Letters to the editor – December 17, 2020
Who can use the snowmobile trails?
To the editor:
My name is Pat Leclaire, assistant trail coordinator of the Shelburne, Charlotte Snowmobile Club. We’ve been fortunate over the years to have wonderful landowners who have allowed us to cross their property to enjoy the sport of snowmobiling.
Recently, while working on the trails, we heard of some issues. Landowners are concerned because they have seen mountain bikes, cross country skiers, horse riders, and people walking dogs on the snowmobile trails during the snowmobile season and also during the off season. This has caused landowners to withdraw permission for the snowmobile trail.
Who can use the snowmobile trails? Local clubs obtain permission from landowners for trail use for snowmobiles and for the snowmobile season only, approximately Dec. 15 to April 15. Local club members pay annual fees to belong to VAST, the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers. They register their snowmobiles to ride these trails.
Most of these trails are located on private property, not public land.
To find out which trails that VAST uses you can go on their website.
What is VAST? Founded 50 years ago, VAST is responsible for the organization of the sport of snowmobiling, maintaining and grooming over 4,700 miles of trails in Vermont. One of the oldest snowmobiling organizations in the U.S., VAST is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that includes 127 clubs statewide, with over 24,000 members combined. The clubs and their steadfast volunteers and the landowners who allow riders to cross their land are the backbone of the organization. Please feel free to call VAST if you have any questions.
Thank you to all our gracious landowners. Wishing everyone a safe holiday and snowmobile season!
Pat Leclaire
Hello Charlotte Residents,
The Community Center Committee formed in November to explore the idea and gauge resident interest in a multi-use community center in Charlotte. Made up of a diverse set of residents, including Selectboard members and Planning Commission members, the committee is surveying residents, evaluating options, and identifying needs that may be met with a multi-use facility. Committee members are volunteering their time and experience in a range of knowledge, skills and abilities including executive leadership, project management, construction, architecture, communications and fundraising. If the committee finds sufficient interest in the project, the hope is to have an informational presentation ready for Town Meeting to garner town-wide support to continue its work into the next year.
The survey is estimated to take approximately 10 minutes to complete and closes Thursday, Dec. 31.
Thank you for your help!
Charlotte Community Center Committee