Ralph Pace
updated
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 11:18 AM
After much bally-hoo, worrying, and desperation, the bridges of
Chester are now reopened and functional.
Construction crews worked overtime to replace the two Rte 103
bridges just south of the main business district in Chester so as
to minimize the downtime to local businesses and commuters. The
detour through Springfield is no longer necessary and, in the case
of the southern-most bridge replace, the traffic lanes over that
bridge have been expanded so as to conform to standard bridge
widths.
Hopefully both the effected businesses and commuters using this
traffic pattern will now return to their normal routines. We
understand that all the involved area people and businesses are
planning a party to celebrate the event. It was, not incidentally,
a project completed ahead of schedule.
LPC-TV, the public access cable channel 8, 10, 20, and 21, that
covers Mt. Holly, Plymouth, Ludlow, and Cavendish has earned a
$1,000 award from the Berkshire Bank Foundation. The grant is
towards the $125,000 capital project to renovated new studio space
for LPC-TV in the former Tank Barn in the Ludlow Community
Complex.
This Thursday, the area news program, TW3 (That Was The Week That
Was), broadcast via LPC-TV on cable channel 8 and 20, will have an
unusual feature for its programming. The program will feature the
art therapy of Jane Hart, a part-time Cavendish resident. According
to Jane, she'll have co-hosts Leo Graham and Ralph Pace doing
artwork that is "very relaxing art-like activity which requires no
background in art, no self-confidence in it and no enthusiasm for
it. You'll be amazed and delighted at the results and there is no
way to make a mistake . . . ." Given the lack of art capabilities
in both men, this should be a most interesting half hour. TW3
broadcasts live on Thursday at 3 PM on LPC-TV; the program is
rebroadcast throughout the ensuing week.
FOLA (Friends of Ludlow Auditorium) is preparing for a very active
October program. On October 1 it will feature the popular area
music of the Gypsy Reels. This will be followed by its "1st
Thursday" movie on October 6, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
The following Columbus Day weekend, FOLA will cosponsor a Ludlow
musical presentation of Civil War and Mark Twain era music with the
piano virtuoso Jacqueline Schwab providing the music on Sunday,
October 9. To top off the month's programming, FOLA will sponsor a
healthcare panel discussion on Thursday, October 20. The panel
discussion will be moderated by Kristen Carlson, WCAX's senior
political correspondent; panel members will include statewide
representatives reflecting both sides of the recently-enacted
legislation designed to produce a single-payer healthcare program
in the state.
To this mix, on November 4, FOLA will present original comedy skits
written by Stan Hart and featuring a cast of area residents. Hart,
who is a part-time resident in Cavendish, was the head writer for
the Carol Burnett TV show.
FOLA is also joining with the Friends of Fletcher Memorial Library
(FML) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of "To
Kill a Mockingbird," the Pulitzer ward winning novel by Harper Lee.
In keeping with the celebration of this great novel, the FML in
Ludlow has joined with FOLA to feature this work as both an
outstanding piece of literature and a milestone motion picture. The
FML will conduct a discussion of the book at the Library on
Thursday, July 28 at 7 PM. Copies of the book may be obtained from
the Library. In conjunction with the book, FOLA has arranged to
feature the film version as its "First Thursday," with the film
showing on Thursday, August 4 at 7 PM at the Ludlow Town Hall
Auditorium. For information, call 802-228-8921 or 228-7239.
The Ludlow 250 Committee is busy planning the semiquincentennial
celebration of the Ludlow's 250th birthday scheduled for September
16 and 17. The committee recently started its fund raising efforts
to underwrite the activities with a massive mailing. Those
interested in contributing to this project may send donations to:
Ludlow 250 Committee, c/o Ludlow Town Hall, PO Box B, Ludlow, VT
05149.
Cavendish, also celebrating its 250th anniversary in October, will
feature a tag sale on both the Cavendish and Proctorsville Greens
on Saturday, July 30 as part of its fund raising efforts for its
celebration.
Speaking of Cavendish, one of the fascinating pieces of historical
lore is the tale of Phineas Gage, a railroad construction foreman,
who, in 1848, had a tampering iron accidentally blown through his
head. He survived this ordeal for 12 years and became a cause
célèbre because of the accident. This past Sunday, the Cavendish
Historical Society presented a discussion of the event and its
impact on brain injury. As a note to this event, the explosive
charge that caused the accident was found 30 feet from Gage after
it penetrated his head.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will be the featured speaker
at the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation on Saturday, July 30.
Justice Breyer will discuss his recently published book "Making Our
Democracy Work: A Judge's View." This will be the first public
appearance by Justice Breyer in Vermont since he took his seat on
the Supreme Court on August 3, 1994, and the Foundation is marking
this special occasion with a festive celebration to honor the
Justice and the Foundation's 51st anniversary.
(If you have any comments, news, or positive gossip about the
Ludlow area, contact Ralph Pace at ralphpace@tds.net.)
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