Black River Today Blog Change

This will be the last blog entry posted to this specific web site address.

As of Wednesday, February 22, 2012, all future blog postings for Black River Today will be found at the new WordPress site, www.blackrivertoday.com.   This will offer you more opportunity to provide both new news and feedback.

The rest of the Black River Today blog will still remain the same as far as content is concerned.

Let me know what you think of the new blog site sponsored by the Rutland Herald.  The email address is [email protected].

Again, all future Black River Today postings will be found at www.blackrivertoday.com.

Mt. Holly Library Acupuncture Program and Demonstration

Submitted by Lynne Herbst

Virginia Voronin, L,A,C., will present a program on acupuncture at the Mt. Holly Library on March 10 at 1:00 pm.  If you have ever been curious about this ancient Chinese technique that works to treat the whole person rather than specific areas this is the perfect free opportunity.  Acupuncture is no longer viewed as a strange alternative method but has wide acceptance in conventional medical circles and is now routinely recommended by all manner of doctors, nurses and other health professionals.  Virginia spent the fall offering community acupuncture events around the State to help people deal with the effects of hurricane Irene by performing simple yet effective ear acupuncture treatment.  Virginia based this program on an organization called Acupuncturists Without Borders that travels to areas of the world experiencing some type of disaster from weather or war performing acupuncture to alleviate stress. In our program she will explain the treatment of acupuncture and the ways that acupuncture can improve your life.  She will also do a demonstration for those interested.  Virginia is a licensed Acupuncturist with training in medicinal herbs, Iyengar Yoga and Thai Massage and has her own private practice.  Learn how you can relax, release and restore your well being with this 5,000 year old method.  Call 802-259-3707 for additional information.  Mt. Holly Town Library is located on 26 Maple Hill, Belmont Vt. 05730.

UNITED CHURCH PLANS 220th BIRTHDAY, MAY 5-6

Submitted by David Almond

Tours of the belfry of the United Church of Ludlow will be one of the free activities available to the public, at least for the physically nimble, at the Church’s May 5 and May 6, 2012 Birthday Party, the 120th for the Church’s building and the 220th for the Church’s founding.  The Church’s 1,000 pound plus bell, pictured above, was cast in 1839, when Martin Van Buren was president and only 50 years after the Constitution of the United States became effective. 

These tours and other activities will take place from 3 to 5 pm on Saturday, May 5th and from 2 to 4 pm on Sunday May 6th.  The Sunday activities will coincide with an Ice Cream Social, when you will be able to make your own sundae from a variety of delicious ingredients.  Another activity will include viewing and explanations of the “Early American Graffiti” in the hand-pumping chamber (mostly used prior to the electrification of the Church) of the Church’s organ.  Quite a bit of this graffiti was originated in the early part of the 20th century by boys and girls that later became leading citizens of the Ludlow area with many of traditional Ludlow families being represented and identifying the romances of the day.  Other activities will relate to the more interesting and entertaining events associated with the Church’s history, including portrayals of several individuals and explanations of certain historic events. 

The Saturday activities will be followed by a dinner from 5 pm to 7pm having a traditional Church menu and traditional costs.  The dinner will be priced to break even, with children 12 and under being admitted free and adults expected to pay from $3 to $5 dollars with the exact price depending on the estimated cost of the ingredients.

So save the dates and expect to have nice Spring weather with lots of balloons to dispel the winter blues.  For additional information, call David Almond at (802)228-2414.

BR Today Will Be Moving Soon

Black River Today (BRT)will be moving to a new web site location soon.

The Rutland Herald, sponsor of the BRT blog, is introducing a new blogging site.  You may see a test version of the new site by going to www.blackrivertoday.com.

We'll let you know when the new site is formally switched.  Among other new features will be the opportunity for you to easily comment on the BRT content.  It will also support a much finer level of video.

