FOLA Plans Christmas Program for BR Area

FOLA (Friends of Ludlow Auditorium) announced the program for its Christmas Revue of Friday, December 17 at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium, starting at 7 PM.

Working closely with Connie Wilcox, the program will consist of a wide range of holiday music along with a seasonal reading and playlet. Current plans will call for the students from Black River High School to provide some piano treats from the Nutcracker Suite, a number by the high school jazz band, featured singing by the BRHS chorus, and, to top of the evening, a sing-along lead by members of the Ludlow Elementary School's 6th grade class.

In addition to these treats, Connie Wilcox will direct the Bell Ringers in Christmas music, Bruce Farr, accompanied by guitarist Tony Masteller, will read Dylan Thomas' "A Child's Christmas in Wales", and the Harts will perform a little playlet called "The Lottery", supplying some holiday humor.

To oversee the entire event, George Thomson has agreed to act as emcee.

According to FOLA chairperson, Ralph Pace, the Christmas program is free and open to everyone. "It's our way of wishing everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and expressing our thanks for the community's support."

FOLA Gets Movie Equipment

Pictured above are Jerry and David from Edgewood Studios in Rutland with some of the motion picture and media equipment they delivered to the Ludlow Auditorium today.  The equipment, funded by donations from over 90 people plus an award from the 2010 Ludlow Town Meeting, will be used to show classic and recently-released family-oriented films to Ludlow and surrounding area residents in the auditorium.

According to Ralph Pace, Chair of FOLA (Friends of Ludlow Auditorium), the purchasers of the equipment, Edgewood Studios will return to the auditorium in mid to late fall to finalize the setup of the equipment, designed to project films onto a large screen being purchased by the town.
A special "movie" committee is preparing to decided what films will be shown and the dates for them.

Pace noted that "all we need now is about $1,000 to enable us to finalize the legal requirements for displaying copyrighted films and purchase a popcorn machine to make everyone feel at home at the movies."

FOLA OFFERS ‘CELTIC MUSIC IN OVERDRIVE’

In keeping with its plans to bring great entertainment to the recently-restored Auditorium in Ludlow's Town Hall, the Friends of Ludlow Auditorium (FOLA) announced that it had aranged to have the internationally-acclaimed musical group, Gypsy Reel, perform in the Ludlow Auditorium on Nov. 6. Gypsy Reel play high energy stirring music rooted in the Celtic tradition but garnered from the whole world. Their music is an exciting synthesis of world rhythms and influences from 3 continents. Their latest studio album, ‘Red Red Rose' features music from the tradition and original material from the band and is their eighth CD. Their tours of the States, Canada, Central America and the UK have gained them rave reviews - ‘Ended the set in a frenzy’, ‘Gypsy Reel rocks stage at Charleston Spoleto Festival’, & ‘Fine sparky playing - bags of originality’. As a band based in Ludlow for over twenty five years, they are delighted to be back at the Ludlow Auditorium for this special fund raising concert on November 6th. The line-up includes hot banjoist Claudine Langille, formerly of ‘Touchstone’, the sensational Irish/American fusion band that won critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, Graham Parker – eclectic fiddler extraoirdinaire; and Camille Parker who has captivated the hearts of audiences across the globe with her singing in Spanish, French and English. For this concert they will be joined by special guest Dave Paton on concertina. Dave most recently played with them on a live Celtic broadcast on WGBH radio in Boston. FOLA chair Ralph Pace enthused that "having Gypsy Reel perform in the auditorium will really make the place come alive. Hopefully it will be the beginning of a long-term relationship."

Ludlow Debate Draws Over 90

The debate among the five Democratic Party candidates for the party's nomination for Governor drew over 90 people last night in Ludlow's Town Hall Auditorium. The debate was sponsored by FOLA, Friends of Ludlow Auditorium.


Consisting of Susan Bartlett, Matt Dunne, Deb Markowitz, Doug Racine, and Peter Shumlin, the debate covered topics ranging from Ludlow's educational property tax, single-payer health care system in Vermont, to a balanced budget requirement for the legislature.


Ralph Pace acted as moderator while David Almond served as time-keeper.


A news account of the debate is available on the Black River Today blog by clicking here.

OYAP Concert Draws Over 100

In its first two concerts in the Ludlow Hall Auditorium, the Okemo Young Artists Program (OYAP) has drawn close to 200 attendees.  Over 100 attended the second concert which featured senior student and faculty members in a memorable concert performance.

In addition to the concerts at Town Hall, OYAP is presenting weekly concerts at the United Church of Ludlow on Tuesday and the Sugar House on Okemo Mountain on Wednesday.  All concerts on these dates start at 7:30 PM  and will continue through July 14.

