Weathersfield Fire Commission Meeting Agenda, August 8, 2013

Weathersfield Fire Commission

Meeting Agenda

7 pm, Thursday, August 8, 2013

Ascutney Volunteer Fire Association

1. Call to Order – 7 pm

2. Attendance: Board; Audience Members

3. Additions or Corrections to Agenda

4. Comments From Citizens on Matters Not on the Agenda

5. Approve Minutes of Previous Meeting –

     July 11, 2013

6. Review Budget Status Reports

      A. July 2013

           1. Fire Commission

           2. Ascutney Volunteer Fire Association

         3. West Weathersfield Fire Department

      B. Review of Reserve Funds:

           1. Dry Hydrant

           2. Motorized

           3. Non-Motorized

      C. Warrants

7. Review Fire Departments' Monthly Reports & Events Scheduled

      A. Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department

      B. West Weathersfield Volunteer Fire Department

8. New Business

      A. Review of Fire Agreement – Lynn, Kelly, Barbara

      B. Basic Emergency Operations Plan – Updated?

      C. Parade SOP

      D. Five Year Capital Plan

9. Old Business

      A. Reports ~ Dates Due

           1. Association Fund Raising Report ~ October 1, 2013

           2. Current Reconciled Financial Statements ~ October 1, 2013

           3. Proposed Annual Budget for Next Fiscal Year ~ October 1, 2013

           4. Operating Funds Request ~ October 1, 2013

           5. Annual Appropriation Request ~ October 1, 2013

           6. Submit Annual Budget (Fire Commission) ~ November 1, 2013

           7. Recommendations of Placement of New Hydrants ~ April 1, 2014

           8. Testing Hydrants in Service Area ~ Fall Report

           9. Annual Report for Town Report ~ November 1, 2013

           10. Five Year Captial Plan ~ November 1, 2013

           11. ISO Rating Review Requests for Town ~ Yearly?

      B. Dry Hydrant Updates:

           1. Perkinsville/Black River Hydrant

           2. Wunch Pond Hydrant

      C. Dry Hydrant Maintenance – Painting

      D. Joint Training Drills

      E. Formal Written Complaint ~ Review

      F. Survey to Fire Departments

      G. Copies of Meeting Minutes for:

           1. October 11, 2012
           2. February 9, 2012
           3. December 8, 2011
           4. June 9 , 2011

                (they were reference to in other meeting minutes)

      H. Discussion on Fire Departments/Town Physician per VLCT

      I. Fireworks Permit Application - Update

      J. Weathersfield Fire Services Reimbursement Ordinance? Haz-Mat Ordinance Update

      K. Repeater – Update – Antenna Project; New Frequency

10. Items of Information or Questions for Select Board Report

      A. Cost to Fill Pools

      B. Ascutney Store Road – 2 Strainers - $8,000.00

      C. Monthly Reports from AVFA, WWVFD

10. Special Meeting – Thursday, August 29, 2013 at Martin Memorial Hall

11. Next Regular Meeting- September 12, 2013 ~ at WWVFD

      Agenda Submission Deadline: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 by 10 am

12. Adjourn

Still Looking For A Volunteer!!!

We are still looking for a volunteer to film a once or twice monthly board meeting. Training and equipment will be provided. On Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 pm (approximately).

Is there a high school student looking for community service? Anyone looking for a small way to give to their community?

If transportation is an issue, we can help.

Please contact WeathersfieldVermontNews@gmail.com if you are interested or have any questions.

Thank you!

Lost Art Found By Local Artist, Lisa Mair

http://www.thevermontstandard.com/2013/07/this-weeks-headlines-july-25-2013/
 
Lost Art Found By Local Artist Lisa Mair
by Katy Savage, Standard Staff











Each step on the stairwell to Lisa Mair's studio is a painting. On one step is her yellow farmhouse. On another is a painting of her black horse grazing freely. There are large trees and green grass on others.

Upstairs a horizontal wall mural hangs about 20 feet long. On it, there is the village of Weathersfield with a church and houses and mountains in the background.

Mair keeps a checklist on a dry erase board. She's working on about a dozen floor cloths and wall murals right now.

One wall mural has about 10 horses cantering with riders on their backs. Beagle dogs are running at the horses' sides and there are mountains in the background. It's a foxhunting scene with Jaime and Thatcher Fields' Hartland home painted in the distance. The Fields' creme color house was built in the late 1700's and was renovated five years ago. Once complete, the wall mural will hang like wallpaper, 14 feet wide in their dining room.

"It will give us an appreciation of the historical past of the property," Jamie said.

Thatcher added: "In the middle of a bleak Vermont winter, there will be something green."

Mair started painting wall murals on canvas cloths five years ago, but she's been making floor cloths much longer.