BRAM Elevator Installation Nears Completion

After many years of working to raise the funds to install an elevator so that people could see the wonders of its three floor collection of area history, Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) is within weeks of seeing that dream become a  reality.  Pictured above are Jim Lynch and Joe Chistolini, proud members of local 41 in Worcester, MA., as they work on the electrical installation of the new elevator cab at BRAM.  The cab, being installed by Baystate Elevator, working with BRAM's general contractor, Wright Construction of Mt Holly, is located in the new wing in the rear of the historic BRAM building.  According to Anita Alic, BRAM leader on the elevator installation, "We could not have accomplished the installation of this elevator without the help and support of our many private donors and local businesses.  Also, we benefited from the generosity of the Ludlow Enterprise Fund, the VT Cultural Facilities Coalition and the State of Vermont who awarded us a generous $18,000 grant and the Walter Cerf Community Fund.  We are planning an 'Elevator Celebration' on Saturday June 2^nd, the museum’s opening day for the 2012 season, so mark your calendar."  She added that "the installation was delayed from our December 2011 completion date as Bay State was occupied with repairs related to Hurricane Irene damage.  We now expect an operable elevator by the end of February."   The addition of the elevator will make BRAM fully compliant with ADA-access requirements and offer the opportunity for all the visitors to the museum to view the three floors of exhibits offered by BRAM.  Museum Director Georgia Brehm was particularly pleased that the elevator now means that "our area school students will be allowed to see and appreciate the artifacts of the past that have helped shape the present they live in". 

Ludlow Budget up 1.1% for 2012-13

While everyone is waiting for "the other shoe to drop" as far as the long-range financial impact of Irene is concerned, the Ludlow Select Board has managed to keep the town budget for the coming fiscal year down to a 1.1% increase over the prior year. 

The budget, as published in the 2012 Town Report, which includes $105,808 to be raised in taxes for the separate Cemetery Commission budget, reflects a total estimated expenditure of $4,527,719.92 against projected revenue of $1,016,238.  This amounts to $3,511,481.92 to be raised in taxes compared to $3,472,630 in the current year.  This amounts to an increase of $38,851.92 over the current budget.

The report cited estimated damage totals due to Irene in the range of $2.5 to 3 million dollars.  Of this, the town is expected to have to pay 10% of the total.  FEMA and the state are expected to pay 75% and 15% respectively.

In anticipation of the monies that will have to be expended to cover this, the Select Board approved a $1,000,000 loan at 1% interest to deal with the town's immediate funding requirements.

The budget will be voted on at Town Meeting on March 5.

The following day, in addition to electing town officials, the voters will go the polls to address two questions  placed on the ballots by petition:

1 - The voters will be asked to say whether they approve of the proposed move by the Rutland Windsor Supervisory Union to join Windsor South West SU in forming a new Supervisory Union that incorporates all of RWSU and most of WSWSU.  This is a non-binding referendum; and

2 - Should the town authorize the collection of $20,000 for the repair of the main entrance into the Fletcher Memorial Library.

Nitka's Notes from Montpelier

By Senator Alice Nitka, Windsor County, February 17, 2012          

It’s hard to believe that Vermont had a “nursing home” in 1887 but indeed we did and the first patient was a Civil War soldier who arrived there on May 18th of that year. He was referred to as an inmate at the time rather than a patient but his needs were likely to have been the same as many of today’s residents.  The facility is the Vermont Veterans’ Home in Bennington which continues today as a skilled nursing facility. The property before becoming a home for soldiers had been a home for destitute women and children and was a self contained working farm. In its earliest years, one hundred sixty soldiers resided there and it continued as a working farm while soldiers received care there.  The numbers are not very different today as the home has 171 beds as well as an eight bed residential care unit.

