THETFORD TOWN NEWSLETTER

NO. 81 NOVEMBER 2010

TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE HOURS

Monday - 6-8 pm

Tuesday – Thursday - 8am-4pm

Friday - 8am-noon

Closed the following days in November:

Thursday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day

Friday, Nov. 19 – New England Clerk Conference

Thursday and Friday, Nov 25-26 - Thanksgiving

Submitted by Tracy Borst, Town Clerk

THETFORD ACADEMY NEWS AND NOTES

*The TA 7^th Grade Trip to Washington is sponsoring a Pasta Dinner on Saturday, November 6, from 5:00-7:00 pm in the Anderson Hall Café.  Enjoy a fabulous meal and support a great cause!

*Wednesday, November 10, TA sponsors “Meet Thetford Academy:  Discover Your Future”.  The evening will start at 6:30 pm in the Martha Jane Rich Theater and will offer an opportunity to hear current parents and students speak about their experiences at Thetford Academy.  Tours will also be available.

*The TA Board of Trustees will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, November 11, at 7:00 pm in the TA Library.  The public is invited to attend.

*TA hosts the New England Cross Country Championship Races on Saturday, November 14.  If you have not been contacted and would like to assist with this event, please call Meet Director David McGinn at 785-4808 x 214.

*The Fall Play, “Almost, Maine,” will be performed in the Martha Jane Rich Theater on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, November 18, 20, and 21.  Thursday and Saturday performances will start at 7:00 pm; the matinee on Sunday will begin at 4:00 pm.  Tickets can be reserved by calling 785-4805 x201 or 219.

*The Thetford Academy Alumni Association will be hosting its 24^th annual Christmas Craft Bazaar at TA on Saturday, November 20, from 9:00 am-3:00 pm.  All are invited to enjoy the wide variety of crafts, a delicious luncheon, Santa, and free horse drawn wagon rides.

*TA will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 25 and 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We take this opportunity to once again offer thanks to all our alumni, friends, and community members.  Your support is vital to the success of our school.  We wish you all a peaceful and reflective holiday.

Submitted by Wendy Cole

THETFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOOK FAIR!

Friday, November 5th-Friday, November 12^th

(Location: Thetford Elementary School Gym)

Friday, November 5:   8-2  (No school, book fair open for parent conferences)
Monday-Wednesday, November 8-10:  8-8:30, 12-1 and 3-4
Thursday, November 11: 8-8:30, 12-1 and 3-7 ( Late hours)
Friday, November 12: 8-8:30, 12-1 and 3-4

Our book fair is a great way to share with our kids our excitement and enthusiasm for reading! It is also a very important fundraiser for the PTO to assist in supporting our school community and enhancing our classroom and library collections. All of the above hours are open to the public, please stop by!

Submitted by Kami Pepe

PARISH PLAYERS ANNOUNCEMENT

DEATH ROW DRAMA to be performed in Thetford, Vermont:

November 4 - 21, 2010

William Inge's powerful and moving play THE LAST PAD, about three men in neighboring cells on death row, will be performed by the Parish Players at the Eclipse Grange in Thetford, Vermont during the first three weekends in November.

Neal Meglathery of Thetford is one of the lead actors, and other Thetford performers and crew include Nick Fabrikant, Lizzy Marks, and former TA drama teacher Darri Colton.

The New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, N.H. Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and the American Civil Liberties Union - Vermont are co-sponsoring this production with the Parish Players theater of Thetford, Vermont, and representatives from these organizations will participate in post-performance discussions with the audiences after each of the Sunday matinees.

The dates of performances are: November 4-7, 11-14, and 18-21, 2010
-- Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
-- Sunday matinees at 3:00 pm, followed by post-performance discussions with special guests: 

* Barbara Keshen (NHCLU) and Katherine Cooper (NHCADP) on November 7, speaking about the status of the death penalty in New Hampshire.

* Maureen Burford, Nate Hine, and Bess Klassen-Landis on November 14, three family members of murder victims who are opposed to the death penalty.

* Allen Gilbert (ACLU-Vermont) on November 21, speaking about the status of the death penalty in Vermont.

The Eclipse Grange is at 193 Academy Road, Thetford Hill, Vermont 05074.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for seniors, and $10 for students.

For reservations or more information call (802) 785-4344.

Directions (under Eclipse Grange tab):  www.parishplayers.org

Submitted by Jim Schley

THETFORD ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 24^TH ANNUAL CRAFT FAIR

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010

9:00AM – 2:30 PM

50 QUALITY CRAFTERS PRESENTING A DAZZLING VARIETY OF CRAFTS IN THE NEW GYMNASIUM ATTACHED TO ANDERSON HALL. Soaps , lotions & Herbal items, Maple products & jams, scarves, stained glass & suncatchers, fabric bowls & placemats. Fresh wreaths, crocheted and knit items, jewelry, candles, trinket boxes & wooden bowls. Fudge, cloth dolls, quilts, Santa & matryoshka dolls, teas, spices & herbs. Teddy Bears, metal works, fleece items, baby quilts, lazy susans & cutting boards, bobbin lamps and flannel pillow cases. Christmas items in all sizes, shapes and colors.

DOOR PRIZES DRAWN EACH HALF HOUR

COFFEE, DONUTS AND SNACKS ALL DAY

HOT LUNCH

11am - 2 pm (or gone)

FREE – HORSE DRAWN WAGON RIDES with EARL SILLOWAY

10 am - 1 pm

MRS. SANTA CLAUS handing out candy canes

SPONSORED BY THETFORD ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

FREE ADMISSION FOR ADULTS, CHILDREN AND STUDENTS!

DOOR PRIZE TICKETS $1.00

Submitted by Jessica Eaton, Chairperson& Treasurer TAAA

ROAST BEEF SUPPER – SPONSORED BY THETFORD CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Saturday, November 13, 5:00PM

Thetford Center Community Building

Menu:  Roast Beef, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Winter Squash, Cole Slaw, Homemade Pickles and Rolls, Beverage, Pie

$9.00 adults; $4.00 under 10 years of age.

Submitted by Bev Slack

DID YOU KNOW? THETFORD HISTORY

There is no name in Thetford history of greater significance than that of Asa Burton, but did you know how it happened that Rev. Burton came to Thetford in the first place?  In 1773, 12 years after the Town was chartered, the Town of Thetford voted to give to Rev. Clement Sumner (who was born in Hebron, CT, whence the original settlers of the town came) a parcel of land in exchange for becoming the first town minister.  According to the 1878 Manual of the First Congregational Church, Sumner "was a Tory in sentiment, and on the breaking out of the Revolutionary war in 1776, he was obliged to flee from his indignant and patriotic people."  Asa Burton, who was born in Connecticut, moved to Norwich when he was 14 and graduated from Dartmouth in 1777, then received a unanimous call to succeed Rev. Sumner and he joined the town in 1779.  At the time, the town consisted of 57 families, but the church had only 16 members, "only three or four of whom, in the view of Dr. Burton, gave evidence of piety."

In 1829, when he gave his semi-centennial sermon, Rev. Burton stated that 490 members had been added to the church during his pastorate.

Submitted by Charlie Buttrey

ACADEMIC TUTORING

Private tutorials for students in grades K-8. Enrichment and remediation

Contact Jane Friedlander at 785-4455 or visit: www.uppervalleytutor.com

Submitted by Jane Friedlander

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION INFO

The deadline for submissions is the 20^th of each month. Send news including contact name and telephone number to Sheila Fifield at Sheila.fifield@aol.com. Please list Thetford Town Newsletter in subject line. Thanks!