Floor cloths originated in Europe in the 14th century and became popular in the 1700's. When people came to America, they were looking for ways to decorate their homes. Those who didn't have any money or access to rugs, made designs and sketches on canvases.

Floor cloths were a booming business from the 1840s-1860's until linoleum was invented in 1869. Floor cloths disappeared after that.

"Most people don't know what a floor cloth is because they've sort of vanished," Mair said.

She started Canvas Works Floor Cloths around the same time she moved into her 19th century house, 20 years ago.

Her yellow farmhouse was built in the 1790's. There are wooden beams and colorful, geometric cloths, hand painted by Mair, covering the imperfect floorboards. The house was renovated in the 1830's and has had little renovation since.

"It has a lot of character," Mair said.

Mair's house has inspired the earthy and muted color palette that is seen in her work.

"My house begs me to paint as if I were decorating in the 1800's," Mair said.

Mair has always been self-employed. She had a horse business after she graduated college and then was an architectural model maker before she illustrated children's books.

Her first floor cloth was a "whimsical children's book illustration," Mair said. It had artichokes, eggplant and asparagus swirling around a center circle. Mair's friend soon requested a floor cloth and Mair started making more.

"It got the ball rolling," Mair said.

Mair has made nearly 1,000 floor cloths. They lie in historic homes in West Windsor, Hartland and Woodstock and in houses and museums across the nation. "My goal was to make enough money to be able to sustain myself and my horses," she said. "That's continued, but now that I have so much work I don't have time for the horses."

Mair starts painting and drawing in her studio at 7am and works for most of the day. She takes a break to rider her horses in the afternoon and then answers emails and does research on her iPad over dinner. She goes back to work in her studio at night.

Mair starts with a large canvas and then shrinks the material in hot water. She cuts the canvas to the size she wants it then hems the edges. Mair paints the front and back with a layer of glaze and then begins the design process.

She uses laser lights to get perfectly straight lines. Sometimes it can take days just to lay out a pattern.

Each canvass has 7 -8 layers of paint. The result is a durable material that can withstand scratches, dirt and foot traffic.

When she started, she didn't know her business would become so successful. She's booked until January.

"I work most of the time," Mair said. "It's a little crazy."

Most of her floor cloths are repeated patterns and geometric shapes. Wall murals are a different story.

Her murals show houses, scenes and animals. She started making them after she realized people didn't want to walk on them.

Murals are more difficult for Mair to make.

"Sometimes I don't feel like working on them and that's the toughest part. I want them to look good, but if I don't feel like doing it it's not going to look good."

Mair travels throughout the country to research houses and sites, do shows and teach classes.

She also donates her work. After Green Mountain Horse Association was damaged in Tropical Storm Irene, Mair started painted GMHA's brown barns and wide open fields on a canvas. She painted her horses jumping the cross country course.

"I was feeling so bad about GMHA after Irene and it was haunting me," Mair said. "I just started painting what GMHA was supposed to look like."

GMHA has sold a poster replica of the painting and has made about $5,000 according to Mair.

She'll later start work on a check design with a Greek key border 40 feet long for a museum in Chicago.

You can visit her website at canvasworksfloorcloths.com

Area School Employment Opportunities

http://wsesu.net/employment-opportunities/

Date Job Title School/Site Location Jul 29 French Teacher (.7 FTE) Windsor School District Windsor, Vermont Jul 26 Personal Care Attendant - Paraeducator Hartland Elementary School Hartland, Vermont Jul 16 Math Teacher (Geometry and Algebra) Windsor School District Windsor, Vermont Jul 12 Art (.4 FTE) Weathersfield School Ascutney, Vermont Jul 11 Speech-Language Pathologist Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union Windsor, Vermont Jul 10 Library/Media Specialist Weathersfield School Ascutney, Vermont Jun 25 Academic Intervention Coordinator Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union Windsor, Vermont Jun 25 Math Instructional Coach Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union Windsor, Vermont Jun 25 ELA Instructional Coach Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union Windsor, Vermont Jun 21 Special Educator Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union Windsor, Vermont Jun 6 Art Teacher Windsor School District Windsor, Vermont

Safety Improvements and Important Changes at Weathersfield School

http://www.weathersfieldschool.org/

The Emergency Preparedness Committee, the WS School Board, WS staff, faculty, and administration, Select Board members, local fire and rescue responders, and interested parents and community members met for a working supper on June 20, 2013, at the AVFD to discuss ways to make our school safe, but still welcoming, in this era of universal change. This two-hour meeting was fruitful, and the subsequent 90 minute discussion with the EPC after that meeting helped us to formulate a plan for change:

Summer maintenance projects will be complete by the start of the new school year.

Many safety changes have been made to the school to make it safer in the event of an emergency, from safety glass to restructuring the main office.  The final reorganization of the office will happen in December.

