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The early pops of color are a welcome respite from the wintry grays and browns in view from across our meadow. You may suppose the brightest shades belong to red-breasted robins or sunny yellow daffodils, but our children know better. Come Easter morning, vibrant plastic eggs dot every yard, lending a cheerful touch to crusty, dirty patches of leftover snow.
Our mission each year is to hide the eggs well...but not too well. Older kids scour the obvious hiding places and nudge the youngest ones in the right direction so they don't return empty-handed with only soggy mittens and in tears.
Without fail, a few eggs remain overlooked: in the crevices of a stone wall, up in the crook of an apple tree, behind a half-frozen coil of the garden hose that somehow never got put away. This leads to mid-summer surprises: a telltale squeal of delight when a forgotten egg is recovered, a sharp crack beneath the lawn mower and subsequent spray of jolly plastic confetti across the lawn.
One egg had remained hidden for years, its color bleached away completely. This inspired us to remember to always stash a few non-perishable treasures in a couple of eggs every year, hiding them especially well to create a marvelous time-capsule experience for a lucky child in years to come. After all, the best things are worth waiting for!
Cabot Orton for The Orton Family
In the age before computers...
...diverted our attention from the printed word, a giant brass tub sat next to our living room sofa filled with magazines and catalogs. At the bottom of the pile were vintage copies of The Old Farmer's Almanac and The Reader's Digest; in the middle were aging Time and Gourmet magazines. Only the top remained current with eye-catching covers reflecting the changing seasons, including some of our own catalogs from The Vermont Country Store.
By October, one type of catalog took center stage and stayed there through December: the Christmas Wish Book. Roughly the size of telephone directories, these kings of catalogs were synonymous with Christmas as the ultimate guide for choosing gifts.
As kids, we browsed frequently and committed entire sections to memory. Perhaps, like us and many of the folks at The Vermont Country Store, you pined for one or more of these memory-tugging gifts: Barbie Dreamhouse, Millennium Falcon, Hot Wheels, Lincoln Logs, Johnny Toymaker, Lionel Trains, Erector Set, Easy-Bake Oven, Betsy Wetsy, metal roller skates, or a Flying Arrow sled.
Often our wishes remained unfulfilled, as our lists grew to outlandish lengths, but we never felt deprived. Quite the contrary! What we remember longer than any gift is the magic of anticipation and the spirit of giving. As adults, we relish the thrill of keeping a secret once we find the perfect gift for someone we love, for nothing beats the look of surprise and delight when we make that special someone's wish come true.
As Halloween draws near...
...and our kids start dreaming up magical costume ideas, my mind goes back to the Halloweens
I spent crafting my own clever disguises—and a kaleidoscope of memories flood to mind:
- Wearing long underwear beneath our costumes to ward off the cool, often freezing, October
temperatures in Vermont
- A carpet of leaves crunching underfoot as we ran from house to house
- Plastic pumpkins overflowing with sweet delights as we repeated those wonderful words, "Trick
or Treat," at every doorstep
- The creative costumes our mom made for us: Gardner went as a box of Crayons, Cabot as Darth
Vader, and I fooled everyone as a bag of Gold Medal flour
- Our town hall's annual Halloween celebration with apple dunking, a haunted house, and sticky,
sweet popcorn balls that stuck to everything
Over the last few years, as my children have grown older and have fallen under Halloween's
magic spell, we have started to create our own Halloween traditions:
- Carving silly faces into pumpkins
- Watching Leo take Ella by the hand and sweetly walk her to the next house, explaining all the
- Listening for "Thank you!" as Leo and Ella add candy to their own orange plastic pumpkins
Our two little dragons are too cute for words! And as we make new Halloween memories, I take a moment to relish the feeling of being ?a kid again through their eyes.
How Big Is Your Leaf Pile?
Vermont is famous for its fall colors, with people flocking from all over the world to catch a glimpse of brightly colored maples glowing in the autumn sun.
Not long after the colors have faded, the leaves drop to the ground, completing the final step of a cycle that continues year after year. For many Vermonters, fall is our favorite time of year. But this favored season doesn't come without a small price. Before the winter snow flies, all of the leaves collecting on our lawns and backyards must be raked up. And, for us youngsters, helping out with this seemingly insurmountable task was not an option—it was expected. Everyone in the family worked together to get the job done.
However, there was a blessing hidden in all the hard work we put in. As we raked and raked, our smiles grew at the sight of the slowly growing mountain of leaves that would soon become the landing pad for our daredevil antics. One by one, my brothers and I would run and jump as high and as far as we could, landing in the pile of soft leaves—which cushioned our fall as we laughed like only kids can. This fitting reward for our hard work always made the daunting task seem like child's play, and, to this day, we continue the tradition with our own families by joining together to rake up the fall leaves. And we all laugh with joy as our kids discover the same delight in piling leaves up and jumping in.
Locally Grown. A Way of Life In Vermont
Have you ever been to a Farmer's Market? With the abundance of small family farms here in Vermont, we are lucky enough to have hundreds of year-round markets to choose from.
One of our favorites is Londonderry's West River Farmer's Market. Farmers and vendors arrive early every Saturday with bushels of fresh-picked organic and locally grown produce, and some of the best meats, baked goods, artisan cheese, and arts and crafts around. Soon the market is buzzing with activity, turning it into one of the best social events of the summer.
Knowing who actually grew our food, where it was grown, and what it was grown with—or more importantly without—is increasingly important to us. And, there's nothing like the taste of a tomato or zucchini that was picked the morning and put on the table for dinner. It's as nourishing for the spirit as it is the body.
Here in Vermont, locally grown is a way of life, and we celebrate our working landscape and small family farms, so much so, that Vermont was recently ranked #1 in the country for local food production and consumption.
Come visit us this summer and experience this remarkable aspect of life in Vermont!
-Eliot Orton, for the Orton Family
People Might Be Complicated, But Good Service and Good Products Aren't
What makes customers do business with a company time and time again? For us, the list is simple and short: good products, good value, and good service. Our grandfather used to say that good merchandise costs more than lesser quality stuff because it's simply worth more. It's this philosophy that drives us to offer products that represent real value and gives us the confidence to stand behind everything we sell. And, if you don't agree with us, you're always welcome to send your merchandise back for exchange or refund—with no questions asked.
Good service is complicated, only because what we're talking about here is not goods or currency, but about people—and people are complicated creatures. Every day we greet our customers with pleasant, caring, and helpful customer service, whether things are going right or wrong, and will happily go the extra mile to fix a mistake or solve a problem.
At The Vermont Country Store, our commitment to service and products is carved in stone with our Guaranteed Forever promise and Customer Bill of Rights, which is why, we believe, satisfied customers have returned to us, time and time again, since 1946.
