Thetford Town Newsletter
No.
63 MAY 2009
SELECTBOARD UPDATE
The selectboard recently put
together a list of contact information and a set of assignments for each board
member. People looking to ask a board member about a specific contact can
now go to http://www.thetfordvermont.us/selectboard.htm
to see who might be the most appropriate individual for a given topic. As
always, all citizens are welcome to attend the Selectboard meetings. (Public
comment period appears on the agenda every meeting at 7 p.m., Mondays at
Town Hall.)
The board welcomed a new
Recording Clerk, with the hiring of resident Cheryl Ulz. Cheryl replaces
Ann Fenton, who recently took on a key role at Fairlee's town hall.
In the past two months, the
board has been busy creating and passing new local rules and policies.
Among them are: Public Facilities Use Policy, Liaison Policy, Selectboard Rules
of Procedure, Town Committee Finance Policy, Grants Policy. Other tasks have
included; The reformulation of a Recreation Advisory Council, Soliciting bids
for the new emergency shelter generator project, Creating savings with
administrative changes to the current town healthcare plan, Developing a
plan to reorganize two or three Town Hall offices to create better work
efficiencies, Advising town groups about grant and stimulus money availability.
The board is continuing to
seek input on a couple upcoming changes: We will be implementing a recycling
sticker program, charging people a nominal fee for the use of the
We are all very fortunate to
have a large and dedicated group of citizens filling many town positions.
Through the ready volunteering of these people, Thetford not only saves a
great deal of money, but also enjoys a quality of governance that can only
be provided by people who love their community. To that end, we have a few
remaining spots open in town. If you think you might enjoy filling any of
the following positions, please send an email to selectboard@thetford.us indicating
your interest: Cemetery Commission (2 openings), Thetford Elder Network
Committee, Tree Warden, Town Historian.
Submitted by Tig Tillinghast
RECREATION NOTES
Summer Soccer Camp: June
22-26 (9am-noon for all kids ages 7-16) at TA. Also two 1.5 hour sessions in
the afternoon for 4-6 year olds. Follow the link on the website to
register, or pick up a form at the Town Hall beginning 4/28. This year we will
need host families for the coaches. If you are interested and have a
separate room for a coach, please contact the Recreation Coordinator.
Spring soccer sessions begin
Sunday May 3 from 2-3:30 PM at TES. Open to K-6 grades.
Summer outdoor programs
kickoff party Sat. May 16 10am - 1PM. Come in to Town Hall and learn about
3 great new outdoor programs to get you and your friends and family
outdoors locally this summer:
-
Outdoor camping at
-
"Thetford Quest" an even more local version of Valley Quest, with a
contest and prizes for reaching the most quests.
-
"Summit Challenge" a hiking program/contest to challenge participants
of all ages to reach the most local summits, with prizes to some of the
top hikers in various categories.
Hilary Linehan, Recreation Coordinator, 785-2922 ext 6
recreation@thetfordvermont.us
American Red Cross Swimming
Lessons:
Registration is Saturday, May
16 from 10am-12pm at
If you miss the above dates,
please come to the
Lessons are available for
ages 4 and up, the fee is $20, classes run for 30 minutes daily and take place
every weekday for 2 weeks. Keep in mind that the learn-to-swim program
includes Level 6 (pre-lifeguard training) and serves middle and high school
students, in addition to younger children.
This year's swim lesson
session dates are:
June 22-July 3 // July 6-July
17 // July 20-July 31 // August 3-August 14.
Community Work Day, Saturday,
May 9 at 10AM at
For more information, please call
TA NOTES
*Operation Day’s Work will be
Wednesday, May 6, for
*Parent Orientation for the
New Grade 7 (Class of 2015) will be Tuesday, May 12, at 6:30 pm in the TA
Library.
*The TA Board of Trustees
monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, May 14, at 7:00 pm in the TA
Library. All are welcome to attend.
*Mark your calendars for
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 14-16, for the TA Spring Musical in
Anderson Hall. Watch the Green for more information, or call 785-4805.
*The Spring Instrumental
Concert will be held Thursday, May 21, at 7:00 pm in Anderson Hall.
*Saturday and Sunday, May 30
and 31, are the dates for the TA Spring Play. The Saturday performance will be
at 7:00 pm, and the Sunday start time is 4:00 pm. More information will be
coming about these shows, also.