We have over 100 volunteers who support our school in a variety of ways. Volunteers have all necessary paperwork on file and are great about checking into the office for their visitor’s pass before going anywhere else in the school, so this procedure is unchanged.  Our staff is dedicated to continuing to welcome volunteers and community use of the facility.

However, unless prior arrangements have been made for the use of the school, the school will remain locked. Office personnel will be on duty until 4:00 pm. After that time, the school will be closed.
In accordance with new state laws, fire drills and lock down drills will be practiced all 10 months of the school year, from September to June, with a minimum of 5 drills of each in the course of the school year. Our teachers will continue in a calm and nurturing way to train our students to remain safe. The intent is not to frighten children, but to empower them to react appropriately and to think on their feet when confronted with the unexpected.

Please do not park in the fire lanes, including during concerts and when arriving to pick up or drop off your children. This lane MUST be open at all times.

The exterior doors of the school will be locked during school hours. Visitors will be buzzed in from the outside of the building by the office staff.

Parents are asked to drop their children off at the main door between 7:00 and 7:50 am in the morning, rather than walking them to their class or locker, or visiting in the all purpose room. On the first day of school this year on August 26, 2013, parents of students in grades K-4 will be able to walk their children to class.

Parents who wish to speak with teachers or other school personnel before, during, or after school need to go to the main office to see if that staff member might be available. If the staff member is unavailable at that time, parents are asked to make an appointment, which can be done via email, telephone, or through the secretaries in the office.

Morning bus duty personnel will greet children coming to school by bus at the main door, opening the door for them to enter. Children will go directly to the all purpose room, as in previous years.
At bus dismissal time, 2:20 pm, bus students will line up at the front door, which will remain closed and locked until bus duty personnel walk students out to the buses. We will be boarding all five buses in rapid succession, which represents a change. The buses will be lined up from the front right of the school as you face it, all the way back to where the kindergarten classrooms begin. The school will maintain the sidewalks, even in winter months, to ensure that this process is fluid and safe. We are anticipating bus dismissal will take approximately 10 minutes. We encourage parents to call the school prior to 2:00 pm with any transportation changes, so the office staff has adequate time to alert teachers and children regarding the change in plans. Please do not take your child out of the bus line. In case of any emergency changes, go to the front office, and a secretary will assist you.

Parent pick-up and dismissal of walkers will look different this year. Parent pick-up students and walkers will remain in their classrooms until the buses have left the school. The parent pick-up entrance will be the same door, next to the kitchen, but will not be opened by school personnel until 2:20 pm. Please go directly to the all purpose room and wait for your child. The sign-out procedure will not change. No child may be taken from the all purpose room without being signed out by the parent or otherwise authorized adult. In the event the staff member on duty does not know or recognize the adult accompanying the child, the school reserves the right to ask for identification. It is important that the office is clear of distractions during bus dismissal time. Once buses have departed, which we anticipate will occur at 2:30 pm, parents who wish to speak to school personnel will be able to go to the office to make arrangements.

Zoning Board Public Hearing - Eastman 8/14/2013

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
and Site Visit

A public hearing before the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Town of Weathersfield will be held at the Town Office in Ascutney on Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM following a 6:00 p.m. site visit to consider the following application:

#07.2913 by the Leighton Eastman for a variance to place a mobile home on the property at 176 Route 5 in Weathersfield Bow (parcel #13-02-06).  The parcel is located in the C10 zoning districts.

There will be a 6:00 p.m. site visit.  The Zoning Board will meet at the site.  The public is invited to attend the site visit.  The Board will proceed to the Town Office in Ascutney immediately following the site visit to open the public hearing on this application.
  
The above application is available for inspection at the Town Office in Ascutney.  Persons wishing to appeal and be heard may do so in person or be represented by an agent or attorney.  Communications about the above application may be filed in writing with the board or at the hearing.

Dave Gulbrandsen, Chair
Weathersfield Zoning Board of Adjustment

Hidden Kitchen Cooking Classes at the Inn at Weathersfield

The Inn at Weathersfield

Hidden Kitchen Cooking Classes are now booking! Next Demonstration Class - Saturday, Aug 10 - Happy Hens - Learn to make then taste our 'Chicken n' Dumplings' Ballotine & Whole Grain Gnocchi - 12:30-2 pm - Call to make a reservation. www.weathersfieldinn.com/‎

Vt. Man Charged with 11th DUI

Vt. man charged with 11th DUI

Posted: Jul 29, 2013 11:18 PM EST Updated: Jul 30, 2013 9:46 AM EST

By WCAX News -

http://www.wcax.com/story/22961946/vt-man-charged-with-11th-dui

 

BURLINGTON, Vt. - A Weathersfield man is behind bars facing charges for his 11th DUI.

