~ February 2024 ~

Hello CVOA,

Greetings CVOA members,

CVOA will celebrate its 25th anniversary on March 30. It has grown from a small group of about 20 people who wanted more of and more from their outdoor experiences in Carrabassett Valley. By the end of 2023, it has nearly 1,000 members. In the past 12 months more members came out and joined together in CVOA activities. These include The Neal Trask Shooting Range, Diadema Golf outing, NEOC trip to the Katahdin area, Meet-Ski-Go, Bowling, Third Thursday Socials, Snowshoe to Yonder Knoll, dance at the Yurt and ski trips. We owe a big “thank-you” to those CVOA members who organize and lead these activities and make them interesting and fun. If you have an idea for an activity or trip, if you’re interested in being a leader of an activity or if you’re interested in being a Director of CVOA, please contact Tracy Goller at cvoa.secretary@gmail.com 

Speaking of ski trips, the first trip of 2024 departed for Val Gardena Italy on January 24. The trip to Heavenly Valley in the Lake Tahoe area leaves February 27. The final ski trip heads for Quebec City on March 18. All these trips are full. There will likely be some pop-up events like a day trip to Saddleback and Snowshoe trips to Yonder Knoll. Read the CVOA Newsletter announcing these activities.

Sometime in the first or second week in February, we will be welcoming a new lift and ski trails to Sugarloaf. Often the enormous amount of work took place in less-than-ideal conditions. Congratulations to Sugarloaf and Boyne and thank-you for the continued investment in our Valley.  

This year’s Annual Meeting is a special one as it includes the celebration of CVOA’s 25^th Anniversary. It will take place Saturday evening March 30 at the Shipyard. Don’t be put off by the moniker of “Annual Meeting”, as the only business conducted is the election of CVOA Board Members and Officers. Mostly it’s a time to gather and celebrate the winding down of the ski season. Our event will include a social hour, dinner and entertainment. In honor of our Anniversary, we have a comedian to entertain us, a pretty funny guy from the Boston area. A separate email will be sent with more details about this special event.

The CVOA Board of Directors will hold its regular meeting on Feb 24 at 3:30pm at the Carrabassett Valley Library, just before the Pie Social. All members are welcome to attend our meeting.

Thom

Please thoroughly read each monthly CVOA Newsletter…especially the Calendar of Events, details and dates of Future Events and Range News. Also, we hope you enjoy the news about everything CVOA.

Thank you for being a 2024 member of CVOA. Welcome to the 116 new members of CVOA who have joined since October 1, 2023! Fifty-five of you are also Range members and we are so glad to have you all. It’s wonderful to know that the word is spreading regarding all that CVOA has to offer both in Carrabassett Valley and around the world! There are many great events and trips planned for the rest of 2024 and potentially beyond. Watch for information in your monthly Newsletter.

Membership Secretary

Patti Johnston

February 4 2:00-4:00 Bowling at the Sugarbowl

February 6 9:00 Meet-Ski-Go at Super Quad

February 10 1:00-3:00 Yonder Knoll Hike

February 11 2:00 - 4:00 Bowling at Sugarbowl

February 13 9:00 Meet-Ski-Go at Super Quad

February 15 4:30 -6:00 3rd Thursday Social at Shipyard Brew Pub

February 18 - NO BOWLING..VACATION WEEK

February 20 NO MEET-SKI-GO..VACATION WEEK

February 24 3:30 Board of Directors Meeting CV Library

February 24 5:00 - 8:00 Pie Social at Begin Room CV Library

February 25 2:00 - 4:00 Bowling at Sugarbowl

February 27 9:00 Meet-Ski-Go at Super Quad

Click here: CVOA Calendar of Events

CVOA Sunday Afternoon Bowling …

The SugarBowl reserves two lanes for CVOA members.

2:00 - 4:00 – $10 includes shoes

Come join the fun Sunday afternoons!

February dates: 4,11,25

Chris Newell became a member of the “200 CLUB” on Sunday, January 7th. His score was 219! WELL DONE CHRIS 🎳

Yonder Knoll Hike

Show ‘N' Go Hike 

February 10th

Meet at the Stratton Brook Hut Parking lot, just north of the Loaf Access Road. Head out at 1:05 pm. Cleats and/or snowshoes are recommended, depending on the amount of snow. Poles are important for navigating any uneven ground. We travel 15 minutes on the Narrow Gauge Pathway, then about 30 minutes up, some of which is moderately steep, but not tricky related to footing. We see the incredible view for 15 minutes or so. It’s an outstanding panorama of the Crockers, the Loaf, Burnt Mountain, and the peaks of Bigelow. The trip down is about 30 minutes. Total time is no more than 2 hours, so we will be back around 3:00 or so. This is a Show ‘N Go event, so there is no signup required.  We do this no matter the weather.

