Mount Holly Newsflash- Wednesday, August 24, 2022

A slight chance of rain showers before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Mount Holly Newsflash - Wednesday, August 24, 2022  The weather today in Mount Holly -A slight chance of rain showers before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Northwest wind 2 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com Event updates from MHCA... Regretfully the Mount Holly Community Association will be canceling Cabaret Sunday September 2cd. Currently inside gatherings remain of concern for the Cabaret clientele and musicians. Cheerfully we are gearing up for our Cider Days Fall Festival. Mark your calendars for October 8 & 9 for all things apples! Hopefully, we will see you for the last Music on the Green performance by the Mount Holly Folk Club musicians and singers this Thursday at 6:30pm. Sincerely, The MHCA Board of Directors As we approach our 3rd Annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction and enter our 3rd year of operations, ESBR continues to be forever grateful towards local community members, businesses, and donors such as yourself who believe so much in our vision to provide authentic real time-real life learning. This support keeps the school open while we proceed with the processing of our Application for Vermont Approved Independent School status, which would finally allow tax dollars allocated for tuition in this area to be utilized by students who choose ESBR for their secondary education. And we are honored that the majority of our trailblazers call Ludlow, Mt. Holly, and Cavendish their home. Their families' patience with this process and belief in our mission is unwavering; and for all our learners we continue to fight for their utmost learning experience. Hence, fundraisers such as our Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction (also our largest one!) help keep the doors of ESBR open for our learners during this time. Tickets may be purchased for the event in advance for $50, or $60 at the door the day of, here: https://www.esblackriver.org/social-fundraisers And for the first time this year we are also introducing our Silent Auction available online: ESBR 3rd Annual Silent Auction and Wine Tasting | 32auctions  The online Silent Auction is currently open and will be available until noon on Friday, September 16, 2022, the day prior to the event at Jackson Gore's Roundhouse. If you cannot attend or are even just unsure if you are able to or not, you are still welcome to view and bid on items until it closes online. We will then have the items at the event and will announce final bids and winners at the end of the evening.  And be sure to check in regularly in the meantime, as the site will be updated frequently as new items arrive!  Please join us, we hope to see you there. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Again, the proceeds 100% support the school staying open for authentic learning by young minds!    Vermont Home Gardener September Garden Tips   Rain or shine, our gardens are now heading into the home stretch with tomatoes, beans, squash, and peppers leading the way!  Dry weather has been tough on some veggies and flowers this summer, extra mulch and extra watering is required.  Good news is that weeds grow slower and the lawn needs less mowing!  Tomatoes and peppers are really sub-tropical plants and don't know that winter is coming so they are still trying to grow.  We know better and there are several things we can do right now to get the most out of them.  It's also a good time to get a soil test so you know what is needed for next year.  Late summer pests & diseases are appearing too so let's be alert.   Late Season Tomato care.  August & September conditions generally are good for a plant's growth, as well as some plant diseases.  Plant diseases can't be cured, only prevented and managed.  Disease prevention is the most effective strategy.  Healthy plants can resist pests and diseases and healthy soil is the best way to have strong, healthy plants.  Of course, healthy plants are more nutritious, so they contribute to our own good health too.  Homemade compost supplemented with minerals like phosphate, calcium, and potassium, when indicated by a soil test (see below), are a great way to build healthy soil and reduce disease problems.   Read the full article and ask questions at VermontHomeGardener.com

