Thetford
Town Newsletter
No. 40 June
2007
SELECTBOARD NOTES
Recreation Coordinator
The town is accepting applications for a newly funded, half-time position of
Recreation Coordinator. The Coordinator will develop appropriate programs for residents
of all ages and work with existing town recreation organizations. Applications
should be submitted to the Selectboard at
SENIOR/AFFORABLE HOUSING IN
THETFORD
The Selectboard has appointed
a committee to study the issue of senior/affordable housing in Thetford.
We are planning the first of monthly forums to solicit input from townspeople
and present findings from the committee. We want to hear your ideas and
concerns regarding this very important piece of our Town planning.
Join us at Latham Library THURSDAY JUNE
14th at 7pm.
Submitted by Gina Sonne
LATHAM LIBRARY
Community Corner: Thursday, June 7, 7 pm
Heather Morse of the US Army Corps of Engineers will give a presentation
about the Union Village Dam area in Thetford - its natural resources, its
history and the day-to-day work of the Corps.
Special Program, June 28, 7 pm
The American Chestnut Tree: Once and Future King of the Eastern Woodlands?
Terry Guilick of the American Chestnut Foundation will speak on
the history of this important habitat and forestry tree, the impact
of the blight, and promising developments in ACF's program to create a
blight-free cultivar. Video and samples from live chestnut trees.
Summer readers, take note: Edie
Clark, the author of The View From Mary's
Farm, The Place He Made, Monadnock Tales and numerous articles in
Yankee Magazine and other publications, will be giving a book reading at
Latham Library on July 29th. So now is the time to check out her works at
Latham and Peabody libraries. More info to come on group discussions of some of
the author's essays from The View From
Mary's Farm prior to her July appearance.
Submitted by Elise Tillinghast
TA NOTES
*
*On Friday, June 8,
*A full schedule of Alumni Day
activities is planned for Saturday, June 9. Plan to be part of
the fun. Please contact Jessica Eaton or the TA Development Office
(785-2600) for more information.
*The final "Talk with TA"
for the school year 2006-2007 will be held on Thursday, June 28, in the
library in the
*The second semester edition of the "TA
Times" will be distributed soon. Watch your mailbox for this
action and information packed publication.
Submitted by Wendy Cole
Summer Book Discussion Series: Wednesdays at 7 PM
Film, Feasts and Fiction
The series uses film and fiction to explore various cultures through, among
other things, their foods. Books are available at the library.
(There are a few video copies
available to borrow also, but discussion will focus on the books.)
June 13
Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen
Jean Gerber leads discussion
June 27
Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg
Patricia Norton leads discussion
July 11
Il Postino by Antonio Skarmeta
Jim Schley leads discussion
July 25
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Kathleen Dana leads discussion
--------------
Ben Power Concert: June 20th 7 PM
Ben plays traditional Scottish and Irish music on the flute, whistle and
bodhran (Irish drum). His Post Mills and Peabody Library roots are deep,
in that his grandmother was Mary Fisher, who virtually resurrected the library
in the 1960s, and was an active and enthusiastic supporter until her death in
1985.
-------------
Paperback Books for
As in summers past, paperback books will be available for sale 24/7 on the
porch for 50 cents apiece. (Book donations most welcome!) Hardcover
books are for sale inside during the library's open hours.
-------------
Library Hours
Tuesdays 3-8 PM, Wednesdays 2-8:30 PM
Saturdays 10AM-1 PM (July and August only)
Submitted by Margo Nutt
THETFORD CONSERVATION
COMMISSION
CONSERVATION COMMISSION STROLL: SECOND SATURDAY STROLL
Birds, Butterflies and Botany on Bill
Hill with Bill Shepard: 9am, Saturday June 9th
Bring any of the following: binoculars, snacks, water, kids and sturdy shoes.
Parking is limited, please carpool, walk or bike. Directions: Remember the
covered bridge is out, you can not access Bill Hill from Route 113.
Questions: Bill
Shepard 785-2855
Submitted by Heather Carlos
Sapsuckers and Hummingbirds
It may seem strange to lump these two, totally dissimilar birds together. They
would seem to have little in common. However I was lucky enough to observe
first-hand that they do have a relationship.
