January 2007 Town Newsletter

OFFICE	TERM
Town Moderator	1 year
Town Clerk	3 year
Town Treasurer	1 year
Collector of Delinquent Taxes	1 year
Selectboard	3 year
Selectboard	2 year
Grand Juror	1 year
Agent to Prosecute/Defend Suits	1 year
Agent to Convey Real Property	1 year
Lister	3 year
Budget Committee	3 year
Budget Committee	2 year
Trustee of Trust Funds	3 year
Cemetery Commissioner	3 year
Latham Library Trustee (2 vacancies)	4 year
Peabody Library Trustee	3 year
School Moderator	1 year
School Director	3 year
School Director	2 year
School Director (2 yr term to complete 3 year term)	2 year

LATHAM LIBRARY JANUARY EVENTS

The Latham Trustee's Community Corner's intent is to promote a sense of community through offering informal gatherings of town residents, town issues and town government.

BRING A FRIEND AND JOIN IN THE COMMUNITY CORNER!

THURSDAY January 11th at 7pm

Please join us for an informal dialog with Police Chief Jim Lanctot. Topics will include, but are not limited to: Thetford police department's goals and concerns, Vermont diversion program, teenage drinking, restorative justice.

Bring your family, friends and questions and get to know our Police chief.

THURSDAY January 25th @ 7pm

New Comer to Thetford, Ray Chin, well known child psychologist in the Upper Valley, will talk about his work with Therapy dog Plato and his life as an artist and therapist.

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SUNDAY AT THE MOVIES!

JANUARY 21st from 2pm - 4pm (the first in our movie series)
Join us for the biographical movie of Edward R Morrow "Good Night and Good Luck".

Popcorn (of course) and discussion to follow.
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On Sunday January 14th from 2pm – 4pm, everyone is invited to attend a tea in celebration of the 35th year of the Bicentennial Building, many dedicated Library Volunteers, and Peter Blodgett's 20th year as Librarian.

Terry Osborne will read from his new collection of Noel Perrin's essays.
A brief history of the Library Federation and the Thetford Historical society will be given by Charles Latham.
Beautiful music by harpist Margaret Stephens

Refreshments by Latham Trustees

Submitted by Gina Sonne

LATHAM LIBRARY BOOK SERIES

Looking for a good winter read? This January and February, Latham Library will be hosting a Vermont Humanities Council book discussion of Jane Austen's most beloved books.

There are multiple copies of Jane Austen's books available for check-out at the library, courtesy of the Vermont Humanities Council. So come pick up a book...and enjoy a good read!

The discussions are as follows. All occur on Monday nights, 7 pm.

Jan 8th, discussion leader Jean Gerber will explore Sense and Sensibility.
Jan 22, discussion leader Patricia Norton will analyze Pride and Prejudice.
Feb. 5, local scholar Jean Gerber will lead us through Emma.
Feb. 26, local scholar, Patricia Norton will conclude our series with Persuasion.

For more information, please contact Librarian Peter Blodgett at 785-4361.

THETFORD ENERGY COMMITTEE SERIES

Warmth in the Winter: An Energy Education Series organized by the Thetford Energy Committee.

* The first will be a showing of "An Inconvenient Truth," a documentary featuring Al Gore about global warming and climate change, Sunday Jan. 14.

* The second will be a showing of "The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and The Collapse of The American Dream," Sunday Jan. 21. This riveting documentary asks "What does a peak in oil production mean for North America?"

* The third will be a first hand look at the consequences of town planning and transportation choices on energy consumption, traffic and emissions. Thetford resident and transportation expert Norm Marshall will lead us in playing a new transportation game on Sunday Feb. 11.

All events will begin at 7PM at the First Congregational Church of Thetford on Thetford Hill. Refreshments will be served. Following each event, there will be a facilitated discussion of opportunities for change. All meetings are free and open to the public - donations accepted.

For more information contact Scott Zens, 802-785-4012, Michael.S.Zens@Dartmouth.EDU.