Mount Holly Newsflash- Monday, August 22, 2022

A slight chance of rain showers before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Mount Holly Newsflash - Monday, August 22, 2022  The weather today in Mount Holly -Rain showers likely before 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com Over 800 Ducks Race in Shallow Black River to Help Local Group   This past Saturday, August 20, members of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) gathered on the Depot Street Bridge, in the Black River, and under the Walker Bridge as over 800 ducks were dropped into the river in the 23rd annual Ralph D Hogancamp Memorial Duck Race.   As evidenced by the photo, members of the LRC standing in the river did not have to worry about deep or fast-running water.  Due to the shallowness of the river waters, Rotarians need to help "nudge" many of the 800 plus rubber ducks down the river towards the finishing line under Walker Bridge.   Even though the lack of a strong river current made this year's race very slow, all the ducks, all rented by hopeful "bettors", made it across the finish line.   The first-place duck belonged to Kathy Burns who received $200.  Patty Rumrill was the owner of the second-place duck, earning $100.  Third place winner was Megan Foley who took home $ 75 as her winnings.  The Winning Corporate duck belonged to Green Mountain Fireplace Specialty.   Not to be counted out, Meghan Huntley had the distinction of owning the last duck to finish providing her with a $25 "award".   The funds collected by the duck race will be donated to Reinbow Riding Center in Mt Holly to help in its programs to improve the well-being of individuals with unique physical, emotional and cognitive challenges through a therapeutic equine experience.   Kim Lampert, one of the Rotarians who wander in the river to give the ducks a little help, complimented Sharon Bixby "for guiding the club again to a successful event".   Steven Price Speaks to Ludlow Rotary Club On His Equestrian Journalistic Career   At a recent meeting of the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) Steven D. Price, noted author of many equestrian books, spoke to the members about his varied career in writing about horses-as well as how he became involved in with horses.   He indicated that as a youth, while attending a summer camp, he was "somewhat accidentally" introduced to horseback riding.  Apparently, his instructor thought he was an experienced rider and put him on an aggressive horse.  This was the beginning of a long relationship with horses, albeit, a rather "bumpy" start that evolved into a more seasoned and creative experience.   Price indicated that he "rode in Bermuda, Colombia, Ireland, England, France, Spain, Portugal, and Holland. I've ridden on American dude ranches and cattle ranches, fox hunts, and horse shows. Other highlights include galloping a horse on Santa Anita's main track (not, however, during a race) and in a Texas rodeo opening parade".  The photo, above, pictured Price as he participated in the opening of a rodeo in Texas.   One of the highlights of Price's career was watching the 1973 Belmont Stakes in the Jockey's Room at the Santa Anita track that Secretariat won by 31 lengths winning the Triple Crown.  He said that at the finish of the race, the entire room of experienced jockeys arose and applauded Secretariat.   Price is the author or editor of forty-four books, dealing both with equestrian and other subjects, including 1001 Dumbest Things Ever Said, The Quotable Horse Lover, The Ultimate Fishing Guide, and Old As the Hills: The Story of Bluegrass Music.    The LRC normally meets every Tuesday for lunch and invites all interested persons to attend one of the lunches to learn what Rotary is all about.  Contact Kevin Barnes at 802.228.8877 or ask any Rotarian for additional information.     Pictured above is Steven D. Price, equestrian journalist and author, as he leads the opening march at a Texas rodeo.  Price was a recent speaker at the Ludlow Rotary Club's weekly luncheon meeting.

Mount Holly Newsflash- Saturday, August 20, 2022

A slight chance of rain showers before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Mount Holly Newsflash - Saturday, August 20, 2022  The weather today in Mount Holly -Sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 1 to 6 mph. Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com Saturday, August 20, 2022 23rd Annual Ralph D. Hogancamp Memorial Duck Race   Buy your duck tickets on line at www.ludlowrotary.com   Come join the fun!  12:00 noon at Walker Bridge in Ludlow, VT     Apologies for missing the last couple months, I intended to provide more context for at least some of the bills I worked on last session, but as I mentioned in my June article, we've had a lot on our calendar this summer and weathered some unplanned events as well. My wife and I did welcome our second baby in June! Another girl! Born June 12, Frankie Louise Nicoll. Then we all got sick with COVID in July, including the baby. Luckily it didn't hit any of us too hard, but even still none of us left the couch much for almost 2 weeks. To recap the remaining things the Governor acted on since my June article, I would say there were not too many surprises. He did sign the budget, which I was happy with. As I mentioned before, he made some waves in April by seemingly hinting that he may veto the budget, so I was glad we were able to avoid that outcome. To get the budget through the committee process and reach agreement between the various policy committees in each chamber and then between the House and Senate chambers themselves is a process to behold and feels like a miracle every year. The thought of all that work being thrown out by the stroke of a pen is frightening, and he has done it before without much notice. As happy as I was that he did not veto the budget, the Governor really disappointed me by vetoing two other bills that I really cared about, H505 and H534. H534 would have expanded the non-violent crimes eligible for expungement under the current process. H505 would have finally eliminated the pointless and arguably racist powder cocaine/crack cocaine sentencing disparity in VT law, as well as set up a committee to study and advise the legislature on transitioning away from criminalizing people with substance use disorder. This is something I talk about a lot, personally I don't think we should be putting addicts in prison solely for low-level possession, I think we need to improve access to treatment as an alternative. That's how you end the cycle in my mind. That being said, I accept that not everyone is where I am on this issue, which is why this bill became a study, by a committee that would have included a representative from law enforcement as one of its members, that would have simply issued a report back to the legislature on potential policy options. It passed both chambers on voice vote, with very little opposition. This was a loss for the state and suffice to say I'm still pretty upset about it three months later, and hope I am able to fight for a similar policy next January if I am re-elected in November. As always feel free to reach out about any of this or anything else. In next month's article I plan to offer my thoughts on the constitutional amendments you will see on the ballot in November. Calling/texting my phone is always better than sending me an email. Thanks for all the support on primary day! Hope to see or talk to you soon!   Logan Nicoll State Representative Ludlow, Mount Holly, Shrewsbury 802-345-8430