WPSC

A Magical VT Holiday Experience - by Noam Shoshan

2010-11-29T20:04:00.004-05:00

T’was the night before Christmas and me, my wife Karen, and three children, Evan 12, Hannah 10 and Olivia 9, were glory bound to meet our friends at the White Plains Ski Club located at the base of Mad River Glen (our favorite ski destination), in Waitsfield for a Christmas ski week. Our family rig, an older Suburban, was packed to the gills with groceries, ski gear, and we were excited for a long-awaited escape from fast paced suburban NJ living to breathe fresh VT mountain air.

The drive up was uneventful. It being Christmas Eve, not many cars were on the road and we were making great time to meet our friends at the Club house for a late dinner. Until….I see my headlights dim for a quick second. I think to myself, “that’s strange, I just put in a new battery” and keep driving thinking it was probably my eyes being road weary from driving for 4 hours. After another forty minutes heading north, my battery indicator light illuminates. Now, my concern set in big time. We were on 22A and I saw the sign that we were in Orwell, VT, where it was very dark, the outside temp was in the mid-teens, there were no signs of any gas stations or places to stop for assistance. As we drove into Orwell, I saw the Gas N’ Go and pulled over to try making a call and of course, there was no signal on my cell phone. I knew we were in a tough spot because Waitsfield was over an hour north and Middlebury was thirty minutes east. As I pulled over and came to a stop, the lights completely dimmed for 3 lonnnng seconds. I whispered a big explicative to myself followed by an “OMG this isn’t good.” I knew that I had to keep driving with hope that the battery wouldn’t completely go on us, so I headed east towards Middlebury thinking there’s at least a hotel or somewhere we can get help and make a call. About one mile after making this decision, I got excited to see a house up ahead with someone on the front porch and a few cars parked in front. Unbelievably, as I started to slow down to approach the house my headlights go completely dark about 300 feet in before I reach the house. We were all aghast and as I came to a stop in front of the person on the porch….the engine dies and all inside electrical is off….FREAKY!

I tell the guy on porch my predicament and he invites me in to the house. Low and behold, several family members, friends and young kids seem to just be finishing their Christmas Eve dinner celebration. I apologized for interrupting, explained my situation that we were on way to Mad River Glen to meet our friends for a ski week, and asked if they knew of any motels that may be open in the area to spend the night, with hope that I can find someone to fix our vehicle within the next couple of days. The way everyone looked at each other, I knew the answer was “no”.

To my astonishment, the patriarch in the room Mike Moore, stepped forward and said “I think I have a solution for you. My wife and I aren’t going anywhere this weekend and we have an extra mini-van in our garage down the road a bit. Come with me to pick it up, load up all of your gear, and drive up to Waitsfield to meet your friends. Tomorrow morning, (Christmas nonetheless) I’ll come back with my portable battery charger to give it enough juice and hopefully get it back to my house. Leave Waitsfield early Sunday morning, meet me at my house and my friend in town will probably have a Chevy Suburban alternator in stock. We’ll put in your new alternator and you’ll be good to enjoy the rest of your vacation”. I couldn’t believe my ears! Was this nice stranger St. Nick himself, or what?

The kindness didn’t stop there! After picking up the mini-van, I came up back to the house to find that my kids were offered homemade Christmas cookies by a very nice woman named Kelly and her daughter. This gesture put my wife and kids at ease and it was nice to see them smiling! We were able to fit everything into the van and drove up in with the kids surrounded by bags of groceries, bags of ski clothes and we made it up to MRG for a nice Christmas after all!

Sunday morning I arrived at Mike’s house and he explained that he had put a plan “B” into play. His local buddy with the parts store was unfortunately closed because he was out of town for the weekend, so Mike called his friend at the auto parts store in Middlebury. Luckily, he had the appropriate alternator in stock for me - at Mike’s discounted commercial rate, nonetheless! Mike offered that I take his van to Middlebury to pick up the part, and he would ask another local friend Mike Dundan who owns the Gas n’ Go where I first stopped, to see if he could put in the new alternator for me. Within an hour of great conversation with Mike and his lovely wife Kathy, Mike Dundan came through for us and for a very fair price installed the new alternator in his heated garage where he expertly restores classic cars (I never knew a Studebaker could be so beautiful!). Amazingly, I managed to meet my family by noon for a great day of skiing! Orwell, VT certainly is home to the Christmas Spirit!

