Thetford Town Newsletter

No. 38                                                                                                                                                    April 2007

SELECTBOARD NOTES

Town Plan: After four public hearings, the Selectboard unanimously adopted the updated 1999 town plan at its March 19 meeting.

The 2007 Town Plan can be viewed on the town website at thetfordvermont.us. Copies will be available at town libraries and Town Hall in early April.
Thank you to all who participated in the many hearings, meetings and redrafting of the plan. The Planning Commission will begin work shortly to develop accompanying Zoning By-laws.

Thetford Center Sayre Bridge Closing:  Restoration of the Sayre Bridge on Tucker Hill Road will necessitate closing the bridge to all traffic from April 15 through late September.
The Selectboard will hold an open discussion regarding the bridge design, emergency access and construction schedule on Monday, April 9 at 8:00 p.m. at Town Hall.

 

 

TOWN CLERK NOTES

This summer we are expecting the construction project (insulation) of our vaults to be going on which will cause closing the office for a week or so. We will do our best to serve you, and to keep the interruption of services as short as possible. **As always, if you’d like to receive email about office closing or special hours, please email me at townclerk@thetfordvermont.us and I will add you to my mailing list. **

 

LATHAM LIBRARY UPCOMING EVENTS

April 19th at 7pm - Latham library Travelog
"Botanic travels in the Amazon Rainforest” with Dale Gephart MD, a Post Mills resident.
This remarkable river system is essential to our world climate. We will get close to what happens at the river's edge and see the essence of bio-diversity. 

The trip will go up the Rio Negro into the "flooded forest".

Thursday April 26th @ 7pm, Community Corner  Elmer Brown, long time resident of Thetford Center, reminiscing about life in Vermont ---"Shanks Mares to Quad Chairs".

 

LATHAM LISTSERV - The Latham Library has started a listserv to help people keep up to date with the happenings of new programs.

What is a listserv?

A listserv is an automatic mailing list server. When e-mail is addressed to a listserv mailing list, it is automatically broadcast to everyone on the list. As a member of the listserv, when you send an e-mail to the list it goes to everyone else on the list and vice-versa.

 

To become a member of the listserv, or subscribe, all you have to do is:

  • Send a blank email addressed to:  latham-friends-subscribe@lists.valley.net
    The message doesn’t have to say anything, it doesn’t even have to have a subject.
  • A little while later you will get an email back from NPOGroups List Manager with the subject: Please confirm: [auth ee5e6047 subscribe latham-friends ] (the numbers won’t be the same as you see here, but that’s what it looks like)
  • Reply to the confirmation email.

 

You will get another e-mail from NPOGroups List Manager with the subject: Welcome to list latham-friends - And that’s all there is to it, you are subscribed to the list. If you want to send a message to everyone else on the list just address an email to: latham-friends@lists.valley.net

 

The welcome e-mail contains a randomly generated password for you to use if you want to access the list site. You might want to do that, there’s a calendar there that we’ll be using. The password is complicated so you can go to the site and change it to something that’s easier to remember.

Open your browser and go to:

http://lists.valley.net/lists/info/latham-friends

Log in with your e-mail address and the password in the Welcome email, probably something like initb919a19c. (You might want to just copy and paste it from the e-mail)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Submitted by Gina Sonne

 

PEABODY LIBRARY: An Evening of Poetry
In celebration of National Poetry Month, come and read your favorite poems aloud at a gathering of poetry lovers at Peabody Library on Wednesday, April 11 at 7:00 PM. 

The poems can be something you have written or perhaps a favorite by someone else. Or just come to listen. The library is located on Route 113 in Post Mills.

Submitted by Margo Nutt

 

 

HEALTHY LAWNS AND GARDENS

The Upper Valley Household Hazardous Waste Committee promotes safe and healthy lawns and gardens. 

**Eliminate or reduce the use of products that can cause harm to your family's health and the environment.** 

Contact 1-888-NO-POISON, pesticidefreelawns.org, beyondpesticides.org or visit us at UVHHWC.org. 

Submitted by Joy Gaine

 

 

TA NOTES

 

*Twenty-four Thetford Academy students volunteered their talents in this year's Mud Season Madness at TES. For four weeks in March and April, students participated as instructors and assistants in a wide range of classes for the elementary students, including play writing, basketball camp, jewelry making, Spanish instruction, scrap booking, photography, knitting, web building, and more. 

Thanks to all who joined the fun!

 

*Spring Recess will be April 16-20. A group of TA students and their advisors will be traveling to France to experience the culture and fine French foods. Also, a week earlier in April, seventh grade students will be traveling to Washington, D.C., for an exciting educational experience.

 

*"Talk with TA" will be held on Thursday, April 26, in the TA library.  Please join the TA Trustees for this question and information session at 6:00 pm, to be followed by the quarterly meeting of the full Board of Trustees. The public is invited to attend.

