Holiday Elderhostel Boston Trip

Janet and I enjoyed a brief Elderhostel trip to Boston in mid-December. Staying at the Midtown Motel, the group took in the Christmas performance by the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall, saw "White Christmas" (a take off from the 1950 movie, "Holiday Inn") at the Wang, toured the Christian Scientist Mother Church, had dinner at Elderhostel headquarters, toured the fantastic collections at the Museum of Fine Arts (especially the Eygptology collection), and. of course, managed to do a little "unnecessary" Christmas shopping at several of the urban shopping malls in Back Bay and Copley Square. All in all, we had a great time. Pictured above are some of the folks attending the Elderhostel; below is a photo of the Mother Church of Christian Scientist. For some other photos, click here.

First Winter Storm Hits Ludlow

Starting Sunday night through Monday, Dec 3, we experienced our first snow of the season, totalling about 9 to 10 inches. Devi has thoroughly enjoyed discovering the snow as may be seen from the above photo of me trying to manage her during an outing.

Thanksgiving in Georgia

We journeyed down to Athens, Georgia to enjoy Thanksgiving with Douglas and do some sightseeing at the Un. of Georgia, Douglas' lab, and the town of Athens. We also had time to help Douglas (the primary chef) in the preparation of a 17 lb bird for the occasion - which he shared with three of his co-workers.

During the T-Day celebration, we also watched, as is required of a Douglas visit, USC handily defeat Arizona State. It was fun to spend time with Douglas and his co-workers, who were from Argentina and Brazil, especially as they tried to engage the fall pasttime of football.

A photo slide show of the visit is available by clicking here.

Pictured below is a photo of Douglas in action at the lab where he is currently doing research aimed at understanding the nature of a particular parasite that attacks the human body, particularly affecting people living in Latin America.

Ludlow Group Enjoys Paris Trip

On Wednesday, October 10, the Almonds, Moores, and Paces flew to Paris for a full four days of sightseeing. It was a fun trip and for most of the participants their first view of the city of lights.

• Day 1 - we bought Metro tickets and wander up to the Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower to the uninitiated) and had our first sidewalk cafe lunch near the tower as we dealt with jet lag. That evening we travelled to the Ecole Militaire area to enjoy a very small restaurant, P'Tit Troquet. It lived up to its name, the little cafe, as it could seat only twenty people. But it was most enjoyable as everything ordered was prepared from scratch.
  


• Day 2 - David and Darrah left early to catch a train to Normandy to tour the D-Day beaches and American cemetery, all of which they thoroughly enjoyed. The ladies and Ralph took a walking tour of La Marais (the marsh) section of the city to view the old homes and buildings used by the nobility. Pam, our guide, provided a detailed background to the history of the area. Following the walk, we stopped for lunch and then went to Musee de l'Orangerie to see Monet's huge oils of water lilies. The guys returned on an earlier train from Normandy so we went to an Italian restaurant then took a tour of Paris by night (the illumination tour) that was great. This was followed by a trip to the Moulin Rouge. After standing in line for an hour, we finally were seated, amongst the mob of other tourists, for a very long show. Got back to the hotel after 2 am.
  


• Day 3 - This was the day we saw virtually everything in Paris. We had arranged a private tour called the Best of Paris with Sophie, a sophisticated and charming young lady. Our itinerary included Notre Dame, the Lourve (with Sophie's fantastic narratives), lunch on a lovely restaurant boat as we plied the Seine, followed by a tour of everything imaginable in Paris from the Champs Elysee to the Place de la Concorde. Of course, the Eiffel Tower seemed to be everywhere we went. The evening concluded with a dinner at La Tour d'Argent.
  


• Day 4 - At Darrah's urgings, we set out on our own walking tour of the Ile St. Louis to discover an ice cream source that was famous. We had a pleasant walk throughout the area, enjoyed the ice cream (although we still think Ben and Jerry's is the top), and returned to the hotel to be picked up by Marie for a private tour of Versailles. Versailles was a magnificent experience with its beautifully manicured landscapes and majestic chateau. We enjoyed our "last supper" at Altitude 95 in the Eiffel Tower.

All in all, it was a great trip. Even the flights were tolerable. Below are some of the highlights of the long weekend in Paris (a fuller version is available as a slideshow by clicking here).

A New Roof Starts at 1 Whispering Pines

On Wednesday, September 26, 2007, work began on a new standing seam roof. Jancewicz & Sons of Bellows Falls, VT (what our local contractor called the Cadillac of roofers) began work in the rear. Pictured above is the portion of the roof covered by the burgundy, 24 guage metal that will be applied to the main roof and the dining room roof.

Below are photos of the staging area in the driveway where the strips are cut and the weather-proofing strips that are placed over the existing shingles before the final metal strip is secured to the roof.

