Club News

The Chili Cook-Off contest on Sat. Oct. 17th was a success. The Buckaroos participated in this event. The cook off was sponsored by our local recreational dealer, Absolute PowerSports in Wells River. The space provided was on a first come first served. Buzzy & Betty Eastman arrived at Absolute PowerSports by 9:30 AM and was able to set up the Buckaroos table right next to the front door, so we had access to everyone going into the Dealership. Barb Edson arrived to help set up. Buckaroos want to thank the following members; Chili makers were Bill Kane, Kath Lamberton and Rick Ames. Desserts were made by Barb Edson, Nancy Spencer and Betty Eastman. We had a lot of good food to sell. We sold the Chili for .50 cents a half of cup and $1.00 for a cup, desserts were .50 cents a pkg. soda $1.00 a can. Our prices were cheap. We took in $69.50. Our big expense was the soda which was $20.00. Left over soda & desserts Betty will bring to the club meetings. Desserts were put in the freezer late that afternoon. Bill Cassidy loaned us his generator which was so quiet no one could hear it running over the music provided by Absolute PowerSports. We borrowed Kitty Diggins tent just in case we had to set up in the rain. The guest enjoyed looking at all the Buckaroos pictures and clothing. We did not sell any clothes. Our Chili did not win a prize, BUT we had many people praising the cooks. One person eating Bill's Hot Spicy Chili had sweat poping out on his head but came back for a second cup! It was difficult to have people cast their votes. We were busy. On another fund raiser. Barb Edson brought copies of the Ski-Doo Million Dollar Club Support Program. Barb signed up 14 Buckaroo's to this program. Our Club will receive $10.00 for each form turned into Ski-Doo. So far we should get $140.00. The Membership Committee is going to put one of these application forms in with the membership renewal letters. The Program ends Nov.15th. If you would like to participate in the program and earn $10.00 for the Club please contact Betty Eastman 584-3630 or Barb Edson 584-3883 for a form. Thank you everyone. I forgot to take my camera. Betty

Buckaroos of 302
Club News
Caledonia County
November 2009
The Buckaroos trails have been mowed and inspected. We have no major problems on the trails. The Volunteer work crew will start cutting overhead brush in October. If you can help please call Buzzy at 802-584-3630.
Groton's Fall Foliage Day is Oct. 3^rd. The Buckaroos are participating in the events. Kitty Diggins will sell our Club sweatshirts and T-shirts. The Buckaroos will have a float in the parade. Karl & Kalib Hollstein are working on the float. They are using their two place trailer and the Clubs six wheeler. There will be two snowmobiles, one is a antique 1965 Ski Doo that is owned by Buzzy Eastman. There will be snow, banners, signs and kids on this float.
On October 17^th the Buckaroos are participating in the 1^st Annual Absolute/Club Chili Contest. This event is on opening day of the new 2010 model Ski Doo's which is at Absolute PowerSports located off rt. 302 in Wells River just below the P&H Truck Stop. The Chili Contest will run from 11 AM to 3 PM. We invite everyone to stop to taste the Chili and cast your vote for the best Chili while you are checking out the new Ski Doo's. Should be a fun day. Absolute PowerSports is a dealer for Ski-Doo and Polaris.
Trails signs will start to go back up as each sign crew feels it is safe to put the signs up without them being damaged. Out in the "Gore" we have a problem with the moose. Evidently the moose use the posts as a " rubbing post" needless to say the sign ends up on the ground. But there is nothing we can do about that.
At the last Club meeting the membership committee talked about selling TMA's on our web site
www.buckaroosof302.com this will be possible with your payment being made through pay pal. This should be a great improvement and service. We will still mail out renewals. You will still be able to print off the application from our web site and mail in your money and completed application. The Buckaroos of 302 are very proud of the service we provide through the web site. During the snowmobile season we post currant daily grooming reports. There are e-mail addresses for each officer we would like to hear from our snowmobiling friends.
The Web Cam's will be turned back on mid November. Bill Cam is located at the Upper Valley Grill & General Store. Betty Cam is on the front porch at Buzzy & Betty Eastmans with a view of trail 302 at Jct. CA 10.
At the VAST Annual meeting the membership voted to reduce the price of your TMA. The $20.00 subsidy was removed. Watch for the early bird sale for a savings.
Submitted by Betty Eastman

