With no offers to take over the newsletter publishing, I am turning to a new request. After all, I really like putting out the newsletter. Now the membership database, that is getting tedious.

 

If you like details, and numbers, and would like to learn more about databases and Microsoft Access, this is your lucky day! The membership assistant will:

Of course, this position would be the bulk of the secretary's position if you would also like to assume that role, and leave Cindy to the newsletter publication. That way you get the job AND the title!

If you would like to help CVOA with a finite job (or can suggest someone who might) and become a member of our team, I would love to talk with you and answer your questions. Many hands make for lighter work.

Thank you for your consideration,

Cindy Foster,  CVOA Secretary and Newsletter Publisher

There is lots of potential for our CVOA  Facebook page to spread the word about CVOA, what we are, what we do, and what we have done. A Social Media Master would bring our FB page to life with regular posts, and manage the input from other members. There is no end to how our FB page can be enhanced.

 

Interested in being part of our digital presence?  We need your help! If you are at all interested in finding out more about being the master, drop a line to Cliff George (via [email protected]) - he has some great ideas to get you going.

 

~ Joe Loughran, President

 

All ages can help! Volunteers Needed!

 

The town's annual Carrabassett Valley Cleanup of Route 27 will be held on Saturday, May 20th. Volunteers are needed. If interested, please meet at the Town Office at 9 a.m. sharp. John McCatherin will be coordinating this year's event for the town, and he can be reached at 235-2121 or at [email protected]. If you have questions or wish to volunteer to pick up a particular area prior to May 20th, please contact John.

 

This is the annual community effort to pick up trash on Rte. 27 from Eustis to Kingfield to ready the course for the Sugarloaf Marathon and 15k the next day. The race is growing in popularity and sells out months ahead of time. Sharing in the effort is CVOA's way of helping spruce up our backyard for the thousands of guests to our area.

 

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. The town will provide high-visibility vests and garbage bags. A barbecue will follow at noon-time, anyone wishing to bring a salad, dessert or side dish is encouraged to do so.

 

~ Betsy Chapman

 

Location: Carrabassett Town Hall Field

Times:

Beginner/Novice:               9:00 AM till 11:00 AM (no experience needed)

Experienced Fly Casters:   12:00 Noon till 2:00PM

Once again CVOA is sponsoring

two free Fly  Casting Clinics for its members. Joe Loughran, the lead instructor, is a Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) Certified Fly Casting Instructor and has taught many CVOA Members the art and skills of effective fly casting.

Past participants have described the CVOA Fly Casting Sessions as low keyed, fun, entertaining and an effective learning experience. In order to maximize the effectiveness of the sessions and insure the opportunity to work one on one with each attendee, the morning session is limited to 5 participants. The afternoon session is limited to 6 participants.

Attendee requirements:

1. Eye protection: regular glasses or sunglasses

2. A visor hat or ball cap (for eye protection)

3. Sunscreen and water

4. Comfortable loose fitting clothing

Fly Casting Equipment:

CVOA and Joe will provide fly rods and reels at no charge. If you have your own fly rod/fly reel with fly line, feel free to bring it with you. Joe Loughran will check out your fly rod/fly reel for safety and whether it is appropriate as a fly casting learning tool. A first aid kit will be available for both sessions, (although fortunately we have never needed one).

The Fly Casting Clinic Agenda

Objectives: Morning session for beginning fly casters.

1. Learn the basic dynamics of fly casting and be able to execute an effective Straight Line and Sidearm Fly Cast.

2. Learn the name, use and operation of basic fly casting/fly fishing equipment.

3. Learn how to safely utilize a fly rod with a hooked fly to catch fish.

Objectives: Afternoon session for experienced fly fishers.

1. Improve the accuracy of your fly casting at varied distances.

2. Improve your distance casting.

3. Become familiar with more advanced fly casts such as the Belgium Cast, Tunnel Cast, Half Backcast and The Ghost Lift Cast.

Tight lines, 

Joe Loughran

FFF Fly Casting Instructor

Victory Chimes is owned & operated by Sugarloafer/CVOA member/WSKI reporter Kip Files.  He is offering CVOA an unbelievably low price of $430 per person, double occupancy, half the usual rate, for an early season cruise.