On Sunday, Mark Mownn was arrested after police say he was drunk behind the wheel of a pickup truck

He had already served four months in jail earlier this year for his 10th drunk driving incident. This time-- the 11th DUI charge-- he was driving without a license and has been charged as a habitual offender. He could face enhanced penalties if convicted.

Mownn's drunk driving arrests span more than 30 years and four states. A judge has ordered a psychiatric evaluation.

Route 131 Paving Project Update 7/29/13

Work Update Weathersfield Route 12/131 AOT Project No: 0146(11) Week of July 29th, 2013 Traffic Safety Warning – Crews are asking motorists who are exiting driveways or businesses on Route 131 to be aware that they may be pulling into a construction zone. With the milling construction zone taking up to a mile of one lane, a flag person may not be stationed in the exact area to assist someone in pulling out. If there is no flagger present, motorists should wait for traffic flow in the direction they want to go before pulling out. The construction zone will be marked with orange cones along the centerline. VT Route 131 - I91 Interchange to NH Border Milling - Monday, crews expect to finish milling between the NH Border and the I91 interchange. Paving: Tuesday, crews will pave over the milled section of Route 131 between the NH Border and the I91 interchange. Crews will also pave the milled section of Route 5. VT Route 131 – I91 Interchange to Downer’s Corners Milling - Tuesday, milling crews will mobilize their operations to approximately Jarvis Road on Route 131 and continue milling towards Downer’s Corners for the remainder of the week. Excavation Work - Crews will continue excavation work on Route 131 between the I91 exchange and Jarvis Road. TRAFFIC DELAYS – ALL operations will require alternating one-way traffic around the construction zone. Traffic control personnel will be present to maintain traffic flow. Motorists should anticipate traffic delays while traveling through the project and plan accordingly. Please allow for extra time in your travel plans. Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regards to the project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

Abbey Found Safe!

According to a facebook report, Abbey has been found safe!

Fire District Meeting Agenda 7/29/13

Ascutney Fire District #2

NOTICE OF MEETING

Monday, July 29, 2013

6:15 PM

MARTIN MEMORIAL HALL, ASCUTNEY VERMONT

Agenda for Monday, July 29, 2013 meeting of Ascutney Fire District #2 Prudential Committee.   Meeting is at 6:15 PM, Martin Memorial Hall

1. Call to Order
2. Approve Purchase of 5 acre well site from Vermont Land Trust, authorize Chair to sign closing documents, and authorize Treasurer to borrow to pay for purchase
3. Review and approve payment items
4. Any New Business that can legally be discussed

5. Adjournment

Posted: 25 Jul 2013 02:30 PM PDT

Fire Commission Agenda Deadline

Just a reminder that the deadline for submission of items to be put on the August Fire Commission agenda is Wednesday, July 31 at 12 noon.

Thanks,

Lynn Esty
Chairperson,
Weathersfield Fire Commission
lynnesty@comcast.net
802-263-9441

There have been inquiries from the public and by SAPA TV to film the meetings. Just wanted you all to be aware.

Diggin' In The Dirt

Diggin' in the Dirt at the Weathersfield Proctor Library
Wednesday, July 31 at 11:00 am

What sort of creatures are burrowing beneath our feet?  Who would want to spend all day with their bellies in the mud?  

We will explore some of the adaptations that creatures who call the ground home need to survive.  

Then we’ll take some time to meet some of the critters that are digging in the dirt all around us!  

Live turtles, toads and snakes from the museum’s live animal collection will be the stars but we’ll also invite some special guests to explore a wider range of life from the forest floor. 

The library is located at 5181 Route 5 Ascutney, VT. For more information please call the library at 802-674-2863 or email weathersfieldproctorlibrary@gmail.com  
                                         ###

--

Nancy Tusinski, Director
Weathersfield Proctor Library
5181 Route 5 PO Box 519
Ascutney, VT 05030-0519
802-674-2863
http://www.weathersfieldproctorlibrary.org/

FRIPPERY!

NOW ACCEPTING GENTLY-USED

HOUSEHOLD & VINTAGE TREASURES

We can pick up please call Maureen 603-252-0936 (NO plastics, appliances, clothes, electronics)

BAKED GOODS & PLANTS & MORE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
8 A.M. TILL 1 P.M.

WEATHERSFIELD CENTER CHURCH/MEETING HOUSE
• WEATHERSFIELD CENTER ROAD, WEATHERSFIELD, VERMONT •
ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE WEATHERSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

A Summer Evening With Your Friends and Neighbors

Special Event! A Summer Evening with Your Friends and Neighbors
Saturday, July 27th at 6:30 pm

On Saturday evening July 27th at 6:30 pm, the Weathersfield Proctor Library will host a very special event at the Weathersfield Center Meeting House at the Weathersfield Center Church. "A Summer Evening with Your Friends and Neighbors" will feature a number of special guest storytellers from the Weathersfield area who will share stories and tales, both serious and humorous.