Brodie's Visit Ludlow

Ethel and Colin Brodie paid a visit to us this past weekend. We met them on our Elderhostel trip to Turkey and Greece. The Brodie's were just returning from a tour of Norway, Iceland, and Greenland (from which they had a great selections of photos that we enjoyed). During the visit, we introduced them to the Coolidge homestead (the four of us are pictured above) and Colin had an opportunity to relax, Vermont style, at the General Store. After a short hiatus in their California home, the Brodie's plan to tour Africa early next year. It was great to renew acquaintances with "fellow travelers" from Turkey and Greece.

Janet Busy with Friends of the Library

Janet is spending a good deal of time supporting the activities of the Friends of Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow. Above she is pictured handling the money for the Friends' tag sale. The sale drew a good size crowd.

Devi In Her Favorite Position

Devi has gotten into the habit, everytime she leaves the house, of running to the side of the old Explorer. She really likes to take a ride. It should be interesting to see how she "weathers" the Vermont winter when it's not too practical to drive with open windows.

Why are we so afraid of . . . ?

Every once in awhile I reach that point where I've just got to get something off my chest. Living during the regime of "W", I guess, promotes the need.

• Why are we so damn afraid of adding a nickel to our gas tax so that we can address the critical maintenance needs of our highways and bridges?


• When will this country realize that transportation is a vital national requisite supporting our capitalistic structure - not something that has to be profit-driven in itself?


• For that matter, why are we so afraid of considering nationalized health care programs?


• When will we have the sense to recognize - in spite of the NRA - that the right to bear arms does not necessarily include semi-automatic weapons or grenade rocket launchers?

There are a few other items I might mention but I'll be temporarily happy if just one or two of the above are honestly addressed by us.

We Finally Did Some Kayaking

After a lengthy period of avoiding the kayaks, Janet and I finally went up to Knapps Pond in Cavendish and did some kayaking. One time around the island for each of us. And we forgot to bring a camera to verify this event. At least Devi was there to validate our efforts. It was a beautiful, clear day - just perfect for kayaking and enjoying a warm but dry summer day.

Jeffrey Gets a "New" Truck

After carefully testing the used car market, Jeffrey decided on a 2000 Toyota Tacoma with four wheel drive, extended cabin, automatic transmission, power windows, air, and a lot of other neat accessories. It looks like a good solid truck to satisfy his working and recreational needs.

Douglas' Trek from LA to Athens, Georgia

Saturday, July 14, Douglas began his cross-country trek from Los Angeles to Athens, Georgia to assume his new research position at the University of Geogia. Most of his belongings had already been shipped to Atlanta. His friend Troy Gunderson is accompanying him East on the journey along with his eBay purchased "swamp cooler".

Where in the World is Douglas? He's in Athens, Georgia!

Saturday, July 14 - 7:00 pm MST-from Winslow, Arizona - left late, the swamp cooler didn't cool car and was a fire hazard due to excessive power demands, spent night in Gallup, New Mexico.

Sunday, July 15 - 8 pm CST - Heinretta, Oklahoma - ditched the swamp cooler, planned night stop, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Estimate it may take two more days to reach Athens. Weather getting more humid. Truck doing okay.

Monday, July 16 - 9 pm EST - Athens, Georgia. Arrived Athens, no problems. Needs to sign papers and provide evidence of insurance prior to getting into apartment. Hopes to get apartment tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 17 - Athens, GA - Finalized all paper work on apartment. Moved in after renting U-Haul to move furniture shipped from west coast to Atlanta to apartment and stopping at Good Will for some additional furniture. Carpet in apartment still needs to be cleaned. All in all, things seem to be coming together.

Wednesday, July 18 - Condo #8, Athens, GA - Phone, cable, address, and carpet straightened out. Acquired 2 couches and 25" TV from Good Will yesterday and new mattress today. Troy preparing to return to LA tomorrow. Investigating need for additional a/c. Looks like things are taking shape. Starts work in lab next Monday.

46th Anniversary Picnic

The "boys" planned a special picnic for Janet and I at a lovely spot along the Connecticut River this past Sunday. While Stephen wasn't able to make it East he did call. Jeffrey planned the menu with Douglas and Alexa's help. I don't think Devi had too much to do with the planning.

It was a great picnic, the weather was most agreeable, and the location excellent to celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. A few more photos may be viewed at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmO8 .

Douglas and Alexa Visit Ludlow

Douglas and Alexa came East for the Fourth of July holiday period. They spent a couple of days in West Milford, NJ, where they renewed old friendships with Chuck, Dave, and Brian. Following this, they drove up to Ludlow.

