Dragonheart Vermont Dinner Fundraiser
Thursday & Friday, June 7 & 8, 2012
Blue Paddle Bistro
Thank you to al those who dined at The Paddle or who made donations via the Tribute Flags. Because of all your help, we raised $1,346 for their upcoming trip. This year, the Dragonheart Vermont Sisters, our Vermont breast cancer survivor paddlers, won a bid to race at the World Club Crew Championships being held next month in Hong Kong!
Pictured here: Our dear friend, Karen Meyer, with Mandy & Phoebe ...
Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC)
Sunday, September 11, 2011
$381.00 Donated!
Thank you to every one who came in for brunch or dinner on the 11th;
we donated 15% of all food sales from the day to this wonderful organization that does so much good! By the way, HSCC also covers Grand Isle County ...
Special Benefit Concert at Snow Farm Winery
Saturday, July 30, 2011
5:00 picnic, 6:30 music featuring Tammy Fletcher
Sponsored by the Blue Paddle Bistro & People's United Bank
Benefit for Grand Isle County Mentoring Program
$250 was raised at the concert!
Thanks, everyone, who supported this important program!
FEMA Gets in on Parade Action
Monday, July 4, 2011
WPTZ, Channel 5 News Broadcast
South Street, South Hero & Blue Paddle Bistro
Carol Ann Jones of The Superchargers, Paddle Crew member, Lam La and Candy Throwers, Emily Bellows & Emma Boardman. (Below) Brian Costello, Local Motion, welcomes everyone to the Paddle's BBQ Boogie ...
To raise money for Local Motion's Island Line Trail (bike path/ferry between Colchester & South Hero), The Paddle organized & hosted a BBQ Boogie. Music by Carol Ann Jones & The Superchargers.
The bike path was ruined due to the flooding that occurred late spring.
Thank you to everyone who generously donated to The Friends of the Island Line Trail; $1,500 was raised!
Prior to the BBQ Boogie, The Paddle particiapted in our first South Hero Parade. This year's theme was "Row, Row, Row Your Float" ... and that's exactly what we did! A very special thank you goes to our two young Candy Tossers: Ella Boardman & Emily Bellows! Great job throwing the candy and smiling for the crowd! (Check back later for a photo of our little float!)
Click here to see WPTZ's coverage of FEMA and the Blue Paddle ...
Don't Tread on Me Update - New Wildlife Crossing Signs Installed!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Route 2, Sandbar State Park
The State of Vermont came through ... with the installation of two Wildlife Crossing signs on both sides of the one-mile wildlife area today! Seems like our little Beaver Patrol campaign worked!
Earth Day - Don't Tread on Me
Friday, April 22, 2011
Route 2, Sandbar State Park
(below, click on photo to enlarge)
To raise awareness for the number of beaver being hit by cars on Route 2 (in the wildlife preserve area), we installed our own hand-made beaver crossing signs. Pictured: Phoebe impersonating a beaver, Tamara lending sign support ... and Mandy encouraging everyone to honk! Channel 3 & 5, along with The Free Press, showed up to cover our Earth Day event.
For the front page Free Press story, click here.
For the WPTZ, Channel 5 story, click here.
For the WCAX, Channel 3 story, click here.
Click on camera to watch a short, goofy video of Phoebe doing her best beaver impersonation!
We'd like to thank Chris Bernier of Vermont Fish & Wildlife for his help in communicating with the Agency of Transportation the need to find a more permanent solution for alerting motorists that this stretch of Route 2 is an active wildlife crossing area. Ideally, the state will acknowledge the need to erect "official" crossing signs. We encourage anyone interested in this project to call Vermont Fish & Wildlife ...
Grand Isle County Mentoring Program
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Calcutta Fundraiser
Blue Paddle Bistro
(Above) Some of the folks who attended the Calcutta!
(Below) The "final four" strategizing about splitting the cut. (Second photo) GICM Program Coordinator & Calcutta organizer, Karen Browning with her husband, Wayne Tyrrell.
