Monthly Archives: July 2009

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

On Wednesday, July 29, Robert French, Jr., of Hamden, Conn., made a hole-in-one at Okemo Valley Golf Club.  French aced the eighth hole with his 8-iron. He made the 173-yard shot from the green tee. Dick Lawson and Robert French, Sr. witnessed the amazing feat. This was the fourth hole-in-one of the season at OVGC.

French’s name will be engraved on a Hole-in-One plaque that hangs inside the Okemo Valley Clubhouse, to honor the fortunate few who have had the exhilarating experience of making a hole-in-one at OVGC.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

The final week of July witnessed the season’s final round of Okemo Valley Golf Club’s Men's League. The final format was a team-of-four scramble, with double points up for grabs, allowing teams to make a big move up the leaderboard. The Stryhas Builders team made up of Ted Stryhas, Bob Higgins, Sonny Bragg and John Goffinet, won the evening with a score of 30, moving them from sixth place to third place overall. Sanderson Contracting finished second with a score of 30. The team of Paul Doyle, John Pick, Larry Plumb and Bob Ahlers, maintained their season position in first place and were crowned league champions. They will have their names engraved on the Commissioner Robinson Trophy. The Honey Dew Man squad missed a go-ahead birdie putt on the final green that would have put them in first place for both the evening and the season. Grabbing the third spot was the Ludlow Insurance team. Ron Bixby, Walt Spinrad, Charlie Dickerman and Stew Schmidt shot 30. Closest to the pin winners were Terry Thayne on the 6th and 8th hole, Walt Spinrad was the closest on the 4th hole.Roger Danyew was the long drive winner on the 2nd hole. 

During the awards banquet, Larry Plumb was recognized as the recipient of the Stephen Carr Sportsman of the Year Award, Plumb’s name will be engraved on the plaque that is proudly displayed in Willie Dunn's Grille.

Weekly results:

1st Stryhas Builders – score 30, points 30; 2nd Sanderson Contracting – score 30, points 26; 3rd Ludlow Insurance – score 30, points 22; 4th Honey Dew Man – score 30,points 20; 5th Built Rite MFG. – score 31, points 18; 6th M&M Excavating –score 31, points 16; 7th Powerhousevoice – score 31, points 14; 8th Irving Oil – score 31, points 12; 9th Willie Dunn's – score 32, points 10; 10th Green Mountain Appraisals – score 33, points 8.

2009 Final Standings:

1st Sanderson Contracting, 142 points; 2nd Honey Dew Man, 133 points; 3rd Stroh's Builders, 118 points; 4th Willie Dunn's, 107 points; 5th Irving Oil, 105 points; 6th Built Rite MFG., 104 points; 7th M&M Excavating, 94 points; 8th Powerhousevoice, 87 points; 9th Ludlow Insurance, 86 points; 10th Green Mountain Appraisals, 78 points.

There were suggestions that some of the Armory facilities might be converted to bowling alleys, a movie theater, or a town swimming pool.  However, the bulk of the first hearing on possible uses of the Ludlow Armory buildings being purchased by the town dealt mainly with concerns of Black River Good Neighbors (BRGN) and the local public television station, LPC-TV.

The well-attended hearing, conducted Tuesday evening in Ludlow's Town Hall, represented the first effort by the newly-appointed committee on Armory usage to gather public input on how the facility should be used.

The meeting was started by Town Manager Frank Heald who explained the history behind the building and its planned purchase by Ludlow. 

Kevin Kuntz of BRGN defined that group's interest in using up to two-thirds of the Garage (photo above), formerly used to house tanks, for BRGN's operations and storage needs.  Other members of the BRGN board were also present and added their interest in using the garage.  Jay Jurkoic and other LPC board members expressed their interst in also using the garage, especially to benefit from the height of the structure so that a full studio could be created.

Other suggestions from the audience dealt with how the main building might be used for educational purposes.  RWSU Superintendent Judith Pullinen noted that the size of the main room would be useful as a second gym, a problem that has beset the three schools in the current complex configuration. 
she indicated that additional classroom space would be desirable.

Norm Vanasse suggested using some of the space in the Armory for meeting areas for local teens where they could play and socialize "off the streets".

