After 32 Years - He can still stay in the saddle!

The trail along the ocean - magnificent feeling!

Ralph on horseback after 32 years; the last time he tried he ended up in a wheelchair for 2 months.

Two Weeks Before the Mast

The Star Clipper pictured off St. Kitts, with all sails up, was the tall ship home of Janet and Ralph for two weeks in February. Sailing to virtually all the Leeward and Treasure Islands in the Caribbean, the ship, the second largest tall ship in the world, was an absolute joy to experience.

The Clipper handled well in both strong and weak winds, offering two small swimming pools, plenty of sun (and shade) deck space for relaxation, reading, and just enjoying the vistas of the islands and sea.

The food was suberb. Gourmet meals featured three to four appetizers, multiple entrees, sorbet breaks to "cleanse the palate", desserts that were decadently fantastic, and the finest wines. A piano bar provided music that "old folks" could appreciate.

Everytime the sails were raised the choral music from "1492" filled the air.

On shore we enjoyed snorkelling, island tours, just simple beach time, and, of course, shopping.

In short, it was a great vacation (once you got used to sleeping while the ship sailed under sail - a great feeling!).

USC - National Champions !

It was 55-19.

Southern Cal made it very clear who was No. 1! (And most of the team is returning next year.) Check out this link to verify that. http://dougpace.blogspot.com/2005/01/one-and-only.html

Thoughts on Proposed 3-Acre Zoning in Ludlow

The following is an email sent to Frank Heald, Ludlow Town Manager, with respect to the new zoning amendment proposed by the Planning Commission and presented to the Ludlow Select Board on Monday, January 3, 2005:

"Frank: I detected a sense of concern by several sb [select board] members last night over the proposed 3 acre zoning as it may impact multi-acre property owners and, presumably, their future sub-division intentions.

I would like to make a suggestion to them (and would appreciate it if you would share this with them).

The SB has the power to make "technical" (small) changes to the proposal that does not impact the substance of the proposed zoning regulations - without resubmitting the proposal to the PC.

Revise the section of the proposal that cites the 3 acre regulation with the stipulation that section does not take effect until 180 days (c. 6 mos.) following the effective date of the zoning amendment. Consult with the town attorney to verify that the change is "small" - i.e., doesn't alter the substance of the 3 acre zoning change for R1.

If the six month hiatus is not enough, the sb can make it nine mos. or a year.

Such a change would give involved land-owners a reasonable opportunity to sub-divide under 1 acre regulations.

If it takes property owners longer than the delay period to sub-divide, I believe the town then has to decide which is more important to the interests of Ludlow as an entity, enactment of zoning to support the town plan and the long-range character of the town or the speculative gains of the involved property owners.

In general, the intent and objective of the new regulations is to preserve the rural character of Ludlow. The proposed acreage regulation for R1 is a step in that direction. I hope that the members of the sb will recognize this and openly support this zoning amendment. In my judgment, it is not enough for the sb to say that the zoning amendment should be decided by the town voters; members of the sb owe the town a public statement as to where that body stands with respect to passage of the zoning amendment.

The failure of the SB to openly support this zoning amendment invites the same fate all previous zoning amendments prepared by the Planning Commission have met since 1991.

Ralph Pace"

A visit to "Bright Nights"

A horse drawn carriage approaching a Victorian home in Forest Park. This is one of the hundreds of electrifying scenes on display at the "Bright Nights", an annual electronic display sponsored by a Springfield MA group in that city's Forest Park.

On December 29, 2004, Janet and Ralph Pace, in the company of Janet's brother, Allan, toured the "Bright Nights". It was an amazing spectacle.

The photo above, as well as the following two, are samples of the creative work done to celebrate the season. To see more pictures, try the shutterfly web site album found at http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeANG7Ny0aNGzzY. Select the view as a slideshow option.

The Grinch shown doing his annual almost task.

Monopoly man as depicted at "Bright Nights" .

Our tree on Christmas Morning

Pictured above is the Christmas tree on christmas morning before we attacked it. According to instructions, we were not to give any presents (also, on Christmas Eve, we were not to have any stocking gifts). Somehow, the message was "misunderstood" by the participants.

Jeffrey, Allan, Janet, and I all enjoyed breaking the "rules". We spoke to Stephen and Barbara and Douglas via the phone to complete a wonderful day.

It even managed to snow a bit on Christmas afternoon.

Christmas Eve Dinner at 1 Whispering Pines

Janet, Allan, Ralph, and Jeffrey sit down to enjoy Duck a'la orange prepared by Jeffrey (it was great!). We wish everyone a happy and peaceful holiday.

A Determined Little Thing . . . !

With the temperature at minus 9.6 degrees (F), this little fellow still found time to pickup the droppings from the bird feeders in our backyard.

Janet Prepares tree for "Trim the Tree Party"

Janet is shown as she prepares the Christmas tree for the handiwork of our guests at our Trim the Tree Party.

Some of our Trim the Tree Party Guests

Pictured above ae Susan Kneebone, Beth Almond, Linda Moore, and Marlene Cysyk at the Pace's 5th annual "Trim the Tree" Christmas Party. Behind them is their work of art.

WTC Ground Zero

A view of the World Trade Center's ground zero from the World Financial Center.

The City at Christmas Time

Ralph and Janet enjoy a moment in the Mansfield Hotel Lounge prior to supper club at the Algonquin. They spent a recent weekend in New York, attending the Radio City Music Halll Christmas show, seeing Andrea Marcovicci at the Algonquin, enjoying a priceless evening of piano bar music at Danny's listening to Jerry Scott at the keyboard, and, see photo above, going to ground zero at the World Trade Center.

Conqueror of Everest visits McMurdo Antarctica

Antarctica scientists with Sir Edmund Hillary at McMurdo Station (Douglas is 12th from the far right in the rear). Hillary helped establish chain of posts enabling access to the South Pole.

Link

Pace Gathering in Putney, Vermont

Pictured above are some members of the Pace clan as they gathered for lunch at the Putney Inn in Putney, Vermont. From left to right, they are: Janet Pace, Herb Pace, Shirley Pace, Ralph Pace, Barbara Boland, and Jim Boland.

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Paces

The Paces of Ludlow enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner. From left to right are Janet, Barbara Ohm, Stephen, Ralph, and Jeffrey.

Stephen and Barbara visit over Thanksgiving

Over the the Thanksgiving holiday, Stephen and Barbara visited Ludlow from New Mexico. Durin g their stay, they visited the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS).
Stephen and Barbara at VINS

Ludlowites enjoy the City

Pictured above are the Ludlowites at their annual New York City theatre and dining tour. Seated at the world-renown Round Table of the Algonquin Hotel are, from left to right Susan Kneebone, Bill Kneebone, David Almond, Janet Pace, Ralph Pace, Beth Almond, Linda Thomson, and George Thomson. The group seeing "The Lion King" and dining at Il Tinello, the Sea Grill, the Rainbow Grille, and, of course, the Algonquin.

To see more photos of this annual trek to the City, click the following link:
http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeANG7Ny0aNGzuo