Monthly Archives: December 2009

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

It is not the jingle of sleigh bells that Okemo Mountain Resort skiers and snowboarders will be hearing this January – it’s the sound of all that extra coin in their pockets. January 2010 is chock full of special lift ticket offers and online specials.

January Tribute

Okemo pays tribute to the United States Military Veterans, Police Officers, Firefighters and Ambulance personnel every Tuesday and Thursday during the month of January 2010, with a special half-price discount on lift tickets. When they show their ID card/badge and a photo ID at Resort Services inside the Okemo Clock Tower Base Lodge or in the Jackson Gore base area, qualified personnel will receive 50 percent off the price of an adult, full-day, full price lift ticket on Tuesdays, January 5, 12, 19, 26, and Thursdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28.  It is Okemo's way of saying "thank you" for all our civil servants do!

Buy Online at Okemo.com and Save

Kids Rock FREE

When an adult buys a full-price, Monday-through-Friday lift ticket for themselves between Jan. 4 and 29, 2010 (excluding Jan. 18), they get one Junior or one Young Adult ticket, valid the same day, free. The child receiving the free ticket must be present at redemption. Free lift tickets are available for children 6 and younger every day at Okemo. The Kids Rock offer may not be combined with other discounts, special price days or promotions and adult ticket must be purchased online, 48 hours in advance.

Lift & Lunch Pass

There IS such a thing as free lunch! When skiers and riders pre-buy online, in advance, they can purchase a lift ticket that includes free lunch. On Monday through Friday, Jan. 4-15, 2010, the Lift & Lunch Pass includes a $20 voucher redeemable at any culinary location on the mountain.  Adults $72, Young Adults $61 and Juniors $47. This offer may not be combined with other discounts, special price days or promotions and must be purchased online, 48 hours in advance. This is a print-at-home ticket offer and print-out may be redeemed at Resort Services.

Buy One, Win Two

When skiers and riders purchase a midweek lift ticket online, in advance, for $59, between Jan. 4 and 15, 2010, they’ll be entered into a drawing to win two free midweek lift tickets valid the remainder of the 2009/2010 season (valid Monday through Friday, non-holiday). This offer may not be combined with other discounts, special price days or promotions and must be purchased online, 48 hours in advance. Prize drawing will take place Jan. 16.

Lift and Demo Package

When skiers and riders bundle a lift ticket with a performance demo they save!  This special package, offered midweek (Mon.-Fri), Jan. 4 to 15, 2010, includes an adult, full-day lift ticket plus a demo from the Okemo Performance Demo Center (skis or snowboard) for just $99. It’s a great way to test the latest gear from manufacturers including Salomon, Atomic, Elan, Rossignol and Burton!  This offer may not be combined with other discounts, special price days or promotions.  It must be purchased online, 48 hours in advance and a print-at-home voucher must be presented at the Okemo rental shop for redemption.

Ladies’ Days – Calling all OKEMOMMAS!

Tuesdays are officially Ladies’ Days at Okemo.  Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, grandmothers and girlfriends can all ski and ride all day on select Tuesdays for just $39 when they purchase a ticket online, in advance. And the savings continue with a private lesson for just $49. Ladies will enjoy savings on the slopes January 5, 12, 19, 26. This offer may not be combined with other discounts, special price days or promotions and must be purchased online, 48 hours in advance. Additional Ladies’ Days are scheduled for March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.

Okemo Online Thursdays

The special formerly known as Skier & Rider Appreciation Days has gone online with a new name. When skiers and riders purchase a lift ticket online, in advance, they can enjoy the slopes for just $39 on select Thursdays: Jan 7, 14, 21. This offer may not be combined with other discounts, special price days or promotions and must be purchased online, 48 hours in advance. Additional $39 Online Thursdays are scheduled for Mar 18 and 25, and $29 Online Thursday are slated for April 1 and 8.

Season-Long Savings

Okemo’s best deals extend beyond January with some new specials introduced this winter. Throughout the entire 2009/2010 season, Okemo skiers and riders can lock in last year’s lift ticket rate when they purchase online. This applies only to weekend and holiday tickets, since midweek tickets are already the same price as last year. Tickets must be purchased at least 48 hours in advance at Okemo.com. 

Okemo’s Sunday One-Day Season Pass is a great “starter” pass for weekend day trippers and is priced right at $359. This direct-to-lift season pass has four blackout dates, but is valid all other Sundays throughout the season.

