Thetford Town Newsletter

No. 62  APRIL 2009

 

TREASURER NOTES

This is a reminder to all resident property owners that your HS-122 Homestead Declaration must be filed by April 15th.  If you are filing for an extension on your income tax, you still must file your Homestead Declaration before the April 15th deadline. The state will not process this form if it is not signed, so please be sure to sign it even if you file online.

For those taxpayers with household earnings less than $97,000 per year, please be sure to fill out part B of form HS-122 and Form HI-144 to be eligible for a tax adjustment on your property tax bill. Last year Thetford taxpayers received over $880,000 in property tax adjustments.

If you have questions regarding your Homestead Declaration, you may call the state at (866) 828-2865. If you receive a postcard from the state saying that you have not filed, please follow up by calling the above number to make sure your declaration has been filed.

Submitted by Jill Graff

 

RECREATION NOTES

**Babysitting Class, Saturday April 11th 9am -1pm. There is still room. $50 fee. Pre-registration required.

**Spring Karate for K-6th grades Wednesdays 3:15-4:14pm April 29 - June 3rd at TES. $30 fee.

**Spring Soccer for K-6th grades Sundays 2-3:30pm from May 3 - June 14 (Adult pick up immediately following) at TES. $15 fee.

**Athletes United Soccer for grades 4-6. Practices are Tuesday evenings 6 PM at Howard's field. FREE

**T-Ball, Rec Ball and Softball - If you haven't signed up yet you can still do so until April 8, however your registration will be considered late.

Submitted by Hilary Linehan, Recreation Coordinator
785-2922 ext 6 recreation@thetfordvermont.us

 

TREASURE ISLAND

Summer Swim Lesson Schedule: 

This year, the four Red Cross Learn-to-Swim lesson sessions are: 

June 22-July 3, July 6-17, July 20-31, and August 3-14. 

Please plan to sign-up for one session; lessons are available for age 4 and up.  Lessons run for 30 minutes daily M-F between the hours of 10AM-12:45PM. 

 

SWIM LESSON REGISTRATION will be held Saturday, May 16 from 10-12PM at Thetford Town Hall, and on Wednesday, May 20 from 3-6PM at TES. Lessons fill-up on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

 

For further information, contact Treasure Island at 333-3507.

Submitted by Scott and Ann O'Hearn, TI Managers

 

FOOD FOR FRIENDS

In addition to the Thetford food-shelf, Thetford Baptist Church offers a supplemental food pantry to those in need. The church's pantry, "Food for Friends", provides a grocery bag of canned goods and frozen foods to any family upon request.

 

The pantry is OPEN each Sunday from 12:30 to 1:30 and Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30.  

 

Call Pastor John Hartley (785-2050) for alternative "pickup" times or for more information.

Submitted by Jennifer Gernhard

 

THETFORD ENERGY COMMITTEE NOTES

Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency Improvements to Your Home

Great news: Congress reinstated the tax credits for improving your home’s energy efficiency and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expanded the amount of those tax credits! For 2009 and 2010, you can take a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for approved replacement doors and windows, insulation, biomass stoves, and more. Better yet, tax credits for 30% of the cost, with no upper limit, are available through 2016 for qualifying geothermal heat pumps, solar panels, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems, and fuel cells.

 

To find out more about what improvements qualify for the federal tax credits, visit www.energystar.gov and click on the Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency link at the bottom left of the homepage.

Submitted by Alice Stewart

 

BIG TRASH COLLECTION

The Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste Management District will be holding a waste collection event at the Town Garage on April 25 from 9 to Noon. We will be collecting big trash - non-metal items too large to fit in a regular trash bag like furniture, lumber, mattresses, and carpeting - tires, fluorescent light bulbs, and electronics. Fees will range from $3 to $15 for trash items and $2 to $4 for passenger vehicle tires, with large tires costing more. We will also be selling compost bins and recycling bins.

 

Please contact the GUVSWD at 295-3688 or guvswd@valley.net for more information.

John Hurd, Programs Director, GUVSWMD

 

WALTZING INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE

Sunday, April 12th, 2-4pm, No Partner Necessary

Rice’s Mills Community Center, Donations accepted

Submitted by Gina Sonne, 785-4220

 

TA NEWS

*Now is the time to hire a student or two for Thetford Academy's annual Operation Day's Work. Contact Cindy Perry at TA at 785-4805 x208 ASAP if you'd like student workers on Wednesday, May 6. Your help is vital to the continuing success of this international program.
*The TA Board of Trustees will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, April 9, at 7:00 pm in the TA Library. The meeting is open to the public, and all are invited to attend.
*April 13-17 are the dates for this year's annual Trip to Washington. TA 7th graders and their teachers and chaperones will spend a week in the nation's capital as part of their social studies curriculum. The generous support of all the folks who helped with fundraising for this trip by volunteering, contributing, and/or participating in activities is greatly appreciated. We thank you very much!
*The Honors Celebration will be Wednesday, April 29. Students who have met rigorous academic standards throughout the 2008-2009 school year will be celebrated.