 

*Operation Day's Work will happen Wednesday, May 2nd.  Monies raised this year will be used to support The Human Capital Foundation's Selmata Children's Home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We need your help to provide jobs for our students; please contact Cindy Perry at TA, 785-4805 x 208. 

 

Submitted by Wendy Cole

 

 

RECYCLING /TRASH NOTES

It seems Northeast Waste has raised the price for their trash disposal tickets to $3.75 without any notice. Therefore, Thetford will now be charging $3.75 per ticket effective immediately.

We regret the increase and have been pursuing alternatives. Unfortunately, there aren't many. We will continue to review the possibilities.

We encourage you to recycle as much as possible to reduce waste. 
Submitted by Mary Spata, Recycling Committee

 

There will be a special collection of Big Trash (price depends on weight) and Tires ($2 car tire, small truck $3, rim double) Sat., April 28th, 9am-noon at the Thetford Town Garage. 

The Greater Upper Valley Solid Waste District truck will be at this collection to collect electronics (starting at $5 or $10/system, large TVs $11-$12) and fluorescent light bulbs (free), as well as selling composters and recycling bins.

Save up your household hazardous waste for a Thetford HHW Collection, May 19th at the Town Garage. 

And remember that summer recycling hours (8am - noon) start Memorial Day weekend.

Submitted by Bob Walker

 

 

TREASURE ISLAND IMPORTANT DATES

 

VT Green-Up Day, Sat. May 5 10AM

Treasure Island is seeking volunteers for Community Work Day. Come help ready the beach for summer! Children welcome!

Please bring a rake and gloves. Snack and beverages provided.

 

Getting ready for summertime:  Swimming Lessons!

Interested in swim lessons?  American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim lessons are offered daily this summer at Treasure Island

Save the dateSwim Lesson Registration takes place on Saturday, May 12 from 10-12pm at Town Hall, and on Wednesday, May 16 from 3:00-6pm at Thetford Elementary School

Lessons fill on a first-come, first-served basis.  Sorry, no telephone registrations accepted.  If you miss the above dates, please come to the beach June 16 (Opening Day) or later to sign up.

 

Dates for the swim lesson sessions are: June 18 - 29 // July 2 - 13 // July 16 - 27 // July 30 - August 10

Lessons run everyday for two weeks, and are 1/2 hour in duration.  All classes take place between the hours of 10am-12:30pm. 

Please plan to sign up for one session.  Children must be at least age 4 to participate.  Fee is $10.

 

Non-resident children (or residents who missed the above dates) may register for swim lessons on Saturday, June 16 from 10-12pm at Treasure Island.  Non-resident fee for lessons is $15 + the purchase of a season pass.

 

Submitted by Ann O’Hearn

 

 

RMCA 2007 EVENTS

Another season of Rices Mill Community Association monthly potlucks, social events, classes and building renovations is underway! 

We just got the attic and wall insulated and the floors sanded and refinished. 
Now for the fun stuff. Our monthly potlucks will start in May. We will send notices to our list and this newsletter. We are planning one or two talent nights, a badminton tournament, slide shows and ballroom dance lessons.  If you would like to organize an event in conjunction with one of our potlucks, or separate of one, or a class, or if you want to get on our list, please contact Bob Walker at bobwalker@valley.net or 785-4126. 
Our first social activity for the year-
DO YOU WANNA DANCE??
RMCA is hosting a regular Mostly Waltz Dance Time (with a little swing and one step and blues)
This will be an informal time to just dance.  We'll have CD's for the most part unless some musicians want to practice playing for us. Hopefully several times a year we can arrange for a guest teacher.
The first session will be Sunday April 15th from 3-5pm.  No partners necessary. The plan is to alternate an afternoon and an evening practice time.
With a newly refinished floor RMCA will be a fabulous dance venue. Suggested donation to the RMCA building fund:$5, $3 for seniors.

Call Gina Sonne for more information or to help out. 785-4220

 

 

ENERGY COMMITTEE

THETFORD STEPS IT UP!

Shake out that mud season brown and think green!

Saturday, April 14 is "Step It Up" day in Thetford.  From 6 AM to 1 PM, the Thetford Energy Committee and friends will host a series of activities to inform and promote action addressing the national challenges of energy efficiency and climate change.

Below is a partial listing of events.  Please see posters or check the thetnet and thetfordvtspeaks listserves for details and updated lists of events.

Morning Walks:
Enjoy hiking and conversation about how to meet the energy/climate change problem.

7:00 AM    Hike up Bill Hill in Thetford Center and "Valley Quest" search
8:30 AM    2 hour hike in Post Mills Nature Area, hosted by the Conservation Commission
8:30 AM    Free light breakfast at Thetford Community Center and "Valley Quest" search
10:00 AM  Hike from Thetford Community Center to Thetford Hill Green
(Other morning events tying into Step It Up are encouraged.)

