The Ludlow Rotary Club and the United Church of Ludlow are combining efforts to raise money for humanitarian relief of the besieged people of the Ukraine on Saturday, March 19 at the United Church, located at the corner of Elm and Pleasant Streets.

 

According to George Thomson, they plan to serve a lasagna dinner.  The cost will be $15 per person – or whatever generous donation the diner wishes to make.  “This is sort of an ‘Eat so others can eat’ affair to help the struggling people in Ukraine”, noted Thomson.

 

You can help us by donating to this relief effort by using the link below.  We would love to have you come to the dinner.  Whether you can make the dinner or not please consider a donation in support of the Ukrainian people by donating using the app below.  

 

Donation checks via mail are also appreciated.  Make check payable to:  LARCF, Inc. (Ludlow Area Rotary Charitable Fund, Inc.) and mail to:  PO Box 216, Ludlow, VT  05149.

All donations are tax deductible.  We are a 501(c)3 organization.  

 

 

 

Ludlow Rotary Club recently unveiled a beautiful 15’ street clock at the corner of Main and Elm Street in honor of long time Ludlow resident and Rotarian of 60+ years Bob Kirkbride who died in March 2020 at age 93.

 

The street clock, made by Electric Time Company, Inc. of Medfield, Massachusetts was designed by the Club and was placed on Town of Ludlow property with the blessing of the Ludlow Village Trustees. Special thanks are extended to the Town’s Municipal Manager Scott Murphy, Ludlow’s Highway Crew, Ludlow Electric Company, Benson’s Chevrolet who stored it for us once it was shipped to Ludlow and assistance from Brett Wright and Wright Construction all who were instrumental of erecting and making sure the clock was ticking!

 

The dedication was held after a Ludlow Rotary luncheon on Tuesday September 14^th and family members were present along with an honor guard from The American Legion Post 36 and many fellow Rotarians, neighbors and friends.    Rotarian Kimberly Lampert started the proceeding with all reciting the Pledge of Allegiance then introduced the club’s present and last two presidents all who led the club while deciding on what meaningful tribute we could do in Bob’s memory.  Also recognized was Rotary Past District Governor Jon Springer of Reading who was a former Ludlow Police Chief in Ludlow and a friend of Bob’s since the 1970’s.   Brigid Sullivan, fellow Ludlow Rotarian from Belmont provided a blessing and then Rotarian Jim Rumrill said a few words about Bob as Rotarian; he was followed by Frank Heald, former Town Manager and fellow Rotarian who spoke of Bob as a Ludlow citizen and friend and how Bob always found the GIFT of TIME to help others and raise money to benefit our little town and the area. Several funny stories were told by each of course!

 

Sharon Bixby spoke of the process of actually getting the clock and thanked those who helped the club with the project…  Rotarians, Town Departments, Ludlow Electric, Rotarian spouses like Jon Lampert who was a great help and even a Rotarian grandson who helped plant the flowers at the base of the clock.  

 

Then it was time for Kevin Barnes, Ludlow Rotarian and Jon Lampert to remove the covering and unveil the lovely clock!     Applause and some tears of joy & pride followed ...  Rotarian Mary Crowley closed the dedication leading us all in one of Bob’s favorite songs- God Bless America!

 

It was a picturesque day to honor and memorialize a great man who Ludlow will surely miss.  As noted by Rotarian Sharon Bixby, “Bob’s ‘gift of time’, dedicated to helping others and being with those we love and care for, is perhaps his lasting memorial from which we can all benefit”.

In its second face-to-face meeting since the pandemic restrictions were lifted, the Ludlow Rotary conducted its weekly meeting at ClearLake Furniture’s showroom in Ludlow.

 

The meeting was hosted by Brent Karner, the owner and master craftsman of ClearLake, and catered by The Cookster.

 

Brent was the featured speaker at the meeting, discussing his own background as well as the history and product design and creation procedures employed by ClearLake.

 

He began by describing his own development as a craftsman.  Brent grew up in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He attended Tewksbury public schools, Shawsheen Regional Vocational Tech. School in 1982, and in 1985 graduated from North Bennet Street School in Boston where he learned the art of fine woodworking. After graduating from North Bennet, prior to starting ClearLake Furniture, he spent many years crafting 18th and 19th century reproductions as well as contemporary furniture for clients throughout New England.

 

ClearLake Furniture was created in 1992 and has offered a wide variety of individualized fine furniture since.

 

In discussing the impact of the Covid pandemic, Brent observed that his business actually increased – but with a twist.  The was a much greater demand for two items that dramatically increased orders:  desks and liquor and wine cabinets.

 

Following his presentation, Brent took the Rotarians on a tour of his showroom and shop where all the furniture was made.  He is pictured here in his shop with the beginnings of a wine cabinet.

 

Brent currently lives on South Hill in Ludlow with his wife, Abi, of 35 years and their two children, Thacher and Rachel.

 

As is usual for the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) at it last meeting in June, the current President handed over the leadership of the LRC to its incoming President in an annual event known as "the changing of the gavel".  In this instance, with the lifting of previous Covid-19 restrictions, the LRC decided to combine the changing of the gavel with a summer picnic to replace the Christmas program that was cancelled due to the pandemic.

 

The actual exchange of the gavel was done by Kevin Barnes, the out-going LRC President, presenting a gavel during the meeting and with Art Randolph, the incoming President  It also gave Art the opportunity to thank Kevin for what he had accomplished in the LRC  during the past year, awarding him a specially engraved plaque.  Pictured above are Art and Kevin during the exchange of the gavel.

 

An important step forward was announced at this session.  The next LRC meeting, scheduled for July 13, would be held at DJs Restaurant.  This would be the first formal meeting conducted face to face since the start of the pandemic.

 

The changing of the gavel process was conducted during a special summer picnic at the home of Tom Harris on Lake Rescue. 

 

“For the past 19 years, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) has sponsored a Chili Cook-off regardless of the weather or other worldly problems.  But 2020 will see the first cancellation of the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  We believe it is a necessary step to take to protect area residents and visitors from unnecessary exposure to the virus.”

 

With these words, LRC President, Kevin Barnes, announced the cancellation of an event that represented a major fund-raiser for the club in addition to the Penny Sale earlier this year.  Both of these events were major programs to raise funds for the $9,000 in scholarship funds given by the club to area high school seniors.

 

“We still managed to use our reserve funds to cover the scholarships this year but really need to find other source of revenue for the coming year”, added Barnes.

 

He indicated that the Ludlow Rotary Club would appreciate any donations people were able to make to help LRC prepare for the scholarship they will hopefully be awarding in 2021.

 

Such donations may be sent to the Ludlow Rotary Club, PO Box 216; Ludlow, VT  05149.  Direct online donations may be made through PayPal at www.ludlowrotary.com.    All such donations are fully tax deductible and will be acknowledged.

 

“We hope events will make it possible to continue the chili cook-off next year”, noted Mark Huntley, Chili Committee Chairman, “but our primary concern is the health and well-being of those who may have attended this event and the community in general”.