In addition there will be wonderful music by George Ainley, Julie Levy and friends. To compliment the evening, appetizers, scrumptious desserts and fine beverages will be served as well.
 

The Meeting House will open its doors to guests who wish to view and bid on the silent auction items which will provide an exciting backdrop to the evening.

Local area businesses have come together to support this project and the Weathersfield Proctor Library Capital Campaign Fund. Items in the auction have been donated by :

The Inn at Weathersfield

Black Watch Farms

Woodbury Florist

Von Bargen's Jewelry

Okemo Mountain Resort

Gurney Brothers

Mr. G's Restaurant

William Austin's Antiques and Lobster Pound

Twisted Fitness

Red Barn Cafe

Denise Photography

Crown Point Country Club

Willis Wood Cider, Jelly and Syrup

Country Cremee

Strobel's

Daniels Construction

and many more!
 

Please join us for a Summer Evening With Friends on Saturday July 27th at 6:30 pm to support the Weathersfield Proctor Library Capital Campaign Fund. The evening begins with Silent Auction bidding and culinary treats followed by music and tales of local lore. The donation for the evening is $15.00 per person. For more information please call, 802-674-5021 or 802-885-2221.

Weathersfield News, Week of July 25, 2013

The heat and humidity has finally broken. The cooler weather is nice. I actually had to put a blanket on the bed this morning. It figures that now the heat has broken and I had plans to go riding Monday morning that it would be raining cats and dogs.

The garden is loving the cooler temperatures. By dinner, the lettuce isn't so wilted and sad looking. The zucchini and summer squash are growing by leaps and bounds. Even the pumpkins are growing measurably each day. The snap peas, radishes and cucumbers are delicious!

The tractor is up and running and it's so much faster getting work done that with a shovel and a bucket. Now we are able to turn the manure pile to get a better compost on it.

In other news, my sisters and I are hosting a Bridal shower for my mother, Bev Howe, Monday evening. On Sunday, she will be marrying Bernie Fluette from Claremont, NH. 

The Route 131 VTrans project has started. They are grinding away at Route 131. With the rains, the sections that have been ground are now showing up as pot holes. There have also been some minor wash outs in areas that were repaired from the storms earlier in July. If there are cones on the road, please use caution.

Tax due dates and tax rates were set at the Select Board meeting over two weeks ago. Tax bills were processed and mailed last week. You should have received yours in the mail by now. The first due date is August 14, 2013.

Weathersfield News
The Vermont Standard

Route 131 Paving Project update (7/25/13)

TRAFFIC ALERT

Weathersfield Route 12/131

AOT Project No: 0146(11)

Friday, July 26^th and Saturday, July 27^th

Traffic Safety Warning – Crews are asking motorists who are exiting driveways or businesses on Route 131 to be aware that they may be pulling into a construction zone. With the milling construction zone taking up to a mile of one lane, a flag person may not be stationed in the exact area to assist someone in pulling out. If there is no flagger present, motorists should wait for traffic flow in the direction they want to go before pulling out.

The construction zone will be marked with orange cones along the centerline.

MILLING:

Milling crews will continue working on the portion of the project between the I91 Interchange and the New Hampshire Border on Route 131 and VT 12. There is a small amount of milling that will take place on Route 5 during the day. Law enforcement will be directing traffic through the Route 131/5/12 while the lights are disabled.

Milling in this area will continue through Saturday, 7/27/13 and finish on Monday, 7/29/13. Paving of the first of two layers of asphalt will be placed Tuesday, weather permitting.

EXCAVATION WORK:

Excavation work will continue between Downer’s Corners and the I91 Interchange.

Traffic Delays – Both milling and excavation operations will require alternating one-way traffic around the construction zone. Traffic control personnel will be present to maintain traffic flow. Motorists should anticipate traffic delays while traveling through the project and plan accordingly. Please allow for extra time in your travel plans.
All work on this project will be performed during daytime work hours. Typical work hours are between the hours of 6:00 am and 7:00 pm, depending on the weather.
Contact Francine Perkins, Public Relations Officer, FRP Enterprises, LLC with any questions or concerns with regards to the project at 802-479-6994 or for a more up to date schedule visit www.roadworkupdates.com.

Veterans Memorial Committee Meeting Agenda 7-30-2013

veterans memorial committee

MEETING

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

6:30 PM

Martin Memorial Hall, 5259 US Route 5

AGENDA

1. Approve minutes from the last meeting (June 25, 2013)
2. Additions or corrections to the agenda
3. Hotdog Sales
4. Bench
5. Funding
6. Chicken Barbeque
7. Other Business
8. Set date, time, location and agenda for next meeting
9. Adjournment

Volunteer Needed!!

