C.H.A.M.P.  (Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program)

December 2009

The Paddle is proud to have donated a $50 Gift Certificate for C.H.A.M.P.'s silent auction.   What a great program!  

Please visit:   www.vtchamp.org to

discover more about this organization.  

2010 New England Regional Figure Skating Championships

Burlington

October 2009

Champlain Valley Skating Club

As a sponsor, The Paddle donated Gift Certificates for the skating

club's silent auction held during the recent championships.

Environmental Advocates of New York

2009 Advocates Awards

honoring

Carter Bales

Andrew H. Darrell

Richard Ravitch

Tuesday, November 10

The Yale Club

Pictured, our little contribution to

the Awards program.

Calcutta Fundraiser for the Grand Isle School Playground

Blue Paddle Bistro

Sunday, October 25th     

Thanks to the generosity of all those who attended - as well as those folks who gave but who could not make the event -

$3,061

was raised!   Congratulations!  

A little plea:   We still need to raise additional money to make

this dream become a reality for our kids  (as well as the community)!  Anyone interested in making a donation, please contact Jodi Butler, Playground Committee Chairman, at (802) 372-3311 or email Mandy:   bluepaddle@surfglobal.net.      Thank you!

P.S. Everyone had a great time and raved about Phoebe's food.  The menu included Shepherd's Pie with Lamb, Sweet Italian Sausage Lasagna, Loaded Veggie Lasagna, Shrimp Fried Rice, Baked Beans & a Garden Salad with our house balsamic vinaigrette.

2nd Annual Applefest BBQ Boogie

Blue Paddle Bistro 

Saturday, October 10th

For a second year, The Paddle hosted a free concert for the Island community and Applefest attendees featuring our self-proclaimed "house" band, The X-Rays.   Despite the early inclement weather, lots of folks came over to join in the fun, eat & drink a little, chat with friends & neighbors ... and do a little dancin'!

Thanks to those folks who donated to the fund for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta.  We raised another $250 for this special place "where kids go to reclaim a childhood robbed  by cancer."

Our gratitude to Joel Snyder (J.F.S Electric) who provided the superior sound for the event!

Front Porch Forum coming to the Island

The Paddle is delighted to be a founding sponsor of the new Grand Isle county's Front Porch Forum.   

Visit www.frontporchforum.com for information on how to become involved!

Folsom 8th Grade Car Wash

At our good neighbor,

The South Hero Volunteer Fire Department

Sunday, August 9th

(Mary Powell lending a hand!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

You guys are the best.

Not only do you create unbelievably delicious innovative menus and food but you are tremendous community leaders.

The help you gave us today with the fundraiser for the 8th grade class at Folsom School was just tremendous. With your help, we raised $729.00 in four hours!

Mandy, you are an exceptional caring member of the South Hero community and we are very blessed to have you... when it comes to helping worthy causes your tireless energy and enthusiasm is the islands "secret weapon" .... without you, there is a lot of good that would never have happened out here and we are all lucky you are part of this community.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Mary

Fundraiser for Island Arts

Blue Paddle Bistro

Sunday, August 9th

From Katya Wilcox, President ...

On Sunday afternoon, August 9th, the Blue Paddle Bistro in South Hero generously hosted a wine & cheese fundraising event by invitation only.  The owners, Phoebe R. Bright & Mandy Hotchkiss, kindly donated the use of their restaurant and provided five wines for tasting and delicious finger food.  The cheese was donated by a local cheesemaker - The Vermont Butter & Cheese Company.

For 25 years, I - and many, many loyal volunteers - have been developing & supporting arts events, programs & workshops throughout the Islands.  A major focus of the organization is aimed at providing opportunities for young people to experience the arts through scholarships, in-school grants & community workshops.

Sunday's event was a big success with many in attendance. 

Highlights included:

• Katya Wilcox gave an overview of Island Arts - emphasizing the fact that they are all volunteers, with no employees, and all the monies collected from concerts & fundraisers go towards arts scholarships and financial aid for children of Grand Isle county to participate.
• Tony Pietrocola talked about the Island Arts Academy and, especially, his involvement in the children music program for the Academy and their connection with the Flynn Center for Performing Arts.
• Bob Ayers, Program Director, discussed The Arts Boost program, which makes available grant money to all of the Island's schools each year.
• Larry McCrorey spoke passionately about music and what Island Arts have provided in the Islands community.
• Cierra Pepin closed the event with a short piano concert.  Cierra is a talented recipient of several Island Arts scholarships.

If you were unable to attend, and would like help the Island Arts program, please send your contribution to:

Island Arts

P.O. Box 108

North Hero, VT 05474

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Island Arts, I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mandy, Phoebe & the staff of the Blue Paddle for your generosity in hosting the wine & cheese fundraiser August 9th.   This event helped Island Arts showcase our mission while raising $1,500 towards arts scholarships for the children of Grand Isle County.  Thank you for supporting the arts in the Islands!

