Thetford Town Newsletter

No. 33                                                                                                                                           November 2006

SELECTBOARD NOTES

Thetford Selectboard is seeking candidates for the following committee appointments. Letters of interest should be sent to the Selectboard at Town Hall or by email to thetford.clerk@valley.net for the following committees.
1. Senior/Affordable Housing Committee - A new committee to be formed to evaluate housing needs and options in the town utilizing available funding opportunities for feasibility studies and future housing options.
2. Recreation Committee - to coordinate town recreation needs, and those of Thetford Youth Sports and Thetford Ski Program including scheduling, insurance and use of existing facilities. Identify needs of the town as well as future facilities and a possible town recreation department.
3. Conservation Commission - seeking two members to fill existing vacancies.

 


TOWN CLERK NOTES
Important Dates:

Deadline to register to vote: October 30th by noon
Early and Absentee Ballots can be requested until 5pm on November 6.

Clerk's Office open November 6 from 8:30am - 5:00pm (no evening office hours)
Deadline to vote absentee: November 6, 5:00pm
General Election Voting: November 7, at Town Hall,  8:00am - 7:00pm
Closed Friday, November 10 (Veterans Day)

New to the General Elections this year is the availability of the Vote-by-Telephone system. This means that voters who need audio rather than visual ballots will be able to vote privately and independently AT the polling place (NOT from home).
If you or someone you know may need such a system, please contact the town clerk for phone number and access information for the practice from home system.  Practice at home is strongly recommended, as well as a familiarity with the ballot.

The Town Clerk can be reached at Town Hall, 785-2922.

 

TES SHAKESPEARE PLAY

This year's Shakespeare double feature "Empire Two" is Thursday, Nov. 16 and Friday Nov. 17 at 7:00 in the TES Gym/Theater. As an Artist-in-Residence, David Kelman is directing shortened versions of two plays. "The Conspiracy" is from Julius Caesar, a tragic tale of betrayal and death, followed by "The Twins", from The Comedy of Errors, a lively confusion of twins. Although the Shakespeare production was in the spring during the last school year, it is back to the fall as it was for many years when David first directed these plays. Come enjoy this outstanding performance and wonderful community event.

Submitted by Pam Kneisel

 

 

WHEN THE RED LIGHTS ARE FLASHING, STOP FOR THE SCHOOL BUS!
The Vermont School Transportation Association offers the following:
You must stop when the alternating red lights are flashing - even in a school yard (the most dangerous area for students!), and even on a two lane road.  Fines up to $1020.50 may apply.
Submitted by Jim Lanctot, Thetford Police Chief

 

 

PLANNING COMMISSION CLERK WANTED

Six plus hours per month. Duties include but are not limited to; taking minutes of evening meetings, filing, data entry and correspondence.

Send resume to: 

Planning Commission, Town of Thetford, PO Box 126, Thetford Center, VT 05075 by November 20th

Submitted by Wayne Parks

 

 

LATHAM LIBRARY NOTES

 

LATHAM LIBRARY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS -

The Latham Library needs volunteers to staff the library from 5-8:30 THURSDAY EVENINGS. Please contact Peter at

785-4361 if you’re interested!

 

THANK YOU!

The Latham Trustees would like to thank everyone who made and bought pies and other goodies for our DRIVE BY PIE SALE. It was a great success netting $700.  We appreciate all your support!!

Submitted by Gina Sonne

 

LATHAM LIBRARY “COMMUNITY CORNER”

November 9th: Mahlon Hoagland, M.D., Molecular Biologist, Artist and Author of The Way Life Works

November 30th: Wendy, Bob, Chris and Emma Wells share stories and pictures of their trip to Korea this past June.

 

“The Community Corner” is a project of the Latham Library Program Committee. Our goal is to strengthen interest in the library community through informal presentations by Thetford residents.

Submitted by the Latham Library Trustees

 

 

PEABODY LIBRARY EVENT

Storytelling Workshop with Simon, Grades 3-5, Tuesdays, 11/7 – 12/19 
Learn how to tell stories with Thetford Librarian and storyteller, Simon Brooks—and tell your story at the Winter Solstice Celebration. In the workshop we will look at where to find stories, how to remember them and how each person can tell them. Sign up required (sheet at Latham and Peabody) or call Simon at Latham 785-4361, Peabody 333-9724, or at home (603-353-9305).

