- Race Prizes: Cash will be awarded to the sponsors of the first three ducks to cross the finish line. Best of all, even the very last little ducky to drift across pays out, so every duck is in the running until the very end!
- Centennial "100th Ticket" Bonus: In honor of 100 years of service, the Ludlow Rotary Club is giving away a cash bonus to the buyer of a random milestone ticket. If you are dealt ticket number 100, you automatically win a cash prize of $100 on the spot—meaning you're in the money even if your duck decides to take a leisurely swim!
South African Rotary Club presentation to Ludlow Rotary ClubStephen Young from the Swellendam, South Africa Rotary Club spoke to the Ludlow Rotary Club about his club's development of an early childhood development center.
The Swellendam Club was also a supporter of the Rotary International grant to the Okemo Valley Technical Rescue Squad. Stephen is shown here presenting a Swellendam Club banner to Ludlow Rotary Club president Brigid Sullivan.
If you are interested, please contact club youth exchange coordinator Jim Rumrill at jrumrill@hotmail.com, or call at 802-380-2766. Rotary Youth Exchange; Building peace and understanding, one exchange at a time.Ludlow Rotary received a Global Grant to fund the Okemo Valley Swiftwater Rescue Team (OVSRT) in the amount of $62,922. The grant will fund training and equipment to outfit 15 emergency personnel in techniques for making rushing water and other technical rescues while remaining safe themselves. Safety for our local emergency personnel was a key factor in receiving the Global Grant from Rotary International(RI).
The grant is part of the emergency response recovery program of Rotary International. It was funded by a collaboration of Rotary Clubs from Ludlow, and surrounding area clubs; individual Rotarians in southern Vermont and Swellendam, South Africa; a club in Moinabad, Telangana, India; the Rotary District of Southern VT and NH; and the RI World Fund.
After the devastating flood in 2023, the Ludlow Rotary Club received numerous generous donations for flood recovery. As a Club they decided to keep $15,000 of those donations for a project that would benefit all four communities served by the Club. When the Technical Rescue team was selected to receive the funds, it was suggested that those funds could be enhanced by the new RI emergency response grants, if international partners could be found. The Club has spent the past year and a half securing the necessary partners and putting the funding together with Ben Whalen, vice president of the Technical Rescue Squad.
The Okemo Valley Swiftwater Rescue Team is composed of emergency personnel from Cavendish, Ludlow, Mount Holly and Plymouth. Whalen indicated the equipment and training will help protect the emergency personnel of all 4 communities, many of whom are volunteers, in addition to the public who face danger in the face of increasing weather and related hazards. Many of those trained recently said it was the best training they had ever had.
The LRC meets most Tuesdays for lunch in Ludlow. The LRC is small and is always looking to welcome new members. If you would like to attend a meeting and learn how you may 'Serve Humanity' while enjoying the fun and fellowship of others, please contact Kevin Barnes at 802 558-0479 or any Rotarian.
Epic Promise Funds Youth Exchange Weekend
The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) hosted international students who are on a school-year-long youth exchange program in the Northeast for a weekend of skiing, snowboarding, and tubing at Okemo Mountain Resort. The weekend was made possible by a generous grant from Vail Resorts Epic Promise known as the Vail Resorts Epic for Everyone Access & On-Mountain support.
Vail is committed to the health and sustainability of their local and urban metro communities. Annually, Vail Resorts invests over $22 million in Access programming and has cultivated partnerships with over 180 nonprofits that help make the future of the sport more inclusive by serving guests of all ages, abilities, cultural backgrounds, and ethnicities.
Local Rotarian and long time coordinator of the Rotary Youth Exchange program, Jim Rumrill, said "The students had a wonderful time on the mountain. It is one of their favorite weekends every year. Thanks to Vail and Okemo Mountain Resort for their continued support of this great event."
Ludlow Rotary Club Welcomes New Owner of the Belmont General Store
The Ludlow Rotary Club recently welcomed Alissa Chronert, the new owner of the Belmont General Store, as a guest speaker at a recent meeting.
Located in the center of Belmont village, the Belmont General Store has been a cornerstone of local life since it was founded in 1843. For generations, the store has served as a gathering place for residents and visitors in this small rural community.
For Alissa, the store represents more than just a business opportunity - it is deeply tied to her own family history.
Her connection to Belmont began in childhood, when her family owned a rustic camp in the area. She fondly recalls spending summers and winters at the cabin, where life was simple: candles provided light, lake water served for bathing, and buckets of water were used to flush the toilet.
Even after graduating from college and moving to New York City, Alissa returned to Vermont nearly every weekend to enjoy the outdoors and reconnect with the place she loved.
Those memories made a lasting impression and ultimately led her back.
“When the store went on the market in 2020, it really caught my attention,” Alissa said. “It holds so many memories for me, my family, and the people in town. At the time, I was also planning my wedding, so I wondered if I could really take on a general store as well. But it felt like a fun adventure and a great way to give something back to the community, especially since the store had been closed for so long.”