Hikes the second Saturday of each month, Feb 10 and March 9

Friendly dogs are welcome.

Trip leader Jan Mildram...207-491-6798 

Hope you can make it!

Meet Ski Go Tuesday Mornings

February 6,13,27 Promptly at 9:00am Meet At The Super Quad

Calling all CVOA skiers! 

Please join us for a Ski Around The Mountain. 

Ski your favorite trails for a few runs or a few hours with other CVOA members.

No sign up…just "Show and Go"!!

Watch WSKI and go to the Sugarloaf website to review the weather, trail and lift reports. If the mountain is having issues, we will not ski together as a group.

3rd Thursday Social, Food & Trivia

February 15 at Shipyard Brew Pub

4:30-6:00pm

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS! MAKE SOME NEW FRIENDS!

Cash bar ~ Appetizers provided by CVOA

CVOA social events have drawn a strong showing from our members.

Some of our later arriving members have missed the appetizers. Please be moderate in partaking of the appetizers.

🍷Tips for servers greatly appreciated🍺

Trivia with Team Prizes!

Valentine Gift Baskets ~ $25 Shipyard Gift Card Doorprize

Support the Shipyard Brew Haus ~ Stay for Dinner!

🥧Whatever the Question, Pie is the Answer!🥧

PIE SOCIAL at the CV Library

Saturday, February 24 at 5:00pm

5:00 - 6:00: Social Hour with Appetizers BYOB

6:00 - 7:30: Dinner & Desserts

🎟 Doorprize Drawing 🎟

This event was a GREAT success last year….it will be again!

Come Join The Fun and Have Dinner With Friends

Appetizer Pies 🥧 - Dinner Pies 🥧 - Dessert Pies - 🥧

If it’s in a pie plate or it’s a hand held mini pie or a slice of pizza pie

Bring it to the social. We’d love to taste it!

CVOA has many great cooks and bakers. For those that don’t wish to cook, surely you know a good bakery! Ice, cups, plates, cutlery will be provided by CVOA. Plenty of room at the library - guests welcome

A few members are needed at 4:15 to set up tables and following dinner to store tables and clean up.

RSVP not required, however to balance the food categories, appetizers, dinner pies and desserts please email Jeannette and let her know what you plan to bring. Oven will be on to heat dinner pies.

Jeannette Parker: jparker16seabreeze@gmail.com  

CVOA 25th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Meeting

Saturday, March 30 at Shipyard Brew Haus

5:00 - 8:00

Mark Your Calendar & Save the Date

Buffet Dinner ~ Comedian Entertainer~ Doorprizes

….more details to follow

Heavenly, Lake Tahoe

February 27-March 5, 2024

The CVOA Heavenly Ski Trip has just one spot available for a single male traveler. If you are interested or wish to be added to the wait list, email trip leader, Bonnie Farrar at bfarrar7@aol.com.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE TRIP BROCHURE

Quebec 2024 Ski Trip



The trip is currently Full with 29 members signed up. However, if you would like to join the Quebec trip, a waiting list is being established. If you’re interested, read through the brochure (click on it) and send in a reservation form. Trip leader, Thom Johnston, will get in touch with you. If you have questions, you can contact him at 207-852-3595 or tandpjohnston@gmail.com

Alaskan Cruise 2024

May 31-June 7

"Join this Epic CVOA Adventure before it's too late"

There are now 24 CVOA members signed up for the “top-rated” Alaskan Dream Cruise trip May 31-June 7^th, 2024, and most of them have made their flight and hotel reservations as well. There are five AA cabins (double occupancy) still available for anyone wishing to go on this adventure. Full cruise details have been in the last few newsletters. If you would like additional information, visit the website at https://www.alaskandreamcruises.com/cruises/2024-last-frontier-adventure/ or email Bonnie Farrar, trip coordinator at bfarrar7@aol.com. Reservations cannot be made online, but by calling (815)345-4113 and mentioning CVOA to get discounts. Because this is not a CVOA-sponsored trip (just CVOA friends traveling together), it is the responsibility of each member to make their own reservations for the cruise/hotel/flight. It is sure to be a great adventure!

🚴‍♀️ Bike Trip to Quebec 🚴‍♂️

Three days, two nights, June 11-13

Near summer-time on the St. Lawrence, Québec City, Canada calls.