Comments from Sue Lazarus

2010-01-12T23:48:00.002-05:00

January 9-10, 2010 weekend - skiing was great - a bit windy on Saturday but about 4 inches of new snow, then calm on Sunday with wind-blown slopes. A bit hard, had to search for the fluff . . . it was fun!

It's been a long time between blogs!

2010-01-06T17:46:00.002-05:00

This blogger needs some comments from WPSC skiers! Hi, I know that you are out there . . . Please post your blog so that we know how the season is going at MRG. If you are afraid to try blogging yourself, email your comments to sandy.tsrm@verizon.net and I will post them for you.

Alex Litzky's hike to save the Armory

2008-08-04T09:53:00.000-04:00

Dave Litzky's son Alex is hiking a 500-mile portion of the Appalachain Trail, from New York to Maine, in an effort to raise awareness and funds to help save the Armory in New Rochelle, which is slated for demolition.

Alex is part of the organization which is battling City Hall in New Rochelle to preserve the Armory from demolition. This water front building built in 1942 is an historic building which trained sailors and soldiers during many wars. 300 plus service men who made the ultimate sacrifice have connections to this Armory. IT WAS BUILT IN 1942 OR SO AND REPRESENTS FOR US OUR COUNTRY AND THE YOUNG AND OLD WHO HELPED KEEP US FREE. THE PERSON WHO DESIGNED AND HELP BUILD THE ARMORY WAS FROM PELHAM AND LOST HIS OWN SON DURING WWII.

Thousands of people over the years have benefited from programs given there in the past such as scouting, sea scouts, junior marines, sport programs, basketball, track . . .
The organization wants to rebuild the Armory and open it to the public again. Part of the plan will be space to honor those fallen in the line of duty. We will then slowly offer programs to the public again. This Armory could and will continue to be a living reminder of our heritage. The rich history of this grand building will foster learning and respect, honor . . .
This Armory is a living reminder of our past and will become a teacher for the future.

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807100390 click on the article in the Journal News for exciting information.

Please help support our effort by writing letters, making phone calls . . . Please call me with any questions and if you are able to help get the message across. You can start by telling one person at a time to write call . . . You can have an Armory party and send some donation to the effort. Thanks, David Litzky, Alex Litzky, and the entire SAVE THE ARMORY COMMITTEE.

If you would like to support Alex and help save the Armory,
MAKE THE CHECKS OUT TO SAVE THE ARMORY. THEY CAN BE MAILED TO ALEX LITZKY, 17 ADDISON STREET, APT 4D,LARCHMONT NY 10538 OR TO SOA, 112 NORTH AVE, NEW ROCHELLE NY 10801. THANKS AGAIN.

Chet's Blog

2008-03-28T15:55:00.000-04:00

The March 21-22, 2008 weekend was a pleasant mix of members, guests and provisionals. Friday night Dave Litsky and his guests, Paul and Barbara Schwendener, cooked up a large meal including a cake. Noam Shoshan played Simon and Garfunkel on his 5 string back packer guitar both nights.

Saturday was sunny, about 18 degrees at the bottom and 10 at the top, but quite windy. I was happy to ski for the first time in two years because of lower back problems. Afterwards Ginny and I snowshoed and then sat on the benches at the base lodge and soaked up the sun. Three generations of the Duffy clan skied together and Mark Duffy ended the day coming down the back door trail.

MRG must be doing well because both lifts were crowded and, in the afternoon, General Starks Pub was crowded and deafening with a rock group. The double chair had a problem so most skiers went to the single or opted for a beer instead.

Easter Sunday services were held at the top of the single but the Easter Parade at the base was diappointing. No girls in bikinis like previous years. They just don't make 'em like the used to. Tex's barbecued chicken was a hit. The line was back to the door. One man swigged a beer while waiting in line and I think he finished it by the time he got his chicken.

Jim cooked a couple of turkeys for Saturday dinner along with an excellent pasta soup plus two pies, chocolate and key lime. There were 16 adults, 2 teenagers and 11 children at the lodge. Linda and Dave Park joined us for dinner which made for a total of 31 people. Unfortunately the last people in line had no chairs to sit on. So Bob Kehr, the trip leader, and a few others had to sit on the couch to have dinner. We later found that the extra chairs that are normally stacked over the trap door were stowed in the attic.

