Thetford Town Newsletter

No. 14                                                                                                             April 2005

SELECTBOARD NOTES

 

ROADS POSTED

Please note posted weight limits on soft roads through spring thaw!

 

TOWN PLAN

The Selectboard will schedule the first of two public hearings for review of the amended Town Plan Draft. The first hearing will be warned 30 days in advance and posted around town and in the Valley News.

 

LATHAM LIBRARY NEWS

Would you like to see changes in your library?  We, the trustees, are planning some major changes and we want your input. Please check out our online survey and tell us what your interests are.  Don't have access to a computer?  Stop by and log on to one of the library computers.   We'll gladly assist you.  We appreciate your time and effort to help us improve your library.

The web address is:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=77277912312

 

CFL SALE AT THETFORD TOWN MEETING
The Thetford Energy Committee and Sustainable Energy Resource Group sold 139
compact fluorescent bulbs at the Thetford Town Meeting. Over their lifetime
these high quality energy efficient bulbs will save 69,240 kilo Watt hours of
electric use, reduce electric spending by $8,655 and release about 100 fewer
tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.  SERG has plenty of CFL's for sale to local
individuals (no shipping) and we can work with folks to organize a CFL sale at
your next event.  Contact us if you are interested.
Bob Walker
Thetford Energy Committee
802-785-4126
SERG@valley.net

 

RICES MILLS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION UPDATE
The Rices Mills Community Center is launching into another year of monthly
potluck and program gatherings with our annual meeting on April 9th at 4PM with
a potluck dinner beginning at 6PM.  Everyone is welcome to join us to plan
future activities, discuss renovations and share a delicious meal.  Bring a dish
to share as well as your own cups, plates and silverware.

RMCA building renovations are continuing this spring.  We hope to have our new
standing seam roof and propane heater installed by the annual meeting.  Our Capital Campaign to fund building renovations has begun.
Please send donations, made out to "RMCA", to Polly Cole, 790 Poor Farm Rd.
Thetford Center, VT 05075.

Now that the former schoolhouse is getting all spruced up, please consider using
it for your next event. It is available at a nominal fee to anyone for classes,
meetings, dinners, parties, etc. 

We hope you will join us for our April 9th meeting and potluck to see the new
improvements.  For more information, contact Gina Sonne at 785-4220 or
gina.sonne@valley.net.

 

THETFORD TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
A handy directory of Thetford resident and local business phone numbers is for sale at Merchant's Bank, Isabell's, The Village Store and Baker's Store. The proceeds will benefit the THETFORD TRUST, a community service organization.

 

TREASURE ISLAND -
American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program: 

Registration for children's summer swim lessons will take place on Saturday, May 14, from 10AM-12PM for all Thetford residents. 

Dates for the daily, two-week sessions are as follows: 

June 20-July 1; 

July 5 (Tues)-July 15; 

July 18-July 29;
and August 1-12. 

Lessons are available for ages 4 & up.  Lesson registration for out-of-town children will be held on Saturday, June 18 from 10AM-12PM at Treasure Island.  Fees are $10/Thetford residents; $15/non-resident + purchase of a season pass.  Season passes are
available for purchase any time at the Thetford Town Office - buy your pass prior to June 1st, and save $10 on a family pass, and $5 on an individual pass.


On Saturday, May 7, Treasure Island will host a Community Work Day beginning at 10AM.  Meet at Treasure Island anytime throughout the day to help with seasonal tasks including raking, special projects, etc.

 

The Treasure Island Season begins Saturday, June 18. For information, group reservations, or other questions, call Scott or Ann O'Hearn at 333-3507.

 

TA NOTES

Thetford Academy was recently awarded the Tournament Good Sportsmanship Award at the girls' Basketball finals in Barre. This award is given to the best of the Final Four teams, of which Thetford was one, based on the conduct and spirit of the players, coaches, and fans. It is an honor earned by the whole community along with the team; and we are proud to have won it for a second year in a row, last year at the boys' championship game.

