The latest from the Gang ... 

The West Mystery Group enjoyed dinner and Trivia at the Westford British Beer Company on Sunday evening, February 16. We were most successful on questions about sports, thanks to Allan. WATCH OUT for Meredith who chimed in with “anemometer,” an instrument that measures wind speed, and “Arctic Tern,” a bird that flies from the North to the South Pole on its migratory route. Gang members came in rather lower than first place for information, but first place for fun! Trivia is a humbling game, we decided. If only the movie star pictures were of actors who are age 60 plus!

Louise P.

Our Florida contingent of 6 met for a 5 K walk around Lake Sumter in the Villages on a beautiful 70 degree winter day. We walked the lakeside and boardwalks, parks and golf cart trails for 4 miles. Later we shared lunch a nearby Fire and Ice restaurant. Our walk was organized by Christine B. and lead by Dawn M.. From left to right we have Dawn M., Joe M., Joy T., Walter B., Joan H-B, and Christine B. This is our second winter adventure. Our first was a 20 mile ride on the Tarpon Springs to Sarasota Bike path. Having fun, but missing friends and skiing.

Joe M

16 Loonies showed up for three or four days of skiing at Loon and Bretton Woods. Tuesday was a day with great snow conditions but poor visibility. The rest of the days were terrific. We had a game of Balderdash with Tom Jefferson teaching us how to play, making us scream out loud laughing! The Kancamagus Lodge serves a great breakfast every morning to keep our energy up till lunch, with the exception of Charlie C. who has a metabolism the rest of us would kill for. I got to know some newish members - Pam , Tom , Susan , Charlie, Bruce , Elizabeth , Nora , Marge , Steve - and realized what a nice addition to the Club they all are! Great skiing, great food, great people - what more could we ask for? Thanks to all the newbies and oldies but goodies for making this trip so enjoyable. PS Look for Mary W. and Pat P’s special ski t-shirts on upcoming ski trips!

Mary W.

It was a reunion for many and a first time for some at the recent cross country/snowshoe trip to Old Field House in Intervale, NH. Though there wasn’t much snow the week before, we were lucky to be surprised with a snowstorm on Friday. That made driving up North a bit messy, but everyone made it without incident! Skiing and snowshoeing conditions were ideal!

Friday night’s Happy Hour was topped off by pizza, salad and homemade goodies – thank you Peg T. and Lucy McG.! True to form, many gathered to play games until bedtime.

After a tasty breakfast featuring the innkeeper’s famous blueberry waffles everyone was out and about either snowshoeing or XC skiing. Dinner that evening across the street at the New England Inn was followed by more games – one especially raucous one named “Catch Phrase”

Everyone headed home on Sunday, many stopping along the way for one last bit of outdoor activity. Old Field House is so comfy and familiar to so many of us, it’s like home!!
Judy T., Trip Leader

We had a group of 16 members (12 downhill skiers and 4 x-country/snowshoers) for our "swan song" year at Stowe. We were delighted with the ski conditions, even though we had to contend with some fog at the top for the first two days (the visibility did clear as one dropped down on the trails, especially the tree-lined ones). Wednesday started out grey with some light snow, but by noon time that gave way to full sunshine and bright blue sky for a glorious afternoon - it was our banner day. Our snow dances must have worked as we had 6 inches of new snow on Thursday and were skiing in powder the whole day (also enjoyed by the snowshoers who had an active and strenuous day climbing to the peak cabin at the Trapp Family Ski Center). We were very grateful for the soothing hot tub and pool at the Stowe Mountaineer Inn, as well as the satisfying and plentiful buffet meals we had there. After 5 years, we are finishing up our tenure at Stowe and were very happy to have such good skiing and a fun group for this last year.

Nancy B.

Seven Walkers ventured to the FarandNear Trustees of the Reservations site in Shirley, MA. Meeting at 10am we walked until noon through the varied landscape including beaver ponds and an arboretum of Pine trees. The paths were clearly marked but a few were a little icy. After we had a great lunch at the Devens Grill in Devens, MA; the former Ft. Devens.
Meredith P.

Twenty four happy Gang members showed up for the festivities at the Franconia Inn. We were once again disappointed with the lack of snow, but enjoyed ourselves none-the-less. We managed to snow-shoe, x-country ski, downhill ski, walk, play ping pong, play games, enjoy the hot tub, and of course, eat and drink. Richard took us on a 2 1/2 mile walk that was especially enjoyable compared to the 3 1/2 mile up-mountain trek he led us on last time where he kept saying “the end is just around the bend” or “just up the little rise.” That trek included 90-year-old Theresa! This year Theresa did not attend and Richard kept asking about her, concerned that he had worn her out. We missed you this year, Theresa! Thanks to a wonderful group of Gang members for another fun-filled time in Francionia!

Lucy McG

Five members enjoyed a Saturday matinee of “boom” by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb at Wellesley Repertory Theatre. The production was imaginative, darkly hilarious science fiction drama depicted by a cast of 3, with outstanding acting focusing on the powerful fate of humanity.

Marilyn N.

Thirty-two intrepid TOHG members descended on New England’s best ski lodge (The Mountaineer Inn) for three to four days of skiing at Mount Snow. Snowfall has been a bit low but great snowmaking and grooming gave us a wide choice of fun trails and slopes. No 40-mile-per-hour winds or torrential rains this year. The new young chef was outstanding (he is at an upscale Nantucket restaurant in the summer). Ned’s piano accompaniment to Happy Hour was a delight as usual. It was a great place for four new members to get acquainted with “the old guard.”

Peg T’s coordination and execution of the Annual Meeting and luncheon was fantastic – thanks, Peg and assistant, Lorraine T, for all your hard work to make it so enjoyable.
We said our good-byes to four dynamic folks, two Board members, Linda McH. & John C. and two officers, Chris B., Treasurer and Peg T., Secretary and we welcomed our two Nancys, Nancy C. and Nancy B. as Members of the Board and Cindy B. as Treasurer and Joyce T. as Secretary. Thanks to all of you for joining the Board and for your future input.

Marco A. brought us all up to date on our fabulous Web site and reported that we are only in the infancy stage of what is still to come . . . on-line credit card payments, and more! Helgard K. and his lovely wife, Marina, hawked T-shirts to which Don T. would have been proud!
And, finally, to finish the “business at hand,” we amended the Constitution to simplify the voting process going forward. I am certain that the Nominating Committees of the future will be happy not to have to collect, sort and count ballots. Thanks are sent to Polly M. and her team, Ray G. and Linda McH. for this year’s hard work!