Saturday and Sunday night Paul Schwendener and his brother, Ben, made crackling fires in our underutilized fireplace. Nothing like a good fire to draw people to that area. Monday morning Paul, up early, quietly cleaned out the ashes. He, his wife Barbara, and their two children, Lily and Leon, fit in so well that it seemed like they had been long time members.

The 11 children, depending on your level of tolerance, could be noisy at times despite the efforts of their parents. But this is a family club and it is one of our strengths.

Chet Risio

Marge's Bottom Bunker Week

2008-03-09T20:41:00.000-04:00

Bottom Bunkers

You all missed good skiing, 3/3-6, this week. Mad River got 4" of snow overnight for Tues skiing in the mid-30's. And there was noone on the mountain, did 8 runs. Wed was windy so the double chair wasn't running, but getting off at the mid-station on the single worked out fine. It was another warm day in the mid-30's with freezing rain in the a.m, and snow at the top of the mountain in the afternoon (but rain at the base). But skiing was good even though you got a little wet when you got to the bottom of the mountain. (7 runs)

Thursday was a sunny day in the 20's. The snow was crusty so we skied in the sunny areas and on runs that had been groomed, like the upper antelope...it was very enjoyable. Then in the afternoon the snow got heavier and was a bit of a workout, so I figured I'd had 3 days of good skiing and quit while I was ahead. Left the mountain at 1pm...5 runs...and really tuckered out.

Maybe next time you'll think twice, take a chance and come up...the skiing was really good.

Marge Stramowski

To 'Blog' or Not to 'Blog' . . .

2008-03-07T17:13:00.000-05:00

You, too, can be a 'blogger' . . . Just create your account, sign in with your email address and password, click on 'New Post', and compose. Simple. We'd love to hear your stories!

Feb 29/Mar 1 weekend

2008-03-06T10:58:00.001-05:00

Ok, let's see if I can manage this! Blogging, a whole new world for me.

This past weekend, conditions were so great, they were what every MRG skier dreams about. Not too cold (a bit windy on Sunday but nothing we can't handle), great snow, great coverage, some sun, more snow, and even a live porcupine! spotted by many, resting and foraging in a tree in Birdland. Lots of young ones this weekend, to their mutual delight. I am happy to say that my son Victor skied without his ski harness for the first time - he wanted to follow John and Chris Hecht. where they went, he was going, no matter what. After one yard sale of a tumble, he decided to take everyone's advice and actually make turns, which improved his ability to stay in control (surprise, surprise! Mommy had only been saying that for days but will he listen to me...negative) It's what being part of a club is all about - friends to ski with, peers to look up to and emulate, and a spirit of encouragement and camaraderie that make our club so special. It was especially nice to meet a new provisional family, Jeff Frey and his two children, and to welcome Barbara Hecht back from California; she says she hasn't been to the lodge in 15 years and that's probably the last time I'd seen her, so it was great to reconnect.

Somebody, tell me that these past few years of snowplowing behind/ahead of/alongside my children will pay off...sooner rather than later. I haven't even made it onto the new single chair yet! :)

see y'all, Pam Ferraro

Presidents Week til Feb 20th

2008-02-21T08:43:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday night through Wednesday afternoon was pretty interesting. While driving up late on Sunday the rain began around Springfield, MA, at that point I had opportunity to return home but I figure MRG always finds a way to pull it together some how. With in the next 5 miles it was pouring and did not stop until Middlesex when I exited 89. Buy the time I reach WPSC there was a drizzle but the temps were in the mid 30's, still a chance to skiing glimmered in my dreams that night. Monday morning the O'donnnell's were out to ski but returned around noon because the mountain was flooded as the temp's rose to 51. The base lodge received at least 2 feet of water and the mountain was shut down. Monday evening Joe,Amy and 5 year old Mathew(Litzky guests) joined us at the house and were a pleasure to hangout with while I was there. Tuesday was looking pretty grim, but as usual MRG worked all night groomed out about 10 trails fixed the basement and dropped the ticket price to 35.00. We had a great group ski with the O'Donnell's, Dave Litzky, Joe and Dakota, reaching some pretty top speeds on the very fast terrain. Tuesday afternoon brought us Lazarus', Prudden and his guests Brad, Shane, and Dillion. Tuesday night there was a group cook and we all survived :). Wednesday the temps were down to 10 and more trails were groomed. Very very fast were those trails, in fact if anyone find a left shoulder around the bottom of the Quacky, it's mine. When I left it was snowing fingers crossed they got 4 overnight.

all for now.
George Hess