Thetford Town Newsletter
No.
43 September 2007
SELECTBOARD NOTES
**Mark your calendars for the
annual Labor Day Parade and Barbeque in Post Mills, on Monday, September 3,
sponsored by the Thetford Fire Department.**
SECOND SATURDAY STROLL
· SEPTEMBER 8th ·
11AM
The Hughes Forest
Sponsored by the Thetford Conservation Commission
Charles Hughes bequeathed this ~300 acre forest containing brooks, vernal pools
and a beaver pond. The Conservation Commission is currently performing an
ecological inventory of this special property.
The Stroll will travel along the brook on the North side of Sawnee Bean before
exploring the abandoned beaver pond. It will not follow a defined trail
but will be moderate with only one steep section.
Directions: Meet at the junction of
Questions: Li Shen 785-4950
Submitted by Heather Carlos
BELLY DANCE CLASS
Fall Belly Dance Class Starts
Thurs., Sept. 20, at 7 pm.
Learn the ancient art of
belly dance right here in Thetford! Gina Capossela will be teaching a 10 week
class for adults (12 and up). The curriculum includes the beginner
vocabulary of movement, as well as fun combinations and choreographies.
No previous dance experience is required.
All ages, shapes and ability
levels are welcome.
Classes will be held at the
Outback.
Call Gina at 802-763-8691 or
go to www.GinaDances.com for further info.
Consider Carpooling if you
are interested in significant saving on gas costs while generating less carbon
emissions.
For more information, or to
register, visit our website at www.UpperValleyRideshare.com or telephone
extension 206 at either 802-295-1824 or 800-571-9779.
KEEP DIDYMO OUT OF THE OMPOMP
What, you may ask, is Didymo?
For those who have not seen the news articles, Didymo, short for Didymosphenia
geminata, is the newest invasive water plant to hit our region. It's not
what we visualize as a typical plant - Didymo is a type of algae. It has no
leaves or stems, instead it is a single, microscopic cell that attaches to
surfaces by a slimy stalk. Unfortunately this tiny plant can grow and divide
giving rise to enormous colonies. The stalk multiplies along with it, and the
result is a mass of slime-like substance, giving Didymo the common name of
'rock snot.' The mucus-like stalks are very resistant to degradation and
there is no know way to eradicate the algae once they have established
themselves in a river. Didymo cells can detach from their mass and stick
to other things, facilitating their transport from one body of water to
another.
Didymo has appeared in the
pleasant for recreation.
Didymo looks like a thick white, light gray, pale yellow-brown, or beige (not
green) mass, which may cover over 90 percent of the river bottom. Once
established, it may appear like a brown shag carpet covering the whole river or
stream bottom. It frequently forms streamers that turn white at their ends and
resemble lengths of toilet paper. Although Didymo looks slimy, it actually
feels rather like wet cotton wool.
It would be a tragedy if
Didymo took hold in the
clothing is to soak these items in hot soapy water for 30 minutes. Hard
surfaces like boats, fishing gear and tubes should be washed well in hot soapy
water and allowed to dry thoroughly.
A solution of 3/4 cup per gallon of hot water of laundry or dish detergent, or
antiseptic hand soap is needed to kill the algae by washing. Note that
boats and kayaks need to be washed INSIDE as well as outside.
Your pet, if it goes into water that contains Didymo, must also be thoroughly
washed and dried.
Submitted by Li Shen
Thetford Conservation Commission
TA NOTES
*Here we are again back at
school …both
*Thursday, September 6, is the night for 7th grade Parents' Welcome Night,
followed by the Welcome Dance for students in grades 8-12 on Friday,
September 7, from 7:30-10:00 pm.
*Senior College Night for Parents and Students will be on
Monday, September 17. The evening will start at 6:30 pm and will be
held in the TA library.
*Monday, September 24, marks the start of the annual
Submitted by Wendy Cole
BECOME A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER
Would you like to help your neighbors and their
families in the Hospice Program? The gift of your time can make such a
difference for people who are in the final stages of their lives.
The Visiting Nurse
Association and Hospice of Vermont and
Volunteers provide
companionship or read to a patient, prepare a meal, run errands, assist
with Hospice mailings or sit quietly with a patient so the family
caregiver can have a break.
New volunteers are asked to
commit to trainings on Thursdays from Sept 6 - October 11 at the VNA and
Hospice office at
For more information or to register:
Judy Adams, Coordinator of
Hospice Volunteer Services at (603) 298-8399 Ext. 2063 or email jadams@vnavnh.org.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
Thetford Democratic
Reorganization Caucus
Thursday, September 6th
Potluck supper at 6:30 pm
Updates at 7 pm from Margaret
Cheney (on the Natural Resources & Energy Committee) and Jim Masland
(vice chair of the Transportation Committee)
Margaret's topic: The Next Steps for
Jim's topic: Current Status on
The Democratic re-org caucus, which will begin after Margaret and Jim
reports, should start between 7:30 - 7:45 pm and finish by 8:30 pm
The Vermont Democratic Party reorganization caucus is required by statute and
is an opportunity to energize and expand our Party's base. We
will form our town committee, elect officers and elect delegates to
the county committee.
For more information or RSVP call
333-9004
Sherry Merrick, Thetford Democratic Committee Chair
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.