Persons eligible for admission to the Home are Veterans, their spouses and Gold Star parents from any state with Vermonters receiving preference. Twenty per cent of the patients are from NY state. There are openings and the Home is recruiting in order to meet its budget.  The majority of the residents are male and the current average age is 88 years old. Residents are more medically complex than those in privately run nursing homes. The challenges to deal with are a higher rate of alcohol and drug abuse; post traumatic stress disorder; mental health issues as well as behavioral issues including aggressive behaviors. Little or no family involvement places many of the patients at greater risk for a negative outcome also. There are no medical marijuana registered users at the facility as the doctors serving there are federal VA docs and prescribing such would be a violation of federal law. The Home is staffed by 216 state employees. The Alzheimer’s Unit is internationally recognized and respected and can accommodate 77 patients in various stages of dementia. The Home is Medicare and VA certified and is a teaching facility for the VT College of Nursing, Union Univ. Albany College of Pharmacy and the College of St. Joseph and State Univ. NY at Albany Social Work programs. Rooms are either singles or doubles and with the new geo-thermal system that is now up and running (with some costly “glitches” still being ironed out) each room has individual controls for heat and air conditioning.  The Home is working toward implementing an electronic medical records system. On another electronic note, a grant was received for IPods for the Music and Memory Program. They are being used as part of a research project to determine if music helps to reduce negative behaviors and the need for psychotropic medications for some dementia patients. And, “Yes”, the Deer Park is still there for those of you who remember visiting it as a child. Consider going again and visiting a Vet you know.

The budget for all this is $19 million. This year with a cut in Medicare funding, the Home is receiving $150,000 less in funds. Medicare reimbursement per day is $327, VT Medicaid is $245, VA for a person with a service connected disability is $337 and a private pay patient is charged $270.

Contact me at home at 228-8432, the State House at 1-800-322-5616 or at [email protected] or P.O. Box 136, Ludlow, VT 05149   Find schedules and bills at www.leg.state.vt.us.

Okemo's 10th Comedy Night, Feb. 25

"The King's Speech" Featured on Thursday at Auditorium

"The King's Speech" will be last film in the 'Okemo Meets FOLA' series sponsored jointly by Okemo Mountain Resort and FOLA (Friends of Ludlow Auditorium).  The award-winning movie will be shown at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 PM.  The movie is free; donations are appreciated.

Big Head Todd joins Barenaked Ladies and Guster for FestEVOL 2012

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort 

The band Big Head Todd and the Monsters has been added to the lineup and will be sharing a stage with Barenaked Ladies and Guster during the second annual FestEVOL music and mountain lifestyle event at Okemo Mountain Resort on March 24 and 25. 

This two-day celebration of  snowsports, mountain lifestyle, live music, innovative natural brands and a sustainability-focused eco-village, will feature concert performances by Barenaked Ladies and The Pete Kilpatrick Band on Saturday, March 24, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Guster on Sunday, March 25. 

In addition to skiing and snowboarding at Okemo Mountain Resort, FestEVOL attendees can enjoy the Reverb Eco Village in the Jackson Gore courtyard. Reverb, founded in 2004 by Guster band member Adam Gardner and his wife, Lauren, is actively involved with FestEVOL in an effort to keep the event as green and sustainable as possible. The interactive village includes local, regional and national environmental non-profit groups alongside alternative-energy and transportation exhibits. The Eco Village also highlights all-natural and organic food sampling, and ski and snowboard equipment demos with Ramp, Nordica and Burton Snowboards. The Ice House at Jackson Gore, the FestEVOL outdoor concert venue, opens at 3 p.m. on Sat. and 2 p.m. on Sunday. 

“It is our goal to give our FestEVOL attendees a weekend escape where they can enjoy great music, awesome snow and delicious food with their friends and families,” said Andrew Jaffe, EVOL Foods vice president of marketing. “In its second year, FestEVOL is going to be better and more exciting.” 

Single-day lift ticket and concert combos sell for $109 in advance, and two-day lift ticket and concert combos sell for $189 in advance. Packages may be purchased online at okemo.com.  For more information, visit www.festevol.com.