Submitted by Bob Walker

TA NOTES

*The Primary Partners Exhibit is now on display at Latham Library. The works, a collaborative effort by Thetford Academy and Thetford Elementary School students, will be shown until January 10. The exhibit is open during regular library hours.

*The annual TA Winter Choral Concert will be held on Saturday, January 6 at 7:00pm. The musical offering will be presented at the First Congregational Church in Thetford.

*"Talk with TA," held in conjunction with the Trustees' Quarterly Meeting, will be held at 6:00pm in the library at TA. All are invited to attend this question and information session.

*The Thetford Academy Drama Department will present a series of 10-minute plays at 7:00pm on Thursday, January 11. Additional performances of a different series of plays will be offered at 7:00pm on Friday, January 12, and Saturday, January 13. All shows will be in the Shark Tank Theater at the Academy. Seating is limited, and reservations are recommended. Tickets, priced at $5.00 each, may be reserved by calling 802-785-4805 x243.

*An art show of student work will be hung in the Latham Library Gallery. The show is scheduled to open January 19.

*Watch your mailbox for the winter 2006-2007 issue of the "TA Times," coming soon. We look forward to sharing more happenings and information with Thetford.

Submitted by Wendy Cole

SCHOOL BOARD NOTES

The Thetford School Board and Strategic Plan Committee are seeking public input and review of the proposed 5-year Thetford School District Strategic Plan as the plan approaches adoption in February 2007.

The plan is available online by first selecting the “Strategic Plan” link on the Thetford Elementary School website (http://www.thetfordschool.org/). Hardcopies of the Strategic Plan can be found at the Elementary School, Town Hall, as well as the Latham and Peabody Libraries.

The Board and Committee have encouraged comments and questions from the public. Communication may be submitted to the Board by sending correspondence to the individuals listed below. In addition, the public is once again encouraged to participate in Strategic Plan discussions by attending School Board Meetings in the month of January (Tuesday 1/9, Tuesday 1/23). Comments concerning the Strategic Plan will be accepted until the School Board meeting on Tuesday, January 23rd with adoption of the plan scheduled for the February 13th Board meeting.

The Strategic Plan Committee spent approximately 5 months working to develop a strategic plan using a vast amount of community input and a wide array of relevant data to best represent members of the community and priorities for the school district. The Strategic Plan has appeared on the agenda, and has been an item for discussion, at every School Board Meeting since a draft from the committee was submitted on June 27th 2006.

Members of the School Board and the Strategic Planning Committee are always willing to offer more information on this topic – their names are listed below, as well as the upcoming meeting schedule.

Comments regarding the Strategic Plan may be sent to:

Andy Boyce

Thetford School Board

andy_boyce@yahoo.com, (PO Box 57 Post Mills, VT 05058)

- and -

Darrin Clement

Strategic Plan Committee

dclement@maponics.com (468 Garey Rd, East Thetford, VT 05043)

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Thetford School Board: Robin Brown, Kristen Downey, Jennifer Reining, Susan Weider, and Andy Boyce.

Strategic Planning Committee: Darrin Clement, Alice Worth, Keith Thompson, Wanda Vaughan, Paul Twerdowsky, Ann Swanson, Bethany Thompson, Lelia Mellen, Kathleen Cunneen

Submitted by Andy Boyce

CARING COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL

Caring Community Preschool in Post Mills, VT has openings for the 2006-2007 school year.

If interested, please call Dawn Stever at 333-4819.

Submitted by Ann O'Hearn

TA HUMAN GEOGRAPHY PRESENTATION COMMENTARY

On Monday, December 11, fourteen Thetford Academy students in Steve Niederhauser's Human Geography class presented to an overflow crowd in the TA library on topics ranging from Current Limitations of High Speed Internet Access Vermont, to The Importance of Wetland Preservation in Thetford, to The Significance of Community Nature Trails, and more.

For photos of these Human Geography presentations at, please see:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DCelone/TAHumanGeography121106

Here's some information on what you may have seen (or missed if you weren't there):

This was an excellent example of high quality original research, writing, and presentation skills by TA students. I learned a fair bit about our local community and the region, to say nothing of technology that's available for internet access or the importance of focusing on wetlands in our ecosystem when it comes to land conservation generally.