Penobscot Bay offers world class cruising. It combines the best of broad ocean passages, magnificent rivers, coastal islands and mountains, and even a fjord. Wildlife abounds, as do safe harbors, and often you can feel as if you are one of only a few lucky souls out there exploring in your own boat.  The Victory Chimes is the largest vessel in the Maine Windjammer fleet, ensuring a smooth, comfortable trip. 

Capt. Files is a gracious host and knowledgeable guide to the history and geography of the bay.  Last year we also enjoyed meeting the pleasant, interesting fellow guests.  Come join us in exploring lovely Penobscot Bay.

Who: up to 20 people

What: 4 night sail around Penobscot Bay

When: June 27 - July 1

How much:

-- $430 person - Includes all meals: breakfast of 28th to breakfast July 1st.

-- $20 parking

-- $30-$50 tips per guest for the crew

-- ($75 single supplement if traveling alone)

Schedule:

Let's meet for dinner in Rockland before boarding.

June 27th: Board in Rockland between 6 and 8 p.m.

June 28th: Embark on our journey

July 1st: Disembark in Rockland before noon.

To register for the trip, call Lorraine at Victory Chimes, 800-745-5651. A deposit of $350 (by check only payable to: Victory Chimes, P. O. Box 1401, Rockland, ME 04841) will reserve your place, balance due May 27th. You must say you are with CVOA to get the special rate.

 

Contact Betsy Chapman with questions (or go to www.victorychimes.com) or to let her know you have registered for the trip: Betsy Chapman, [email protected], 207-944-3264.

 

~ Betsy Chapman

 

Our quarterly Board meeting will be held on Sunday, June 11th at 1:00 in Carrabassett Valley. All members are welcome to attend.

 

An agenda will be included in the June newsletter, as well as the location of the meeting. If anyone would like to coordinate a lunch of any sort to precede the meeting, we'd love your help. Give me a call (207) 650-3099 or email [email protected].

 

~ Joe Loughran, President

 

Ps - The Reed Falls Hike would make a nice activity that morning; as you know, Gail was going to lead the hike, but she broke her leg and won't be doing any hiking right away. For anyone else, it would be an easy event to manage.

On July 13th through July 16th, CVOA has reserved the stand-alone group site at Schoodic Woods Campground of Acadia National Park.

 

Schoodic Woods Campground is located on the Schoodic peninsula across the bay of Bar Harbor near Winter Harbor. It's a brand new (last year) national park campground with ample lots for tenting, RV-ing and travel trailers. The group tenting site is located separate from the other areas and has a lighted post and beam open pavilion with about a dozen tables. The restroom facilities are brand new with running water, real toilets and sinks.

 

The park offers 6 miles of one way mostly coastal paved road. Permitted fishing. An oceanside park with a kayak put in. Numerous miles of groomed interior hiking & biking trails.

 

In the planning stages are (optional): Thursday evening restaurant get together in Winter Harbor; Friday night outing to Bar Harbor; and a lobster feed on-site Saturday night. The cost should probably be no more than $40 pp for all 3 nights.

 

Bring your hiking shoes;

Bring your bike;

Bring your kayak and your calorie deficit!

 

RSVP to: Glenn and Peg at [email protected] or 207-712-8503

 

~ Your hosts, Peggy and Glenn Bickford

$1,320 per person (double occ.) plus $50 reservation fee to CVOA

Trip Package Includes:

CLICK HERE for Copper Mountain Brochure.

 

Trip Leader: Cindy Foster

 

$1,610 per person (double occ.) plus $50 reservation fee to CVOA

Trip Package Includes:

CLICK HERE for Banff/Lake Louise Brochure. 

 

Trip Leaders: Joe Loughran and Gail Miller

 

$1,510 pp to $1,610 pp (double occupancy) PLUS $50 reservation fee to CVOA

Trip Package Includes:

CLICK HERE for Schweitzer Brochure 

 

Trip Leader: Pete Weston

The Range is almost completely clear of snow and so we will need to do our Spring cleaning before our first Trap Shoot. 

