BRGNS TO HOLD FALL RUMMAGE SALE

Submitted by Christine Fuller

Black River Good Neighbor Services is holding a huge Rummage Sale at Fletcher Farm in Ludlow on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 2, 3 & 4.  Hours on Friday and Saturday are 10am until 4pm and Sunday 10am until 2pm.

All proceeds from this sale go to benefit the needy in the area.  “The current economic crisis has created a greater demand then ever.  A lot of our neighbors are going to need help this winter, so we are asking for everyone in the area who can help to please do so”, said Jim Fuller President of BRGNS.  All monies raised will help cover utilities/fuel cost, food, and rent assistance for those who qualify and live in Ludlow, Mt. Holly, Proctorsville, Cavendish and Plymouth.

This is a community effort; here is what you can do to help:

1)  If you have anything to donate please bring it to Fletcher Farm’s Barn located at 611 Route 103 S, between 11am and 3pm on Tuesday,  September 29th, Wednesday, September 30th or Thursday, October 1st. Winter clothing will be especially welcome. House wares are also very popular items.  Furniture will be gratefully accepted (nothing broken or torn please).  If you need to drop items at another time please call the number below to make arrangements.   Please do not donate any items that are stained, ripped or broken.  Furniture donations can be picked up by our volunteers if arrangements are made in advance.

2)  If you have a vehicle and some time, Black River Good Neighbor Services could use your help to move items from the Thrift Shop on Main Street to Fletcher Farm.

3)  Volunteers are needed to help work the sale as well as setup, so please come and help.

    4)   There will be a table selling baked goods.  So, if you can bake an item to donate for selling please do so.  This proved to be a very popular addition last fall.

5)  Please come and buy some of the great bargains. 

Contact Audrey Bridge at the Black River Good Neighbor Services Thrift Shop at 105 Main Street or call her at 802-228-3663 or email her at [email protected]for further details.

Streetscape Hoedown, Oct. 10

* For an enlarged view of poster, click on the image above)

JAZZ CABARET ON THE MT. HOLLY STAGE, Sept. 6

Submitted by Lynne Herbst

Sunday, September 6th at 8 pm the Mt. Holly Community Association we will welcome back Alexa Fila and Joe Solomon to our jazz cabaret evening.  Joe on the string bass and Alexa vocalist will perform jazz favorites in the Billie Holiday style.  We will transform the community center and library into a Cabaret and serve decadent desserts and libations for purchase.  Alexa and Joe have entertained audiences here many times before and they always play to a packed house.  Be sure to get there early to get a good seat.  As always, our events are free and open to the public.

Ludlow Armory Usage Meeting

By Josh O'GormanRutland Herald Staff Writer - Published: August 28, 2009

LUDLOW — The Armory Committee unveiled budget projections for renovations suggested by the public, but some members of the public are asking if the project might be too expensive.

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Douglas Formally Says No Reelection

At his news conference today, Governor Jim Douglas formally stated he will not seek reelection as Governor of Vermont.  Saying he was "ready to write a new chapter" in his life after years of government service in the state, he said he was not running for any office in the foreseeable future.  Douglas also indicated that he did not plan on sitting back as a "lame duck in the corner office" but would continue to "fight for the citizens of Vermont".

Douglas Not to Seek Reelection

According to Shay Totten of Seven Days, Governor Jim Douglas will not seek reelection to a fifth term as Vermont's Governor.  Totten, citing highly-placed GOP sources, said Douglas would announce this at an 11 am news conference in Montpelier.  He added that Douglas had no plans for elective office in the near future. 

STAND–UP SHAKESPEARE IN MT. HOLLY Sept. 5

Submitted by Lynne Herbst

A free performance, Saturday, September 5th at 3 pm fourteen New York City actors led by our Jamie Ward, part time resident of Mt. Holly, Vermont is bringing a new concept to the Mt. Holly Library & Community Center Stage.  “Stand-Up Shakespeare”, in the tradition of Comedy Central’s stand up comedians, is a show that will amuse you and entertain you.  They will perform a self-contained show that will include the drama, music and comedy of William Shakespeare. You will experience the best monologues and scenes from a dozen different plays presented in three or four minute vignettes.  See how each of these snippets of Shakespeare will be interpreted and expressed by each actor.  This will be a fast-paced and fun way to experience the famous bard.  All products of “The Michael Howard Studio” this group of acting professionals meet every Labor Day Weekend in Killington, Vermont for a “Shakespeare Retreat”.  Each day of the retreat is divided into workshops, games and performance challenges with the intent of deepening the understanding of Shakespeare. These very talented professional performing artists’ credits include extensive acting in film, television, commercials and professional theater and they have agreed to share their time and talents while here in Vermont.  All participants are members of either the Screen Actor’s Guild or Actors’ Equity.  This show will be an explosion of words, passion, comedy and tragedy!!  Don’t miss this opportunity to witness great Shakespeare performed by the pros in a beautiful location in Mt. Holly, Vermont.  For information, contact Lynne Herbst at: [email protected].

