Three Green Mountain trails to be closed to snowmobiles

Three Green Mountain trails will be closed to snowmobiles this winter, according to the Times Argus.

The Green Mountain National Forest recently announced three trails — Leicester Hollow, Texas Gap and Boyden Brook — will not open for snowmobile traffic this winter, cutting off trails utilized by the non-profit Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST).

"These are trails that were damaged during the Aug. 6 flood," said Rob Hoelscher, acting district ranger for the Rochester and Middlebury Ranger District. "This will impact VAST to a degree because none of the trails have alternative routes and there are no alternatives that can be made between now and snowmobile season."

Update on the church restoration

The Addison Independent reports on our local drive to restore the Ripton church.

Ripton did its bit for the presidential election

We turned out to vote in good numbers. Results from last week's election, based on public information:

Candidates for US PRESIDENT
SUMMARY SHEET OF VOTES CAST
2008 GENERAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 4, 2008
Tally sheet numbers
Bob Barr 1
John McCain 60
Ralph Nader 5
Barack Obama 288
TOTAL VOTES 355

(thanks to Alison Dickinson; photo from Bryan Alexander)

Community event this Saturday

Coming up this weekend:

This Saturday November 8th

Dinner and Contra Dance

With Atlantic Crossing and caller Doug Bergstein

Dancing following meal. Silent auction through the evening.

Ripton Community House

6- 10 pm

$15 per person includes full dinner and dance.

$30 per family

$7 dance only- starts after meal.

To benefit the Student Aid Fund

Good fun for the entire family.

North Branch School Fundraiser Saturday!

Dinner and Contra Dance
with Atlantic Crossing and caller Doug Bergstein

Saturday November 8th
6-10 pm

Ripton Community House

Dancing following meal. Silent auction through the evening.

$15 per person includes full dinner and dance.
$30 per family
$7 dance only- starts after meal.
To benefit the Student Aid Fund

Good fun for the entire family!

Election day in Ripton

Time to vote, Ripton!

Ripton in a Halloween Song: "The Ghost of Goshen"

Our town appears in the lyrics of this fun spooky song, "The Ghost of Goshen":

...One night he saddled his sorrel mare,
And started over to Ripton, where
He had promised to do some preaching.
Away he cantered over the hill,
Past the schoolhouse at Capen's mill;
The moon was down and the place was still,
Save the sound of a night-hawk screeching.

At last he came to a deep ravine,
He felt a kind of queer, and mean
Sensation stealing o'er him.
Old Sorrel began to travel slow,
Then gave a snort and refused to go;
The parson chucked, and he holloa'd "whoa,"
And wondered what was before him.
...

Garlic Planting Today!

Please join us at the Community Garden (at Ripton Elementary School) at noon today, Saturday, November 1. We'll be planting garlic, and all are welcome! The garlic will sit in the ground all winter, and next spring it will be the first green to welcome us in the beds...