-Eliot Orton, For The Orton Family
Summer Days, Summer Nights
Living in a place with four distinct seasons allows me to truly appreciate the unique qualities of each one. The beautiful season of summer is on the horizon, and with its long, hot days come its crisp, rewarding nights. When I think of summer evenings in Vermont, I am reminded of the cool breezes that follow a brightly setting sun, the soothing sounds of crickets and peepers as they awaken for the night, and good meals with cool drinks shared with friends and family.
Whether it is after a pleasurable afternoon of picnicking or a day of working in the hot sun, I find myself delighting in the thoughts of a relaxing evening, watching twinkling stars appear in what was earlier a blistering, pitiless sky. And when dusk does arrive and nightfall begins to set in, I know that I can look forward to the cool, calm feel of a Vermont summer's night. If you find yourself in Vermont this summer, please visit us in Weston, or Rockingham. We look forward to seeing you.
-Lyman Orton, Proprietor
Summer 2013 | The Happy Storekeeper of the Green Mountains
The following is an excerpt from The Saturday Evening Post from March 15th, 1952 which featured a story about the humble beginnings of The Vermont Country Store.
SOME bright morning the mailman may hand you an unusual and surprising kind of mail-order catalogue. You may well mistake it for a New England Almanac of 1888. Its archaic title reads LIST OF PRUDENT GIFTS AND FAMILY PROVENDER, and it comes from the VILLAGE OF WESTON in THE REPUBLIC OF VERMONT.
Printed on faded newsprint and embellished with 1890 woodcuts, this old-fashioned pamphlet advertises everything from Vermont Indian pudding and Bearspaw popcorn to a convertible rubber-tired buggy. And salted in between the salable items you'll find bits of poetry, an editorial on Getting Up Early in the Morning, or a fervent plea for cleaner mountain brooks.
It also contains, not in the lines of type, but between them, the unwritten story of Vrest Orton and The Vermont Country Store, a modern version of the old fairy tale of dreams come true and the fulfillment of one man's quest for the Bluebird of security, independence, and happiness.
The village of Weston stands on a mountaintop in Southern Vermont not far from Manchester. Entering its single street, lined with neat white New England houses, is to go back 150 years. It is like walking into a living Currier and Ives print.
Just before you reach the tree-shaded circle of the village green, you come to The Vermont Country Store. It must be seen to be fully appreciated; it also must be smelled and touched. Painted buttermilk red, it is a two-and-one-half story building with white wooden columns rising to the roof.
The front porch is cluttered with objects calculated to arouse anyone's curiosity. An 1877 tombstone stands in one corner; there are barrels of various sizes, and baskets, and an old coffee grinder; and on the wall are signs and posters, some going back to the Civil War time and some of yesterday's auction. Here is a woman's brown dress, circa 1880, on a wire frame; a wall spice box; a pair of snowshoes; and, placed across two barrels, is a three-holer from a Vermont privy. In front of the double steps are heavy, log horse-hitching rails, two posts supporting huge lanterns, and, of course, the ubiquitous sign: VERMONT MAPLE SUGAR.
Inside you can reach into the cracker barrel and munch crackers that have been made in the same New England way since 1828. Or you may sample Vermont cheese, eat motto hearts, or chew licorice root. Over all drifts a potpourri of enticing odors: balsam soap, tobacco smoke, freshly ground coffee, and dried codfish that hang from the hand-hewn rafters. Perhaps you will just want to sit around the vast iron stove, play checkers, and talk about what you used to do when young. If business isn't too rushing, Proprietor Vrest Orton, in his familiar red shirt, may take you on for a game. If so, watch out. He knows his checkers, like any true Vermonter. All of this is both a memory and a reality from the past.
It is fitting that this country store should have sprung from the original Vermont Country Store owned by Vrest Orton's father many years before in Calais, another village in the mountains. But between the two lay a thirty-five-year pilgrimage, during which Vrest was seeking a way of life that would be satisfactory. (download the full story)
Spring 2013 | Cookie Button Love From Across The Pond
One of the greatest joys of being a storekeeper is receiving letters from customers thanking The Vermont Country Store for rekindling childhood memories with a time-honored product, forgotten candy, or cherished fragrance. These connections warm my heart, as they are at the core of what we endeavor to accomplish each day in our stores, our catalog, and online.
Recently, an email sent from a young gentleman named Jack reminded me how something as small as one of our Orton Bros. Cookie Buttons has the power to create sweet, life-long memories and connect with the kid in all of us. At just 9 years old, Jack, who lives in England, has visited Vermont every year since he was 5 months old. Here is an excerpt from his note, sharing highlights from a recent visit:
"I was there in the New Year and visited The Vermont Country Store again. It is my favourite shop in the world because it is amazing. This year I bought some Zesty Lemon Cookie Buttons, and they are the best cookies ever. They are divine. I rationed myself to 5 a night and now they are gone, so I am going to have to wait a long time to taste them again. I miss them already."
My brothers and I are honored that our cookie buttons rate as Jack's top snack, and we look forward to his next visit and hope we can meet in the store, share a cookie button (or 2 or 3), and make another happy memory.
The Orton Family,
Proprietors of The Vermont Country Store
Winter 2012 | With a Handshake and a Smile
With election season upon us, and all the tomfoolery that comes with it, I can't help but reflect on how differently we do politics here in Vermont.
The way we get things done in Vermont-whether it's the business of governing our state or working to get a road paved-relies on building relationships that are based in trust and on the strength of our word. Just like my grandfather wrote in his essay (below) back in 1948.
For a Vermonter, a handshake and a smile go a long way. It's a sacred bond and commitment to do what's right, and it's how we continue to approach our business today.
by Vrest Orton
A year or so after I had moved to Weston in 1935 to help start the Weston revival, there wasn't a single hard surface road in the village. So one day when I had to go to Montpelier to see someone at the Vt. Historical Society, one of the selectmen here at Weston asked if I would see the Commisioner of Highways about getting a hard-surface road into the town. When I got to Montpelier, I stepped up to the front desk at the Hotel Pavilion to register for that night. Then I said to the clerk, "Can you tell me where the office for the Commissioner of Highways is?" The clerk said "What do you want to see him for?" "I want to see him about getting a hard-surface road into my town, Weston." I said, a little put out by his interfering air. "You don't want to see him." he said. "You want to see the Governor," the clerk informed me. I was nonplusssed for a moment. Then I added "And where is the Governor's office?" "You don't want to go to his office." said the clerk. "He's sitting right over there in the lobby." I was nonplussed because in New York and other big states you just don't walk up to the governor and ask for something. But in Vermont you do. We had a very nice conversation and the next year we got a hard-surface road to Weston.
Eliot Orton for the Orton Family,
Proprietor of The Vermont Country Store
Fall 2012 | Common Crackers
Customers often ask us, "What's the longest-running product you sell?" Our answer: The Vermont Common Cracker.
