What do you call an individual who is able to merge form and function in an artistic blend? Is he a craftsman, an artist or an engineer? Whatever your choice might be in North Pomfret they call him Captain Dan Embree, a retired Merchant Mariner who constructs his unique Adirondack guide boats in a small “shipyard” at the end of Bunker Hill Road.

Graduated in 1973 from the New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, Captain Embree spent 23 years in a seagoing career, which culminated in his command of the 55,000-ton vessel American Cormorant. This heavy-lift, semi-submersible, converted tanker was utilized to transport such unique cargo like oil derricks, which were floated onto its decks or barges chock-a-block full of military hardware and explosives.… Read More

Book clubs date back to the 1800s—and likely long before that recorded date. They can be found in local bookstores, at libraries, even online, but most often in homes where a group of friends gather to share a good book, interesting conversation and friendship. In 2001, that’s how a group of Quechee residents started theirs. Ann Heimarck, Alice Goldstein and Rosemarie Scibetta wanted to start a book group and discovered that four other women—Karen Tahmousch, Vaughn Glanville, Roberta Epstein and Maywood Giordano—also were thinking of starting one. They came together and since that time they have added members, lost members to moves, including in the past six months Sharon Corrigan, Peggy Jones and Arlyne Berke and original member, Maywood Giordano, who passed away in June.… Read More

The Upper Valley is blessed with many people who quietly perform significant work to help others. A collection of such folks can be found at the Bugbee Senior Center in White River Junction, VT. The building itself is a gift, the legacy of T.D. Bugbee, a local dentist who died in 1954 leaving money to the town of Hartford for a building in the town’s interest and bearing his name. The Senior Center opened in 1980.

The Center provides social services such as rides to medical appointments, assistance with Social Security, living wills, Medicare and Medicaid. The Center also provides a variety of different activities.… Read More

Dave Duval took over as President of the Quechee Lakes Landowners Association (QLLA) Board of Trustees in July 2014 with plenty of relevant experience and lots of enthusiasm. He has been a QLLA Trustee since 2012 and was named vice president in July 2013. He served on the Nominating, Golf Revenue, Pool Financing, Marketing and Community Affairs Committees and as Board liaison to the Golf and Greens Committees.

As Duval explains, he is a “planner by nature” with a strong background in finance and management. Following more than 20 years in venture capital helping young companies get off the ground and grow, he is now in wealth management—assisting clients to plan for and manage finances—as Managing Director with Boston Financial Management.… Read More

Nemat Odeh has been appointed the Executive Chef of The Quechee Club. Chef Odeh, has served in several leadership positions with the Four Seasons Resort, The Bellagio, Farmington Country Club in Connecticut, Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia and Shuttle Meadow Country Club. Chef Odeh was born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany. He started in the family business at age 12. After his schooling at the Culinary Academy in Frankfurt, he went to Gstaad, Switzerland, for his apprenticeship training working for three master chefs at the Palace Hotel. He continued his culinary education after college by enrolling in a year of pastry specialties.… Read More