 

The next session of "Talk with TA" will be held on Thursday, April 28, from 6-7PM in the TA library. This is a great chance to meet with trustees and raise any issues, questions, or concerns. The Trustees' Quarterly Meeting follows and the public is invited to attend.

The annual Poetry Festival will be held on Sunday, April 3, from 3-5PM in the TA Library. Student and community member poets will present their works; and the featured poet will be Grace Paley, Vermont's poet laureate. The festival marks the start of National Poetry Month.

Some TA students, staff, and parents will be setting off for far away destinations over spring break April 18-22. Groups will travel to Mexico and France, financed in part by monies earned at fundraisers held throughout the year.

 

ATTENTION ALL THETFORD AREA VISUAL ARTISTS!

Call for Entries

 

In conjunction with the 100th Anniversary of the Thetford Hill Fair, there will be an exhibit in the downstairs gallery space of the Latham Memorial Library.  This exhibit will run from June 12 through late July. The final day of the show coincides with the Thetford Hill Fair.  This will be an excellent opportunity for artists to be seen by visitors to the area.

 

The exhibit theme, "Thetford, 100 Years," is open to all artists in Thetford and the surrounding area.  Artists may submit 1-3 pieces, depending on size, and work may be for sale. Pieces not for sale should be labeled NFS.

 

Installation is Monday, June 6.  Opening reception, Friday, June 10 (subject to change to 11th).  Gallery hours coincide with library hours.

 

Contact Marla Ianello by April 30 if you would like to be part of this exciting group exhibit: marla.ianello@valley.net and 785-2912.

 

 

PUPPETREE CHALLENGE GRANT

The PuppeTree, Inc. is a nonprofit theater workshop and puppet company that gives children an opportunity to express creativity in all the Arts—music, dance, visual arts, acting, playwriting, and other theater crafts. For the last five years, we have been providing hands-on workshops that end with student performances to schools, social service organizations, and recreation departments in the Upper Valley. We also develop programs that use puppetry to teach academic subjects, such as we did last year in the Cornish, New Hampshire and Bradford, Vermont Elementary Schools.

 

As a relatively young nonprofit organization, The PuppeTree’s mandate is to serve the community, but we are struggling to bring these exciting programs to Vermont communities. Right now, we have a challenge grant to do a shadow puppet performance of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in VT public schools during 2005. Unless we can match the grant, we will have to return it. Our goal is to take this program to 12 Vermont schools for FREE. In particular, we are planning to bring the performance to the Thetford Elementary School this fall. Alice Worth, TES principal, has expressed her interest in having us do so, and we have the support of Jim Masland, our representative in the VT legislature. Please help us so the Show can go on!

 

Based on the average costs of mounting a PuppeTree performance, a five-dollar donation pays for one student. A tax-deductible donation of $50 or $100 will send a classroom full of kids to the theater. However, since we work with matching grants, every dollar you give will may be doubled.

 

Please don’t hesitate to call or contact us. But most of all…would you please send a check to The PuppeTree. Inc., P.O. Box 130, Post Mills, VT 05058; 802-785-3041; vtpuppet@starband.net

 

Ann Legunn, Artistic Director

The PuppeTree

a 501C Corporation

 

Community Feedback Forum on the Combined 5th-6th Program

Public Forum Announcement

 

The Thetford School Board has formed a committee to examine the benefits and concerns of the TES 5th-6th class.  The Committee – which includes parents, teachers, our principal, and school board members – is holding an open forum and we encourage all interested citizens to attend this opportunity to share views.

 

The committee will briefly review the current system, present what we have heard in the past as being the major concerns and benefits, and collect the views of the attendees.  Together, we will discuss possible solutions so that the Committee can present recommendations to the School Board.


Meeting Date: Thursday, April 28, 7:00pm, TES Lunchroom.

 

If you have questions, or can’t attend the meeting but would like to provide feedback, please contact Darrin Clement dclement@maponics.com , 785-2668

Committee Chair and Thetford School Board member

 

THETFORD TOWN NEWSLETTER

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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.