The earliest photos of our Weston store feature our grandfather Vrest Orton and a few village locals gathered around an oak barrel of these same crackers. First produced in 1828 by the Cross brothers of Montpelier, Common Crackers were once a staple on every farm and rural homestead, used in cooking and baking, to thicken chowders and stews, or most simply, eaten as a farm supper in a bowl of milk with a hunk of cheddar cheese.
In 1948 Vermont Life magazine proclaimed: "In a changing and unstable world, these crackers are still made according to the original recipe and in the same shape. It is perhaps these little touches of memory, reinforced by the fact that one can still satisfy one's taste with precisely the same cracker that tickled the taste buds in one's youth, that account for the popularity of this sound Vermont product."
In 1979 Vrest, along with our father Lyman, saved the Common Cracker from extinction when they bought the original equipment from the defunct Cross Cracker business and started baking once again. Gourmands and cooks everywhere were delighted, including Julia Child, who declared the crackers essential to every kitchen for proper breading and stuffing.
Today we still produce Common Crackers using the original iron cracker machine, now well over 100 years old and running stronger than ever. Try a few sometime-plain with a steaming bowl of soup, or split open, buttered and broiled to a delectable crispness. We like to think these little crackers represent continuity in an era of uncertainty.
As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
-Cabot Orton for the Orton Family,
Proprietor of The Vermont Country Store
Summer 2012 | Inspiration
Our grandfather and founder Vrest Orton had a vision that would change his life. During the Second World War, Vrest worked in Washington, writing copy for a series of GI field manuals. In his office hung a Chase & Sanborn coffee advertisement featuring a group of old-timers seated around a pot-bellied stove, a storekeeper in the background, and a sleeping dog underfoot.
This image inspired Vrest to re-create the iconic rural country store of 19th-century America. With the printing press in his garage he produced a humble catalog, introducing Vermont handicrafts and home essentials to folks across the nation who favored the convenience of shopping by mail. "The Voice of the Mountains" extolled the virtues of quality merchandise while espousing New England values of frugality, self-reliance, and common sense.
Years later our father, Lyman Orton, had a vision of his own in the guise of a familiar dream. He found himself transported back to college at Middlebury, standing beneath the entrance to Mead Chapel. In the stone above was engraved, "The Strength of The Hills Is In the People." Lyman woke up, jotted the phrase down on paper, and later added it to the catalog masthead.
Twenty-five years later Lyman happened to walk by Mead Chapel and stopped in astonishment. There stood the entrance, precisely as in his dream, and above it a proverb chiseled in stone: "The Strength of The Hills Is His Also." Inspiration may spring from unlikely origins; ideas germinate marvelously, yet wither fruitlessly without hard work. Always simple, never easy!
Sixty-six years and countless catalogs later, we take this to heart. The Voice of the Mountains lives on: the strength of our business is without question in its people. Consider us inspired.
Cabot Orton for the Orton Family,
Proprietors of The Vermont Country Store
Winter 2011 | Leo Orton's First Snowstorm
Do you remember your first snowstorm? Last January 3rd, 2010, we were in Burlington, Vermont, when a storm dumped over 33 inches of snow, which was an all-time record for one storm. The previous record in Burlington was a Christmas snowstorm in 1969, just after our brother Cabot was born, which left close to 30 inches over a three-day period. So in their first year of life Leo, at 11 months, and his uncle Cabot, at 1 month, both experienced record-breaking snow. Perhaps it is just a coincidence that Leo is almost as mischievous as his uncle.
Eliot Orton for the Orton Family,
Proprietor of The Vermont Country Store
Winter 2011 | Old-Fashioned, Traditional Remedies Can Still Cure What Ails You
Did you know your home is full of common foods that can serve as powerful remedies to various health complaints? Folk medicine may seem quaint, but generations ago people were forced to make do with easily available and time-tested solutions to address problems that nowadays might send us running to a doctor's office. Remedies like Cola syrup were used for an upset stomach or vomiting, and combined with baking soda to provide electrolyte replenishment after sickness. Elderberry tea was used to soothe coughs and bronchial conditions and was thought to help ward off oncoming viruses, like the flu. No one suggests a persistent sore throat or high fever doesn't merit professional attention; however, there are simple concoctions in your kitchen cabinet that are potent agents for healing. For instance, fresh ginger root tea is extremely effective for nausea. Cayenne pepper and lemon juice can work wonders for sinus congestion. Clove oil relieves painful mouth ulcers and canker sores. Slippery elm can soothe a dry cough. Cider vinegar with maple syrup is a wonderful pick-me-up drink for quick energy. Not everything can be fixed with classic remedies, but some of them work well and are worth a try. If not, there's always the doctor. Our catalogue, website, and stores are jam-packed with products to help you stay happy and healthy during the winter months. We take pride in finding long-lost solutions to your "old-fashioned" problems and look far and wide for things that are simple, natural, and really work. Do you or any members of your family use traditional remedies that work to solve a health problem? If so, please share them with me, Gardner Orton, by writing, calling, or emailing. You may just be able to help someone else, and give new life to a good old idea.
Gardner Orton,
Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor
Winter 2011 | Winter Breakfast
There are far too many mornings when I am pressed for time and need to eat a quick breakfast. It must be healthy and filling. Brown rice, Empire apples, and hard-boiled eggs have been my power combination for a long time. But these are hardly comfort foods and weekend mornings merit the traditional splendor of a New England Winter Breakfast. Pancakes top the list. The best mix is a blend of buckwheat, buttermilk, and whole grain wheat. It goes without saying that real butter and genuine Vermont Maple Syrup are imperative to enjoy pancakes properly. Bacon, like fresh-ground coffee, is almost more appealing for how it smells when being prepared than for how it tastes, the key word being "almost." The all-natural, Cob-Smoked Maple variety from New Hampshire is possibly the finest bacon in the land. In place of plain old English muffins I enjoy authentic English Crumpets. These are lighter and sweeter in flavor than their generic supermarket counterparts. Topped with Swedish Lingonberry Jam they are an absolute delicacy and put toast to shame. As for coffee, I like it strong and have recently come to love Prodomo from the venerable Munich roaster Dallmayr. A special process eliminates the bitterness and acidity of heavy Italian or French roasts. I use an old steel percolator, which yields the most potent brew, yet this German roast remains beautifully mellow. Needless to say I go small on lunch!
Cabot Orton,
Proprietor of The Vermont Country Store
Summer 2011 | Summer Picnics with Mildred
Our grandmother Mildred was a genuine picnic enthusiast. For summer drives along unpaved roads, she would often plan to stop by a field for lunch. Out came the plaid blanket and wicker basket. For lunch: chicken sandwiches with lettuce and butter on home-baked wheat bread, a slab of Vermont cheddar cheese, common crackers, pickled fiddleheads, oatmeal cookies, and a thermos of Wilcox's milk. We still have Mildred's picnic basket and thermos, keepsakes of a happy time when our father and uncle were boys, still in use by the time we brothers were old enough to picnic and our grandparents made a two-hour drive to Rutland seem as exotic and perilous as a safari to Rangoon. The highlight was always wholesome food in the tall grass of a Vermont hay meadow, somewhere along Route 100, on a July afternoon. This was simple and good and, thinking back, few things brought more contentment than being together under clear summer skies, with a grateful family, and being well fed.