OYAP will present a special 4th of July concert at the Calvin Coolidge State Historic site in Plymouth starting at 2 PM.  Its final concert will be at the Sugar House on Friday, July 16 to close its season.

FOLA Starts Fund Raising Effort to Fund Movie Equipment

In an effort to purchase equipment for Ludlow's Town Hall auditorium to show movies and other graphic displays, FOLA has started a fund raising campaign.  According to Ralph Pace, FOLA Chairman, the equipment, which will cost $7,500, is valued at over $40,000 when both the hardware, wiring, and technical support are considered.

FOLA plans on showing recently-released and classic family films for local residents who are unable to attend the only for-profit movie theaters that are hours away from them.  The equipment will also the town and other groups to utilize state-of-the-art graphics equipment for everything from PowerPoint presentations to travel slideshows  - all on a large screen.

Donations may be sent to:

FOLA
1 Whispering Pines
Ludlow, VT  05149

All donations are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged.

OYAP Group to Perform on TW3

Talented young students and faculty of the Okemo Young Artists Program will again bring their exciting chamber and solo music to the Black River area. Celebrating a month-long series of free classical concerts, they will begin with a Gala Opening Night performance Thursday, June 17 at 7:30 PM at their Sugar House Lodge training facility on Okemo Mountain. The series continues with four weeks of concerts every Saturday (Ludlow Town Hall auditorium), Tuesday (United Church of Ludlow), and Wednesday (Sugar House Lodge). The festival runs from the June 17 Gala through the Grand Finale performance on Friday, July 16 (Sugar House Lodge) and the public is invited to all concerts, which mark the group ’s 5th season at Okemo Mountain. All events are free; goodwill donations are welcome and applied toward scholarship funds. Picture above are members of the Okemo Quartet: Ade Williams (age 13), Hansuh Rhee (age 13), Mira Williams (age 12), and Josiah Yoo (age 12). The students are members of the prestigious Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago and were semi-finalists in the Junior Division this year's Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.  Prior to their appearance in concert, the quartet will be guests on TW3 (That Was The Week That Was) on channel 8, LPC-TV.

FOLA Gets Piano For Auditorium

Following a lengthy quest, the Friends of Ludlow Auditorium (FOLA) realized one of its major objectives when it was able to see a piano installed in the auditorium of Ludlow's Town Hall. Due to the generosity of Glenn Brown of Ellison Lake Road, a very rare and historic piano was delivered to Town Hall this past week. "The piano, an upright baby grand piano, along with its matching bench, will provide a fundamental musical tool to support a number of possible attractions in the auditorium," noted FOLA chairman, Ralph Pace. He added that the condition of the "new" piano was excellent, citing its cherry wood construction, raised top, and beautiful sound. Pace said that FOLA plans to have the instrument tuned very soon. Pictured above, enjoying the piano, are Anita Alic, FOLA member, standing, and Frank Heald, seated, Ludlow's Town Manager.

FOLA Gets Some Help Preparing for Movies

In keeping with its efforts to present first run and classic movies to Ludlow residents, members of the Friends of Ludlow Auditorium (FOLA) gathered in the auditorium with its technical consultant, David Giancola of Edgewood Studios in Rutland, to consider where the projector to show movies will be positioned. The position of the projector dictates the size and lens of the projector needed. Pictured above in the auditorium's balcony are, from left to right, Frank Heald, Ludlow Town Manager, Jean Egglesston and Janet Pace, members of the FOLA board, and David Giancola. Giancola, who provided technical assistant to Rutland's Paramount Theatre's efforts to install large screen facilities to present major movies, noted that he was pleasantly surprised by both the restoration work and attractiveness of the Ludlow auditorium.

FOLA Sponsors Gubernatorial Debates

At its recent meeting, the Directors of Friends of Ludlow Auditorium (FOLA) decided to conduct two major political debates in the auditorium at Ludlow's Town Hall. FOLA has invited all five Democratic Candidates for Governor to participate in a debate on Thursday, July 29. Following the recently-rescheduled primary elections in August, FOLA will sponsor a General Election gubernatorial debate of all candidates appearing on the November ballot. This debate will take place on Thursday, October 14.


Ralph Pace, FOLA Chair, indicated that details for both debates would be released within a month.


"Our first priority is to get all the candidates to participate in these important debates," Pace said. He noted that invitations had already been sent to the five Democratic Party candidates: Deb Markowitz, Doug Racine, Susan Bartlett, Peter Shumlin, and Matt Dunne. Additionally, Brian Dubie, the unchallenged Republican candidate for Governor, had been notified of the Oct. 14 debate.


"While details for these debates are still to be worked out," Pace continued, "I think they should be of great interest to everyone in the area. The next Governor of Vermont will have some difficult and painful decisions to propose. These debates will give the electorate some idea of what those decisions may be."