Centers or Welcome Centers as they are now officially known in VT. While most are found on our interstates, the Montpelier one is located on State Street,( Route 2), a few doors away from the Capitol. The White River Junction Center is located in its downtown area and is operated by the Chamber of Commerce. It also receives a state grant. A few others are operated by the Chamber via contracts.

 

Due to the tight budget situation, Hartford Northbound, Highgate, Randolph Northbound and Sharon Southbound welcome centers are temporarily closed and it isn’t known if this will become permanent.  All others are staying open including Sharon Northbound. It has the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and the “Living Machine Leach Field” with tropical plants native to Southeast Asia. It is the second most expensive center to run at a 2008 operating cost of $325,884 and had the second highest visitor count of all the centers at 337,362. Many persons plan trips to it to see the memorial and the unique wastewater system which is lush in the summer. The Guilford location on the MA border, which is open 24 hours per day, had the highest number of visitors last year, 764,086 at a cost of 85 cents per person.  Sharon cost 97 cents per person while Georgia Northbound had the highest cost at $2.49 per person.

 

Analysis is ongoing with regard to many aspects of the centers, from number of truck spaces, cost of operating per hour, visitor counts at all times of the day, staffing levels needed, car space deficits, highway traffic counts, water usage and the major issue of sewage disposal. Some of the centers are served by municipal systems while others have their own septic systems with leach fields. Pumping out these systems can be costly and during the 2007 foliage season, the cost was $415 per pump and it was needed twice per week at some locations.  Fortunately for you, I don’t know the number of gallons or I’d be reporting that too.

 

A new Bennington By-Pass Welcome Center is scheduled to be built in 2012 and has been in the works for a number of years. These are needed services to support our tourist industry, business travelers, truck drivers, anyone with children and even ourselves. Visit one on your way to the State House.

 

View newly introduced bills and committee schedules at www.leg.state.vt.us.  Feel free to contact me at home, 228-8432, or at the State House, 1-800-322-5616, or at [email protected].    Mailing addresses are The Senate Chamber,  05633-5201 or  PO Box 136, Ludlow, VT 05149.  

On the Wings of Song, Poetry and Dessert-Valentine Celebration

The Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) has plans for a very special evening to celebrate Valentine's Day on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 pm at BRAM. 

 

In a program guaranteed to satisfy the "romantic" in all of us, BRAM presents "A Valentine's Day Celebration: Not Just Desserts".

 

Among the evening's features are favorite love songs performed by area singers, many members of the well-known Feminine Tones, poetry readings by Dr. John Bremer, Valentine card designing for the kids, a large assortment of quality door prizes, and, last but not least, classic desserts prepared by area innkeepers and residents.

 

Pictured above are five of the singers who will provide the romantic musical background to the evening, four of whom are members of the Feminine Tones singing ensemble.  From left to right, they are: Linda Dunworth of Ludlow, Linda Burns of Perkinsville, Stephanie Rowe of Springfield, Sara Norcross of Reading, and Alyson Bull of Chester.

 

Some of the classic desserts will be prepared by CROW'S CORNER, ANDRE ROSE INN, COMBES INN, GOVERNOR'S INN and ELLEN PARRISH formerly of Whitney Brook Bed and Breakfast.

 

Door prizes will include gifts from GREEN MOUNTAIN SUGAR HOUSE, SINGLETON'S STORE, COOK'S CUPBOARD, BLACK MAGIC JEWELRY, MARION'S FLORAL SHOPPE, OKEMO MOUNTAIN RESORT, JERRI'S COMPLETE HAIR DESIGN, BOOK NOOK and COMBES INN.

 

Dr. Bremer has been a resident of Ludlow since 1995, where he has written two books on Plato, one on Shakespeare’s Sonnets, and made translations of some Platonic dialogues and Homer’s Iliad.  He formerly was Professor of Humanities at Cambridge College.

 

Tickets for this celebration are $8 and may be purchased at Chittenden Bank and the Book Nook in Ludlow.  For more information 802-228-5050.

Ludlow Town Meeting Candidates Set

With the exception of the one-year term for Selectman, Ludlow will not see any contested election battles come Town Meeting in March.

According to Ulla Cook, Ludlow's Town clerk, petitions filed for local Town and school board offices indicate that incumbent Brett Sanderson will face Richard Harrison and Douglas Ficken for the two 1-year Selectman terms to be voted on.  Incumbent John Neal is running unopposed for the 3-year term Select Board opening.

The two Ludlow school boards will see Karen Sherer seek the Ludlow Elementary school board's 2-year term with Beth Merrill running for the 3-year term.  Angela Benson-Ciufo will be running for the 3-year term on the Union 39 board.

This will leave a position open on the LES and U39 school boards.  U39 incumbents Allen Seiple and Diana Chimbolo are not seeking reelection.