PJ Storytime, 11/21, 7:00 -7:45

Listen to Simon tell stories before you get tucked into bed.

Suitable for all ages.

Submitted by Stacey Glazer

 

 

HOLIDAY AUCTION AT THETFORD HILL FIRE STATION

NOVEMBER 4 AT 1:00PM

Pre-viewing starts at noon. All profits benefit the Thetford Volunteer Fire Department. 

Refreshments will be available for sale.

Submitted by Kathy Ouellette

 

 

FINAL 2006 RICE’S MILLS POTLUCK AND SLIDE SHOW

Sunday, Nov. 12 at 6PM at the Rice's Mills Community Center.

Please remember to bring a dish to share as well as your own plates, cups and silverware.

Dinner will be followed by slides from Bill Bridge and Kate Cone of their trip to Utah this past spring. 

You will also be able to see the newly renovated greenhouse, restored sash, new storm windows and curtains.

Hope you can join us! 
For more information on RMCA or use of the Community Center, contact Bob Walker at
BobWalker@valley.net or 785-4126.

 

 

OPEN FIELDS FALL AUCTION

November 11th 12-4PM at the Thetford Center Community Association Building

Silent Auction/Live Auction/Refreshments for Sale

Submitted by Mary Daum Ford

 

 

TA NOTES

*Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who worked at the cross country events in October. TA could not host these events without the tremendous community support we have; we appreciate all your efforts.
*Fifteen students were inducted into the TA chapter of the National Honor Society recently. We congratulate these juniors and seniors on their accomplishments.
*The Mini-Louvre, an exhibition of paintings by the French III students and staff is hanging in the display case outside the FCS room. The paintings will be on display for several weeks.
*The TA fall play, "The Skin of Our Teeth," will be presented November 17, 18, and 19. Please watch for more info on the green and in the newspapers re: time and location. Set these dates aside NOW; productions are often sold out well in advance!
*Don't miss the annual TAAA Christmas Craft Bazaar, "Quality Crafts in Dazzling Variety," Sat., Nov. 18, from 9am till 3pm. Lunch, coffee and snacks will be available all day; Santa and horse drawn wagon rides from 10am-1pm.
*Students will not have school on Thursday and Friday November 23 and 24, in order to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. TA takes this opportunity to thank our families, community members, and others for the wonderful support and encouragement we continue to receive. This support has many forms--volunteer efforts; attendance at athletic competitions, drama and musical productions; academic presentations; financial contributions to the Annual Fund; and more. We appreciate all that is done for TA and wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Submitted by Wendy Cole

 

 

TWO CHANCES TO SEE THE SATTUMA FAMILY FOLK BAND FROM PETROZAVODSK, RUSSIA

Sattuma hails from Karelia, a region of Russia which borders Finland and which retains a strong Finnish heritage.
Spirited Finnish folk songs, romantic Russian waltzes and spry Scandinavian polskas are all on tap when the folk quartet Sattuma performs.

This dynamic group will perform for schools, libraries and communities in the New England and Washington DC areas next month. The school and library performances are partially funded by a grant from Finlandia Foundation National.

The group consists of Arto Rinne and his 16-year-old daughter Eila, and Dima Demin and his 13-year-old son Vlad.
All multi-talented musicians, they perform traditional dance melodies and songs of both Russia & Finland on fiddles, accordion,
clarinet, flutes, jaw harp, harmonica, Estonian bagpipes and the Finnish folk instruments known as the kantele and jouhikko.

 

For more information check out these websites.

http://heninen.net/sattuma      

 http://merrickmusicinternational.org

 

CONCERT DATES:

Thursday, November 2 at 3:30 pm at

The First Congregational Church of Thetford
Thetford Hill - - No Charge

Sponsored by the Latham Memorial Library
http://www.thetfordvermont.us/latham.htm
For more information please call 785-4361

Submitted by Simon Brooks

 

Thursday, November 9

Potluck dinner - - 5:30 pm - - Concert at 7pm
Post Mills Congregational Church
Donations will be accepted at the door
For more information please call 333-4082

Submitted by Sherry Merrick

 

 

Citizen Scientists Assess River Health ­- A Study of the Ompompanoosuc East Branch June- August 2006.


