Volunteers help build disc golf course; FOLA donates $500 to BRGNS; RVTC students clean up Chester Green trees; donations for Chester planters sought; Rotary gives $250 to 250 committee; and items accepted for arts fund-raiser

FOLA Follies sings to the tune of $500
for Black River Good Neighbors

The Friends of Ludlow Auditorium donated the net receipts from its recent musical revue, FOLA Follies of 2016, Comedy Tonight, to Black River Good Neighbors Services.

Admission was by donation, and FOLA was able to donate $500 to BRGNS.

The donation is the result of a standing room only audience’s contributions for the successful musical revue presented at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium in late February.

 

RVTC horticulture students go out
on a limb to spruce up Chester Green

Instructor John Harmer and six horticulture students from the River Valley Technical Center in Springfield returned to Chester’s Green mid-April to finish tree trimming.

Two major seasonal efforts in spring and fall of 2015 by RVTC students saw a vast improvement in area trees as dead and crossing limbs were removed and shaping done.  Because of the limitations imposed by Route 11 and overhead wires, this latest effort  completes the present project on Rhe Green and improves the health and look of the trees well before the Chester’s 250th Anniversary celebration in mid-July.

The students were the same as those from two sessions last fall and included Tyler Westney, a senior from Bellows Falls; TJ Carroll and Alex Temple, seniors from Chester; Dylan VanGuilder, a junior from Ludlow; Michael Bushey, a senior from Mt. Holly; and Amanda Ferguson, a junior from Springfield.

This volunteer project was arranged through Chester Townscape, a committee of the charitable Chester Community Alliance Inc.

Time to dig in for donations for Chester spring planters

Chester Townscape is once again soliciting contributions to purchase large containers that will be filled with soil and planted with flowers. These planters will be placed in key locations throughout the town to show that Chester is a thriving and welcoming place to visit, shop and live.

The familiar gray planters and barrels will soon grace many visible public places: The Green walkways, Whiting Library, Post Office, Chester Railway Station, Depot gazebo and the Pinnacle Recreation Center, as well as flower boxes on the North Street/Route 103 Bridge and Town Hall.

New projects this year include creating flower boxes for the South Route 103 Bridge, adding hanging baskets at the Pinnacle, and increasing colorful plantings at the Family Center.

Businesses and residents are encouraged to support these beautification efforts by donating to the public part of the effort and/or by purchasing a planter for their own business or property. The cost of each new, planted container is $85, and the cost of replanting a previously purchased planter is $50. However every sponsored pot or contribution to the effort will be appreciated and add to a coordinated look for the town that lasts well into fall.

To order a new, planted container or to order the replanting of a pot purchased last year, please contact Tory Spater at 802-875-2952 or tory@vermontel.net.

You can download an order form by clicking here.

Copies of the form are also available at Misty Valley Books and the Whiting Library. The check for a planter and/or a contribution should be made payable to Chester Community Alliance Inc., marked for Chester Townscape in the memo line, and mailed to Chester Townscape, PO Box 561, Chester, VT 05143. A swift response in donations will help secure pots and plants before planting takes place to ensure a glorious display for Memorial Day Weekend.

Chester Rotary ponies up $250 for 250th

The Rotary Club of Chester Vermont has donated $250 to the Chester 250th Birthday Celebration Committee.

Frank Kelley, Chester celebration committee co-chair with Tom Hildreth, said that the funds will be used to support the Chester Centennial activities on Saturday, July 16  and Sunday, July 17. Events will be held at the Pinnacle, Chester Fairground, Chester Historical Society, the Stone Village and all around the Town Green. There will be games for all ages as well as historic re-enactments and viewing vintage equipment. There will also be a fireworks display on the night of July 16 near the American Legion on Route 103 South.

Those interested in donating to the effort should make their check out to “Town of Chester” with Chester 250th in the memo line.

Checks can be mailed to Chester Town Hall, 556 Elm St. in Chester, 05143, or to Tom Hildreth, 72 Mountain View Road, Chester, 05143.

Main Street Arts seeks arts for arts’ sake

Main Street Arts is accepting donations for its third Art, Antiques & Artifacts Sale to raise funds for the non-profit’s mission to provide creative art, music and performance opportunities to the region.

The event takes place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 at the MSA 35 Main St. in Saxtons River. The rain date is June 18.

The organization is looking for items in good shape. No clothing and books. Drop off donations during business hours between now and the event.

Spaces are also available for rent: a 10 x 10-foot space costs $20.

For donation of items, contact MSA at 802-869-2960 or info@mainstreetarts.org.