Submitted by Wendy Cole
TA STUDENT ARTWORK ON DISPLAY
Lorenzo S. Wilhite,
TA BOARD OF TRUSTEES UPDATE
The Thetford Academy Board of
Trustees would like to hear from TA alumni and community members who are
interested in contributing to the success of the Academy and its mission by
serving as trustees.
For more information about
what it means to be a trustee, and the process for becoming a candidate, please
contact Faith Alexandre (333-3291 or falexandre@gmail.com).
MUSICAL CELEBRATION ** Saturday,
May 16th
Help-Kids-India, Inc. is a
daycare program in
$5 buys a cup of milk for 25
children for a week
$52 provides food for one
month.
All funds go directly to the
program.
Submitted by Barbara Condict, 333-9803
FRIENDS OF THETFORD EDUCATION
MEETING
Don’t Miss This Opportunity
to Make a Difference in Our Children’s Education!
Friends of Thetford Education
will be holding its next meeting on Wednesday, May 6 at 7 pm in the Thetford
Elementary School Special Education Conference room. At this meeting, we will
be electing new board members and appointing new officers. We will also be
looking ahead to the next year and wrapping up this year. All are welcome!
FTE is an organization
consisting of parents who are dedicated to raising funds for the purpose of
enhancing the educational enrichment of our children. Nearly 100% of the money
we raise goes toward funding projects, field trips, special equipment, student
performances, and other educational opportunities that are not covered by the
school’s operating budget. FTE uses a very small amount to cover postage and
minor operational expenses.
Attending a meeting will not
commit you to anything! Just come along and see what we do. If you have
questions, feel free to call Marty Jacobs (Chair) at 785-2606 or email at
marty@systemsinsync.com.
Marty Jacobs 785-2606 marty@systemsinsync.com
RICES MILLS POTLUCKS
Spring is here and RICES
MILLS POTLUCKS, too!
First Sunday of every month - 6pm.
May 3 - Plant and seed swap 5:45, annual meeting after potluck
June 7 - 5 pm Flower
Hour - Floral arrangement pre-potluck to make centerpieces.
July 5 - Potluck
Aug. 2 - Badminton and
Horseshoes & Barbeque.
All are welcome! Open
Mic, slide shows, waltz classes, and more in the works. Join in the fun!
Gina Sonne gsonne@sover.net
MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL ~ OPEN
FIELDS SCHOOL
May 30, 10 am - 4 pm on the Thetford Hill Green.
$5 per person or $20 per family; free admission for ages 5 and under.
Come see the Thetford Hill
Green will come alive with the sights and sounds of a Medieval village. A King
and Queen, knights and ladies, peasants, craftsmen, and farmers will gather
together to celebrate the age via music, dance, games of skill and chance,
authentic food, parades, recitation, and feats of juggling and acrobatics.
This year's Festival features
storytelling with Simon Brooks, Raptor Encounter with VINS, and music provided
by Pariah Beat. Come dressed in Medieval garb. Bring your own mug and napkin,
or purchase them at the festival (our last festival generated only one bag of trash
for the entire event!).
For more information, visit www.openfields.org/medieval_festival,
or call the school at 785-2077.
Submitted by Rebecca Siegel
BENEFIT SOUP AND SALAD
LUNCHEON
The Ladies Benevolent Society
will host a luncheon on Friday, May 8, 2009, from 11am to 1pm at the First
Congregational Church in Thetford. Donations appreciated to support the
Good Neighbor Health Clinic in WRJ. Free blood pressure and weight
screening will be available. Info: 802-649-1814.
Submitted by Chrissie Robinson
SOCIAL WALTZING SESSIONS for
MAY and JUNE
Tuesdays:
May 12 and June 9, 6:30 – 8pm
Sundays: May 31 and June 21, 4-5:30pm
By donation *
Submitted by Gina Sonne 785-4220
Vermont Mow Down Pollution is
coming to the
This is one of five events
across the state where
This program is supported by
a grant from the Agency of Natural Resources and the support of several
businesses, nonprofit and government entities, and electric utilities. For more
information, visit http://www.neutonpower.com/VT
Another alternative to a
gas-powered mower is a reel mower, powered by you. Organic Gardening recommends
Scott’s Classic Reel Mower, which can be set to the recommended height of 3
inches for a healthy lawn. Many
Some statistics about the
environmental impact of gas-powered mowers:
A typical gasoline-powered
lawn mower emits more than 87 pounds of climate changing carbon dioxide a
year
Gasoline-powered lawn mowers
cause at least five percent of the nation’s total air pollutants
Just one gas-powered lawn
mower used for a year can pollute as much as 43 new cars driven for a year.