The topics and student presenters were;
1. Changes to the Thetford Academy Campus: 1819 to Present by Jordan Bach-Lombardo and Matt Longwell (hot topic with TA's new building expansion plans in play)
2. The Importance of Wetland Preservation in Thetford by Emily Jabareen and Will Meglathery (another hot topic resulting from the building boom in the region and in the Town coupled with the importance of preserving the rural nature of the community. (Very powerful presentation too.)
3. The Historical impact of Structural Fires in East Corinth, Vermont by Justin Golschneider and Grace Wilson (Strong historical interest story.)
4. The Effect of Thetford's Physical Geography on the Production of Maple Syrup by Tyler Mousley and Sam Neirman (Great maps, facts, and statistics.)
5. Current Limitations of High Speed Internet Access in Vermont by Ian Cleaves and Ian McDaniels (Very powerful presentation and lots of community interest in this one.)
6. Where's the Water on Thetford Hill? by Charley Ferguson and Leon Odell (Great maps created by the students which the Town will use in the future and extremely strong presentation skills.)
7. What is the Significance of Community Nature Trails? by Carry Osborn and Matt Postler (Strong presentation accompanied by a take away booklet that was informative and well researched.)

Steve Niederhauser's Human Geography class is a senior elective at Thetford Academy. The level, depth, and breadth of original research done by these students, who then developed considerable printed materials, maps, charts, and booklets for each project, was impressive. The culmination of presenting to approximately 60 - 80 members of the Thetford community with poise and confidence was, I think, unusual for high school students, and particularly refreshing to see in the high school realm.

Submitted by Dave Celone

CONSERVATION COMMISSION NOTES

Wildlife food shrubs

This is in response to a recent question regarding use of native shrubs to replace invasive, non-native, bush honeysuckle. Many people think of honeysuckle as beneficial because its huge crop of berries attracts birds. Unfortunately the berry crop contains an even bigger number of seeds that are spread by birds, leading to honeysuckle springing up everywhere in open spaces where it out competes native plants and interferes with forest regeneration. The Autumn and Russian olives are another group of plants that were once recommended for wildlife but share the invasive nature of honeysuckle.

There are many choices among native plants that can be used instead. A great reference is the book "American Wildlife and Plants: A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits" first published in 1951. This is a compendium of plants that are eaten by different wildlife species, including the approximate percent of an animal's diet accounted for by a particular type of plant. The data are taken from many years of painstaking analyses of stomach contents and animal scat, and the results are tabulated by region.

Among shrubby native plants in the northeastern US the blackberry family (genus Rubus) was the top plant type for providing wildlife food. However, a tangle of thorny blackberry canes may not be everyone's idea of an ornamental. The wild cherry family (genus Prunus) was a close second to blackberry. This genus includes trees and also shrubs (pin cherries and choke cherries, not to be confused with choke berries of the genus Aronia). Almost as popular was the dogwood family (genus Cornus) that contains some of the best shrubs for satisfying both ornamental and wildlife uses. Going down the list, grapes ranked forth (though they are not shrubs) and blueberries were in fifth place. All the above plants ranked very highly both for amounts consumed and for number of species that eat them mostly songbirds but also a surprising number of furbearers and game animals. Taking up the rear of this most-consumed group was the sumac, which apparently is not a favorite food but provides important winter nourishment because the fuzzy heads of berries persist after other foods are gone. I was surprised that serviceberry (genus Amelanchier) and elderberry (Sambucus) were further down the list for the Northeast, almost on a par with alder. Hazlenut was also less prominent, apparently the nuts are thick shelled enough to be edible only to rodents, although their twigs and catkins provide forage for deer and gamebirds. Also ranking in this second tier were the viburnums (including blackhaw, nannyberry, highbush cranberry) that are often praised in catalogs for both their ornamental and wildlife value. However, viburnum bushes have utility because, unlike many of the more highly ranked plants, they will tolerate shade and moisture. Other bushes, the choke berry (Aronia) and buttonbush that grow in wetlands, were consumed by a narrow spectrum of wildlife, the nutlets of buttonbush in limited amounts by waterfowl.

