Jumping News

Hello Ford Sayre families! As part of our effort to connect our Ford Sayre community with fun, youth-focused outdoor activities, I am sharing some upcoming events.

• Storr’s Pond Summer Kick-off Event, Saturday, June 4th: Drop by for the season opening of the Storr’s Pond Recreation Area this Saturday from 10:00-2:00pm. This event is open to the public (free of charge) and sponsored by the Hanover Improvement Society. The event will include two organized runs: a one-mile family fun run around the pond (starting at Noon) and a special edition Fiddlehead 5K Race (starting at 2:00pm). Other events include tennis contests, disc golf demonstration, sand castle contest, big splash competition, all-comers water polo game, all comers sand volleyball exhibition, field games, free use of all boats in the Storrs Pond marina (seven canoes, three kayaks, three paddleboat and three paddle boards), fire truck demonstration, jugglers and face painting!

• Third Annual Hanover Trails Hike Challenge: If you’re looking for a fun and low-key way to keep your kids active outside this summer, consider signing up for the “Hanover Trails Hike Challenge“. The Trails Challenge highlights seven easy to moderate hikes in Hanover. This is an approachable group of walks that will show your family some of the hidden gems right in your backyard. The Trails Challenge is a collaborative venture sponsored by Hanover Parks & Recreation, The Hanover Conservancy, Hanover Improvement Society, Town of Hanover Conservation Commission, and local businesses. 

Best wishes, Aricca; bkl.one.day@fordsayre.org  Continue reading →

As you may have read recently in the NENSA newsletter, the upcoming 2017 BKL festival will be held March 4&5th in Bethel, Maine.

I have secured a block of rooms at the Bethel Inn Resort as advertised in the newsletter to “stay close to all the action happening on the Gould Academy Campus.”  These rooms will be reserved for our club until December 1st and then released to the public after that.

For details on pricing, etc., see the NENSA site.

Please call 800.654.0125 to make your reservation and say that you are with the Ford Sayre Ski Club and give our group confirmation number 227501.

As always, shout out if you have any questions.

Cheers!

-Jane

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Hi folks,

One of my hopes this year is to connect our Ford Sayre community with some of the great outdoor activities happening in the Upper Valley – especially those geared toward younger children who like to spend time outdoors! Here are a few activities coming up in the next month.

1. Kite Day at Balch Hill is happening in Hanover on Saturday, May 14th from 2:00-4:00 pm. Enjoy a short walk from the Grasse Road parking area to the summit of Balch Hill, then let your children run around with their kites as you enjoy the great views from the top! This event is sponsored by the Hanover Conservancy and Red Kite Candy. Click here for more information.
2. Storr’s Pond Summer Kick-off Event: Mark your calendars for the kick-off of the summer season at Storr’s Pond in Hanover on Saturday, June 4th from 10:00-2:00pm. This event is open to the public (free of charge) and sponsored by the Hanover Improvement Society – more details should come out soon, but the initial plans sound like a lot of FUN! Note: Your children spent time in December running on the Storr’s Pond trails – come see what the trails look like when we have green leaves and warm water! 
3. A Trail Kids Hike (ages 8-11) is happening on Saturday, June 4th from 10:00-2:00pm on the Appalachian Trail. The program is sponsored by Youth-in-Action and the Hartford Parks & Rec Department. Children will explore the woods, visit trail shelters, and cover about 4-6 miles (trail section to be identified the week prior to the hike). For more information, click here.

Look for my next message in a month or so when we have more details on the Third Annual Hanover Trails Challenge – a fun and family-centered chance to see some new terrain in our backyard!

Finally, if you are a Hanover resident, don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, May 10th (7am-7pm at the Hanover High School). Article 8 (zoning amendment 7) has direct impact on the nordic ski experience in Hanover. For more information on the amendment, see my previous post.

Best wishes,

Aricca; bkl.one.day@fordsayre.org

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Quick reminder to please encourage Hanover residents to vote YES on Article 8 on Tuesday – ballot voting at Hanover High School Gym, 7am-7pm.

If you are looking for summer nordic training opportunities, check out the many that are listed on the NENSA website. Also, check out Dublin’s summer camps and Craftsbury’s many options (summer camps are full but you may e-mail Anna to be put on the wait list).

Also, the Bill Koch Festival rotation was supposed to head to Massachusetts in 2017; however, Eastern and Western Mass want to forgo their bids this year, hoping they will be ready in 2018. So, bidding is happening now for the 2017 Festival in Maine on March 4-5th, 2017. More to come regarding hotel reservations when the location has been determined later this summer.

Cheers!

-Jane

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Dear Ford Sayre Community Members,

Please consider voting “YES” on Article Eight at the Hanover Town Meeting on May 10th.

WHY is this important?  Discussions are underway to enhance the cross country ski experience at Oak Hill (the trails near Storr’s Pond), with the goal of creating more reliable snow conditions through snow-making, homologation of trails (homologation is a fancy term for a “system of evaluation” that is designed to guide the development and upgrade of Cross-Country competition courses), and lighting.  The college is also exploring the possibility of constructing a facility for skiers and other outdoor recreation users to be used for ski tuning/waxing, refuge and training during inclement weather, restrooms, and a gathering space.

What does article eight change? Article eight (amendment 7) changes the definition of “outdoor recreation” and makes it clear that buildings and structures associated with outdoor recreation are allowed as Special Exceptions.  It adds structures associated with Outdoor Recreation to the list of Special Exceptions in districts where Outdoor Recreation is an allowed use. Please note that any new structures that are allowed with this new definition of outdoor recreation must still be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Hanover voters: Please review the language below and consider supporting Article Eight at the May 10th election (Voting: 7am to 7pm at the Hanover High School)

Thanks!

Aricca

Here is the language that you will see on the ballot:

Article Eight: Amendment No. 7: Modify the definition of ‘Outdoor Recreation” At a public hearing held on March 1, 2016, the Hanover Planning Board voted to recommend that Town Meeting adopt this zoning amendment. This amendment changes the definition of “outdoor recreation” and makes it clear that buildings and structures associated with outdoor recreation are allowed as Special Exceptions and adds structures associated with Outdoor Recreation to the list of Special Exceptions in districts where Outdoor Recreation is an allowed use.

For more information on this and other proposed zoning amendments, click here. For an absentee ballot, click here. 

 

 

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