Monthly Archives: January 2010

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Whether football fans are cheering for the Saints or the Colts, Okemo Mountain Resort has the ticket to pre-game skiing and riding with the Big Game Sunday Solution, Feb. 7, and an even better deal for Monday-morning quarterbacks the day after, Feb. 8. 

Okemo understands that sports fans may want to make it home in time for pre-game revelry so the Big Game Sunday Solution ticket takes another $10 off Okemo’s already reduced Sunday Solution rate.  That means skiers and riders can enjoy the slopes from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for only $60 for Adults, $52 for Young Adults and Seniors, and $37 for Juniors. 

For Monday-morning quarterbacks who prefer to relive every play of the game from the comfort of a chairlift, Okemo has an extra special lift ticket value that depends entirely on the final score of Sunday’s game. On Monday, Feb. 8, the price of a full-day lift ticket will be charged at $1 per point, based on the total combined points scored during Sunday’s Big Game. If the final score of the game is Saints 27 and Colts 20, the price of a lift ticket on Monday will be $47. How low could it go? A scoreless game would mean free lift tickets, however, the lowest combined score in Super Bowl history was 21 points in 1973. In case of a high-score game, Okemo is capping the Feb. 8 lift ticket price at $59.

For skiers and riders looking for a great combo deal, Okemo offers the Super Ski Weekend. Booking a two-night/two-day stay-and-ski package, including accommodations and lift tickets for Friday, Feb. 5 through Sunday, Feb. 7, will earn a savings of 20 percent – but only when they mention the word “super.” Okemo will offer a 30 percent discount for those who opt in for a three-night weekend. The Super Ski Weekend can be reserved by calling (866) 706-5366 and asking for the “super” deal.

Bruce Farr, Ludlow-based journalist and creative writer/commentator, has agreed to join That Was The Week That Was (TW3) as a commentator.  TW3, broadcast weekly by LPC-TV, cable channel 8 in the Black River area, is cohosted by Leo Graham and Ralph Pace.  The program is aired live on Thursday at 3 pm and rebroadcast throughout the week to the Black River area and throughout the state.

Bruce Farr is an award-winning writer, editor and creative consultant  with experience in a wide array of media.  His articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications in the U.S. Among them, he has written and recorded commentaries for National Public Radio’s program, “All Things Considered,” and he is a regular commentator for Vermont Public Radio. He contributes feature articles and writes extensively for magazines, websites and newsletters; and has written numerous books, speeches, press releases and editorials for large corporations, small companies and private individuals.  He has also been a contributor to USA Today, the Arizona Republic and many other local and national publications.  

Additionally, with his company, “Bruce Farr Creative,” he has built a successful career as a strategic brand development consultant to numerous firms, and has become a highly sought-after copywriter and creative consultant. Working both independently as well as with advertising and marketing agencies, his creativity and lucid copy have helped companies ranging from American Express to the Vermont Country Store craft their messages to a variety of audiences. 

Bruce’s extensive body of published journalism is characterized by its range.  It covers everything from a spirited interview with Andrew S. Grove, the founder and former CEO of Intel, to a meditation on picking apples in a New England orchard; from a feature on the residence of an eminent architect who was the last student of Frank Lloyd Wright, to a reflection on a legendary Arizona restaurant and “watering hole” called El Chorro.  His articles on business, the arts, food, technology and human interest reflect Bruce’s avid curiosity.

A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Bruce lives in Ludlow, Vermont, with his wife Sharon and daughter Erin.

By Senator Alice Nitka, Windsor County, January 29, 2010

Congratulations to The Richardson Family Farm of Hartland which this week was named the “Vermont Dairy Farm of the Year”. The award was presented by the Governor to the family at the annual farm show in Barre. This well run farm, located in a hilly area of the town has been in the family for more than a century and is a diverse operation. Many family members from very young children to the more senior members of the family were present at the awards luncheon to hear the cheers of their fellow farmers from all over the state. It’s great to have a Windsor County farm win this competitive honor. 

Testimony in the House Agriculture Committee this week addressed changes in the current use program and the bill, H-485 subsequently passed the House and moved to the Senate.  Also addressed were promotion of VT beef, electronic bank transfer cards use at farmers’ markets, continuing certification of scanners at grocery stores and costs to the Agriculture Dept. to provide this service and penalties for timber thefts.  Senate Agriculture dealt with dairy anti-trust issues; the Farm Viability Enhancement Program;  S-207, a bill re Handling of Milk Samples; S-264, a bill re Dairy Industry Stabilization as well as energy issues.