Other candidates for the Town Meeting election include:

Ulla Cook, 3-year Town Treasurer
Margot Martel, 3-year Lister
Beverly Stepp, 3-year Trustee of Public Funds
John Paige, 5-year cemetery commissioner

Kids Craft-O-Rama at Fletcher Farm Feb 17

Submitted by Fletcher Farm School

A KID’S … CRAFT-O-RAMA will be held on February 17th at Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts located at 611 Route 103 South in Ludlow Vermont from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. If you are between the ages of 7 to 13 you can join in for a day of fun filled Arts and Crafts working with paints, glue, glitter, wood, fiber weaving, glue, fabric, recycled items, jewelry items, and more. There will be all kinds of fun products to be taken home at the end of these 4 ½ hours as students will move from Craft Station to Craft Station. All materials needed are included in the $65.00 class fee. Refreshments will be served, and participants will decorate homemade cookies.

To register or for additional information contact Fletcher Farm School at 802-228-8770 or at [email protected].

BRGN Names New Officers

Submitted by Christine Fuller

Black River Good Neighbor Services held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday January 20 and a new slate of officers was introduced:

Jim Fuller – President
Peter LaBelle – Vice President
Robert Evens – Treasurer
Carol Baranowski – Recording Secretary
Lynn Reilly – Corresponding Secretary

In addition to the new Board, a new committee was established.  The Budget Committee consists of: Bob Evens, Kevin Kuntz, and Barbara LeMire, pictured above with incoming President, Jim Fuller.

Outgoing Board member, Patt Wilk who had served several productive terms on the board was replaced by Charlie  Hastings.  Mr. Hastings was elected by a unanimous vote.

Food Shelf Needs

The following items are needed at the Food Shelf this month:

Tooth Paste
Toilet Paper
Diapers for children a year old and bigger
Detergent for both clothing and hand dish washing

Also needed are volunteers to do trash duty.  If you have a truck or SUV that can hold bags of trash to be taken to Ludlow’s Transfer Station and are willing to volunteer please call Audrey Bridge at 802-228-3663.  This requires a once a month commitment and takes about one hour. 

The next Board of Directors Meeting will be held on Monday March 2nd at 2PM, at United Church in Ludlow.  All of the board meetings are open to the public

Black River Good Neighbors services the towns of Ludlow, Proctorsville, Cavendish, Mount Holly and Plymouth and the Thrift Shop and Food Shelf are located at 105 Main Street, Ludlow.

Friends of Fletcher Library Announce Winter Programs

Submitted by Dianne Krupp

Winter Program

The Friends of the Library would like to invite the public to join them for their new winter program.  Read the book and join the Friends and have a book discussion. Two weeks later we will get together in the Community room and watch the movie.  Bring lunch and the Friends will provide drinks and dessert.  February 10th is the book discussion of “Shipping News” by Annie Proulx and February 24th is the movie. March 10th is “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” by John Berendt book discussion, March 24th is the movie.  All the Winter Programs are at 12 noon in the Community Room of Fletcher Memorial Library, Ludlow.
 
Book Discussion

Please join the Friends of the Library’s Book Discussion group to discuss “Snow Falling on Cedars” by David Guterson February 26 at 7 pm in the Community Room.  All programs are free and open to the public.  Please enter the Library from the rear parking lot and we are handicapped accessible.

Freelance Singers Start Rehearsals

Submitted by Ken Norcross

 

On Tuesday Feb. 24th, the Freelance Family Singers of Woodstock, Vermont will begin practicing for their May 2nd and 3rd concerts.  The weekly Tuesday rehearsals are held at Woodstock's Little Theater (route 4 just west of the green) from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.  All ages may participate and there are no auditions.  There is a small participation fee with scholarships available.  Directed by Ellen Satterthwaite, this season's music will include a 16th century canzonetta, folk songs, spirituals, and show tunes.

Ludlow Select Board Readies Armory Purchase

By Leo Graham

According to Ludlow Town Manager Frank Heald, “After four or five years of chasing the military” the Town and the Vermont National Guard have an agreement in principal to allow the Town to purchase the buildings and grounds of the Armory sight next to Black River High School.

The military’s assessment of the complex valued it at $400,000 while an assessor hired by the Town placed the value at $275,000. The two sides agreed to split the difference and the agreed-to purchase price is $337,500. Additionally Heald estimates $90,000 will be needed for necessary architectural and engineering assessments of the buildings.

Heald has already talked to representatives of the Chittenden Bank about short term financing to purchase the building in advance of voter approval and to Paul Giulani of the Vermont Bond Bank about long term financing.

That would just be the beginning. Heald further estimated that the building would need just over $700,000 in renovations to bring the 1952 building up to modern standards. For example, about $300,000 (plus or minus) will be needed on the electrical and mechanical systems alone.