Cabot Orton,
Proprietor of The Vermont Country Store
Summer 2011 | Summer Farmers' Markets
One of our favorite things each summer is visiting local farmers' markets here in Southern Vermont. With our abundance of small family farms comes a multitude of markets to choose from. They feature the very best, organic, locally-grown produce, and are an ideal place to greet old neighbors and new people. We especially like meeting the farmers who grow our food. It's a rare thing these days to connect with what we eat, beyond grabbing it off the grocery store shelf. Knowing who actually grew our food, where it was grown, and what it was grown with, or more appropriately without, is increasingly important to us. What most folks, including many Vermonters, don't know is that Vermont leads the United States in the number of farmers' markets per capita. More than any other state, Vermont has the largest percentage of its farms certified organic, the greatest proportion of its total farm acreage certified organic, and the highest ratio of its local dollars spent on local foods. Local food is a way of life here. Do you happen to live near a farmers' market? They're a great way to support your local economy, and a rare opportunity to meet the people who grow what you eat. Come visit us this summer and enjoy this remarkable aspect of life in Vermont!
Cabot Orton,
Proprietor of The Vermont Country Store
Summer 2011 | The Traditionalists
Last year, I decided that the brand-new fancy diesel pickup truck parked in my driveway would be of better use to someone who needed it for more than weekend dump runs and tooting around town. So, I sold it and found a more suitable mate, a classic 1975 Ford F250 Ranger whom I quickly named "Sancho." It was just like the truck our Dad had when we were kids, and memories of riding in it with my brothers came flooding in. Immediately my son Leo, who is now 2, was in love with Sancho. He never seemed to take to that new truck, but somehow a 35-year-old truck well preserved with bright factory orange paint, a big bench seat, the smell of age worn deep into the carpet, and big heavy slamming doors became Leo's obsession. Some days I had to hide it behind the barn so Julie could leave the house with Leo. He couldn't have cared less for the latest and greatest; rather, we were both drawn to the character and connection we felt in something that had become forgotten. And now it has become clear to me that I am exactly like many of you. I appreciate things from a simpler time, things that do the job they were intended to do, things that make me feel more connected to them, and things that are practical and hard to find. My grandfather passed this trait onto his sons, my father passed it onto his, and now I have planted the seed in my son Leo, who I hope one day will also become a purveyor of things more important than the latest and greatest.
Eliot Orton,
Proprietor of The Vermont Country Store
Spring 2011 | A Letter from Our Family
Spring is by far our favorite time of year. It's a time of renewal and rebirth, and the perfect time to clean out from a long winter spent piling things on. From heavy clothing and bedding to heavy meals and desserts, winter can leave us feeling bogged down and in need of a fresh start. Spring is Nature's intended time of cleansing. It's also the time when most of us do our spring cleaning. We dust, vacuum, sweep, and mop, but how many of us actually take the time to clean and scrub out our insides as well? Spring is not just the perfect time to clean and organize our lives, it's also the ideal time for internal cleansing, ridding our bodies of the gunk collected over a winter filled with excess, holidays, stress, and junk foods, which accumulate in our systems and slow us down.We've already been working hard this year to find and bring to you some of the most practical, hard-to-find solutions to your spring-cleaning projects. Whether it's a product to make your chores easier, some new bedding to add a fresh look to your bedroom, or some herbal remedies to aid in your spring cleansing, we stand by our mission of bringing you the most practical, time-tested solutions for all of life's little chores.
Eliot, Lyman, Cabot, & Gardner Orton,
Proprietos of The Vermont Country Store
Previous Entries


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(CBS News) "The Great Gatsby" has been given a new release date.
Baz Luhrmann's 3-D adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel will now arrive in theaters on May 10, 2013 - right at the beginning of the high-profile summer movie season.
"Audiences have been looking forward to Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of one of the most beloved books of all time, and we felt this beautifully extravagant and dramatic film would be a perfect way for us to kick off the summer slate," Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution Dan Fellman said in a statement Thursday announcing the new release date, according to the Hollywood reporter.
Warner Bros. had originally scheduled "Gatsby" for a Christmas Day 2012 release but moved it off that date last month, saying it wanted a summer release so the film could reach a wider audience.
"The Great Gatsby" stars Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role, alongside Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgarton, Isla Fisher and Jason Clarke.

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Stormtrooper Necklace: The Empire Strikes Neck
May 31st, 2014
These laser-cut Stormtrooper necklaces will look pretty badass hanging around your neck. Support the galaxy's Imperial police force by wearing one today.
The charms are cut from 1/8″-thick wood or acrylic and measure 1-1/2 inches wide and 1-3/4 inches tall. Each Stormtrooper comes on a 18,23 or 31 inch chain with a clasp and you can find them in Etsy seller Unpossiblecuts shop for just $19.95(USD).
This is probably the kind of thing that Stormtroopers wear on their days off so they can all identify each other with no armor. "Hey. Aren't you TK-421?" "Nah. TK-425. That guy and TK-422 are still suspended because of the whole 'letting people steal their armor' incident' on the Death Star."
[via The Mary Sue]
MORE:Geek Wear | etsy | necklace | star wars | stormtrooper
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Online camp signup is easy! Select the camp that most interests you and you'll be on your way in no time. Upon registration, you'll receive an instant confirmation and any additional information or instructions for the camp you've selected. Cowboy Diamond
Justin Hill Head Coach Justin Hill, a 10-year coaching veteran in the college ranks including the last five years as an associate head coach at Southeastern Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe, was been named the 13th baseball head coach for McNeese on June 21.
Cory Barton Assistant Coach Cory Barton begins his career at McNeese after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe where he helped lead the Warhawks to a Sun Belt Conference championship in 2012. Barton joined the ULM staff in September 2008 after two seasons as an assistant coach at Memphis and a two-year playing career with the Tigers.
Matt Collins Assistant Coach Matt Collins is entering his third season on the Cowboys' staff. He'll be in charge of hitting as well as assist with recruiting and will be the outfield coach. A 2010 ULM graduate, Collins joined the McNeese staff prior to the 2012 season after spending 2011 as a volunteer assistant at ULM.
Caleb Clowers Volunteer Assistant Caleb Clowers is in his first season as a volunteer assistant coach after spending the 2013 season as a student coach at Louisiana-Monroe, his alma mater. He'll work with the infield, take over as camp coordinator and will assist with the hitters and baserunning.
