| | Today's Forecast: Sunny, with a high near 70. West wind around 5 mph. | | | | | Ludlow Rotary Prepares for 33rd Annual Area Chili Cook-off with Call to Area Chefs The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) is sponsoring its 33rd Annual Ludlow Area Chili Cook-off on Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The cook-off will be located at the traffic light on Depot Street. Admission is $15 per adult, $5 per child under 12 and $35 for 2 adults and 2 children under 12. Price includes chili, bread, ice cream and cider. Proceeds will benefit the Ludlow Area Rotary Charitable Fund to enable the LRC to continue its programs of local support. According to cook-off chairman, Kevin Barnes, the LRC will welcome Chili entries from individuals, clubs, and businesses. New and exciting for this year, the serving positions will be randomized! Plaques and three cash prizes will be awarded in the "People's Choice" category. 1st Place will receive $ 200.00 2nd Place will receive $ 100.00 3rd Place will receive $ 50.00 Plaques will be awarded to the Chili with the most votes in the Judges Choice, Spiciest and Team Spirit categories. Judges this year will be police officers from our area Chief Jeff Billings, Sheriff Ryan Palmer, and Trooper Kevin Hughes. Unless arranged otherwise, participants should deliver their heated chili by 10:45 a.m., set up and be ready to serve at 11 a.m. There is a $10.00 entry fee. Participants will be provided with a table, ladle, and sterno. Chili entrants are asked to provide five (5) gallons of chili for this event to ensure we have chili to serve to the end. The Ludlow Rotary will provide the servers if you can't attend, so even if you can't be there, your chili can still win cash and recognition! Let Chili Cookoff Chairman Kevin Barnes know in advance if arrangements are needed to pick up your chili. Sponsorship Opportunities: If you can't make chili, you can support our fundraising effort as a sponsor. There are three levels of sponsorship, each named after a hot pepper: $75 Jalapeno Pepper Level (Donor recognition on the ballot) $150 Chili Pepper Level (Donor receives 2 free event tickets and prominent placement on ballot) $250 Cayenne Pepper Level (Donor receives 4 free event tickets, prominent placement on ballot and social media recognition) Please mail your name, address and phone number along with chili entry fee or sponsorship fee to: Ludlow Area Rotary Charitable Fund, Inc. (LARCF), PO Box 216, Ludlow, VT 05149. All entry fees and sponsorships are tax-deductible. For more info, contact Kevin Barnes at 802-558-0479 or ludlowrotary@gmail.com. The 2023 Chili Cook-Off was enjoyed by area residents and visitors. | | |
| | Today's Forecast: A chance of rain showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind 1 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. | | | | | ESBR Excited to Share First Week Back Updates
As summer has officially come to a close and another school year starts, ESBR shares exciting first week updates for the 2024-2025 School Year! To start, it is with great honor to elaborate that ESBR's Approval as a State of Vermont Approved Independent School stands for another year, whereby families may continue to utilize their duly deserved education tax dollars at ESBR rather than solely depending on volunteer fundraising efforts. This has always been one of our primary goals to provide a financially feasible option for our community.
Next, we welcome our new Head of School, Michael Kell! The ESBR Heads of School have always been beyond dedicated to this cause, and Mr. Kell is no exception. Several amazing returning staff members join him, and he has been busy recruiting new instructors to join ESBR's team. With many years of experience in education including innovative learning opportunities, we are grateful to have him leading as our new Head of School.
Following in the footsteps of the Community's Flood Recovery Theme last school year, this year's theme is "What Makes Vermont Strong." Examining both history and current events, as well as exploring resources available right here in the Green Mountain State, the school year is already off to an exciting start. Last week, the students visited both the Adventure (Ropes) Course at Okemo for Team Building and partook in a field trip to Fort Ticonderoga to discover the early history of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. On top of this, we couldn't have asked for better weather to start the year with these outdoor expeditions!
Furthermore, we have a new meal plan implemented this Fall. Every Wednesday we have a different community member volunteer to prepare a meal to bring in for the students. So far, we've had a BBQ to kickstart the first day back on Wednesday August 28th, just recently a mac n' cheese extravaganza, with a chili and cornbread meal to follow. About three months' worth of Wednesday volunteers have been scheduled, but we hope to keep it going as long as possible; if anyone wishes to volunteer, please reach out. And we can be flexible with the Wednesday meal plan to accommodate volunteers. The students love it and it's clear they really benefit from this meal plan. Again, anyone interested is more than welcome to reach out.
As for fundraising, there are always supplies, programs, and support to expand upon so we'll continue to host fun events to help raise funds for these resources. We are excited to announce the Legion is once again hosting a Chicken BBQ Benefit for ESBR on Saturday, September 21st. Volunteers start grilling around 8 or 9am and meals will be available by 10:30-11am and will go until sold out. This is a really fun and easy fundraiser and we cannot thank the Legion enough, they do a lot of work to give back to the Community as a whole. Keep your eyes out for more details in the near future, as we are also planning a Holiday Craft Fair Saturday November 30th; we look forward to this fun and exciting fundraiser as well!
