Thetford Town Newsletter

No. 45  NOVEMBER 2007

 

 

SELECTBOARD NOTES

The Selectboard welcomes Hilary Linehan as the new Recreation Coordinator for Thetford. We are pleased to have her work with the Recreation Committee and the many volunteers in town who have so ably managed Thetford Youth Sports and Ski Programs. Ms. Linehan will also be working on developing additional programs for all age groups. If you have ideas or suggestions, you can reach her at Town Hall on Tuesday mornings at 785-2922.

 

 

TOWN CLERK NOTES

I will be attending the New England Association of City and Town Clerks 40th Annual Conference in Ogunquit, Maine from November 14th – 16th. Training seminars will take place as well as vendor displays, committee meetings, and the annual meeting. My favorite part is the chance to connect with clerks from all around New England. Lori Magoon, Assistant Town Clerk, will be in the office and there will be no interruption of office hours. We will close for the Thanksgiving holiday Wednesday at noon, and reopen Monday at 6pm for evening office hours.

 

 

SENIOR & AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE

The Senior & Affordable Housing Committee is currently in the process of identifying potential sites in the Thetford community for the development of senior and affordable housing. We are working closely with neighboring towns, Twin Pines Housing Trust, HUD, Two Rivers Ottauquechee Planning Commission and various State of Vermont agencies to secure funding and create a long term plan for this and any future projects.

We are about to begin a needs assessment for the Town of Thetford and hope to receive the money for this assessment through a small planning grant from the State of Vermont.

We meet monthly, the 2nd Thursday at 7pm at Town Hall, and look forward to having some preliminary plans available for viewing at Town Meeting in March 2008.

In addition, we have created a subcommittee of group members and other Thetford residents to help assess the services available to our seniors and what we might do better or other services we could offer. This group meets every 3rd Wednesday at 7pm at Town Hall and is open to the public. Please contact Gina Sonne (785-4220 gsonne@sover.net) for more info.

Submitted by Mark McMahon mcmahonthet@aol.com 

 

 

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR AT POST MILLS CHURCH

 

Saturday, November 10th from 9am-2pm

There will be quilts, crafts, baked goods, raffles and more.  For more information or to reserve your table, contact Jen at 785-3110.

Submitted by Jen Piper

 

 

RECREATION REPORT

I am looking for people who are interested in teaching courses for winter recreation programming. If you have any special interests that you want to share, like cooking, sewing, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. please contact me before Dec 1st. You may visit me in the Town Hall Tuesdays from 9-noon or call 785-2922 or e-mail recreation@thetfordvermont.us. Basketball and ski registration will be available soon!

Submitted by Hilary Linehan, Thetford Recreation

 

 

PEABODY LIBRARY EVENTS

Tuesday, November 6th, 7PM
The Way of the Warbonnet: Return of an Eagle Feather Headdress. Strafford poet Jim Schley will talk about the 19th century Native American headdress that has been in his family since the 1870s - and his attempts to return it to the descendants of its original owner. He first spoke to us in April 2006, and will return to give us an update on this fascinating saga.

Tuesday, November 13, 7 PM
Didi Pershouse, founder of Two Rivers Clinic in Thetford Center, will read from the manuscript of her (as yet unpublished) book "Speaking from the Source: A Life in the World of Radical Medicine."

Submitted by Margo Nutt

 

 

LATHAM LIBRARY EVENTS

 

Thursday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. Community Corner

Come meet Jens Hilke from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Service. Jens is helping the Conservation Committee map important natural heritage sites in Thetford. Learn what's living in your backyard and how Jens' work may inform the CC's future activities and goals.

 

Thursday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. Richard Marsh: Irish Myths, Legends and Folktales. Acclaimed Irish storyteller Richard Marsh is touring the United States and Latham is lucky enough to be on his schedule! If you have never experienced traditional Irish storytelling, here’s your chance. A great family event - bring the kids!

 

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. Starting a Business in Vermont.  Please join your neighbors Marty Jacobs (Systems in Sync), Mike Pomeroy (Green Mountain Groceries, Inc.), Fred Thomas (Upper Valley SCORE) and Ferrisburg entrepreneur Steve Luhr (CherryMax Sleds, the maker of Hammerhead Sleds) for a lively panel discussion on what it takes to start and sustain a business in Vermont.  A great chance to get tips from the pros, learn more about Vermont's business environment and ask that always burning question, "Hey, how can we get a pizza place in this town?!"

 

Read any good books recently? The library always welcomes donations of good, gently used books - recently published books and audio books especially! Please see Peter Blodgett or Simon Brooks to make a donation.

 

Did you know?  Last month, we launched a bimonthly library newsletter. The next issue will be coming out in December and will be available at the following locations: Latham & Peabody Libraries, Baker's Store, Thetford General Store, Town Hall, Isabelle's and the bulletin boards at North Thetford post office and Thetford Hill post office. Please pick up a copy and share with friends. 

 

After-School Program: Storytelling Workshops.