Surprisingly, a bill also related to animals found its way to the Senate Judiciary Committee on which I serve. The bill S-110 re Sheltering Livestock brought a new look to our committee in the appearance of witnesses wearing cowboy hats. The usual “uniforms” in the Judiciary Committee are lawyers in suits and police officers from various branches of the protection community. Many persons are following this bill, which generated emotional testimony as well as an appearance by the state veterinarian, Dr. Kristin Haas. It is likely it will be transferred to the Agriculture Committee for review there. 

Another sort of “animal” appeared at the State House this week in the form of a long purple dragon that came marching to the building with middle school students accompanied by their band and lots of posters. The students from all over VT were part of Vermont Kids Against Tobacco and they came to present some of their projects and be recognized for their work. They do some very creative work to discourage smoking and tobacco use. In years past when there was a little more money, the students’ program treated them to a sit down spaghetti lunch but this week the cafeteria prepared 300 box lunches which they ate on their buses or sat on the Capitol’s front steps eating.

A bill several persons have asked about is H-533 relating to Military Rights, particularly child custody issues. This bill passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate. 

View daily committee schedules and all the bills at www.leg.state.vt.us   Please feel free to contact me at home, 228-8432; at the State House, 1-800-322-5616; at anitka@leg.state.vt.us  or at PO Box 136, Ludlow, VT 05149.

The following is an audio commentary by Bruce Farr of Ludlow recorded on Vermont Public Radio.  To listen to Farr's commentary, click here.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Okemo Mountain Resort will be one sweet treat for Valentines on Feb. 14.  Okemo will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Sweetheart Scavenger Hunt, a Find-the-Liftie-with-a-Heart contest, a unique, romantic dining adventure and a fireworks display.

Ten red hearts will be hidden along ski 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 will win a prize package with confections provided by M&M Mars. 

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 Valentine treat.

Hopeless romantics who long to gaze into each other’s eyes over a candlelit dinner can enjoy the ultimate adventure in dining with Okemo’s Snowcat Dining Experience. Diners board a special snowcat coach for an on-mountain tour prior to enjoying a chef-prepared five-course dinner at Epic, Okemo’s eclectic eatery that is a favorite lunch stop for skiers and riders. Reservations are limited to 30 people with three seatings of ten people each. A prix fixe of $125 per person does not include tax or gratuity. Chef Craig Cornell’s menu is posted online. Call (802) 228-1600 for reservations.

What would a day of romance be without fireworks? Okemo lights the night sky with a spectacular pyrotechnics show starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Okemo Clock Tower base area. For a bird’s eye view of the show, Okemo will offer a free guided snowshoe tour departing the base area at 7 p.m. Snowshoe rentals are available for $15 and reservations for the tour are required. Call (802) 228-1558.

The fireworks show follows a torchlight parade of skiers and riders traversing a mountain trail to the base area. Children can participate in a Light Parade of their own on the slope next to the F-10 Carpet. Glow-stick lights will be provided. To participate, children must be age 4 to 14 and must be a level 4 or better. The fee is $15 and participants will meet in the Clock Tower Base Area SnowStars Center at 6:30 p.m. for check in and group activities prior to the light parade.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Based on skier visits, Okemo Mountain Resort recorded its best Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday weekend since 2002. The popular resort saw 23 percent more skiers and riders compared to the same holiday weekend last year and was 16 percent ahead of projections for the week.

A skier visit is defined as one person participating in the sport of snow sliding for all or part of a day.

“For the first time since 2004, the weather forecast for the MLK weekend was positive,” said Okemo VP of Marketing Scott Clarkson. “Snow conditions and temperatures were ideal -  20s to 30s all three weekend days, with 4 to 6 inches of fresh snow falling Sunday night to greet Monday’s skiers and riders.”

Advance online sales of a three-day discount lift ticket special were very popular, increasing Okemo’s overall three-day lift ticket sales volume by 70 percent. Okemo was 100 percent open with skiing and riding on all 119 trails on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and all 19 lifts were running all weekend long.

REGULAR MEETING – WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 – 4:00 PM
TOWN HALL CONFERENCE ROOM

AGENDA

1 – Call to Order
2 – Approve Minutes from Previous Meeting(s)
3 – Discuss Presentation for February 23rd Meeting
4 – Timeline & Responsibilities for Bond Vote
5 – Town Meeting Direct Mail Piece
6 – Other Business
7 – Adjourn