In 2023, Alissa and her husband Michael, a professional triathlete, purchased the property and began an extensive renovation project to restore the historic building.
During the renovation, the couple made several fascinating discoveries hidden within the walls of the old store. Among the finds were newspapers dating back to the late 1800s and an old Coca-Cola machine tucked away between the walls.
Just days after uncovering the machine, a customer walked into the store and shared a childhood memory of buying soda from a Coke machine that once stood there - a moment that reinforced the deep connection many locals have to the building.
Today, the Belmont General Store is once again open seven days a week. The store offers a variety of Vermont-sourced products, along with beer, cider, and wine. A café and deli serve breakfast sandwiches, pastries, coffee, and espresso in the morning, while lunch features a selection of hot and cold sandwiches.
Family connections remain central to the business: Chronert’s brother owns the nearby Mount Holly Beer Company, and her father contributes by baking pastries for the store including what she proudly describes as his particularly delicious croissants.
The store has already become a popular stop for snowmobilers looking for lunch during the winter season. Looking ahead, Alissa said they are exploring the possibility of offering gasoline to better serve traveling snowmobilers.
With the store once again bustling with activity, Alissa hopes it will continue its long tradition as a gathering place for the Belmont community.
Contact any Rotarian if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Ludlow Rotary Club or attending as a guest at our Tuesday luncheons.
The Need for Speed
Warm Hearts and Festive Eats
A Sweet Vermont Tradition
Ludlow Rotary Supports Chester Teen Center
The Ludlow Rotary Club recently presented a check to Andrew Moore, Creative Arts Director for BRACC (Black River Action Community Coalition), in support of the new Chester Teen Center. The center is spearheaded by Lauren Ingersoll and is located at Green Mountain Church, 469 Main Street in Chester.
The Chester Teen Center provides a safe, welcoming space for youth ages 13 and up, offering a balance of fun and enrichment. The center is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:00–5:30 pm, and features homework tutoring, creative workshops, and opportunities for teens to socialize and build friendships.
Operating year-round, the Teen Center also offers seasonal activities, including mountain biking in the summer and skiing in the winter, helping teens stay active and engaged throughout the year.
For more information about the Chester Teen Center, visit braccvt.org.
The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) awarded the Mount Holly Elementary School a check in the amount of $3,000.
The School’s music program was the beneficiary of a Rotary grant to purchase risers for concerts, plays or other events. Previously, the school had to bring risers from Ludlow Elementary School for concerts.
As shown in the photo, LRC President Elect, Brigid Sullivan, presented the check to Mount Holly Music Teacher Mary Barron, and Principal Craig Hutt Vater.
“This represents the long-term policy of both the LRC and Rotary International to support the educational needs of public schools,” commented Sullivan. She added that projects like the risers are complemented by LRC’s distribution of books to elementary schools and individual students as well as scholarships to graduating high school seniors planning to attend college.
The Ludlow Rotary Club was pleased to welcome Eb Kinney and Greg Cartier of Okemo Mountain Operations and Snow Surfaces at their recent meeting. Together, Kinney and Cartier bring more than 40 years of experience at Okemo Mountain Resort, where they help deliver the outstanding skiing and riding experience that guests have come to expect year after year.
Kinney and Cartier shared that Okemo is targeting an opening date of November 22, weather permitting. “We’re ready to go,” said Kinney. “As soon as temperatures drop, our team will be out making snow and grooming those beautiful trails our guests love.”
Okemo’s dedicated “Mountain Operations Team,” 30 to 40 members strong, is poised for action once the conditions allow. Over the summer, the crew worked hard maintaining and mowing the resort’s extensive network of trails, covering approximately 600 acres, including 130 acres of hand-cleared terrain.
Guests can also look forward to the return of the halfpipe, one of only two in New England, crafted with specialized machinery to shape and maintain its curved surfaces. Recent autumn rains have fully replenished Okemo’s water storage ponds, ensuring ample supply for early snowmaking efforts.
This year, the resort has made several notable improvements, the installation of two new digital signs to enhance guest communication and enjoyment, the replacement of 300 snowmaking nozzles with low-energy, high-efficiency equipment, improving sustainability and snow quality, new seat pads on some lifts, and replacement of two snow cats.
Snowmaking typically begins when temperatures drop to the 24–26°F range, allowing the team to produce the signature “carpets of snow” Okemo is known for.
Kinney emphasized that success on the mountain is a true team effort: “Our team at Okemo is all about creating the best possible skiing experience for our guests. Everyone plays a part in making the mountain special.”
As winter approaches, excitement is building across the community for another fantastic season on the slopes of Okemo Mountain with lots of fun activities planned.