Partial-day lift tickets are another great way to save. In addition to its popular half-day lift ticket offer, Okemo is introducing a partial-day lift ticket that starts at 2 p.m. Perfect for eager overnight guests who arrive prior to check-in, this lift ticket option is just $30 for adults, $26 for Young Adults and Seniors, and $20 for Juniors and Super Seniors. This discount ticket deal is available every day with no restrictions and can be purchased at Resort Services Desks.

Combining lift tickets with lodging is one of the best ways to save on a winter getaway. New this year, overnight guests who book their stay through Okemo Mountain Resort’s reservation system will enjoy the convenience of charging goods and services directly to their room account at nearly 100 sales points across the resort. As an added bonus, guests who book a minimum of three midweek (Sunday through Thursday) nights will automatically receive a resort credit that they can access immediately after checking in. The resort credit starts at $50 and varies according to lodging type and location. Midweek guests also receive an afternoon of complimentary skiing or riding on their arrival day.

Facebook fans and Twitter followers will be the first to know about special deals offered throughout the season. In addition, savings updates and unique offers will be sent to those who subscribe to mobile phone text alerts at Okemo.com.

For more information about Okemo Mountain Resort, please call (802) 228-1600 or visit okemo.com. Specific information about great lift ticket deals can be found online [at www.okemo.com].

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

The Jackson Gore Inn at Okemo Mountain Resort recently received the RCI Gold Crown Resort designation for 2010. This award is presented in recognition of superior facilities and services.

In a letter to Jackson Gore Inn General Manager Charlie Dickerman, Gordon Gurnick, President, RCI, North America wrote, “You and your staff are to be commended for your extraordinary commitment to quality and service.”

The Jackson Gore Inn was selected based on a 12-month compilation of exchange guest assessments which include resort quality, service delivery, and overall vacation experience, as well as an evaluation of resort facilities, amenities and guest services.

RCI is a global provider of leisure travel services to businesses and consumers, and the worldwide leader in vacation exchange.

Founded in 1974 as an exchange service for condominium owners called Resort Condominiums International, Ltd., RCI quickly became a driving force for growth within timeshare, and has been at the forefront of the vacation exchange industry ever since.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

On the afternoon of Dec. 20, a Ludlow police officer arrested two male juveniles who were in possession of stolen snowboards at Okemo Mountain Resort.

The suspicious activities of Dakota Thompson and Jacob Wilson, of Springfield, Vt., were witnessed by Okemo’s plainclothes security staff who followed them to a vehicle owned by Wilson, where they were met by Ludlow police and apprehended with the stolen snowboards in their possession. The snowboards were returned to their rightful owners.

“Okemo takes these types of thefts very seriously and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, said Okemo VP and General Manager Bruce Schmidt.  “Okemo is using many different ways to watch and apprehend these thieves and we will use all means to protect our guests as much as we can.”

Thompson and Wilson are being charged with larceny.

 

In a letter to Ludlow property owners, Frank Heald, Ludlow Town Manager, advised that a "naming opportunity" existed for "individual, family, or company" to rename the Ludlow Armory building or sections within it.  The Armory facility is being purchased by Ludlow and renovated to serve multiple functions within the town.  Heald's letter notes that the structure will house "a gymnasium, office & classroom space, and envisions a kitchen & dining area.  These functions will serve existing school/recreational needs and will provide the opportunity for expanded community activities that need larger enclosed spaces and/or dining capabilities."  The committee appointed by the Select Board to help define the usage of the Armory believes it represents an opportunity for someone or group to honor a person, family, or group by making a tax deductible donation that would help defray the $750,000 budgeted for the Armory's renovation.  Anyone interested in pursuing this matter may contact Heald at Ludlow Town Hall.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort will commemorate National Safety Awareness Week, Jan. 16-22, 2010, with a host of fun events and activities to help educate skiers and riders of all ages and promote on-mountain safety. 

The National Ski Areas Association named Okemo Mountain Resort winner of the Best Helmet Safety Program in its 2009 Heads Up National Ski Area Safety Awards. Nine resorts were recognized in different safety program categories and Okemo was the only New England resort to receive honors. Each season, the awards recognize those resorts that have done an outstanding job of educating employees and guests about skiing and snowboarding responsibly. “Safety First” is a mantra for Okemo staff members throughout the winter season, but it is during the annual NSAA Safety Awareness Week, in January, that Okemo turns its commitment to safety into a full-blown event. 

Starting Jan. 16 and running through National Safety Awareness Week, anyone who purchases a new ski or snowboard helmet at Okemo's Snowsports Shop will receive a coupon for 50 percent off a full-day lift ticket, or 50 percent off a full-day equipment rental or high-performance demo, or 50 percent off a group lesson or adult clinic. New this year, $10 from every helmet purchase will benefit the Vermont Children’s Hospital Phat program: $5 from Okemo and $5 from the helmet manufacturer.  