Another local upcoming event will be the 40th Annual Harvest Fair. This is hosted by the Parent-Teacher Group of the Ludlow Elementary School. It is a great fundraiser for the PTG, whose goal is to provide strong programs and fun events that the grade school might not otherwise get to benefit from. The Harvest Fair will be held on the front lawn of the ESBR premises, and it is a long-standing tradition many of us at ESBR are familiar with, so it is an honor that they have chosen to host it there for several years running now. With fun crafts, games, and delicious food, it is the perfect fall setting for peak leaf peeping season. Please visit the Ludlow Elementary School Parent-Teacher Group Facebook page for further information.
Lastly, several Board Positions were up for renewal this cycle and there was a rotation of member roles. Gary Blodgett remains a Board of Trustee Member, but our current Chairperson is Patrick Pullinen with Suzy Buckley as Vice Chair. The rest of the Board is grateful to have these members remain so dedicated to the school and well-being of the students and their families. There are openings for more Board Members, any interested persons are welcome to reach out to Pat Pullinen. We'd be honored to expand our Board; a diverse group of thinkers is what helps keep a school innovative.
As always, thank you to everyone for your support. There are already 11 students for this school year, which is up from last year. As news of our growth and Approval travel we know enrollment will continue to expand. We could not have done this without the Community's support and the students and their families. Again, anyone with interest is welcome to inquire, whether it is for your student or to volunteer. You may reach out to Pat Pullinen at ppullinen@esblackriver.org or leave a message for Mr. Kell on the school's line at 802-228-3727. | | | | |
ANNUAL PHINEAS GAGE WALK AND TALK
Once again the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) will be holding the annual Phineas Gage Walk and Talk on the Sunday closest to the date of the accident. Gage, a railroad foreman, on September 13, 1848, had a tamping rod pass through his head as a result of a blasting accident, and lived for 12 more years.
His accident made medical history, thanks to the dedication of Dr. John Harlow, the Cavendish physician who documented his injury and course of recovery. Harlow was able to secure Gage's skull and tamping rod, which now reside at the Warren Anatomical Museum.. Thanks to Cavendish Labs, CHS has a 3D exact replica of Gage's skull.
This year's Walk & Talk takes place on Sunday, Sept. 15 at the CHS Museum, Route 131 in Cavendish, VT. The program begins at 2 pm. The walk includes the location of the accident, Dr. Harlow's home/surgery, and the boarding house where Gage was taken after his injury. Note this event takes place rain or shine.
The site of the accident is approximately three quarters of a mile from the Museum and by the time other sites of interest are visited and we return to the museum, you will have walked close to 2 miles. Participants can stop at any time. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
This program is free and open to the public. Donations welcomed. For more information, please call 802-226-7807 or margocaulfield@icloud.com
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| | Today's Forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. | | | | | Shunpike Road Closure Beginning Monday September 9 The Mount Holly Highway Department advises residents that Shunpike Road will be closed for a culvert replacement in the 1.3-mile section of road beginning at the intersection of Shunpike and Hortonville and ending at 0.2 miles from the intersection of Shunpike and Nineveh Road. | | | | | SING, SAY, DANCE, PLAY! Family Music Gatherings - offered by Licia Gambino, begin on Sunday (9/8)! The Fall Session of Family Music Gatherings will be held on Sundays (9/8 – 10/27*), 3:00pm – 4:00pm, at the Russellville Schoolhouse (18 Crown Point Road, Shrewsbury). Each session will include songs, singing games, dances, and instrument play for all family members to learn and enjoy together. (*There will NOT be a session on September 29th. Instead you're invited to the Shrewsbury Singers' Concert!) This is a weekly drop-in format, so please join us when you can! There is a suggested donation of $5 - $10 per family, per session, (if possible). Everyone is welcome to attend! For more information, please contact Licia Gambino: hamgam@vermontel.net OR (802) 492-3792 (landline). | | | | | Vermont Cheese Week in Okemo Valley Okemo Valley, VT: The celebration of Vermont Cheese Week is in full swing! Beginning September 7th and running through September 15th, visitors and residents alike have the opportunity to enjoy special cheese events, samplings, pairings, cheesy menus, and activities. Okemo Valley has joined the Vermont Cheese Council's statewide effort. In Okemo Valley, there are over 10+ local businesses, including retail shops, restaurants, and cheese producers, that have come together to showcase the artistry of Vermont-made cheese for Cheese Week. This exciting week showcases the rich cheese-making heritage of Okemo Valley, home to one of the highest concentrations of cheddar producers in the state and some of the oldest cheese-making factories in the United States, dating back to the 1800s. From wine and cheese to cheese making to family fun events, there are lots of activities and delicious options. Local cheese producers include Crowley Cheese, Grafton Village Cheese, Plymouth Cheese, and Spring Brook Farm Cheese. Chefs within the region are offering creative cheesy specials, from garden inspired dishes to gourmet pizzas to classic French onion soup and more. Cheese week dining experiences include Calcuttas, Coleman Brook Tavern at Okemo, Echo Lake Inn, Off the Rails, and Stemwinder. Retail shops, including Vermont Country Store, Wine & Cheese Depot, and Yeah Wine Shop have also joined in. For the full list of Cheese Week events and activities, visit www.yourplaceinvermont.com/vermont-cheese-week/ | | |
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