Growing up in Cleveland, both Susan Miller and her husband Jim had never heard of The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family Program. It wasn’t until they moved to Quechee, and spoke to some of their neighbors that they were introduced to the program. It was initially Jim’s idea to become a host. It had been a lifetime goal of his to help inner-city children. Susan and Jim, along with their two daughters Caroline and Christine, first signed up to host in 2010 for two weeks and since then, they have welcomed Erykah, of the Bronx, back every summer.

The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8… Read More

Quechee is home to some of the most dynamic people you will ever meet. Some are retired after impressive careers with business, government or non-profits. Some have poured their energies into raising children. Many now donate their time and considerable talents to local organizations in need of assistance. Having experienced executives joining local Boards means the world to small (or even major) non-profits, and many Quechee residents engage in on their feet volunteering as well. The most consistent comment they make on their involvement is something along the lines of “I get so much out of it.”

John Ferney learned about volunteering from watching his mother.… Read More

Upper Valley golfers had better watch out, there is a new superstar on the green and he’s ready to put you to the challenge! Quechee resident, 11-year-old Matty Du Plessis, is entertaining fans across the world with his incredible golf skills and his YouTube videos.

Despite a late start walking, Du Plessis began golfing at the age of two, using a plastic golf set to keep his balance. His parents, both avid golfers, introduced him to the sport and made it a family event. For a short while he also swam on the Quechee Swim Team, but decided on golf. Being homeschooled allows him time to focus on his golf, his entertainment skills and his academics—all while he travels around the world.… Read More

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

It’s a program you probably don’t know about if you or your family and friends have avoided legal trouble, but for certain troubled youth, others who have committed a crime and their victims, Valley Court Diversion Program (VCDP) locally headquartered in White River Junction, Vermont, can change lives.

“Restorative justice” highlights the aim of healing that is a core mission of these programs. Even minor crime harms victims, the community, the participant’s family as well as the participant.

Windsor County is one of the largest geographical counties in Vermont. VCDP’s commitment to being community based is demonstrated by the staffs’ willingness to travel and facilitate restorative panels in several locations including Ludlow, Springfield and White River Junction.… Read More

For the last 24 years, Southeastern Vermont Community Action’s (SEVCA’s) four “Good Buy” Thrift Stores, including its two in White River Junction, have recycled the clothing that didn’t sell, in order to reduce the waste stream going into the landfill and raise needed revenue to support its programs for vulnerable low-income residents in need.

But until 7 years ago, it was just a small-scale effort based on recycling bags of clothes that its Good Buy customers brought to the stores when they came in to shop. Then in November 2007, SEVCA decided to ratchet up its recycling game, significantly expanding its scope and nature.… Read More