There is a need for a volunteer for one or two Thursdays a month for 2.5 hours to tape a program for SAPA TV.

 All training and equipment will be provided.

If you have reliable transportation and are at least 18 years of age, please respond with an email to WeathersfieldVermontNews@gmail.com

Thank you.

Inside the Forecast - WCAX-TV

WCAX-TV

Inside the Forecast:

We could see a spotty shower or storm this evening.
Then more widespread showers & storms will develop tonight and tomorrow. The steadiest wet weather will likely be tomorrow morning. Tuesday is looking humid too.

 

A stretch of comfortable weather is expected for the middle of the week. Then we could be dealing with some more showers later in the weekend.

Have a nice night!

~Nick

 

 https://www.facebook.com/WCAXTV?hc_location=stream

Conservation Commission Meeting Agenda 7-25-2013

CONSERVATON COMMISSION Agenda July 25, 2013            Minutes from June 27                                                                         5 min.             New Road Swamp walk at Pattersons                                               5 min.             Report on Town Gravel Pit extension on Rt. 5                                  15min.                         And possible site visit             Report on Meeting with Jim Mullen & Selectboard                           30 min.                         Re: Gaining access & trailhead to Town Forest Land             Discussion of the Town Plan work and further work                         45 min.             Discussion of the Grant Proposal                                                       5 min.             New member possibilities                                                                  10 min.             Future plans and other topics

Weather Forecast

Today

Hi: 78 °F

Partly sunny with a chance of showers. A slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Light…

http://weather.weatherbug.com/VT/Perkinsville-weather.html?zcode=z6286&zip=05151

Today's Forecast - WCAX

But there will be a few showers roaming around, and possibly a thunderstorm or two, mainly in our southern counties.

 http://www.wcax.com/weather

Inside the Forecast by WCAX-TV

WCAX-TV

Inside The Forecast:

A second cold front will bring in much cooler and less humid air for Sunday. A few showers or thunderstorms may still develop east of the Champlain Valley early this evening, otherwise it's looking much more quiet tonight.

If you don't like it quite so hot and humid, then Sunday will be your day. Highs will be in the 70s, with low humidity. Sunday night will actually be chilly, with lows in the 40s! The air conditioners will be getting a break.

An approaching warm front may bring an isolated thunderstorm south on Monday. The rest of the region will be partly sunny. A cold front will bring a better chance for showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday. Dry and pleasant weather is expected for Wednesday and Thursday.

Dave

Cold Front, Strong to Severe Thunderstorms, headed our way....

WCAX-TV

Good morning everyone. This will be a good day to make sure you have your WCAX WX app at the ready! Keep an eye on the radar as you are out and about. 

A cold front will finally be coming through from north to south, and it will trigger some strong to severe thunderstorms, mainly in central and southern parts of NY, VT and NH. 

The strongest storms are likely to arrive late morning into this afternoon and some of these storms could produce hail and damaging winds and heavy downpours.
~Sharon

Ascutney Diner Storm Damage

Here Comes the Rain Again!!!

It's pouring, lightening and thunder, lights are flashing off for seconds at a time.

If you are out and about, please be careful.

No reports of flooding yet, but it's early in the storm...

Hopefully, there will be none.

Cooler weather on the way tomorrow.

Summertime at the Library!

Dig Into Reading Summer Reading program
July 10th - August 14th
There is still time to sign up at the library or online!

Wednesday July 24 at 11:00 am - Make a Leaf Print T-Shirt 
all materials provided, sign up encouraged, but not required.

Thursday July 25, August 1, and August 8 from 11:00 - 12:30 TWIG (Tween Writer's Group)
Grades 4-6 Bring your lunch and we'll supply cold drinks. 

Wednesday July 31 at 11:00 am - Diggin' in the Dirt with Michael Clough from the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum. Meet and learn about creatures that live in the dirt.  Michael is bringing extra of Nancy's favorite -- earthworms!

Wednesday August 8 at 11:00 am - Let's Paint Peg People!

Saturday August 10 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Veggie Swap! Bring extra veggies from your garden to swap with your neighbors.

Wednesday August 14 at 6:30 pm Summer Reading Program Pizza Party Finale and Grand Prize Drawing.  All summer you have been part of the weekly drawings, come and celebrate your summer reading success and enter the Grand Prize Drawing! 

Thursday August 15 at 6:30 pm WPL Book Group will meet to discuss Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Copies of the book are available at the library.

See you at the library and at the Summer Evening with Your Friends and Neighbors on Saturday July 27 at 6:30!