Jason Little Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Jason Little is in his first season as the head strength and conditioning coach at McNeese. Little is an established strength coach that has built a very professional and positive reputation in the high school ranks.
Hunter Bower Sports Information Assistant Hunter Bower is in his second full season as a member of the McNeese sports information department. A native of Haynesville, La., Bower is the primary SID contact for the Cowgirls' soccer team as well as the McNeese baseball squad. He was recently recognized by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association after he placed third for his 2013 McNeese Tennis Media Guide in the Division IV Category publications contest.
Amanda Wilhite Academic Counselor Amanda Wilhite joined the McNeese State staff in August of 2012 as the new Academic Counselor.


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The Washington Times Communities are an Uncommon Place where some of today's liveliest voices have joined together to share their common interests.
From politics to entertainment, sports to public policy and today's lifestyles encompassing family, food and health, The Washington Times Communities are filled with content from independent writers offering a fresh perspective on the very things you care about.
The Communities are written with the reader in mind – and you are warmly invited to join in on the conversation happening right now. Make a comment, or join us by contacting Jacquie Kubin (firstname.lastname@example.com) with your ideas for a new Washington Times Communities' column.
The Washington Times Communities – An Uncommon Place to Share Your Common Interests
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Florida singer/songwriter duo's recent performance at DC's 9:30 Club reviewed.
Bluegrass trio, The Devil Makes Three: Updated down-home action at the 9:30 Club.
Juliana Hatfield and Matthew Caws appearance as Minor Alps in DC.
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The world of professional wrestling as seen through the eyes of columnist James Ryan, including previews, recaps, interviews and all of the latest wrestling news.


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Oh, no. I put way too much solder on my project; and now, you can see these leads are touching each other which means it's a short. It means that electrical connection will not work when we try to turn the power on. So, what do you do when you have too much solder on your circuit board? It takes something called desoldering wick or just solder wick; and this would help draw out the excess solder; and leave you with the nice, clean electrical connection. So, you pull this out, make sure it's nice and clean, and if you want you can sort of separate the edges here, but you don't have to. Take this, and fold it by the container and not the wire; because it gets really hot while you use the solder. So, you take this, and you place the end of that right on top of the big glop of solder you need to remove, and you touch the soldering iron to it; and you have to wait a second because the soldering iron has the copper between it and the solder it's trying to remove, and it will take a moment to heat up. But you can see, once it does, all that solder went right into the wick; and voila, it's a nice, clean electrical connection; no wires are touching where they're not supposed to be; and now, this will work when we try to turn it on.
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Tue, Jun 19, 07 at 19:19
Here are some pictures of my loader I made for my 1976 Dayton GT tractor (MTD 990). I still need to make a bucket. It will be a quick disconnect type because I plan on making other attachments for the loader frame. I want to make a grapple to haul branches. I added skid steer tires. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by kentuck_8b z8b TX (My Page) on Fri, Jul 6, 07 at 21:37
Nice work! But I have to say that it will turn over with heavy weight and/or blow out your front tires. That's my opinion, but looks like a great job of manufacturing and adapting to the tractor. Just be careful. Kt |
- Posted by blacksmithman Z6 NY (My Page) on Fri, Jul 6, 07 at 22:32
- Posted by kentuck_8b z8b TX (My Page) on Mon, Jul 9, 07 at 23:00
Your loader extends farther out than the one in the flyer. I'm not trying to sound pessimistic, just be careful. I still think you did an excellent job of manufacturing, and if you didn't live so far away, I would have to get you to build a loader for my old tractor. Good Luck Kt |
- Posted by gardenhorse (My Page) on Mon, Jul 23, 07 at 23:02
How do you like the skid steer tires? I was thinking of going that route on my Ariens GT18. I need something with a little better traction that the turf tires, while not tearing up the lawn. The skid steer tires seem like a good compromise between turn and bar tread tires. What brand/model did you end up with? The loader is way cool... hoping to build one myself this winter if time permits. Would love to see more pictures and get more details. Thanks. |
- Posted by blacksmithman Z6 NY (My Page) on Wed, Jul 25, 07 at 14:14
gardenhorse I purchased the tires from Nebraska tire. The tires are seconds but perfect for a tractor. The cost locally was over $150 each. I have not used it much but I know they will be better than turfs. My tire size is 27 x 10.5 x 15. Does your tractor have 15" rims? Here is the link. http://www.nebraskatire.com/industrial.htm |
- Posted by gardenhorse (My Page) on Fri, Aug 24, 07 at 22:35
My tractor has 12" rims, with 23x10.5x12 tires stock. A friend of mine had a brand new set of Ag tires in that size sitting in his garage that I grabbed and installed, and I like them a lot. I loaded them with 7 gallons of washer fluid each (about 80% full), and that helped a lot, too. I'll try to get some pics posted soon, but I'm having too much fun pushing dirt around. :) Thanks again. |
- Posted by blacksmithman Z6 NY (My Page) on Wed, Sep 5, 07 at 18:29
That loader looks great, I'd like to make one like that for my Cub Cadet 127. Any chance you could share some of your fab info? I also want to make a backhoe attachment for my cub. |
There are loader plans available, Did you use one or did you build without? |
I was just given a Dayton 16HP tractor with attachments. I really like the tractor but it is going to need some work. Can anyone tell me where I can get an owners or repair manual or any other information on Dayton tractors? |
- Posted by monsterfarmking (My Page) on Wed, Feb 24, 10 at 17:17
you should see my 77 farmking that we did some magor work to.we did the same thing you did but beefed up the front end and put a permco hydro pump munted off of the pulleys under the tractor and put a hydro three point hitch and i would love to send you some pics of it |
Dayton Tractor URL: http://www.ytmag.com/contents/agp73.htm |
I wanted to say what a nice job you did on that front end loader! I know you posted it on this website awile ago but I was wondering if you maybe had plans on how you went about making it. I have the exact Dayton tractor myself and would love to build my own front end loader for it. It seems impossible to find parts for our tractor. So i thought I would ask you. I hope you get back to me soon. Have a good day. |
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I always hear people complain about how difficult it is to cook for one. I'm sorry but have you folks ever heard of something called leftovers? Or second dinner? Come on now. Needless to say, even when dining alone, I rarely cook in single portions. But alas, Avocado Egg Salad comes into the picture and a glorious single serving meal that takes all of 10 minutes to whip up is born. To me, avocados are amazing little green miracles. I wish it was ok to eat them like you would an apple but these things are pretty fattening… Did that stop me from combining them with eggs, mayo, and cheese? No. But still.