Vermont’s own PHAT team (Protect Your Head at All Times/Protect Your Head on All Terrain) will be returning to Okemo from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 17. The Vermont Snow Sports Research Team, a partnership of Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care and the University of Vermont College of Medicine will be on location to help educate skiers and riders about helmet use.  Over the past five years, this team has been focused on developing a program to prevent serious head injuries by increasing voluntary ski helmet use among children and adults. The team of physicians and health care providers is headed by Robert Williams, M.D., pediatric anesthesiologist and critical care specialist at Vermont Children's Hospital at Fletcher Allen.  In addition to education, the team’s project includes observations of skiers and riders to track data about helmet use. Their work has been presented at medical conferences, accepted for publication in medical journals and has been extensively covered by news media nationwide. The program’s presence at a resort includes posters, distribution of brochures, an exhibit, stickers and prizes. The program is non-coercive and is designed to promote both helmet use and skiing and snowboarding as a healthy lifestyle. Visit www.skihelmetsafety.orgfor more information.

Okemo will host a “Helmet Head” contest on Jan. 17. Okemo staff members will be out on the mountain taking pictures of willing candidates showing their best helmet head – that cool, disheveled look of matted hair that happens when a skier or snowboarder removes his helmet after a great day on the slopes. A panel of judges will select the top-ten best helmet heads and post those photos on Okemo’s blog (http://okemo.blogspot.com/) for voting by blog visitors.  The candidate who receives the most votes will win two complimentary lift tickets for a day of skiing or riding at Okemo.

Also on Jan. 17, as a way to promote safety and to familiarize skiers and riders with the Skier Responsibility Code, a Safety Scavenger Hunt will take place on the slopes of Okemo. Elements of the “Code” and “Smart Style” will be strategically placed along trails all over the mountain.  Winners who collect The Code elements will receive fabulous prizes from Okemos’ prize vault.

“One of our main goals here at Okemo is ensuring safe and responsible skiing and riding,” says Okemo Ski Patrol Director Jim Livingston. “The Okemo Ski Patrol has always placed a major emphasis on safety and we are constantly striving to do better. This winter, we continue our safety program on the mountain by stopping many skiers and riders to promote respect of others. We maintain a presence of patrollers and other staff on the trails, making sure everyone is practicing safe skiing and riding.”

National Safety Awareness Week is an annual event highlighting resort safety education efforts while increasing slope safety. Resorts are encouraged to develop new and creative ways to involve employees and guests in activities for safety week.

For more information on National Safety Awareness Week and other NSAA safety programs, visit www.nsaa.org. To learn more about Okemo Mountain Resort and its commitment to safety, please visit www.okemo.comor call (802) 228-1600.

Black River Academy Museum (BRAM) Director Georgia Brehm released the schedule of special programs and events that BRAM plans to feature in the coming year.

Saturday, February 13 – Valentine’s Day “Just Desserts”.  Desserts provided by local inns.    Recitation of some of “Shakespear’s Sonnets” by Dr. John Bremer.   7:00 pm. $8/person, $20/family. Refreshments will be served

April 23 – “Shakespeare’s Birthday” – Dr. John Bremer will present a series of readings written by Shakespeare. Refreshments will be served

June 5 – Opening day at the Museum.  Special feature: “What The Rocker Knows”. A collaboration with ClearLake Furniture.    1-4 pm.   Refreshments will be served.

June 26 & 27 – BRAM staff will be the History Expo in Tunbridge with a special exhibit.

July 10 & 11 – “What the Rocker Knows, Part II” – A collaboration with ClearLake Furniture.   More information will be forthcoming.

July 24 – “Origins of Ludlow” – Dr. John Bremer will talk on how Ludlow was founded and settled.   7:00 pm.  Admission by donation.   Refreshments will be served.

August 7 – Historic Walking Tour – 3 pm at the Gazebo.

September 18 – “Robert Frost Poems” by Dr. John Bremer.   Admission by donation. Refreshments will be served.

November 11 – Veteran’s Day program – Dr. John Bremer and the American Legion.

December 10 & 11 – 10th Annual BRAM Open House.

In addition to these planned activities, BRAM will also feature the following events that are, as yet, not determined as to dates and times:

Chair Caning
Basketmaking
Vermont Archaeological Group to speak on Indian artifacts
Crown Point Road Program

For additional information, call 802-228-5050 or check BRAM's web site at www.bramvt.org.