Nancy and Lynn
 WeathersfieldProctorLibrary.org
WeathersfieldProctorLibrary@gmail.com

 

Concerned citizens meet to improve town health, safety Discuss Magic Mushroom, preventing similar businesses

July 16, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Concerned citizens meet to improve town health, safety

Discuss Magic Mushroom, preventing similar businesses

WEATHERSFIELD

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A group of residents have been meeting with local prevention workers and town officials to advocate for changes in their community in the wake of the relocation of the Magic Mushroom storefront on Route 5 in Ascutney, a short

distance from Weathersfield School and adjacent to a camp ground.

 

The outspoken residents, including both young parents and senior citizens, voiced their concerns related to the potential for increased crime, decreased property values, youth exposure, and the health and safety of residents.

 

“Our initial discussions zeroed in on the issue of the Magic Mushroom,” said Community Mobilization Coordinator Vicki Gass of Mt. Ascutney Prevention Partnership, who facilitates the meetings. “People have been asking, ‘What does this mean for our kids? What can we do to keep businesses like this out of our town? What are the police doing?’”

 

Magic Mushroom’s website invites visitors to, “Come on in and check out the best in quality and selection for pipes, vaperizors [sic], spoons, scales, clothes, tattoo equipment, bubblers, waterpipes, throwing stars, tactical and fantasy knives and much, much more.” The owners operate another storefront in downtown Springfield.

 

“I am just totally appalled by this,” said resident Geraldine Rudenfeldt, referring to the products sold in Magic Mushroom and citing articles she’s read on the effects of marijuana use on the teen brain.

 

While the paraphernalia is marketed for tobacco use, “We know what it’s really used for,” said Melanie Sheehan, a Weathersfield resident and director of community health outreach at Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center . “But products are not illegal until they have resin in them that’s not tobacco.”

 

While some residents questioned why town officials let Magic Mushroom come to Ascutney to begin with, the town’s hands are tied given current zoning laws. There is nothing on the books that prevents Magic Mushroom from doing business in Weathersfield.

 

This group aims to change that. “We can apply pressure,” said retired schoolteacher Loraine “Cookie” Shand, who is dismayed over the potential for the community’s reputation to deteriorate.

 

Shand said that people once referred to Ascutney Village as “Smutneyville” when an adult drive in operated

in town years ago, and she doesn’t want to revisit those days.

Members of the group shared their concerns at a recent planning commission meeting, in the hope of preventing similar businesses from establishing in the area. “We talked to them about limiting stores that sell drug related paraphernalia near schools,” said Mark Ostrom, while other residents suggested that the town should look at restricting these businesses town wide, not only within a particular zone or radius of a school

.

Earlier this year, the village of Ludlow, Vt., adopted such a town wide ordinance “prohibiting medical marijuana dispensaries and establishments that sell or display drug and tobacco paraphernalia.”

 

In Weathersfield, while a new zoning ordinance wouldn’t apply to existing businesses in town, like Magic Mushroom, it would prohibit new ones from setting up shop.

 

“Residents want to see family oriented economic development that promotes healthy choices,” Gass said. “[The town] can create a vision of what they want their community to look like in five, 10 and 20 years by passing ordinances and zoning laws that promote the development they want.”

 

In addition to the Weathersfield group’s work toward proposing a new zoning ordinance,

members of the group have been invited, along with MAPP, to work with the planning

commission to incorporate language supporting health and safety into the town plan.

 

With that in mind, the group has been brainstorming ideas related to their “town vision.” Thoughts include promoting the health and safety of citizens, especially children; maintaining maximum property values; reducing crime; reducing traffic; maintaining the

historical and environmental beauty of the town; and promoting a local economy based on

“family tourism.”

 

The group’s next community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 15, at Mart

in Memorial Hall in Weathersfield. For more information or to connect with the group, email Vicki Gass at vgass@mahhc.org or call 802.674.7450. For more information about Mt. Ascutney Prevention Partnership, visit www.mappvt.org and “like” on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mappvt.org

'Sylvia' latest Community Players production

'Sylvia' latest Community Players production

The Springfield Community Players continue their summer season with " SYLVIA" by A. R. Gurney. The comedy, directed by Stephanie Rowe, is a about a dog who totally seduces the attention and affections of a hard working middle class husband.

Greg, the husband, brings home Sylvia, a stray he found in Central Park and finds in her a living escape from his job frustrations and the "dog days of middle age". Greg's wife Kate doesn't take kindly at all to her man's best friend and rival. With their marriage in balance, a series of hilarious and touching complications encourage Greg and Kate to compromise. If all goes well, Sylvia just might become a "bone-a-fide" member if the family.

Katie King, of Perkinsville, impersonates Sylvia, a frisky poodle mix with a sassy, street-smart persona. Tom Field, of Springfield, plays Greg , whose midlife search for meaning is so real that audiences will believe in and root for him. Kate, played by Rebecca Skrypeck of Springfield, is excited about a new chapter in her life as she progresses in a career. She insists the dog phase of her life is over.

