Thetford Town Newsletter

No. 10                                                                                                                                     December 2004

 

SELECTBOARD NOTES

 

WELCOME to Thetford's new Police Chief Joseph Anthony who will begin his new position on Monday, December 6. Mr. Anthony was selected after an extensive search committee effort. We are delighted to have him join the Thetford Community. Please join us for a swearing-in and welcome reception on Monday, December 6, 6-6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

 

We also welcome new Highway Department member Robert Simmons who began working with the town at the end of November.

 

THETFORD TOWN PLAN  

With the assistance of our regional planning commission, the Planning Commission has been working and receiving suggestions in open sessions for the past year and a half on our town plan. The draft plan was reviewed in the first of three public hearings on November 11. Fifty residents attended the meeting asking questions and making comments to be reviewed and incorporated by the Planning Commission for the next public hearing held by the Selectboard in December on a date to be announced.

 

TOWN BUDGET COMMITTEE has begun meeting with the Selectboard and all town departments and organizations who are requesting funds for the next fiscal year budget 2005. Meetings will continue through December with a proposed budget to be printed in the 2004 Annual Town Report which will be mailed to residents in February.

 

COMMUNITY EVENT RESOURCES

 

THETFORD TOWN NEWSLETTER  As many residents have indicated a desire for town news and events on a regular basis, the Selectboard has been publishing a newsletter for the past year. Thanks to the volunteer assistance of past editor Lynne Miller and current editor Cathee Clement, paper copies are available the beginning of each month at Thetford libraries, stores, bank, town hall, and electronically at http://lists.valley.net/lists/info/thetford  or www.thet.net/.  Please help us make this a viable publication by submitting community information and events to Cathee Clement turtlepond@netzero.net or at 785-2668.  The deadline for submissions is the 20th of each month. (Also, if you email your submission, please list Thetford Town Newsletter in the subject line.)

 

THETFORD  FORUM  The most current town commentary and events updated daily electronically at http://lists.valley.net/lists/info/thetford. To receive it directly in your email, anyone can subscribe by sending any message to thetford-subscribe@lists.valley.net.

 

THET.NET   community web site of town information and resources www.thet.net/ includes Selectboard and School Board Minutes, Thetford Town Plan and other municipal and community resources.

 

THETFORD ACADEMY PARENT/FAMILIY/COMMUNITY CALENDAR (PFC)  primarily TA info and events, including some community events as submitted, is available electronically. To request the PFC Calendar weekly by e-mail contact  martha.rich@thet.net. The PFC Calendar is also available at www.thetfordacademy.org and www.thet.net/

 

 

Thetford Lights Out - Round II

The Thetford Selectboard and Energy Committee are working with Sustainable Energy Resource Group on improving the town's street lighting. We are now entering Round Two of the Thetford Street Lighting Program. During the week of December 6-10, CVPS will turn off an additional 10 street lights in the villages of Post Mills, North Thetford, East Thetford and Union Village as a test to gather community response.  The lights will be turned off for one month during which town residents are encouraged to contact the Selectboard and/or Energy Committee with your comments.  We will reconvene at the Jan. 10th Selectboard meeting to review comments and decide which lights to shut off permanently. 

The results of the first round of Lights Out testing on Thetford Hill and Thetford Center are that: seven street lights have been permanently shut off; a light on Tucker Hill Rd. was moved to improve the lighting there and accommodate neighbors' preferences; and a light on Thetford Hill will be moved in the future for the same reason.  Several lights in both villages were turned back on due to pedestrian concerns.  Once the sidewalk and lighting planned from Thetford Academy to the Library are installed next year, several of the streetlights along Academy Rd. may be removed.

At the same time, we are investigating additional options for lights, fixtures and controls to replace the lights that remain in town in order to make them more energy efficient, cost-effective and better at directing light at the roadway and not to the night sky. We are also negotiating with CVPS options for town ownership of lights rather than the current leasing arrangement, which might increase our lighting options and be less expensive for the town.

With your help we hope to make Thetford's street lighting a shining example for other towns to follow. Please send any comments, pro or con, to Thetford Selectboard, PO Box 126, Thetford Center, VT 05075 or c/o Thetford.Clerk@Valley.Net  or to Thetford Energy Committee, 432 Ulman Rd. Thetford Center, 05075 or SERG@Valley.Net. We look forward to hearing from you.

Bob Walker
Thetford Energy Committee
802-785-4126
__________________________________________________________________________________________

TOWN CLERK NOTES

 

November Election turnout was super in Thetford!  79% of our voter checklist voted in person at Town Hall or via Absentee Ballot.  Election results are always posted at Town Hall.

NEW SERVICE OFFERED AT TOWN HALL:  VT Vehicle registration renewals can now be processed at the Town Clerk's office.  You must bring your renewal certificate, payment to DMV (check or money order only) and a separate payment of $3 (cash or check) to the Town of Thetford.

 

HOLIDAY SEASON AUCTION

December 5th

Live and Silent Auctions, close to 150 items: Pompanoosuc Mills and other furniture, Simon Pearce glass bowl, Designer Gold and other jewelry, plants, Miranda pottery, Mini Corp Kids toys, clothes, gourmet desserts, restaurant certificates, house cleaning, perennial garden design, 12 yards of hard pack delivered, auto services, and much, much more. To benefit Thetford Academy's Project Graduation. Silent auction starting at 12 PM; Live auction at 2 PM. Eclipse Grange Theatre, Academy Road, Thetford Hill, VT. Questions: 802-785-2012.

