Hello Members,

Skiing has ended at Sugarloaf and it’s time to change gears and think about warm weather outdoor activities. Now that many of us have been vaccinated, CVOA can begin planning some in person outdoor activities. It will be nice to see our smiles once again.

In the immediate future the Range is having a clean-up day the morning of May 8. Volunteers are needed to help with this effort. The Range will hold its first trap shoot on May 15. Ski trips are having much interest, and the Big Sky trip has reached capacity. If you are considering one of our other ski trips make your plans soon so you’ll be ready when reservations begin.

All members are welcome to attend and participate in Board Meetings. Our next meeting will be on Saturday, June 19, at Val and Sam Hudspath’s home on Great Pond in Belgrade Lakes. Morning water activities such as kayaking will be an option, followed by lunch and the meeting. I hope many of you will attend.

Some of you may have heard about proposed legislation affecting Native American lands in Maine. About 50% of Carrabassett Valley is owned by the Penobscot Tribe which controls access for recreational and other purposes. Those interested in questions about the legislation and its impact on Carrabassett Valley should watch the excerpt from a recent town council meeting at: https://youtu.be/chAdQYVx1QY

Wishing all of you a wonderful spring and summer.

STEVE

The Big Sky trip has been filled with the maximum 36 people. If you are interested in being placed on the waiting list, contact Mike.

Trip Leader: Bonnie Farrar – phone: 207.735.3984

CLICK HERE or on the image for complete information. Reservation forms will be mailed to all CVOA members on May 15 with reservations to be postmarked no sooner than May 17.

Trip Leaders: Lee & Jon Goss – phone: 207-542-9361

We are very close to having the final details, but not in time for the newsletter. As soon as the package is completed, we will email trip information to all CVOA members. Reservations will be accepted beginning with a May 17 postmark date. Contact Lee and Jon if you have questions or hope to go on the trip.

Package includes:

• Round trip air Boston to Denver

• Airport/Lodging transfers (bus to/from Snowmass)

• 7 nights’ accommodations at Top of the Village Condo’s in Snowmass Village

• 5 out of 10 day 4-mountain pass valid at Aspen, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk

3 people per 2BR/2bath condo $2,410* per person (equivalent to an $870 single supplement)

$500 per person deposit due September 10, 2021; balance due Nov. 23, 2021

No air/transfers: deduct $400*

Lift Tickets: 6-day Adult add $100; 5-day Sr. deduct $70; 6-day Sr. no +/-;

No lift ticket: deduct $380

* subject to change

In June of 2020, the Board approved a policy for filling available spaces on trips. You can read the complete document HERE. The most relevant part of the policy follows:

• Filling spaces on trips:

o The postmark dates of the mailed forms will determine the date of receipt. Priority for filling spaces will be based on date of receipt, on a daily basis.

o If on any day at any time in the process there are more reservations received than there are spaces, a blind drawing will be held to determine priority for awarding the available spaces, and priority for the remainder on a subsequent waiting list.

• For the first three days of receipt of reservation forms, tenured members (those who were paid members 60 days or more before the initial reservation date) have priority over newer members.

This policy does not address every conceivable circumstance. Our 2021 trips were postponed until 2022. In fairness to those members who signed up for the 2021 trips, they will be given the opportunity to mail their reservation forms prior to the postmark date specific to each trip, giving them guaranteed spaces on the trip. After the first date of postmark, they will no longer have any priority.

Each CVOA trip requires a non-refundable fee to CVOA for $50, which is mailed with your CVOA reservation form. These monies are used for trip expenses such as bus driver gratuities, trip parties, and other expenses at the discretion of the trip leader. The $50 fee is refundable only if a) there is no space available for you or b) the trip is cancelled.

If you rely on your Maine Driver’s License for identification when flying, at some time in the future you will need the REAL ID designation on your license to satisfy TSA requirements. The deadline for that requirement was recently extended from October 1, 2021 to May 3, 2023. For more information about the REAL ID, Click Here for federal info or HERE for Maine BMV info. 

The Spring shooting season is just around the corner. That means new Range Badges and a new gate code will be mailed to all current members at the beginning of May, and will go into effect on May 15th.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 8, when we will hold our annual Range Cleanup and Lunch. 

We need your help to get the Range in shape for the new shooting season. Please come dressed to get dirty and bring work gloves, rakes and carpentry tools if you can help with carpentry. Some of the items on the “to do list” include:

Clean inside 5-Stand – vacuum walls, window sills, ceiling, floor; wash windows

• Stain outside of storage shed and welcome kiosk

• Rake shell casings on pistol and rifle ranges

• Rake plastic wads on 5-stand and trap fields

• Rake around sign at top of driveway

• Move out picnic tables

• Set up 5-Stand, move out trap machines and fill with clays

• Move 450 cases of clays into the 5-Stand building

• Test trap machines

At noon, we invite all Range Members, their families, and volunteers to a lunch of Fotter’s sandwiches, beverages and cookies. There will be a brief Range Meeting about our upcoming Range events.

If you plan to join us, a note to Diane would be appreciated. Email her at cvoa.range@gmail.com or call 207-240-4752.

We anticipate opening the trap shooting season on Saturday, May 15. We will notify you if we move it to a later date. Saturdays are for 5-Stand and Sundays are for Trap.

Our Range has continued to grow and to provide a safe shooting environment for all:

Diane Stone, Range Secretary

207-240-4752

Neal Trask, Range President

207-235-2732

From DownEast Magazine:

Maine’s stay-at-home orders have been lifted, the state is gradually reopening, and Maine businesses and organizations are adapting to a summer like no other. We couldn’t be happier to get back out there and take advantage of what a Maine summer has to offer — even in this unusual time.

And so, the Mini-Maine Scavenger Hunt! We’ve pared back this year’s Great Maine Scavenger Hunt in light of cancellations and distancing requirements, keeping community health in mind. From now through September, there’s still plenty of time to check out some favorite summer sites and activities — from trails to tide pools, historic landmarks to roadside attractions.

Click the logo to go to Down East Magazine's Scavenger Hunt info.

Sue F and I enjoyed this sunny afternoon on the way to Yonder Knoll. Though there had been snow melt, we stepped around only a few puddles. And the 'bypass' around the biggest wet area was perfect! The (formerly) skidder trails keep any water away from the middle. Felt like spring was here! (Little did we know that winter was going to appear a few times later!) This trail is only .7 miles each way, and it's marked all the way up. And the view is always wonderful. Sorry, no pics this time.

Cheers! Jan Mildram

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