Of course, the fruits are not the only parts of these plants that are eaten. Many of these bushes are seen as forage by deer that eat terminal buds of a variety of woody plants. Protection of the young plants from browsing will help them grow into mature, fruiting shrubs that will beautify the landscape while providing food and cover for birds and other wildlife. For more information, the booklet "Backyard Wildlife Habitat In Vermont" is a 48-page guide on attracting wildlife. It is obtained by sending $3.00 to the Nongame Wildlife Fund, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 103 So. Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05671-0501.

Submitted by Li Shen
Thetford Conservation Commission

CONSERVATION COMMISSION NOTES

Septic System Sense: when in doubt, pump it out

Readers may wonder why the Conservation Commission would be concerned at all about septic systems. After all, these are nasty places full of unmentionable stuff that no-one wants to think about, let alone write about. However, as a result of our water testing of the Ompompanoosuc east branch, we feel a little septic awareness may be appropriate. The water tests showed high amounts of E. coli bacteria in the river in West Fairlee and the north end of Post Mills. These bacteria are a normal component of the large intestines of warm-blooded animals and thus indicate that fecal matter is in the water. The sites on Ompompanoosuc with high E. coli counts correspond to relatively dense housing along the river, whereas livestock, which can be a source of E. coli, are not in evidence. This makes it likely that the source of bacteria is malfunctioning septic systems.

In towns like Thetford without central sewers, wastes empty into septic tanks. Within a typical tank the contents separate into three layers. Substances lighter than water float to the top, forming the 'scum layer.' Substances heavier than water sink to the bottom and become 'sludge.' The two layers are separated by a watery layer laden with dissolved waste substances, such as phosphates and nitrogen-rich urea. Bacteria ferment wastes in the tank, releasing gases that are discharged through the vent pipe that protrudes through the roof. When wastewater from the house enters the tank it displaces the water already there, causing it to flow to the leach field through an outlet baffle that filters the effluent. In the leach field a system of perforated pipes in a gravel bed spreads the wastewater out so it sinks into the ground over a large area. Waste substances bind to soil particles and are broken down by soil bacteria with release of nutrients that are absorbed by plant roots hence the grass is often greener over a leach field.

The sludge layer in the tank accumulates faster than bacteria can break it down, and if nothing is done it will reach the level of the outlet pipe. This can clog the outlet baffle, resulting in untreated sewage backing up into the house. A high sludge level also means that solids have less opportunity to settle, allowing more solids to flow to the leach field. This may eventually clog the filter bed. Many people do not realize that septic tanks should be pumped clean, typically every THREE years. It is inadvisable to put solid kitchen wastes down the drain, even with 'garbage grinder' sink attachments. Use of a sink disposal can increase the amount of solids by as much as 50%. Along the same lines, the toilet is not the place to dispose of diapers, cat litter, feminine hygiene products, house paint, solvents, pesticides and other hazardous substances. Many household chemicals can kill the bacteria that ferment wastes in the tank and leach field. A heavy burden of oil and grease can make the 'scum layer' thick. Animal fats in particular would become floating solids at the temperature inside the average septic tank and may eventually interfere with the outlet baffle.

Using commercial septic system additives does not eliminate the need to pump out the tank, in fact some of these products are caustic and may kill tank bacteria and be harmful to the leach field. In general it is not necessary to enhance the bacterial fermentation taking place in the tank with biological or chemical additives.

Each septic system is sized to accommodate a specific number of home occupants, usually determined by number of bedrooms. If the number of occupants increases post-installation, then the capacity may be too small and sludge will accumulate rapidly, necessitating frequent pumping of the tank. It is also possible to exceed the absorption rate of the leach field, for instance by doing many consecutive loads of laundry, in which case water will seep to the surface of the leach field. The life of a leach field can be prolonged by reducing the amount of wastewater with low-flow showerheads and toilets. Rain runoff from roofs and slopes etc. should be diverted away from the leach field to reduce saturation of the ground since saturated soil cannot clean wastewater, resulting in pollution of streams, lakes or groundwater.