Pictured above are Douglas and Alexa with Ralph at the Jackson Gore Vermont Symphony fourth performance. It was an unusually chilly night with threatening skies but a nice concert followed by fireworks.

Douglas will return briefly to LA to complete packing and begin driving cross country to Athens, Georgia where he'll begin a new research position at the University of Georgia at the end of the month.

Pictured below is a scene of the VSO playing the 1812.

Devi aka Tiberius Gets a New Bed

Thanks to a gift from the boys, Tiberius, now called Devi, has a new and very comfortable bed that she can call her own.

Tiberius Arrives at Whispering Pines

After some long negotiations with several rescue dog orgianizations, Janet and I travelled to Lebanon, ME Sunday to pick up Tiberius, aka Tibby, a dog rescued from somewhere in Tennessee. Tibby is having a slightly rough time adjusting to our home but is a most loveable dog. She's a black Labrador Retreiver with something else in her. Tibby is about 2-3 years old, slightly over-weight, loves people but shy at first meeting.

Pace Elders Meet For Lunch in Vermont

On June 7, some of the Pace family elders, and Allan Nelson, met for lunch at the Putney Inn just off I91 in Putney, VT. Below is a group photo.

For those who may not remember who's who, from left to right, they are Shirley Pace, Ralph Pace, Barbara Boland, Allan Nelson, Jim Boland, Janet Pace, and Herb Pace.

Ludlow and Area Hit by Violent Hail Storm

At 2:15 pm today, all Hell broke loose as we had a twenty minute rain and hail storm that produced 3/4 of an inch of rain and 1/4 hail. Below are some of the images of the storm:

The following photo is interesting because it depicts the hail bouncing up after hitting the driveway.

Janet & Garden Club Sell Over $1,000 in Plants

The Ludlow Garden Club, of which Janet is a member, held its annual plant sale last Saturday in the mini-park in "downtown" Ludlow. Even with threatening weather (which did spare the plant sale), the club sold a record $1,000 plus in plants and gardening accessories. Pictured below are some of the ladies as they relax following their sales record busting today.

Joe and Sharon Lemmo Visit

Joe and Sharon Lemmo dropped by for a brief visit towards the end of May. Sharon and Janet first meet in San Francisco where they lived and worked in 1958-9. Joe and Sharon are pictured on the left, above, as we all viewed the Ludlow Memorial Day parade (below). We had a great visit with them as Sharon and Janet recalled their days in the city by the bay. They also had a chance to renew acquaintances with the Russells whom they met on a South American tour.

Black River Today

The new blog, Black River Today, officially started on the Rutland Herald/Typepad web site.

 

This blog, with the web address of http://rutlandherald.typepad.com/blackriver/, will cover all the news from the Black River area along with special sections on everything from travel to puzzles.  It is done in conjunction with the Rutland Herald (and may also be accessed from its web site, http://www.rutlandherald.com.

 

Whe the dust settles, it will replace the Black River Reporter, if all the facilities of that on-line newspaper can be transferred to the Black River Today site.

 

For the time being all news releases and photos can continue to be sent to news@brreporter.com while letters may be sent to letters@brreporter.com.

Paces Enjoy Turkey-Greece Elderhostel

Above is the Temple of Aphrodite at Aphrodisias in Turkey. This was one of the many marvellous sites we enjoyed during our three week April tour of Turkey, selected Aegean islands, and mainland Greece as part of an Elderhostel tour.

A whole slue of photographs of the entire journey through the antiquities of pre-Hellenic cultures, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires we were exposed to in this educational and fun tour. Take a look at http://elderhostel2007.shutterfly.com/ for hundreds of photos. We've also prepared a DVD of the program.

To me, the best part of the journey was seeing the ruins of Ephesus and Delos along with the Mycenae ruins on the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece. Below is a photo of the Treasury of
Atreus. If you recall your Homer, this was the alleged site where Agamemnon reigned and the Trojan War all began.

Our journey in turkey centered around Istanbul - a most fascinating city as it easily mixes the ancient buildings and ruins of Greco-Roman origin as well as those from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods (including the clumsy work of the so-called Crusaders) with very modern buildings. Traffic in Istanbul makes New York look like a drive in the park. The majesty of the Hagia Sophia (Temple of Wisdom built by Justinian in the 6th century AD) along with the "Blue Mosque" are awe-inspiring (allegedly the Statue of Liberty could fit inside the Hagia Sophia).

Ephesus and Aphrodisias are essentially Roman cities that display the engineering greatness of the Romans as well as their pragmatism.