Flood Damage in Ludlow

Pictured above is the 15 ft gap in the driveway of Jackie Hunt, located on Commonwealth Avenue in Ludlow.  The gap was a result of torrential rains recently that totalled over 3 inches in a relatively short period of time.  According to Hunt, it was necessary to "do some mountain climbing" to go from the street to her home to traverse the gapping hole.  She noted that it took 2 days for a contractor to refill and pack the hole created by the rushing water and brush that it carried.

BRATs Do It Again, Thanks To Volunteers And Scores of Supporters!

Submitted by Kelly Stettner

More than 70 volunteers of all ages scoured the river banks in Ludlow, Weathersfield and Springfield on August 22nd, searching for renegade shopping carts and other trash in the 10th Annual RiverSweep.

Despite threatening skies and the occasional sprinkle, people grabbed garbage, hefted a grappling hook, and gathered glass to help clean up the banks of the Black River. While recent rains muddied the waters and prevented any trash retrieval from kayaks this year, plenty of junk was recovered by the diligent Black River Action Team. Some new areas were cleaned this year, including a stretch of the Black River in Weathersfield that was tackled by Cub Scouts, headed up by BRAT volunteer Heather Payne. Among the items retrieved by the 16 volunteers were a 55-gallon drum, three tires, and “the better part of a case of wine,” according to Payne.

The Ludlow group was headed up by BRATs Robin Reilly and Sue Poirier, along with Sue's husband, Al. The efforts of these fine folks is greatly appreciated; each year, new folks join the Ludlow cleanup and Robin & Sue were instrumental in making that event go smoothly. Their volunteers retrieved pots and pans, sixteen bags of trash, some toys, and enough metal junk to fill a pickup truck. All the trash was brought up to the Ludlow Transfer Station for disposal.

In Springfield, Cub Scouts and Brownie Girl Scouts worked side-by-side with the adult volunteers, hauling things from the banks of the river and “fishing” for shopping carts dumped over the railing of the footbridge in the shopping plaza. Eleven carts were retrieved despite the opaque, muddy water, and were hauled away by the fine folks of Clear Away Rubbish Removal, who scrapped the metal in Ascutney. The money from the recycling will go into a BRAT “account” and will be mailed as a check once the tally reaches a certain amount. The rest of the Springfield trash was disposed of by the plaza owners, the Youngs. Jim Young and his daughter, Jen, worked tirelessly from the start of the Sweep till the very end, hauling junk and grilling up hot dogs for the hungry volunteers.

Marita Johnson, who is heavily involved in many volunteer organizations in Springfield, co-organized the Springfield “HeadQuarters” of the RiverSweep. Her flexible “can-do” nature always makes people feel welcome and appreciated. Kelsey Marston of Chester was also eager to help with set-up, grappling hook hefting, welcoming volunteers, and “breaking camp” at noon. The help of these two ladies made the whole event run like a dream.

All in all, more than 30 bags of trash were collected during RiverSweep, along with plenty of metal junk, bits of glass, cans and bottles, a few “unmentionables” from under the footbridge, and some odd pieces: a broken gumball machine and a handful of “troll” trinkets in plastic bubbles, metal bedsprings, a dead rat, a twisted park bench, a plastic butterfly, and a kitchen knife.

RiverSweep started in 2000 with 3 volunteers and a simple idea to just take care of the river. The idea is still simple, but the support received by the Black River Action Team by the scores of volunteers as well as the businesses and donors in the local community continues to grow and inspire. Many thanks to everyone who supported this year's efforts!

Supporters for 2009 include (in alphabetical order):

CT River Watershed Council

C&M Concrete

Cavendish Historical Society

Citizens Bank

Clear Away Rubbish Removal

Divergent Technology

Drew's All Natural of Chester

Dr. Chris Fauver

Garden Alternatives

HCRS, Inc

JB Handyman

Katherine Washburn Ceramics

Lucas Industries

Ludlow Transfer Station

Luzenac America

Mack Molding of Cavendish

MadHouse Munchies

Main Street Market

MDM Metals

New England Grassroots Environmental Fund

Norcross Wildlife Fund

North Fork Bagels

Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District

Radio Shack of Springfield

Riverside Middle School

Sandri-Sunoco

Shaw's of Ludlow

Shaw's of Springfield

Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission

Spring River Enterprises

Springfield Fence Co.

Springfield Garden Club

Springfield Rotary Club

Springfield Town Library

Springfield Transfer Station

State of VT Agency of Natural Resources

Town of Ludlow Parks & Rec

Town of Springfield

Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co

Vermont Tees

Wallace & Pancher, Inc

Wicked Good Pizza

Youngs' Furniture & Propane

Public Hearing on Ludlow Armory Wednesday

On Wednesday there will be the second public hearing on the potential uses of the Ludlow Armory complex.  The meeting will be held at Town Hall at 7 pm.

The proposed agenda will feature a presentation by the ad hoc committee appointed by the Ludlow Select Board to consider uses of the three building facility.  Comments and suggestions made at the first hearing will be summarized by the committee along with its recommendations for further public comment.