Other causes of septic system failure include cracked tanks and pipes - do not drive over a septic system. Pipes that are close to the surface may get disconnected due to frost heaving. Since tree roots can grow into pipes, only grass should be allowed on a leach field. When leach fields fail the conventional remedy is to make a new leach field at a replacement site. This can be quite expensive. I recently heard that it is now possible to construct a new leach field in the same place as the old one, which can be cheaper by several thousand dollars.

Management of a septic system is an easy, but often overlooked task. However with a little attention our septic systems can last for decades and keep our environment pollution free.

Submitted by Li Shen
Thetford Conservation Commission

RIVERFEST FUNDRAISER AT THE GRANGE

NO STRINGS Marionettes - "The Treasure Hunt"

Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 1pm at The Grange, Thetford Hill - Home of Parish Players - to benefit Connecticut RiverFest

For more info: info@ctriverfest.org 802-333-3549 www.nostringsvt.com

Submitted by Bonna Wieler

4 WINTER WEEKEND ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AT LAKE MOREY

Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee VT

Saturday, January 6:   Winter Skills Day
Sunday, January 7:     Lake Morey WinterFest
Saturday, January 13: Vermont Ice Marathon
Sunday, January 14:    Lake Morey Skate-athon

(More information on these events listed below)

The Lake Morey Skating Trail - longest groomed ice skating trail in the U.S.
OPEN IN JANUARY

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WINTER SKILLS DAY
Pre-WinterFest skills workshops

Saturday, January 6, 2007

Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee VT
For more information and to pre-register contact Hulbert Outdoor Center, Deb_Williams@alohafoundation.org
www.alohafoundation.org/hulbert or 802-333-3405

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LAKE MOREY WINTERFEST

Sunday, January 7, 2007 10 AM - 4 PM

Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee VT
Contact: Deb Williams (deb_williams@alohafoundation.org), Bonna Wieler (info @ctriverfest@org), Jamie Hess (Jamie@nordicskater.com)
Cost: $5. Families $15.
Sponsors: Connecticut RiverFest, Hulbert Outdoor Center, Montshire Skating Club, Upper Valley Trails Alliance, The Nordic Skater, Eastern Mountain Sport

Celebrate, don¹t hibernate this winter! Get out with your friends and family for this year¹s WinterFest at the Hulbert Outdoor Center on Lake Morey in Fairlee, Vermont. Join us from 10:00 to 4:00 on Sunday, January 7th. There will be Nordic skating, snowshoe hikes, cross country skiing, winter travel skills, sledding, old fashioned ice cutting, music, winter skills, dog sledding demos, indoor activities and more. All ages and beginners welcome. Something for everyone. Bring your own snowshoes and skates or borrow them at the Center. Donation $5 each or $15 per family. Lunch and hot drinks available. Snow, Rain or Shine!

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VERMONT ICE MARATHON
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee VT

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4th ANNUAL LAKE MOREY SKATE-ATHON
Sunday, January 14, 2007 10AM - 3 PM
Hulbert Outdoor Center, Fairlee VT
How far can you skate in a day? Come join us and discover your potential!
Site of the longest ice skating trail in the US

Registration, awards and lunch at the Hulbert Outdoor Center
Donation $15 per person or $30 per family.
Proceeds benefit the Upper Valley Trails Alliance, Connecticut RiverFest, Montshire Skating Club

Nordic skates available to try at the Hulbert Outdoor Center
Information: (802) 333-3549 or (802) 649-3939, info@ctriverfest.org, http://www.nordicskating.org/skateathon

Directions: Interstate 91 to Exit 15 in Fairlee. Left under highway. Take first right onto Lake Morey East Road, drive north to northwest corner of Lake Morey.

Submitted by Bonna Wieler

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.