Buckaroos of 302

Caledonia County

Club News

Fall 2009

A few weeks ago, Buzzy Eastman, private grooming contractor for the Buckaroos trail system received word from Doug Wilson, Dealer for Sur Trac that their new Sur Trac grooming tractor and 10 foot wide drag is in mfg. process and will be delivered to West Groton around the first of November. The Eastman's and Drivers are very excited about this new purchase. This purchase would not have been possible without the support grant from VAST. Your TMA membership at work; funds grants, trail grooming, trail maintenance, mowing, VAST office expense and salaries. You are getting a lot for your dollar spent. You are buying the right to ride your sled on all VAST trails from the bottom of Vermont to the Canadian border. You could ride 7 days a week from Dec. 16^th till first part of April. The expensive part of snowmobiling is the cost of sleds, clothing, helmets and gas. Please do not complain about the cost of the TMA.

Our next club meeting is Sept. 11^th. We hold our meetings at the Groton Community Bldg. in the downstairs kitchen at 7 PM. We welcome everyone to attend. This has been a quiet summer. No changes in the Buckaroos trail system. That is wonderful. We have a great group of landowners that keep in touch with us if they have a concern. Two of these landowners are Harry and Judy Chandler. Harry and Judy allow the VAST trail route 232 to cross their land. They share a interest in Community affairs.

As fall approaches Buzzy is getting our Farmall A tractor with side cycle bar ready to start mowing the Buckaroos trail system. This is a very important part of summer trail maintenance. We try to keep the trails 12 foot wide. Buckaroos have 58 miles of trails. Our volunteers are always on the look out for any problems.

Buckaroos are in the process of replacing the sign post west of the railroad bed. That would be from Jct. CA 7 out through the "Gore" and "Loop" trails. We realize how important good signage is for the snowmobilers. You need to know where you are going and where food and gas stops are located.

We hope to see everyone at the VAST Annual Meeting.

Submitted by Betty Eastman

We invited Steve McLeod from Vermont Traditions Coalition to come to our January 9^th club meeting as guest speaker. Buckaroos of 302 voted to give a donation to VTC. We recognize and support the powerful work that VTC does.

By the time you are reading this we will have already had our 32^th Annual Dick Page Ride-in & Chicken BBQ on Feb. 14^th. Rita Ames was our chairperson. Dean Edson and Dave Spencer were in charge of making and putting up the Ride-in & Chicken BBQ signs. Randy Ames baked all the home made baked beans to go with the BBQ Chicken. Everyone pitches in to clean up the Groton Town Garage and put up the tables & chairs. Rita decorate the tables with Valentine table cloths and candies. When the Chicken is done there is a group of Buckaroos that serve all the hungry snowmobilers the menu was; BBQ Chicken, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Punch and Cup Cakes. The Annual Dick Page Ride-in & Chicken BBQ is always the 2^nd Saturday in February so you might keep that in mind. The Buckaroos invite all our landowners to this famous meal as our way of saying "thank you, we appreciate your generosity". Please respect our landowners and do not go wandering off the marked trails. Stay on the marked trails and take your trash home.

We have been very fortunate. We never lost our snow cover. Our trails have stayed in good condition since opening day Dec. 16. Guess the word has gotten around because all the parking lots have been full every week-end. Our central location and close to interstate's 91 & 89 make it easy for Riders to come to Groton for a day trip.

The Buckaroos of 302 like to see riders and families enjoying the sport of snowmobiling. Check our web site http://www.buckaroosof302.com/ there are almost daily grooming reports under trail conditions. While you are on line check our popular product catalogue. Our two web cameras, Bill & Betty cams, provide a good service, you can view what is going on at the Upper Valley Grill and in West Groton, trail rt. 302 at "Stormy‘s" yard.

The next club meeting is Feb. 27^th at 7 PM. We meet in the downstairs room of the Groton Community Bldg. I send out reminder letters for the meetings to our club members. These letters are a "what's going on" type of reminder letter. If there is anyone with an e-mail address that would like to receive a reminder letter please send me your e-mail address and request. My e-mail address is bnbuzeastman@fairpoint.net.

On Dec. 13th Buckaroos membership chairlady, Rita Ames and her crew set up office at the Upper Valley Grill to sell early bird TMAs. Kitty Diggins and Betty Eastman set up shop to sell Buckaroo club apparel and caps. It was a very successful day and I believe the snowmobiler's appreciated the ease of getting their early bird TMAs. As soon as Rita gets the TMA application form from VAST she and her crew mail out renewals to last years members. New members have the opportunity to on our web site www.buckaroosof302.com and printing off the application and mailing it to Rita. We appreciate every member and try to offer a variety of services. The two web cam's are very popular and even enjoyed by people other than the snowmobiler. We now have a product catalogue of Club clothing and caps on the web site. You can view the items at your leisure and place an order on line after you have talked to the family.

