Thetford Town Newsletter

No. 65 JuLY 2009

*** Recycling CLOSED on July 4^th. Happy Independence Day! ***

SELECTBOARD NOTES

The selectboard’s fast pace continued through the cold spring, finishing off a series of issues on its agenda for 2009, including:

- Switching the town’s employee healthcare plan to make some unbudgeted savings

- Optimizing the use of space at Town Hall with a few moves

- Exploring the limited opportunities for the town to tap into stimulus funds

- Passing a Facilities Use Policy

- Creating a series of policies clarifying financial procedures, such as employment, receiving donations to the town, committee finance controls and grant procedures

- Kicking off the emergency shelter/generator project at Thetford Elementary School

- Meeting with the Planning Commission and Development Review Board to anticipate and openly discuss very long-term planning issues

- Hiring part-time police resources to bring the department to full force

On the day-to-day level, the Town has been working with the more constricted budgets the selectboard requested last March. This has been going well, with the unavoidable exception of extra winter road expenditures due to worse than usual weather conditions.

Currently on the agenda are some important initiatives, including:

· Revising the Dog Ordinance

· Finishing the shelter/generator project

· Conducting a salary administration review project

· Creating a database of town policies and ordinances for better prioritization of updates

The board currently seeks a few volunteers for some open town positions. We are looking for someone to fill the following openings:

· Budget Committee member

· Planning Commission member

· Town Historian

· Several Recreation Advisory Committee members

In an effort to improve the flow of information to and from residents, the selectboard has placed its calendar online… http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=selectboard%40thetfordvermont.us&ctz=America/New_York

Suggestions and comments are always welcome. The board’s email address is selectboard@thetfordvermont.us, and the chair’s daytime phone number is 785-4260.

TOWN CLERK OFFICE SUMMER HOURS

Monday 6-8pm

Tuesday – Thursday 8-4pm

Closed Fridays until Fall.

"Food for Friends" Summer Hours:  Thetford Baptist Church (off Route 5, near Huggett's) offers a supplemental food pantry to those in need and provides a grocery bag of canned goods and frozen foods to any family upon request.

Please note a change in the Summer Hours. The pantry is open each Sunday from 12 - 1:00pm and by appointment. Call Pastor John Hartley (785-2050) for alternative "pickup" times or for more information.

Submitted by Jennifer Gerhard

PEABODY LIBRARY

Summer Discussion:

July 8, July 22

Summer hours:

7/11-8/29 Sat. 10-1

Bake sale: July 18

Treasure Island Story Hours: Tuesdays, 10AM

Submitted by Stacey Glazer

TREASURE ISLAND – Open 10am – 8pm everyday!

Tennis Clinic for children! 

Treasure Island has a tennis clinic/lesson for children offered July 20-24, M-F from 9-10AM. We have racquets, the registration fee is $10, and beginners are welcome. Call 333-3507 or stop by the beach to sign-up.

There is still room in swimming lessons this summer. Stop by the beach to register. Fee is $20 for two weeks of American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim lessons. Ages 4 & up.

Community Potluck Dinner on Fri. July 10. We'll have the grill going, and a campfire with songs and s’mores.  Enjoy the beach and the lovely island for this dinner.

BEACH PARTY! Fri. 8/14 12-3pm Rain date: 8/17

Come dressed tropical for this fun day - Island cookout, lifeguard-led games, a DJ on the beach and lots more!

Island Reservations for large groups is available.

Call us at 333-3507 for more information.

Submitted by Scott and Ann O'Hearn, TI Managers

RECREATION NOTES

Adult pick up sports - older children may play if the numbers permit:

Mondays: Volleyball at Treasure Island 6-8 PM

Thursdays: Softball at TES 6-8 PM

Fridays: Soccer at TES 6-8 PM

Saturdays: Yard games on the Thetford Center Common 6-8 PM.  Pick up the games at the Village Store and return them by 8PM.

Registration still available for the Summit Challenge and Thetford Quest.

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

TA NOTES

Thetford Academy broke ground on Monday, June 15, for the new gymnasium and science building renovations. Construction will continue throughout the summer and fall and the coming year. We are excited to be moving ahead with this next stage of the Building Project.