Because this agreement has been reached so close to the scheduled Town Meeting Day, Heald said he was “mildly hesitant” about going to he voters in the first week of March because he doesn’t think the architectural and engineering estimates can be ready in time. He said he was hoping for a special Town Meeting in late summer or early fall that would deal strictly with the economics and financing of the acquisition and renovation of the structure.

The total project should come in at around $1.3 million. With a 20-year bond at 3 percent interest, Heald estimates that the tax impact on property owners, given the value of today’s grand list, would be about .4 cents per $100 of listed property value.

Until last year, the Town had believed they could get the whole thing for about $1. In the late ‘40’s the Town donated the property to the Guard with the understanding, based on a handshake, that the property would revert to the Town if or whenever the Guard no longer had a use for it. But at the end of last year’s legislative session a provision was placed into the larger final omnibus budget bill requiring the Guard to obtain full market value for any property they intended to dispose of.

Selectman Howard Barton, Jr. noting that the property had been “tax exempt all these years” wondered how the Legislature’s actions were fair.

Heald said that while he “had no direct knowledge of any funds” being available for the renovation of the complex he said it was “not inconceivable” that there could be some. He cited the military memorabilia collection started by Pat Valente and now known as the Leonard Wing Memorial Museum in the structure and even funds from what Heald –tongue firmly planted in cheek – called the “Obama Express” could help offset the cost of part of the plan.

Both the school and the Recreation Department are said to be able to use the structure as could any number of community events. A renovated kitchen ($75,000) could move the cafeteria for students at Ludlow Elementary, Ludlow Middle, and Black River High Schools out of the stage in the LES auditorium and into a more reasonable space. Further, the Recreation Department can’t use school facilities during the summer but this space could do all kinds of things on rainy days – the gym for basketball and other sports and the tank barn out back is large enough for softball games. Any number of community events – dances and the like – could be held there where there is much better parking than there is at Town Hall as well as money-making ventures like the large annual antiques show.

The Board gave Heald unanimous approval to begin the process by obtaining a bridge loan in anticipation of voter approval to purchase the buildings and land.

NITKA’S NOTES FROM THE STATE HOUSE

By Senator Alice Nitka, Windsor County, January 23, 2009

The Governor’s budget address to the General Assembly was presented this week and had been awaited with some trepidation due to the financial crisis the state and country are experiencing. The Governor and his administration prepare the budget and it is the document from which the Legislature sets its priorities and then sorts out the differences with the Governor. It is the one bsolutely must pass bill of the session.

The budget addresses all aspects of state government and speaks also to federal money that passes into our state.  Thus the range of coverage is from food safety to the National Guard.  An area of interest that many citizens discuss and analyze is
Transportation and because of its importance and cost has its own committees in the House and Senate. The Governor’s budget recommends a state transportation appropriation for July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011 of $196,346,285. The ’08-09 final appropriation was $191,366,300 and final numbers are not available for our current fiscal year.  Revenues to support the Transportation Fund are projected for FY ’10-11 to be $212.7 million. This includes $61.9 million from the gas tax @.19 cents per gallon, (actual tax is .20 however .01 goes to the Petroleum Clean Up Fund) and $16 million from the diesel tax @ .26 cents per gallon.  A penny on the gas tax raises $3 million dollars in an average driving year. 

In reviewing the last four years gas tax revenues, 2005 brought in the most at $65.5 million.  The history of money for roads goes back to when they were all made of dirt. Greg Sanford, the State Archivist reports that the first state supervision of roads in Vermont came with the establishment of a Highway Commission in 1892. Some changes occurred in 1898 and the charge
to the commission was to supervise the state money to be paid out for permanent highway construction. Through the century the organization of the commission changed and in 1975 the Agency of Transportation was established with four departments: Aeronautics, Highways, Motor Vehicles and the combination of Bus/Rail, Waterways and Motor Carrier Services.  The Secretary of the Agency is appointed by the Governor and the recently chosen Secretary is David Dill, a longtime Transportation employee who knows the agency and the needs of the state from the ground up.

Bridges: In the budget, forty five interstate, state and town highway bridges are targeted for work and this is an 11% increase over
FY ’09-10. Bridge money that comes from the federal government requires a state match on projects and if a town bridge, a town match.  Our Congressional delegation is seeking a change to eliminate the match during these times of short funds around the country and hopefully they will be successful.

There’s a lot more to Transportation when you think additionally of water, rail and air service. All for another time.  Please feel free to get in your car and visit the State House now that gas prices are lower.  (The state needs the revenue from the gas tax.) View newly introduced bills and committee schedules at www.leg.state.vt.us. 

Feel free to contact me at home, 228-8432; or at the State House, 1-800-322-5616, or at [email protected]    Mailing addresses are The Senate Chamber,  05633-5201 or  PO Box 136, Ludlow, VT 05149.