We traveled to the Aegean Islands of Samos, Patmos (where John the Divine wrote Revelations), Mykonos, Delos, Naxos, and Syros on the Aegean Princess, a 110 foot, motorized catamaran. The Princess was a lot of fun until it hit heavy seas. Then a number of the 23 people on the tour suddenly spent a lot of time in their cabins. Our final journey to Athens was aboard a high speed ferry that was as elegant as it was fast (traveled about 36 nautical miles/hour).

In Greece, we stayed at a lovely hotel in downtown Athens and toured the Acropolis, the ancient agora (marketplace) and numerous other historic sites.

The day we spent on the Peloponnese was a personal highlight in that it introduced us to the Mycenae culture that preceded that of the Greeks.
We traveled this world of ancient wonder with our friends from Canada, John and Joan Brownlie. This was their first Eldershostel.

All was not simply educational, however. The chemistry of the folks involved in this Elderhostel was perhaps the best we have ever experienced in our history with Elderhostel. We had a great time mixing with everyone, enjoying the food (too much of it), and enjoying each other's company. The company of expert historians, especially Sami in Turkey, made the event even more special.

All in all, it was the best Elderhostel we been on so far. It was long - and sometimes demanding. (The Romans, unfortunately, did not invent escalators.)

Visit to the Strykers of Doylestown

We had a great visit with our lifelong friends, Jube and Maryanne Stryker in Doylestown in March. In additon to fun at North Clinton Street, we were invited to a Bucks County Symphony Orchestra Pops Concert featuring the soprano Lisa Vroman doing Broadway numbers related to the ladies. Great voice and performance - great evening. It's always fun to visit the Strykers to renew old memories and create new ones.

Some photos are available at http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaN2blo0aNmOP .

Stephen & Barbara Tie the Knot

We received some great news on our return from a visit to Doylestown - Stephen and Barbara had gone to Las Vegas over the weekend and were married there on March 31. Attending Barbara was Adrienne, a friend from Albuquerque while Douglas and Alexa came from Los Angeles for Stephen.

More will follow . . . for those interested, the new couples address is:

Mr. Stephen Pace & Mrs. Barbara Ohm
2323 Bryan Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84108

They plan on a belated honeymoon in Spain during their forthcoming European trip.

TW3 Starts on Local PA TV

On Thursday, March 22, Ralph joined Leo Graham in inaugarating a local news program on LPC-TV, the area's public access station. Called 'That Was The Week That Was' (TW3) after the famous British program of the same name, the initial broadcast covered everything from the resignation of the local school superintendent to town meeting election results.

The entire 'script' consisted of:

§ RWSU Superintendent Resigns
o RWSU Considers .75 FTE or No Replacement
o Lowers Budget $19,000
o Perotti takes Springfield Position

§ Ludlow/U39 Budgets still Pending
o Cavendish & Mt Holly School Budgets Passed at Town Meeting
o U39 Budget is $3,629,324 UP 4.69%
o LES Budget is $2,341,073 UP 4.96%
o Causes of increases – salaries, 7.5% healthcare, + Special Ed
o U39 Budget Info Meeting – Apr 4 Vote – Apr 10
o LES Budget Info Meeting - Apr 2 vote on budget from the floor

§ In the meantime, Montpelier debating
o School Consolidation – backing away from changes due to pressure from “receiving” towns
o Property Taxes – may consider forced 5 or 3 yr reappraisal
o Considering lowering per pupil threshold penalty – U39 just $25 under limit now
o DWD Debated – Vote? – impact of Catholic Church from pulpit

§ Local Town Meeting Results
o Turnout low in Ludlow (76 at TM – under 300 voters)
o Turnout high in Mt Holly & Cavendish
o Major debate in Ludlow – how to handle PREBATES to town
o Ludlow defeats Gill Odd Fellows Home petition for tax exemption, 142 to 142 – Will repetition town and seek Village approval – Village Town Meeting/Budget Vote – March 27

§ Ludlow Selectboard Reorganizes
o Same officers (Barton, Neal, Schmidt)
o Concern over Property Taxes (where were our representatives at Town Meeting time?)

§ Status of WSWSU – GMUHS searches

§ Iraq War Protesters Continue in Ludlow
o 47 protested last Sunday in front of Ludlow Library
o Moved from Veterans Memorial Park (Green) after Ludlow Selectboard complained about use of Veterans Park for anti-war protesting

§ About TW3 next’s session – Frank Heald, Ludlow Town Manager to discuss Property Taxes – remember to call in or email us.

It was a lot of fun doing a live broadcast. (We managed to do the half-hour show within the prescribed 30 minute limit.) For a couple of 'hacks', we did a prety decent job (although Huntley and Brickley we ain't).

Some Photos From 2006 Utah Adventure

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir-a most impressive presence

The following are some random photos from our 2006 Elderhostel trip to the National Parks and Monuments of Southern Utah.