John Neal, chair of the Armory Committee, indicated that there will be an additional public meeting after the committee has had the opportunity to review the suggestions from this meeting.

It has endured a very long history of disuse and absence but a theatre curtain originally designed to hang in Ludlow, VT is on its way home.  Through the help of the Vermont Painted Theater Curtains Project, the curtain has been brought to Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) for needed restoration work prior to being hung in BRAM's auditorium.
 
According to Chris Hadsel, Curtain Project Director, the curtain was painted by William Stuart in Brattleboro in 1918, more than ninety years ago.  It depicted the Odd Fellows Home on Gill Terrace in Ludlow, the painted curtain measuring about 10 by 20 feet.  The curtain was believed to have been hung in a Ludlow location, possibly either the Odd Fellow building on Main Street or the Gill Terrace home.  Hadsel, whose group has been recovering and restoring painted theater curtains throughout the state, estimates that the curtain probably has been in various forms of storage for up to fifty years before her group recovered it in Brattleboro.
 
Pictured above working to restore the curtain are, from left to right, Chris Hadsel, Project Director, Newton Rose, BRAM intern, Linda Tucker, Assistant Director at BRAM, Michele Pagan, Project Textile Conservator, Emily Phillips, Project Painting Conservator, and Georgia Brehm, BRAM Director.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

The Jackson Gore Outdoor Music Series continues Friday, Aug. 8, with the Jam-Reggae beat of Roots of Creation.

The sound captured by Roots of Creation is the result of years of absorbing diverse influences into their bedrock of "Jam-meets-Reggae." From addictive Reggae- Pop songs to consciously charged roots rhythms and berzerk electronic improvisations, the grace and precision with which ROC execute their bass-heavy works is overwhelming. Their roots are tinged with rock, their rock brushed with electronica, and they're as likely to dash off into a 10-minute guitar-led groove as they are to perform righteous vocal songs that resonate like the roots-rock classics of old. 

The latest style to work its way into the ROC sound comes courtesy, in part, of new bassist Chris Beam, whose background in electronic/trance music helped facilitate the band's recent shift incorporating lengthier dance-driven explorations, which are still spiked with ROC's own special Dub/Rock/Reggae flavor. Beyond the amazing music contained within, and in keeping with their history of conscious efforts, the album's packaging is 70% post-consumer product recycled cardboard.

On Friday nights throughout the summer season, the lawn in the courtyard at Okemo’s Jackson Gore Inn is transformed into an outdoor concert venue featuring renowned local and regional entertainers. Admission to the Jackson Gore Outdoor Music Series is free. The grounds open at 5 p.m. and concerts are slated to run from 6 to 9 p.m. Families are welcome and all attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. Summertime barbecue favorites and refreshments are available each week and concert-goers may also dine at Jackson Gore’s Coleman Brook Tavern. New this year, Coleman Brook diners may enjoy al fresco table service.

Following Roots of Creation, the summer lineup for the Jackson Gore Outdoor Music Series includes:, Dr. Burma, Aug. 14; Boston Horns, Aug. 21; The New Groove Orchestra, Aug. 28; Buzz Universe, Sept. 4.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Coleman Brook Tavern, located in Okemo Mountain Resort’s Jackson Gore Inn, has been honored again with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

“Our wine list is a source of pride at Coleman Brook Tavern,” says Manager Doug North. “We have been working closely with those in the industry to offer the best we can get.  Our list features bottles from all over the world.  What sets us apart is we have a wine for everyone and for every budget.  Being recognized by Wine Spectator with an award of excellence underscores our dedication to our list and wines in general.”

Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

To qualify for an award, the list must present complete, accurate wine information. It must include vintages and appellations for all selections, including wines available by the glass. Complete producer names and correct spellings are mandatory, while the overall presentation and appearance of the list is also taken into consideration. The Award of Excellence recognizes lists that offer a well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. 

Coleman Brook Tavern's list features wines from around the world, but concentrates on the best California and other American regions have to offer.  The list offers wines in a price range of $19 to $1,300 — certainly something for every taste and budget.  There is also a selection of large format bottles for special events. Coleman Brook lists wines not available anywhere else in Vermont.