CVOA has reserved rooms at the Hotel le Saint Paul

229 Rue Saint Paul, Québec City

418-694-4414

The hotel is near the Old City of Québec and the waterfront of the St. Lawrence River. There is a bike storage room on premises and next door parking. Bicycling trails, exceptional European style restaurants & shopping are all nearby!

Reservations must be made by March 22nd. Room sizes vary and range from $239 to $289 Canadian, Current exchange rate approximately 25%. A 10% discount is available when 10 or more rooms are reserved. 

Room Cancellation Policy

No fee for cancellation prior to one month before check-in date

10% of the reservation for cancellation between one month and two weeks before check-in date

100% of the first night including tax for cancellation less than 2 weeks before check-in date. 

Will be a fun time with great people and usually good weather. A great event to look forward to right before schools let out and vacation season begins.

If you want to join this trip, please contact Glenn Bickford at glenpegbic@aol.com, call the hotel, tell them you are with the CVOA group and make your reservation.

Your hosts, 

Glenn & Peggy Bickford

Members since about 2005

Winter

Hello Range Members, 

Solar Eclipse on April 8th at 3:29:58pm. The Range will be a great spot to view the Solar Eclipse and we will open the gate for all CVOA members and their guests for viewing. The Range will be closed for shooting activities at that time. We'll set out our fire pits and some tables if you like to bring chairs and snacks for a pre-eclipse get together. We'll know more about the weather as the date approaches.

Remember to renew your memberships for 2024. The current gate code will stay in effect until April. If you have not renewed before then, you will not have access to the range. Welcome to all our new and returning shooters.

Remember, Pistol and Rifle Ranges will remain open throughout the winter. Steel targets have been reinstalled on the 100yd Rifle Range. The "plink" from hitting the target is very satisfying! Remember to follow all posted safety rules and maintain at least 25 foot distance while shooting at metal targets. For paper targets, you may move as close as you like.

Folks are getting used to the new electric gate. Please do not try to drive around the gate. Boulders will be moved to both sides and you may damage your car if you do so. Also, when exiting, the gate will remain open while multiple cars exit. The same is not true of cars entering. The gate will close after 12 seconds and may damage your car and/or break the gate. Only one car at a time should enter.

Diane Stone

Range Secretary

CVOA.range@gmail.com

207-240-4752

January 13th Winter Social at the Yurt

My feet still feel like they’re dancing! Fifty nine members attended the Jimmy Buffett themed winter social. Thank you for planning ahead with your creative “beach attire” adding to the fun!! The photos show an almost summer night dance party in the Valley.

A BIG shout out to CVOA member and DJ Steve Kolenda👏👏. Steve rocked the house playing Jimmy Buffett and a lineup of other musicians. Members danced right up to 8:00! There were many hours of preparation selecting music with performers projected on a screen which added greatly to the fun for attendees and dancers. We are grateful and appreciative for Steve’s time as our DJ. Thank You, Steve. The Kolendas will enjoy a dinner or two at Tufulio’s compliments of CVOA. 

Four tables were filled with a great selection of tasty, yummy appetizers! A few desserts were available for those with a sweet tooth. Well done everyone!

In typical CVOA fashion, attendees generously filled the donation jar with $606. THANK YOU, CVOA members for giving generously. The CVOA Board voted to donate $500 to the AOEC for a combined total of $1106.

Door prizes were $25 gift cards and winners were Denise Brookings, Betsy Henshaw, Lisa Marchese and Peter Weston

Click here for more photos from the Winter Social

3rd Thursday Social

January 18th at the Shipyard

WOW! A record breaking turnout! The largest gathering of CVOA members since the 3rd Thursday Socials began a couple years ago. Mike Parker enthusiastically greeted guests while writing name tags that were numbered. These were used as doorprize drawing tickets and were helpful when making teams for trivia. New members making their first appearance were immediately welcomed by CVOA members. Name tags are greatly appreciated! 

Trivia teams were formed, questions distributed and the timer was set for 10 minutes. Trivia continues to be great fun with enthusiastic and competitive teams. 

Winner of the $25 Shipyard gift card door prize Donn Gifford! Congrats, Donn!

THANK YOU CVOA Board for providing $$$ for the appetizers.

THANK YOU Members for your generosity to our bartender and wait staff.

THANK YOU to everyone who attended. Your attendance and participation is what makes these events FUN!

Click Here to view photos from the social

To foster and promote the conservation of our natural resources

and the creation of recreational opportunities in our region.