Monthly Archives: May 2010

While we sometimes think that Memorial Day is celebrated with marching parades, patriotic orations, visits to the cemetery to honor the fallen veterans, and cookouts, there are more private and personal expressions of the meaning of Memorial Day.  One such expression was found in the garden in front of the home of Bill and Susan Kneebone of Ludlow.  They had arranged small American flags to be positioned amongst the red and white and blue petunias to honor the day.  While there was no marching band parading by the garden, the symbol was just as meaningful.

Submitted by Annalee Letchinger

Talented young students and faculty of the Okemo Young Artists Program will again bring their exciting chamber and solo music to the Black River area. Celebrating a month-long series of free classical concerts, they will begin with a Gala Opening Night performance Thursday, June 17 at 7:30 PM at their Sugar House Lodge training facility on Okemo Mountain. The series continues with four weeks of concerts every Saturday (Ludlow Town Hall auditorium), Tuesday (United Church of Ludlow), and Wednesday (Sugar House Lodge). The festival runs from the June 17 Gala through the Grand Finale performance on Friday, July 16 (Sugar House Lodge) and the public is invited to all concerts, which mark the group ’s 5th season at Okemo Mountain. All events are free; goodwill donations are welcome and applied toward scholarship funds.

The Okemo Young Artists' Program provides an intense musical environment in a beautiful setting at the Okemo Mountain Resort. An exceptional group of 30-35 students from across the USA and Canada are selected each year to study with world-renowned faculty. Students receive bi-weekly private lessons and chamber music coachings, weekly guest artist masterclasses, and performance opportunities. The students, ages 10-21, include winners of national and international competitions and are preparing for careers as professional musicians on the violin, viola, cello, flute or piano.

The schedule for this season is:

Gala Opening Concert at Sugar House Lodge: Thursday, June 17, 2010, 7:30 P.M.
Ludlow Town Hall Concerts in the Auditorium: Saturdays, June 19 – July 10, 7:30 P.M.
United Church of Ludlow: Tuesdays, June 22 – July 13, 7:30 P.M.
Sugar House Lodge: Wednesdays, June 23 – July 14, 7:30 P.M.
Grand Finale Concert: Friday, July 16, 7:30 P.M.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort
 
The Okemo Valley Golf Club Men’s League played for the second time this season and the Ladies’ League is officially underway after rain postponed their season opener earlier in the month.

The Men's League undertook the match play portion of their schedule on week number two. The top spot went to The Loft. Matt Henshaw, George Davis, Derek Karner and Ryan McGuire won 24 holes. Second place went to Honey Dew Man. Peter Girouard, Jack Hurley, Art O'Hare and Bill Higgins won 23 holes. Capturing the thrid spot was the Willie Dunn's team. Jack Collins, Paul Doyle, Bob Carboneau and John Goffinet won 22 holes. Closest to the pin winners were Doug Lemire on the 6th hole and Bill Bruno on the 4th hole.

Weekly Results:

1st The Loft-24
2nd Honey Dew Man-23
3rd Willie Dunn's-22
4th Green Mountain Appraisals-19.5
5th Irving Oil-19.5
6th First Line Security-18.5
7th Buitl Rite MFG. -17.5
8th Stryhas Builders-16.5
9th M&M Excavating-16
10th American Portfolios-14
11th Sanderson Contracting-13
12th Ludlow Insurance-12

 Season Standings:

1st Green Mountain Appraisals-21 points
2nd Honey Dew Man-18 points
3rd Sanderson Contracting-18 points
4th The Loft-17 points
5th Built Rite MFG.-17 points
6th Willie Dunn's -17 points
7th Irving Oil-17 points
8th First Line Security-16 points
9th Stryhas Builders- 15 points
10th Ludlow Insurance-15 points
11th M&M Excavating -9 points
12th American Portfolios -8 points
 
The Okemo Valley Ladies’ League kicked off their season on May 26. Pam Cruickshank, Mary Knight, Doris Eddy and Kathy Grant of M&M Excavating, took the early season lead winning this week with a team score of 36. With a score of 37, winning a tie breaker for second place, Tom's Loft Tavern included Harriet Parot, Donna Tedford, Kay O'Hare and Dawna Degnan. Third place went to Betsy McKeever, Alice Thayne, Peg Cariddi and Kathy McMahon of Ludlow Insurance. 