 The Range has been well used over the last year and is in great need of attention.  If you are available, we will be doing repairs and cleanup on Sunday, May 14th from 9am to noon. 

We will be mailing out Range Badges and the new gate combination on May 15, so keep an eye on your mail.  

The new combination will become effective on May 20. 

 

The work continues on the Five Stand Building now that the snow has receded.  Come by and check it out.

Finally, we will have our first official Sunday Trap Shoot on May 28th, from 9am to noon.  

We will have a fundraiser for the Stratton Food Pantry.  Part of your Trap fees will go to the Pantry as well as any donations.  Last year was of great benefit and much appreciated by the Pantry and our community.

So, Neal Trask thinks he's going to make Tom O'Hara's day when Neal calls to tell Tom he's won the Sugarloaf season pass in the annual CVOA raffle.  Tom was grateful for sure, but there was one problem, Tom doesn't ski!  Tom asked Neal to give the pass to a veteran instead.  Both Tom and his father are veterans and he wanted to do something for another vet.  Neal was impressed with his generosity, but had no idea how to go about finding just one worthy veteran.  That's when he remembered the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, a non-profit organization run by Bruce and Annemarie Albiston, in Carrabassett Valley.  

 

CVOA purchases the season pass from Sugarloaf at the discounted rate of $500, and the purchase is made after we know who won the pass.  Neal called Sara Strunk at the Mountain and explained there would be no pass purchased, instead the money would be donated to the AOEC.  Sara told Neal she and Carl Strand were glad to see the money go to the AOEC. 

 

Neal called me, explained the situation, and asked if I'd contact Bruce and Annemarie.  Long story short, Neal, Tom and I visited the Albistons at the AOEC on April 17th.  Annemarie gave Tom a tour of the facility and explained how the place provides outdoor recreation and education opportunities to all people with disabilities, including veterans.  The AOEC Lodge, on the road to the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, is a fully accessible facility that sleeps 25 people and includes a full kitchen, laundry room, dining room, and a beautiful living room with a custom stone fireplace.  In addition to the main lodge, there are two yurts on the property.  The larger yurt is used for meetings and other events, while the new, smaller yurt is part of a planned nature education center.   While there, Annemarie introduced us to Kayla Miner, their Center manager. 

 

With Clyde the bear looking on (his photo is over the fireplace), Tom presented the Albistons a check for $500 to help fund activities at the Center, especially providing support and outdoor recreational opportunities for veterans.   Those visiting the AOEC get to enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, nature education, and so much mo re. 

 

Speaking of snowshoeing, Annemarie showed me all the snowshoes they purchased using the previous $500 donation from CVOA.  By purchasing reconditioned snowshoes, they were able to buy over 2 dozen of them!  The snowshoes were used extensively this past winter, and were a big hit with their guests. 

 

Donating to the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center perfectly fulfills CVOA's mission statement, "To foster and promote the conservation of our natural resources and the creation of recreational opportunities in our region."  If you haven't already, I urge you to visit the Center and see for yourself the amazing work this place does improving the lives of those with disabilities.  For more information on the Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, check out their website at adaptiveoutdooreducationcenter.org. 

 

~ Pete Weston

 

The only scheduled April event was the Reed Falls Hike in Kingfield; it was cancelled due to a variety of reasons:

Gail had surgery, and is back at home in Gorham endu

ring the recovery process. Joe is taking good care of her, and Gail's positive attitude and determination to be hiking and skiing again will serve her well.

A note from Gail - "I want to give a big THANK YOU to our CVOA family for all the wonderful emails, cards and visits during my recovery. The support has been amazing. Thank you all so much. I am progressing slowly but surely. I will ski again."

If you missed the earlier notice, well wishes can be sent to:

Gail Miller, 46 Finn Parker Road, Gorham, ME 04038

or  [email protected]

AOEC would love to have local volunteers help leading nature groups. They will be offering a Project WILD workshop, which offers practical hands-on classroom and outdoor field investigation experiences. Volunteers are welcome to attend the workshop.