Dec. 16th Snowmobile season is open and we are blessed with snow covered trails. Gates are open and trails are cleared of downed trees. You do realize that the next wind could bring down another tree. So we all need to ride with caution. We need below zero temperatures to freeze up some of the water holes. The Sur Trac and drag with Buzzy and his crew of three drivers, Dave Wheatly, Doug Smith and Carl Emerson are getting the trails packed down. We have a warning devise in the Sur Trac to warn the snowmobiler that we are on the trail. Always be alert because we are out there during the daytime as well as night. The rider will have to drive his sled out of the trail when you met a Groomer because the Sur Trac and Drag are 10 foot wide and 40 feet long.

We hope this will be the greatest snowmobile season ever. If the Buckaroos can be of service please log onto our web site and send us a message. You will get a prompt reply. Happy Trails

We are pleased to report that Buckaroos 60+ miles of trails are open and signed. We have made improvements on our trail systems. Installed 14 culverts, made one minor re-route at Lanesboro, removed some stones from trails that were always catching the groom. We are all ready for Mother Nature to give us a great season just like last year.

There is a new "VAST TRAIL ACCESS PARKING" sign at Butterfield Mt. parking area. This parking area is located off US Highway 302 about 12 miles west of Interstate 91, take exit 17. We also have a new sign post at Upper Valley Grill in Groton on US Highway 302. The Grill is located about six miles west of Interstate 91, take exit 17. Check with the Grill owner, Bill Kane where to park in his parking area. The great news about these two parking areas is that they enable our out-of-state riders to make a one day riding trip to Groton and surrounding area. Also Vermont snowmobilers from the south and north to ride the Groton area. Grab a bit to eat and gas up at the Grill. The Butterfield Mt. parking area puts the rider right onto trail Rt. 302 East going to Groton and points north. Trail Rt. 302 West going towards Washington and Barre. Trail 302B going towards Topsham and Fairlee. A new VAST 2009 trail map will be installed at both parking lots so you plan your ride.

Remember to log onto our Web site http://www.buckaroosof302.com/ to keep up with what is going on. There is a lot of information on our web site. You can go to our membership page, print off the TMA form, mail it in and we will get your TMA's right back to you. Buckaroos are planning a web page to offer Buckaroo's line of clothing for sale and mailed to you. We will still have Buckaroo clothing on sale at the Upper Valley Grill and Groton Tire and Auto. Once the VAST Trail system is open on Dec.16^th we will start posting grooming reports on our web site. Remember to give the trails a chance to freeze up to give some protection from rocks and ditches. Ride with caution.

Our two Buckaroo web cameras are up and running. If sometime you cannot view Bill Cam or Betty Cam. Please send us an e-mail. Sometimes we are not quite as quick at noticing a problem as our readers are.

The Sur-Trac has been serviced by Bill Cassidy. Buzzy has had new belts put on and we have installed new tires. The groom had new cutting edges welded on.

Hope that by the time you are reading this report we will met "on the trail".

October 2008 Club News

Buckaroos of 302

Caledonia County

At the VAST annual meeting the delegates voted to increase the TMA'S $20.00. This was a difficult decision to make, but the cost to keep our VAST trail system in good condition has increased. We are planning on a good snow season, just like last year. That means grooming the entire VAST trail system for several weeks. We do not want to have to shut the trail system down because there is no money for grooming.

Buzzy Eastman, Asst. Trailmaster started debrushing the middle and sides of Buckaroos's trail system. Buzzy has an old International farm tractor with side arm cutter blade. Takes several days to get trails done. But it has to be done each year, hard to believe how fast the bushes grow.

Matt Puffer and Bill Cassidy have completed the trail re-location at Lanesboro Rt. 2 just before New Discovery and the trail improvements that we applied to VAST for grants.

Our first club meeting for this season is Oct. 10^th. We will schedule volunteer work parties to cut overhead limbs that hit the top of the Sur Trac. If you have time to volunteer please call Buzzy at 802-584-3630.

The Sur Trac is in Bill Cassidy's garage for service. It should be ready to roll on Dec. 14^th. The season does not start till Dec. 16^th but VAST allows the groomers to go out Dec. 14^th to groom trails.

Remember to log on to our web site wwwbuckaroosof302.com for latest news and pictures. When the season starts we will post almost daily, trail grooming conditions.