Most readers, especially residents downstream of the Elizabeth Mine in Strafford, are aware that a good stretch of the west branch of the Ompompanoosuc is affected by heavy metals from the old tailings piles. It has been hard to miss the publicity surrounding the designation of the Elizabeth mine as a Superfund site, or the orange tint of the riverbed, which has been designated an 'impaired water' by the state of Vermont.

What is less obvious to the casual glance is that sections of the east branch of the Ompompanoosuc are also classified as 'impaired,' meaning that the water in the river does not meet Vermont Water Quality Standards. For example, the Standards allow 77 E. coli bacteria per 100 milliliters of water and if greater numbers of bacteria occur the river is classified as impaired. Tests by the Army Corps of Engineers adjacent to the Union Village Dam periodically show high E. coli levels in the river leading to closure of the river to swimming. However the source of the bacteria is not known.

To understand where bacteria might be entering the river, and to obtain a broader picture of overall river health, a comprehensive survey of water quality was performed, aided by grants from the Connecticut River Joint Commissions and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Twelve volunteers from the Conservation Commissions of West Fairlee, Thetford, and Norwich and the Friends of the Ompompanoosuc studied the east branch, its tributaries and the main stem of the Ompompanoosuc River from June through August 2006. Technical guidance was provided by Ben Copans of the Agency of Natural Resources. The volunteers made biweekly visits to 19 different sites in the towns of Vershire, West Fairlee, Thetford and Norwich. They measured water temperature, acidity (pH), and dissolved oxygen levels on site and collected water samples that were sent to the VT state laboratory for analysis of E. coli levels. Samples from five sites near former landfills and the old Ely mine were also analyzed for copper, iron and manganese (heavy metals.)

While not usually a cause of disease, E. coli is present in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and is the best indicator of fecal contamination in freshwater. The analyses showed that between West Fairlee and the Connecticut River, levels of E. coli exceeded the Water Quality Standard and were especially elevated in the village of West Fairlee and the northern part of Post Mills. This corresponds to areas of relatively dense housing along the river, thus the most likely source appears to be human fecal contamination from failed septic systems. After heavy rains the levels of E. coli shot up, sometimes reaching 31 times the Water Quality Standard and indicating that fecal matter was running off the landscape. Even with fair weather and normal river levels, E. coli in this river stretch was consistently elevated.

In the tributaries, E. coli levels were generally equal to or better than the Water Quality Standard with the exception of Schoolhouse Brook, the only tributary with levels of E. coli levels exceeding the Water Quality Standard.
Copper can be damaging to aquatic life at concentrations only slightly higher than those at which it is a trace nutrient. The level of copper in Schoolhouse Brook downstream from the former Ely copper mine greatly exceeded the Water Quality Standard and seemed likely to compromise the aquatic ecosystem. In the Ompompanoosuc, slightly elevated copper levels were found downstream of Schoolhouse Brook, probably coming from this tributary.

Although manganese and iron were also detected in water from these sites, their levels were not enough to cause concern. Possible sources of these metals may be the former West Fairlee landfill, the capped Post Mills landfill or geologic formations.

Dissolved oxygen, temperature and acidity were all within Water Quality Standards for rivers demonstrating minor to moderate impairment of water quality. However in some reaches of the river the dissolved oxygen levels were below those ideal for trout larvae, although adult trout will survive at these oxygen levels. Factors that reduce oxygen levels include decomposing fecal waste and warm water. As with other rivers in Vermont, the lack of a shade-providing, forested buffer zone along much of the East branch would contribute to river warming.

As a result of this survey the recommended actions are to survey for malfunctioning septic systems and potential runoff sources of E. coli in West Fairlee, to look for leaching of iron from the old West Fairlee landfill and to encourage landowners to plant riverside trees. We will also continue to follow the progress of the EPA's effort to clean up the former Ely Copper Mine.

Submitted by Li Shen

 

 

Ways to stay current on town news and events include:
THETFORD FORUM  - The most current town commentary and events updated daily electronically at http://lists.valley.net/lists/info/thetford.

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 TOWN NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION INFORMATION

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.