Cheers,

Brenda Pitmon

Island Arts Board Member

AM 620 WVMT - C.U.F.F. Cancer Head-Shaving Fundraiser                             to benefit Camp Ta-Kum-Ta

WVMT Studio, Colchester

The Charlie & Ernie Show featuring Charlie Papillo & Ernie Farrar

Thursday morning, August 20th

Live during their morning broadcast, The Charlie & Ernie Show hosted a head-shaving to raise money for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp for children with cancer in South Hero.  The event, sponsored by C.U.F.F. Cancer (Cops United for Fighting Cancer),  showcased Joe Sinagra getting his head shaved!   Joe is the Executive Officer of the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont.   Spryng Benjamin, of Big League Hair Cuts, did the honors of first cutting a zig zag in Joe's hair ... followed by a full-blown shave!   On hand to lend support was Ed Vizvarie, a board member of C.U.F.F. Cancer, and Mandy Hotchkiss of the Blue Paddle Bistro.  Mandy talked about the upcoming BBQ & Dance Party at The Paddle to raise money for the camp, as well. (see Events page).  

The head-shaving event raised $1,800!

Sunflowers for Carrie

 (actual photo of Nicole's sunflowers)  

 Recently Nicole Thompson dined at The Paddle &, afterwards, approached me about this very special project.   Hence, we're purchasing her beautiful sunflowers for our restaurant (as long as they keep blooming) and offering them for sale to our customers & friends to help in this endeavor.   Please read on ...

From Nicole & George Thompson:

"The Sunflowers for Carrie project started when our South Burlington friend, Carrie Premsagar - a wonderful mom, wife, teacher & friend - was diagnosed with a rare & aggressive type of cancer.  We knew we had to do something to help, and our plan was to grow sunflowers & sell them at local Farmers Markets & from our field in Underhill, with all proceeds going to Carrie & her family.  Through the help of many - both friends & strangers - the sunflowers are blooming!  With your purchase of flowers you are helping us help our friend Carrie!   

Thank you so much!

Nicole & George Thompson

Stop by The Paddle if you would like some sunflowers!

BBQ & DANCE PARTY featuring the X-Rays benefitting Camp Ta-Kum-Ta

Blue Paddle Bistro

Saturday, August 22nd

 The X-Rays

Graced with Camp Ta-Kum-Ta weather (apparently the rain stays clear of   their special events!), our first Annual BBQ & Dance Party for the camp was deemed a huge success by everyone who attended!

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended,

as well as a one individual who couldn't make it

(with a check notation:  "to honor Phoebe Bright, a fighter & a survivor"),

we raised

$1,805.47! 

Phoebe's my hero!

I decided to organize this event because I wanted to honor Phoebe, my business partner & friend of 22 years, in some small way.   Last summer, she was diagnosed with tongue cancer.  As an athlete & a non-smoker,  she didn't fit the typical stereotype to get this kind malignancy.  Surgery, duel  radiation & chemotherapy ... & the ever-present feeding tube.  She took it all in stride  - a real fighter, never a complaint.  So, raising money for our local camp for children with cancer - Camp Ta-Kum-Ta - was the perfect answer  to do something in her name. 

Phoebe got lymphoma 18 years ago when we had Noonies Delis.  I organized a "Picnic in the Park" across from our Main Street deli to raise money for The Vermont Cancer Center at that time.  The X-Rays played at that event, as well as my dear friend, Rachel Bissex.  (Rachel has since pasted away of cancer.)    So,  it was only fitting that I called X-Ray Tom Freiheit up & asked him if they would play for us - again!    Without hesitation, he said yes.    To all the X-Ray guys - you rock!   Thank you, thank you, thank you ... you are now our "house band".    And to my dearest Phoebe, it is truly an honor to be able to call you my best friend. Thank you for enriching my life.

- Mandy

“In short, Camp T-K-T is where kids go to reclaim a childhood robbed by cancer.”

Visit Camp Ta-Kum-Ta online: www.takumta.org    

Blue Paddle Hosts Fundraiser for Uganda Kids

The Blue Paddle Bistro recently hosted a fundraiser cocktail party for the 52 Kids Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “enable disadvantaged rural children in Uganda to participate and succeed in tertiary level education, business, or any other field that will enable them to break the cycle of poverty they were born into.” Held Sunday, June 7, 2009, the organization’s founder, Jagger Koerner of Charlotte, VT, gave a visual presentation of the foundation’s accomplishments. Bill Butler, of South Hero, helped organize the event. Bill recently visited Uganda and volunteered his time for the 52 Kids Foundation. Anyone interested finding out more about this organization or how to make a donation is encouraged to contact Jagger at 52kidsfoundation@gmail.com or call (802) 425-2429.

Blue Paddle Raises Funds for Parkinsons Disease

On Saturday, June 13, 2009, the Paddle sponsored Debi Paterson, of South Hero, in the American Parkinson Disease Association Vermont Chapter “Rock-A-thon”.  The Blue Paddle Rockers raised $285 and donated a $75 gift certificate for the event. Debi was instrumental in coordinating the “Rock-A-thon”.  In addition, she has baked many wonderful desserts for The Paddle over the past two years.  Congratulations, Debi!