No. 10 December
2004
SELECTBOARD NOTES
WELCOME to Thetford's new Police Chief Joseph Anthony who will begin
his new position on Monday, December 6. Mr. Anthony was selected after an
extensive search committee effort. We are delighted to have him join the
Thetford Community. Please join us for a swearing-in and welcome reception on
Monday, December 6, 6-6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.
We
also welcome new Highway Department member Robert Simmons who began working
with the town at the end of November.
THETFORD TOWN
PLAN
With
the assistance of our regional planning commission, the Planning Commission has
been working and receiving suggestions in open sessions for the past year and a
half on our town plan. The draft plan was reviewed in the first of three public
hearings on November 11. Fifty residents attended the meeting asking questions
and making comments to be reviewed and incorporated by the Planning Commission
for the next public hearing held by the Selectboard in December on a date to be
announced.
TOWN
BUDGET COMMITTEE has begun meeting with the Selectboard and all town
departments and organizations who are requesting funds for the next fiscal year
budget 2005. Meetings will continue through December with a proposed budget to
be printed in the 2004 Annual Town Report which will be mailed to residents in
February.
COMMUNITY EVENT
RESOURCES
THETFORD TOWN NEWSLETTER As many residents
have indicated a desire for town news and events on a regular basis, the
Selectboard has been publishing a newsletter for the past year. Thanks to the
volunteer assistance of past editor Lynne Miller and current editor Cathee
Clement, paper copies are available the beginning of each month at Thetford
libraries, stores, bank, town hall, and electronically at http://lists.valley.net/lists/info/thetford or www.thet.net/. Please help us make this a viable publication
by submitting community information and events to Cathee Clement turtlepond@netzero.net or at
785-2668. The deadline for submissions
is the 20th of each month. (Also, if you email your submission,
please list Thetford Town Newsletter in the subject line.)
THETFORD FORUM The most current town commentary and events
updated daily electronically at http://lists.valley.net/lists/info/thetford.
To receive it directly in your email, anyone can subscribe by sending any
message to thetford-subscribe@lists.valley.net.
THET.NET community web site of town information
and resources www.thet.net/ includes
Selectboard and School Board Minutes, Thetford Town Plan and other municipal
and community resources.
THETFORD
ACADEMY PARENT/FAMILIY/COMMUNITY CALENDAR (PFC) primarily TA info and
events, including some community events as submitted, is available
electronically. To request the PFC Calendar weekly by e-mail contact martha.rich@thet.net. The PFC
Calendar is also available at www.thetfordacademy.org
and www.thet.net/
Thetford Lights
Out - Round II
The Thetford Selectboard and Energy Committee are working with Sustainable Energy
Resource Group on improving the town's street lighting. We are now entering
Round Two of the Thetford Street Lighting Program. During the week of December
6-10, CVPS will turn off an additional 10 street lights in the villages of Post
Mills, North Thetford, East Thetford and Union Village as a test to gather
community response. The lights will be turned off for one month during which
town residents are encouraged to contact the Selectboard and/or Energy Committee
with your comments. We will reconvene at the Jan. 10th Selectboard meeting
to review comments and decide which lights to shut off permanently.
The results of the first round of Lights Out testing on Thetford Hill and Thetford
Center are that: seven street lights have been permanently shut off; a light on
Tucker Hill Rd. was moved to improve the lighting there and accommodate neighbors'
preferences; and a light on Thetford Hill will be moved in the future for the
same reason. Several lights in both villages were turned back on due to pedestrian
concerns. Once the sidewalk and lighting planned from
At the same time, we are investigating additional options for lights, fixtures and
controls to replace the lights that remain in town in order to make them more
energy efficient, cost-effective and better at directing light at the roadway
and not to the night sky. We are also negotiating with CVPS options for town
ownership of lights rather than the current leasing arrangement, which might
increase our lighting options and be less expensive for the town.
With your help we hope to make Thetford's street
lighting a shining example for other towns to follow. Please send any comments,
pro or con, to Thetford Selectboard,
Bob
Thetford Energy Committee
802-785-4126
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TOWN
CLERK NOTES
November Election turnout was super in
Thetford! 79% of our voter checklist voted in person at Town Hall or
via Absentee Ballot. Election results are always posted at Town Hall.
NEW SERVICE OFFERED AT TOWN HALL: VT Vehicle registration renewals
can now be processed at the Town Clerk's office. You must bring your
renewal certificate, payment to DMV (check or money order only) and a separate
payment of $3 (cash or check) to the Town of
December 5th
Live and Silent Auctions, close to 150
items: Pompanoosuc Mills and other furniture, Simon
Pearce glass bowl, Designer Gold and other jewelry, plants, Miranda pottery, Mini
Corp Kids toys, clothes, gourmet desserts, restaurant certificates, house
cleaning, perennial garden design, 12 yards of hard pack delivered, auto
services, and much, much more. To benefit
THE CHRISTMAS
REVELS
Tickets
are on sale now for the December performances of The Christmas Revels.