For more information, visit http://www.neutonpower.com/VT
Submitted by Alice Stewart for the Thetford Energy
Committee
POMPANOOSUC AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY
Local Foods/Reskilling
Workshops
All workshops will take place
on Saturday mornings, from 10am to noon at the Rice's
No pre-registration is
required.
This series has been
organized and sponsored by the Rice's Mills Community Association, Pompanoosuc
Agricultural Society, and the Thetford Energy Committee.
For more information contact
Bob Walker, 785-4126, bobwalker@valley.net
or the Thetford Energy Committee at www.thetfordvermont.us/energy.htm):
May 9 - Raising Family Dairy
Animals
Stan Yarian and Niko Horster will talk about the challenges and the joy of
keeping dairy animals on your family homestead or small farm. Discussion will
include housing needs, care, feed, supplements, and pasture. Milking techniques
and equipment as well as basic recipes for butter, yoghurt and fresh cottage
style cheeses like ricotta and paneer will be presented.
Stan Yarian keeps and breeds
goats and other critters, on his almost self-sufficient homestead in
May 16 - Extending the
Gardening Season
Scott Stokoe will provide a brief overview of the various options available to
help homeowners extend their gardening season, from cloches to attached solar
greenhouses. Tim and Phebe McCosker will discuss the hoop house they erected
last year, giving them lettuce and spinach until the end of December this
winter and spinach again beginning March 1st. Scot Zens will demonstrate a
homemade electrical metal tubing bending rack that will be available to
community members for the purpose of making their own season extension hoop houses.
He will also discuss methods that people can use to join the hoops together in
a movable structure.
Scott Stokoe has been working
with solar greenhouses, season extension and gardening for the past 30 years.
As manager of the Dartmouth Organic Farm, he is currently working on a solar
heated greenhouse project.
Tim and Phebe McCosker have
been gardening for many years and have recently gotten interested in season
extension, root cellars and organizing their gardening and cooking with an eye
toward a diverse localvore diet.
Scot Zens and Christina
Robinson raise chickens and turkeys for meat and grow a vegetable garden on
May 23 - Introduction to
Household Worm Composting
This workshop will introduce the basic concepts of worm composting at home,
including worm biology, care and the creation of a worm bin. Topics to be
covered will include bin design, bedding choices, worm feeding, pest issues and
compost harvest.
Scott Stokoe has been messing
around with worms for the past 25 years. He is currently dabbling with a design
for a 120 square foot composting system for a solar greenhouse at the Dartmouth
Organic Farm.
Submitted by Alice Stewart for the Thetford Energy
Committee
DEEP ENERGY RETROFITS AND
ZERO NET ENERGY HOMES
Marc Rosenbaum, P.E.: Deep
Energy Retrofits and Zero Net Energy Homes
May 12, 7-8:30pm
Join the Upper Valley Land
Trust, Sustainable Energy Resource Group (SERG), the Vermont Chapter of the
SIERRA CLUB and the Vermont Earth Institute, as we host Marc Rosenbaum, P.E.,
for a presentation on Deep Energy Retrofits and Zero Net Energy Homes.
James Hansen recently spoke in the
As Peak Oil creeps up on us
and the urgency of halting climate change sinks in, we'll need to fix the
buildings we have and make new ones that don't need much energy. Rosenbaum will
give us a view from the trenches of state-of-the-art low energy houses and
extreme energy makeovers of existing homes. Visit his company website for
more information about him and his work: http://www.energysmiths.com.
There will be time for
questions at the end of the evening. The event is free and open to the
public. Please RSVP by contacting Nora at noradoyle-burr@uvlt.org
or (603) 643-6626 ext. 102.
TOUCHING THE EARTH AND ARTS
CAMP 2009
Kayaking, climbing, hiking,
camping
August 3-7, Grades 6-10 week-long trip, Adirondacks: kayaking adventure
August 17-21 Grades 3-10, adventures & arts, 9am-4:45pm plus 2
overnights at Groton State Forest
6-12 campers/session
$400 plus $25 registration/some camperships available
Strafford base, transportation from Hanover/Norwich
333-3549
Submitted by Bonna Wieler
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.