1/4 large ripe avocado
2 hard-boiled eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon whole milk (or 1 tablespoon mayo)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pepperoncini pepper, diced
2 tablespoons crumbled feta
1/8 cup chopped celery
3-4 dashes hot sauce (one of those things I buy in bulk because I love it so much)
garlic powder/salt/pepper to taste
1. Combine all of the above ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
2. Eat it! I put it in a wheat wrap with some salad mix (spinach, radicchio, and arugula) and cherry tomatoes but it would be awesome as a dip with tortilla or pita chips, on a salad… the possibilities are endless!


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They may frustrate you with their expectations or intimidate you with their social connections.
They're "Digital Natives" while we struggle as "Digital Immigrants". What they want from church is very different as well.
Here is research data from Dave Tonen regarding what the 18-30 year old crowd want from you and I at church:
- Community
- Authenticity
- Mentorship
- Passionate Leaders
- Interactive Environment
- Involvement
- Relevant Engagement
- Intellectually Challenged
- Technology and Internet Presence
This is real stuff. Last week I experienced it first hand at an annual family camp we attend.
I had the opportunity to share a power point with video clips in an attempt to step into the world of the high school and college kids.
One of the videos was a passionate, tearful plea from pastor David Wilkerson (Author of the The Cross And The Switchblade). David poured out his heart about our lack of anguish.
Bearing God's heart, passion and burden so deeply it provokes us to act.
I wondered if they would connect. Would they care? Could their hearts be stirred?
When we finished nobody moved. It felt like an hour of deep, quiet reflection. Tears were common throughout the room.
Does that surprise you? Have we underestimated our young people?
Check out Wilkerson's video:


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This is the type of light I'm planning to get for there. Maybe with the square glass piece tho. it's fluted around the edges and also has etching on it.
I was going to get the 2 bulb version (2@ 60 W) but am thinking maybe I should get the 3 bulb version. If 180 W in the room is over kill i can always back off and use 40 W bulbs in it. the room is about 7 x 8. This type is easy for me to change bulbs and / or clean. Just unscrew the little knobby showing and it slips down. I have a sq one in my bedroom in old place. and input on this? sq version but you can't see the etching on this one - |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by shades_of_idaho (My Page) on Mon, Sep 19, 11 at 0:45
Steph I think in a room that small two 60 watt bulbs should be plenty of light for you. Even needing the bright light. |
- Posted by desertsteph (My Page) on Mon, Sep 19, 11 at 1:27
thx shades. I just didn't want to pay for it, pay to have it put up just to find out it isn't enough light. the 2 bulb fixture is about 10-12.00 and the 3 bulb one is 20.00. So, it isn't much money going into it. my eye sight isn't what it used to be either. so I worry about underlighting rooms. I also wondered how much light would be in the room with it facing upward. tho, it seemed fine in my bedroom here. I'd better stock up on 60 w bulbs... I'll probably end up with the sq one with fluted edges. I like those old timey fixtures. |
- Posted by moccasinlanding (My Page) on Mon, Sep 19, 11 at 10:41
Steph, if your ceilings are white, and it is a small room anyway, the white will bounce the light back very well. It will be a fairly even light too, because of the frosted and etched shade. Having two instead of three will create less heat in the summertime. And help lower the power bill as well. |
- Posted by desertsteph (My Page) on Mon, Sep 19, 11 at 23:36
ML - they're an off white. Navajo white. less heat generating would be a good thing! thx for mentioning that. |
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Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
Hi there, I live on an island off the coast of beautiful British Columbia, Canada. I have a few favorite cookbooks, the older the better! #1 is Chatelaine's 363 Home Tested Recipes. It is traditional and basic. I also love the older church cook books as the recipes have actually been cooked in real kitchens by real moms!
My favorite foods are Sushi, Chili, Cabbage Rolls, Carrot Soup, Saucy Hot Fudge Pudding Cake, ,,, ok i'm hungry now.


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Bipartisan Redeployment
See more in Wars and Warfare; Congresses, Parliaments, National Legislatures; Iraq
President Emeritus and Board Senior Fellow
U.S. foreign policy; national security; Russia; Middle East.
Dr. Leslie H. Gelb is among America's most prominent foreign policy experts. A Pulitzer Prize winner, former correspondent for the New York Times, and senior official in state and defense departments, he is currently president emeritus and board senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He served as president of the organization from 1993 to 2003.
Prior to his tenure as president of CFR, Dr. Gelb established a distinguished career at the New York Times, where he was a columnist from 1991 to 1993, deputy editorial page editor from 1986 to 1990, and editor of the op-ed page from 1988 to 1990. He was national security correspondent for the Times from 1981 to 1986, where he won the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism in 1986. He was diplomatic correspondent at the Times from 1973 to 1977.
Dr. Gelb was a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace from 1980 to 1981, where he was a consultant to the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. From 1977 to 1979, he was an assistant secretary of state in the Carter administration, serving as director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs, where he received the State Department's highest award: the Distinguished Honor Award. He was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution from 1969 to 1973, during which time he was also a visiting professor at Georgetown University. He was director of Policy Planning and Arms Control for International Security Affairs at the Department of Defense from 1967 to 1969, where he also served as director of the Pentagon Papers Project. While at the Defense Department, Dr. Gelb won the Pentagon's highest award, the Distinguished Civilian Service Award.
He was executive assistant to U.S. Senator Jacob K. Javits from 1966 to 1967, and an assistant professor at Wesleyan University from 1964 to 1966.
Dr. Gelb currently serves on the Center for National Interest Board of Directors, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Board of Directors, the Diplomacy Center Foundation Board of Directors, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation Board of Advisors, and the Truman National Security Project Board of Advisors. He is a former trustee for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, trustee emeritus for Tufts University, and the former Chairman of the National Security Network Advisory Board. He formerly served on the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University Dean's Council, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University Board of Advisors, the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University Board of Overseers, and the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Advisory Board. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and a fellow at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Gelb received his BA from Tufts University in 1959 and his MA in 1961 and PhD in 1964 from Harvard University. He is the author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (2009) and Anglo-American Relations, 1945–1950: Toward a Theory of Alliances (1988). He is also co-author of The Irony of Vietnam: The System Worked (1980), which won him the American Political Science Association's Woodrow Wilson Award; Our Own Worst Enemy: The Unmaking of American Foreign Policy (1984), and Claiming the Heavens: The New York Times Complete Guide to the Star Wars Debate (1988). He is the recipient of an Emmy Award and an Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award for his work as a producer of ABC Nightline's Crisis Game.
Dr. Gelb, who resides in New York City, is married to Judith Cohen and is the father of three children. He was the recipient of the Father of the Year Award in 1993.
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Leslie H. Gelb, president emeritus of CFR, and a former Pentagon and State Department official in the Johnson and Carter administrations, says the public criticism of Secretary of Defense Donald M. Rumsfeld by some retired senior military officers is due to their unhappiness "that they didn't speak up earlier, speak up while they were on the job."