Reserve tickets by calling the
Performances run Thursday through Sunday evenings, December 16th through 19th,
with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Featured
in this years show are
Tim McCosker will be doing special effects and
design, and Suzanne Houston is Visual Director. Ruth Mayer will be
both dancer and choreographer, and other dancers will include members of Green
Mountain Morris Dancers and Maple Leaf Morris Dancers. Bonna Weileris Make-up Manager, and Eva Behrens Children's Co-Manager. (These
are all Thetford Residents!)
The
Thursday evening performance is Family Night at the Revels. Children are
half-price that evening, and there will be an ornament making event starting at
6 p.m. at the
Special related event: Friday's
performance will be A THETFORD NIGHT AT THE REVELS. Join friends and
family in our community for supper and dessert before the show. Location to be announced. Call 785-3133 to
reserve a spot for this special event.
Maureen Burford
785-3133
CONSERVATION
NEWS
Thetford has recently acquired or soon will acquire two large land parcels. One
is in the
The parcel in Post Mills is a 100 acre area abutting the old landfill (now closed
and capped). This land came to the Town as a result of a court settlement and a
decision by the State to give the land to the Town. The land is approximately
50 acres of old farm fields and 50 wooded acres with a large stretch bordering
the outlet stream of
The
265 acre parcel off
The Selectboard has wisely chosen to accept these gifts (with complete support from
the Conservation Commission). Owning land carries with it a stewardship responsibility
which the Conservation Commission will oversee and we're looking for volunteers
to help us with this charge. We would like to hear from anyone interested in
helping us set up management plans which will help define how these parcels
will be used. We will also need volunteers for helping implement whatever uses
we decide to accept - such as trail building, informational sign posting,
educational walks, etc.. This is a good time to
contribute to the process and donate as much time as you feel you have to what
is now your property. Each parcel has its own special character so uses will
not necessarily be the same for both.
We would like to especially thank the Nature Conservancy for continuing to protect
the land as Charles Hughes wished and for their generous gift to the Town.
Please call 802-333-9607 if you're interested in participating on a stewardship
committee for either or both of these parcels.
Jennifer Davey
Chair, Thetford Conservation Commission
__________________________________________________________________________________________RECYCLING
Closed
on Christmas Day - - Open on New Year’s Day
___________________________________________________________________________________
YOGA
INFORMATION
T’ai Chi at The
Community Center!
As
a member of the Thetford Community, I would like to offer classes in an easy to
learn form of T’ai Chi movement.
On
Monday, December 6 at 10am I will offer an introduction to this form for you to
experience some moves and see if this class is for you.
This
T’ai Chi is easy to learn and to remember after
class. If you would like to improve your balance, flexibility and strengthen
your muscles and bones, come and try this and find a moment of peace in your
busy life – or find harmony and joy in your not so busy life.
A
series of 6 classes will start early in January, the date to be set with the
Community Center. I will charge only enough to offset the rental of the
building for 1 1/2 hours. It will be affordable for all.
Please
call if you are coming – Nan Crowell at 785-3014. I look forward to this time
with you.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
UPDATE
FROM THE
The
Thetford School Board has been busy this year with several initiatives aimed at
improving the educational experience for our children. Among the many
items being addressed are:
a. designation of 2004-2005 Board Goals to help prioritize our efforts
for this academic year
b. evaluation of the past/current/future options for the 5th/6th grade
structure and curriculum
c. formation of the Diversity Task Group, now co-facilitated by Jo Ann Woodsum and Kathleen Cunneen
d. actively engaged in the search for a replacement of a new
superintendent due to resignation of the current
Superintendent
(who also serves Bradford,
e. continued efforts to update and create school policies that both keep
us in compliance with state
requirements and serve
the needs of our school community
f. contract renewal work for the teachers and paraprofessionals at TES
g. active involvement with the Thetford Academy Board to identify mutual
goals for the future.
We also are preparing for the 2005-2006 budget and very much want to hear your ideas. While
budgets are always tight, your input does matter and will help shape the
Board's financial priorities. Please contact any School Board member or
attend any of our upcoming Board meetings. Board members are Charlie Buttrey, Dave Celone, Darrin
Clement, Denise Froehlich, and Marty Jacobs.
All regular school board meetings are open to the public and are scheduled for
the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 7 pm at the Elementary School.
Please stop by some evening!
SUBMISSION
INFORMATION
Let’s hear from
you! The deadline for submissions is the 20th of each month. Send news
including contact name and telephone number to Cathee Clement at 785-2668 or
turtlepond@netzero.net.
Please list Thetford
Town Newsletter in the subject line.
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