Dear Friends,
As the pandemic staggers on with no end in sight, I hope you all are faring as well as can be expected. First world problems, I’m bored and a little lonely, I actually miss going to my office and seeing my coworkers and friends, but I know how lucky I am to be able to work from home (finally, after 4 months of furlough), to have my horse on my own property (with access to trails), and my horse friends to meet and trail ride.
Membership renewals—wow—back in March I said “this will be your last newsletter if you have not renewed.” And then the world came to a screeching halt. So. . .we did not drop anyone from the list and you have continued to get emails, but now it’s almost 2021, if you renew now we will count it toward next year. Our awesome membership secretary, Alyce is trying to keep this all straight—please write clearly. A 2021 membership form is included in this newsletter and always available on our website. Thank you to everyone who has renewed. And welcome new members!
Hunter Pace and Other Activities
Most of the fall was spent cleaning trails and preparing for the LCRVHC Annual Fall Festival Hunter Pace. I need to thank all my cohorts and the landowners for their help and support in making this one of our most successful hunter paces in years, despite (or maybe because of) the pandemic. A HUGE thank you to our landowners: Dave Beaudette and Julie Berman, Tom and Gloria Elliott, Kristin Elliott Leas, and Mark Leas. Without your generosity in letting us use your land (and all the hard work that goes into maintaining it year-round and sprucing it up for the event) we could not do it. Deep gratitude to all the members and friends who gave their time weekend after weekend to clean up after Storm Isaias and the unnamed wind storms that seemed to come along almost weekly from then until the week of the pace; and all who helped mark the course and take markers down, pickup food and help with parking, timing, scoring and check-in the day of the pace: Alyce Mallek, Liz Kennedy, Lynn Burns, Nancy Palermo Lee, Dave Beaudette, Julie Berman, Tom and Gloria Elliott, Kristin Elliott Leas, Mark Leas, Beverly Torell, Bob Bandzes, Peggy Lupone, Rebecca Rus-sell, Mary Wozniak, Emily Berman (and her boyfriend Tomas and brother Nat—called in last minute to mow and weed whack when Dave cracked two ribs the week before the pace). I also want to thank the many members who supported the club by riding in the pace: especially my Golden Girls: Christel Maturo, Ruth Strontzer, and Cathy Clouse (Cathy is a tireless recruiter for LCRVHC). And thanks to Lynda Perry for taking care of the all important behind the scenes details (food, portapotty, ribbons). Please forgive me if I missed anyone--it’s not for lack of appreciation. I love all you guys and we couldn’t do it without you. See pictures and reports else-where in the newsletter.
On the same day the pace was taking place the BPC was working with Eagle Scout candidate Brendan Daly to construct a multi-use bridge on Westbrook town property on the Quinimay Trail south of Chittenden Hill Road. Tom Elliott had been working with Brendan for nearly a year making the plan and assisting him with the permitting process and getting materials in time of Covid. (Who knew there would be nationwide shortage of pressure treated wood?) Tom helped cut the wood to spec and supervised the actual construction. BPC president Beverly Torell was able to get some photos. See pictures and her report in the BPC section of this newsletter.
On September 21 several LCRVHC and BPC members met with forester Emory Gluck regarding the upcoming logging at Weber Woods. He told us they are expected to start soon and have one year to complete the project. The area they will be working is to the left of the main trail and parking area. The landing will be on route 145. They will also be working off Tower Hill in Clinton. You can see the blue dots on the trees to be harvested. As we get news I will pass it along.
On October 25, Lynda Perry and I attended the Clinton Land Trust’s annual meeting combined with the official dedication of the Weiss–Loveday property between River Road and Spencer Hill Road in Clinton. The short meeting and ceremony was followed by a one hour hike. Of course, I never thought to take pictures.
Please see the Upcoming Events box on the first page and the Calendar on the last page for more activities. We always need ideas for the calendar!
I hope to see you soon!
Melissa
PS LCRVHC membership is really a bargain at only $15 annually for individual, $25 for family. If you have friends you ride with or know people who are interested in trail riding with small groups or working on local trails, spread the word. And please, I can’t say it often enough, tell us what you want to do as a club!