The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRD) meets Tuesdays for lunch at DJ’s in Ludlow. The LRC is small and is always looking to welcome new members. If you would like to attend a meeting and learn how you may “serve humanity” while enjoying the fun and fellowship of others, please contact any Rotarian or drop a note to Ludlow Rotary Club, P.O. Box 216, Ludlow VT.
Pictured are Greg Cartier, Eb Kinney from Okemo Operations and George Thomson, Rotary Past President
LUDLOW, VT — The Ludlow Rotary Club welcomed Mariel Meringolo, Head of School at Okemo Mountain School (OMS), as the featured speaker at its October 28, 2025, meeting. Meringolo shared the inspiring story of OMS, founded in 1991 to meet the academic and athletic needs of competitive winter sports athletes. Over the years, OMS has guided numerous Olympians and professional skiers and riders, earning a strong reputation for excellence both on the slopes and in the classroom.
During her presentation, Meringolo emphasized OMS’s deep commitment to community involvement. The school offers eight scholarships each year to students from towns within the Two Rivers Supervisory Union, helping make world-class training and education more accessible to local families.
She also highlighted how OMS students have been giving back since the 2021–2022 season, volunteering with the Ludlow Elementary School snow sports program, skiing and riding alongside young students during their Wednesday afternoons at Okemo.
In addition, OMS runs The Three Maples Summer Day Camp, launched in 2022 as a low-cost camp opportunity for local children. The camp has become a popular summer tradition, offering fun, adventure, and outdoor education for area families. Applications for OMS scholarships and financial aid are available online.The Ludlow Rotary Club also welcomed Lori Wright as its newest member, continuing Rotary’s mission of bringing together community leaders in service and fellowship.
The Ludlow Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, a global service organization dedicated to promoting goodwill, peace, and community engagement. The club meets most Tuesdays at lunch to discuss local issues, coordinate volunteer efforts, and support programs that strengthen the Ludlow region and beyond. If you would like to attend a meeting and learn how you may 'Serve Humanity' while enjoying the fun and fellowship of others, please contact any Rotarian or drop a note to Ludlow Rotary, PO Box 216, Ludlow, Vermont 05149.
Ludlow Rotary’s Chili-Off Major Success with All
The 34th Annual Chili Cook-Off this past Holiday weekend was a major success. The weather was perfect, hundreds of “taste testers” were treated to a large variety of chilis, and the many chili providers were happy with the reception of their unique brands of “real” chili. Additionally, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) gained resources to continue providing assistance to local projects.
“We had over 20 chilis to taste and be judged by well over 700 eager customers,” commented Kevin Barnes, LRC President. “There was everything from Thai chili, venison, vegetarian, and even white bean and chicken to sample. At times, the line to get into the chili tent circled around the block and down Main Street”. Barnes noted that “every kind of chili you can imagine was offered at the cookoff from very hot, veggie, and everything in between. It truly was a chili-lovers festival!”
Kathy Burns, one the chili providers noted “It was so fun to participate. Thanks for the push in all the years I added this great fun filled event to my check list. Very nicely done!”
Some of the winners of the tasters voting were no strangers to winning at the cook-off”, Barnes noted. As a result of the voting by the many “taste testers”, the recipients of the People’s Choice awards were:
1st Chili Con Carlos - Carlos Inglesias
2nd Birds Nest - Shelli Steinfeld
3rd Contractor Approved - Contractors for Christ
Honorable mention. Saylor Family Chili - Chris Saylor
The Judges for the following awards were three area educational leaders: they include Ema Vastola - Cavendish Elementary principal, Lisa Marks - Ludlow 4th Grade, and Zoe Trimboli – Green Mountain Paraprofessional/After School Program, decided the following winners in these categories:
Best in Show Thai Curry - Stemwinder
Team Spirit Singleton’s Best - Singleton’s Store
Spiciest Saylor Family Chili - Chris Saylor
Barnes expressed the clubs thanks to the many businesses and folks who made the cook-off possible. They were:
Cayenne level:
William Raveis Vermont Properties, Mary W. Davis Realtor and Associates, Master Plumbing and Heating, Servpro-Ryder Restorations, Cota and Cota Plumbing and Heating, Green Mountain Fireside, Main and Mountain, Jeff Milligan Builders, Wright Constuction, Belmont Septic, High Country Contractors
Chili Pepper:
Ted Stryhas Builders, Black River Mechanical, HB Plumbing and Heating, Burns and Associates, Sue Star-Adams, Diamond Point Wealth Partners, James Young Attorney at Law
Jalapeno level:
Wine and Cheese Depot, Gassetts Group Builders
In Kind:
Benson’s Chevrolet, Shaws Supermarket, Wilcox Dairy, Ralph Pace, Okemo Mountain Resort, The Castel Inn, DJ’s Restaurant, Frank Ellison, The Hatchery
The proceeds from the cook-off will be used by the LRC to continue its programs of aiding local groups and schools.