Pam Cruickshank won closest to the pin on the 4th hole and Anne Matulonis won closest to the pin on the 8th hole.
 
Weekly Results:

1. M&M Excavating – 36 – 15 points
2. Tom's Loft Tavern – 37* – 14 points
3. Ludlow Insurance – 37 – 13 points
4. ID3 Designs – 38** – 12 points
5. Godmother to Go – 38*** – 11 points
6. Bovine Bookkeeping – 38 – 10 points
7. RVCCC – 39 – 9 points
8. NAPA Auto Parts – 40 – 8 points
9. Coldwell Banker/Watson Realty – 42 – 7 points

*Won tie breaker for second place
**Won tie breaker for fouth place
***Won tie breaker for fifth place

Submitted by Mary McCullum

The Ludlow Farmers Market will begin its second season on Friday, May 28, from 4 to 7 PM.  Located on Route 103 in front of Okemo Mountain School, the market will feature all sorts of locally produced produce and crafts.  More information is available by contacting lfmkt@tds.net.

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

On May 26, Okemo Mountain Resort hosted a group of students from the River Valley Technical Center Business Program for a career awareness day – the fifth of its kind this year.

Okemo’s Human Resources staff organized five career awareness events for students from Mill River High School, Black River High School, Springfield Middle School and River Valley Technical Center. The programs included presentations by Okemo Mountain Resort managers who discussed their career paths and employment opportunities around the resort. Students toured many departments to get a first-hand look at the workplace environment.

“The events were created to promote career awareness in the resort industry for local students,” said Okemo Human Resources Specialist – Recruiter Marianne Langello. “Serving the community is one of Okemo’s core values and it is important to demonstrate to the future workforce that there are viable career options within the state of Vermont.”

For career days that occurred during the ski and snowboard season, students were given an opportunity to enjoy the superlative snow and grooming that Okemo has built its reputation upon. Complimentary lift tickets and rental equipment were provided by Okemo Mountain Resort.

Schools interested in attending an Okemo Career Day next winter can contact the Okemo Human Resources Department at 802-228-4041.

Submitted by  Marianne McGee

On Saturday, June 12, 1-8pm,  Friends of Sandra will present the first Sandra Wright Tribute Concert at Jackson Gore, Okemo Mountain, Ludlow, Vermont.  The show will feature an array of musicians who played with the late blues, soul and jazz singer during the years she resided in Ludlow, including a special reunion of her band Soul Kitchen, and the Sandra Wright band from Burlington, Vermont.  Also appearing will be the Chris Kleeman Band, Rick Redington and the Luv, Gypsy Reel, The Pleasants, Victor Paul, Carol Hausner, and some surprise guests. proceeds go toward future events to honor Sandra's rich cultural contribution to the world of music. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate, rain or shine.  For more information, go to www.friendsofsandra.org(also on Facebook.)  Advance tickets available at;

Submitted by Okemo Mtn Resort

Ladies first! Two women playing in the Vermont State Women’s Golf Association State Day Tournament at Okemo Valley Golf Club, on Tuesday, May 18, aced the sixth hole.

Ellen Carleton, of Londonderry, Vt., and a member of Tater Hill Golf Club, made a hole-in-one from the gold tee of the sixth hole at Okemo Valley Golf Club. Fellow tournament players Dale Velte, Maggie Rafter and Linda Gurney witnessed the 138-yard ace.

Bonnie Heald, of Rutland, Vt., also aced the sixth hole at Okemo Valley Golf Club from the gold tee. Edith Hill and Patty McGrath witnessed the amazing feat. The most amazing thing is that this was Heald’s second hole-in-one of the week. Her first occurred at her home course in Rutland.