Our Web Cameras will be up and running soon after Thanksgiving.

The fall foliage is beautiful but I can't wait for the first snow fall!!!

Submitted by Betty Eastman

Very pleased to receive a letter from VAST Pres. Pat Poulin that VAST selling TMA’s out of the VAST office is a dead issue for this year. Buckaroos have not changed our minds, we still want to be able to sell Club and TMA memberships. Buckaroos send out a membership renewal letter to our last years members. A new member may log onto our web site www.buckaroosof302.com and print off an application, send it in to our membership chairman with your check. Rita and Randy will send your membership card and stickers right back. This work is done by Club volunteers. If the VAST office were to take this job over it would increase the budget.

We have been checking our trails for washouts and bridge damage from all the rain. We have not seen any big damage.

We received approval for summer trail improvements and relocation. Matt Puffer and Bill Cassidy have been busy dodging the rain to get all the work done. Rt. 232 trail needed some culverts and repair logging damage. One re-location is on route 2 in Lanesboro. New landowner has requested a trail change in Lanesboro, just before the boundary to Groton State Forest. This change should improve that section of trail.

Buckaroo volunteers will start cutting overhead limbs and trees that lean over the trail. Work week-ends will start late Sept. and continue into October. If anyone has a free week-end please call Buzzy 802-584-3630 or Gary at 802-584-3917.

The Sur Trac will go into the garage for maintenance and new left side track. The groom will get new cutting edges. We are pleased to introduce a new driver, Carl Emerson. Carl will join Buzzy, Dave Wheatly and Doug Smith as drivers. This should keep the Sur Trac rolling night and day. Perhaps we will get a lot of snow like the summer got a lot of rain.

Start thinking about purchasing your TMA early. The snowmobile season starts on Dec. 16^th, that is a Tuesday. Our Membership Chairlady, Rita will be mailing out renewals just as soon as she receives them from the VAST office.

Be sure to log onto our web site www.buckaroosof302.com for up to date news. The Bill cam at Upper Valley Grill is on and the Betty cam will be turned on late November.

The annual VAST meeting is Sept. 20^th at Burke Mt. Lodge. Caledonia Cty. usually has the most delegates in attendance. This will be VAST’s 40^th Anniversary.

June 14^th Buckaroos of 302 volunteer work crew completed the bridge project in So. Ryegate on snowmobile trail rt. 5. This bridge was deeded to VAST several years ago when the town road was re-routed. The time came when it needed new steel and new plank. We are very fortunate to have a wide variety of skills as members to the Buckaroos club. Buckaroos that have heavy duty trailers to move supplies. Buckaroo Mike Davidson does the welding. Buckaroos with chainsaws. Buckaroos with big hammers and muscle. Buckaroo Bill Cassidy with a big crane to set steel and move other heavy objects. Buckaroo Matt Puffer with heavy equipment and warm garage. Buckaroos with carpenters skills. A solid group of Buckaroos that are willing to put on the gloves to cut and remove brush or rally around when we have a wet snowstorm and trees are in the trails.

If you did not see it we hope it will be reprinted. Also in the March issue Executive Director Bryant Watson has a comment on the pet-peeves of all groomers are the so-called "throttle jockeys that follow the groomers late into the night." We know that riding on a smooth trail is a thrill but we can still get a thrill without tearing up the trail. Without a doubt the driver of the grooming equipment has already done his 8 hours at his employment and now gives his time late into the night when it is colder to groom. When you meet him and give thumbs up please do not squeeze the throttle to have the studs destroy the trail. How you re-act when you meet a groomer is a safety issue as well as saving the smooth trail. Be alert, you are not alone out-there.

Buzzy Eastman and Matt Puffer are meeting with landowners to discuss trail improvements.

Remember to check the Buckaroos web site www.buckaroosof302.com for the latest news. The web camera off Eastman's porch in West Groton, Jct. CA 10 is shut off for the summer and will be turned back on around Thanksgiving. Betty does not want the world to watch her mow the lawn or work in the garden !

Hope there will be a big turn out at the VAST Annual meeting. The Buckaroos stand firm that we do not want TMA memberships sold through the VAST office. Buckaroos have worked hard for their members. We sell VAST and Buckaroos of 302 membership on our web site and also there are several local business that sell our memberships. Our Membership Chairperson, Rita Ames, works very hard to serve the snowmobiler. It might be a renewal, a lost sticker, a transfer to your new sled. Rita gives the snowmobiler an answer to their question.