Although the yellow-bellied sapsucker is a member of the woodpecker family it
does not excavate dead wood in search of insects. Its peculiar mode of feeding,
from which it derives its name, is to drill neat, horizontal rows of holes in
the bark of living trees. Sap leaks from the holes and the bird returns
to 'suck' the sap and eat the insects that are attracted to it. It may
also drill a vertical set of holes if the sap flow is abundant. When sapsuckers
feed they use their hard tongues to lap at the interior of holes, possibly
abrading the inner bark to keep the sap running. A variety of trees are chosen,
including birch and sugar maple. Sapsuckers may also riddle the bark of fruit
trees, much to the annoyance of homeowners although the sap loss does not seem harmful.
These black-and-white birds resemble downy or hairy woodpeckers except their
markings are more elaborate and both sexes have a red forehead. The male
sapsucker also has a red patch on the throat, outlined in black. Since sap only
runs in northern trees during the growing season, sapsuckers migrate south in
the fall and return in spring.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only hummingbirds that migrate to the
northeastern US. Their slender, disproportionately long beaks are an adaptation
for drinking the nectar of flowers. In their central american winter home they
feed from the tubular, red flowers of plants that have evolved to be
bird-pollinated. That explains why these birds find red so attractive,
they instinctively associate it with nectar. Yet hummingbirds come to
What I observed down by the river was a sapsucker being followed by a hummingbird. Thus
as it fed the sapsucker led the hummingbird to the holes it had made and the
hummingbird also sipped from them. This was not deliberate kindness by the
sapsucker, at one point it flew at the hummingbird as if to drive off the
little freeloader.
It seems that the northern migration of hummingbirds must depend on sapsuckers
migrating ahead of them to start the sap holes running. So, to have
hummingbirds we also need a healthy population of sapsuckers. These birds do
not have quite the beak power of other woodpeckers and although they excavate
nest cavities it must be in very soft, dead wood. Thus they frequently
use poplar trees (not very hard to begin with) with interior rot, but not
completely decayed. Although poplar trees are often regarded as of no
value, especially once they start to die, they are in fact a vital part of the
forest. Leaving them to rot in place is beneficial to sapsuckers - and to
hummingbirds.
Submitted by Li Shen
Thetford Conservation Commission
RMCA 2007 Events
SUMMER
ART CAMP
PASTE PAPER & BOOKMAKING
Monday thru Friday - 9:30am - 12:30pm
July 16th - 20th - 7 to 10 year olds
July 30th - Aug 3rd - 11 to 14 year olds
$125.00/session
Small classes - 6 students maximum
To register please contact:
Debra Kraemer 785-4126
Deposit of $65 due with registration
Submitted by Debra Kraemer
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MOSTLY WALTZING for JUNE AND JULY
(and a few east coast
swings)
at Rices Mills Community Center Route
132 just north of
* remember the
JUNE 16th 7pm - 9pm and JULY 7th 7pm - 9pm
All welcome! Beginners and experienced dancers!
Bring clean shoes, cds, water, and $ donations for the hall.
If musicians want to come play for us that would be wonderful!
Submitted by Gina Sonne 785-4220
COVER PICK UP
June 20th Is Thetford
Pickup Day For COVER Home Repair and Reuse Program:
This nonprofit addresses the
urgent home repair needs of low-income, disabled and elderly
Submitted by Elise Tillinghast
SUMMER ART CLASSES
Have
fun doing art! Explore a variety of art materials while drawing, painting, creating
and having fun.
Art for Kids and Teens: Thetford
Academy Art Room
June 25-29 9:30-12:30
July 16-20 9:30-12:30
Small class size - $100/week includes
materials
Scholarships available
Also-Learn to See-Learn to Draw
Drawing workshops for Adults and Teens
Call 333-9315 for more information
Submitted by Barbara Mason
TAI CHI FOR EVERYONE
Low impact - stretch and
strengthen
Increase balance and
flexibility, reduce stress, help prevent injuries.
New group forming! If interested,
please call Lynne Miller 785-4410
Starting in June, class held
during the day
8 one hour sessions for $25.
Submitted by Lynne Miller
OPEN FIELDS’ MEDIEVAL
FESTIVAL
Saturday, June 2nd
10am – 4pm, On the Green,
Thetford Hill
Food, Storytelling, Concerts,
Parades, Games, Puppets, Crafts, Dancing, Pageants, Animals, and All Manner of
Activities and Entertainments Under the Tents
For more information contact www.openfields.org,
or call 785-2077.
Admission: $5 per person, $20 per family, ages 5 and under FREE.
Submitted by Mary Ford
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.