Note: The following is part of an article written by Karen for the February 8th issue of The Islander newspaper:
Grand Isle County Mentoring
Program a Huge Success
On Sunday, January 30th, a number of generous people came to the Blue Paddle to celebrate and support the GIC Mentoring Program. The success of the night and program are thanks to several people. The primary people that make this program a success are the mentors who spend one hour once a week with students in the five Island schools. The mentors in Alburgh are Charity Darby, Teresa Poquette, Natalie Prairie, and Terry Tatro. In Isle La Motte, the mentors are Paul Hinman, Susan Larkin, Barbara Larvey, and Anne McKay. In North Hero, the mentors are Christie Bullis and Mary Watson. In Grand Isle, the mentors are Alan Arthur, Jane Birnn, Cindy Bovat, Dee Johnson, Donna LaClair, Terry Palatino, George Robinson, Cheryl Vantine, and Leslie Ward. In South Hero, the mentors are Ruby Berensky, Nancy Frantz, Carl Frenning, Melissa Hood, Cyndi Reynolds, Cindy Robinson Spence, Carol Tremble, and Bill West.
Special thanks go to Mandy Hotchkiss and Phoebe Bright and the Blue Paddle who hosted the event. Their contribution to the community is very much appreciated. We also like to thank the many people who sold tickets and helped plan the event especially Mike Talbot. It was truly a community effort to support a wonderful community program. If you would more information about the GIC Mentoring Program or would like to be a mentor, contact Karen Browning at gicmentoring@gmail.com or call 372-5239.
The American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days
Donations may be made from now until March 1st.
Delivery will be during the week of March 14.
We are committed to supporting this important organization ... and one way we do so is by purchasing bunches of daffodils during its Daffodil Days - won't you? Please call our local friends:
Judy Steacy @ (802) 372-5314 or
Paula Delano @ (802) 372-4655 to place your order.
Donations to Daffodil Days are helping the ACS create a world without cancer. Various items are offered as a Thank You for contribution levels to support cancer research.
Gifts of Hope and Bear Hugs ($25) will be given anonymously to adults/children with cancer. Below,are the Daffodil Items with $10, $15, $25 minimum contributions.
Island Arts
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Home of Gina & Todd Fearn, South Hero
We were a host of this Island Arts fundraising event - donating the hors d' oeuvres for a group of 65 folks. During the event, a piano recital was performed by Yang Bao in memory of Priscilla Foley. Click here to learn more about this gifted pianist!
All contributions to Island Arts will support its Scholarship Fund.
Benefit for the Restoration of the Cupola of Granny's Attic
Blue Paddle Bistro
Sunday, July 25, 2010
We hosted a BBQ and concert to raise money for this restoration project. The Maine band, Boreal Tordu played ... and they were great!
In a little over an hour, we raised $455! Thank you to all who donated!
South Hero Land Trust
Summer, 2010
Support of agriculture in the Champlain Islands
RU12 Community Center's Annual Dinner & Benefit Auction
Sheraton Hotel, Burlington
Saturday, May 31, 2010
Donated a gift certificate for the silent auction.
It's mission: RU12? celbrates, educates &
advocates for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual,
transgender & queer (LGBTQ) Vermonters.
Humane Society of Chittenden County Benefit Dinner
Blue Paddle Bistro
Tuesday, May 25th
We have donated 15% of the dinner proceeds directly to HSCC. Thank you to everyone who attended the benefit dinner. Hope you had a great time!
FYI: The HSCC serves as the principal sheltering organization for Grand Isle County, a neighboring county which consists of 83 square-miles and a population of 7,800 people, with no county humane society of its own.
To learn more about HSCC, please visit: www.chittendenhumane.org
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: mandy@bluepaddlebistro.com. 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
Sunday, August 9th
(Mary Powell lending a hand!)
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:
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!