February Club News

Buckaroos of 302

Caledonia County

January 11, 2007 we are going through a January thaw. The temperatures have been warm and today it is raining, possible change to snow this evening. During this down time we have all had a chance to check equipment and stand up sign posts that are leaning or down. Before the thaw, our trail system was in good condition and on the way to being rated as excellent. We hope that by the time you read this that we are grooming again on a regular schedule. We have received many compliments about our web site www.buckaroosof302.com We keep a current trail grooming report in the trail conditions section of the web site. Everyone logs on to the Bill Cam and Betty Cam for on the spot view of snow conditions. Please feel free to e-mail your comments. We enjoy hearing from you.

Our club meeting will be Jan. 18^th. The big item on the agenda will be to plan the Dick Page Chicken BBQ that will be held on Feb. 9^th at the Groton Town Garage. The Buckaroos of 302 want to thank everyone that came to the BBQ.

The Buckaroos of 302 would like to thank our county director, Ken Gammell, for his time, labor, gas

Our county director, Ken Gammell, volunteered his time, labor and gas back and forth to the VAST office. To help remodel the VAST office. The kitchen was moved downstairs and the old kitchen was made into an office for Matt Tetreault, SSTP Trails Assistant. Thank you Ken for your dedication to VAST.

This is a short club report. Not much going on. We got off to such a good start that we are just holding our breath and hoping for Mother Nature to bless us with snow.

Submited by Betty Eastman

CLUB NEWS

BUCKAROOS OF 302

October 2007

Caledonia County

The Buckaroos had their first club meeting for the winter season on Oct. 12th. Thirteen members were present. Secretary and Treasurers reports were given and accepted. The topic of discussion was trail work and the new TMA program. The first volunteer work date is Oct. 21st. Volunteer workers are to meet at the Upper Valley Grill by 9 AM. We have over head limb cutting and bridges to plank over. If you have a date you could work please call Buzzy Eastman 802-584-3630. We will have a schedule of work for Volunteers the remainder of October and into November as long as the weather allows. All our construction application have been approved by Alexis Nowalk SSTP Trails Adm. Puffer Construction will be moving his equipment into the various projects.

Be sure and check out our Web site www.buckaroosof302.com there is a lot of information available.

Buy your TMA's before Dec. 15, 2007 to take advantage of the reduced rate. After Dec. 15th the TMAs will cost more. Our Club Secretary, Rick Ames and club VAST Membership Chairwoman, Rita Ames will be sending a renewal membership letter to each snowmobiler that was our member last year.

Buzzy Eastman has started mowing the trails, he is about half done. We have had some mechanical/electrical problems that Ken Gammell has been working on. We will GETTA DONE.

The Sur-Trac will get it's yearly check-up and be ready to roll as soon as there is snow enough. We welcome everyone to stop by at JCT CA 10 to take a look at BIG BLUE.

submitted by Betty Eastman

January Club News

Buckaroos of 302

Caledonia County

December is the month for election of officers. All the club officers went back in as follows:

          Milt Lamberton, President

          Matt Puffer, Vice President

          Gary Lamberton, Treasurer

          Rick Ames, Secretary

          Rita Ames, Membership Chairperson

Dean Edson offered to attend the historical roads meeting as a representative from our club. This is a very important position as our club needs to be sure that the present trails are not affected and also any future trails that we might need to build.

Our trail workers reported that the trails are all signed and in good condition. We are very fortunate to have a good group of guys working on the trails.

The trail system would not be possible without the cooperation from our landowners. One such landowner is Mr. & Mrs. Clifton Hersey of Groton. They own a parcel of land in the “Gore” area on snowmobile trail Rt. 302 around Jct. CA 9. Christie and Cliff have shared their land for many years. It is a vital trail connection between State lands.

The other landowner is Bob Farquharson in So. Ryegate. Bob own’s the land on snowmobile trail Rt. 5. This year Bob did the bulldozer and excavator work on his land in order to get the trail out of the Town road. This trail is located between the bridge over the Wells River brook off highway 302 and snowmobile Jct. CA 1. There was a hole on the entrance to the bridge. Butch Gandin using his equipment, filled the hole with granite grout from his mfg. plant and sand from his pit.



We received word from landowner James Engle, that he is going to log in the area of trail 2004. The trail crosses over the Hatchery brook. This bridge needed to be re-planked. The club bought the plank and Gary Lamberton, Buzzy Eastman, Caleb and Karl Hollstein re-planked the bridge. This is another way we show appreciation to a landowner.