Submitted by Wendy Cole

 

FRIENDS OF THETFORD EDUCATION (FTE)

Friends of Thetford Education is pleased to announce grant recipients for the following school enrichment projects: 

·        A French breakfast for the 4th grade class (Georgia Buckner - $50)

·        A project to build a “ball wall” that will expand playground options (Jennifer Clogston – $500.00)

·        Books for the incoming kindergarten class to promote literacy (Bette Nunez and Aimee Toth – $200.00)

·        A digital camera for the primary wing (Bette Nunez and Aimee Toth – $250.00)

·        Books with handmade book bags for the second grade (Regina Bradley – $330.00)

·        Sandbox toys for the playground (Jennifer Clogston – $250.00)

·        School garden curriculum development for the primary grades (Joette Hayashigawa – $990.00)

·        The 5th and 6th grade spring production of “Annie, Jr.” (Jennifer Yocum – $550.00)

·        Boston Museum of Science field trip for the 6th grade (Allison Ellsworth and Joe Minichiello – $410.00)

We had a record number of proposals (10) requesting a total dollar amount of over $7100, which made for lively discussion amongst the board members. On behalf of the board, I want to thank everyone who donated to FTE, making these grants possible. We intend to enhance our fundraising efforts next year to increase our overall level of funding.

FTE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for the purpose of enhancing educational enrichment in Thetford. Nearly 100% of the money raised goes toward funding projects, field trips, special equipment, student performances, and other educational opportunities that are not covered by the school’s operating budget.

If you would like to make a donation, please send your tax-deductible contribution to Friends of Thetford Education, PO Box 113, Thetford, VT 05074. Thanks!

Marty Jacobs, Chair, Friends of Thetford Education
802.785.2606, marty@systemsinsync.com

 

CARING COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

CCP is bringing Simon Brooks and an evening of storytelling to their Open House, Wed. April 15th at 6pm. 

 

Please join us and bring your children to this great event, and tour the classroom afterward. 

Alumni are welcome. 

CCP is accepting applications for the 2009-2010 school year. Contact Dawn Stever, Director, at 333-4819.

Submitted by Ann O'Hearn

 

SUMMER TUTORING // Private tutorials focusing on strengthening reading and writing skills for students in grades K-8. **Early registration begins April 1st**

Jane Friedlander at: 785-4455 www.uppervalleytutor.com

 

SHAPING THE OMPOMP RIVER: PAST HISTORY, FUTURE PRIORITIES  

Talk and Public Discussion
Latham Library, Thursday April 2nd at 7.00 pm.

Li Shen, Thetford Conservation Commission 

 

THETFORD ELDER NETWORK MONTHLY MEAL
Wednesday, April 22nd, 11:30am at the Thetford Center Community Building.

Please call if you know of someone who needs transportation!

RSVP to Martha Daum 333-4082

 

FREE FILM - Amazing Grace – Sun., April 19, 7 pm
First Congregational Church on Thetford Hill

This inspiring film tells the story of William Wilberforce, who worked passionately to abolish the slave trade in Britain. It’s a story of idealism, idealists and speaking truth to power!

Discussion to follow.

Submitted by Chrissie Robinson

 

POST MILLS CHURCH NEWS

Palm Sunday Service, April 5th, 9:30am.

Good Friday Service, April 10th, 7:00pm.

Easter Morning service, April 12th, 9:30am,

Brunch following the service.

 

Visitors Welcome at All Services!

Submitted by Barbara Condict, 333-9803

 

TRAINING FOR STEWARDSHIP VOLUNTEERS

April 18th, 8:30am – 2:30pm at Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT), 19 Buck Road, Hanover, NH

 

Do you like hiking off-trail?  Do you enjoy visiting beautiful places? 

 

Join the Upper Valley Land Trust’s team of volunteer easement stewards to monitor conserved properties all over the Upper Valley.  Stewardship volunteering involves meeting landowners, hiking off-trail to find property boundaries with a map and compass, and recording what you see as you become our eyes and ears on conserved land. 

 

This training includes an indoor session with general easement information and instruction on using a map and compass; then we will venture outside for hands-on field practice.  For more information, please contact UVLT at (603) 643-6626 ext. 110, or email Monica.Erhart@uvlt.org.

 

Pre-registrations are encouraged but not required.

 

GIFTS OF HARMONY

A new summer music camp is coming to Thetford! From June 22nd - 28th, children aged 7-11 will enjoy and learn music, make crafts, give to their community and more! Registrations are due by April 18, 2009. The total cost for the program is $200. Call or email Alex Daum for more information 802-299-1484 or daum@simmons.edu.

 

HOMEOPATHY for Home Care, Introductory Class Saturday, April 18th 12:00-3:30pm $40

Homeopathic medicine is well suited to home care for both adults and children as it is safe, easy to use, inexpensive, and environmentally sound. It is used extensively by doctors in Europe and India. Clinical trials have shown homeopathy to be very effective in treating a wide range of conditions.

In this class you will learn the basic principles of homeopathy: what it is, how it works, and how you can safely treat many of your family’s short-term health problems such as bee stings, fevers, colds, coughs, headaches, bruises, indigestion, poison-ivy, and more with the use of inexpensive homeopathic remedies. You will also learn what sorts of conditions should be treated by a professional homeopath, or seen by an MD.

To sign up or for more information call (802) 785-2503 or email sustainablemedicine@gmail.com

About the Instructor:  Nationally certified homeopath and licensed acupuncturist Didi Pershouse,  has provided gentle and affordable health care for over 15 years. She is co-author of the latest homeopathy textbook: Vital Expression: A Manual on Homeopathic Casetaking, and was editor of the preparatory course for the national exam in Homeopathy. She is the founder of The Center for Sustainable Medicine, and the Two Rivers Clinic in Thetford Center. You can read her Sustainable Medicine Manifesto online at www.sustainablemedicine.org

 

Submitted by Didi Pershouse

 

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 Daum Clement at 785-2668 or turtlepond@netzero.net.

Please list Thetford Town Newsletter in the subject line.