December Newsletter
Season's Greetings Friends,
We hope this newsletter finds you well and looking forward to the upcoming ski season at the Leo J. Martin Golf Course and Ski Track, the new name of the Weston Ski Track (WST).
As you are aware, FOLJMS is working cooperatively with the DCR in this first year of DCR management of the facility. FOLJM is busy, continuing to hold weekly meetings/calls with the DCR to help DCR understand ski operations, work out details, and focus on priorities—all in an effort to ensure that the upcoming ski season is as successful as possible under the new arrangement.
All is going well thus far and you will see a number of improvements to the facility this year. The DCR is installing new electrical power (for snowmaking) and a LED lighting system that is slated to be in place by end December (temporary lights will be in place prior). Power for snowmaking should also be available in mid-December, with snowmaking pipes in place. The DCR also has a new PistenBulley 100 and four new snow guns. The DCR purchased the WST pipes and pumping system to provide water. They are also leasing one of the WST PistenBulleys. While the DCR will require lots of runway to learn about the operations of the Ski Track, the facility itself should be improved by year’s end.
Updates aside, we would like to send a special thank you to all our Friends who showed up for our annual fall cleanup on November 8 at the Leo J. Martin. Over 100 people volunteered their time to clear the course of leaves and to remove brush for a potential trail linking hole #6 to the small bridge on Park Road. The DCR was very grateful for your efforts, as were we.
To show our appreciation and to keep you apprised of season developments, we are again holding a FOLJM’S Open House. The Open House is taking place tomorrow, Sunday December 6 at the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) building at the Leo J. Martin facility from 3pm – 5pm. We would love to see you there!
Finally, FOLJMS is seeking to raise about $8,000 during December and January to match a potential DCR grant to prepare a formal design plan for the basement of the clubhouse. The goal of this project will be to remodel the clubhouse basement to provide skiers with a simple, clean, well-vented exercise and locker room area. The DCR can accelerate the ranking of the project in the State’s construction queue if we participate in a government-backed matching program for Friends Groups. We will describe this effort further at the December 6 Open House and in a dedicated fundraising appeal in the coming weeks. If you’d like to donate to FOLJMS in the short run, remember that we are now taking donations online; your donations are tax deductible.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Best,The FOLJMS Team