Inn at Weathersfield under new ownership

The Inn at Weathersfield recently welcomed new innkeepers -- Marilee and Richard Spanjian, who both spent their early lives in Southern California and arrived in Perkinsville, Vermont this fall.
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nn at Weathersfield under New Ownership Submitted by VT Journal on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 4:23pm By BY JULIA LLOYD WRIGHT WEATHERSFIELD, VT -The Inn at Weathersfield recently welcomed new innkeepers -- Marilee and Richard Spanjian, who both spent their early lives in Southern California and arrived in Perkinsville, Vermont this fall, via Boston, MA and Tennessee. Without skipping a beat the Inn is in full winter swing. Marilee credits former owners Jane and David Sandelman with their help in a smooth transition; they spent two weeks working through the innkeepers duties together. Sustainability is the mission of the Inn. Partnered with Chef Jason Tostrup the Inn is nationally-recognized for its superb hospitality and excellent menu. Guests are served a wide range of local foods that are raised environmentally and produced in a sustainable way. The experienced staff has helped keep the Inn at the top of the list for New England getaways for many years. Marilee and Richard are empty-nesters with three grown children. They were looking for an ‘adventure’ to share together and where they could finally be together after spending their lives working in different vocations. Marilee was a journalist, she wrote home and garden features for newspapers and magazines, then remodeled a house and became a contractor, over nine years building 12 homes for clients. During this period she dealt with zoning and planning commissions, hired architects and sub-contractors. Meanwhile, for 30 years Richard’s corporate job, working on product development and licensing for athletic apparel companies, frequently took him overseas. The neophyte innkeepers both love to cook, they are enthusiastic about their partnership with Chef Jason and to the Inn’s commitment to “Eat Real… Eat Local… Eat Fresh” in the Restaurant Verterra and Lucy’s Tavern. For the past ten years the Inn has received an excellence award from the Wine Spectator. The wine list is extensive offering both American and international labels and including wines from local cellars. The Sandelmans spent ten years revamping the Inn to be energy-efficient and to operate in a sustainable way. The Spanjian’s will continue to work towards sustainable composting, reducing even more waste and recycling. What’s new? Since their arrival the vegetable garden has been enlarged to grow a wider variety of their own produce. There are established fruit trees in the orchard and the Inn would like to consider raising some of their chickens and eggs. Jason has offered cooking classes in the past, but plans are underway to develop a year-round Cooking School where guests and local foodies can participate. Some of the classes will be conducted by Jason with visiting chefs invited to join him. Marilee and Richard look forward to carrying on the Inn’s traditions, continuing to make their mark and receive their own hospitality and culinary awards from prestigious magazines. The Inn will continue to host weddings, civil unions, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate events. Guests can head off, CD and GPS in hand, to visit many of the local farms and gardens that supply the produce for the restaurants Skiers are offered a special ‘skiers breakfast’ and mulled cider in the afternoons after a hard day on the slopes. The restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday, closed on Monday and Tuesday. Lucy’s Tavern opens at 5:30 p.m. and is open Wednesday through Sunday. Live music entertainment is offered on the week-ends and when the weather cooperates there is an outdoor fire pit with seating. “We are a destination setting,” Marileee said , “Guests can come and visit the area or they can walk in the grounds, sit by the pond and physically relax.” An important feature for drivers of electric vehicles -- the Inn provides its own charging station. The Inn is located at 1342 Route 106 in Perkinsville. For more information go to www.weathersfieldinn.com