Tuesday evening “Fun Runs” have resumed.  Meet at the entrance to the cross country trail every Tuesday evening at 6:00pm, weather permitting.

Submitted by Wendy Cole

COMMUNITY SHRED DAY

Wells River Savings Bank is hosting Community Shred Day on Saturday July 18^th from 8AM – 12PM.  Once again Dan’s Data Destruction will be in the parking lot of the East Thetford Office to shred your important documents. So clean out those file cabinets, get rid of those old statements or any paper items you didn’t feel comfortable throwing away.

This is a free service provided to the entire community by Wells River Savings Bank. For more information please call 800-371-2361 or 785-2980 and ask to talk to the East Thetford Branch.

Submitted by Lorenzo S. Wilhite, lwilhite@wrsb.com

East Thetford Branch Manager

THETFORD ENERGY COMMITTEE

Keeping Your Home Cool When It's Hot
It’s much cheaper (and uses less energy) to prevent heat build-up in your home than to artificially cool it using air conditioning. To keep your home cool in the heat of summer, close doors and windows when the temperature outside is warmer than your home's interior. Prevent the sun from heating your house by closing curtains or shades - insulated are best. 

When the outside temperature has cooled off, open up the house and let the cool air in. (If heat builds up inside your home during the day, use a window fan or box fan to pull hot air out and cool air in.)

Reduce sources of interior heat (and use less energy) by using the microwave or toaster oven instead of the regular oven. Cover pots when cooking and use the fan above the stove to pull hot air out. Turn off your computer, printer, and other office machinery when not in use.

A well-insulated house keeps the day’s heat out and low-E windows reduce solar gain in the summer. If you are considering some home improvements this year, remember that for 2009 and 2010, you can take a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for qualifying insulation and replacement windows. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits .

Submitted by Alice Stewart, Thetford Energy Committee

RICES MILLS EVENTS All are welcome!

JULY POTLUCK: July 5, 6PM

Bring your own utensils and drinks.

There will be a short program on environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy following the meal.
AUGUST POTLUCK: August 2, 6pm

LET’S DANCE! Social Waltz Informal Instruction

6:30 -8pm, Tuesdays, June, July & August, By Donation

Rices Mills Community Center

Submitted by Gina Sonne, 785-4220

DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF LAKE FAIRLEE
We have been removing milfoil from the Lake Fairlee for over 15 years. Our dive program is cited by the State as exemplary. Nearby Lake Morey has had apparent success killing milfoil with an annual application of a narrowly focused herbicide. Some argue that we should be doing the same. Others are adamantly opposed.

ALL INTERESTED PARTIES are invited to attend an informational meeting and discussion at 7pm on Thursday, July 23 at Horizons Camp on Route 244. Learn about alternative techniques of milfoil control, and help us chart our future. Representatives from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation will be attending to answer questions.

More information at http://lakefairlee.org.

LAKE FAIRLEE ASSOC. DINNER & MEETING
July 11th at Horizons Camp. Cocktails (byob) at 5:30pm followed by a dinner at 6:30pm catered by Barebones Caterers. After dinner there will be a brief business meeting, then Professor Jere Daniell will speak on the history of the Lake Fairlee area. For more info/reservations go to our website www.lakefairlee.org

Submitted by Skip Brown

T.E.N. - Thetford Elder Network

WALKING GROUP Every Friday morning leaving from Latham Library at 10am. All are welcome!

T.E.N. MONTHLY SENIOR MEAL
Wednesday, July 22nd^th, 11:30am at the Thetford Center Community Building.

RSVP to Martha Daum 333-4082

DONATIONS WANTED

Accepting donations of antiques and collectibles to benefit the Improvement Society of Thetford Hill, VT.

Donations accepted June 1-July 15 by arrangement for drop off or pick up. Please call Mel at 785-2539
Submitted by Marla Ianello

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL at the POST MILLS CHURCH

July 27-31, 6-7:30pm

The theme this year is “God is All Around Us”.

Includes Bible stories, crafts, songs, snacks and games.

All children age Kindergarten to 6th grade are welcome.

Call 333-4082 or 333-9803 for information.

Submitted by Barbara Condict

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.