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Politics requires scapegoats, whether they bear guilt or not. And the media seem less interested in discovering who is responsible than in providing a megaphone for the accusations. But the questions need to be asked. We cannot begin to fix the policy-making process until we see who broke it -- and even then, the damage may be beyond repair.
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This meeting is on the record.
This meeting is on the record.
This meeting is on the record.
This meeting is not for attribution.
This meeting is on the record.
This meeting is not for attribution.
This meeting is not for attribution.
This meeting is not for attribution.
This meeting is not for attribution.
The U.S. and Iran are engaged in a "mutual game" to forestall any attack by Israel on Iran's nuclear installations, but at some point that game will begin to wear down, raising the prospect of military action, Leslie Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, tells WSJ's John Bussey an interview Tuesday.
Senator Webb urged his colleagues to heed the recent words of Leslie Gelb of the Council on Foreign Relations: "When interventionists become avenging angels, they blind themselves and the nation and run dangerously amok. They plunge in with no plans, with half-baked plans, with demands to supply arms to rebels they know nothing about, with ideas for no-fly zones and bombing. Their good intentions could pave the road to hell for Syrians. Preserving lives today, but sacrificing many more later."
The Atlantic recently asked a group of foreign-policy authorities about what lies ahead for Hamas.
New York, New York
CFR President Emeritus and Board Senior Fellow
John Nelson |
For more information on the David Rockefeller Studies Program, contact:
James M. Lindsay
Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair
Janine Hill
Director, Fellowship Affairs and Studies Strategic Planning
Amy R. Baker
Director, Studies Administration
Victoria Alekhine
Deputy Director, Fellowship Affairs


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The PTC Global Platforms Solution provides manufacturers with a way to efficiently deliver regional or market-specific products without increasing operational complexity. This solution allows you to achieve product diversity by:
Platform Reuse to Meet Diverse Market Needs
Product diversity with scale is possible with a global platform strategy. With a platform approach, companies reuse systems and subsystems across product families. Efficiency improves as reuse of systems and interfaces becomes the basis for manufacturing plans and service deliverables.
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Mitsubishi Standardizes on the PTC PLM Solution
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Tagged With: spring festival
Winter Holiday
For the past 3 weeks it's been winter holiday. Time for my yearly conundrum: what to do for spring festival? China during Spring Festival (aka Chinese New Years) is hell. Known as humans largest migration all 1.3 billion Chinese people take trains, planes and automobiles to get back home. All hotels are booked and twice … Continue reading
I'm Ba-a-a-a-a-a-a-ack!
Hello everyone. It's been a little more than a month since I was last here. I'm worn out, broke and have a cold, but I still have a wide smile on my face because of all the fun I've had this holiday. Shenzhen and Hong Kong I started in Shenzhen, located in southern China, to … Continue reading
Year of the Snake, Bye Bye Dragon!
Happy year of the snake! Today marks the first day of the Chinese New Year, the biggest and craziest holiday in China. I'm spending time in my best friends small village (pics to come) and I'm probably being driven crazy by non-stop fireworks but nothing can keep the smile off my face. That's because my … Continue reading
Bags Packed, Tickets in Hand
It's winter holiday so that means it's time to go out and about and explore this huge adopted country of mine. So what's the plan this year? Well, like always, to me winter means going south. So I'm going to start in Shenzhen to visit my best friend Color for a few days. Shenzhen is … Continue reading
Celebrating Chinese New Year in Hong Kong
Here is a confession: I hate Chinese New Year. Back in America I always thought Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it is more appropriately called, was pretty cool. A lion dance, some banging gongs and a coupla fireworks. But now I've been in China for 3 spring festival seasons and I'm hating it … Continue reading
I'm back!
I'm back! I had a great time traveling around southern China for the past month. The weather was warm (though not as warm as I was hoping to be honest) and the scenery was great. I ended up going to 3 more UNESCO World Heritage sites (in my vain attempt to see all of them … Continue reading
There and Back Again: A Travelers Tale
It has been a week since we've been back, and it has taken me that long to recover enough to write a small blog post. Our whirlwind three-week trip back to the US was equal parts fun and exhausting. Aside from the first couple hours at the Chicago airport, where my ears felt assaulted by … Continue reading
Batten Down the Hatches, It's Chinese New Year!
To get an idea of how big Chinese New Years you need to roll Christmas and Thanksgiving together. Add a pinch of Valentine's Day (as they are on the same day this year) and multiply by 1.5 billion people. Then, replace each and every pine needle from the average numbers of Christmas trees all over … Continue reading


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Live Discussion
Technology can help charities be more efficient, spread the word about their programs and goals, and help more people.
But many organizations have a difficult time raising enough money to invest in technology projects—especially since donors are often more focused on supporting services than infrastructure.
Join us on Tuesday, November 27, for a live online discussion that will explore how to attract donors and grant makers who are willing to support technology projects. We'll also share examples of nonprofits that are using technology to advance their missions in innovative ways.
The Guest
Mark Ebner is a research associate at CEOs for Cities where he works on the Change by Us project. The project, which builds websites that help residents connect online and take action to improve their cities, recently received a $590,000-grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Tara D. Sturm is communications manager at CEOs for Cities, a nonprofit that connects urban leaders with ideas about how to improve American cities.
Jeremiah Hall is a correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor who covers nonprofits and philanthropy.
The Chronicle's live discussions do not require registration. You can sign up for an email reminder, or simply return to this page at noon Eastern Time on the day of the scheduled discussion and click on the box below to participate. If you cannot participate during the live event, the full transcript will be available afterward in the box below.