As the pandemic staggers on with no end in sight, I hope you all are faring as well as can be expected. First world problems, I’m bored and a little lonely, I actually miss going to my office and seeing my coworkers and friends, but I know how lucky I am to be able to work from home (finally, after 4 months of furlough), to have my horse on my own property (with access to trails), and my horse friends to meet and trail ride.
Membership renewals—wow—back in March I said “this will be your last newsletter if you have not renewed.” And then the world came to a screeching halt. So. . .we did not drop anyone from the list and you have continued to get emails, but now it’s almost 2021, if you renew now we will count it toward next year. Our awesome membership secretary, Alyce is trying to keep this all straight—please write clearly. A 2021 membership form is included in this newsletter and always available on our website. Thank you to everyone who has renewed. And welcome new members!
Hunter Pace and Other Activities
Most of the fall was spent cleaning trails and preparing for the LCRVHC Annual Fall Festival Hunter Pace. I need to thank all my cohorts and the landowners for their help and support in making this one of our most successful hunter paces in years, despite (or maybe because of) the pandemic. A HUGE thank you to our landowners: Dave Beaudette and Julie Berman, Tom and Gloria Elliott, Kristin Elliott Leas, and Mark Leas. Without your generosity in letting us use your land (and all the hard work that goes into maintaining it year-round and sprucing it up for the event) we could not do it. Deep gratitude to all the members and friends who gave their time weekend after weekend to clean up after Storm Isaias and the unnamed wind storms that seemed to come along almost weekly from then until the week of the pace; and all who helped mark the course and take markers down, pickup food and help with parking, timing, scoring and check-in the day of the pace: Alyce Mallek, Liz Kennedy, Lynn Burns, Nancy Palermo Lee, Dave Beaudette, Julie Berman, Tom and Gloria Elliott, Kristin Elliott Leas, Mark Leas, Beverly Torell, Bob Bandzes, Peggy Lupone, Rebecca Rus-sell, Mary Wozniak, Emily Berman (and her boyfriend Tomas and brother Nat—called in last minute to mow and weed whack when Dave cracked two ribs the week before the pace). I also want to thank the many members who supported the club by riding in the pace: especially my Golden Girls: Christel Maturo, Ruth Strontzer, and Cathy Clouse (Cathy is a tireless recruiter for LCRVHC). And thanks to Lynda Perry for taking care of the all important behind the scenes details (food, portapotty, ribbons). Please forgive me if I missed anyone--it’s not for lack of appreciation. I love all you guys and we couldn’t do it without you. See pictures and reports else-where in the newsletter.
On the same day the pace was taking place the BPC was working with Eagle Scout candidate Brendan Daly to construct a multi-use bridge on Westbrook town property on the Quinimay Trail south of Chittenden Hill Road. Tom Elliott had been working with Brendan for nearly a year making the plan and assisting him with the permitting process and getting materials in time of Covid. (Who knew there would be nationwide shortage of pressure treated wood?) Tom helped cut the wood to spec and supervised the actual construction. BPC president Beverly Torell was able to get some photos. See pictures and her report in the BPC section of this newsletter.
On September 21 several LCRVHC and BPC members met with forester Emory Gluck regarding the upcoming logging at Weber Woods. He told us they are expected to start soon and have one year to complete the project. The area they will be working is to the left of the main trail and parking area. The landing will be on route 145. They will also be working off Tower Hill in Clinton. You can see the blue dots on the trees to be harvested. As we get news I will pass it along.
On October 25, Lynda Perry and I attended the Clinton Land Trust’s annual meeting combined with the official dedication of the Weiss–Loveday property between River Road and Spencer Hill Road in Clinton. The short meeting and ceremony was followed by a one hour hike. Of course, I never thought to take pictures.
Please see the Upcoming Events box on the first page and the Calendar on the last page for more activities. We always need ideas for the calendar!
I hope to see you soon!
Melissa
PS LCRVHC membership is really a bargain at only $15 annually for individual, $25 for family. If you have friends you ride with or know people who are interested in trail riding with small groups or working on local trails, spread the word. And please, I can’t say it often enough, tell us what you want to do as a club!