 

 

 

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS

 

Tickets are on sale now for the December performances of The Christmas Revels.  Reserve tickets by calling the Hopkins Center Box Office 603-646-2422.

Performances run Thursday through Sunday evenings, December 16th through 19th, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Featured in this years show are Thetford Academy students Nick Cooper, Peter Ferguson, and Academy graduates Elizabeth Waste and Thomas McCosker.  Emma and Rebecca Behrens are members of the Children's Choir.   Tim Ferguson is a member of the choir, and Maureen Burford is serving as Associate Director this year.  


Tim McCosker will be doing special effects and design, and Suzanne Houston is Visual Director.   Ruth Mayer will be both dancer and choreographer, and other dancers will include members of Green Mountain Morris Dancers and Maple Leaf Morris Dancers.  Bonna Weileris Make-up Manager, and Eva Behrens Children's Co-Manager.  (These are all Thetford Residents!)

 

The Thursday evening performance is Family Night at the Revels.  Children are half-price that evening, and there will be an ornament making event starting at 6 p.m. at the Hopkins Center

Special related event:  Friday's performance will be A THETFORD NIGHT AT THE REVELS.  Join friends and family in our community for supper and dessert before the show.   Location to be announced.   Call 785-3133 to reserve a spot for this special event. 

Maureen Burford
785-3133

 

CONSERVATION NEWS
Thetford has recently acquired or soon will acquire two large land parcels. One is in the village of Post Mills and the other is off Sawnee Bean Road. Both parcels are or will be restricted from development by conservation easements implemented by the Upper Valley Land Trust and both are essentially gifts to the Town. They will both be used primarily for wildlife habitat and defined recreation.

The parcel in Post Mills is a 100 acre area abutting the old landfill (now closed and capped). This land came to the Town as a result of a court settlement and a decision by the State to give the land to the Town. The land is approximately 50 acres of old farm fields and 50 wooded acres with a large stretch bordering the outlet stream of Lake Fairlee and includes the confluence of this stream with the Ompompanoosuc River.

 

The 265 acre parcel off Sawnee Bean Road was once owned by Charles Hughes who, in his will, left the land to the Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy has very generously offered to gift the land to the Town. Charles Hughes managed this land for timber and wildlife so it is a forested parcel with a class 4 road through part of it. It also contains many old cellar holes as it includes several old farm sites.

The Selectboard has wisely chosen to accept these gifts (with complete support from the Conservation Commission). Owning land carries with it a stewardship responsibility which the Conservation Commission will oversee and we're looking for volunteers to help us with this charge. We would like to hear from anyone interested in helping us set up management plans which will help define how these parcels will be used. We will also need volunteers for helping implement whatever uses we decide to accept - such as trail building, informational sign posting, educational walks, etc.. This is a good time to contribute to the process and donate as much time as you feel you have to what is now your property. Each parcel has its own special character so uses will not necessarily be the same for both.


We would like to especially thank the Nature Conservancy for continuing to protect the land as Charles Hughes wished and for their generous gift to the Town.

Please call 802-333-9607 if you're interested in participating on a stewardship committee for either or both of these parcels.

Jennifer Davey
Chair, Thetford Conservation Commission

__________________________________________________________________________________________RECYCLING

Closed on Christmas Day - - Open on New Year’s Day

___________________________________________________________________________________

YOGA INFORMATION

 

T’ai Chi at The Community Center!

 

As a member of the Thetford Community, I would like to offer classes in an easy to learn form of T’ai Chi movement.

 

On Monday, December 6 at 10am I will offer an introduction to this form for you to experience some moves and see if this class is for you.

 

This T’ai Chi is easy to learn and to remember after class. If you would like to improve your balance, flexibility and strengthen your muscles and bones, come and try this and find a moment of peace in your busy life – or find harmony and joy in your not so busy life.

 

A series of 6 classes will start early in January, the date to be set with the Community Center. I will charge only enough to offset the rental of the building for 1 1/2 hours. It will be affordable for all.

 

Please call if you are coming – Nan Crowell at 785-3014. I look forward to this time with you.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE FROM THE THETFORD SCHOOL BOARD
The Thetford School Board has been busy this year with several initiatives aimed at improving the educational experience for our children.  Among the many items being addressed are:
  a. designation of 2004-2005 Board Goals to help prioritize our efforts for this academic year
  b. evaluation of the past/current/future options for the 5th/6th grade structure and curriculum
  c. formation of the Diversity Task Group, now co-facilitated by Jo Ann Woodsum and Kathleen Cunneen
  d. actively engaged in the search for a replacement of a new superintendent due to resignation of the current

Superintendent (who also serves Bradford, Waits River, Oxbow, and Newbury)
  e. continued efforts to update and create school policies that both keep us in compliance with state

 requirements and serve the needs of our school community
  f. contract renewal work for the teachers and paraprofessionals at TES
  g. active involvement with the Thetford Academy Board to identify mutual goals for the future.

We also are preparing for the 2005-2006 budget and very much want to hear your ideas.  While budgets are always tight, your input does matter and will help shape the Board's financial priorities.  Please contact any School Board member or attend any of our upcoming Board meetings.  Board members are Charlie Buttrey, Dave Celone, Darrin Clement, Denise Froehlich, and Marty Jacobs.


All regular school board meetings are open to the public and are scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 7 pm at the Elementary School.  Please stop by some evening!

 

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

 

Let’s hear from you! 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.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________