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- Ruth Aarons
- Sharon Acton
- Shonie Aki
- Mal Anderson
- Laszlo Bellak
- Valleri Smith Bellini
- Angelita Rosal Bengtsson
- Abe Berenbaum
- Insook Bhushan Profile
- Robert "Bud" Blattner
- Eric Boggan
- Scott Boggan
- Joseph R. "Tim" Boggan
- Housang Bozorgzadeh
- George Braithwaite
- Quang Bui
- Bernie Bukiet
- Charles "Chuck" Burns
- Jim Butler
- Doug Cartland
- Cheng Yinghua
- Bernice Charney Chotras
- Elmer F Cinnater
- Coleman Clark
- Mae Clouther
- Fred Danner
- Kasia Dawidowicz
- Mike Dempsey
- Detroiter
- Wendell Dillon
- Otto Ek
- Dick Evans
- Dick Evans - Lifetime Achievement Award
- Amy Feng
- Bobby Fields
- Peggy McLean Folke
- Bob Fox
- Emily Fuller
- Gao Jun
- Diana Gee
- General Sportcraft Company
- Bob Green
- Sanford Gross
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- Bill Gunn
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- Harvard Table Tennis Company
- Davida Hawthorn
- Tibor Hazi
- Sidney Heitner
- George Hendry
- Richard Hicks
- Judy Bochenski Hoarfrost
- Bernie Hock
- Bill Hodge
- Larry Hodges Profile
- Chuck Hoey
- Billy Holzrichter
- Jack Howard
- Azmy Ibrahim
- Peggy Ichkoff
- Steve Isaacson
- Jimmy Jacobson
- Jennifer Johnson
- Barbara Kaminsky
- George "Gus" Kennedy
- Alice Kimble
- Erwin Klein
- Yvonne Kronlage
- Dolores Probert Kuenz
- Herwald Lawrence
- Dal Joon Lee
- He Ja Lee
- Y.C. Lee
- Ilija Lupulesku
- Attila Malek
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- Brian Masters
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- Richard McAfee
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- Garrett Gray Nash
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- Nippon Takkyu Company
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- Jasna Rather
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- Errol Resek
- David Sakai
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- George Schein
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- Mildred Shahian
- Mildred Wilkinson Shipman
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- Wendy Hicks Stockwell
- Cy Sussman
- Connie Sweeris
- Dell Sweeris
- Todd Sweeris
- Tamasu Company
- John Tannehill
- Chartchai Teekaveerakit
- Terese Terranova
- John Varga
- Norbert Van de Walle
- Lan Vuong
- Wei Wang
- Bill Walk
- Si Wasserman
- Sharlene Krizman Wilson
- Lily Yip
- Carl Zeisberg
- David Zhuang
2012 U.S. Hall of Fame Player Inductee
By Tim Boggan
Errol Resek came to the U.S. toward the middle of the 1960's from the Dominican Republic where others in his family—father Alberto, brother Albertico, and particularly sister Priscilla—were also accomplished players. In contrast to Errol, Priscilla had a very short career, but at the 1967 U.S. Open she reached the final of the Women's Singles before losing, 19, -20, 20, 17, to Patty Martinez, with whom she won the Women's Doubles.
Errol, for the kind of player he would become, started slowly. As he and I moved competitively into the 1970's, we split a number of matches. For a time I was his doubles partner (in 1970 we lost in the semi's of the U.S. Open to the winners D-J Lee/Glenn Cowan). We also teamed with Bernie Bukiet, George Braithwaite, and Fuarnado Roberts to win the 1971 USOTC's.
By 1971, though, Errol had found his game—had posted a local tournament win over many-time English National Champion Denis Neale, and strong records at the USOTC's: 19-4 (1967); 15-4 (1968); 14-5 (1969); 12-1 (1970). With the help of these multiple wins, he moved to #3 in the U.S. Men's Ranking.
And now came the surprise of his life—or at least one of them. Not that, at 29 and now a U.S. citizen, he'd made the U.S. Team to the 1971 Nagoya, Japan World's, but that with the rest of that Team he and his wife Jairie were unexpectedly invited into the Unknown—into "Red" China. That worked out so well (see Vol. V in my History of U.S. Table Tennis series) that on Errol's return he and George Braithwaite were kept busy with speeches, slide shows, exhibitions, and appearances. At the York, PA Sport Night, for example, Errol went playfully to table tennis bat with Hank Aaron against Vida Blue and Jim Palmer. And together Errol and George made a record and sang it in the streets of New York. Repeated over and over again was the line, "Open up the doors and let Friendship in."
Then there was more fun for Errol and Jairie when, in the spring of '72, Errol got to play against the Chinese on their reciprocal trip to the U.S.
And more fun still when in the summer of 1973 Errol and Jaire, accompanied by Bernie Bukiet, went for a series of indoor and outdoor exhibitions among the high and low in various appreciative communities in the Dominican Republic. Honored visitors as they were—and wined and dined by officials and, at every turn, by dozens of Errol's relatives—the three of them created quite a stir.
On coming back, Errol became the Coach for an elite Junior Training Camp at Mt. Airy Lodge, PA where, thanks to Mort Zakarin, a team would be formed that, Captained by Dell Sweeris, would compete in a Junior tournament in Germany.
Through the early 70's, Errol played for the U.S. against the Canadians at their prestigious Annual National Exhibition tournament in Toronto. Here he repeatedly beat Canada's Champions—Larry Lee, Derek Wall, and Errol Caetano.
As his career developed, Errol lost to the best U.S. players—D-J Lee, John Tannehill, Jack Howard, Danny Seemiller, and Eric Boggan—all now well-established in our Hall of Fame. But with those losses he repeatedly had highlight successes. Twice he beat Danny—once at the 1976 USOTC's when Danny was otherwise undefeated. The following year at the USOTC's he rallied, from down 1-0 and 20-14 match point…point…point…, to beat Charlie Wuvanich, the former Thailand/Australian Champion, then living in the U.S. and challenging Seemiller as the #1 player in the country.
Yes, Errol was some competitor—in many a match, he beat quite a number of titleholders, including Danny Pecora, Bernie Bukiet, Dell Sweeris, Jack Howard, Fuarnado Roberts (both at home and in an International tournament in Robbie's native Jamaica), George "The Chief" Braithwaite, Lim Ming Chui, Glenn Cowan, Houshang Bozorgzadeh, Roger Sverdlik, and Mike Bush. All these players, you'll note, were U.S. World Team members. (He beat Canadian World Team members Joe Ng and Alain Bourbonnais too).
As the 1970's drew to a close, Errol took up residence in Alaska, and was a coach for their team in the Arctic Winter Games. He then went on to win for the 1981-82 season the Triple Crown at these Games.
In 1982, Errol was part of the U.S. contingent that entered the first World Veterans tournament played in Gothenberg, Sweden. Errol made the best showing of the Americans. Playing in the Over 40's, he followed his first-match win with a rally over the Swedish chopper, Magnusson. "Just watching Errol," said one spectator, "is a lesson in table tennis—just the way he handles the ball." Then, before losing to Welshman George Evans, who two years earlier in the Commonwealth Games had beaten Caetano, Errol downed Ralph Gunnion, a former member of the English National Team.
Once he went to Alaska, we didn't see Errol for years—though he did come down to the States for the October, 1982 Paddle Palace Fall Open. Down 2-1 and 16-7 in the fourth in his final against Apichart Sears, perhaps the strongest player in the Northwest, Errol won that game at 19, then again rallied from 17-12 down in the fifth to take the title....
Errol finally returned to the game…and more or less took up where he'd left off—winning titles. At the 2008 U.S. Open, he won the Over 65's from Bill Ukapatayasakul. He followed that in 2009 with a runner-up finish to Dick Hicks who'd lost to Bill U the year before.
Nor, though he was now running the Las Vegas Club, was he finished winning. At the 2012 U.S. Closed, he celebrated his induction into the U.S. Hall of Fame by teaming with longtime stalwart player Ron Von Schimmelman to defeat Gary Gudzenko/George Braithwaite to take the Over 70 Doubles.
Bravo, Errol! May you continue your successful return for years to come.