Join children’s librarian Simon Brooks for fun storytelling workshops for both kids and adults – weekly at 3:30pm on Tuesdays (at Peabody) starting on 11/13 and Thursdays (at Latham), starting on 11/8.  Workshops will culminate in a storytelling performance at the Winter Solstice Celebration at Peabody on December 19. 

Submitted by Elise Tillinghast

 

 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION SECOND SUNDAY STROLL

Note - one time switch from Saturday to SUNDAY (opening day of deer hunting is Saturday...)
Sunday, Nov. 11th
Take a stroll on Mimi's Trail with John Morton.
Meet at Noon at the Elementary School
Wear bright orange, red // Bring water, snacks
Submitted by Heather Carlos

 

 

TA NOTES

*Thetford Academy congratulates seniors Jordan Bach-Lombardo, Daniel LaRoche, and William Wickham, who have been named Commended Students in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program. Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise, having placed among the top five percent of more than 1.4 million students who entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) last year.
*TA's Parent Advisory and Advocacy Council is sponsoring a "Meet the Dean" Night on Wed., Nov.7, from 7:00-8:30 pm in the TA Library. Dean of Students Mary Bronga will share a bit of her experiences as an educator and explain her new role at TA. Martha Rich, Head of School, and David McGinn, Assistant Head, will also be on hand to talk about their changing and expanded job capacities at the Academy. Parents and community members are invited to join us for this reception.
*Mark your calendars for the TA Fall Play! Performances will be offered Friday and Saturday evenings, November 16 and 17, followed by a matinee at 4:00 pm on Sunday the 18th. Watch the signboards in front of TA and on the green for more information.
*The annual TAAA Christmas Crafts Bazaar will be held on Saturday, November 17 from 9 am-3 pm. Jessica Eaton, TA Class of 81, says, "We invite one and all to come and enjoy the wide variety of crafts, a delicious luncheon, Santa, and free horse drawn wagon rides. With less than 40 days to find a perfect present for that special someone, we could be one stop shopping."
*TA will recess Thursday and Friday, November 22 and 23, for the Thanksgiving holiday. We take this opportunity to give thanks for the wonderful community in which we educate and nurture our students. We appreciate the support of families and townsfolk who give so generously to TA, both financially and with the gift of time.

Submitted by Wendy Cole

 

 

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH EVENTS

 

Sunday, November 4, 1:30 pm -- Free Film -- "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib", the HBO documentary directed by Rory Kennedy.

(*For mature audiences only*)  Discussion to follow.

The film shows the disturbing pictures of US torture at Abu Ghraib and goes on to explore the questions: How did torture become an accepted practice there? Did US government policies make it possible? How much damage has its aftermath done to America's credibility as a defender of freedom and human rights? The 80 minute film contains shocking photographs (including male nudity) and emotionally intense interviews.

Submitted by Christina Robinson (785-4012)

 

SOUP & DESSERT TO-GO SALE: Friday, November 9th, 2:30-6:30pm at the First Congregational Church of Thetford (on the hill). Choose a quart from a variety of heat and serve hearty soups, chilis and stews plus two scrumptious dessert-bars for $10.

Submitted by Susan Kowalsky (649-2681)

 

The 13th Annual Top of the Hill Holiday Sale sponsored by the Ladies Benevolent Society will be held on Saturday, November 17th from 10am to 2pm at the First Congregational Church on Thetford Hill: baked goods, collectibles, plants, jewelry, hand crafts, toys, and children’s items. 

Contact person: Janice Mousley (785-2279) 

Submitted by Lilla Willey

 

 

RICE’S MILLS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION EVENTS

Potluck and Slideshow - The final RMCA potluck of the year takes place Sunday, November 18th at 6PM, followed at 7PM by a slideshow from Kate Cone and Bill Bridge, of E. Thetford, of their trip to Utah.  Please remember to bring your own plate, silverware, cup and a dish to share.

Weatherization Workshop - "Conserve Energy! Save Money!! Slow Global Warming!!!" SERG, Efficiency Vermont and the Thetford Energy Committee are organizing a weatherization workshop that will take place December 1 from 9AM to 3PM. The workshop is free and open to the public, though donations are appreciated and pre-registration is required and limited to 50. If you want to participate, please send an email with a subject title of “Thetford Weatherization Workshop Registration”, your name, address, phone #, and number attending, to SERG@valley.net. You can also send this information to SERG, 432 Ulman Rd. Thetford Center, 05075 or call 785-4126 to reserve a spot. You will need to bring water for drinking and your own bag lunch.
Submitted by Bob Walker, President, RMCA
785-4126, bobwalker@valley.net

 

 

DANCE PARTY AT RICE’S MILLS

 

Sunday, November 18th Dance Party at RMCC 1:00 – 3:00PM!

Join in the fun with Waltz AND Swing CD's this month. No partner necessary. All ages welcome.

Waltz instruction @ 1:00pm -1:15pm.
Come share dance moves you know - and don’t forget to bring water to drink.
Donations appreciated to cover cost of heating...$3-$5
Submitted by Gina Sonne 785-4220

 

 

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.