Kids' Activities
There will be games and other activities for young children, teaching in a fun, low-stress way the value of energy conservation.  Please see event updates for more information.

Local Vendor Market
10:00 AM-1:00 PM, Thetford Hill Green. 

Try out locally made food and products and meet the people who sell them.  (Thetford vendors are invited to participate.)

Thetford Hill Green Gathering
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM.  Join this community-wide event featuring guest speakers addressing the challenge of climate change and entertainment including live music and dancing. Bring your own picnic or buy lunch from local vendors. (Parking at TES, TA & Thetford Congregational Church)

In the spirit of the day, please consider walking, biking or carpooling to these events. 

 

If you are a vendor or otherwise want to support "Step It Up" day, please contact Scot Zens at 784-4012 or zens@dartmouth.edu

 

Volunteers welcomed! 

 

For information about Thetford Step It Up go to: http://events.stepitup2007.org/events/show/1022 .  For info on the national Step It Up effort, see www.stepitup07.org

 

Submitted by Bob Walker

 

 

THETFORD CONSERVATION COMMISSION

 

The Inaugural Second Saturday Stroll
Saturday April 14th, 8:30am at the Post Mills Natural Area. This Stroll will explore the parcel's open fields, riparian zone and upland forest. 

Learn how this "natural" area is being managed for wildlife and non-motorized recreation. 

This event is being held in conjunction with Step it Up, a National Day of Climate Action.

 

Directions:
The Post Mills Natural Area is located on Route 113, approximately 4 miles north of Town Hall. The access is on the right as you enter Post Mills from Thetford Center and is the old landfill site just before "Sunshine Corner "and the Malmquist Mill. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited.


For more information, please contact Jennifer Davey at 333-9607 or Jennifer.Davey@dartmouth.edu (please email before noon on April 13th).
Submitted by Heather Carlos

 

EXTRA TAX BREAK FOR CONSERVATION IN ‘07


I wonder how many readers have pondered whether they should conserve all or part of their land.  There are natural features in Thetford that particularly need  conservation, including open wetlands, wooded swamps, vernal pools,  riverside gravel beds and the acreage bordering rivers, lakes and ponds. The different types of wetlands provide essential habitat for at least 57 species that are identified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Vermont. Space does not permit me to list them all, but they include the sedge wren, canada warbler, least bittern, vesper sparrow, wood turtle, whip-poor-will and water shrew. It is also necessary to conserve forested uplands to maintain species such as black bear, bobcat and barred owl that require large tracts of continuous forest.

Those who have been contemplating land conservation will be interested to know that a new federal law passed in August of 2006 expands income tax benefits for land conservation.  However, these changes are only in effect till December 31st 2007. There is no guarantee that the government will extend the law beyond this time.

By way of introduction, the most common form of land conservation is through giving a conservation easement as a charitable gift to a public agency or land  trust. In order to qualify as a charitable gift, the donation must be irrevocable and cannot have any strings attached.  The easement also has to meet certain  standards and conservation purposes (e.g. open space, public benefit) although it is not necessary to provide public access.

The value of the conservation easement is calculated as the difference in fair market value of the land before and after donating the easement. Under the old law, the maximum amount of tax relief a donor could claim in one year as a result of a conservation gift was limited to 30% of their adjusted gross income. If the value of the easement was equal to more than 30%, the remainder could be used to claim tax relief for up to five additional years.

Under the new law the amount a landowner can deduct for donating a conservation easement jumps to 50% of their adjusted gross income.  Furthermore, farmers, ranchers and owners of working forests can deduct up to 100% of their taxable income (i.e. pay zero tax) provided that this income is generated by farming, ranching or forestry.   The carry-forward period in which a donor can claim tax deduction for an easement is also extended to 15 years.  This extended period helps people who have modest incomes to obtain the most tax relief from a conservation gift.

Land appraisals for purposes of seeking a charitable tax deduction must be performed within the 60 days before the easement is donated, or at any time after the donation. The appraisal should meet IRS regulations and appraisal standards for such gifts to be tax-deductible. Some of the expenses incurred in making the donation, such as survey costs, legal fees, and appraisal fees may be deductible under "Miscellaneous Deductions" (although they are not charitable deductions) to the extent that, in combination with various other miscellaneous deductions, they exceed 2% of  adjusted gross income.

The short space of this article only allows an outline of the major features of the 2007 conservation incentive. I suggest that anyone interested in following up on this should contact the Upper Valley Land Trust (603-643-6626; info@uvlt.org), the Vermont Land Trust (802-223-5234; 800-639-1709; info@vlt.org) or a financial advisor.

Submitted by Li Shen
Thetford Conservation Commission

 

 

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.