Greg Villone, of Springfield, is Tom, the macho, know-it-all owner of Bowser, a lusty golden retriever who frequents the dog run where Greg takes Sylvia. Fiona Morton, of Andover, plays Phyllis, a former Vassar classmate of Kate’s, given to slips of the tongue. A repressed dog-hater, she is appalled by Sylvia. Scott Stearns of Ludlow plays Leslie, an androgynous marriage counselor “exploring the boundaries of gender identification.

If you love dogs you will love "Sylvia," a funny and touching commentary on life, love and the middle years. The show will be presented at the Springfield Community Players’ Studio on South Street. It runs July 19-20 and July 26-27 at 7:30 p.m. For reservations call 802 885-4098. Tickets are $15 general admission and $12 for seniors and students.

The cast of the Springfield Community Players' production of A. R. Gurney's comedy, "Sylvia" - Left to right: Greg Villone of Springfield, Katie King of Perkinsville, Scott Stearns of Ludlow, Rebecca Skrypeck of Springfield, and Fiona Morton of Andover.

Website:

www.springfieldcommunityplayers.org/

 

 http://springfieldvt.blogspot.com/2013/07/sylvia-latest-community-players.html

"A Summer Evening with Your Friends and Neighbors"

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JULY 18, 2013

CONTACT: NANCY TUSINSKI

On Saturday evening July 27th at 6:30 pm, the Weathersfield Proctor Library will host a very special event at the Weathersfield Center Meeting House at the Weathersfield Center Church. "A Summer Evening with Your Friends and Neighbors" will feature a number of special guest storytellers from the Weathersfield area who will share stories and tales, both serious and humorous. In addition there will be wonderful music by George Ainley, Julie Levy and friends. To compliment the evening, appetizers, scrumptious desserts and fine beverages will be served as well.

The Meeting House will open its doors to guests who wish to view and bid on the silent auction items which will provide an exciting backdrop to the evening. Local area businesses have come together to support this project and the Weathersfield Proctor Library Capital Campaign Fund. Items in the auction have been donated by :

The Inn at Weathersfield

Black Watch Farms

Woodbury Florist

Von Bargen's Jewelry

Okemo Mountain Resort

Gurney Brothers

Mr. G's Restaurant

William Austin's Antiques and Lobster Pound

Twisted Fitness

Red Barn Cafe

Denise Photography

Crown Point Country Club

Willis Wood Cider, Jelly and Syrup

Country Cremee

Strobel's

Daniels Construction

and many more!

Please join us for a Summer Evening With Friends on Saturday July 27th at 6:30 pm to support the Weathersfield Proctor Library Capital Campaign Fund. The evening begins with Silent Auction bidding and culinary treats followed by music and tale of local lore. The donation for the evening is $15.00 per person. For more information please call, 802-674-5021 or 802-885-2221.

Happy Summer from MAPP!

Like on Facebook Forward to a Friend About Us: Mt. Ascutney Prevention Partnership (MAPP) serves the towns of Windsor, West Windsor, Hartland and Weathersfield, Vermont. Our partners are committed to making the healthy choice the easy choice for our neighbors. For more information about our partnership, click herhttp://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5d2b33bf8eecd1464fbd8a162&id=ec6445fe49&e=6522b0347fe.

Happy Summer from MAPP! Mt. Ascutney Prevention Partnership hopes you and yours are staying safe — and hydrated! — during this super-humid July in Vermont. We have a lot to report in our mid-summer newsletter, including a new staff member and our thoughts on the changes to Vermont's marijuana law, so we hope you'll click around to catch up on the latest! Welcome, Rachel! MAPP is pleased to introduce new youth coordinator Rachel Williams, a Hartland, Vt., native. Rachel, who also manages the Windsor-based Youth Managed Cafe, is working toward a degree in health education. "I am very excited to be the new youth outreach coordinator for MAPP, as I have lots of experience working with youth and promoting healthy choices. I plan to use an artistic approach to keep youth engaged and help them express their opinions on health-related topics in their community," Rachel says.  For more information about MAPP's programs for youth, or to just say 'hello' to Rachel, email rachel.williams@mahhc.org. Concerned Citizens In Weathersfield, residents have been meeting with local prevention workers and town officials to advocate for changes in their community in the wake of the relocation of the Magic Mushroom storefront on Route 5 in Ascutney, a short distance from Weathersfield School. For more information or to connect with the group, email Vicki Gass at victoria.gass@mahhc.org or call 802.674.7450. To read the full story, click here. MAPP on Marijuana Gov. Peter Shumlin recently signed H200 into law, decriminalizing possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, but some Vermonters may be confused by what the law really means. Marijuana is STILL illegal and using it STILL puts your health at risk. To learn more, click here.  View Online:  http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=5d2b33bf8eecd1464fbd8a162&id=ec6445fe49&e=6522b0347f